Carnival Phantasm

As a gigantic Type-Moon fan, I recognize that this review may be a bit biased. Indeed, if you aren't familiar with any of the characters in Fate stay/night or Tsukihime, or the universe both stories take place in (aptly named the "Nasuverse" by fans after the author, Kinoko Nasu), then don't expect to enjoy it nearly as much as I did. On the other hand, if you are familiar with anything Type-Moon, then prepare for the best parody series in recent memory. In short, your knowledge of Type-Moon lore is directly proportional to the amount of enjoyment you will get out of this series. ... And for me, it's a perfect 10.

As I understand, this anime is based off the Take-Moon manga created by Eri Takanashi, whom you may know best as the creator of the relatively popular series Kannagi. If you've been introduced to Kannagi and its offbeat brand of humor, then you might know what to expect...or do you? The fact is, Carnival Phantasm's humor is way more polished and wacky than Kannagi, and that's coming from someone who considers himself a fan of both. It's clear just by viewing one episode that Takanashi is passionate about the Nasuverse, bringing in even the most obscure relics and fan favorites such as Neco-Arc Chaos, Sion, and Caren. Even the denizens of Melty Blood are present!

Going into all the individual segments, easter eggs, and recurring gags would make this a very, very long review, so I'll just leave all those for you to watch for yourself. But some of my personal favorite segments are the Grail-kun, Afterschool Alleyway Alliance, The 5th Seihai Grand Prix, Berserker's First Errand, and of course the omnipresent Seihai-kun. The Badump! Date Plan segment gets an honorable mention simply for being exactly what it sounds like: the protagonists of Fate and Tsukihime trying to create their own respective harems. If you know why that might pose many, many problems and you can realize how absolutely, ridiculously absurd that would be, then this series is definitely for you. Things even get serious in typical Nasu fashion with the episode "Final Dead Lancer". At its core, it is nothing more than a love letter to the Type-Moon universe, and I wouldn't ask for anything more.

Carnival Phantasm is beautifully animated and has one of the catchiest OPs in recent memory. The ED pales in comparison, but still serves as a nice dramatis personae to the Nasuverse. The Tiger Dojo segments are the stuff of legend--you won't believe how good they are till you see them.

You won't find any mollusks or postmodern, unconventional, often maddening writing styles in this series, but this is without a doubt the best and most hilarious take on the Nasuverse since "Platonic Magician H" or "Kaleido Prism Illya". I highly recommend it to anyone.

SEA-SON FOUR! SEA-SON FOUR!

Carnival Phantasm - THE GREATEST THING EVER CREATED BY THE HUMAN RACE

Story- This don't need no story, its basically a whole bunch of comedic skits, so the presence of story is neither needed nor wanted

Art - It is an ONA so art isn't really gonna be that good considering the budget ONA's get, but the use of simplistic art favors the humor, in fact it wouldn't have been as good if the art was high budget.

Sound - Best Opening ever made, in all of creation.

Characters - All the Type Moon Characters, made brilliantly hilarious. Best Type Moon Fan service ever

Enjoyment - This represents that maximum ... amount of enjoyment a human being can ever have.

Overall - You need to have watched and be familiar with the other Type Moon Anime: Fate, Tsukihime. But if you liked those.... this will be a better present then anything anyone has given you...... Even a car.

If you haven't watched it, and you've seen other type moon anime, watch it now. It is pretty much the best comedy you can get.

Anime Review No.12

Carnival Phantasm is the comedic parody of previous Type-Moon works that circle in 1 universe with the same character with far more different personality as the original and with different kind of art style. If you’re looking for serious Type-Moon works you are better off not choosing this anime but if you’re a type-moon fan looking for some cute fan service of your favorite characters you should not miss out this anime.

This Overview doesn’t have any spoilers but just teaser on what you can expect to this anime once you started watching it.

Plot (5/10) Average
The anime is compose of random ... stories from different Type-Moon works that is made just for entertainment and nothing more so don’t inspect too much for a serious plot and mature atmosphere like we always get in the Type-Moon franchise. Just enjoy the fun. The comedy is more on slap tick humor than smart ones so you don’t need to think hard here just to get the jokes but if you are Type-Moon fan who already have the reference I am sure you enjoy it more than what it is.

Character (7/10) Good
Personally I just watch this anime for the reason the girls here are more cuter and the other characters here are not serious about their roles and yes they are not serious to the point they make a joke about their actual roles in their own respective universes which is fun to watch. The studio made a good job to satisfy the fans wants especially what they did to the saber fans, Arcuied fans like me, Illya just got cuter here and other funny ways they make a parody of other characters iconic roles in their respective works. This anime is solely targeting type-moon fans but also can act’s on its own and can also attract non-type moon fans that are looking for decent comedies.

Music (7/10) Good
The opening is fun and clearly explains what kind of anime “carnival phantasm” is an enjoyable and funny anime and nothing more. The soundtrack for the background uses mostly the background music of the already establish titles for the dramatic parody and comedic appeal. The ending “fellows” is an ending that gives that nostalgia feels. It’s been more than a decade when the first visual novels of Type-Moon came out and a few years when the anime adaptation where made before “Carnival Phantasm” is made so I can say it’s smart selecting the song for reminded it’s fans how long that have been when Type-Moon ever started.

Art (7/10) Good
I give credit for the animation for it made all the characters from different universes to blend each other like they live in one universe without giving a damn and the art matches the comedic appeal for the reason the art work is more easy going with lighter colors making the atmosphere not serious than the original version being sharp and serious in atmosphere. The animation made the girls moe here so yeah this justify the “waifu” dreams of most type-moon fans and they just don’t look moe they act moe adding more comedic impact.
Enjoyment (7/10) Good
I was regale when I watched this series because I procure a lot of laughs and I am almost been devour by the “Moe service”. This show is worth to elicit to other non-type-moon fans for it have decent comedy and when I mean decent not too much ecchi scene but it those include a few but you find it funny than arousing which is good.

Overall (6/10) A fine show for entertainment
I adorn that this anime even existed for a Type-Moon fan like me I was in sheer joy when I was watching it. The anime gave me an enthralling experience and I hope you guys can feel the same once you watch this anime because you won’t even notice the time when you’re watching this. The anime is quick to finish for it only have less than 15 minutes per episode. I say if you’re looking for a decent comedy to pass the time why not try “carnival phantasm” even without the reference this show is enjoyable for the comedy.