EDIT: Reposted after being taken down by MAL for technical reasons.
From TheFreeDictionary.com:
"Wish Fulfillment
n.
1. Gratification of a desire.
2. In psychoanalytic theory, the satisfaction of a desire, need, or impulse through a dream, fantasy, or other exercise of the imagination."
I've never written a review before, so I hope this proves helpful to ya'll! For this review, I'm going to be talking about an anime that I watched for quite a different reason than probably most other people. To explore this, I'm gonna go over all the major categories - hopefully, by the end of this review, you'll have a helpful understanding of the pros and cons of
...
this anime! Please keep in mind that I've watched the anime up to it's most recent episode (14), and I've not read the LN, although I have looked up some info on the wiki to clarify some points. I'll do my best to keep this spoiler free.
Story: 4
By itself, the story isn't bad. In fact, if you were to remove the male and female MCs, the story would probably shine. However, story and character are inevitablely inseparable, and thus must be judged in light of each other.
I personally found the story to be engaging. The first arc flowed well enough, and the second one is also doing a fair job of keeping my attention. People have said there are pacing issues, but I haven't really found this to be the case. Worldbuilding (especially the magic system) has been done really well - it's very obvious that a lot of care and detail went into the world to make it work so logically and tacitly. The lore is very interesting, and I genuinely want to know more about the world of Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei as the show goes on. Then again, there are a HUGE number of plot holes as well. A lot of the show seems to have been made up for the purpose of plot and convenience, and so a lot of things don't make sense. Here's a short list:
1) Why does First High have a First and Second Course program? Only the Firsts get magic trainers, but to enroll at the magic-oriented university in the first place, you have to be exceptionally good at magic. That's like saying a typical university takes only people who get 35s and 36s on the ACT, but only provides classes and instructors to those who got the 36s, and everyone else gets to take Shop classes forever.
2) Why is the Bloom and Weed discrimination only perpetuated by a few of the cardboard cutout characters (which is discussed below)? I thought it was supposed to be a school-wide problem?
3) Why even HAVE a Nine Schools Competition when First High has the absolute best magicians? Like, this isn't a matter of subjective opinion - First High only accepts the absolute best. This competition is desperately trying to mimic the Tri-Wizard Tournament from Harry Potter, but in HP, it made sense. After all, the British magic people went to the British school, the French magic people went to the French school, etc. In Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, this is not the case. And indeed, as we see, First High can only lose due to repeated (um, where are the referees?) sabotage due to hostile third parties.
Furthermore, a HUGE problem is that there is nothing at stake in the story. Since both the male and female MCs are so insanely good at pretty much everything they do (with a few exceptions), nothing is being risked at any point. There's no uncertainty over what'll happen, there's no fear for the MCs' safety, and more unfortunately, there's no unpredictability. Everything is painfully obvious from the get-go. While other animes with OP MCs will at least throw them into some peril, this is absolutely not the case in Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei. Fights are over in under ten seconds each (which isn't bad, but there's no emotional involvement as a result, especially since the MCs always win), and dangerous situations happen to others or are also resolved in under ten seconds.
Suspension of disbelief is one thing, but when I know what's gonna go down even before the episode happens, then there's no reason to care much for what's going to happen. This is due to the MCs, which I'll discuss in a little bit.
Art: 10
This, honestly, is one of the show's two strongest points. Everything is gorgeous, the magic looks fantastic, and the animation never dips even when action is scarce. A lot of love went into making this world look and feel fantastic, and the vibrancy of the world is truly a pleasure to behold.
Sound: 10
Many people seem to judge a show on the OP and ED, but I personally skip OPs and EDs to avoid spoilers, so I'll be judging Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei by the actual sound. Which is fantastic as well. All of the effects are crisp and visceral - the pops pop deliciously, the crackles crackle with fervor, and overall, the sound does a phenomenal job of bringing the world to life.
Character: 1
This brings me to the biggest problem of the anime, and the reason for my original dictionary quote at the beginning of this review. Every. Single. Character. Is flatter than a sheet of paper. And while the male MC does have an intricate backstory, his overwhelming ability annihilates any interest I might have in him. But even worse than this is the way everyone treats him. As a writer myself, it's very hard to avoid making a Gary Stu; due to the fact that we as writers want to write what is most natural to us (ourselves), and we want to live adventures that are only possible for our characters. So writing yourself into a super awesome character is very easy to do.
