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Nov 10, 2014
Overall: 9
This is a great film that I can recommend to almost any anime watcher, even those who have yet to see any of the other Kara no Kyoukai movies. Mujun Rasen (Paradox Spiral) has a lot of "popcorn" action and suspense while still being fully immersed in Kara no Kyoukai's dark world. Be sure to watch it on Blu-ray quality video.
Story: 8
The story is much faster paced than the first four movies, which was sorely needed. One fault of the Nasuverse (the deep and underlying mythos of Fate, Tsukihime, and KnK) is that some concepts (such as the "counter-force") are hard to grasp,
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and this film is so focused on its quick pace that it leaves a somewhat ambiguous explanation of the concept. This isn't a huge detriment to the plot, and the climax of the movie does not rely upon those concepts to a fault. In fact, it is a welcome change from the "infodump" style of exposition favored in the first four films.
Watch it till the end, enjoy the story, maybe we can talk about it later. Don't want to spoil people here.
Art: 10
While not as extravagantly and thoroughly detailed as say, a studio Ghibili movie, ufotable does an amazing job of translating the film's brutal action and menacing atmosphere into a visual experience.
Small visual queues such as a half empty Haagen Dazs strawberry ice cream cup (how much did these guys pay ufotable anyways???) permeate and reappear in disjointed scenes to accentuate the unsettling and discontinuous atmosphere of the whole movie.
Sound: 9
The music is excellent, and the huge number of small audio queues that repeat throughout the most jarring scenes of the movies only add to the shock value.
Character: 8
The story of Enjou Tomoe is the backbone of the character development in this movie. Through his unreliable and disturbed mind we see the nature of evil afoot in this film. The main antagonist embodies inhumanity at its most noble form.
The characters are strong, yes, but its hard to gather all of their motives accurately from this single film. Again, the way that ufotable handled which characters to flesh out the most is much better than any "infodump", so it is not a detriment to the series; if nothing a reason to watch the rest of it.
Enjoyment: 9
The most important scenes of the film are filled with amazing cinematography and symbolism towards the story's main themes. The final half of the movie will stun you in terms of animation and plot development.
Now excuse me as I watch this masterpiece again.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Sep 14, 2014
Any great science fiction story has to deal with the moral consequences of the society it creates. Does technology improve human lives? How should we treat those who are aliens or the next step in human evolution?
Shinsekai yori does an excellent job of creating such a futuristic yet realistic society, and by the series' end, explores some of these questions. I highly recommend this series to anyone who doesn't mind a lot of exposition in their anime. If you find the world-building interesting, I dare you not to binge watch the final arc in a single sitting.
Detailed scores:
Story: 8
In my mind, the setting is a
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sort of spiritual sequel to something like Elfen Lied. Whereas the story of Lucy and Nyuu from EL deal with the emergence of a "superior" species, Shinsekai yori explores the long term consequences of such events. The common trait of both anime is the development of psychokinesis, something that SSY calls "Power".
If a human brain (and as a consequence human emotion and imagination) is capable of directly affecting the outside world, doesn't that throw the currently organized society out the window? No matter what the miniscule percentage of the population has this innately devastating power to take and control life with a single thought, the ensuing genocide will ensure only the "superior" species will be left.
What about hundreds of years after these events? Will there be a successful society amongst these superpeople? Maybe. How will it differ from our current society? Would their methods be seen as draconian, totalitarian, or based in the flawed ideals of divine right monarchy?
If these thoughts tickle your curiosity, then the plot of Shinsekai Yori will provide endless brain food. Conflicts are full of improvisational thinking and use of Power, and plot-building uses enough science lingo to make unrealistic plot points believable.
The pacing of the story is deliberately slow in the beginning. The viewer initially knows nothing, like the children of the first two arcs. As the time skips happen, the inner workings of their society are slowly unraveled.
