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May 20, 2021
Descending Stories is a niche story that not many would enjoy, but if you do enjoy it, the manga will stay with you forever.
As its name suggests, this story takes place over multiple generations. From WWII to the present day, it chronicles one family as their fate intertwines with the Rakugo world. This manga asks some big questions about art and the survival of it. With modern technology and a faster society is Rokugo, the artform of oral storytelling, still relevant?
This story is shocking. Especially if you're not prepared for the numerous time skips it goes through and you see characters grow old and have
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kids in a matter of volumes. It's also not afraid to straight-up show the Rakugo show. A lot of chapters will have characters reciting Rakugo for pages upon pages, and quite often they'll recite the same story volumes later, but somehow it lulls the reader into a trance that connects you to these characters even more. The character of Yotaro performs a certain story four or five times throughout the manga, and each time you can feel the difference in his choices through the dialogue of his oral story. Really well done.
But what's more shocking about Descending Stories is that it's about deep pain as well as hope. Most of the series is surrounding a traumatic event that happened in the past that has influenced so many characters in who they became, but it's presented in a cathartic way in which characters grow out of their depression. Almost as if the manga is all about the small speck of hope in a sea of darkness is enough to light the way to a new road.
This manga is such a satisfying ending. I wasn't sure how they would be able to end it in a way that ties up all the characters, but they do and it's extraordinarily beautiful. Probably my favorite ending to any manga series.
If you enjoy stories and the human condition then I'd recommend this series. It doesn't try to be anything more than what it sets out to be and I can definitely see many readers skipping pages whenever characters perform Rakugo, but just like the tumultuous journies of life, it's all worth it in the end.
(Also, yay for non-traditional families!)
Story: 6/10
Art: 6/10
Character: 7/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Overall: 6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 9, 2021
Limit is another really good entry into the "I Hear the Sunspot" series. It does everything you've loved so far, but to a level that is just uber satisfying. This is easily my favorite part of the story and I don't have anything bad to say about it. Limit (contrary to its name) only broadens everything you've loved and made these characters we've fallen in love with even deeper.
Like the other entries, this one can be read as a standalone series, but you'll be more emotionally invested if you read the previous two installments.
I can't wait for more to come. This has been a
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surprising series that only gets better. The paneling is really compelling here and the story emphasizes Kohei and Taichi's relationship even more.
Ugh. I love these boys.
Story: 8/10
Art: 7/10
Character: 8/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 8, 2021
I've been slowly reading more shojo manga and Peach Girl was a title I've heard about for years because of its popularity. I can see why it was popular, but holy manga gods was this a frustrating read.
First off, this manga is manipulative. The characters in it are manipulative and the author is trying to manipulate the audience as much as possible. It was so frustrating reading the first few chapters because of how obvious the characters were about creating plot and tension that I hate read the first three or so volumes.
Characters:
There is definitely a problem with characters. What this manga does really well
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is that it shows the emotions of the leading characters in ways that are relatable, but it's pulled off in a sloppy way. Momo, the main character that has a complex about her skin tone, goes through a lot of pain and suffering and throughout the series she doesn't learn from any of it.
The side characters are incredibly wishy washy. They are the ideal mob mentality where they'll hate Momo or they'll love her and they're not afraid to switch on a dime. They have no personal thoughts. When side characters befriend Momo and they're her friends for the rest of the manga we hardly get to know them. The series is so focused on the core four characters that everything and everyone outside of their emotional lives is irrelevant.
Then there's Sae. God, I hated her with the passion of a thousand burning suns. You could tell that Sae was nothing but a plot device for a good chunk of the manga and what she did was beyond horrendous. She was evil incarnate. It wasn't until the last few volumes where I started to feel any sympathy towards her and that was only because her character did a 180.
The character development isn't good. It's very basic and if a character changes too much there isn't much explanation. Take Sae, when she falls in love for the first time she's a new character. There is no transition, it's just boom, there she is now.
Peach Girl has a bad habit of bringing up adult and serious situations only for it to mean nothing. I can't even tell you how often this manga brings in attempted rape. Actually, I will tell you. There are at least 4 major events where Momo or Sae are about to be raped and it's so gross how the manga handles it as if it were nothing. The first time there were repercussions. Momo was traumatized. Every time after that this situation was used to build tension and have one of the potential boyfriends come rescue them.
I don't know what Japanese High School life was back when this came out, but there are so many uncomfortable situations of characters that are between 15 and 17 being sexually assaulted, or dating men in their 20s, or doing porn, or something else that you wouldn't expect to find in a shojo romance.
The part that frustrates me so much about this manga is that no matter how much I complain about it, it's effective. This manga is super manipulative, but I kept with it. Whether I was enjoying myself or hate reading it out of spite I was continuing with these characters that on the surface I like. However, for every time I'm enjoying the manga there are at least three instances that make me facepalm, like the two male love interests literally pulling on Momo's arms as if she's a toy in their toddler years arguing over who loves her more.
