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"Sex-Jokes" the anime! Seitokai Yakuindomo in a nutshell.

If you're looking for a hysterical, perverted, pure for-laughs-only anime, you've found it. If you're looking for a lot of fan-service, heavy romance, or ecchi, look somewhere else, as this show avoids visual adult humor. Your view of sexual humor will utterly influence your enjoyment of this show. If you appreciate it, it's fantastic. If not, it's terrible.

Unusual in that most all of the jokes come directly and intentionally from the female cast, who represent a different fetish each, the show is surprisingly enjoyable. Despite the immature content, it doesn't really come off as low-brow; most of the ... humor comes from wordplay and misunderstandings. Yet if you really just can't stand inappropriate innuendos or any no-filter dick jokes, then you might give this one a pass. Otherwise it's a great interlude between your more serious dramas and it's really easy to drop and pick up at your leisure.

There isn't much of a story to push the characters along, being very much slice-of-life. It often changes scenes pretty quickly, to move onto the next joke or pun. This left me a little bored in the few scenes when there wasn't a joke, but that was between laughing my ass off from great writing, so it's not much of a downside. Unfortunately sometimes there is a bit lost in translation to English, but the sub does a decent job to explain anything that would be otherwise lost. Well enough that despite the lost timing of the joke, you still can chuckle a little.

Overall this show is a great laugh and I recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of humor, but don't expect a compelling story or anything serious.

I don't think there have been too many shows that have moved me the way Your Lie in April did. This is a anime where sound and story combine to take you to an emotional brink, then give you the slightest push. Originally, I was somewhat skeptical of a classical music based anime, but music has never molded my perception of a show the way this has. In a way, the music IS the show, and the show IS the music. I've listened to good soundtracks like in Angel Beats or Madoka Magica. They aren't the same. This is a show to watch with good ... speakers, ladies and gentlemen.

Story: 10/10

Simply put, this story is about overcoming grief. It starts out upbeat, but past and future tragedy are what mark this romance. Kousei is a failed piano prodigy who no longer can hear his piano playing, and goes through life in monotone, full of boredom. Suddenly Kaori enters his life, and he begins to see life differently. A very simple story, but executed perfectly. Too much explanation would ruin it. The thing I love most about this series is that it tells the story and just the story. Every single scene has importance and nothing is dragged out. It is exactly as long as it needs to be. Characters tend to monologue and this can seem pretentious at times, but everything is very eloquent. This story you feel in your heart, not think in your head, and the last episode will leave you emotionally drained yet satisfied from the finale.

Art: 8/10

The color palette featured in most romantic comedies is present here as well. The scenes involving complex instrument playing is often high quality, but it can cause you to notice when it isn't in high quality. The high point artistically is definitely the last episode, where small CGI effects are added in a decidedly beautiful crescendo, just like the story and the music. Good but not unique, barring the last episode, which in my opinion is phenomenal.

Sound: 10/10

A music based anime better have a 10/10 sound. This one beyond delivers. This is one of the few works of art, even outside of anime, where the music guides the listener as much as or more than the story and visuals. Many of the characters emotions are put on display when they are playing instruments. You think I'm exaggerating or being eloquent. You can almost LITERALLY feel what the characters are feeling from the sound. It matches so perfectly that words are hardly needed to describe the scenes. Yes, it's classical music, but it means the directors/author could cherry pick from the best of classical music the most suited song for the moment. As a guy who likes rock, pop, and metal, it still is great to listen to. It is an absolute requirement to listen to this show with a good pair of headphones or speakers. Otherwise justice will not be done to this work of art.

Character: 9/10

All of the characters seem really genuine. Sometimes you might see a show where a character fills an archetype or trope and they seem kind of exaggerated in personality, almost fake. All of the characters in this show have their little desires and fears, and not one of them seems to try too hard at it. Yet despite this, or maybe because of it, none of them truly are defining AS an archetype or trope, and those are there for a reason. I personally ended up liking all of the characters; their decisions where the things that made their personalities, not what the show merely told me. In the end though, I'm not sure I felt that anyone was truly destined for one or another, that it was unacceptable not to be, so that might be the only thing keeping this from a 10/10.

