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Nov 20, 2021
THIS IS A SPOILER FREE REVIEW.
As someone who hadn't read the light novels of the original series, but had read the Progressive light novels, I was ecstatic to hear about the anime adaptation for Progressive. And after finally watching it...
I emerged from the cinema with an amalgamation of mixed emotions.
Let's begin with the positives: the art, battle choreography and sound. Undoubtedly stellar, and are what I can praise wholeheartedly with zero reservations. From Ordinal Scale to Alicization, the movie brought over what it had improved from there and refined it further to deliver a myriad of action-packed skirmishes accompanied with smooth, impactful SFX of
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weapons clinking as they collide with one another, flashy skill effects and more. One minor gripe though: Swordland is an amazing OST, and I do like how different renditions of it are played during the most intense moments of any particular season. But it does get old eventually, and it feels rehashed and overused by this point. This also extends to most of the OSTs that were used in the movie, where most of them feel reused and recycled.
The movie's overarching plot generally syncs with the light novel it's adapting its material from, but understandably cuts out a sizeable amount of interaction between certain characters due to the restraint of time. In addition, keep in mind that this movie is narrated from the perspective of Asuna, not Kirito, thus there will certainly be variances in their experiences. The introduction of the anime-original character, Mito, does add a certain depth to Asuna's side of the story, but unfortunately falls short in its execution of storytelling, especially during the second half of the movie. For the sake of being spoiler-free, I will not elaborate further, but I wish more time had been spent on Mito for stronger characterization later in the movie, since a conscious decision had been made to include an anime-original character to the movie in the first place. It was difficult to develop any sort of attachment for her when there was already so much content being cut from the light novel to fit the plot of the novel in under 100 minutes. In my opinion, this was where the movie fell short--its storytelling and characterization, particularly after a certain point of the movie.
This movie isn't without its glaring flaws, but I still had a relatively enjoyable experience overall. If you've never consumed any SAO material before, I guarantee you'll be satisfied with what there is to be offered. For readers of the Progressive light novels, however, I suggest entering the cinema with no expectations whatsoever, and appreciate the movie for what it is. It might not be a word-to-frame retelling of the book, but it was an entertaining time nevertheless.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Sep 17, 2021
This anime is why I can appreciate being a dumbass.
Prerequisite for watching this: Switching your brain off for 23mins per episode, allowing any remaining brain cells to shrivel up from the sheer absurdity and hilarity this show has to offer.
Kanojo mo Kanojo holds no bounds in the manner that the cast's characterization and the nutty situations they are thrown into are depicted. The show is fully aware that it's not meant to be serious, and does not even attempt to be so, as opposed to other recent anime of the same genre such as Osamake. Without the need to carry a suspension of disbelief,
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the enjoyment derived from it magnifies tenfold and allows me to enjoy myself throughout its runtime. The ludicrous dialogues blast through the boundaries of realism without a care in the world, and yet, prove to be so hysterically comical at the same time. This can be attributed to the cast of wacky monkeys that fit the pictorial definition of stupid. Every interaction between the characters that I watch melts my already charred brain into a contented agglomeration of gloop by the end of the episode. While It cannot be denied that Kanojo mo Kanojo relies heavily on existing tropes that have been and are still prominent in shows of this genre, these scenarios tie in perfectly with the overarching plot and its cast because everything is already ridiculous as they are. There is no need to make sense of whatever might be unfolding in front of me, nor do I have to care. Me watch, me like. Simple as that.
The voice acting is second to none and was indisputably the highlight of this series. The sheer emotion and passion that was invested into the performances from a stacked cast only served to strengthen my attachment with the main characters. The colors are vibrant and the aesthetics fit the show's aim in portraying comedic moments. The art and animation are mostly sufficient and aren't particularly outstanding in a general sense, but I would like to comment that the utilization of curves in certain scenes is exceptional, if you know what I mean. It has satisfied my seasonal craving for geometric perfection. The OP and ED are what you'd normally expect them to be; average, catchy tunes that do not stray from the orthodox. The only big downside to this anime, in my humble and personal opinion, is the disturbing lack of Shino screentime. But no matter, onwards to the manga to get my fix!
That aside, I would've liked to write more about how this show had surprisingly exceeded my expectations as someone who doesn't typically enjoy harem romcoms, but this show has already pilfered 99% of what little intelligence I possessed before watching this, so there is nothing further to add. Loosen up, cast aside all logic and reasoning, and enjoy this worthy, wild ride.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Aug 31, 2021
My expectations were hopeful but guarded for this movie after having watched the prequel. Suffice to say, however, the experience turned out to be a pleasant step up from the first movie and I thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout the duration of the show.
