Back to Green_Gecko's Profile Green_Gecko's Profile

Note: This review is based on my own personal translation.

If you're a newcomer to CLANNAD, I would still recommend the anime first, although this adaptation does stand fairly well on its own. However, unlike the 8-volume manga adaptation by Misaki Juri which covers After Story, this adaptation only covers the school life portion of the story, meaning not all the plots are resolved by the end.

The story primarily focuses on Nagisa's journey to re-establish the drama club and her growing relationship with Tomoya, but it also diverges to cover the Mei route and a semi-original Fujibayashi route. The majority of the series follows fairly closely ... with the anime/visual novel version of events, but there are some original scenes here and there. Unfortunately Fuko and Kotomi do not make any appearances in this series.

The art style is quite expressive and is fairly close to the anime, but the poses of characters can be a bit stiff sometimes, particularly during dynamic scenes. As a result of the manga's inconsistent and long release schedule (5 volumes over 7 years), the art unfortunately isn't very consistent. This isn't an issue for the most part as the different art styles are still pleasant to look at, but sometimes it felt like there was some trouble in the transition between styles, particularly in parts of volume 4 where characters start having very pointy chins. By volume 5 the art has a softer, more shoujo look.

The glaring point that cannot be avoided when discussing this manga is the fan-service. Fans of CLANNAD might be turned off this manga entirely because of this element. There are a very select few moments of fan-service that do serve to move the plot forward in some way (even though they weren't needed in other versions of the story), but the majority is done for pure sex-appeal. It ranges from tame panty-shots to a full-on nipple at one point (in a bonus chapter, but still), which very much goes against the wholesome nature of the CLANNAD series as a whole.

Conclusion:
I wouldn't recommend it for newcomers to CLANNAD, but for existing fans, if you can get past the fan-service and the shifts in art-style, there is a familiar and enjoyable story with some moments that can't be found in the anime or visual novel.

When I first starting reading this I was expecting it to just be a retelling of Tomoyo's story from the visual novel or anime OVA, but instead it is a reimagining of her story. While the basic plot points stay the same, including Tomoyo wanting to become student council president so she can save the cherry blossoms, there are enough differences that make this a unique and engaging story. Most notably, Nagisa plays a key role in this version of events, acting as a catalyst that bring Tomoyo and Tomoya closer together. Unlike the authors previous work Tomoyo After, the pacing here felt a lot ... more natural. The art is clean and has a mature feel, which is fitting for the tone of the story. My only gripe is that the art style changes slightly in the last chapter which makes the characters look slightly younger/cutesy. It isn't a bad change, it's just a shame the art isn't consistent the whole way through.

Overall this manga is able to stand on its own and is a nice alternate story that expands upon Clannad's pre-existing character's and themes.

If you've read the Tomoyo After visual novel then this will be a disappointment. This manga adaptation is more of a truncated story than a full experience. Whilst the characters maintain their personalities, one of the main character's storylines is entirely cut, and all the other characters have their storylines shortened dramatically. It is hard to get attached to characters when they aren't even present for the majority of the volume. Even if this was just one chapter or volume longer, it would have been a more fulfilling experience, but as it stands you just get the bare minimum story required to know what is ... going on.

There are some entertaining moments that weren't present in the visual novel, and the art is fairly nice. For what it is the story is put together decently, but if you have to choose one experience, choose the visual novel.

We all can relate to the feeling of coming back home after a rough or tiring day, and just wanting to sit down and eat a nice meal. Sweetness and Lightning explores this concept and combines it with the difficulty of raising a child, to provide a truly sweet experience.

Each chapter of Sweetness & Lightning involves Kohei, the single father of Tsumugi, cooking up a meal for his daughter to help cheer her up or just brighten her day as she deals with problems of childhood and being without a mother. Kohei is taught to cook by his student Kotori, who’s parents are divorced. The ... majority of the series takes place at Kotori’s mother’s restaurant, where Kotori begins a complex relationship with Kohei and Tsumugi as she tries to figure out whether her feelings are romantic, or are just parental, with Kohei acting as a stand in for her father whom she barely sees.

The series has a very good flow of time, with Tsumugi graduating pre-school and entering primary school, and Kotori gradually facing entrance exams, graduating high school and deciding what to do with her future. Everyone grows and develops in this series, even Kohei, who not only gets better at cooking, but also gets better at raising Tsumugi.

The structure of the series is quite formulaic, with almost every chapter following a problem that Tsumugi or sometimes even Kotori has, and using food as a way to breach talking about their problems, and coming up with a solution. Being a slice of life series, it’s quite slow-paced, and combined with the repetitive structure, I wouldn’t recommend reading too many chapters in one go. The series is best enjoyed in small chunks.

