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Back in 2019, there was a show that generated a bit of controversy among fans. Content creators, bloggers, and the media all ran with stories about an anime titled 'The Rising of the Shield Hero'. That's because from the franchise's first animated episode, there was a scene about a woman betraying a male protagonist and turning him into a criminal, at least in the public's eyes at the time. From that point on, this anime was labeled with controversy. Welcome to 2022 where yet again, we see Naofumi on an adventure but this time without being ostrachized by the public and living his title as ... a shield hero.

To be fair, The Rising of the Shield Hero's popularity goes beyond its anime medium as its novel series has been fairly popular worldwide. The anime received a second and even a third season although there was a bit of gap between the announcement and actual airing date. Nonetheless, we can expect Naofumi to continue on his adventure while dealing with the unsettling presence of 'Waves', a reoccurring phenomenon in their world. And make no mistake about it, Naofumi's world is still far from peaceful with dangers lurking in the shadows and secrets hidden within. Watching this season didn't feel that much different at first however. Naofumi's party is still largely still the same that includes Raphtalia and Filo. Joining them this season is Rishia and although we don't know much about her, she plays an important role in the party. From this season, we are also introduced to the Spirit Turtle and the devastation it's been causing in their world. Think of its presence as a main boss in a quest. That's how I watch this show with Naofumi as the protagonist hero taking on any challenge in his way.

Regardless, the first half of the season deals with the Spirit Tortoise with new characters joining the cast including Ost and Eclair. Returning characters from the first season also makes an appearance that includes Glass and her party. Ultimately, this season introduces one of the most detestable character in the franchise, perhaps even surpassing Malty S Melromarc. Meet Kyo Ethnina, the book hero with an ego and God-like complex who looks down on everyone. Similar to Malty, he uses others to achieve his goals and views himself as the greatest being in existence. I'm not going to lie, if you plan to watch this season, you'd better be prepared to stomach his nerve wrecking dialogues and personality. He's the type of character that no one likes. The first season chronicles Naofumi and Glass' party along with their new allies to deal with the Spirit Tortoise while also discovering some unsettling revelations.

WIth 13 episodes, it seemed odd for the story pacing until you realize the season is divided into two story arcs. To be more precise, the episodes themselves are connected with the overall plot but Naofumi and his party deals with a new problem. I won't spoil it but let's just say that their adventure gets a lot more difficult due to some significant stat changes to their abilities. Luckily, they're also joined by the Hunter Hero, Kizuna Kazayama. With a bubbly and energetic personality, Kizuna becomes an invaluable ally for Naofumi. Glass' presence also reveals a more innocent side to her character, especially through her relationship with Kizuna. Ultimately however, the second half of season 2 shows the grim nature of their world and its timeline. Characters such as Raphtalia and Filo are treated like animals while Kyo's actions continues to have enormous impact. In fact, you could say that Kyo is an overarching antagonist of season 2, representing everything that contrasts the shield hero Naofumi.

While this franchise has not been a technical masterpiece, I do appalud the studio and producers for taking their time to animate this season in the best form possible. Watching this season gave me a similar impression of the first season for its world setting and character designs. Glass also took on a new look early in the season before reverting to her longhaired kimono. Other characters largely remain the same in terms of looks. One noticable character is Ost for she blurs the line between familiar and humanity. Action sequence return in style with fast paced chereography and its combat features. It seems after all this time, Shield Hero didn't lose its touch when it comes to its animation quality. Perhaps delaying the show for almost two years was worth it.

The Rising of the Shield hero will continue to make news headlines as long as the franchise lives through its popularity. While the second season didn't explode into controversy, some fans may still be nervous in taking a chance for this season. Make no mistake though. This sequel is definitely an improvement over the previous despite some lack of character development and mediocre storyline. Even with the absence of some prominent characters (ex. Melty, Ren, etc), the anime still feels like at home. With a third season on the horizon, this franchise is far from over.

Spy x Family is an anime of the year candidate. Yes, I say this with confidence for it managed to exemplify entertainment at consistent quality. It's an anime that sells itself as exactly what it is without misleading the audience. And with such a marketing wheel behind the show, it managed to reach a large audience. There's plenty of reasons why I believe Spy x Family indeed deserves its rating and to be quite honest, this is one of the few anime that I can recommend just about anyone this year.

