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Sep 26, 2023
Watching The Girl I Like Forgot Glasses is like taking a trip down memory lane, to the days of high school when you first begin your teenage years. Or, if you are currently in high school, the youth experience is about meeting people and making discoveries. Don't believe me? Just ask Kaede Komura.
Despite GoHands' rather rocky reputation in recent years with their mediocre projects, this is one of those shows that worked out in the end with its animation style. The CG artwork feels alive when we see the backgrounds and character emotions. GoHands uses its digital effects that earns both praise and criticism in
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the past. Watching this studio's projects over the years made me realize how much they wanted to focus on their enhancing their quality. Their overemphasis on coloring and CG actually exceeded expectations. From the enhanced quality of the backgrounds to the character models, I do praise GoHands on delivering what is their greatest presentation yet.
Based on the manga of the same name, you don't need to read further than the synopsis. The title of the show itself might attract your attention as to what it may be about. It's simple: a girl that a protagonist likes who happens to forget their glasses. It goes beyond a recurring gag as it's embedded into the main plot. Every episode, we see Komura's classmate Ai Mie somehow forget her glasses and as result, chains of events follow that always leads to him helping her out. At the root of the plot is Komura's crush on the oblivious Mie and her clumsiness causes the two to be paired up together. In other words, you shouldn't invite yourself to some sort of complex plot. This show isn't trying to deceive you. What you see is what you get: a boy who has a crush on a girl who forget their glasses.
Ai Mie is the epitome of a clumsy airhead. If there's one character this year that relates to clumsy, Mie represents the embodiment of that word. Think about it, every episode has her somehow, someway forget her glasses. Luckily, she lives close to school so she's able to get there on her own. Whenever she forgets her glasses in class, Komura serves as her helping hand. This is where the meat of the show happens. You see, whenever Komura has to help her, she closes in the distance between her face and his. This results in awkward moments that has Komura blushing furiously and countless thoughts running in his head. The recurring gags results in Mie thanking him in a looping pattern. This happens to be a fortune for Komura because it gives him more opportunities to know about Mie. In respect, the two both connect and build a bond between each other whether you interpret is romantic or as close friends. However, given the length of this show, don't expect the anime to give them a happy ever after ending. They're still teenagers and there's a whole life ahead of them.
As a romantic comedy, we should know that other characters sometimes get into our main characters' lives. Ren Azuma is one such character who through observations realizes the two's feelings. Due to his popularity, he sometimes causes Komura to feel jealous and inferior to him. On the other hand, there's also Narumi Someya, a fellow female classmate that causes Mie to feel inadvertisely jealous. Her reactions isn't overblown but it's obvious that that she is curious what Komura thinks of other girls. However, even as a romantic comedy, this is more on the light side. There's a lot more emphasis on the comedy than the romance and this isn't adapted as a heavy drama. Treat yourself as this show wants it to be...a colorful anime that tells a story exactly the way it is.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 24, 2023
There are countless words that can describe the Mushoku Tensei franchise. But perhaps 'controversial' is one of the more fitting ways as Mushoku Tensei has some rather mature themes compared to other modern animated isekai. This isn't breaking news because for fans and the returning audience, this series has been known to take risks. At the center of that is Rudeus, a young man who is self-conscious with a complex moral compass. With a set of 13 episodes, this season is no short of controversy yet is also a colorful addition to its franchise.
First of all, I want to just throw this in and say
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that you must accept Rudeus' presence in this show whether you absolutely despise him for his personality, actions, or his morals. He's in every episode and we follow his journey across the Mushoku Tensei world from harsh outdoor landscapes to an advanced magical academy. Being the protagonist, Rudeus can draw in some negative attention for his inner narratives and high libido. While he has matured since the first season, it seems the past has affected him greatly especially since Eris left him after they did the deed. When watching the first few episodes, we see that Rudeus lost part of his mojo and charisma. He's not as carefree and seemingly has no real goal ahead of him. Sure, he has the idea of finding Zenith in his mind but having being abandoned by Eris truly affected his mental state. It is not until he joins the Counter Arrow party where he finds his place and slowly, his mental state improves. Throughout those moments, we see how Rudeus bonds with their members, gradually evolving from an outside stranger to a trusted friend. The most prominent relationship among them is Rudeus and Sara, the latter having a similar personality comparable to Eris. The season teases their relationship and attempts to take it to the next level but all this was more of facade. Nonetheless, Rudeus realizes that he is his own enemy and strives to improve himself as a person.
The University Arc in the second half of the show feels like a restart for Rudeus. It was his chance to become a better person by learning magic, making new friends, and moving on from the past. It's also there when he meets the mysterious Fitts who holds some secrets of their own. Reuniting with Zanoba also bought a feeling of nostalgia and he begins to see the world in a better light. The more episodes this season aired, the more we see how some characters have fragile personalities. In particular, Fitts' real identity is very obvious to the audience but she struggles to find the courage to reveal herself to Rudeus. It is until much later that she realizes her true feelings. Nonetheless, feelings are somewhat a bit ambigiously delivered in this show. One particular instance felt rushed such as Elinalise when she "falls" for Cliff with almost no buildup or development. Establishing characters in this anime should be the most basic norm yet some are just thrown into our face. On the other hand, the anime does take care at building Rudeu's character into a more likable protagonist. He still has some of traits from the older days but in this season, he's matured into a better person fitting of his age and personality.