The slice of life moments and Tsumugi’s behaviour often give off Yotsubato vibes, and are the strongest point of the series. Events can range from Tsumugi trying to get a cat to like her, to her finding out about heaven and hell. Some of the most poignant moments in the series are when Tsumugi must learn about death. She questions where her mother is now that she is dead, and must learn to come to her own understandings. She often misses the food her mother used to cook, and so Kohei works hard to create new, delicious homemade meals to remember.

All in all, Sweetness & Lightning is about growth and the happiness that sharing a meal with others can bring. Kohei learns to become a better father and a better cook, Kotori learns to become a better cook, how to handle her feelings, and what she wants to do with her future and Tsumugi learns how to cope without a mum and how to be a kid - from playing with boys, to learning that Santa might not be real. Seeing everyone’s face filled with joy after eating delicious food together is a feeling I never grew tired of, and even though the cooking segments become repetitive, the food looks so good and makes me so hungry that I might have to forgive it.

Yet another cute girls doing cute things show, so what makes this one so different? Well, it’s about chair- I mean cheerleading, and it pulls off some very nice yuri relationships.

Characters:
Starting with the characters, unique to this series is that each character’s name features an animal pun. We have Kohane, the most energetic of the group, who loves helping others but is also afraid of heights, she’s represented as a bird, Uki, who acts tomboyish but secretly likes cute things (including Kohane), is represented by a monkey. Then you have Hizume, a former cheerleader who can be incredibly serious and dense, but her character does ... a complete 180 when she starts cheerleading. She’s represented by a horse, and if you didn’t notice, yes, she wears a horseshoe as a hairclip. Kotetsu often says what’s on her mind without thinking and keeps an eye on her weight, she’s represented as a tiger. Finally, we have Kana, an initially shy girl who turns out to just really admire Hizume (seeing all the yuri yet?). She’s represented by a cow.

Animation:
So, you’ve got a wonderfully vibrant cast brought to life through Doga Kobo’s animation, the studio who have brought you shows such as the wonderful Yuru Yuri. The cheerleading sequences in this show are surprisingly well animated, although they generally don’t last very long. One thing I have to give credit to the animators for is that all these sequences are done traditionally. Yup, there’s no bad CG plaguing this show despite what you would think from a show involving dancing. The comedy in this series is generally visual comedy, so it helps that the animators know when to pull out all the stops, and also when to dial it back and simplify the characters a bit. One of the great jokes in the first episode is about Kohane mistaking the word cheer for chair. It’s stupid yes, but it works. The animal puns are followed through as well, with Kohane often going into a bird-like state.

Music:
Now, you can’t talk about cheerleading without talking about the music and man you’ve got some jams in here. I’d never really thought about cheerleading until watching this show, but you would think that any show involving dancing would need some convincing tunes, and Anima Yell has exactly that. Each insert song that accompanies a cheer performance is wonderfully energetic, and just like the cheerleaders, I wasn’t able to wipe the smile off of my face. Same goes for the opening and ending which I haven’t skipped once, unlike other shows. Also, in episode 5, there’s an excellent transition into the ending song, and that’s one of my favourite things in anime period. It works even better here because the song doesn’t just start up randomly, the characters are actually doing a cheer performance to the song.

Yuri Respect:
Yuri anime has been growing a lot in the industry, with shows like Bloom Into You and Citrus heavily focusing on Yuri, and shows like Comic Girls and even Darling in the Franxx having yuri subplots or recognizing yuri relationships. Anima Yell handles this topic extremely well, particularly in episode 3, and treats yuri relationships like a normal thing, as it should be. The characters are completely respectful upon hearing a fellow student has feelings for another girl because it’s just such an innate thing for them to do. Within the main cast it is laid out that Uki has feelings for Kohane, although this is used more for comedy, and that Kana has feelings for Hizume. This relationship is built up much more, with more than one episode focusing on it. Episode 10 in particular focuses the most heavily on the two’s relationship, depicting Kana’s shyness and over-the-top respect towards Hizume, and Hizume’s struggle to understand Kana’s feelings due to how Kana is unable to calm down around her. Unlike other shows that bait you with relationships that never go anywhere, Anima Yell is very clear in telling you, that yes, love is in the air, and whilst the story obviously isn’t going to go in any serious romantic direction, it’s nice that the characters feelings are taken seriously.