First, I want to congradulate Tatsuya Endou on putting himself on the map with his ... Spy x Family franchise. To be honest, before Spy x Family launched, I don't remember any of his previous works. His one shots are obscure titles that most people have never heard of. That is, until Spy x Family launched in 2019. The series quickly established itself with its simple and complex themes. Mind you, the idea of a family of spies isn't exactly an unique idea, but it is the charm of the characters and refreshing writing style of the story that made this enjoyable from day one.

Now you're asking yourself what exactly is Spy x Family? Do yourself favor and don't read the MAL synopsis as it may sound more complex than it looks. Meanwhile, you should watch the first episode and full indulge on what the author wanted to SHOW us. Watching the first episode brings together two characters with very different backgrounds and personalities - Loid Forger (also known as 'Twilight) and Anya. Loid proves himself to be a human with extraordinary skills in esponiage, physical feat, and master of disguise. You could say that he is the perfect spy. On the other hand, Anya is a young girl with the ability to read minds but also with a fascination of spies in the media. Watching their character chemistry immediately brings together a degree of elegance and charm. Let's just say how quickly the two connects with one another. Even though Anya knows Loid often lies to others for his work, she also knows that deep down, he is a kind hearted person. Representing the essence of a perfect spy, Loid deeply cares about his role but also has a soft side for his family.

We can't have a family without the mother of course. That's where the assassin, Yor Forger comes in. Introduced in second episode, Yor is essentially an assassin with deadly skills to match her intellect and physical talents. Although sometimes airheaded with a lack of common sense, she deeply cares about Anya and Loid despite not knowing their full backgrounds. In fact, you could easily call Yor and Loid's first encounter as a chance meeting. It's as if destiny set these two up together. In perhaps one of the most memorable sequences of the this season, Loid ties the knot by putting a grenade pin on Yor's finger. It's a refreshing take as in most marriages, you see an generic type of ceremony with flowers and bridemaids. Obviously, Yor and Loid aren't actually a married couple a they pretend to be one to carry out their respective missions. And with Anya, they are the heart and soul of Spy x Family.

Anya herself is a complex character despite her age. She has the ability to read minds and practically uses it as a necessity than just a helpful tool. It's with this ability that she barely gets into the prestigious Eden Academy. Academically wise, Anya is not intelligent and overly relies on her mind reading skill. From the first day of class, she isn't motivated and ends up falling asleep before her classmate Becky wakes her up. However, Anya makes an extreme impression towards her peers. Immediately, she is able to befriend Becky due to her kindhearted nature and standing up for her. Second, Anya also withstands another top student at the academy named Damian. Desmond. Proving herself to be a tough girl who isn't afraid to be pushed around by others, Anya withstands not just his verbal assault but also landing a fist into his face. It's the first time that Damian experiences defiance and thus, academy life for Anya becomes a whole lot more complicated.

But trust me, understanding Spy x Family isn't too complex despite the author setting up various degrees of storytelling segments. To tell a story like this, Tatsuya made each relevant character unique and carrying their own role. Anya, Loid, and Yor are the main characters but there are also others who makes an impact in the show such as housemaster Henry Henderson or Yor's brother Yuri. The anime give a great impression of the casts' personality to always get audience to react in some way. Anya is the most prominent case for her various degree of human expressions. Because of her mind reading talent, she often reacts in exaggerated ways like a kid her age would. Besides, who can ever forget about her iconic 'heh' face when she punched Damian's wind out? Let me just say that Anya is destined to belong in this show for everything she represent.

The big question to ultimately ask yourself is 'why should I watch Spy x Family'? After all, this just the first part and tip for the iceberg. To truly embrace into this franchise would mean to invest time into part 2 and the manga. However, I will say that Spy x Family is enjoyayble for all its character elements, comedy gags, and ultimatley the effective storytelling. It doesn't sell itself as an action thriller despite some of the advertised material. In today's anime industry where it's dominated by isekai, battle shounens, and rom-coms, Spy x Family is a breath of fresh air. Tatsuya Endo took this series into a lighthearted direction, a contrast to some of the action thrillers you're more used to seeing. According to the author himself, he often reads other works to brainstorm ideas of his own. By doing so, he invents and evolves his ideas into this series. It's what makes Spy x Family so special and amassing such a fanbase.

