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Jun 30, 2020
“An isekai set in the world of an Otome game!”
I’ve been hesitant to watch this anime since Otome games are basically for females and I’m getting tired of isekai having a repetitive concept. But I’ve heard some good feedback and I don’t want to limit myself on initial impressions alone, so why not set foot on something new? Visual-wise, it’s a perfect embodiment of what Otome games would really look like. You’ll also probably wouldn’t mind that it’s an isekai since it’s done in a new way. But keep it on mind that the MC’s (Katarina) past life takes on a major role as the
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story progresses. When the playful OP was shown on screen, I get to see a lot of beautiful characters and I really do appreciate the addition of Katarina’s evil smug face to be constantly reminded that she’s actually a villainess. The characters were slowly introduced each episode so getting confused with them wouldn’t be an issue.
The show started great and it’s good to see that the situations went according to Katarina’s plan. But it started to have a downfall with a bunch of filler episodes in the middle of the series. I mean they aren’t bad fillers, I even get to laugh and appreciate the characters more. But I really wanted to see more progress from the original plot and that kinda annoys me. They intentionally did it though to end the series on the student council president’s arc. There are also a lot of cliche situations especially in the dungeon episode and a few more in the final arc. Speaking of the final arc, it’s “okay” but it got some predictable or even obvious outcomes. But still, it’s a good ending for the season.
Katarina as a character is very dense and dumb, but that’s actually a compliment. I mean she’s actually called “Bakarina” for that purpose right? Some may hate her for it but the show would not be the same if she’s an intelligent villainess for example, and that’s probably going to be boring. It’s a comedy and a reverse-harem anime after all, so it’s the best decision for it to be continuously entertaining. I didn’t regret watching this show and I’m actually hoping for great things to come for the upcoming season. It would be better if it won’t be filled again with filler episodes though. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 28, 2020
I have a huge respect to the creator (SIU) because he was able to build a wonderfully established setting. It takes a lot of effort to successfully make a world where all the story took place especially to action-fantasy genres. I may have not read the TOG webtoon, but as far as what I’ve seen, the person behind this is truly a gifted creator. Everything shown in the story is interesting, whether its premise, characters, tests, and the concept of climbing a tower. In the adaptation, I believe that their strongest point is the overall sound design. I really enjoyed the playful use of sound
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effects, and the background music successfully brought the intensity of each scene. The character designs were also good and the animation, though it’s not that great, it’s still acceptable.
The highlight of this season is not really Bam, but his fellow examinees. All of them have lost something special, that’s why they have the desire to climb the tower. We get to see the backstories of some characters and also their capabilities of outsmarting, fighting, or betraying others to reach their goal. Along the way, they are able to form bonds and it’s fun to see them interact with each other.
With all honesty, my overall enjoyment of the show is bad not because of the adaptation but because of the people who already spoiled the major scene all over the internet. Basically, my first impression is already dead by the time I started watching the show. I think it’s okay to express how “bitch” Rachel is and I think it’s good to hate her character, because that also means we’re hating the “bitch” part of ourselves. I see Rachel as a trait, not a person. We all have this trait when we’re on the verge of desperation and even in times where we wanted to be the center of attraction. It’s good to hate Rachel as a character, but I think others are reacting way too much like saying “Poor seiyuu, taking the bitch role.” or expressing just for the sake of “trend” and will eventually destroy the first impressions of the future watchers.
The first season is like a long introduction, and its ending is the true beginning in Bam’s case. There are a lot of aspects to improve on but I believe the following season would be great (if there is one). There are a lot of plot points to play with and that’s the reason why the show is interesting to watch. Reading the TOG webtoon is the best choice for you to grasp the whole story but if you prefer movements, it’s not really a bad choice to watch the adaptation. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 26, 2020
Wow, it was an amazing short ride! This show is playing with my sensitive feelings for sure. I was really looking forward to watch “Kakushigoto” because I’ve been listening to its opening song for a few months already (Thank you YouTube Recommendation). When I get to watch the OP episode by episode, it did hit me differently and I always ended up getting teary-eyed. I am not just moved, but I also get to appreciate the inclusion of symbolism about time and life challenges which is relevant to the story. The ED is also worth mentioning because they aren’t just a bunch of stills and
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the song’s “Freddie Mercury” vibe is so cool.
