Back to BigTimeTalks's Profile BigTimeTalks's Profile

+ The OP and ED of this anime are irresistibly bright and catchy; I started watching this anime purely because I listened to the FUWAMOCO cover of Honey Citron.
+ I like how our twin protagonists have very distinct character traits that make them likeable for different reasons; one is sporty and meek, the other is smart and cheeky.
~ Futakire is yet another overwritten/underdeveloped light novel adaptation. The show dispenses a lot of frivolous pop culture references (to Star Wars, Star Trek, Cowboy Bebop, Ghibli movies, et cetera), particularly in scenes involving both Naori and Jun. This would be fine if they were just mere Easter ... eggs in the background, but as the backbone of the dialogue? The constant references don't add much to the narrative, and they quickly grow tiresome.
~ Instead of focusing on its core conflict, the story actively avoids any direct romantic rivalry between Rumi and Naori, and instead uses dialogue to talk around its romance rather than act out their feelings. Outside of a handful of major plot beats, the show is mostly just a string of boring conversations.

= Futakire's issues all stem from its refusal to lean into its trashy premise. It's an anime about twins romancing the same boy, for Pete's sake. How do we have less plot development in twelve episodes than Clannad had in that one episode about the Fujibayashi twins? My suggestion: the story should just be an escalating competition between Rumi and Naori as they try to entice Jun into a relationship, like if Kaguya-sama: Love is War was about a love triangle instead of two massive tsunderes. As it is, Futakire is just a subpar anime with pretty animation, a touch of comedy, and a disappointing lack of substance.

+ Oshi no Ko S2 carries over the lavish production values from the first season, resulting in its (predictably) stellar animation quality.
+ The voice acting remains a highlight for me, particularly from the actors voicing Kana, Akane and Ruby. They truly brighten up the show with their energy!
+ There are a few slight changes from the manga (mostly minor tweaks to the structure), which really benefits the show's pacing. The anime flows smoother than the manga, and the moment-to-moment plot beats feel more engaging.
~ The music is... fine. Far from bad, but it lacks the pop idol punch of the music from Season 1.
~ It's ... annoying how the show portrays acting as a war for the audience's affection. Performance is an art, not a sport, and doing a theatre production is more of a collaborative exercise than a competitive one. Actors desperately competing with each other for jobs? That, I can understand. But competing with each other on the same stage? That's just stupid.
~ Season 2 lacks narrative focus: we spend extended periods of time away from our main characters, and major story events happen due to pure happenstance.

= Claiming Oshi no Ko is a realistic depiction of show business is like saying Tropic Thunder is a realistic take on Hollywood filmmaking. Not that Oshi no Ko needs to be realistic to be entertaining (writer Aka Akasaka is free to draw inspiration from wherever he pleases), but the show's desperation to imitate an insider look of the entertainment industry is detracting from its character conflict. Still, the surface quality of the anime is strong enough to elevate even the most drab material. It's a decent watch, but with a tighter story, it could have been great.

~ Roshidere is marketed as a high school rom-com (i.e. two student council members secretly courting one another, a la Kaguya-sama), but in reality, it feels more like a show about student politics. The story spends WAY too much time explaining the finer details of the school's election process, and romance is treated simply as a vehicle for political ambitions and personal baggage.
~ The plot often feels inorganic and meandering. There is a heavy reliance on lengthy exposition dumps, either to explain the rules to a boring debate proceeding, or to explain a character's backstory in the vaguest of terms.
~ Is this show seriously telling ... me every student in this school cares about who they elect as their student council president? What kind of school is this??
~ This anime's unique selling point is its deuteragonist (Alya), who often flirts with the protagonist (Kuze) in Russian, which, unbeknownst to her, is a language he understands. And I'll be honest: this story gimmick doesn't work at all. There is no meaningful cause-and-effect generated from this idea; what always ends up happening is Alya says something embarrassing in Russian, Kuze gets flustered but keeps his mouth shut, and the story continues as though nothing happened. You can probably see how twelve episodes of this can get repetitive and dull.
+ Roshidere's greatest asset is Yuki Suou: the playful, mischievous little sister whose persistent teasing and devilish antics make her a fan favourite character, despite having less screen time than both Alya and Kuze. She's SO enjoyable, in fact, that every single one of her on-screen appearances has found its way onto YouTube. She's easily the most enjoyable character of the entire anime, and her appeal honestly speaks for itself.
+ Story issues aside, I must admit that the production and animation quality are quite good. Every character is wonderfully detailed, the opening is visually captivating, and the art style always compliments the tone of the scene (whether for comedy or for drama).
+ There are twelve different endings, each with their own unique song. Yes, the songs are all covers of pre-existing songs from other anime, but the effort is clearly there. It at least gives viewers something to enjoy as they sit through the credits.