Wit Studio and CloverWorks are not the perfect production studios but they managed to bring the creativity of Spy x Family in the most effective form possible. The theme songs are decorated with a simple and colorful chereography that further conveys the show's cheerfulness. Character designs for Anya, Loid, and Yor are unique and great to point out for their technical achievements. You can tell how their expressions are connected to their feelings when we see them in crucial scenes. Examples of these include the family's interview at Eden Academy or Anya's sincere apology to Damian. The fact is, human emotions is especially important for this show as it brings out the best out of its cast. Similarly, I applaud the voice actors for being spot on their roles, in particuar for Anya. It's not easy to voice a character at her age but she made the character as credible as she can be. Loid, Yor, and Damian are also voiced exactly as how I pictured from the manga and on point. In fact, I can say that this is one of the very few anime adaptation that may have exceeded its manga counterpart.

If I said it once, I've said it a hundred times. Spy x Family is a contender for anime of the year. Yes, a show like this isn't absolute perfection but for what it has shown us, it captured just about everything I had expected and perhaps more. This is the type of show that is a refreshing breath of air that we need more often. And with part 2 to come, there's no better time than to jump into this hype train.

Although popular franchises spawns sequels, spinoffs, and other adaptations, there's few these days that lives up to the hype. Kaguya-sama: Love is War is one exception that pushes the boundary of romantic comedy. I'm talking about the third season of Kaguya-sama, also known as Kaguya-sama Love is War - Ultra Romantic.

Love is a complex form of emotion, something we may never ever truly understand. It is this very emotion that hits the heart of this show as we explore the foundation of relationships. When I watch Kaguya-sama, I try to think outside the box about what this franchise is trying to accomplish. It's much more ... about guys and girls flirting with each other and in fact, this show transcends beyond the logic of normal romance. What does that mean? It means, love is war.

The third season has an additional words 'Ultra Romantic' attached to its title. It doesn't give off much meaning at first but you may get the impression of the season being more romantic than ever. Much like the previous seasons, each episode is divided into various segments similar to a sitcom format. However, these episodes connects with each characters' personalities and the overall structure of the premise. The first episode immediately gets us ready for some daily shenanigans with segments such as text messaging, arm wrestling, and Chika trying to prove herself to everyone why she's awesome. It make sense that the third season wanted us to get comfortable with some lighthearted comedy before throwing in the juicy drama.

This comes in the form of relationship angles and gossips thanks to the writing style of the story. One of the more noticable pair is between Yu and Tsubame this season. It's obvious that Yu has feelings towards her but he's too shy to directly show his feelings. This season pairs the two in romantic angles and thanks to Kaguya's support, they get much more screen time together as you'd may expect. Of course, we can't forget about Kaguya and Miyuki who has been a stable in the franchise. Watching the two together is like watching a kid growing up, experiencing life. As an unorthodox rom-com, we see the two characters use love as a form of weapon. In his season, they approach that idea and uses any opportunity to get ahead. This includes the various school festivals and calculating each others' moves similar to the previous seasons. You'll have to be a bit patient because the Kaguya and Miyuki takes their sweet time to win this war, in their way.

We also can't forget some of the major supporting cast such as a fan favorite Hayasaki Ai. Although she doesn't get prominent screen time this season, she still has her moments including karaoke sessions, making appearances in her iconic maid uniform, and playing the role of the opposite gender. Kei also gets entertaining segments when she realizes how gorgeous Hayasaki is while also trying to dress up her brother in the best way possible. It's the brotherly/sisterly bond that is addictively fun to watch even if their segments are short. Finally, no one can ignore Chika's presence in this show. While she doesn't peform any Chika-style dances anymore, she still makes an impact with just her presence and personality. And of course, who can forget her rapping talent? Finally, I do want to address Tsubame Koyasu's presence this season as she gets much more screen time. If we picture her and Yu together, most people would say the pair look imcompatible. Tsubame is way out of his league. This season does make it clear that Yu does want to impress Tsubame in his way so be on the look out for his time to shine.

At this point, it's fair to say A-1 Pictures has established itself as a studio capable of adapting the magic of the franchise. The stellar animation along with its creative approach of character expressions, dialogues, and way of transiting between various moods brings out the best of the show. It's almost impossible to ignore the catchy and artistic style of this season when we have characters take their spotlight. I'm pretty much talking about every relevant character as each feels unique on their own. Make no mistake, even with people shaming on A-1 Pictures for some of their past projects, this isn't one to take the shame. It's just that damn impressive from day one.