The art style is new to me. Every frame is filled with vibrant colors and rough textures. It’s kind of hard to recognize negative spaces in each frame. It is very pleasing to look at but at the same time it’s overwhelming (at first). The texture also helps in giving off a manga-ish look and I really like that well-thought addition.
The show’s scenario writing is simply beautiful and effective. The first eleven episodes were focused on a setting where Hime was still ten. But at the start or the end of those episodes, there’s a tiny glimpse of the future where Hime, as an 18-year-old daughter, slowly unfolds the secrets of his father. At first glance, those episodes were just following a slice of life formula where you’ll get to laugh with Gotou-sensei’s daily challenges as a father and as a manga artist. At the same time, the tiny glimpses of the future provokes uneasiness and that easily flips the table of emotions. In the end, it made me realize that the funny scenarios in those eleven episodes tries to imply that those were the memorable moments of Gotou-sensei before the tragic events which was revealed in the last episode.
Like other shows, the ending of “Kakushigoto” was also a bit rushed, and the introduction of a new character also complicate things. But other than that, it’s a good overall ending. There were moments that I really wanted to cry for both Hime and Gotou-sensei but suddenly a dumb character talks and I ended up laughing, and that’s actually one of the strong points of this show. Before ending my review, there’s one thing that moved me the most. It’s the thought that Gotou-sensei’s black and white sketches in manga complimented with himself who wears a mask as a gag-manga artist, and the only precious thing that gave his life full of colors is his daughter, Hime. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 24, 2020
I have only watch a few shows that revolves around European historical setting and that lack of watching experience was bothering me since it may affect my overall enjoyment of the show. It turns out that it wasn’t really an issue because it’s a well- designed Renaissance setting and I never thought that it would captivate me that much. There are cultural and time difference in their references but I’ve never had a difficulty of understanding the scenarios because it was properly explained and portrayed. Plus the art style especially the character design were perfect for the story.
The protagonist isn’t that unique but what
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made Arte special is her character’s empowerment on femininity which is the most emphasized theme in the series that circles along with equality and aspirations. Leo on the other hand is described as strict and cold-hearted but he’s obviously a socially awkward person. I believe that there’s a lack of portrayal in his cold side of personality because he’s very easy to read.
There’s definitely a lot of lacking factors on the technical aspect. Animation is not great but it’s good enough for these type of shows. The characters’ actions and facial expressions were a little bit stiff and the voice acting is off sometimes. They’re also trying so hard to apply comedic touches in different scenes and it looks obviously forced. There’s an overuse of camera panning movements and some establishment shots were rapidly zoomed in. But hey that’s just me being too technical. But if you’re someone who’s very particular in those little details, then it might not be pleasing to watch.
The last episode was rushed and I really wanted more than what the ending offers. I guess they don’t have a choice but to squeeze in everything from what is only allotted. Overall, it’s a pretty interesting story and it’s definitely recommended. Because of this show, I’ve wanted to watch more anime that also has this type of setting. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 23, 2020
If you’re interested on how Anime was made, then “Shirobako” is really a “must watch” series. This show is not just entertaining, but it’s also very informative on how interesting and brutal the creating process is inside the anime industries. Now, let me state some few significant points without spoiling any major events.
Episode one wasn’t really a good start. As a viewer, I was overwhelmed with a huge amount of characters and there were also a number of jargons. But episode by episode, the situations and characters were getting more interesting and clearer. For their usual used terms, few were explained thoroughly and I think
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it’s also better for you to search about them to get along with the story. I was a little bit lucky since the terms were already familiar since I’m an editor myself, but there are still others that I’m not knowledgeable about.
