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Dec 24, 2023
Under Ninja truly is something else. It's bizarre in a good way but the story is told terribly with characters being memorable only because of the absurd things they're doing.
What is Under Ninja about? I'm not really sure. There are two Ninja groups, government sponsored NIN and private individuals UN, fighting for superiority. Why are they fighting? What are their goals? I have only a vague idea likely because of how much is going on. It was very difficult to follow week to week and remember the plot relevant things that happened because of the sheer amount of unimportant characters and how the story is
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told. It jumps in time way too often during the first five episodes for absolutely no reason. For the remaining seven episodes new information is constantly thrown at the viewer as if we have any connection or knowledge to the characters infodumping. Following the stories of individual characters like Kuro is way easier than understanding the actual plot unfolding. Under Ninja would likely benefit from being binge watched instead of week to week, but I dont think it changes much. What I love is the unapologetically unhinged sense of humor, but it can go way too far like the hobo pumping breast milk in a public park and offering it to children. I only liked the Russian Foreigner arc and Kuro interacting with the people in his apartment complex, otherwise the plot was lackluster and impossible to follow. If you're confused, imagine how I felt watching it.
The characters definitely carry the entertainment value. Kuro, the main character, is a quirky and talented genin without any drive. When he's not assigned a mission he's hanging out at home... the elderly Oono's spare room he started squating in. Kuro's dynamic with Oono and their neighbor Ai are some of the funniest parts of Under Ninja; they're like a dysfunctional family. The other Ninja like Hibi and Shion are almost completely forgettable. Neither have any impact on the unfolding plot and seemed to be an introduction for characters relevant later. I admittedly didn't remember any names outside of Kuro while watching the show and only remembered the strange things they did. There's the Russian Foreigner cutting dudes dicks off to become a ninja, hobo breast milk guy, girl who likes being groped, talking cat, and more who I don't remember any characteristics of. Besides their quirks, not a single character is memorable.
The technical aspects of Under Ninja were incredibly mediocre. The animation is fine, doing nothing special besides trying to incorporate 3D animation occasionally. The Box Robot looks terrible in 3D and is incredibly jarring when it appears on screen. The animation the rest of the time is uninspired, not bringing anything new to the table. The music is also average; it sets the gritty tone without any memorability. The opening is killer and my favorite of the Fall 2023 season by far.
Under Ninja is different from other anime, but I don't necessarily think this works in its favor. Maybe if you want a palate cleanser from the other stuff coming out these days or you wanted actual ninja stuff to happen in Naruto this is for you. I personally found nothing special in the overcomplicated story besides the sense of humor. Humor and fun character interactions can only carry it so far, however, so I'm unsure if I'd watch a second season.
Plot: 4/10
Characters: 6/10
Animation: 5/10
Sound: 5.5/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Overall: 5.3/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Dec 21, 2023
Overture to a New War is the best film of the three, but not by much. Following in the footsteps of Golden Wings, this movie is yet another retelling of events seen in the show but takes the opportunity to flesh out familiar characters' relationships and roles in the Battle of Astarte. It's great for viewers watching chronologically or by release date because of this.
This movie has the soul of the original series, and not just because it retells the first two episodes. Lap, Jessica, and Yang have a complex friendship with each other. Lap is like Yang's Kircheis; they share a one mind
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with Lap being Yang's moral compass. Both are both in love with Jessica but Lap is dating her. There's a beautiful scene without any dialog in the first act where we see how deep their emotions are with each other explaining why the tension exists later between Yang and Jessica when they reunite after the battle. Yang's story moving forward is primarily his relationship with Lap leading up to the fateful Battle of Astarte. But you can't have Yang Wenli prominently featured in the movie and not have his political observations on the shortcomings of a democratically run military. Reinhard's story is the same as the first two episodes without any meaningful additions I noticed. He's facing opposition within the military hierarchy because of his age and lack of experience. He proves himself at the Battle of Astarte with a special focus on Fahrenheit and Merkatz's opinion of the young Commander. Overture to a New War also plants seeds for viewers watching the series next by introducing them to Reinhard's primary antagonist for the first season; admittedly, it's difficult to notice as it's a single scene since chronological viewers won't know who he is yet. Yang's story was far more interesting, but Reinhard's is high quality as well.
