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Madoka Magica is a magical girl anime deserving of its place as a modern classic. I have seen so many dark magical girl shows try to replicate the heartbreak and tragedy of this show, and none have succeeded. Madoka’s impeccable art and music enhance its themes, allowing you to feel even more connected to the characters. All of the magical girls have well developed personalities and are easy to empathize with. The ending, shown through Homura’s perspective, also ties up the story in a thematically satisfying way.
Although I have watched Madoka more than once, I often find it difficult to sit through because of its ... subject matter. This is not the type of show that you should go into lightly. If you can stomach the heavy themes of death and disownment, I think this anime is truly brilliant and worth your time.

This show’s story is beyond confusing. I had to reread the synopsis just to remember the apocalypse in this show’s lore. I liked following along with the characters as they had histories and storylines that engaged me, but the writers would always drop the ball to start something else. There was a lesbian kiss somewhere in the middle of the show. I remember being really excited about the potential change that could make to the narrative, but I don’t think that subplot was ever resolved. The same thing happened with one girl’s history and trauma. It’s frustrating because the ideas and the imagery were on ... point, but Gekidol can’t follow through on its promises. In an oversaturated landscape of idol shows, there are a lot of them that do the post-apocalyptic theme better. Part of me hopes Gekidol gets a second season so I can see where these ideas lead, but realistically I can’t see a sequel being profitable.

This show is a hidden gem. Eripiyo is just a fangirl who wants to be noticed by her favorite singer in the way many fans do, but in the process makes an insecure girl feel truly seen for the first time. Although Eripiyo’s engagement with Maina can be excessive, her character really shines through her smaller acts of kindness. Despite the main focus being on Maina and Eripiyo’s relationship, the narrative isn’t afraid to move off of them to explore the rest of ChamJam. All of the idol characters are given a chance to show their feelings towards their career, fans, and each other. This ... is definitely a must watch for fans of the idol genre.

Hypnosis Mic is easily one of the best idol anime of all time. It separates itself from it's contemporaries with absurd storylines, memorable art direction, and most importantly, hilarious writing. Almost every character stands on their own within the show's narrative. The interpersonal relationships and history between the divisions leaves me eager to learn more. The music is some of the best in the genre, with solid raps and instrumentals that bring me back to listen over and over again. For fans of idol content, this is a welcome departure from the norm with familiar staples. For those new to musical anime, I find this ... to be a great starting point, especially for comedy fans.

This is my first impression of Tokyo Mew Mew since I didn't grow up with the original anime or manga. It's not a boundary breaking series and has every trope typical of 2000s-era magical girl media, yet I still found it engaging. The characters each have their own charm and unique personalities. I found Quiche particularly entertaining as an antagonist and look forward to seeing more of him in the second season. The music stood out to me right away and I constantly get the opening stuck in my head. The only issue I have with this adaptation is the animation. It's very simple which ... works well for the movement, but also comes off as bare-bones. I wish I could've seen more of the outfit detailing since the new animation style oversimplifies the character designs. Overall this is a show I can safely recommend for magical girl fans.

I consider myself a moderate My Hero Academia fan. I enjoy the series, but have never considered it a masterpiece. That being said, World Heroes' Mission is my favorite piece of MHA media and my favorite anime tie-in movie of all time.
The main plot of the movie centers around a far more extremist and damaging terrorist organization
than anything these kids have faced before. Seeing the more serious tone from the opening scene kept the stakes high. The fact that this organization is for the quirkless also offers a new perspective on the politics of this world.
Deku has always been my favorite part ... of MHA, so l don't mind that this movie centers him and the new character rather than the rest of the main cast. I enjoyed seeing Deku confront the flaws of hero society, as well as the general law enforcement system, by being on the opposite side of it. The movie original character Rody has lived most of his life this way just to take care of his loved ones, forcing Deku to think about 'villains' from a new perspective. Although the audience of MHA was previously able to experience this kind of sympathy by watching the League of Villains, Deku as a character finally has the opportunity to grow his empathy through Rody and the quirkless terrorist group.
Rody is a compelling character, both in how he expands upon an average citizen's relationship with hero society and in his own view on quirks as a whole. The quirk reveal for Rody was very creative and offers the movie great rewatch value. His attempts to climb out of poverty and his deep family bond allow the audience to root for him as much as Deku despite the lack of previous screen time. The bonding conversations between Rody and Deku are some of the most heartfelt of MHA and I wish we could see more of them.
I think my one real problem with movie is the same with most anime tie-in films; retconning. I know I'll never see Rody again and what Deku learned in this movie will not effect the plot of the show. It's really a shame because this is easily the best arc MHA has introduced thus far and I wish the show writers could expand upon its ideas.

I'll warn you in advance that Aikatsu Planet is definitely a show for people who already like idol anime. As someone who's spent six years of their life deeply embedded in idol culture, this show was a breath of fresh air. Both live action and animated segments blend beautifully. It always makes narrative sense when the girls are in the Aikatsu world, so the transition isn't jarring. I'm always a sucker for the cheesy idol friendship moments and this show has those in spades, but they never come off as cringey. 25 episodes is the perfect length of time to connect with the characters. No ... main character is left unexplored. The show also addresses a lot of modern issues with the vtuber community. There are benefits and drawbacks to anonymity. I appreciate the show's willingness to be honest about how a double life can impact someone, especially a child, even if it does simplify the issue for it's child audience. The music is the most important part of a show like this, though, and they NAILED IT. This is the first time I've downloaded an idol soundtrack while the show was still airing. If you're an idol fan, please consider watching. The live action segments may confuse you at first, but this show is completely worth your time.

Ok, this is a controversial one. If mentions of sexual harassment, rape, or pedophilia will bother you, turn away now. Don't finish reading this review and never watch this show.
Honestly, the art and characters are really good. What destroys this show is the story. The threat of rape constantly hanging over this high school boy's head is deeply uncomfortable, but it's presented as a light-hearted gag. I kept going back and forth between yelling at my screen and being disgusted that I even chose to watch this show. These minors are also seen having sex with teachers multiple times. I know minors have sex, ... and I'm not saying we should be in denial about that, but treating these serious crimes against children like erotica or a comedic punchline is just gross.
I would only recommend this show to an adult who wants a good hate watch. Screaming at this show with friends was a great stress reliever. Otherwise, please don't waste your time.

Ok, so I have a lot of mixed feelings on this movie, but I was overall disappointed. I love the Madoka Magica franchise and I felt the ending was very good and satisfying. Without spoiling the movie, it starts out as an interesting new scenario, and ends by completely destroying everything I loved about Homura as a character. If you want to experience this story, please stick to either the TV show, the first two movies, or the manga. You'll get all the gorgeous artwork and interesting characters out of that alone. These spin-offs and extended stories haven't been worth my time so far.