= It is hard to give a decisive verdict when Roshidere is such a lopsided experience. On one hand, the feckless characters and aimless plot make for a frustratingly dull anime. On the other, it is saved by its character writing (as in: one character, singular); with her clearly-defined motives and willingness to take action, Yuki takes an otherwise mediocre, skip-worthy anime and elevates it into something almost halfway decent. It's nowhere close to cathartic or satisfying, but the handful of trashy, fun moments throughout the show may be enough to justify a watch.

+ Like previous seasons of Konosuba, it's a strong dose of comedy with a hint of heart!
+ Compared to last year's Megumin spin-off, the mainline Konosuba series is much stronger by comparison. The balance of the main cast better accentuates the comedy, where competing interests (often selfish and perverse in nature) lead to hilarious hijinks. Even when some jokes don't land, the chemistry of the main charaacters is able to carry the energy throughout the show.
+ It's nice that Konosuba remains earnest in its thematic goals: yes, it's a parody of Isekai and harem anime, but it also has a few sincere, emotional moments.
+ ... Lalatina fans rejoice, we're getting a Darkness-centric main story arc! It's refreshing to get more backstory and character development from our resident masochist crusader, especially after an entire spin-off and movie focusing exclusively on Megumin (granted, Megumin is a really fun character and I have nothing against her, but I enjoy seeing what else Konosuba has to offer as well).

= Konosuba's 3rd season could stand to be a bit more profound and cathartic. But calling out Konosuba for not being more emotionally enriching is like complaining about the lack of nutrition in an ice cream sundae. It's a show that expands on the story from previous seasons, while retaining its easygoing structure and playful spirit; it's hard to imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy Konosuba at least a little.

+ As usual, Spy x Family's characteristic charm is on full display in this feature-length movie!
+ Some of the comedic gags (particularly those relating to Anya) got a great laugh from the audience!
+ It is a completely original story (i.e. independent from the manga), which makes it a viable entry point for any newcomers to the series. That said, I would personally recommend watching at least the first two cours (25 episodes) of the TV show before watching the movie.
~ There is a heavy reliance on cutaway jokes and shoehorned cameos from side characters, which significantly weakens the pacing and story structure because they add ... nothing to the plot.
~ All of the big spy action set pieces, while impressive and well-animated, are shoved into the last 30 minutes of the movie. This makes for an uneven experience where most of the movie is just comedy hijinks and slice-of-life moments.
~ Here's my biggest issue: the three main characters (Loid, Yor, Anya) each have their own internal conflicts and embark on their own separate adventures, but each of their subplots are also resolved independent of each other. They only work together as a family near the very end, essentially stumbling into one another after their personal subplots have been resolved.

= Code: White continues the Spy x Family trend of effortlessly executing lighthearted jokes with an undeniable cuteness, but the story is severely lacking in cohesion. The series' first movie fails to achieve the familial harmony of the TV series, wherein Loid, Yor and Anya were directly affecting one another through their actions. Here, the overreliance on cutaway gags and cameos results in a movie that feels like less than the sum of its parts.

~ The story is a bit slow and uneventful, which is particularly concerning when the movie has a meagre runtime of under 74 minutes (even less if you exclude the end credits).
~ The movie begins and ends with a scene relating to the sequel, which makes the story feel less like a cohesive experience and more like a quick layover before a more important story.
~ Between the fact that he's both a supportive boyfriend and a caring older brother, I'm beginning to think this "rascal" isn't really much of an actual rascal. And no, being a bit pervy with your cute actress girlfriend is not ... an example of delinquent behaviour.
+ I gotta admit, the movie did give me a couple of good laughs.
+ Despite its languid pacing, it is thematically substantial. Without going into too much detail, the story involves Kaede, her goals for the future, and her struggles with identity.

= The Rascal Does Not Dream series is at its best when adolescent struggles are externalized into a conflict against a sci-fi/fantasy force, but this third installment/second movie somewhat flounders because most of this conflict is realized internally. Kaede is a serviceable central figure for this movie (since her story arc in the first season left a lot of loose ends), but her conflict, while relatable, is largely static and ultimately resolved through a shift in perspective as opposed to direct, tangible action.

That said, it's a nuanced character study on a character that desperately needed one, and gives us a deeper understanding of the sibling relationship between Sakuta and Kaede. While it's definitely tempting to ask for more, what we got instead was interesting in its own way, too. It doesn't exactly live up to the high points of the series, but it's far from outright awful.