Now, you may be asking yourself if Mushoku Tensei is trying to get across some sort of message to us. Is it trying to make us like Rudeus as a character more? The better question to ask instead is whether you should enjoy this season for the content it prepared. At a fundamental level, the season does improve in almost every aspect in terms of storytelling compared to the previous. The first few episodes wanted us to experience what a character is like after being abandoned. Rudeus' response to being abandoned by Eris is actually very normal and relatable. Furthermore, the anime had to take a deeper dive into his character for redemption. They didn't want to assassinate Rudeus' personality but at the same time, they wanted us to experience what he's been through. Quite frankly, they were able to protray his character in the most human possible, or at least someone of his age. Given Rudeus' background origins, he felt even more lonely and vulnerable to being abandoned. It is not until he discovers more meaning in life and hope that he gets back on his feet.
Similar to the previous season, Mushoku Tensei retains its witty dialogue usage and character expressions. Rudeus is less expressive compared before but the anime doesn't shy on showing his emotions when given the chance. This is most evident when he's paired with a female characters. I won't get too much into the controversial content but let's say that Rudeus is still a healthy boy who isn't shy about trying to have sex. To keep it less rated R this season, there's no explicit scenes and for character reasons too. Think about it, Mushoku Tensei had suggestive content since day one so none of them should really be a surprise.
They say controversy create cash and that's no further from the truth when it's about this franchise. The second season may be less explicit but that doesn't mean it's absent of mature material. However, I would say this season is an improvement compared to the previous for it managed to get us invested into Rudeus' human journey, a journey that he endures about discovering himself and being able to realize his purpose again in life. Let's just hope the next season builds on this even more.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 21, 2023
If you thought we were short on otome anime this year dealing with villainesses, then think again. When The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen From Villainess to Savior got announced, it became obvious that the otome experiment has been a success and opened up a new realm of possibilities. Based on the web novel of the same name, we are greeted with perhaps a heretical anime that we didn't know we wanted.
The otome fantasy genre has a very familiar formula and that involves some sort of villainess from a video game in the past. Then, a faithful event happens that gives that character a second
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chance to live their life but in a new timeline in a new body. In this case, we meet Pride Royal Ivy who goes through this phase. With her knowledge of the past, Pride Royal Ivy tries to change her fate and his is another all too familiar theme of fantasy otome in recent years.
Can I just say that the names of the characters in this show has gotten a bit peculiar? Pride Royal Ivy sounds more like the title of a military unit or commander than a villainess. Yet, Ivy does have a sense of pride in herself and tries her best to revert her fate of a "bad ending". Indeed, the show wants us to root for Ivy because that's her main goal. As we follow her journey across the show, it became obvious that she tried to make herself completely different from the original Ivy. Through efforts, she proves herself to be a worthy character capable of showing compassion, kindness, and helping the helpless. From a character perspective, she earns the respect and friendships of other characters who would likely not be her friend from the original timeline. Among the most prominent of these friends is Slate, who she originally forced him to commit heinous acts in the past. Now in the present, they form a friendship that can be described as loyal and geninue. Yet Pride herself is not without flaws. She tries to put too much responsibility on her shoulders and sometimes faces immense pressure. This results in miscalculated acts that jeopardizes problems. It's later evident that she cannot change everything herself and that fate sometimes is more than just a game.
For Ivy, her influence varies throughout the show from changing fates of characters from her past and altering her own future. What does make Ivy herself somewhat unique is that her original character is the embodiment of evil, or at least in her world. Obviously, the Ivy we come to know in the present is a complete foil of her former self. But at the same time, there are glimpses of her past that still haunts Ivy in the present day. To me, this anime is a darker version of the typical otome isekai show. It takes its elements and goes on a much more dramatic route than just saving people or changing a timeline. It's about altering the very fabric of reality and facing the truth. We should recognize the author wanted us to experience the feeling of despair, even when changes are successful. Ivy is also not exactly what I call a noble protagonist even if in her mind, she is "doing the right thing".
Ultimately, you need to ask yourself if this type of show is aimed correctly for you. Because in some instances, it borrows many elements from otome isekai in today's industry but also throws in a few unique twists. Ivy herself can be a mixed reception as she is far too dimensional and lacks distinct traits despite her personality change. The relationship between her and Stale is meaningful but isn't a main focus throughout the show. In other words, this anime puts more emphasis on plot than relationships and that might not be everyone's cup of tea. Other characters such as Clark and Arthur represents what they are: supporting cast. Unfortunately, this show has an overemphasis on Ivy that most of the other cast is overshadowed even someone such as Tiara. If you don't find Ivy's character appealing, then we got some problems.