The MC’s job, production assistant, was a perfect decision for the story to unfold all throughout the series. Miyamori’s tasks let the audience see the usual or even worst problems encountered from different professions in the anime industry. May it be the director, episode directors, key animators, animation supervisor, and a lot more professions, departments, and companies. I really felt the hectic atmosphere in every situation and it was properly relayed to the audience through voice acting, cuts, sounds, and even the compilation of sequences.
All the significant characters are likable and I get to see each one of them stepping up their game throughout the series.The character I enjoyed watching the most aside from the protagonist is the director. He brings out the comedy side of the show more than anyone, and he’s pretty relatable for someone who’s ambitious, imaginative, and who also went through slump at times. The last two episodes were fantastic and “fantastic” really is the right word since they tend to use the characters’ wild and creative imaginations as a metaphor on their hectic and thrilling situations.
The show serves as an awareness to the audience and even to the workers in the anime industries. We get to judge their work easily without knowing their hardships behind the scenes. There were also cases of suicide because of the pressure in anime production and that should also be taken seriously by the companies despite the stressful nature of their work. “Shirobako” for me is a very powerful show that captures the essence of harsh reality together with dreams and aspirations of the individuals. It does not just inspire future creators, but it could also open their eyes that the road in front of them is not a straight path. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 23, 2020
There are a lot of reasons to be hyped in this movie: Junichi Sato’s directing experience, Mari Okada’s screenplay, popular seiyuus, Yorushika soundtrack, and a lot more. I’m not gonna lie, I was very excited to watch the film because their line-up looks promising. There’s a problem with being too hype though, since it will eventually lead us to have high expectations. But don’t get me wrong, I love the film’s strong message on depression, and it’s metaphorical way of showcasing the theme is remarkable. I may have the lack of capability to explain it well, but there’s something off with the movie that bugs
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me and my watching experience. I’ll assure you though that it’s not something major.
The show focuses more on the younger audience (teens) and this suits perfectly on their “questioning” phase. Nonetheless, adults would still be able to enjoy its entirety since they’ve also went through on these situations. One major factor why this is also watchable by anyone is the family problems implied in the story. The overall plot is good but the only problem is the transitioning of major scenarios, and I couldn't see the movie as a whole piece because of it.
One hour into the film, the story’s phasing was rushed and the introduction of the other side of their world (cat island) was a bit late. Because of it, I haven’t enjoyed the resolve that much. The background music also began to fell apart in some scenes and there’s a segment in the finale that has a rough fade in and out transition of music with a complete different vibe. Honestly, that segment was cringey.
Overall, I love the entire concept of the film and the message is clearly worth pondering. The concept and theme that they’ve decided with is no doubt an awareness through art. However, the second half is not really that great so my enjoyment until the end was affected. Well, if I’m a kid or a younger version of myself then I would really enjoy this 100 percent, but there’s something within me that is looking for an artistic “spice-up” if that would even make sense to you. Nonetheless, it’s worth the watch and as a big fan of Yorushika, I get to enjoy their beautiful songs being played in the movie. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 15, 2020
I am again impressed with Masaaki Yuasa's unique way of directing films, and I'm also on my way to experience his other shows as well. Compared to Masaaki's previous works, this one's easy to follow and it has more appeal to general audience. It is easy to recommend this movie to anyone which is contrary to his other shows like "Night is Short, Walk on Girl" and "The Tatami Galaxy". The length of the film is perfect and there's a decent amount of characters introduced. In that case, you won't get any trouble with overwhelming information. The soundtrack is good and it plays a major
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role in the story. Animation is stunning, and the gradual change of colors to depict the vibe of the scene is so smooth. In short, it's a PERFECT high quality production.