It feels like the Kaguya-sama Love is War franchise has been overhyped by its fanbase at times. And truth to be told, it's easy to get sucked into the hype. However, this is one of those anime that lives up to the hype and continously deliver quality content for its fans. You'll need to be patient because the finale is where the main course of the meal really is at. Yes, they kept you watching for 2 seasons and Ultra Romantic is still ultra entertaining.

Remember when the Overlord franchise took the world by storm with a talking skeleton back in 2015? What if we have another talking skeleton as a protagonist living his life in a fantasy world? No, I'm not talking about Aiz but rather Arc, a skeleton knight covered in armor. Don't let your eyes full you because he's not a disposable game avatars from Dark Souls. Arc is a skeleton knight with an ambition but also a character who takes opportunities for his deeds. Still, what makes you want to get invested into Arc's character and the show itself?

Watching Skeleton Knight in Another World is like ... taking a journey as you venture into a world of unknown with our protagonist. If you put yourself in Arc's shoes, it becomes that much easier to understand his character and the story. That's because Arc himself is a laid back individual, who despite his appearance, isn't that much different from your typical otaku.

Before you click play on the first episode, there's a few warning disclaimers I have to throw at you. Yes, this anime has some sensitive themes that relates to sexual harassment. It's actually a common trend to see characters (especially the elf race) being abused by thugs and bandits in their world. The first episode made it clear that Arc himself doesn't tolerate abuse inflicted on defenseless women so he springs into action to save them. Nonethless, just be aware that the episode has an recurring theme of Arc saving characters who are or have been violated. Second, Arc himself is an adventurer and that show itself doesn't seem to have any sort of endgame goal. He's not trying to defeat a tyrant, escape from this world, or become the game's most powerful avatar. Arc just wants to help the helpless so it's clear the anime has a loose plot, something that may hold viewers back from fully committing to the story.

I can't read the author's mind but it seems they wanted to flesh out Arc's character as much as possible before we get a look at its other cast members. The most prominent of them is an elf named Ariane, who only gets short frames of screen time before making an official debut. Being an elf, she knows that her race is often subject to slavery, abuse, and violence. In her role, Ariane developed her fighting skills to defend herself and free other elves in her quest. The story intertwines her and Arc together on this adventure. Their first meeting isn't exactly friendly as Ariane holds a deep resentment towards humans while also lacking trust in Arc. But as their adventure ventures on, it shows that the two grew to care for each other. The anime doesn't make it clear how far their relationship develops although there are obvious hints of Ariane having feelings towards Arc. However, don't make an assumption that they become a couple or lovers. This isn't a romance tale in the slightliest.

The author who managed to craft such a vibrant and colorful world didn't manage to capitalize their talent when making the rest of its cast. Outside of Arc and Ariane, is there really a character that truly felt relevant? Ponta may be listed as a main character but they literally have no personality as a non-human pet. The ninja girl Chiyome is introduced late in the show without much context about her character at all. The rest of the characters are mostly standalones that you'll see maybe once or twice and then disappear to be never heard again. Even Juliana felt like she's a disposable character despite her royal status. It appears when the author wrote the cast, they didn't put much effort into their personalities at all. Most characters in this show feels like NPCs you encounter on a side quest from a video game.

A lot of this show relies more on its premise and honestly, it felt like the show lacked a true purpose. The main protagonist Arc is just there to do his good deeds while being accompanied by a pet and strong elf woman. Even if we put ourselves in his shoes, it will quickly feel like a chore of repetition. Let me ask this: do you ever get bored doing endless quests in an MMORPG? That's the familiar feeling I get from the overall progression of this show's plot and truth to be told, it really holds the anime back.

At least the world setting has a colorful vibrant feel built on fantasy themes. Despite the amount of questionable content in the show, the world setting gives off a JRPG-like vibe that makes you feel like at home. The setting looks like it's been handcrafted along with its character designs. Obviously, Arc is the most noticable character with his skeleton features and armor. His appearance goes beyond just the looks as his personality also stands out among everyone. The elves in the show are delicate and as you may expect, appealing. Ariane and her mother are just two example. Unfortunately, the anime always puts the female elves in a vulnerable state so they represent the damsel in distress. Oh and as I said before, be aware of the sensitive content. There's fan service but presented in a more shocking matter than the traditional way. Watching this anime pretty much convinced me that some humans are more monstrous than the actual monsters themselves.