A strength and weakness of Legend of the Galactic Heroes is the sheer amount of characters being followed with Overture to a New War being no different. Lap and Jessica get a significant amount of development, something desperately needed for watching the first season. Lap is a relatively shallow character, mostly defined by his love for Jessica. Jessica herself had a little more depth because of her closeness with Yang. Yang, Reinhard, and Kircheis are their usual selves. All three are entertaining, intelligent, and keeping the story moving. Reinhard's job during the movie is to keep the plot progressing through the Battle of the Astarte facing his own opposition from the old fashioned Admirals. My favorite parts of the movie are the little character moments. Fahrenheit realizing Reinhard knows what he's talking about, Lap and Yang saying goodbye to Jessica, Yang thinking of Julian when he sees a heavily injured soldier, and more carry the spirit of the franchise. In such a massive story we need these tiny moments to humanize the characters, something I think is done incredibly well.
The technical aspects of the movie meet my expectations set by the original series. Even though it came out in 1993, it looks like it came out in 1988. No improvements were made whatsoever in terms of animation. It's slightly blurry, space battles were sinply done, and characters look like they were pulled directly from the first season. Golden Wings may have changed the character designs too much, but at least the animation was improved overall. I can't say that about Overture to a New War. It makes me question if this was made around the time if season one but never released for some reason. In terms of sound, the voice actors all reprised their usual roles and the music was reminiscent of Star Wars. Legend of the Galactic Heroes is obviously inspired by Star Wars, but that aside, the music sounded like it was ripped directly from its western counterpart. Brassy fanfare was used throughout the film instead of the usual classical themes. While I like the idea behind music being changing, I definitely prefer the original score. Classical music is leagues better for the beautiful tragedy playing out before us.
I enjoyed my time watching this movie. It's good for viewers new and old and is a natural addition to the franchise. Small character moments steal the show, but it's always fun to see some of the flashier battleground strategy from Reinhard and Kircheis. I'm glad Lap finally got some characterization to flesh out Yang's actions throughout season one. Animation is worse than I expected and the music is derivative of Star Wars. If you're watching Legend of the Galactic Heroes then you should definitely watch this movie. If this is your first time ever hearing about this franchise, start somewhere else.
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8.5/10
Art: 6/10
Sound: 9/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Overall: 7.9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 18, 2023
For such a phenomenal series, this movie is a rather disappointing story albeit not terrible. Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings is shallow and missing what I love most about the series: political commentary with substance.
Chronologically the first event in the timeline, Golden Wings remastered the backstory of Reinhard and Kircheis along side adding context to how they proved their genius on the galactic battlefield. The first act is essentially a reanimated version of an episode with the other two acts continuing where the show did not without the same level of detail. We see Reinhard and Kircheis earning the respect of the troops
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they command, but this is the most depth to the story. The main antagonist is a guy hired by a completely irrelevant single episode antagonist from the first season, in the process missing an opportunity to flesh out anybody relevant to Reinhard's story. The storytelling is lazy and cheap. It feels like something made to tide over fans until season three of the show was released. The end is trying to use impactful dramatic irony since we know what happens at the end of season one, and I didn't appreciate it being so on the nose. I wanted the movie to tread new ground in terms of character development for both Reinhard and Kircheis, but we get nothing. The movie also forgets the most important part of the original series (to me): political commentary. Golden Wings chooses the familiar in a backstory you've seen if you're watching in release order instead of exploring different avenues of the two men's relationship.
If you couldn't tell, Reinhard and Kircheis are the only two people who matter. Reinhard is significantly more affectionate to Kircheis than usual, taking many chances to play with his hair unprompted. The romantic undertones are present between the two in the original series, but Golden Wings makes a point to signal the homosexual tension between the two in the most obvious way. Yang is almost completely absent, appearing only three insignificant scenes with a jarring new voice actor. No other familiar characters made an appearance. Reuenthal, Mittermeyer, and Oberstein are all absent without even a mention despite their importance to the overall story. It makes sense to cut out characters for new viewers, but I think Golden Wings makes too many cuts and doesn't have the original characters to make up for it.