Story/The Power of Cheer:
After learning the basics and being prepared to cheer, the basic formula of the series follows the cast of characters as they accept cheerleading requests. These range from anything as informal as cheering one on to confess, to formal events such as a basketball or soccer game, or a stage performance. Anima Yell’s strength lies in the power of these performances. They turn out to have such a motivational an influential impact on those who are being cheered for, and in the basketball team’s case, the cheer is used as a good luck charm, as they request a cheer performance a second time due to the fact that they won their prior game after they had been cheered on. The club eventually cheers at Uki’s younger brother’s soccer game, changing his perception of the people who cheer him on in the process. The power of cheer affects not only those being cheered, but also the cheerleaders themselves. Kohane at first has trouble recruiting both Uki and Kotetsu into the club and Kana also initially refuses to join, but after they see the pure happiness and energy emanating from the cheer performances, they decide to join in the hopes that they too can experience that feeling.

Conclusion:
In a year full of Devilman Crybaby’s and Goblin Slayers’, as well the stresses of life in general, it’s nice to have a show to look forward to each week that just makes me inexplicably happy. I wasn’t expecting much from this show, and it’s really blown me away. It goes to show you really can’t judge an anime by how it looks or by its (criminally low) MAL score. It’s been a fantastic year for anime, with Violet Evergarden, A Place Further Than The Universe, Yuru Camp, and the previously mentioned Devilman Crybaby all not only being some of the best anime of the year, but some of the best anime I’ve ever seen. And while I wouldn’t say Anima Yell reaches the high’s of those shows, it was special to me in its own little way. I guess you could say I now know the power of chair - I mean cheer.

"No letter deserves to go undelivered" - Violet Evergarden

In an age where communication can take many different shapes and forms, some debatably more meaningful than others, I appreciate Violet Evergarden's heartfelt message on the importance and meaning of communication. If I could alter the opening quote for a modern setting I would say "No conversation deserves to go unspoken".

Violet Evergarden is ultimately about the titular character evolving as a person. In the beginning Violet is quite dull and robotic, her arms not helping with that impression. This may put off many potential viewers, but I believe the reward of watching this show is being ... able to see Violet grow as a person, becoming more of a 'human' and reaching her goal of realizing the meaning behind the words "I love you". I think knowing beforehand that Violet will change dramatically is a better way to embrace the slow start of the series.

Once Violet begins to go on jobs the series predominantly takes on an episodic format where we learn more about the world and the people within it. Much like Violet we as the audience are new to this world, so it is through her eyes that we experience it. As a letter writer, Violet not only meets people, she goes through their struggles as they try to convey their immense emotions on a small piece of paper. By living the life of an ordinary civilian and not a soldier Violet begins to sympathize with her clients, whereas previously she would have only accepted her 'orders' and left with no feelings towards her task. Despite their episodic nature these relationships Violet forms are not discarded and are called upon within her character defining moments as she struggles to move on with the loss of Major Gilbert.

Violet's immense struggle is aided by one of the most sensational soundtracks of all time. Each track blends in perfectly with the time period and evoke a myriad of emotions. The music is expertly used to create suspense, a sense of wonder, feelings of sadness and grief, and a sense of moving forward, not letting the past define you. Also aiding this is the impeccable animation, which offers incredibly subtle and realistic human movement and expression and creates a visually stunning and detailed world, packed with life which could have easily been very dull.

Violet's life as a soldier paints a moving war story that is lovingly handcrafted into a moving tale of growth, loss and the importance in being able to understand the feelings of others. I myself have had times where I am unable to say what I truly mean, and I've believed that my feelings could be expressed more truthfully in writing instead. For this, the series truly understands an important part of what it means to be human. Unlike other seasonal anime, Violet Evergarden has stuck with me and continues to do so. I take it's final message to heart and believe it encapsulates the wonder of the show.

"Live, live and live some more".

Your Name. is a true spectacle of cinema. I had the opportunity to watch this film on the night of my birthday and I have to say, it's one of the best birthday gifts I have ever received. I desperately tried to lower my expectations as I walked into the cinema, knowing full well the hype the movie had been gaining as well as the records it had been breaking. As soon as the film begun however, with a meteor rocketing through the clouds into a wide open view, I knew that it was going to be something special.

It goes without saying that the ... music makes this movie. RADWIMPS have created a stunning soundtrack that turns the film into a feature length music video. The beat of each insert song is timed to perfection with scene changes and camera positioning, creating a perfect sense of rhythm that brings forth character emotion. 'Zen Zen Zense' in particular creates an immense amount of energy and excitement that mirrors the lives of Taki and Mitsuha. These insert songs are so strong that I find myself constantly listening to them.