Admitingly, I was neither disappointed or impressed by the animation quality of the adaptation. The studio seems to adapt the characters at a fundamental level that made them feel believable. Among this, Ivy's scarlet hair represents her determination while the rest of the cast are given an elegant look with noble qualities. Despite the genres and themes, the show isn't too heavy into fantasy so don't expect heavy action backed by a budget. Instead, it's a pretty standard adaptation with the look of an otome isekai.
The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen From Villainess to Savior shows that even though otome isekai isn't dying off the industry any time soon, it hasn't set a massive standard yet. It means the show should've tried to go beyond what it was capable of but a 12 episode adaptation didn't showcase its full potential. Yet, there's still a lot of hope for this genre and I believe we haven't seen the best of them yet.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 20, 2023
Is there such a thing as a "happy marriage"? We should ask ourselves this because even if marriage is not an idea you ever had in mind, what does marriage really bring? Based on the manga of the same name, we are greeted with a show that details what really brings happiness to a person's life.
The MAL synopsis of the show definitely paints a miserable picture into the life of female protagonist Miyo Saimori. What's worse is that her situation is out of her control. The way that she has been mistreated by her current family is a sharp contrast to Miyo's mother. I'll
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get to this later but for now, let's just say that Miyo's life is nothing but filled with trouble and misery. That, is until she is married to a man name Kiyoka Kudou. To her delight, this turned out to be the best thing to happen to her in this timeline because Kiyoka represents the light in her dark tunnel.
Watching My Happy Marriage as an anime only watcher shows that human emotions can truly be fragile. Miyo has to endure physically and mentally the abuse of characters such as her own grandmother and the her half-sister, Kaya Saimori. Early episodes shows that she is not respected or treated equal among the family. It reminds me of the Cinderella story of a kind young woman being mistreated, only we don't have the magic pumpkins or glass slippers. Instead, we get Kiyoka Kudou, a man who was assumed to have a reputation of being a tyrant. In reality, Kiyoka is a strong willed young man who is kind and respectful especially towards Miyo. He serves not just as Miyo's husband but also her protector. Without him, it's easy to say the life of Miyo would be much more miserable. This is evidenced in one episode when Kaya took extreme measures to ruin Miyo's life. And this just goes to show that humans emotions in this anime really has no bounds. The character relationship and chemistry between Miyo and Kiyoka is undeniable however. From the start, it felt like the two knew each other and had a connection. Throughout this season, we take a deeper glance at the pair as they tackle the reality of a married life.
Because of how much the past influences the present timeline, we have to understand the background story of the Saimori family. It's complicated that revolves around jealousy, human emotions, and even death. The most prominent catalyst is Miyo's mother Sumi, a kind spirited woman who serves as a foil to the antagonistic nature of the Miyo's abusers. Born from a noble family, Sumi shares similarities with Miyo in that they are both kind, compassionate, and selfless. Watching Sumi's background story just shows how human feelings can contrast so much between certain characters. The show doesn't take too much time into background storytelling but we should understand enough to know how the story unfolded into the present.
Now, we should also examine the happiness and bright side of the anime because even all this misery, there's light and hope. If Miyo represents the heart of the show, then Kiyoka represents the soul. Both characters together shows that people can overcome the past and build a better future. One of the primary reasons of their marriage is because of Miyo's potential of supernatural abilities. This is hinted before we even realize she may not be a normal girl. In other words, the reason for their rearranged marriage is to produce a powerful offspring. But unfortunately, Miyo hasn't really lived up to her family expectations. Speaking of family, we also do learn some details on the Tatsuishi family although their characters are rather underwhelming. For instance, Tatsuishi Kouji feels like a poor man's version of Kiyoka being weaker and less intimidating. Their family has a history but mostly viewed as inferior and therefore less dominant compared to the Suimoi family. Still, when we trace back all the history, family feuds, drama, this show make us realize just how human we all are.
Maintaining an aura of elegance, My Happy Marriage has a range of character designs varying from the charming looks of Miyo to the more intimidating features of Kiyoka. Most importantly is the way the studio and directors captured character expressions. Compared to shows with similar genres, it meets and perhaps exceeds the standards. It's not easy to show emotions through animation but I believe the show did an outstanding job at delivering their goal. The way character lines are delivered shows raw human emotions through the sheer quality of the animated features. It's impressive being able to capture the magic of human emotions because it is so complicated.
It may not be the masterpiece or talk of the year. However, My Happy Marriage sets an example of how human emotions are protrayed through complicated events and history. Marriage is a word that ties two people together through reasons whether it's political, financial, or love. For Miyo and Kiyokta, I believe they learned more about love more than they both realized.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 16, 2023
Out of any JRPG franchise in this generation, the Atelier series has been a bit of a niche title aimed at specific audiences. Despite this, the Atelier Ryza trilogy became one of the most successful collection of games in their franchise history. And no doubt, this anime adaptation was not a matter of if but when. Yet, the anime wore its magic off quickly when we realize it's just a very loose adaptation, one that tries to appeal to the audience, but struggles every step along the way.