The animation is clearly an improvement over the original series, but has a sort of uncanny valley feel to it. These are clearly familiar characters and places to anybody who's watching in release order, but there's something off about it. Reinhard and Kircheis don't look like younger versions of themselves, but are clearly children and being portrayed as such visually. Yang looks almost completely different to the point where I didn't recognize him at first. It's easy to tell the movie is leaning into the developing 90s animation style, but it wasn't quite adapted right for Legend of the Galactic Heroes.
The music is exactly what I expected out of the franchise. Classical symphonies perfectly executed for the space epic. I would have liked some more memorable tunes, however. The only song to stand out was the one during the credits. It was a melancholic representation of how Reinhard likely thinks back on these memories.
This movie was essentially three mediocre episodes of the anime. Starting this franchise with Golden Wings is like easing yourself in through the kiddie pool. It's nothing more than an introduction to the two (admittedly most interesting) characters without any real substance in terms of new content. Does this make it a bad movie or even a bad place to start the franchise? No, but the pool gets a lot deeper from here.
Plot: 6.5/10
Characters: 6/10
Art: 7/10
Sound: 8/10
Enjoyment: 5.5/10
Overall: 6.6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 27, 2023
Don't make the same mistake I did and begin Legend of the Galactic Heroes without watching this movie. This is the intended start of the franchise. It's essentially my own introduction to the series, so keep this perspective in mind as you read my review.
My Conquest is the Sea of Stars is the perfect start to Legends of the Galactic Heroes. When starting the TV show there are an overwhelming amount of characters thrown at you in a single episode. The movie helps by clarifying who some of the most important people are and the adversity they face within their respective militaries. Yang and Reinhard
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are set up as foils by being mentally on the same page and facing similar internal challenges. Both are up and coming commanders/admirals who face opposition to their promotion from the high brass; they prove themselves in the battles of this movie and learn each other's name by the end. The battles are entertaining enough but don't have the weight of other space operas like Star Wars. Both men's closest allies are given roles in this movie and demonstrate their own authority of command but the battles are what I cared about the least. The movie also prepares the social commentary obviously present in series. The corruption of the Galactic Empire and Democratic Planet's Alliance brings a level of political intrigue I can't wait to be explored. The film is mostly a prologue to the anime, so it doesn't add much depth besides introducing the characters and military powers of the universe; however, it's invaluable for a franchise of this magnitude.
The art and sound seem obviously inspired by other space operas which only adds to the joy of watching this movie. From the opening crawl to the design of certain rebel fighter pilots, Star Wars is all over it. I like the homage to the popular series, but Legend of the Galactic Heroes blazes its own path. Outside of the orange jumpsuits, the costume design is unremarkable. Both sides have similar black uniforms often making it difficult to remember who is on what side. The art style falls in line with other popular 80s anime which I personally am not a fan of. The characters look like a muddled mess without any distinct physical features besides their hair color. The designs of the ships were spectacular and the scope gave them Star Trek vibes. The soundtrack is where this movie and series really shines. Grand and classical, the music perfectly fits the epic nature. The composer chose the route of orchestral sounds primarily made up of strings. While I do prefer the large brassy sounds of Star Wars, Legend of the Galactic Heroes stands on its own as having a perfect score. The sound is subdued, not trying to be overdramatic and knock you out of your seat. The classiness of the score fits well with the European inspirations for the countries and feels like watching a high society political thriller. The art may be lacking, but the sound more than makes up for it.
I had fun with this movie. Luckily I wasn't too far into the show before learning about this, so I don't feel out of the loop and overwhelmed by the characters. The movie helps sort through the weeds and understand who and what is important for the beginning of the story. I look forward to seeing how Yang and Reinhard's stories collide. I recommend this movie for anyone attempting to start Legend of the Galactic Heroes or those who want to get into anime sci-fi epics.
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 7/10
Art: 7/10
Sound: 10/10
Enjoyment: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 24, 2023
Minor Spoilers
Charlotte was first recommended to me by a friend around seven years ago and only now did I get around to watching it. This is exactly what I want in a 13 episode anime in terms of story telling. Are there flaws? Yes. The pacing is all over the place and only a couple characters get any real development. However, there are perfect episodes, fun character dynamics, and a conclusive ending.
