- Last Online10 hours ago
- GenderFemale
- BirthdayOct 16, 1996
- JoinedJan 15, 2016
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May 29, 2022
1 of 1 episodes seen
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1
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
This is the first one that was really good, more what I was hoping for from the standalone movies. The first one that felt like more than just an extra-long episode. And the first one that looked a little better than the regular show as well. You can see the animation glow-up from having the extra budget to produce a movie. I really liked their use of movement in this. The fights were fluid and fun. The CG moments stood out but not in a way that was off-putting.
Race stories are always fun. The feel of adventure was present all the way through, from
before they even got out onto the water. I really liked the sequence in the beginning-- the secret underground passage that opened up into the meeting place for the participants. This whole movie was just fun. What I've been hoping for from these movies.
Of course, it also included some extra characters... A subplot of sorts running through the whole thing. The kids and the old boiler man were all likable enough. Watching Shuraiya, in particular, fight was one of the high points of the movie. His greatest strength is being really quick on his feet. That kind of fighter is just fun to watch. Their personal drama was... fine. Just a little predictable. But that wasn't the main draw of this movie for me anyway. This was a good one.
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May 3, 2022
1 of 1 episodes seen
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5
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
4 |
| Story |
4 |
| Animation |
3 |
| Sound |
4 |
| Character |
4 |
| Enjoyment |
4 |
I stumbled across this one on Hidive. When I came to check out its ratings and whatnot on here and realized that apparently no one else has said anything about it yet... I figured, what the hell? It's easily accessible and only 30 minutes long. Might as well check it out.
But I can't lie. It's pretty rough. I feel like it would be pretty impressive as, like, an amateur Youtube project or something. But it just can't stand alongside anything worked on professionally. Its visuals went from passable-- even sort of beautiful in certain places-- to butt ugly anytime a person had to be
animated on-screen.
The song at the end was also pretty, but some of the voice recordings for the dialogue sounded like it was done over Skype or something. (Or whatever the 2021 equivalent is.)
And 30 minutes is just not enough time to build up the emotions they were going for with this premise.
It set up the start of something that could have been really poignant and relatable in today's day and age. The aftermath of Mt. Fuji erupting with another, more deadly eruption expected has recreated the pandemic conditions of the real world. All schooling's been moved online, only "essential" jobs are staying open, and the main character makes a new online friend who he falls in love with. One who seems to be suffering from depression caused by the newfound isolation. It felt like it was setting up something that could have been really meaningful. But then it kind of just went off the rails.
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Apr 19, 2022
1 of 1 episodes seen
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0
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
5 |
| Story |
3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
2 |
I once described Whisper of the Heart as 'okay, just kind of boring.' Little did I know, Only Yesterday was eyeing me from the corner of the room thinking, "Pfft. You ain't seen nothing yet." Yay, farming.
In all seriousness though, I think this movie is a good example of how sometimes a movie isn't necessarily bad... it's just not interesting. And for some people a bad movie IS a boring one, but there's a lot I can appreciate about Only Yesterday. Everyone's cheeks looked a little off-putting when they smiled, but the artwork was beautiful overall. She grew up in a different culture and
a different time, so a lot of things weren't exactly relatable, but Taeko felt very real. I am also someone who has vivid memories of ordinary childhood events that I like to occasionally go back and review through the lens of an adult's eyes.
The one thing I've always held up as Studio Ghibli's greatest strength is their ability to portray childhood as a whimsical, nostalgic thing. There are just too many other Ghibli movies that accomplish this and also manage to be fun. Even when there's no magic involved. Only Yesterday just can't compete for me.
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Jan 30, 2022
1 of 1 episodes seen
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0
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
6 |
| Story |
6 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
6 |
| Character |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
6 |
I enjoyed this one. It was a little more of what I was hoping for from these standalone, mini adventure movies. It does start off with one of the things I complained about with the first two-- that it literally just throws you into the adventure the second the movie starts... (I just feel like it would flow a little bit better if they eased into it. Like, 30 seconds of just a scene of everyday life aboard the ship before Nami pulls out the map or something. That's all I'm asking.)
But this one was a lot more fun. And had a specific focus.
It's the movie meant to be watched right after Chopper joins the crew, so it felt really fitting that it was focused on Chopper. I think it would be pretty cool if they did something like this for all the new characters who get introduced.