The biggest improvement has to be the pacing of the movie. So, so much better than the first. It provided a sufficient depth of development to the main characters, and more importantly, did not rush through the plot as a whole. It definitely helps that there was less content that had to be covered this time, which permitted time for Roselia to interact
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amongst themselves and with other members of the cast to build up their characterization.
There isn't much to comment on the remaining focal points like art and sound. It's still fully CG, similar to the first movie and seasons 2/3 of BanG Dream!. The models were drawn well and moved fluidly enough, but there are moments where the occasional janky gesticulation will be noticed (as you do with CG). It doesn't ruin the viewing experience though, and it's easy to get used to. The performances were fantastic, more so compared to what the first movie had to offer. The camera angles and choreography were on point and the characters were expressive and evocative. The opening and ending were new songs and were absolute bangers.
All in all, a solid movie, one that I can confidently recommend to existing fans of the franchise who wish to relive Roselia's Future World Fes arc in animation. Looking forward to the 2nd Film Live and Poppin'Party's own movie!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 2, 2021
It was difficult to temper my expectations before I watched this movie. Having played the game for 2½ years before putting it away for good early this year, I was really looking forward to reliving Roselia's story in animation. And as much as it pains me to admit...
It delivered on some aspects, while falling short of certain fundamental expectations. It could have been so much better, but ultimately, it was barely satisfactory.
This movie is largely targeted towards the people who had played the game, and had already read Roselia's band stories, plus certain event stories for the Roselia members (especially for Yukina and Sayo). It
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assumes that you already know what happened, and it therefore better serves as a recap for the audience. Viewers who have no prior knowledge of the franchise will almost definitely emerge disorientated from its wildly accelerated pacing. To put things into perspective, Season 1 of BanG Dream had 13 episodes and was equivalent to 27 in-game chapters. This movie attempted to cram 35 chapters (not including important event chapters) in 77 minutes. Just imagine how much material had to be cut in order to achieve that, which included core interactions that would have been integral to further the cast's characterization and Roselia as a whole. I was thoroughly disappointed at how Sayo was portrayed especially. First-timers would be bewildered at her sudden transformation in personality, with a mere few still shots to "explain" her growth and what she went through. More attention should have been directed her way to flesh her out and smoothen her transition, much like how Yukina and Lisa was handled throughout the movie. It was nice to see cameos of some of the girls from the other bands though, and some added lines were included in the movie that weren't in the game, albeit for the purpose of fluff.
If you'd watched Seasons 2/3 of BanG Dream! or the Film Live, then you'll know what to expect. The art for this movie is similar in that it's fully CG. Lighting and camera angles were mostly on point especially during Roselia's performances, which did well at striving to reproduce the atmosphere of an actual live. A minor gripe would be that the movement of the characters can be stiff, almost to the point of being robotic at times, and that's when you'd notice the CG doing its thing. Nothing much else to comment on this; I got used to the CG fairly quickly and it did not ruin the viewing experience. Not the best, but not immersion-breaking either.
Sound would be the department that deserved the most praise. One thing that was lacking in Seasons 2/3 that was present in Season 1 was how the singing and performances in Season 1 were raw and unadulterated, while the later seasons were just filled with studio tracks, which lacked the authenticity and emotion that was required to reach the audience. This movie falls somewhere in between the two extremes, but it was moving to listen to the raw power from Minato Yukina's singing, pulsating through the speakers in the theatre. Awesome stuff. Also, two new songs in the movie which were bangers, always something to celebrate about.
I truly wanted to enjoy this movie to the fullest. I really did. But the manner in which the story and characters were handled prevented that reality from materializing. If anything, I'd expect the sequel movie to run in a similar fashion as this: one that sacrifices content to jam in as much of the overarching plot within a short period of time, limiting its true potential as being an anime of the music genre accompanied with a fantastic narrative... but I can only pray that there will be improvements made, and I'll look forward to watching the sequel regardless, as a fan of the series.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 28, 2021
Giving a preliminary score (let alone a review) is something I have always refrained from doing when judging anime/manga. But this... as a fervent enthusiast of the SoL genre, I just couldn't help myself with this one. This review is based on the first four episodes, and it will be updated when the series concludes.
What an absolute hidden treasure this is. It is soft. Soothing. Mellow. Thoughtful, even.