Enjoyment: 10/10

One of my favorite anime so far. This is an emotionally beautiful work of art. Near perfect accurately describes the resolution of the story. While not overly dramatic or intense in plot, the emotions raised through music, story, and visuals are impacting. Buy a good pair of headphones and prepare to eat your heart out.

Well I came to see a romance I heard was popular online. While I guess I enjoyed myself, there are a lot more romances that outshine Kiachou wa Maid-sama! I feel that it defines average for the romance genre.

Story: 5/10

There wasn't really all that much guiding the story besides the fact Takumi likes Misaki. Sure there were interesting short arcs, but no overarching plot-line to push the story forward. Very much slice-of-life, but with no real direction. Lots of cliche episodes like the beach episode. Nothing I particularly disliked, but nothing to keep me interested either. I guess I kind of enjoyed certain plot elements ... like the set up of a female lead in a authority position over a bunch of hoodlum guys, but I'm not really sure much propelled me to finish the show other than I was curious if the two mains got together. There was no drive for me to see them together. The very last story arc introduced a new character as well and sort of threw off the whole vibe of the show. Not the best story planning I've seen.

Art: 6/10

Fine. I may not have seen it in the best quality, but it seemed pretty generic for the romance genre.

Sound: 3/10

Poor. Like really. I could not find anything that sounded good at all. The sub was so high pitched that I hated it, and the dub was pretty high and seemed off. Maybe it was the quality of the particular video I was watching. I don't think so.

Character: 3/10

This is where I probably have the most to say. Firstly: I freakin' loved Misaki. She was totally awesome and really fit the strong female lead role. Her responses and actions fit her and seemed real. Loved a scene where she was accidentally drunk. It was hilarious. On the other hand, I positively HATED Takumi. Seriously? This is what the author thought a princely-type guy should be like? I went through the show thinking he would change, but no. This was just what the author thought would be attractive. Yeah, no. Go look at Ouran High School Host Club for a good princely lead. Not a freakin' stalker. Lastly, a somewhat major character was introduced in the last few episodes, and really threw off the show. Instead of focusing on deepening the shallow relationship, they just tried to drive a wedge in between and after the two overcoming it, said "Ohh I guess we were in love...." Stupid. This category really depends on your like of Takumi.

Enjoyment: 7/10

That all said, it was hard to really not enjoy the show somewhat. Not at all stressful to watch and had a pleasant, if odd, ending. I might just be easy to please. I don't really recommend this show unless you've finished the countless others that are better, but I guess it's not bad. It might be better if you like Takumi more.

Overall: 5/10

When you mention Steins;Gate, you're bringing up one of the great masterpieces of anime. Period. Half slice-of-life/romantic comedy, half Sci-Fi thriller, Steins;Gate takes the concept of time travel and the morality surrounding it and transfixes its audiences, enough so that it currently grabs hold of 2nd Place on the MyAnimeList "Top Anime" Poll. It's likely where you first saw it, and now you're wondering just what makes it so popular. Well this isn't your run-of-the-mill, time travel drama. It takes the archetype and runs with it, leaving a moving and memorable story in its wake. My (obviously) personal favorite, Steins;Gate is a must see for ... anyone, those interested in anime for the first time or those who style themselves aficionados of the anime scene.

Story: 11/10 (Yes, an '11.' I can not understate how good this is.)

Told from the point of view of self styled "Mad Scientist," Okabe Rintarou, Steins;Gate is about, you guessed it: time travel. But in a way it's not really about that. It's about the person Okabe Rintarou, the relationships he has and builds during the show, and how his discovery and misuse of a time machine slowly breaks both down. In this show, you watch a man crack from the morality of the decisions he has to make in order to keep not only his life, but the future, stable. While this paints the picture of a very serious show, the first half of the anime actually is much like a slice-of-life where comedy and romance rule. Discovery of the time machine is initially pretty entertaining for Okabe (aka mad scientist 'Hououin Kyouma') and his 'Lab Members.' However, this makes you feel all the more for the characters as the second half takes the story for a plunge into drama. Being a hard science fiction show, the science and history behind everything can be a little intense, but things are usually explained pretty well without making you feel like you're watching a lecture. It's pretty cool when you see all the real life connections, such as John Titor, SERN (CERN), and Akihabara. While I won't tell you if the story has a sad or happy ending, it is very well done and while a teeny bit confusing, left me feeling pretty satisfied. Some people feel that there are small plot holes in the show, but they are explained away fairly well if re-watched and the internet explains it well if you end up somewhat confused. There are also side stories and a sequel OVA and movie if you're interested. Probably the only two negatives of the plot are that the first half is pretty slow, a low point being episode 4, and later on, the show seems to dedicate one episode each to each (mostly) female member, a by-product of originally being a visual novel. While these suit the story-line and can't be just taken out, you can sense a tinge of the harem/multiple-love-interest trope and it feels a little unnecessary. Yet overall, the quality and intensity of the story is basically unmatched by any other animations I've come across.