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Dec 26, 2021
1 of 1 episodes seen
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0
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
5 |
| Story |
4 |
| Animation |
5 |
| Sound |
5 |
| Character |
4 |
| Enjoyment |
4 |
This one was okay but felt even more skippable than the last, to be honest. I'm not really a big fan of the kinds of movies that throw you right in with no set-up whatsoever. (I don't know, if I was able to steal a crew's ship that easily, I wouldn't have any great hope that they'd then be able to overthrow the tyrant rulers I was manipulating them towards... It would have been a bit more palatable if they'd caught Borodo in the act or something and then only ended up going to the island anyway because the bad guys succeeded in kidnapping Nami.
But that's just one idea.)
The action was fine. It was cool to see Usopp get to play a part in the fighting this time too. But I wasn't particularly moved by the story. And the movie as a whole wasn't extra fun to compensate for that, which is kind of what I look for when trying to redeem a filler movie.
The only really noteworthy thing was the setting. It was a very cool island, but even that aspect doesn't exactly get points for originality or anything. I think every long-running series has gone for that Castle in the Sky aesthetic at some point.
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Nov 22, 2021
1 of 1 episodes seen
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0
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
5 |
| Story |
5 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
6 |
| Character |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
4 |
I've only recently started One Piece and decided to watch all the movies along with the anime-- as best to the place where they fit in as I can.
This first one was okay. Like, there was nothing about it that was really bad... But there was nothing impressive about it either. I wouldn't say the whole "personal connections/ambitions/whatever else is more valuable than material things" lesson was a bad moral to go with, necessarily. Interesting choice for an anime centered around pirates. But even that isn't super worth analyzing, because 20 episodes is still deep enough in for me to know by now that
Luffy isn't your average pirate.
I guess my point is, I went through all the Naruto movies as well, and there were certainly some rough patches there. But sometimes, the rest of the movie being extra fun or lighthearted can make up for a weak story, and I'm not sure I'd even describe this one as that sort of standalone anime movie. It probably would have been better off if it was just shortened into a filler episode. I kind of would have expected the very first movie to have some weight behind it, but this really didn't. Makes it a little easier to understand why I had to go wading through pirate sites to even find a place to watch it. (I couldn't believe something One Piece related had never been officially licensed. Like, if One Piece hasn't been successful enough to get the whole sweep, what is?!)
You know what? There was one moment that sticks out in a positive way. I really liked seeing the final fight, where Luffy showcases every single one of his Gum-Gum moves that the anime's shown so far. He's got a bit more fighting versatility than I give him credit for sometimes. So that was neat.
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Oct 5, 2021
12 of 12 episodes seen
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1
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
Warning!! The end of the first episode contains one of those major twists that are best experienced blind. If you have no idea what you're getting into... All I can say is that it's a great show, and you should absolutely go experience at least that first episode for yourself before reading any reviews.
If you're still here...
I went into this one already knowing the twist that comes at the end of the first episode: that this series that's supposedly just a lighthearted slice of life romp with a bunch of cute girls who just love their school soooo much that they want to
live there full-time... actually takes place during a zombie apocalypse. It was knowledge of this twist that drew me in, and I wasn't disappointed. Over the course of 12 episodes, this series went from "Well, that sounds like an interesting idea" to "This is one of the best anime I've ever seen."
The whole zombie apocalypse aspect is able to be a spoiler of sorts... because the trauma of the experience has led to our adorable, high-spirited main protagonist retreating into a world of delusions where the school is still running as it should. That was the aspect that really drew me in, because I love those types of psychological stories. The other survivors just can't bring themselves to wake her up. And so we still get to experience all the lighthearted slice of life tropes... like pool days, field trips, and summer night tests of courage... only all those things are covers for more practical things, like obtaining supplies from less secure areas of the school.
The way Gakkougurashi! maintained this balance throughout was one of its best points for me. I tend to gravitate towards darker shows. Ordinary slice of life tends to lose my interest. Every event does have a darker tint to it, but the cute moments were still enjoyable. We spend the whole series heading towards a final conflict even Yuki can't hallucinate her way out of, but her positive attitude also plays a role in keeping the other girls going. The hidden practical nature of every adventure kept me from being too impatient for Yuki to finally snap out of it.