Our main character Yuu has developed the power to possess people for five seconds at a time which he selfishly uses to be the top of his class. Nao is from a special school
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protecting power wielders from researchers who dissect children with similar powers; she gives Yuu his comeuppance for abusing his power then convinces him to join her student council to protect himself and others. The first five episodes follow Yuu, Nao, and the rest of the student council as they're persuading others to come to their school or stop using their powers. Episode six is when things take a turn. Charlotte goes from a generic anime to intense drama. I personally liked this turn as it breathed new life into the show. The monotony of the first few episodes is to lay the groundwork for what's to come. The seemingly smaller details like what happened to Nao's brother becoming increasingly important and builds upon itself. Episode seven was a fantastic exploration of grief and love and lays a bedrock foundation for Yuu and Nao's relationship. I think the writer is very good about handing out consequences for actions and making the children act like children. Yuu uses his powers in a childlike way in episode one, Ayumi is unable to control her powers initially, Yuu's entire final mission; many decisions come out of a place of youthful ignorance. Everything from episodes 1-12 is great even with the tone being all over the place. Charlotte could have ended at episode 12 with Yuu leaving for his journey and I think it still would have been a poor ending to an otherwise great show. The final episode gives a conclusive finish, but why rush it? I believe that an extra episode or even second season would have done a lot of good for justifying the chosen end, exploring the morality of Yuu's actions.
Character growth and dynamics are where Charlotte shines the most. Every character gets a surprisingly definitive arc. Yuu begins as a selfish, manipulative dirt bag who orchestrated a car wreck to get closer to the girl he likes then develops into a selfless hero who takes on the responsibility of helping every person with powers. I couldn't stand Yuu in the first episode but he grew on me over time. Nao doesn't experience much growth and is supposed to be seen as the most reasonable person at any given time. I mostly like her dynamic with Yuu where she's a bit of a tsundere. Yuu's sister Ayumi is a favorite of mine. She's a sweet and considerate young girl trying to take care of her brother in absence of their parents. Misa and Yusa are other fun additions to the cast adding their own melodrama and layer of comedy regarding Yusa being an idol. Shinsuke, despite being introduced halfway through, is the most important person in the story. His choices have crafted the plot but he himself is bland. He's necessary for the plot to move forward but doesn't have many defining character traits.
I'm going to lump together the technical aspects of the show for this review. The animation was mostly good and experimental at worst. There are some weird moments of excessive camera movement. For example, we didn't need the 360 camera shot if the student council room when Yuu first joins. These moments are relegated to the first few episodes but are jarring nonetheless. The soundtrack was fine. The opening was pretty good but that's about the only notable part of it. The voice actors did a pretty good job but I didn't hear any life changing or particularly notable performances. Both the animation and sound were fine without much to note.
I really enjoyed my time with Charlotte. It was short with a lot of heavy themes and a surprising amount of character development. The pacing was a bit all over the place and the ending wasn't very good. In the end the journey was better than the destination. I will forever love episode seven and see it as a perfect anime episode even if it didn't mean much in the scope of the show. I'd recommend Charlotte to anybody who wants to watch a short anime and doesn't want to waste their time with something soulless.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 8.5/10
Art: 7.5/10
Sound: 7/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Overall: 8.2/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 24, 2023
This Charlotte special takes place between episodes 3-5 of the original series. The student council responds to another ability user, this time a young girl named Iori who can passively project other people's thoughts.
The plot is wholesome albeit simple. Nao wants to cheer this girl up so her and Yuu hang out with the little girl. Nao earns Iori's trust and gets her friend Honoka to spend time with her again. We get the typical bickering between Yuu and Nao plus Nao's relationship with Iori is wholesome.
The animation follows the expectations set by the original series. There are none of the crazy camera movements,
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it's pretty smooth, and it's inoffensive. The soundtrack returns along with the opening and ending.