This does not make it excusable.
EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. In the anime absolutely ADORES the male MC (except for his rivals, of course). And they take EVERY. SINGLE. OPPORTUNITY. To tell him how awesome he is. I'm not exaggerating on this. The MC gets complimented (and I don't mean a "good job" kind of compliment, but a "you are so amazing I wish I were dating you or better friends with you or more like you" type of compliment) OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER. At least 2-5 times per episode. And yes, the male MC is superpowered, but that doesn't justify the kind of foot-worshiping we see in this anime.
On a base level, this becomes aggravating and wearying very, very quickly. But on a deeper level, it takes an unfortunate chunk out of the story. Without giving away too much, there's one point in the anime where the male MC does something absolutely extraordinary by completely revolutionizing a concept previously thought impossible. In any other anime, this would be grounds for the MC to be amazing and for your admiration of that MC to grow. However, due to the constant barrage of incredible feats the male MC consistently performs in Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, this major revolution comes across as flat. Stale. Uninteresting. There's no room for significant praise when such praise has been unendingly heaped on the male MC from episode 1. This is a very clear example of severe wish fulfillment.
Moving on to the female MC, she's about as deep a character as a puddle of water. And she has about the same amount of charm too. Her main purpose, aside from PWNING N00BS, is to ceaselessly praise and talk up to the male MC. Like, ALL the time. In the second episode, she is given a great honor, but instead of accepting it graciously, she throws a fit that the male MC isn't being recognized for his awesomeness instead. And actually, she does that in episode 1 too. And in other episodes. This female MC only backs down when given a commanding nod from the male MC, which clearly means he is her superior in every regard. This is also a very bad case of wish fulfillment.
This wouldn't be so bad if she was a servant or indebted to the male MC somehow, but the kicker is that she's... his sister. His younger sister. I get that sibling relationships are supposed to be good, but the male MC is clearly the female MC's idol. I'm not even gonna talk about the incest between them, which this anime clearly is in favor of. Such incest is a design choice, and so I'm willing to accept it as part of the story. But the female MC's foot-licking toward her older brother comes off as possessive and creepy.
People relate to characters who have flaws, and despite the desperate assertions of Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, neither of the MCs have any real flaws. The male MC's absolute lack of emotions could be considered a flaw, but the fact that everyone still loves him regardless means that it really isn't a flaw. The male MC's lack of skill in a certain area of magic could be considered a flaw, but the fact that he still is insanely OP means that it really isn't a flaw. The male MC's social aloofness could be considered a flaw, but the fact that he's described as absurdly handsome and a chick-magnet means that it really isn't a flaw. Etc.
As for every other character, I genuinely can't remember a single name of anybody else. And I'm usually pretty good with names. The only exception would be Ririka (or something like that - I could look it up, but then again, this is a great example of how underdeveloped the other characters are) - she actually comes off as interesting and slightly multifaceted compared to the other characters. Then again, that's not saying much in this anime, but regardless, she serves as a breath of fresh air in an otherwise lifeless and stale list of cardboard cutout characters whose only purpose is to populate the much more interesting world of Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei.
Oh, and the villains are overwhelmingly under-established. They have poor motivations, awful direction, and almost no planning. What were the villains up to in the first section of this anime? Something about magic and equality? Something relating to terrorism? I'm not quite sure. And as for the villains in the second part? That hasn't been revealed yet, so I honestly can't comment. But it seems like a persona vendetta against the MCs' school, which also doesn't make sense.
But I've gone on this for long enough.
Enjoyment: 2
I really, really wanted to like this. I very much did. The magic system is remarkable and impressive, and the world itself is interesting and engaging. But absolutely abysmal characters, non-existent character development, and a mundanely routine plot served to detract sharply from any charm the world might have had on its own. What truly sinks the ship, however, is the flattery of the male MC. While this might seem as nitpicking, it happens on such an exaggerated and persistent level that it honestly causes me to literally moan aloud every time the male MC is worshiped by his fans (which happens multiple times per episode). It's so forced and jarring that it kills any immersive qualities Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei might otherwise have, and it causes me to constantly look to see how much more of the episode is left to go. If the ridiculous and never-ending compliments were removed, as well as the obsessive sister MC, this show would be much, much, much, much, much more enjoyable.