I'm glad I read this, but it did not age like fine wine. I think I have a better grasp of Shojo, but I would not recommend this to anyone.
Story: 4/10
Art: 5/10
Character: 4/10
Enjoyment: 4/10
Overall: 4/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Apr 29, 2021
I love these characters so much~
What I wanted at the end of the first series/volume finally happened here. Yes, the story does the obligatory "oh no, what if he hates me," and then the love birds don't talk to each other for months, but I think it really works for this series that's about internal loneliness and self-doubt.
This series is far more emotional than the first, and the characters are put through the wringer. Taichi has to confront his feelings, Kohei has to come to terms that his hearing may be deteriorating beyond his control, and now we have a new character that cockblocks the
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romance.
Theory of Happiness definitely has a lot more going for it and certain character moments are cheer worthy. Definitely sliding more into the BL genre that it's in, but it also explores a wider world of disabilities and how people with disabilities treat each other differently (like hearing impaired and full on deaf).
A worthwhile sequel that will make you fall in love even deeper with these characters.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 29, 2021
I really loved this manga when it came out.
What really makes this story stand out is the attention to detail on disabilities and how each side interprets certain situations. Marketably, this is a boy's love story, but this first part is so subtle that you'd probably not be aware of it until the end. Instead, this is a story about living in a world of miscommunication and trying to find even ground where everybody can stand equally.
The first two or three chapters are so good. It really hits you emotionally and it makes you rethink how you've treated people, whether they have a disability or
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not. Unfortunately, as strong as the characters are and the first few chapters, I couldn't help but feel like the story wasn't strong enough to finish on its own. At some point, it did start to feel like it was going through the motions to hit certain character beats.
After re-reading it, I couldn't help but feel almost disappointed by the ending and how it didn't take that next step that the characters so desperately needed to make this great.
Thankfully, there's a sequel~!
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Apr 13, 2021
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Boob physics initiated.
These two short specials have been so much better than the actual show. The animation is consistent and actually good. These specials reflect the main series' first episode with playful characters and a lot of fanservice.
Boobs were adored. Each playful bounce was a sincere apology for what happened to the main series.
But in all seriousness, I was actually impressed with these two special episodes. They're honestly what specials should be. Fun.
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Wasn't expecting a Saw or Die Hard reference, that's for sure.
Though I am disappointed that there weren't enough butts this time around.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 13, 2021
Listen, you'll find a lot of reviews talking about how bad this anime is, but I want to make this perfectly clear. I was genuinely impressed with the full asses and thick thighs that at least two of the girls in this anime are sporting. Like, normally you'd get the super skinny or the loli, but no, these girls are so normal it's refreshing.
All hail Sakura and Reika's beautiful butts!!
Ahem, that said, this anime is definitely not the worst I've seen, and the reviews that convey that severely negative statement are quite surprising. I will admit though that it is shabby and the animation
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isn't consistent (seriously, just look at their eyes and see how much they change). This anime may also be severely cliche, but it felt like a nice sugary candy. Harmless and enjoyable.
The basic premise is actually a really smart setup for the sibling characters. A sister who can't go public with her writing career being forced to share her inner desires via her brother (standing in for her publicly) is the perfect foundation for a romcom to tackle interesting stories. Unfortunately, interesting stories flew out the window quite quickly and all that was left were hand-me-down cliches.
Even with those cliches, it was still enjoyable, if average.
Though, like the animation, the anime's story isn't consistent. The first episode is a whopper. Lots of fanservice, boobs, nipples, almost overwhelmingly so if you're not expecting that. Whereas most of the series doesn't have that overt fanservice. Reika provides some tantalizing soapy nude scenes while in the bath once in a while, and you get the classic "walked in on my sister taking a shower," but honestly the placement of the nudity is quite strange. Take for instance the episode where the siblings have to make a Doujinshi. That had the least amount of nudity, and the nudity in it was just sketched from Double Peace. in an episode about making erotica!! But on a regular episode, you could have nudity by having characters talking over the phone. It seriously doesn't feel like the show knows when to balance appropriate nudie time.
Then, since this is a harem, it falls into the all-too-familiar trap of introducing a girl only to forget about the previous girl. This series is good at setting up (sort of) characters and then not taking them anywhere. Aside from the out of nowhere romance that all the female characters are smitten by (and this happens in all of anime) the basic plotline is okay if scatterbrained.
Sigh.
Biggest props to the booty they presented in this. Some props to the setup. But its inconsistent animation and constant churn of downplaying all the side girls can be sigh-inducing at times.
Enjoy this candy-coated show for what it is. Moe. Booty. And Boobs.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Mar 30, 2021
I'm going to split this review into two parts: One in which I focus on it as an anime, and the second as an adaptation.