Skeleton Knight in Another World is what you would get when the author wanted to tell a story for a skeleton knight but ended up getting to nowhere. Despite the colorful aura the anime gives off, there's quite a bit of controversial material. If you're uncomfortable with such content, then it's best to drop this from the first episode. Believe me, those content will feel like clockwork. However, it's not just the controversial content of this anime that holds itself back. It's what practically everything besides the technical elements that gives this show the score it deserves.

The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody reminds me the time when I got my test score back and realized that I needed to study more. It follows a similar aftermath reaction related to the 5 stages of grief. Ok, maybe I'm exaggering a bit but I can't deny the fact that this show made me at least experience a feeling of denial, depression, and acceptance.

Based off of the light novel, you can tell right away what the anime is about beyond just the synopsis. It's about a character reborn in a fantasy world but is overpowered compared to others around ... him. That's right, meet Ard Meteor, an alpha male like being who trumps over others to the point where he got so lonely, he decided to reincarnate himself. The catch is that in this new timeline, he still overpowered. Let's just say that his plan to become a "typical nobody" backfired spectacularly.

Clocking around at 12 episodes long, the story didn't invent any unique themes, elements, or plot devices. It's a bold effort to cast a main protagonist who is overpowered. Not to mention, he's also a chick magnet who attracts almost every character of the opposite sex. The most evident are Ireena and Ginny who practically falls for him on first sight. There's not much reason or depth to their development except that they are attracted to his strength, talent, and looks. Oh and of course, Ard does come off as gentleman with decent manners and a sharp mind. For our two main female leads, Ireena and Ginny practically feel like the same character. The only main difference I see is Ireena's confidence and tomboyish personality compared to Ginny. This so-called love triangle is devoid of character development and commitment. It seems even Ard himself isn't fond of bedding them when given the chance. Don't believe me? There's one episode where Ginny practically throws herself at Ard while he rejects her advances.

The reminder of the cast is tolerable at best while being insufferable at worst. I'll start off with the tolerable part with characters such as Olivia and Lydia. Both of these characters are strong minded with a confident aura and charisma around them. They have a more mature personality (although Lydia at times may be questionable) and generally easy to accept as tolerable characters. The most insufferable character in the show is none other than Sylphy with her bratty attitude, who throws tandrums like a spoiled child. Watching Sylphy's role equates to just about everything I hate about kids in the real world. She's annoying, complains about practically everything in sight, and does not improve in any shape or form. It's as if the show designed her to annoy the audience and it succeeded in the worst way possible.

So asking yourself, are there any redeeming qualities for this anime? Was this truly a cash grab attempt to get the audience to throw money at the novels? I hate to be the message bearer of bad news but I'm afraid so. At least on what this anime adaptation showed us, there's incoherent lazy writing revolving the plot. Character development is null including the great Ard himself. Let me just say that while the anime has some occasional entertaining segments, it falls short on all expectations due to how gimmicky it's done. Plus, the anime also decided to inject sexual harassment scenes (looking at you Lydia) for practically no reason but to get Youtubers to make clickbait content. If you truly value your time, then make the smart choice and avoid this like the plague.

For those who has a lot of patience and tolerate the type of show with fantasy drama about humans, beasts, and demons, then maybe you've stumbled upon the right place. If not, let's just say that I'm Quitting Heroing is the type of anime that reuses many of the same elements in today's anime market, the very definition of trying the same thing over and expecting different results.

Trust me, with the amount of isekai these days, seeing a protagonist being banished from a party, kingdom, or general population is hardly a rare sight. That's what happened to Leo, the hero who gets banished from their ... kingdom after defeating the Demon Queen Echidna and her army. With the setting taking place in a futuristic timeline, you' expect the world to be celebrating peace and prosperity. No, instead, people still live in fear of another war sparking and also suspicious of Leo himself. The fear stems from an idea that he may one day rise up to become a Demon Lord. In his position, Leo would quit as a hero and ironically decides to help Echidna rebuild her army.