Overall: 3
The art is awesome, and the sound is phenomenal. But the awful and wooden characters, the lack of any character development whatsoever, and the completely predictable story serve to tank what could have otherwise been an impressive and fun anime. Overall, all the ingredients for success are found here, but absolutely nothing good is done with them. Instead, negative elements are thrown in - meaning that in the end, like with an uncooked cake, all you have left to eat is a soppy, flower and sugar and egg goop that has been further poisoned with toxic nuclear waste. An extreme statement, I know, but hey - at least it's on par with the compliments given to the male MC, albeit in a negative manner instead of a worshipful one.
All (0)FriendsNo friend yet.
Also Available atRSS Feeds |
Oct 8, 2014
Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
(Anime)
add
Not Recommended Preliminary
(15/26 eps)
EDIT: Reposted after being taken down by MAL for technical reasons.
From TheFreeDictionary.com: "Wish Fulfillment n. 1. Gratification of a desire. 2. In psychoanalytic theory, the satisfaction of a desire, need, or impulse through a dream, fantasy, or other exercise of the imagination." I've never written a review before, so I hope this proves helpful to ya'll! For this review, I'm going to be talking about an anime that I watched for quite a different reason than probably most other people. To explore this, I'm gonna go over all the major categories - hopefully, by the end of this review, you'll have a helpful understanding of the pros and cons of ...
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Informative
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all 
Sep 25, 2014
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
(Anime)
add
Recommended
"Gon, you are light... sometimes, you shine so brightly I must look away. But even so, is it still okay if I stay by your side?"
--- Killua This is my second review, so I'm still figuring out the ropes - if you haven't seen Hunter X Hunter 2011, I hope this helps push you toward watching it! And if you have seen it, I hope this helps fill in the void left by the series' ending. As many know, HxH 2011 ended two days ago, and even now, I still kinda tear up when thinking about it. I chose the above quote because I very much ... feel that way toward HxH 2011 - it's an utterly brilliant anime that is sometime too great for its own good, but in the end, I would have given anything to keep watching it - to stay by its side. I came late to the HxH scene - when I first heard of HxH, I was in a depressive slump in the Fall of 2013, and the series was in the middle of its sixth arc (the Chimera Ant Arc). Hiding from my friends, I was kinda looking for something to just fill my time - what I found in HxH 2011 ended up blowing me away - it lifted me up, restored my faith in myself and in other things, and it helped carry me to where I am now. I can safely say that HxH 2011 has been the most influential anime I've ever seen, and it count myself extremely blessed that I discovered it when I did. For the sake of this review, I'll be going through each of the categories, explaining my scores for each one, and then concluding with my final thoughts. Story: 9 The HxH story is EPIC. While I normally hate that word, I can't think of a better adjective for what HxH achieves. The story spans seven completed arcs (the eighth is currently in the works and manga-only), and it covers every possible story type. From romance to drama to intrigue to espionage to politics to adventure to horror to suspense to simply relishing in the power of undeniable friendship, HxH 2011 has something for everyone. The first arc (Hunter Exam Arc) is more exploratory in nature, as it sets the stage for the HxH world and introduces us to the characters. The second arc (Zoldyck Family Arc) really starts to bring the characters to life, as you get to see more into their personalities and hearts, and the third arc (Heavens Arena Arc) ups the stakes and lets us fall even more in love with the characters. The fourth arc (Yorknew City Arc) takes a much darker turn and helps us see the HxH world from a drastically different perspective, and the fifth arc (Greed Island Arc) introduces new plot elements while expounding on the characters even more. The sixth arc gets even darker as it introduces a menace unlike any the HxH world has seen before, but admittedly, this is where some pacing issues come into play. The seventh arc also is a lot slower than the previous arcs, but it is where a lot of the intrigue and politics come into play (albeit, this is why the seventh arc is a lot more serious and seemingly “dull” than other arcs, although I found it fascinating as a political science major). The eighth arc has yet to be adapted to anime, and actually, HxH 2011 ended before they could explore it. Altogether, the story does a wonderful job of keeping you interested and engaged (I only gave it a “9” instead of a “10” because of pacing issues