Art: 8/10

Unfortunately not quite the lovely visuals of the original visual novel. The art really doesn't stand out positively or negatively. It seems to suit the atmosphere of 'scientific endeavor,' with lots of matte colors and sharp edges. Gray dominates a lot of city scenes. Yet it does its best to fit the tone, with interesting transition scenes during the actual time travel and drops or additions to the color palette depending on the intensity of the scene. Because there isn't a whole lot of fast pace action, there aren't any real dips in quality, but, again, nothing stands out particularly either. For those of you worried or curious about fan-service, there really are only one or two minor scenes and even they have some small plot association (there is some perverted humor, though.) The art is definitely not the draw to the series, but it's not bad by any means, either.

Sound: 8/10

We all know the real question here is Sub vs Dub. Honestly, both have their perks. For the sub, the voice actors are very good, especially Okabe's, the romantic lines are better, and Japanese tends to fit the pacing of the show better. On the other hand, the dub has fairly good voice acting as well, and the jokes have been translated to English much more effectively in the dubbed version. I like to watch both.

The music itself is pretty absent in parts of the show. You tend not to notice it, or you notice it's lack. This is artistically done, so I personally feel it doesn't draw away from the show, and instead adds to it. It really suits the mood established by the art: 'scientific endeavor.' The opening theme is pretty good, but nothing to laud about either. The ending theme is hardly worth mentioning. Nothing about it stands out. Yet despite all this minor negativity, the show feels really secure in its tone, and comes off quite well overall, even if not all that noticeably.

Characters: 9/10

Characters can make or break a show. While this one has several memorable ones, such as the "hacka" Daru (Itaru), the "part time warrior" Suzuha, and my favorite, the "zombie tsundere" Kurisu, the story really only follows the protagonist Okabe. Since he is the only one who can remember the alternate timeline during time travel, he is the only one who has any real character development during the show. This isn't really a bad thing, since the show really delves deep into his psyche. Initially, Okabe is flamboyant and embarrassingly entertaining as the mad scientist "Hououin Kyouma," who takes care of his "Future Gadget Laboratory" with childhood friend Mayuri and developer Daru. This facade slowly unravels as he deals with the problems of time travel and his love interest in Kurisu. Kurisu, the main female lead, is voted "best girl" in many online polls. The definition of a tsundere, she is likable and helpful to the story, the brains behind the time machine. The romance that sprouts between her and Okabe, while pretty corny sometimes, is almost as intense as a pure romantic comedy. Their banter back and forth drives a lot of my personal entertainment from the series. Unfortunately the English dub somewhat botches the romantic lines, and is one of the main differences between the sub and dub. But like I mentioned before, the entertainment derived from the dramatic second half of the show is underlined BECAUSE the characters are really enjoyable and time is taken to get to know each of them. It's easy to care about all of them, so when things go downhill, and do they go downhill, you can easily get caught up in it.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Hands down best anime ever. By now I've seen around 40 of them, and it's still number one. So it's obvious I enjoyed the heck out of it. It's one of the few that I've seen both subbed and dubbed, and even then have re-watched. No one I have introduced it to has disliked it. Once you get a certain way halfway through, you will absolutely marathon the second half. Only things I personally disliked about the show were the high voice of Akiha and Mayuri's incessant babble "Tuturu," which in a way was a little endearing. Somewhat. Still, this anime made me laugh, cry, and gasp in shock. It made me think about the morality of decisions and it made me really feel for the characters.

Overall: 10/10