As said before, there is a LOT of world-building, and every time skip usually has a episode dedicated to how the relationships between characters changed over the years not presented to the viewer. This is probably the only negative aspect of the storyline, but even at that not many critical plot points are explained more than once.
Art: 7
When it comes to animation I have to again rely upon my comparison of this series to Elfen Lied. Fights that involve the use of Power are brief and brutally violent. The few lengthy action oriented scenes are a beautiful reward for those who can wait a few episodes of plot and foreshadowing. Things will fly, blood will flow, and the viewer is shown the strength of Power.
The settings of SSY all fall underneath the umbrella of "feudal Japan", and as a result may seem redundant or repetitive at times. Distinctly futuristic backdrops are few and far between. This is where Shinsekai Yori differs from much of its sci-fi brethren.
Regardless, the execution of the art in scenes like starry nights and climactic battles is excellent. Creative camera angles are used, but never disorient the viewer. Not to mention that the first ED video is a feast for the eyes, covering the screen with a night time fireworks show reflected in the river below.
The distinctive "look" of each major character is also slightly repetitive in the beginning and there are occasional faults of hiccups in the overall execution of the animation. Different shots in the same scene may inexplicably have radically different lighting and contrast, and some plot building is done by shots of talking heads. These instances didn't really detract from any positive aspects the art had to offer, however.
Character: 8
I often hear that the characters of Shinsekai Yori are flat or two dimensional, and show little development over the course of the series.
I would agree on some fronts. The heroine of the story, Saki, is in some ways just as naive at the end of the story as she was in the beginning. Even though her judgments on the world around her change, her core moral beliefs are never challenged no matter what insane things happen around her.
Regardless, I give this aspect of SSY an 8 because the static nature of each character enhances the moral dilemmas that they face. Long term character development is sacrificed in order to escalate the core conflicts that last between each time skip in a consistent way. The static nature of each character and their flaws between time skips ensures that the reactions of each character to major events send the message that the director and writers want to send to the viewer.
When I consider the characters in this manner, as lenses with which to magnify and dissect the moral dilemmas that are dealt by the story, I begin to think of their lack of development as a consequence of having this entire series of events over a relatively short 25 episode anime. My score is based on the idea that such a sacrifice was necessary to improve the overall quality of the anime. If you disagree, then obviously your score will differ.
Enjoyment: 8
Whew. What a ride. The final arc and conclusion of the series was fulfilling and tied up most loose ends. The final plot points are a surprise, and the major characters end their stories with a positive or sympathetic note. The core rhetorical questions that define a sci-fi series are explored and answered without cheapening the events of the story, something that I find even iconic anime like Akira unable to do.
Overall: 8
I have to place Shinsekai Yori in that rare list of anime that successfully defy genre standards.
Most sci-fi depict the future as a dying world suffering under the advances of science and technology. Shinsekai Yori depicts it as a reborn, completely New World filled with hope. A hope that maybe the sacrifice of freedoms, memories, and sometimes lives will not be in vain.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 14, 2014
Kill la Kill is an intensely popular and polarizing anime. It combines several genres of anime, takes the most titillating and ridiculous aspects of each, and throws them back at the audience with a heavy hand.
I would describe Kill la Kill as a parody of anime based around high school, with the fanservice and hyperviolent nature of most shounen battle anime.
There are certainly impressive moments within Kill la Kill, however the excellent and irreverent plot slowly devolves into the common tropes the show originally meant to ridicule.
Detailed scores:
Story: 7
I believe the plot of Kill la Kill has one of the most interesting hooks
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in recent history.
Many critics of anime consider most of them as power fantasies, pandering to an audience that is in high school and usually thinks they are the center of the universe. Kill la Kill makes those dreams come true in a dystopian future, where high school academies are the new bastions of humankind. Studio Trigger shoves a world where status in high school LITERALLY dictates every aspect of everyone's lives, and says "Are you sure this is what you really wanted?"