The story is easy to acknowledge without any complications, and I didn't expect that coming from Masaaki Yuasa. The direction is simply beautiful, like who would've thought someone could come up with a scene where the MC is riding the wave from the top of the building all the way down to the bottom. The sequences were extraordinary depictions of how crazy the life is, and that's actually a trademark of Yuasa's works. The theme is also simple yet relatable to everyone. Things like losing something valuable and moving forward were showcased in this film. Basically, anyone could relate to Hinako as a main character since it could be experience by ourselves as well. I like how they successfully presented the theme and made a comparison through waves. The fire which was seen in different scenes is also significant as a symbol of conflict. The message of the movie is already on its very surface, that's why there's really nothing to dive deeper into. Like I said, this film is for everyone and you'll definitely get to enjoy its simplicity. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 14, 2020
The second season was a blast! It's a show full of adorable and funny moments. I'm glad they made it 24 episodes (with 3 OVAs) for us to capture the essence of their youthful bonds and wonderful friendship. The time skips from the first season was kind of fast since they tried to cover two high school years in just 13 episodes. This time, the number of episodes were enough to encapsulate their last year of high school and for us to have an intimate viewing experience.
I'd like to go through the main characters' personas, since they're the ones who made the show worth
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watching. For Azusa, as the only "kouhai" of the group, she gets to be left out at times. But her love and support for her senpais were slowly defined throughout the show. And of course, her cute "tsundere" character is as clear as day. Mio is the "face" of their band for having a fan club and for her ideal waifu character. Her shyness was overcame through a lot of challenges and she was able to nail her acting as Romeo in their cultural festival. Plus she's the most responsible member of the club, that is why she's the ideal type just like I've said. Mugi is well.... she's Mugi. I find her mysterious the most. Not just because of her unknown rich family background, but also for her weird interests. She's in for challenges and she's gotten more expressive throughout the season. She reminds me of a pufferfish with the way she look and react sometimes. Ritsu is the most unexpected character that I've loved, mainly because of his boyish personality. But damn, her cute and girly side is so adorable. She brings energy to the group and she has this "concerning nature" where she's always watching out for her members. Lastly, Yui is the heart of the group. I don't think I have to elaborate her personality further since without her, everything is not just right since she's the highlight of them all.
Episode 20 (last concert) and Episode 24 (graduation) were the best episodes and I think majority would agree. I was again moved into tears when they finally realized that those were the final moments in their high school as a band. The final song which was dedicated to Azusa was touching, and I love how the lines were distributed to each one of them. The OPs and EDs are also worth mentioning. Every episode started off with a cute OP (Yui's vocals) and ended with cool ED (Mio's vocals). Again, the animation is stunning and consistent all throughout. These type of shows will always motivate me and think positive at times, which is why I love them. No matter what situation we are in, this will push us to keep on dreaming and cherish the significant moments that we had before. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 10, 2020
NOTE: This is an in-depth review which contains a bunch of spoilers!
When one has the intention to do good, one shall put some effort to be loved by everyone. But humans are complicated. That good intention could bring them shame, anger, envy, hopelessness, or even take it as an advantage to fulfill their desires. The truth is always their bringing peace to everyone, but misconception is faster to spread than what really lies within. In what means could we stop the hatred around us? I think it's impossible. If only there's a magic that could bind us from doing selfish things. If only there's
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a creature that could help us realize how horrific our race are. The root of all conflict caused by humanity is possession. This starts when one has the ability to have something "good" while the other can have "great". I don't know if I've explained it well, but there are a lot of films out there that share the same message. This anime film is no exception. But the gap lies in how they're going to portray it.
In Masaaki Yuasa's case, it's a colorful mermaid tale that even kids can appreciate how visually appealing the film is. The cartoonish art style, neat and smooth animation, delightful presentation of colors, and a unique way of writing sequences are somewhat a "trademark" of Masaaki's works. I haven't watched all of his films, but from what I've seen so far, he's a respectable artist who inspires aspiring creators like myself. Not just him, but props to all the people he collaborated with to make an artistic film possible.
I instantly got hooked by how the film started. It's one of the best teaser sequence I've ever seen. You can immediately get the idea on what the MC (Kai) does, what is it like around him, and what's his attitude towards his environment. His pessimistic character is perfectly portrayed with the film's playful use of light, shadow, and colors. Kai's character gradually changed when he met the playful, music-loving mermaid, named Lu. When the title sequence was finally shown on screen, all I can say is "Wow, this film is going to be great", and man, my expectations did not betray me.
