Incredible squandered potential. It almost makes me madder because I can see that this was nearly a great show. It has all the elements but it feels like it was, quite literally, put together in the wrong order.
This has everything going for it. This should have been a slam dunk for me. It has everything I like:
*Gunvolt-esque robot master robot warriors with gimmick powers
*robo-revolution
*cute character design
*SPACE
*good music
*good writing - ERROR:404
The sticking point here is that this may be some of the worst TV anime writing I have experience in quite a while. I acknowledge that I haven't watched seasonal anime for ages. Maybe I've let
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Mar 26, 2024
Soukou Kihei Votoms: Genei-hen
(Anime)
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I feel more like this is a greatest hits album of votoms. The first arc is quite literally two characters going on an anniversary reunion tour of every major location from the first series. It can only really aspire to remind me of better TV. It kills off characters I liked and muddies the legacy of others. It was a series of events that managed to even undo the controversial, but in my opinion exciting ending of the original, but replacing it with one even weirder and likely offputting to anyone who didn't like the original.
The animation is serviceable but not energetic or particularly inspired. ... 
Mar 26, 2024
Soukou Kihei Votoms
(Anime)
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Uncut peak. I know this isn't for everyone, but if you have the patience, you will find an incredibly ahead-of-its-time mecha classic.
Some elements feel dated, and it drags as much as you should expect for this era and genre. This might turn off people used to modern seasonal, because this operates on the axis of 'great TV' and delivers a tone you don't see anymore. It's a hard boiled show, closer to a war or detective show. The man with no name walks through a story of conspiracy and social connection he wants no part in. A wanted man who will do anything to survive. The ... 
Sep 18, 2022
Sousei no Aquarion
(Anime)
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Anyone watching this in current year is in for a bad time. Its watchable at best.
Do not be fooled by the first two episodes that tease at a better series and present good hooks. The show shifts and by episode 4 it devolves into 'not-quite-bad-enough-to-be-funny territory like an episode dedicated to foot fetish. This fails to do anything other than borrow the surface level aesthetics of the post-eva imitator wave. In stark contrast to RahXephon or any of the other shows that do anything with it. I have no faith it will ever have adiquite payoff considering how disinterested it is with the elements it introduces. ... 
May 8, 2022
Senki Zesshou Symphogear
(Anime)
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This feels like anime in form and not a whole lot else. It takes 4 episodes to do a story beat it set up in the first 10 minutes. It goes from questionable yuri to actually gross, it has action sequences but they don't have weight because they get drowned out by music and don't grab your intention and worst of all it feels like a waste of time.
This is what happens when you take insert songs, usually a treat for high-impact moments and try to build a whole magical girl hybrid with super robot elements. It should be good but its just nothing. Also I ... 
Jan 20, 2022
Buddy Complex
(Anime)
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This show made me remember why I love Mecha Anime.
This thing is a Gundam in all but name, but it has enough of its own identity. Its standout aspect is its absolutely breakneck pace. You could argue it is tropey, but this thing blasts through what usually takes 25-50 episodes. It trims enough fat to only leave the exciting moments and it only has a slow point in retrospect. You know how Gundam 0079 had an insane last handful of episodes because they compressed the last season? this show feels like 12 (14 including the 2-episode sequel, which is a must see) of that energy. ... |