Watching I'm Quitting Heroing gave me the impression that the author planned this show out like a roadmap by injecting story elements related to the past, present, and future. After his exile by the king and the human kingdom, Leo made his decison to help Echidna but at the same time, also makes new alliances such as with the Heavenly Kings. These consist of a group of characters that serves at the top of echelon in Echidna's army - Steina, Lili, Melnes, and Edwald. Rebuilding an army is easier said than done so you can imagine the amount of pressure and responsibility Leo is carrying on his shoulders. The anime does it make clear that Leo is perhaps their most important asset due to the various conflicts among the Hevenly Kings themselves. From the first few episodes, Leo realizes the tremendous task at hand. The anime also makes it clear that the Heavenly Kings each have their own flaws. It's sad because it means Leo would have to carry the rebuilding job himself and he's not even an official member of Echidna's army.

Speaking of which, the Heavenly Kings are filled with nothing but character flaws. Early in the show, we see how incompetent Steina and Lili can be when their plans go wrong. Despite having some natural traits, the anime makes the two characters look like tools. Melnes also gives a unfavorable impression with his shy and introvert-like personality. There's a specific episode reveals more about Melnes' personality but let's just say that he's the lonewolf type who practically lives his role as an assassin. Finally, there's Edwald who I can describe as the 'muscle' of the group. When you combine these characters together, you get an cast of oddballs that will make you roll your eyes.

What about Leo? He quit being a hero but what's his real purpose now? That's a qood question to ask yourself because Leo himself seems to have lost a purpose in life. A main plot element of this show is Leo's personal journey to discover his new purpose. Being feared for his power by the very people he once fought took a toll on his psyche. Let's face it, Leo deserves respect and honor than being banished and feared. Similarly, Echidna herself has a reptuation, at least according to rumors. But upon watching this show and looking closely, it's shown that she's a relaxing character who enjoys food, company with her comrades, and even has a somewhat childish personality. When she later meets Leo, it's shown that the two can get along quite well, almost like friends. Unfortunately, circumstances obviously can't allow them to be best buddies. In later episodes, the anime's story hit its peak with Leo putting his plans into motion, secrets and revelations being revealed, and the story exploding with effects that changes their world forever.

As I said before, the author really seems to have a roadmap planned out from the start. Even the director seems to have known this with the anime adaptation by planning out the first and second half of this 12-episode series. From the buildup, character presentations, and story development, it's actually somewhat clever. However, the anime still falls into a pitfall of lazy writing mostly with the lack of character development and mediocre plot. I'm Quitting Heroing may have taken some risks but it didn't take those risks to reach a level on its own.

Even the animation production qualiy falls short on its feet with its average character designs. Characters looks especially generic and unoriginal with Echidna's scarlet dress and demon horns. Leo has that Kirito-esque look that you've probably seen hundreds of times from light novel adaptations. Likewise, the Heavenly Kings does have some distinctive looks but none speaks for its uniqueness. The most annoying one among the group is Lili with her childish feature and character expressions. However, I will say that one concept of the show with its timeline is mildy interesting dealing with its futuristc medieval-like setting. The anime carefully made backgrounds look like a work of art on some instances even from the beginning. If anything, I do give credit where credit is due there.

I'm Quitting Heroing feels like the type of anime that got adapted because the industry wants another fantasy drama with a banished hero. We get one practically every season now so having one in Spring 2022 is a way to continue the streak. But hey, maybe if you're new to this type of genre, it can be a sweet treat. For me, this was a sight for sore eyes.

As you imagine, a title like this will spark and make you scratch your head about what to expect. It's essentially about a guy who reincarnates into a world where women reigns supreme. Being a mob, or otherwise a background character, main protagonist Leon plays his life like a game as he's trapped in this dating sim world.

At first, it wasn't easy to figure out exactly what this anime is trying to be. An isekai otome harem? A fantasy school drama? Or one of those wild unpredictable stories carved from the author's wild imaginations? One thing is for sure is the anime follows a recurring ... trend we've seen countless times in these recent years: reincarnation. Whether he likes it or not, Leon is reincarnated and more importantly, trapped in a world where women rules all. He is pretty much a background character, a nobody like one those nameless NPCs you find in roleplaying games. Fortunately, the author decides to allow Leon to retain hs past memories so he has the knowledge to change the dating world he's trapped in.