The themes of revenge, identity, and even slut-shaming get explored within the first few episodes. This is accentuated by the fact that the first five or so episodes move at a lightning pace. Almost every major character for the first half of the show is introduced within the first two episodes, so the characters really have time to develop and endear themselves to the viewer.
Why do I give it a 7? Well, the second half of the anime is too busy tying up the loose ends placed in the first half in order to poke fun at modern anime culture. It stops trying to make fun of the "power fantasy" that anime brings (whether it be social, mental, or sexual power). The show stops making me think, and just makes me hooked enough to press play to the next episode.
Art: 8
The only anime series I have ever watched with a similar art style to Kill la Kill would be Fist of the North Star, mixed with the character designs that wouldn't look out of place in a Crayon Shin-Chan or Dooly. The insanely dramatic and propaganda-inspired backdrops clash with the cartoonish characters in a great way. The art style actually caused some feelings of nostalgia for me, as if Trigger was appealing to those who grew up watching the aforementioned anime.
Studio Trigger was founded by two former employees at Gainax, a company known for outlandishly stylish works like Gurren Lagann. This heritage is proudly presented in the animation style of Kill la Kill.
Backdrops are introduced usually with a shot zooming out from a vantage point, as if the viewers are on a rocket flying away from the scene.
Battle scenes are lovingly detailed and animated. The only recycled animations I could notice were the standard transformation and "we're slashing swords so fast I don't need to animate the arms". Glancing blows are rewarded with huge shockwaves and successful attacks result in destruction all around.
The humorous parts of Kill la Kill are (in my opinion) deliberately animated poorly or with insane amounts of repetition (series veterans will think of the term "RYUUKO-CHAN" here) in order to make fun of the characters or situations in front of them. Mako and the pervy homeroom teacher are the prime examples of this.
I don't know how else to describe the art style in words, just watching the first five minutes of the first episode will do more justice than what more I can write.
Sound: 7
The soundtrack consists of each major character's "theme". The OP and ED tracks for each half of the series are catchy, especially the ones with an electric guitar.
The voice acting is spot on, with Ryuuko's tomboyish nature reflected in her voice and tone. The rapport between the Elite Four is fun to listen to. Even without looking at the screen, I could distinctly recognize who was speaking, something that I actually have trouble doing with most anime.
Unfortunately, the music and sound design suffer from repetition. Particular offenders include the instrumental version of Ryuuko's "don't lose your way" track.
Character: 7
I am going to examine Ryuuko the most closely in order to justify my score. In one of the first episodes of Kill la Kill, Ryuuko decides she is sick of having everyone (including the viewer) gawk at her stripperific powered- up form. Trigger really had a great chance to criticize how essential fanservice has become with regard to an anime's success. People at Honnouji will pay huge amounts of money to watch well-endowed animated people fight to the death. Are we, as consumers of anime, not the same?
Unfortunately, none of these examinations are considered in a serious way in the storyline, and unfortunately Ryuuko turns into a female version of every shounen battler protagonist in the world. I do believe Ryuuko has a funny and likeable personality; it's just not one that defies genre stereotypes.
Satsuki develops the most as a character throughout the series, and it was extremely satisfying to learn of her origins as a dictator, but also her own struggles dealing with the events within Kill la Kill.
Enjoyment: 6
The storyline is intentionally filled with cringe-worthy moments in order to challenge and titillate the viewer towards a reaction. Eventually the parts of the anime that hooked me in were all gone, replaced by the standard revenge storyline and generic plot device of "I need more power to beat this guy!" The cynical message about the appeal of violence against females in modern media is replaced by insane amounts of female-on-female violence.
Despite these concerns, I truly loved watching every battle scene and hilarious epiphanies by Mako. Kill la Kill is a rare anime that redeemed itself to me after my opinion went down after episode 12 or so. I began to enjoy it for what it was, not from what I expected to experience from the previous episodes.
Overall: 7
I will repeat what I have said in the intro.
There are certainly impressive moments within Kill la Kill, however the excellent and irreverent plot slowly devolves into the common tropes the show originally meant to ridicule.