If you liked the first half of Charlotte then you'll enjoy this special. For me it's pretty forgettable but falls in line with the rest of the series. It's a nice bonus episode if you want just a little more content.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 15, 2023
I'm so glad to be done with Fist of the North Star. A continuation of the original series it is still such a slog to get through having plot holes left and right, boring characters, and being ugly to look at. It may be a classic, but Fist of the North Star should be left in the past.
The original anime was a simple martial arts succession story. Part two makes it overly complicated by adding primogeniture elements through an entirely new country. Arc one is follows the traditions laid out for the first 100 episodes but now everyone is ten years older. Ken returned after
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Yuria's death to find Bat and Lin leading a revolution against the Celestial Emporer. I know what your thinking, "that doesnt sound too bad; the kids grew up and have agency in the story." You'd be wrong. Bat and Lin don't matter in the slightest until the plot twist at the end of the arc. Lin then becomes the prize for the next arc because of her genetics and because woman. Bat is completely written out after the arc ends making me question the point of his existence in the first place. The reveal for who the Celestial Emporer is predictable, lame, and doesn't add any extra elements to the story. The second arc is where the plot really falls apart. Ken goes to the land of Asura to save Lin also learning about his past and the origins to the Fist of the North Star. Ken liberating Asura of its rulers is fine, but they retconned established canon in easily avoidable ways. I won't get into it to avoid spoilers, but even a little critical thought or a glimpse at the Crunchyroll comment section will make you realize how poorly the story is being told. The final episode especially pissed me off with Kaioh and Ken's final words being either creepy or contradicting everything they just did. The worst part of this show is how women are treated like objects. Women exist to love men and give them something to fight for. They aren't allowed to fight for themselves or be independent; women must love man and have child. For example, Mamiya briefly came back and was told not to fight by Ken when her village was literally being destroyed without anyone there to protect it. The moment she pulls out a weapon to fight back and not be killed is when Ken comes out of nowhere telling her to keep her promise to Rei. There aren't many redeeming qualities with the themes and a plot hole filled story isn't enough to fix it.
My hope with poorly told stories is that at least the characters would be entertaining enough to rescue it. Not in Fist of the North Star. I've already talked about how women are treated as objects, but the men aren't much better. They're always stoic and unfeeling, never wanting to express their true emotions or fueled by hatred and violence. Ken especially contributes to the themes of toxic masculinity. He's both physically and mentally strong with big muscles and not letting his emotions dictate his battles. He will either kill his enemy or give them a few minutes for final words because they earned his respect from their strength. He sheds a few tears only if somebody dies, but otherwise doesn't make his emotions public. Falco, Ein, Shachi, and Hyoh were typical side characters for this show. They fell in love with Ken (subtextually but not actually because everyone wants a woman) then do what most side characters in until now have done. The villains are lame too; Jakoh is an obviously weak waste of space and Kaioh hates love like Souther before him. There is not a single new character that really stuck out to me and the only one I somewhat cared about was Hyoh.
The animation wasn't quite as bad as part one. Maybe it was because I knew what to expect, but I didn't want to rip my eyes out this time. It was still messy for the most part with important fights receiving the bulk of the budget. The fights are animated well enough for the 80s but obviously dated. Fist of the North Star, like other anime of this era, fell into the Dragon Ball style of fights where character collect their energy/fighting spirit/spiritual pressure/ etc and trade blows before talking for awhile. This anime is from the 80s, so I cut it some slack for being ugly. It's still ugly though.
The sound remains the best part about Fist of the North Star. It's an absolutely iconic soundtrack that'll get you humming along even if you aren't enjoying yourself. The opening "Tough Boy" manages to be cheesier than "We Are Shock" by singing about fighting in the 90s despite neither the anime coming out in the 90s or taking place during that period due to the time skip. The voice acting continues to be mediocre and a lot of the background voices from part one remain the same. Overall, the soundtrack carries.