First, I want to get the big question out of the way. Do you need to play the
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games to enjoy the anime? The easy answer is no because it became painfully obvious upon the first few episodes that this is a very loose adaptation of the game. And I should also mention, it's focused on elements of the first game only because game mechanics from the second and third games are absent in this show. Even the new characters were omitted. What we do get is a focus on Ryza and her adventures with her friends.
With a full hour premiere, the show initially makes an impression at establishing the principal cast along with its world setting. For those who are unfamilar with the Atelier series, a major focus involves alchemy and how alchemists can make objects, remake them, and even enhance them to make them stronger. While the show introduces these concepts, it's only vaguely explained. Instead, the show takes on a hybrid of adventure, slice of life, and fantasy all stuffed up together. As mentioned before, the anime accepts the main mechanics from the first game but ultimately walks a path of its own. Starting with Ryza, she is an inspiring alchemist and adventurer with an immense curiousity about the world. In the show, she is protrayed as a friendly girl and mostly similar to her in-game character. Her best friend Klaudia makes an appearance and we do see some minor character connection between the duo. Unfortunately, the anime lacks the emotional appeal or moments from the game so it only scratches the surface of their relationship. Other important characters such as Lent and Tao also make appearances although I am rather disappointed by both of their roles. For instance, Lent serves mainly as the 'muscle' of the group but lacks any form of characterization or development. Because of the absence of character segments and stories, we only see what his fighting skills are capable of and barely any personality elements from him. On the other hand, Tao is protrayed as a weaker version compared to his in game character. The anime actually waters down on his combat abilities especially early on in the series. To add to the disappointment, his personality doesn't improve much either and is easily the most dull character in the show.
However, I do want to talk a bit more about Klaudia because there's some levels to her character. Her strict father has high expectations for her and in one of the later episodes, she's able to bring her colorful personality in display. It's one of the more pivotal moments in the show that gives us a better insight about herself. But beyond that, Klaudia suffers from a similar fate to the others: a watered down version of her in-game character. Comparing anime and game adaptations aren't always fair but in this case, the Atelier Ryza games series does a much better job at capturing the cast's personalities. In this adaptation, you're not getting that.
Speaking as someone that has experience with the games, the anime adaptation loosely focuses on its alchemy and synthesis elements. We get the most basic form of alchemy in the form of making bombs and weapons. The complex nature of the alchemy system is mainly thrown out the window and you'd probably get a better idea understanding it reading off of a wiki than this show. And finally, I do want to say that the plot can be a rather mixed reception. It has a slice of life tone that doesn't really have a direction. To call the anime slow paced would be an understatement. We don't get to see a "boss battle" until the final few episodes and even then, it's disappointing. Why? The game uses an action orders system while the anime just throws in some action moves and calls it a day. Ryza's potential is shown but it became clear the anime isn't about fighting in the first place. But at the end of the day, the show truly doesn't know what it's even about.
Liden Films put their work into the adaptation had by some standards, it's acceptable. The character models are consistent and if you've done some research around, you'd know about the 'thicc thighs' memes around the Internet. Here, the anime doesn't really give off fan service although we still get a beach style episode, something that was absent from the first game. On other hand, I do give praise on the studio for crafting the environments. It does stand out to make the anime look like a JRPG setting with that mixture of alchemy, fantasy, and slice of life. Beyond that, don't expect groundbreaking cinematics or next-gen animation quality. The Atelier series has never truly been about how great it looks.
Ulimately, the anime adaptation of Atelier Ryza serves more or less like a celebration of the trilogy. They achieved success through advertising and sales, and perhaps the show may draw in some new people to the franchise. However, this is still a niche show and unfortunately, the anime really didn't put enough effort to give us what we want.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jun 28, 2023
For you and me, and everyone, Oshi no Ko has transcended beyond logic this season. You know, before I even added this show to the watchlist, this anime hit a lot of genres and ideas that stunned me in their promotional material. The preview video and theme songs in particular caused an Internet sensation. Plus, this franchise wasn't created by some nobody. It's made by the same author as Kaguya Love is War, the same series that had psychological elements tied with love and war. Watching Oshi no Ko is one of the most stunning experiences I had in recent years.
I kid you not. The
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first episode extended to 70+ minutes may be one of the most mind-boggling, peculiar, or perhaps disturbing introduction for an anime you've seen in years. Do not let the colorful key visual deceive you. This is so much more than about cute idols doing cute things. The entertainment world is a complex realm of possibilities that tipify the very fabric of our emotions. Let me just say that Oshi no Ko has one of the most complex mixture of themes this season. Adapted into a 11 episodes season, it follows the manga story by the one and only Aka Akasaka.
It's clear Oshi no Ko wanted to catch our attention with not just its strange premise, but also the full creativity of its first episode. Being a double length, this is essentially a mini-movie aimed at introducing the main story and some of the most important characters. We meet Goro Amamiya as he is murdered on the night of delivering idol singer Ai Hoshino's children. The twist comes as Goro is reincarnated as one of Ai's children and now goes by the name 'Aqua'. The rabbit hole goes deeper with the introduction of Ruby, his fraternal twin and this sets the foundation of the story. It sounds mind-boggling and you truly need to watch the first episode to experence it. Words alone cannot describe the amount of mind shattering direction of this show. But again, maybe you are used to seeing anime with reincarnation elements. It has been a dominating force in today's anime industry after all. Oshi no Ko does not contain the fantasy isekai elements but instead take place in an entertainment world. And as I mentioned before, the entertainment world is a complex realm of possibilities.