Would I recommend this show to strangers whose tastes I don't know?
Not really. There's so many pieces of this show that can make or break it for a viewer, and it's hard to describe them without spoiling the plot.
Would I suggest a stranger give the first episode a try? Definitely. If you get hooked, prepare for a fun ride.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 13, 2014
Hello, this is my first review. Constructive criticism is welcomed.
Nisekoi is an anime of the "rom-com" genre, most notably associated with anime like Toradora. These anime mix aspects of romance, situational comedy, and slice of life story elements (financial or family problems). I am grading based on the strength of these components within Nisekoi.
Although I enjoyed Nisekoi, it was a series that left me feeling rather disappointed as a whole.
Character: 7
Onodera and Chitoge's relationships with Ichijo are both interesting and funny to watch. As Ichijo discovers more about his past, the feelings he has towards people change. He becomes slightly more sympathetic (even for a
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typical romcom main character who is stereotypically nice) as the show goes on. He stops worrying about doing things and actually takes some action to spend time with the girls he is interested in. The results, however, are to be discussed with the story section of the review.
Every animation or facial reaction is highly stylized, almost to meme or moe levels of deformation. I do not mean this as a bad thing, the quick wit of the humor (when it introduces itself) is not only welcoming but genuinely funny. The characters make these situations fun to watch because of their well-developed dynamics. These dynamics change over time, especially in the case of Onodera.
Story: 4
The two main story lines revolve around Ichijo, and are dynamic and interesting. I would not call them character arcs, because the focus is constantly switching between the two.
However, the pacing of the show leaves much to be desired. The argument here is that any adaptation of a manga usually must remain loyal to the vision of the mangaka. This is especially highlighted in the first episode which is divided into shorts.
As the storylines develop, they begin to decelerate at an alarming rate.
The writing relies too much upon the internal monologues of every character. This means that a single event may take, in screen time, a full two minutes to fully expose every major character's reaction. This leaves the show feeling rather disjointed and redundant. The fact that most of these internal dialogues repeat subject matter or decisions left me shockingly bored at some parts. Knowing so much about the thoughts of each character causes the viewer to see the romance as an omniscient third person, instead of through the eyes of Ichijo. This ultimately detracted from my personal interest in the story.
As a forewarning, some of the circumstances around the plot twists within this series will make you want to tear your hair out. At least I wanted to.
Art: 8
If you have seen any anime produced by SHAFT, you can immediately recognize the style of Nisekoi. Certain scenes are of "mixed media", meaning that something like a blue border of frills may appear in the school setting, as if someone placed one in front of the animated characters. Particularly dramatic moments are treated to some gorgeous views of the sky or the city. The "design" or look of every character is consistently well-executed.
I wish I had more to say about my favorite part of this anime. Scenes like the gangster/yakuza buildings are like castles from a story book (or popular Shakespearean tragedy? hoho). The aforementioned reaction faces and character dynamics would not be possible if not for the fluid and spot-on animations done hundreds of times each episode.
Sound: 7
The voice acting is some of the best I have heard. The dialogue is so natural that one can imagine the voice actors for Ruri and Onodera in the booth together just having normal girl talk. The OP and ED are both catchy but a little too saccharine for my tastes. Background noises and sound effects are delivered at a consistent "frame" of each animation, helping make the animated world a little more realistic and consistent.
Enjoyment: 6
My biggest complaint is that the story distracted me from enjoying the characters and humor as they were. The monologues constantly bring up the story defining "who likes who?" question and force the characters to behave at a molasses pace.
Overall: 6
Several personal complaints I have about the show (like the beach episode and the rather pervy drawings shown at the end of each episode) keep me from personally recommending Nisekoi to my friends. From an objective view, Nisekoi is a solid example of the "rom-com" anime genre.
Is Nisekoi fun to watch and well-made? Yes.
Will I cherish the memory of watching this show like a childhood promise? No.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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