Part 1 (Anime):
The second season of "Slime" starts off with a stumble. The first four episodes are dedicated to side stories that are arranged in a timeline that is confusing. Rimuru leaves the kids from last season in the first episode to do some leader stuff, but then three episodes later he leaves the kids again? I didn't really understand that. Other than the confusing timeline, this did bring some fun, if quick, world-building with Eurazania and Dwargon, but also some
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quality comedy with Shion and Shuna regarding a certain elf establishment.
When the plot really kicks into gear with the introduction to Hinata and the siege that followed her actions, the anime felt like it was trying to tackle some heavy material while also not making it too heavy. This is the season that has truly tested Rimuru and pushed him beyond his boundaries. And yet, the anime does everything in its power to lighten every scene that is supposed to be conveyed as heavy and important which underhands several key scenes.
Even though the anime fumbles the atmosphere and direness of the story, it does present everything in a way that makes sense for the plot to keep rolling. Overall, it's not as focused as the first season.
Part 2 (Adaptation):
Before this season started I had begun binging the light novels. This season adapts a few chapters from Vol 4 that season 1 had skipped over and then Vol 5. The 5th volume is one of my favorites in the series because it pushes Rimuru to the brink and you can feel his pain oozing off of each page. This season had so much potential~
And they squandered it.
The anime glosses over so many details about Rimuru's angst and tones-down so much of his feelings and state of mind to keep the anime as light as it has been over the last 25 episodes or so. The bright happy music and heroic theme music when Rimuru talks about revising his policy on humans is downright tone-deaf, and I audibly laughed at their (animators) decisions on how to portray those scenes. Holy shit was that poorly adapted.
I can go on and list the small details that the anime ignored that actually set up the tone of the story, but then I'd be here all night trying to list them all. Overall, this volume was adapted in a way to streamline and understand the plot. Everything that is important to know right now has been touched on, but the way they went about adapting this emotional arc was hardly satisfactory.
In conclusion:
I compromised. This isn't a terrible season, and even for an anime-only it still delivers more than other isekais. So, it's above average, but not great. A solid 6/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Mar 29, 2021
Straight down the middle average.
Though, I'm surprised by how much sexual harassment is in this show.
First and foremost this is a comedy. When it does have a plot it feels okay at best and is really only there to structure funny scenarios. The first few episodes are the best. They're the funniest and they introduce each character so whimsically wonderfully. As the story starts to unfold more the comedy starts to drop, the not-so-interesting plot starts to rise, and what you have left is a perfectly okay Soufflé that hasn't risen.
I do like the characters a lot. They have a lot of promise, but
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after a few episodes they definitely each fell into their own rhythms. I wish there was more character work to do, but hey, I'm just glad that they had a good foundation at least.
The series isn't mindblowing. The action isn't great. It's colorful and has enough whimsy that it won't be boring, but I can totally see some people not getting much, if anything, out of this.
It's light custard to whet your appetite between meals and rinses your pallet for round two of something you're invested in.
But seriously, poor Lloyd sure has his hands full with all those older women trying to get him naked against his will.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Mar 29, 2021
My Boy in Blue is a short and sweet shojo story about a 24-year-old police officer marrying a 16-year-old high school girl.
Surprisingly, their love story is rarely creepy. Their age difference does come up at times and some of the adult characters, like Sagano (the 24-year-old), are acutely aware of the situation, but it's hardly dramatic enough to keep mentioning throughout the series. Most of the time it's just a story about a normal couple, but without sex.
That said, the story doesn't really do anything different went it comes to other romantic stories. The characters are a bit more mature and understanding their ages
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would let on, but for the most part, it's very standard. It takes a while for the two to hug let alone kiss. By the end, the relationship does feel fulfilling. There are two flashforwards, one of the wedding and one when all the characters have kids. It's nice to see their relationship "finish" and see how far Kako (16-year-old-girl) has grown into a strong woman.
My biggest issue is that you can tell this wasn't supposed to be a long-running series, and the author even admits that. There is a good chunk of the second half of this manga where Kako and Sagano are not the main characters. They take a backseat to the side-characters as the author explores their traumatic backstories. It's very welcome, but at the same time, it felt like we put Kako and Sagano's story on hold for 6 or so volumes.
Hei-chan gets more character development than the titular couple. And I'm happy for him, he's a great character, but when the final volume came around and everyone was graduating high school, moving on with their lives, getting married, having some kids, it really felt like Kako and Sagano were much too easy as a couple and while their love showed it wasn't as impactful as it should have been.
There's a great scene where Sagano is really feeling his age when Kako and her friends come over to his place. I thought that was a really good character moment as it brought back the thing that the manga was trying not to mention (their age difference) and I really wished there were more of those scenes.
Overall, this was a really good manga. It does tackle childhood abuse, but at the end of the day, it's very much about redemption and moving forward with your life. The romance may not be spectacular, but you'll still feel good.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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