The art is stellar. The Cubs are amazingly detailed and the CGI blends well with its given setting. The utilization of colors to match the emotions of Koguma, the main character, breathes life in scenes that appear to
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be simple and mundane. The contrast between the muted color palettes and vibrancy when Koguma mounts her Cub for the first time, with her showing her cute, yet slightly broken smile as it marks the beginning of her life being filled with color... that cannot be explained with words alone.
Interactions between Koguma and the other characters feel genuine, with Reiko in particular. The show nails the chemistry and the exchanges between extroverted and introverted characters. Nothing is being forced on to Koguma by Reiko, and the latter doesn't immediately jump at every opportunity to get in Koguma's face. Events flow smoothly from one to the next, and each of Koguma's milestones feels natural, like they aren't exaggerated in ways other anime would've portrayed them to be. The minimal dialogue in scenes ironically adds more to their respective moments, and the show executes "show, don't tell" in a satisfactory manner. The thematic link between the growth of Koguma and her Super Cub is also a pleasure to watch. For each part that Koguma adds to her Cub, it also symbolizes the parts that she's steadily adding to her life. Her first time breaking away from the rigid tempo of home/school/sleep. Making her first friend. Finding her first job. It all ties in with Koguma's journey with her Cub.
The sound, god the sound. The purring of the Super Cub fills my ears with contentment. The classical music that is injected with a tinge of melancholy and loneliness allows me to wind down as I watch Koguma ride her Cub. Even sound effects that would be typically ignored like the rice cooker in the background further adds into the atmosphere, which only gets me further invested into its world. The small things, when added up, builds themselves into something truly magnificent.
Super Cub is nothing revolutionary, but for what it is trying to convey, it has achieved with flying colors thus far. It is crafted with love and the attention to detail it deserves, all while managing to stay unpretentious. Never would I have thought that this would be the series I'd be looking forward to watch the most every week. A solid recommend that exceeded expectations.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 28, 2019
One thing that I want to note is that you DO NOT have to watch Season 1 of the anime, or have to had played the mobile game (BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!) in order to enjoy this series. But, the full derivation of enjoyment will undeniably be obtained only if you've done the aforementioned. It enables you to treasure the characterization/seiyuu references of the main characters that are scattered throughout the episodes — namely Poppin'Party and a few newly introduced characters.
The first few episodes serve as an introduction to the viewers who are unfamiliar with the characters from the mobile game, with the
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main plot coming in after that. It may feel a little awkward, and even filler-ly if you're a hardcore fan of the franchise. But in order to draw in a larger audience/newcomers, I understand the need to devote the screentime for these introductions. Having to juggle a cast of 30 characters (excluding girls from Glitter*Green, CHiSPA) is no small feat, and this season managed to pull it off well.
The CGI used was well drawn and animated, specifically during the live performances. The lighting and movements were amazing and drew me in, replicating the atmosphere of an actual live to a certain extent. Admittedly, I had to watch a few episodes to become fully accustomed to the CGI, and some movements were definitely janky and even robotic. However, they were minor qualms I had, and did not affect my enjoyment of the series whatsoever.
As a fervent fan of the franchise, I was pleasantly surprised to hear so many new songs which were first released through these weekly episodes. Bushiroad's been spoiling us fans with this immeasurable amount of content, and I'm grateful for that. The songs themselves are filled with emotion, specifically those of which are tied to the crux of the story. It allows you to understand the joys, hardship, and emotions these girls have toward life's challenges, and the bonds which are intertwined closely between them. It's a beautiful thing to watch and hear.
However, one minor gripe I had was that in Season 1, most of the songs were unadulterated; they were pure, and drew realistic vibes from the raw voices of the seiyuus. This was a feature I admired greatly about Season 1 — how they didn't always use the studio versions to present the authenticity of the performances. Season 2 only brought this feature over for a single insert song. But this is more of a personal preference than anything.
Here, I would highly recommend everyone to play the mobile game and to watch Season 1 first, before moving on to this. Some actions made by the characters in the series might throw you off, leaving you to wonder why their actions seem illogical/rude at first glance. Getting to know the core of these characters' personalities will boost your appreciation of them, and help you understand the reasons behind their behavior. The characterization runs deep within the cast, but is unfortunately rooted in the other aspects of the franchise. It's up to you to make the effort to unearth and discover more about these lovable characters!
Overall, this has been a fantastic season of music and friendship, and I cannot wait for Season 3 which will air on January 2020!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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