Perhaps one of the most pivotal moments in the show is the death of Ai Hoshino. The anime is bold enough to kill off an important character because it's needed to develop the overall plot. For you see, love and revenge becomes a part of this anime's themes. Ai's experience with love hits its peak when she truly tells her children that she loves them. Similar to Akasaka's Kaguya Love is War, this anime has themes related to lies. But in those final moments, Ai was able to express herself truthfully in the most natural way possible. Meanwhile, the anime wants Aqua to avenge Ai's death. For him to discover the truth, the most important way is to enter the entertainment industry.
Oshi no Ko touches on several themes and although love, lies, and revenge are among these, it doesn't stop there. For there's love, there's also hate and Aqua is one of the best representation of such feelings. Aqua is the easily the coldest character in the show with a single dedicated mind focused on finding out the truth. Willing to take any risks and go as far as a man can go, Aqua will stop at nothing in his goal and this season showcases some of his talents. You may question if Aqua is entitled to this because truth be told, everything he sets out to do is for revenge and we all know that revenge isn't going to bring back Ai. However, I want to say Aqua represents the very instincts of human nature. It's natural human instinct for us to feel angry when we lose a loved one. For Aqua, he makes it a personal journey to avenge his mother and find out the truth. Although this season doesn't have enough time to solve the eerie mystery, it does uncover Aqua's talents and enough for us to know his personality.
Beyond the boundary of hate and revenge, we should also take a closer look at Ruby Hoshino and her presence this season. To put it simply, she represents a foil of Aqua, being outgoing with a bubbly personality and being easily able to make friends with others. Instead of seeking revenge, Aqua hopes to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry. Growing up in her previous life as a happy person, it would appear her personality didn't change much at all since Ai's death. While this seems to put odds against her brother Aqua, the show does make it clear that he cares about her greatly. Their relationship is described as peculiar because they contrast each other so much. But at its core, the two are a close family since the tragedy of their mother.
The entertainment industry introduces us a rather colorful cast and among them is Akane Kurokawa. One particular episode showed not just her sensitive side but just how tough the entertainment industry can be and its high expectations. However, this anime wanted Akane to be a mirror image of Ai Hoshino. She may not be as talented but with a resourceful mind and rejuvenated determination, Akane draws us in as an inspirational role model. Watching Oshi no Ko showcases an element of surprise where we should always expect the unexpected. Akane's character turnaround is just one such example and if you don't believe me, just see for yourself.
Ultimately, your decision to watch Oshi no Ko could be for its themes, character cast, story, or the overall tone of the series. It's not the usual showbiz type anime where characters compete for a spotlight and make a career. This is about controlling a path and following it through any obstacle. This isn't just a romance either so don't go into this show expecting a love story between the cast. As with Akasaka's style of writing, you should expect one with emotional drama combined with psychological attributes. It has some sensitive themes including death, suicide, and among other topics that can be deemd as controversial. Yet, Oshi no Ko is outlandishly entertaining for not being afraid to take risks. And to me, it's also why this anime is a must-watch.
Adapted by studio Doga Kobo, the most noticable element for the character designs are the starry eyes that may go beyond just asethetics. Sure, the author wanted to give our characters unique looks with their radiant emotions. However, there's yet no definitive answer why we see those sparkling eyes. Perhaps they represent emotions and how humans behave. Or perhaps they really are designed to give the anime a colorful look. Nonetheless, Doga Kobo captured the esseence of the character designs at its finest straight from the manga. The theme songs also combine a balanced style of J-pop and dark tone when watched carefully. And thankfully, the animation quality throughout this anime remains concrete throughout.
Whether you agree or disagree about Oshi no Ko's rating is a topic on its own. But I speak for everyone when I say that this anime and manga will be talked about for years. We now live in a social media age where anime like this can instantly spark debates. Controversy makes cash and there's no doubt Oshi no Ko is sitting on a gold mine.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 26, 2023
Your eyes are not fooling you if that's the synopsis you just read. It's an all familiar trend we've seen in many anime in recent years - reborn into a fantasy world, a protagonist trying to avoid fate, and isekai tropes that feeds on its modern popularity. Kanojo ga Koushaku-tei ni Itta Riyuu (The Reason Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke's Mansion) is another one of these adaptations that subscribes to the most recent trend, but we have to ask ourselves if this is one was really needed.
To my surprise, the source material actually came from a web novel rather than the typical light
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novels or manga. However, I did approach this series with a sense of caution given the studio's track record, and let's just say, web novel adaptations haven't exactly set the bar high in recent years. Typhoon Graphics' and their track record (Sengoku Night Blood, One Room) hasn't exactly taken off as a studio worth praising for either. In other words, I did not initially expect this show to be the next big thing. It also didn't help that some of the animation quality were rough in later epsiodes. Technical features aside, can this anime set an example for future web novel adaptations with similar content?