I perceived Lu as an "absolute truth" that could bring change. As a mermaid, she was recognized as a monster. It's not new for us humans to assume that any other creatures aside from our race is monstrous in its nature, and it's something that we perceived as "believable". As a music-loving creature, she has shown an exceptional talent that everyone loves, but it also brought grudge and jealousy to the people who felt belittled in singing. As part of the town's legend, officials have gained interest towards Lu and they've wanted to use her as a face of their tourism. As a friend, Lu has nothing but good intentions. She wanted to be the bridge between the two races and bring harmony through music. Lu does not possess any negative feelings like humans have. In that sense, it is easy for the people to bend that "absolute truth" into a "misconception" for their own personal desires. Humanity has brought misconception and danger for themselves, and this is why we're way more monstrous than what we think.
Kai knew this more than anybody else, but he refuses to look at that glaring reality and make an action. Half of him wants to protect Lu from everybody's desire, and half of him wants to have Lu's full attention and not somebody else. It's pretty ironic when he said that his bandmate, Yuuho Ebina, was just being selfish. Because of Lu, Kai was brought to a different and positive perspective where he was able to express himself through music. But this was instantly changed when a lot of people have gained interest on her. In the final scenes, Kai was driven back to make a move not only because of Lu being in danger, but also because he realized how Lu cherished their friendship. In the end, it's not Lu who betrayed him, but his own personal desire.
The film ended with not just Kai's, but everyone's biggest leap of action. And this time, it's not for their own sake. I keep on describing humanity as something "monstrous", and I do still think that we are. Possessions could create conflict, but each one of us could also use this as a resolve. We possessed the capability to do something great. We are also capable to understand not just the surface, but also the depths of the circumstances. To know the truth means interpreting the information without any unnecessary assumption. The best example of "information dissemination" which is shown in the film is the town announcements. You have to speak slowly in order to have a clear message, and it takes one clear message to change everything.
This is truly a wonderful film with an important message to ponder. I enjoyed watching its stunning visuals and comical side of the story. In my case, it's worth the time watching this film with almost 2 hours in length. It's definitely one of my recommended shows to watch when you're in for a dive of new perspectives. Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 8, 2020
MOE LEVEL MAX!
I've watched "K-On!" when I was still a kid, and back then I've always thought that this show is ONLY for girls so I decided to drop it. But here I am, loving this anime as a grown-up! Is it weird? Yes! In their eyes, I am! My sister even laughed at me when she knew. But you know what, looking at the brighter side, this anime inspires a lot of people. My sister even formed a girl band before with her friends in high school. No matter how superficial the characters were, a lot of people were driven to do their best
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to enjoy their high school journey.
I'm only going to state few things that I really like since I'm still on my way to watch the second season. "K-On!" has well-thought characters, and their dynamics has what made the show entertaining. They focused on the journey of the "airhead" Yui, which is fun to follow along. The instruments on which the characters chose to play complimented with their personality. It's exciting to see every side of their character, and that effort should be well-recognized. The animation never ceases to amaze me. This was aired way back in 2009 and Kyoto Animation is always at their best in giving off a stunning visualization. The best part of their animation is their facial expression, especially their eyes.
Since the show has a very positive vibe, I was surprised by the unexpected introduction of conflict shown in the later episodes. But that conflict is not that intense to destroy the overall vibe that the show has given off so far. That serves as the "building up" of something great to happen, which is their final performance of the season. What makes the finale so beautiful is not just their performance, but the development of Yui's character. I cried when Yui also cried, like what the hell, my sensitivity is on a whole new different level! I guess this is how my inner "weebnes" reacts to some moe character development, so forgive me for that. Anyways, I'm very excited to watch the second season and I'm hoping for more developments from everyone. I'm sure to make a review for that sequel so... Ja Matane!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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