First, the audience have every right to think this may be another cash grab at the recurring isekai tropes in today's industry. Isekai comes in all shape and sizes except this one throw in a few twists. Nonetheless, I also admit this show does justice at establishing Leon as a knowledgable protagonist. He may be a mob but he also represents far from being a useless NPC type character. On a mental level, he is virtually unmatched when he plays mind games against his adversaries. As witnessed in the first few episodes, he plays his life like a game. And for Leon, his games are how he plays by exploiting vulnerablities. He is essentially a gamer that uses his knowledge as a psudeo cheat code. A defining trait is also Leon's pride as he believes in his own superiority. Maybe we can call this a source of 'gamer's pride' as it may have stemed from his past life.

For a dating sim, there's no void for its cast of colorful female cast. These include the protagonist from the first otome game Olivia, Redgrave heiress Angelica, and the petite yet manipulative Marie. Between these characters, it's shown that some of them possesses traits you'd find in a real life otome game. For instance, Olivia is the friendly type of girl who has an inferior personality compared to her noble classmates. Angelica represents a more traditional type of heiress who has pride but does not arrogantly look down on others. And, we can't forget about Marie, a manipulate girl who uses others for her personal gain. Yeah, it would be easy to designate her as a major antagonist for her manipulative nature. However, I will say that she's less cunning compared to Leon but far more devious. This central female cast represents a typical otome game but you have to also remember Leon's role here. He knows events from the game and because of his knowledge, he can potentially change outcomes. That's what happens throughout the story as certain game events are altered or occurs at different time frames. In essence, this is like changing routes in a game with previous acquired knowledge. Talk about cheating on an unique level.

Now, I will admit that a good deal of the characters in this show are unlikale. Very few are tolerable at best such as Angelica. However, characters such as Olivia and Marie are filled with flaws. Marie in particular carries a personality that borderlines to psychotic with her childish and manipulative nature. The anime protrays it in a lighthearted fashion but who can stand someone who always tries to use others for personal gain? That reminds me that the majority of the male cast are forgetable. To me, they are the supporting cast with limited roles other than to be partnered with the female cast. Oh and of course, some of them fall victim to Marie's twisted plans so that adds bonus points for their uselessness. Leon practically carries this anime with his mental intellect and knowledge of the game world. Even if you don't like Leon, you have to admit that he is one, if not the most talented character in the show.

Composed of 12 episodes, the anime falls victim to a common trend with mediocre adaptations: failing to reach its full potential. In other words, you're missing out content from the light novel. The anime adaptation had to limit content to reach its audience and sacrifice character development with more limited storytelling. To me, it's a travesty because at some point in the show, I did show interest in the growth of the main female cast. For instance, Olivia getting bullied by her peers is an obstacle I want to see her overcome. Unfortunately, it didn't change my mind based on my initial impressions. There's so little character development in the show that I just gave up on them.

What does director Kazuya Miura and studio ENGI have in common? He literally directed four of the five projects produced by this studio since they've aired. And to me, they were produced with mixed results. Now, I'm not saying ENGI failed as a production studio because they did manage to animate this show with some highlights. For instance, character designs are lavishly crafted with beauty and elegance. The female cast has their feminine charm while the male roster are decorated with handsomeness that you'd expect out of an otome game. Only Leon has the average look because of his 'mob' status. However, animation quality with its character expressions are questionable. Almost all the characters have similar faces and at times, their expressions feels off. One of the major distractions is the female character designs with their eyes, most distinctively involving Angelica. Nonetheless, I'll give credit where credit is due. ENGI did manage to reach expectations with their work. Similarly, the voice acting in this show gives off an aura of charisma. My only complaint is Olivia, who shows far too much vulnerablility that makes me want to glue my ears shut.

In my disappointment, I have to confess that the anime felt little more than advertisement of the novels. There's just not enough to make me hungry for more unless they make an actual bold attempt at character building. It doesn't matter much really since I've grown to dislike the majority of the character cast after the final episode. Sometimes, storytelling with these type of genres work. Sometimes it doesn't. This is one of those times that it didn't.

What happens when you put together two awkward characters together in the same classroom? Have them spend time together and who knows, maybe they can discover more about themselves. Aharen-san wa Hakarenai is very clear about showcasing two main characters who are socially awkward with wild imaginations that stretches beyond common logic.

There's actually plenty of logic in Aharen-san wa Hakarenai but it's how you approach the anime that defines what you get out of it. For instance, we are immediately introduced to Raidou and his social akawardness around others. But looking beyond his stoic face and personality, you can actually see that he is a ... friendly person. Upon meeting Ahraen, he wants to help her in any way he can. Our main protagonist Aharen has an even more stoic face who seems to be misunderstood for her expressions. In the first episode, their social interaction can be described as particularly strange. Let's face it, both characters have trouble expressing themselves. So when you have two characters behave in a similar matter, it looks like you're watching a mirror image of the two.