We follow the story of Eunha Park as she dies in the first episode but gets reincarnated into another world. Now armed with knowledge about her eventual fate, she hatches a clever plan to get into Duke Noah's mansion by pretending to be his fiance under the name Raeliana. As you can imagine, the story develops from there as Raeliana fights against fate but also uncovers relevations about her own character and the world. Watching this show gives an ambigious feeling about Raeliana's plan and her newfound life. I say this because it's not easy to root for someone who we don't know too much about. Only from the first episode do we get a glimpse of her character in the real world. Even then, it's minimal and character development suffers. Pretty much the entire plot takes place in a new world as Raeliana connects with Noah. As difficult as it seems, Raeliana has a determined spirit and is not afraid to take risks. One thing that does bother me at times is how she isn't very insightful about her own character. Let me just say that if Raeliana truly want her plan to go the way she wants, she'd calculate every possibility. Instead, she follows a path of uncertainity and it appears Noah is a character who should not be underestimated.
Raeliana and Noah's character chemistry stands above the rather cliche plot if I'm being honest with myself here. While Raeliana appears to try to follow her plan, Noah isn't shy from playing mind games with her. The two has a strange chemistry that revolves around mind games and there's definitely a level of sexual tension. However, I don't want to jump the gun. While this anime has some obvious romance elements, this isn't just about a girl from another world falling in love with a duke. Rather, the anime also adapts political elements into the show. It doesn't rely heavily on them but be prepared for lengthy dialogues related to politics. In fact, dialogues play some of the key appeals to this anime. With Raeliana often playing her character like a game, she has to be careful with her choice of words. As time goes on, her dialogues flows more naturally especially in the presence of Noah, rather than feeling scripted. However, I do have a problem with Raeliana's overall character development in that she has hardly changed throughout the story. Additionally, her brief rivalry with villainess Vivan Shamall in later episodes was hastily rushed and incredibly predictable from start to finish. I don't think anyone truly expected Noah to jump to another boat and decided to suddenly get together with a villainess. Instead, Noah's interest with Raeliana continues to grow. In some of the later episodes, he seems to geninuely grown fond of her presence while Raeliana struggles with own feelings. However, do note that with just 12 episodes, the anime's story doesn't contain enough details for a full adaptation here.
Among its cast, there's no shadow of a doubt that Raeliana gets the most spotlight or personality. Skilled with a gun and somewhat of a cunning personality, Raeliana does try to carry this anime herself in some episodes. A more interesting question we need to ask ourselves is if any other character can step up and become a breakout, outside of Duke Noah. The answer to that, at least from an anime perspective, is unfortunately no. The only characters that caught my attention outside of the main leads are Adam Taylor and the mysterious Heika Demint. The latter is more unique given his young age and ambigious goals in the show. Adam Taylor on the other hand, is less charismatic although his presence does brings out the political elements the anime is trying to convey. However, expect yourself to mostly follow Raeliana's journey and not be distracted by side characters. This really is her story.
As mentioned before, Typhoon Graphics has a questionable track record and to be put it nicely, they are probably average at best. While the first few episodes retains colorful and well chereographed scenes, some of the later episodes dip in overall quality. However, I do want to give some praise to the character designs and setting of the show. Raeliana is designed to look graceful with a look of natural beauty. Noah similarly has his handsome look that matches the status of a duke. Most interestingly however, is the world setting that takes place in what appears to be a fictional Victorian-like era. It transcends above a typical isekai setting although the world building of this anime isn't stellar.
This show tempts with fate and at its center is a girl reborn to fight against it. While I can't say the story exceeds expectations, the anime is bold neough to attempt a variety of genres. Web novels aren't common these days and this is one of those few that got a treatment of being an actual anime. Perhaps there will be one in future years where it can compete against mainstream behemoths for anime of the year. But this year isn't one of them.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jun 24, 2023
As the brainchild of this franchise, Masakazu Ishiguro created this piece of work that I can easily say is a creative story. Rather than following the recent endless trend of fantasy isekai or romantic comedies, he had a vision for Heavenly Delusions. That vision is to create a postapocalyptic world where we see a dystopia-like environment and how mankind adapts to survive. With two colorful story plot within one setting, Heavenly Delusion is one of the most ambitious shows I've seen in 2023, and that's not an unerstatement.
Unlike his previous work And Yet The Town Moves, this show adapts a much darker tone in storytelling
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and setting. To me, this was an experimental type of anime that focuses on the 'what ifs' and how people can survive in a world without laws and being in ruins. The postapocalyptic setting of this anime is never shy to show the cruelty of reality. Not only do we meet monsters known as 'Man-Eaters' but our characters must deal with everyday environments too. It's a setting that depicts how humanity can live without modern technology and being part of something that's far from heavenly.