The film takes the simple premise of body swapping and expands upon it to explore more serious issues, including a social commentary on the natural disasters that affect Japanese society. By being able to view the lives of two characters who live in completely different environments we are able to see how connected we all truly are. The film has a very easy going progression, almost emulating the pace of a slice of life anime until the story escalates into something much more profound and impactful. The particular scene of this escalation is so profound in fact that I can still perfectly visualize it in my head.

The stellar animation of Your Name. allows for an incredibly realistic world to be created. Every scene is highly detailed with incredible shots of cityscapes and lush greenery looking absolutely beautiful on the big screen. This sense of realism adds much more of a connection to the film as a viewer as we begin to relate to the places that we are seeing and empathize with the characters.

Your Name. deserves every bit of praise that it has received. To this day I still have feelings of joy and amazement that something so spectacular was able to be produced. Not only do I think this is one of the best anime films of all time, I believe it is a truly groundbreaking piece of artwork in the world of cinema. The cinematography of the film has been handled with so much care and I can't wait to see what Makoto Shinkai creates next. It's not everyday that I say an anime is life changing, but for Your Name. I can certainly say that is true. I now look up at sunsets or evening views and can see the same vibrant colors presented in the film. For me it has made me appreciate my own world even more than I could have ever imagined.

Haganai NEXT is representative of what a sequel should be. The comedy from last season is still in full force, but the tone of the series starts to become more serious as Kodaka has to deal with his friendships - having to decide if they should remain the way they are, or progress into something further. Kodaka's actions as a protagonist might be seen as cowardly, but the decisions he has to make are certainly realistic. Whilst the first season of Haganai did not have much to tell in terms of story progression, NEXT is adamant about shaking things up. Secrets will be revealed and ... bombshells will be dropped as Kodaka struggles with his inevitable choices.

This season's biggest fault is that it does not have a conclusive ending. At all. If you want to know what happens next you'll have to find a translated version of the light novels as not even the manga adaptation has surpassed the anime (yet). If you think the season ends with a girl being chosen, you'd be wrong. The ending unfortunately makes it feel as though the progression of the characters was all for naught, despite a very intense confrontation.

If you enjoyed the first season and are looking for more, Haganai NEXT hits all bases. If you enjoyed the first season but wanted some more substance, there is plenty of that too. Fanservice is still present unfortunately but after the first season you should hopefully be used to it, even if it does still get in the way of the story.

Haganai managed to stand out to me because in a sea of harem shows, this one managed to be quite self-aware. The first season mainly focuses on comedy, which the show certainly excels at. A simple premise of 'people wanting to make friends' is turned into quite a fun concept due to the wacky cast of characters. Rika in particular drives home the comedy and is the most forward of the cast.

My overall complaint of the show comes from the unneeded fanservice. I greatly enjoyed this series but the amount of forced fanservice not only interrupted the flow of the show, but my viewing ... experience as well. At it's heart this series is a heartwarming tale of the joys of friendship and the struggle to make true friends, yet it seems misguided in what it actually wants to present. The only time I felt the fanservice was appropriate was in any scene with Rika, because it suited her perverse character. The opening in particular is a huge misrepresentation of what the show is actually about, which is a shame because it could turn potential viewers away with the belief that the show is just another generic ecchi harem.

If you can get past the fanservice Haganai is a hilarious show, with an admirable concept behind it.

"A believing heart is my magic." Little Witch Academia is not just a show about magic, it is a magical show in itself. Most of the show takes on an episodic format where Akko and her friends are cast into a whole range of problems that need solving. The story is masterfully pieced together so that these episodic tales become highly relevant to the overarching plot of the show.

Akko's journey to meet Shiny Chariot is one full of charm. The world of Luna Nova is full of breathtaking environments and the team at Trigger have created a truly magical world. Trigger's unique and playful animation ... techniques have been used to their full effect to make the characters and the world they inhibit as vibrant as they can be. The show is full of references to western media and also previous Trigger works.

The music is fantastic and every track is full of the essence of adventure. The main theme in particular made me reach Kill La Kill levels of excitement.

It's always refreshing to see a character who has to struggle to become good at something. Akko is hardly witch material, but she endures the mockery of those around her so that she can fulfill her dream of meeting her idol and using magic to make people happy. I think some of that magic may have seeped into reality, because I was certainly happy when watching this show.

Trigger continues to show that it is possible to create a strong female cast of characters, with each one being distinct and memorable. Just like the shows before it LWA does not hold back on its craziness and it makes this a series to remember. All fans can hope for now is that a season 2 happens.