that appear in later arcs), and it leads directly into the next category… Character: 10 If you noticed I kept saying the word “character” during my “Story” segment, that’s because arguably, HxH 2011 shines most when it comes to its diverse and incredibly-well fleshed-out characters. From the naïve and determined Gon, to the sinister yet sincere Killua, to the blunt yet considerate Leorio, to the vicious but kind Kurapika, each and every one of the main cast is amazingly well-developed and irritably loveable. And this is not to say that each of the main characters is perfect – if anything, it’s their imperfections that drive them to such great heights. Gon isn’t your typical anime protagonist: while he IS headstrong and innocent, he has a fantastic strategic mind, and… he gets his butt kicked. A lot. While some have complained about this, I feel that it lends strength to Gon’s character as a whole. While he is phenomenally talented, he keeps finding himself pitted against similarly-talented opponents with vastly more experience than himself. And so, realistically, he wins some, and loses a bunch more. But that gives him an aura of realism. He’s not your typical hyper-powered Shonen character that always manages to win on pure willpower alone. Instead, he’s great (yes), a genius (definitely), amazingly skilled (indeed), but also realistic. And this makes you care about him. When he goes into a fight, you can’t be sure whether he’ll emerge unscathed, or even if he’ll emerge at all. You worry for him, and as you watch him try his best to do his best, you root for him earnestly and with complete genuineness. What’s even better about him, though, is his attitude. He’s always positive, even in the face of defeat, and he always tries to learn from his mistakes. I actually started watching HxH with my younger, 7-year-old brother, since he’s prone to fits of anger and resentment, so I figured it would be good to have Gon as a role model for my brother. And sure enough, my brother constantly felt uplifted by Gon – he was always saying things like “He’s so happy. He’s really happy. I wish I was like him. He’s so great.” You can’t help but fall in love with Gon, and as he adventures through the HxH world, you feel that you’re right alongside him. Killua is amazing as well. He has a viciously dark past, and he tends to lapse into wrong/morally questionable tendencies, and that’s also what gives him a realistic edge. He earnestly seeks to be better, and partly, he wants to atone for the wrongdoings he’s done by serving alongside Gon. As such, we get to watch him traverse through the HxH as he discovers himself, discovers what it means to truly live, discovers what it means to have friends, and discovers how to care deeply for others. Plus, whenever he does one of his cat faces, your heart can’t help but melt (you have to watch the show to know what I mean, haha). So by the time you reach Episode 147, you truly feel the show has ended then and there. I won’t spoil anything, I promise, but even though the anime ended on Episode 148, Episode 147 was the true ending in my mind. Leorio and Kurapika unfortunately receive less screen-time than Gon and Killua as HxH progress further on into its story. But the screen-time they do get in the first four arcs is magnificent, and it causes you to fall in love with them too. Leorio comes across as oafish and selfish, but he has a completely different side to him that makes the soft side of you cry every time you think about it. And Kurapika comes across as single-minded, but he’s one of the most grounded and well-intentioned characters in the series. But HxH’s outstanding characters don’t just end with the four main characters. Indeed, it’s amazing how fleshed out almost all of the series’ characters are – you come to truly care for all of them. From Hanzo to Beans, from to Biscuit to Goreinu, from Kite to Knov and Knuckle and Morel and Palm and Shoot, from Wing to Netero, from Cheadle to Pariston, from Pokkle to Satoz, etc. – HxH very much distinguishes itself from other anime by having a tremendous cast of well-defined characters. And this isn’t even mentioning the Ants and the Phantom Troupe and Zoldycks and the Butlers and the Mafia and the Greed Island Players and the Heavens Arena Contestants and the Hunters… and you’d think that with all these characters, it would be easy to lose track of some. And admittedly, HxH does to some extent. It’s inevitable, really. But aside from the very few that fall between the cracks, HxH manages to paint realistic portraits for all of its characters – to the point where even if you don’t love them, you still are rooting for them and are vested in them and want to see them succeed and do well. And this extends even to the villains. Never before in anime have I become attached (in some form or another) to almost EVERY SINGLE villain in the show. From the Phantom Troupe to Hisoka (who is possibly my favorite character in the show) to Meruem (another one of my favorite characters), you