As mentioned before, the show follows two storylines. One of them focuses on the pair of Maru and Kiruko as they travel through the desolate lands with their personal goals. The other storyline involves a facility for children with special abilities. This place in the show is dubbed as 'Heaven', a name contrasting sharply with the outside word. Both storylines contains a similar tone with a sense of mystery and dark themes. Masakazu wanted us to experience the story as if we were there ourselves. His creative vision leads to many elements found in other postapocalyptic settings and most noticably, we realize how he wanted to create a society where our worst nightmares can come to life. Maru and Kiruko's journey throughout the anime shows how dangerous their environments can be. With cities in ruins, Man-Eaters are a constant threat to humanity. Their encounters with them leads to vicious fights as these monsters show no mercy against their prey. However, I would also like to mention that despite all the dangers, Maru and Kiruko make an effective pair. Their skills and talents along with resourcefulness allowed the duo to survive.
Maru and Kiruko also has an unique chemistry among the cast. Let me just say that as we follow their journey, we see how the duo cares for one another beyond just survivng. Maru's goal for searching for Heaven inspires himself to not give up no matter what obstacles are ahead. With Kiruko's resourcefulness, she helps him during their journey while also making jokes and and humor to lighten up the mood. In fact, having Kiruko's companionship gives Maru's a sense of relief and her tomboyish personality brings out the best of the two. For herself, Kiruko feels more comfortable when not alone with Maru by her side. The chemistry of these two characters brings out not just the lighter side of the anime but perhaps also show that there's hope for humanity after all.
The other more darker and mysterious story plot involves characters at a nursery type of facility that we come to know as Heaven. Under a controlled environment, the characters are clueless about the outside world. They are not being held as prisoners but something always felt off and ominous. It is also under mysterious circumstances that some of the characters have special abilities that transcends above logic. Watching these segments brings a lot of questions, and unfortunately, this season alone doesn't have enough answers for them all. Yet, I find this side of the story intrguing because it ties in with a theme of the show about facing the unknown. Heavenly Delusions' mysterious world is created based on a postapocalyptic setting and we really have to ask ourselves what truly exist out there and if there's a bright future for humanity. Characters at Heaven often feels a sense of danger as if something is out to get them but also fears about the outside world. Behind the scenes, we don't know a whole lot about the endgame goals of higher ups. Some brief glances gives us a disturbing picture related to experimentation. But again, being a 1-cour (13 episodes) anime does hold this anime back from answering our questions.
Thankfully, the plot doesn't carry itself around loosely between the two plots. We have the characters with personalities that makes us curious about the anime altogether. This is especially true for characters within that mysterious facility such as Tokio, Shiro, among others. One especially interesting episode details background events about Heaven that takes place years ago. A particular child named Asura begs a lot of question about her true origins and why she existed in the first place. She even exists in the main timeline and we must ask ourselves how much she affects the world. On the more disturbing matters, we also learn about Tokio's fate at the end of episode 9. In fact, I would say Heavenly Delusions contain dark and somewhat controversial elements throughout its duration. From experimentations, psychological violence, and postapocalyptic elements, you need to brace yourself as this anime is not light to the heart.
Production IG is an interesting choice for this show, as they adapt a world in ruins. From the fictional world setting to its characters, the studio wanted to give us a real look at how it's different from our modern society. In fact, the world is crafted with care and precision to show how much the world lies in ruins. On the other hand, Heaven is built on a foundation that sounds out more than any other place in the world. Finally, expect graphic violence from the show. Man-eaters in this anime are designed with grotesque elements. Make no mistake, the man eaters show no human traits and their presence inspires fear among humanity. Combined with its eerie soundtrack, Heavenly Delusions truly is Masakazu Ishiguro's darkest work to date.
Ultimately, Heavenly Delusions may not be aimed at everyone but certainly is a special anime on its own. Using ideas from postapocalyptic themes and tying together two storylines together always kept me at the edge of my seat. With every episode, I felt like the anime continues to build more and more into its mystique. And to be honest, Masakazu Ishiguro truly gave us a worthy anime to talk about this year.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 23, 2023
First of all, I want to say that despite some of the controversies related to Kouji Seo and his works, he has kept up a level of consistency in both the anime and manga industry. His most popular works have received anime adaptations including Suzuka, Kimi no Iru Machi, Fuuka, and now, Megami no Cafe Terrance. The latest one perhaps got the speedrun treatment as it was announced faster than any of this other adaptations. That being said, I confess to say that Megami no Cafe Terrance is nothing short of mediocrity.
Based on his latest work, Seo decided to jump onto the trend of maids.
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It's honestly not really much different than his projects. You can pretty much replace his female cast with maids and the result isn't that different with his ideas. This one has more harem tropes and it doesn't even attempt to hide them. The first episode adheres to ecchi content and fan service to catch our attention, because let's face it, what better way than to introduce a cute roster of girls? Meanwhile, character personalities in this show are bankrupt on creativity. The tsundere type? Check. The innocent type? Check. The coolheaded type with vulnerabilities? Check. The flirtatious type? Check. Hell, they even decided to throw in a girl who becomes a billboard of fanservice when she gets drunk. You get the idea. This anime's character roster is about as garbage as it can get. It's the definition of trying the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.
