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Dec 28, 2023
Jujutsu Kaisen a standout in the world of Shonen captivated audiences and concluded its first season leaving fans eagerly waiting for the next season. As season 2 unfolded, it brought forth a mix of anticipation and scrutiny paving the way for a nuanced exploration in this review.
Season 1 of Jujutsu Kaisen emerged as the most entertaining Shonen with its popularity driven by compelling sorcery battles and its distinct charm. Revisiting a couple of episodes before its 2nd season started airing and then diving into the second season felt akin to reuniting with an old friend. Despite a somewhat generic narrative, the premise of sorcerers working
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behind the scenes to exorcise curses was intriguing, and it excelled in its execution. The animation, fight sequences, and character dynamics were nothing short of spectacular. While it bore a few similarities to Naruto and Bleach, it managed to carve its own identity even though the storytelling lacked the desired memorability. Notably, a few characters such as Gojo could have benefitted from a lot more depth. Nevertheless, the series excelled in being remarkably entertaining and ultimately, that's what matters.
Onto Season 2, the shift in art style from the Hidden Inventory Arc may raise eyebrows, but subjectivity prevails. Personally, this change, particularly for a flashback felt welcome. The first five episodes dedicated to exploring Gojo's past and his friendship with Geto, proved to be a refreshing narrative detour.
Now we welcome one of the best arcs of JJK yet-Shibuya Incident.
The anticipation and excitement among manga readers were prominent, driven by the sheer scale of destruction, multitude, and intensity of every fight as witnessed in the source material. Animating these fights and portraying the chaos and destruction around Shibuya while mirroring the manga's grandeur was a monumental and formidable task. Given the studio's reputation of going above and beyond in their adaptations which they did with Season 1, Season 2 was set to be crowned as one of the best of all time if adapted perfectly.
And well, while certain fights showcased incredible intensity, however, there were instances of inconsistent flow due to a few abrupt shifts as the fight progressed which was apparent in Yuji's fight with Mahito before Todo arrived. The use of slow motion and still frames while not inherently bad, felt a bit excessive. This was noticeable in Gojo's fight with Mahito, Jogo, Choso, and Hanami although this is one of the complete fights alongside Yuji's fight with Choso, Yuji, Todo vs Mahito, and Choso vs Geto. Jogo's clash with Sukuna exhibited intensity yet a bit of refinement would have elevated it further. Similarly, Sukuna vs Mahoraga also fell short of perfection and these 2 were pivotal fights as they truly represent the essence of the Shibuya Incident Arc, where the destructiveness and intensity reached unprecedented heights. It's quite evident from fights such as with Dagon that this was rushed. Despite that, if one pays attention to the details, the commitment to deliver a solid adaptation to this arc is apparent.
And they did deliver, albeit not as expected. They adapted every fight well featuring exceptional fight sequences that vividly captured the turmoil engulfing Shibuya. For manga readers, it was truly a delight to watch these come to life on screen.
The direction behind this series is exceptional and the staff behind this deserves more than mere appreciation. In all honesty, the studio should have taken adequate time with this arc, given the difficulty in animating this arc, and adapting this is far more ambitious than Season 1.
Reflecting on this season, it left me contemplating what could have been achieved if the staff behind this were granted the luxury of better working conditions and adequate time. Despite that, Season 2 manages to capture the allure and entertainment left behind by Season 1 and lives up to it, even though it fell short of the perfection that seemed within its reach. And there's still more to come for Jujutsu Kaisen, leaving me a tad bit apprehensive regarding the treatment of upcoming arcs. Lastly, the staff deserves commendation for their ambitious artistic intent, and gratitude is owed for their dedication. It's neither perfect nor flawed, but the untapped potential of this season to have been the most amazing thing we as viewers could have experienced is what keeps it away from perfection.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 23, 2023
Blue Lock is based on unconventional themes that one might not typically associate with sports fiction, such as egoism and individuality. While these themes may put some readers off, it would still most likely end up being an unexpectedly entertaining and worthwhile read if the focus is on what it does best. This aspect makes Blue Lock stand out and worth diving into. It feels more like a battle royale-based shonen than a typical sports manga, and that's a big part of its charm. Admittedly, it took a while to get used to how these themes work, determine what the manga is trying to convey,
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and understand why these themes are being explored. Everything would fall into place eventually and start to make sense as we explore the characters and their motives.
The art style is simply stunning, if you have a vivid imagination, there’ll be countless moments that get you genuinely hyped for what’s to come as every moment in an arc or match unfolds. Beyond the art, it also explores themes such as self-improvement, why one must pursue the best version of oneself, and the privileges that come with doing so. What resonated with me the most was the concept of learning, unlearning, and relearning. Basically, this involves gaining a piece of knowledge, discarding what doesn't work, and then gaining new information that builds on this previous knowledge to make it work according to the situation, thereby, reinforcing it to make it better. There are many instances where such values are quite reflective in our lives and I'm sure you would find at least one value that you can relate with and take away from Blue Lock. I've been following Blue Lock for over a year and am still a fan of its art and unorthodox take on soccer. Moreover, the adrenaline rush that comes with reading and imagining all the soccer battles keeps me coming back for more.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Sep 17, 2023
Eighty-six has been one of the best anime experiences I've had in quite a while. The amalgamation of various themes, endearing characters, and flawless execution makes it one of the best adaptations of all time. Having read the Light novel after the anime, claiming that A-1 delivered a faithful adaption is an understatement. A-1 hit it out of the park with this one; it's unbelievably amazing.
I was taken aback by the time taken and the amount of detail that went into the world-building and introduction of characters in part 1, it's rare to come across such meticulous storytelling these days. While it may not
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feature as many mecha warfare scenes as one might expect, the show more than compensates it with its intricate and character-driven story. Part 1 helped lay out the overall foundation for the world, and Part 2 only expands on it and does so impeccably living up to all expectations from start to end.
-The animation and art style contribute to its distinct identity, leaving a lasting impression.
-The soundtrack from Sawano Hiroyuki and Kohta Yamamoto is absolutely surreal, I find myself listening to the soundtrack at times, and this deepens my appreciation for the show.
-The fight scenes were phenomenal, with fantastic animation, fight sequences, and incredible sound design, and it's more than one would expect from a mecha anime. Need I say more?
-Character development for every character is incredible, especially for Lena and Shin. The perfect balancing of light-hearted and wholesome moments with the adversities and the psychological conflicts each of them undergo as the story unfolds provides a sense of humanity to the characters and makes them relatable.
The thought-provoking conversations about the reality of war, human nature, and the purpose of living, from various perspectives, only serve to draw and immerse yourself within the fictional world and its emotional rollercoaster. And let's not forget the voice acting which beautifully managed to flesh out emotion in scenes and dialogues that really needed them.
In conclusion, 86 is a really enjoyable anime I'd recommend without hesitation, any fictional material that excels in storytelling, character development, and animation is a rare find these days. It not only excels in those aspects but also leaves behind a profound impact and takes the viewer on an unforgettable journey.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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