I'm so ready to be done with this anime. I would often sigh when thinking about watching the next few episodes and want to watch other anime instead. However, I tend to watch one long running show at a time, so it felt like something I couldn't escape. Fist of the North Star should really be left in the past. From what I've seen it mostly revolutionized the industry in terms of how violence was depicted. It really is senseless killing and heads exploding for the majority of the 152 episodes. This anime appeals to a certain type of audience. Like I said in my review of part one, I would have really enjoyed this in high school. I've grown up since then and am no longer the target audience. If you're a young, conservative, white man I think you'll really like this and it will reinforce the beliefs you already have about the functions of men and women in society. These themes about societal roles is the primary thing not making me want to recommend this to anybody, even the target audience. Don't watch it because you recognize the meme beyond episode 1. I wouldn't quite call it a waste of time, but if you really want to experience this story then read the manga where at least the art is good and you can get through it quicker.
Plot: 4/10
Characters: 4/10
Art: 5/10
Sound: 8/10
Enjoyment: 4/10
Overall: 5.1/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Nov 13, 2023
Minor Spoilers
This is the first piece of Chinese media I have ever watched so I had no idea what I would be getting myself into. Thankfully, this show was a delightful - albeit forgettable - experience.
Narratively, this donghua is simple yet efficient. Each episode is ten minutes long without the opening and ending, so every second must be used wisely. I liked the fast pacing but was often left wanting more by the episode's climax. I get the sense the original manhua was mostly reliant on gags and one off chapters forcing the writing team to come up with the framework. A young girl
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named Lingzhi arrives at the Herbivorous Dragon's cave demanding to be sacrificed to him. Since she won't believe the Dragon when he tells her who he is, Lingzhi is taken on as a "pupil" until the Dragon can figure out what to do with her. Comedy is often used to juxtapose characters' situations. For example, Lingzhi or the Water Saint will pick up on hidden meanings in the Dragon's words when he's trying to be upfront about who he is, or a hunter God who needs a pupil to survive can't teach the Dragon a single thing to save his life. The comedic elements keep the story from getting stale since without its a generic fantasy. The biggest issue narratively is the ending which happens so there can be a big battle at the end of the season without any actual consequences.
Where this donghua shines is with its characters. Herbivore Dragon is a typical fantasy main character in a dragon's body. He's clowned on for his weakness and simultaneously the moral compass of the show. He gives off big girl dad vibes with how he gently guides Lingzhi through her emotions and trying to reinforce her good deeds. He doesn't want to be the evil dragon he's mistaken for but takes on the responsibility of Lingzhi believing he is. Lingzhi herself has a surprising amount of layers. Raised to be a sacrifice in place of the child chosen by random draw, she fully embraces her role as sacrifice and later servant of the evil dragon. Despite being a child, Lingzhi is a powerful wizard who is able to protect herself and her master from the demon army. While Lingzhi could have been a boring Mary Sue she has genuine development by the end of the series; while the twist involving her was dumb, the resolution made sense because of her character arc's trajectory. The Water Saint is character who could be annoying to some with how whiny she is. I believe she's cute and a great antagonist for both the Dragon and Lingzhi. Her backstory is the best and most developed, illuminating why she is the way she is. While these three are the most important, the supporting characters are just as fun and entertaining albeit not memorable. You're meant to have light hearted fun and not morally grey, complex characters.
Neither the animation or sound are notable so I'll lump them together. The art style is generic and plain. There aren't any unique locations or elaborate character designs. The characters visit cave, town, river, and forest looking like swordswoman, Dragon, and noble wizard. The music isn't remarkable either. The openings and endings are mid in both languages. The score matches the scene and that's about it. I watched the series in Chinese as I preferred the original sub to the Japanese dub. The voice actors were fine in both but the Japanese dub felt slightly off to me. The Herbivore Dragon has the most dynamic vocal range and his Chinese voice actor did a pretty good job. Otherwise there was nobody of note.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this series. It's brainless fun and only half the commitment of a normal length anime with a fun cast of characters. This definitely isn't a must watch, but I'm happy with it being my first donghua. If you like fantasy but don't want to rack your brain trying to keep up with a complicated plot, then give it a go. My suggestion is to watch it in the original sub, not Japanese.
Plot: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Art: 6/10
Sound: 6/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Overall: 7.0/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 6, 2023
Naver's 2016 horror anthology fits in line with every other published before and since. Good at best and mediocre at worst but this time most have sound.
Most of the plots revolve around jumoscaring you at the end of the chapter. This approach only works because sound and panel effects are utilized. Some stories like The Returned Girls or Good Wife stand out as decent short stories, but the majority are forgettable.