Still, I don't want to label this anime completely unwatchable. There's Hayato, a character who I can tolerate on the surface level. He has an authority over the cafe and displays some leadership qualities. Even though his introduction and chemistry with the main female cast is rocky at first, they warm up to him. Hayato is also a character that rise somewhat above the usual harem protagonist. At the very least, he isn't an intentional pervert looking to get into the pants of the girls. Still, Hayato is a blend protagonist lacking charisma. He takes his job too seriously and seems like the type of character who is difficult to get along with. It also doesn't help that he barely gets character development. Each of the main girls barely feels like they progresses as characters on their own. The anime relies too much on character interactions and dialogues to do the work, which in general lacks consistency.
However, if you're a fan of Seo's works, then this may be a treat. The fan service and general themes of the anime is all too familiar. No matter what happens, every epsiode seems to add some fan service to hook our attention. Is it effective? By common sense, it's going to make us roll our eyes for sure. The show attempts to add in depth to the story with some character background stories. There are sometimes moments where the writing is on the wall, with some character backgrounds not being pleasant. Other times, I feel like the background stories are written to make some characters stand out. Does it work? You can decide but honestly, it feels like the anime is autopilot with these stories. Seo's writing has a predictable pattern that you know exactly what to expect once you've read enough of his works.
But hey, if you fancy for some ecchi and guilty fan service, then feel free to give this a try. Tezuka Productions decided to give every female character curvy figures and feminine characteristics. The anime also has an unusual amount of episodes taking place on the beach, so expect to see swimsuits. Lots and lots of swimsuits. Perhaps the BD/DVD releases can remove the atrocious censorship.
Megami no Cafe Terrace's anime adaptation is about as medicore as it gets and may be the worst kept secret this season. Let's face it, the story lacks depth, characters are lackluster, and the overall direction of the anime feels like it's on autopilot. Honestly, Seo's anime adaptations are like type you'd want to see with guilty pleasure. But for that pleasure, you won't get be quoting much from this show besides just how mediocre it is.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Jun 21, 2023
Perhaps one of the most popcorn comedy worthy franchise of this generation adapted straight out of fantasy novels is the one and only Konosuba. The Konosuba franchise is one that draws on the viewers' laughters, one that loves to make fun of its own cast, and one that plays around with its story. Now, we have a spinoff focused on Megumin, the explosive magician who loves making the world explode.
A big question we may ask of ourselves is if we need to watch the first seasons of Konosuba. As a spinoff standalone, the answer is no so save yourself some time and take this spinoff
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experience in. In fact, I would even say the show is watchable if you've never heard of the Konosuba franchise before. But enjoying it? That may be a different story. You see, the Konosuba franchise has never been serious about world conquest, trying to escape some fantasy world, or deep character driven narratives. It takes on a simple layer of fantasy and molds it into a comedy or a parody if you can imagine it.
While I'm not a fan of the recent trend of endless amount of isekai fantasy anime being adapted, Konosuba is an exception to this rule. I wouldn't even call this anime or franchise as an isekai as it adheres to more fantasy elements and more importantly, its humor. Let's face it, this show wasn't met to be taken seriously from day one. We're treated with a girl named Megumin who has talent with explosive magic. It's her signature attack and practically the selling point of the title and anime itself. Following her adventures, we take a much deeper look into how she became an explosive mage, her life at a magic academy, and how she became who she is today. Be aware that because this is the spinoff, we are not going to see the familiar faces of Kazuma, Aqua, or Darkness from the mainline series. We are however greeted with her friends such as Yunyun, Arue, Cecily among others.
Watching this spinoff immediately gave the impression that you should not be expecting a deep narrative. The storytelling is very loose and has an almost slice-of-life style narrative. Every episode focuses on Megumin's life and as we can tell, she becomes talented in explosive magic. Like most standard fantasy anime in today's age, she joins guilds, make friends, and take on quests. It's like an RPG formula that doesn't break the generic trend we're familiar with today. Instead, we should focus on the character chemistry with its colorful cast. Most prominently, there's Megumin and Yunyun, with the latter serving as her close friend and rival. Their sisterly relationship is a centerpiece of the anime that we'll be fed to. But to put it simply, if you don't appreciate the humor and style of the show, it's going to be a frustrating anime to watch. On the other hand, if you embrace the character engagements, dialogues, and humor of Konosuba, this anime will be no less than a fantastic return of the franchise. After all, it's been over 5 damn years.
And thankfully, the studio that managed this spinoff still adapts the familiar style of the franchise without losing touch. Konosuba has not been known for its high quality production yet captures a level of entertainment that holds up even today. The character expressions sells itself like memes while the cast are protrayed with humorous personalities. The explosive energy also comes from Megumin's own personality as she carries this show. Even if you don't like Megumin as a character, she does a fantastic job at delivering Konosuba for what it is.
Fans of the Konosuba franchise had to wait more than 5 years for a new anime to appear on television screens again. It's a wait that made us wonder what the direction of this franchise would go but thankfully, this spinoff hasn't lost its touch after all these years. And with a third season on the way, we may not need to wait much longer again.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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