But without a doubt, the absolute strongest high point of this series were the characters. Watching Ri watch over them all and try to keep the worst of her worries to herself... Kurumi's self-sacrificing nature... Miki's determination to grow into a stronger person who can do her part... Even Yuki's innocence... Learning that she just feels everything too keenly to accept that this horror has really happened and taken someone she loved from her... Every one of the girls goes on a journey throughout these 12 episodes, and each one gets a chance to reach their highest-- and lowest-- point. Nothing is more important to me in a show than the characters, and that was something Gakkougurashi! definitely got right.
The conclusion is a liiiiitle open-ended, but still left me with a feeling of triumph. And if I have any one complaint, it's the censorship surrounding the zombies, especially as I've just realized this show IS rated R. (As I was watching it, I figured it was just to keep the rating down or something.) But that's really a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things.
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Jul 8, 2021
131 of 131 episodes seen
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0
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
7 |
| Story |
5 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
Dragon Ball Super is really good as a nostalgia trip but a little weak as its own series. And I think the creators understood that. (If the number of flashbacks are anything to go by.) One of my favorite things about Super is how it brings back the older characters, some of whom hadn't really had a place in the fights or the story since original Dragon Ball.
And the music was actually a surprisingly high point, which isn't something I remember having real strong opinions about in DBZ.
So mostly, this series did right by the characters. Mostly. I've got a bone to pick with
the setup for the Tournament of Power. Don't get me wrong, the tournament itself was a lot of fun to watch. (I can't believe the day came when I was rooting for Frieza, but his inclusion did actually bring a really fun element to the tournament.) Goku's continued enthusiasm despite the whole 'all the losing universes will be destroyed' aspect, however, was really hard for me to swallow.
Like, yes, Goku has definitely done stupid, reckless things in his search for a worthy opponent. But not like this. At no point did Goku seem to really appreciate the consequences. He was definitely motivated to save his universe as well as find that ultimate battle, after a point, but at some point it should have bothered him that countless innocent souls were being destroyed, and it never really seemed to. Remember that epic speech he made when he turned Super Saiyan for the first time, fighting Frieza? I just can't reconcile that Goku, championing justice and railing against anyone who could be so callous about innocent lives, with this Goku who just didn't seem to care.
I feel like the way it was resolved was supposed to make everything okay. It didn't really. Not for me.
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Jun 9, 2020
146 of 146 episodes seen
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3
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
6 |
| Story |
6 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
6 |
I've been going around in mental circles for a while, trying to figure out how I wanted to do this review... Because the thing is... This IS a good season. It was just-- by a wide margin-- not my favorite season.
There were a lot of things it did well that just weren't for me. But I kind of knew that would be true as soon as I saw the trailers for it when it first came out all those years ago. Everyone kept telling me I would get used to the art style. I still hate it. It looks fine on all the new
characters I haven't already seen drawn in a different style, but it looks awful on Ash and Team Rocket and all the old faces. And that may sound like a really insignificant, don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover sort of complaint, but the art style can say a lot about a show. Especially when it's changing from season to season like Pokémon does. Sun and Moon's designs were a little goofier. In line with the season as a whole being a lot more lighthearted. And that's fine for a kids' show, and it could be perfectly enjoyable at times... (I liked all the characters. In fact, as a whole, I think this season has the most likable cast of characters of any Pokémon season I've watched. And the final episode was really heartfelt. Watching Kukui and Burnet hug him goodbye actually made me tear up a bit. Ash's mom has had some good moments over the years, but we've never really gotten to see Ash have a real family dynamic with anyone, and that aspect of it here was really great.) But Pokémon really hit its current peak with XY&Z for me. I loved that it got a little more serious. Anything toned down from that was going to be lesser in my eyes. Just a matter of preferences, I guess.
Storywise, it was just weaker overall in my eyes. It really brought me back to the early seasons of Pokémon, where we went so long in between gym battles that it barely felt like there was a story at all. The island trial episodes were cool... but they really didn't feel like they held any significance over anything, especially because you didn't even end up needing ANY sort of qualifications to enter the region's first Pokémon League.