The characters are just as forgettable as the stories they're in. It took me about a week to finish Shriek and I wouldn't be able to tell you a single character's name. They're all
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fine and serve the purpose they're given in the story.
Of the horror anthologies I've read, this one is the second best in terms of art. Most art styles are a hit, especially the black and white chapters. The jumpscares are sometimes ridiculous but they're always composed well. Small shakes and moving panels are also done well and should be carried over to other series. I wasn't blown away by anything but it was all consistently good.
Sound is the clear draw of this specific anthology. Eerie ringing, scratching, instrumental tracks; Shriek has quite the variety of supplemental sound. The minor creaks and groans gave a similar experience to a short film which aided the overall experience.
Like all other horror anthologies, this one was just ok. It wasn't bad or lazy like some with the sound carrying some of the more boring chapters. If you want something quick to read and a jumpscare or two give Shriek a read.
Plot: 6/10
Characters: 5/10
Art: 7.5/10
Sound: 6/10
Enjoyment: 5/10
Overall: 5.9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Nov 4, 2023
Minor spoilers
Anything I say about this anime won't do it justice. The puzzle of a plot is something you have to piece together, but the ride it takes you on is almost better. Serial Experiements Lain is at least a decade before its time offering commentary on what the internet can be used for or could become.
I genuinely have no idea what was going on. I have my own interpretation but only watching it once but I'm sure it will change with every viewing or as I talk to others. Despite not knowing what happened this is actually one of the best parts. It provides
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enough to get a sense of the story but is so dense with so many different elements that one may never be able to truly piece it all together. At times it's prophetic about how the wired/internet could be used in terms of social media connecting us for better or worse. At others it plays like a story about ai rebelling against its creator and what truly defines existence. There are also religious themes explored, philosophizing about what makes something God and whether or not one exists in the first place. There is so much here to dissect and enjoy; a single viewing isn't anywhere near enough time to grasp the religious, psychological, and technological messaging.
Every character is unique. Lain is a shy girl struggling with multiple personalities. She wants to come out of her shell but people keep recognizing a different version of her from the wired. She's simultaneously falling deeper into the wired, trying to unravel the mystery of her other self and figuring out who "God" is. Arisu is the second most important character serving as Lain's connection to he human world. Even if you take away all of the surreal imagery and plot, the crux of the story is Lain and Arisu's relationship. Lain's motivation is often trying to protect her friend or mend their relationship after the wired Lain messes something up. Even though these two are the most important, everybody contributes something. Lain's family, the creator of the wired, the Knights, the two guys following Lain, everyone has an important role even if you aren't sure what it is. They're all memorable in one way or another, especially the titular Lain.
Serial Experiments Lain has to be one of the most artistic pieces of media I have ever seen. A clearly limited budget is used to maximum effect. The reused scenes and settings could detract from the artistic expression but the execution causes these limitations to actually add to the overall experience. The use of two distinct color palettes reflects the different tones throughout. The animation itself is rather clean, especially for 1998. It looks like something that would come out a decade later, missing the distinct style 90s anime tend to have. My only criticism is the resolution drops in quality for random scenes then will go back to normal.
The sound design was spectacular. The low budget likely contributed to the lack of music and sound; however, the absence of sound works in the anime's favor. Complete silence will be cut by sudden strings or a jarring sound effect. The music is often ethereal making you feel like you're traveling the wired yourself. The opening is one of the best I've ever heard. The English vocals make it catchy and memorable plus being paired with the soft instrumental matches the tone of the series perfectly. While I wasn't a huge fan of the ending its lyrics fit well with the themes of the show. The sound design really is phenomenal and one of the best parts of the show.
Serial Experiements Lain is one of the best anime I've watched in months. Decades ahead of its time in terms of both themes and animation, it has to be one of the best anime of the 90s. The puzzle of a plot gives you just enough on the first viewing to understand what's going on while still encouraging you to come back to figure out what happened. However, this can just as easily chase people off so be warned before watching. I strongly recommend this to anybody willing to work their mind to try and piece together this anime.
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Art: 9.5/10
Sound: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Overall: 9.6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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