come to care about the villains so much that you laugh with them, feel shocked with them, and even cry with them. When Meruem’s story concluded in the sixth arc and the anime moved on, I was moved to tears at the thought of leaving behind such an incredible character, even though he was the “bad guy”. And oh goodness, Hisoka is amazing. Just watch the show. He’s fantastic. Trust me. A little weird, yes, but aren’t we all in some form or another? And his villainous side is so… unique… that I became instantly fascinated with him. I could go on about the characters for forever, but at risk of a never-ending review, I’ll push on to the next category… Art: 10 There is never a single lazy moment in HxH 2011 animation. All of the artwork pops with detail and care and love and diligence. All of the animations are fluid and minutely detailed, all of the characters are distinctive and eye-catching, and all of the vistas are breathtaking and invoke a sense of wonder. Even during episodes that are less action-packed, HxH routinely avoids flashback and pointless/useless filler animation, and it constantly takes the time to intricately lay out a vivid display of visual goodness. Indeed, the artwork is so smooth and amazing and engaging that I’ve come to set a new standard for anime art. Sound: 10 The sound in is fantastic. Every visual effect is accompanied by an equally dazzling audio effect, the music is dynamic and invocative, and the ending songs are all great. Some may look at the fact that HxH 2011 uses a single opening song for all 148 episodes as a negative thing, but I like to see it as a huge positive – I came to fall in love with the song “Departure”, and now, “Departure” and “Hunter X Hunter” are indistinguishable my mind. If anything, I gave the sound an “8” because while it’s amazing, it doesn’t really stick out in my mind as much as “art” and “story” and “characters” do for HxH 2011. And admittedly, 148 episodes in, it would have been nice to hear a few new tracks added to the HxH 2011 OST. But again, this is a very minor nitpick with an otherwise fantastic score and audio effect reel. Furthermore, all of the voice acting is terrific as well. All of the main characters are wonderfully voiced, and all of the supporting characters are just as well cast. Indeed, I can’t really think of any voices that were out of place or not well done. The voice acting is just that good. Enjoyment: 10 As I’ve said in the beginning and throughout my review, HxH 2011 is a rollercoaster of feels and thrills. It introduces you to a magnificent world, lines up a host of enjoyable and realistic characters, and then lets you explore it from the pretty to the gritty. No expense is spared in this phenomenal anime, no corners are cut, no cop-outs are taken. And even better, the show does a great job of showing you instead of telling you, although this later lapses in the sixth arc (although it probably would have been impossible to do that arc justice without the telling it gives you, due to the intricate nature of that arc). You get to see and experience and discover the world through the eyes of characters you love and can relate to, and you get to have a blast while doing so. What more could you ask for from an anime? Or rather, what more could you ask for from such a wonderful adventure? Overall: 10 Ultimately, you’ve probably heard a lot of hype about Hunter X Hunter 2011 – almost too much hype, probably. And often times, such hype can easily paint a picture of something that’s too good to be true. And if you’ve read this review to the end, then you’ve gotten another massive dose of hype. So instead of reading/hearing more hype, do yourself a favor by ignoring it all and instead finding out firsthand. Go watch the first few episodes Hunter X Hunter 2011. It starts a tad slow, but it quickly builds up, and soon, you probably won’t be able to stop watching. I made it through sixty-some episodes in a few days – once I started, I couldn’t stop. It was that good. Why is it so good? Because HxH truly cares. It cares about its characters, it cares about its story, it cares about its world, and it cares about its viewers. It doesn’t string you along, or set you up for some cheap storytelling tricks, or waste your time. It stays to the point, it does its best to deliver a wonderful tale of courage and adventure, and stays true to itself throughout the whole experience. For that’s what HxH 2011 genuinely is – an experience. It’s not something that be truly summed up in words alone – it’s something that must be seen and heard and felt firsthand with Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika. So go watch Hunter X Hunter 2011. I promise you, by the time you conclude your journey – your adventure – you’ll be glad you did so. And you’ll wish you could stay by its side for just a little while longer… :) As for me, I’m gonna go grab some tissues and cry… it’ll probably be another decade before we get more HxH… :(
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all |