The Ultra Guardians aspect of the story... watching these kids form their own sort of pseudo-Power Rangers team was cool. (I love me a good magical girl-esque transformation sequence.) But suffered from the same problem. Everything just felt so disjointed here. The Ultra Beasts could show up on a whim... whenever the writers ran through enough of their other episode ideas, I guess. They posed enough of an actual threat to the region that I feel like the kids could have at least been looking for some way to keep the portal closed... I just really needed an overarching story for this season, and never quite found it. Like, once we got into the story with Lillie's family and amnesia in season one, things got really good for a while. Gave me hope. And then it all kind of just fell apart again.
But ultimately... all the real complaints I have about this season... come down to me starting to believe that the writers and I must have very different opinions on what makes up the fundamentals of Ash as a character. Yes, he's easily excitable and has this unrivaled love for all things Pokémon... but I just can't see him ever being happy settling down in a place like Alola to go to school. Not even with great friends. Not even if the school offers new Pokémon-related experiences each class. It's just... not Ash. It felt too stagnant for him. I can't see the extremely spaced-out island trials scratching his competitive itch. At least when he's on the road, it feels like he's actively working towards the next challenge.
I guess it's fitting but... This whole 'journey' through Alola feels like a vacation for Ash. In general, it's just not the place for him. Everything's just a little TOO laid-back. As a whole, it didn't really feel like a region for a serious battler like Ash. And in general, it feels like the writers handicapped his battling skills a bit, especially as the series went on. Like, yes, Ash is known for being the guy who can get out of a tight spot with sheer willpower and crazy ideas... but sometimes it feels like the writers forget that he IS capable of actual type-based strategizing too.
There are a few exceptions throughout. Gladion and Kukui...(Hau could have been an example, but we barely see him.) Kiawe takes it seriously, and Lana also had a competitive edge, though the series (unfortunately) never seemed to take her as seriously as Ash and Kiawe. I don't think there's any better example than the few episodes where the class visits Kanto and Ash gets to really shine-- back in his element-- sparring with the gym leaders of old... while it quickly became clear that his new friends had really only understood battling in theory up to this point. Hell, Mallow doesn't have her moment where she realizes she shouldn't ever just give up mid-battle until the MIDDLE OF HER POKEMON LEAGUE MATCH... That whole League was a joke and actually really annoyed me, but... Deep breaths.
Anyway. Sun and Moon was fun and cute and lighthearted and I DID enjoy a lot of it. I mean, Rowlet's the most adorable thing this franchise has ever created, so I have to give it points for that. It's just... not what I want Pokémon to be. We got to see it at its best in Kalos, and a story like this one just couldn't live up to my expectations after that. I know practically nothing about the next region... (I've literally only seen the starters and this sheep Pokémon and that's it.) But I'm hoping it picks back up again with the next season, and we get to see more of Ash as he was meant to be.
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Apr 24, 2020
1 of 1 episodes seen
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2
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
7 |
| Story |
6 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
As a whole, the Anohana movie is generally the type of anime movie I wouldn't bother with. A good half of it is dedicated just to recapping the anime. And the little story it shares of the Super Peace Busters getting together to remember their friend-- showcasing both that they have stayed together like they promised and that they're continuing to cope more healthily than they were in the series itself-- is a very feel-good little plot... It just feels a little unnecessary. (We even see a little more development from all the characters in regards to their various romances, but even those aren't brought
to any sort of definitive conclusion by this short addition to the story.)
So yes, as a whole, the Anohana movie is generally the type of anime movie I wouldn't bother with... But it did add one crucial thing to the overall story for me that made me really glad I did. Throughout the anime, although Menma never got on my nerves or anything, she did have that feel of being a little too perfect sometimes. And I could kind of rationalize it away as the writers purposely taking on her friends' perspectives. As sweet as she genuinely was, it's also pretty clear they've really idealized their memories of her since her untimely death.
The new flashback scenes of Menma and Jinta as children-- and more specifically how the group first came together-- added something that I felt the anime was really lacking. It showed that Menma had her own insecurities too. That this group of friends was the first place she'd ever truly felt seen and accepted, and that really adds to why her desire to see everything work out and make sure those bonds lasted was so strong. That's enough for me to say it was worth my time. It may have only added something small. But I think that something was pretty crucial.
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