+ Simple, easy-to-follow story concept: a bucket list in a zombie apocalypse!
+ Like a cross between My Name is Earl and Zombieland, making a bucket list is inherently fun. It provides a thematic throughline for the whole show, and gives viewers something to look forward to in future episodes.
+ Easily the most joyful expression of zombie fiction, tied with maybe Shaun of the Dead.
+ Colourful, zany, explosive animation!
+ I love the sharp use of literary devices! For instance, I like how Shizuka's pragmatism serves as a foil to Akira's blissful hedonism. I also like how the bucket list naturally serves as foreshadowing for future episodes.
~ ... The writing can be clumsy and facile; emotional plot beats often devolve into melodramatic monologues and protracted fits of screaming.
~ The (non-zombified) antagonists are always so cartoonishly evil that it becomes hard to take the conflict seriously (since I know that the villain equivalent of Dr. Evil will inevitably fail against our protagonists).
~ Zom 100 has a long list of production issues. This won't matter to people watching the show long after the season has already finished, but this has led to delayed releases, incomplete assets, and outsourced work.
~ One such production issue: it took them nine episodes to finally finish the opening credits sequence in full. NINE!! Before that, they simply rehashed scenes from the previous episode to fill the opening's runtime, which always felt lazy and unsatisfying.
+ On the bright side, the completed opening is wonderfully upbeat, perfectly capturing the spirit of the show and its characters.
~ Outsourcing animation to a different studio has noticeable drawbacks, chiefly tonal inconsistency. Early episodes are a lot edgier compared to the wackiness of later episodes, which can mislead audiences.
~ This tonal inconsistency extends to character facial expressions, which aren't always as silly as they need to be. Skimming through the early chapters, the manga seems to agree with this; the manga has a lot of silly, exaggerated facial expressions that aren't adapted into the anime.

= The show can feel juvenile at times, and zombie fiction was already considered passé a decade ago. But unlike so many other mediocre anime, Zom 100 is actually *about* something. It's a response to Japan's unhealthy work culture, with a simple yet universal message: life is short and cruel, and you should seize the day by doing the things you love and being with the people you care about. Otherwise, how are you any different from a zombie?

+ Cute, silly and easy to enjoy!
+ SPY X FAMILY's best quality has always been its accessibility. Whether you are new to anime or even a fan of a different genre, there should be something about the show that appeals to you.
+ Season 2 finally gives us our first long-form story arc, with six consecutive episodes that immerses us in a larger plot.
+ The ED is VERY catchy and extremely comforting to watch!
~ Despite its comedic hijinks and spy action fun, the show can still feel insubstantial. I wish the show was more willing to lean into its natural conflict and develop a more compelling ... plot out of it (for instance, how do the main characters risk disclosing their own secret identities? What would happen if they were found out by one another?)

= The best and worst aspect of Season 2 is how it really is just more of the same. After two seasons (or three cours) of SPY x FAMILY, the larger plot has not moved beyond its initial concept (three individuals working in secret to preserve peace while maintaining a second life as part of a fake family). In the end, it's a sitcom; regardless of where the plot goes, everything eventually returns back to normal. There is nothing inherently wrong with this; the fact that it's still enjoyable is why I recommend the show. But as it stands, SPY x FAMILY is just a good comfort show when it could have been an emotionally enriching experience.

+ The show is very funny! I'd forgotten how funny this anime was since the initial season came out two years ago.
+ The character writing is great all-around, but I love Shu in particular; every time he's on screen, the scene is guaranteed to be comedy gold.
~ As a compilation of all the stories that weren't adapted from the manga in the previous season, it can be a bit hard to follow. The show often dips in and out of chronological order, jumping between months, even within the same episode.
~ Definitely for fans of the series, people who already know and love the characters. If ... you didn't enjoy Horimiya before, you're unlikely to find anything to like about it now.
~ The final episode doesn't really earn its sentimental ending; the monologue comes off as didactic, and puts an emotional damper on what would've otherwise been a cathartic, lively conclusion.

= It's basically Horimiya DLC, an expansion pack to the first season for those who want a bit more. Obviously, since it's just a collection of leftover side stories, Horimiya: Piece is a relatively low-stakes affair, composed almost entirely of silly comedy bits and filler arcs involving supporting characters. But Horimiya fans will have little to complain about; it's a show that maintains the same sweetness and humour that we've come to expect from the series.

~ My Tiny Senpai is a textbook example of why drama requires motive and conflict to thrive, and what happens when they aren't there. The characters never have any explicit goals, and the resulting story feels aimless and monotonous.
~ This is the most generic slice-of-life anime I've ever seen. The protagonist is an unremarkable everyman, the female lead is lovable and buxom, and the two have clichéd romantic encounters where they start blabbing about how embarrassed they are over nothing. There is no thematic hook or selling point to this anime; what makes this show different from every other workplace anime?
~ The character design is ... completely flat. Outside of the tiny senpai herself, none of the characters have any striking visual features, existing only to populate the background.

= Slice-of-life can have a reputation for being boring, but the point of the genre is to heighten the drama of everyday situations. Yet even by the metrics of slice-of-life anime, My Tiny Senpai is insufferably dull. It's an anime we've seen before in shows like "Wotakoi" or "My Senpai is Annoying," but without the character focus of the former or the comedic highs of the latter. I usually try to finish the entire season before I write a review, but I truly can't sit through any more episodes.