I must also inform that there's no complex story revolving around the two main characters. It's really about the two spending time together in a slice of life adventure. In other words, you shouldn't come into this show expecting some deep storytelling or even in-depth characterization. What should you expect is the non-linear sitcom like segments that we see from each episode involving the cast. Yes, Raidou and Aharen carries this anime on their backs with their personalities and wildly imaginations. In every epsiode, you can see from their point of view and their imaginations come to light. This is more evidenced in Raidou who often pictures Aharen in some wild fantasy. Don't get me wrong though. It's mostly innocent and stems from his perceptions of Aharen's character. There's no shock fan service or ecchi that misleads the viewers.

With the countless amount of humourous gags, it does make you question what the author was thinking when they made this series. And it's simple: to entertain. There's no hidden motive about this show at all. When it comes down to it, Aharen-san wa Hakarenai is a comedy slice of life that loves its cast and characters. Even outside of the main cast, we have characters such as Mutsuki, Futaba, and even Aharen's family members that connects with the audience. Let's face it, you shouldn't be watching this show if you're not ready for some popcorn entertainment and laughter. When I watch a slice of life comedy, the very first thing I look for is the humor and that's what this anime is all about. HUMOR.

Based on the manga, each episode is decorated with simple yet effective designs. The most prevalent is how characters react in the case for Aharen and Raidou. They express themselves with curiousity yet are also very socially awkward. It's in human nature that they react in their own personal ways, just as we do. But make no mistake, their personal imaginations can go beyond the limits at times. Yet, the show is able to capture the magic of these imaginations with fluid and creative style of animation.

Aharen-san wa Hakarenai is probably not an anime that you'd pick up easily as your first show. Even as relaxing and simple as it is, the anime can be quite bizarre for a slice of life. But does it work as the author intended? I believe the answer is absolutely. With each daring episode, I was entertained. By trascending beyond common sense, this anime is on a level of its own.

Our world is a complex place, full of diverse culture, and colorful species. Obviously, the most complex species is the human race and we enjoy the gifts that God gave to us. Through evolution, intelligence, and technology, we have also evolved and transformed our world into what we see today. And that brings us to modern day where the setting of a particular show takes place. Paripi Koumei is an anime taking place in modern Tokyo that is full of pop culture and entertainment.

Despite being based on the manga, I've never heard of this series before until the anime announcement. It isn't one of those ... mainstream franchises that took the world by storm after all. However, I will say that the franchise really bought in a ton of quality content with its music elements. Let's start with the opening theme "Ciki Ciki Bam Bam" by QUEENDOM. The song became a sensation that captured millions of views on popular platforms such as Youtube and Twitter. While Paripi Koumei isn't carried entirely by its theme song, it suddenly did spark interest for an audience.

For me, the show's premise didn't immediately capture my attention because it's borrows from a popular trend in recent years. Yes, I'm talking about the idea of reincarnation, a plot device that has been used in countless isekai anime. However, this show only takes the surface of that idea as it lacks the typical fantasy elements and everything else becomes its own story. Now in a more modern era, we meet Zhuge Kongming who has reincarnated since the third century in China. After a chance encounter with a girl named Eiko, he strikes a partnership with her after witnessing the talent of a superstar in the making. He becomes her manager and together, they hope to become a sensation in this modern world. From this point on, the story pretty much dedicates on how they would evolve themselves and make others recognize them.

Watching Paripi Koumei immediately made me realize one important thing and this applies to any place in the entertainment industry. It's hard. No, I mean, it's hard to the point where you must constantly push yourself to be better than others. Sacrifices must be made and they must know how to adapt with any situation. And maybe, just maybe they can become a cultural phenomenon. Luckily, Eiko is hard worker and Kongming has a tactical mind. They come from completely different backgrounds but watching the two work together is inspirational. Eiko has the talent of a singer with a passion for music. Meanwhile, Kongming uses his cunning mind to plan Eiko's future. To him, becoming successful means thinking of every possibility and responding to them. Thanks to his military talent, this ability seems natural just as his way of adapting with the modern world.

Eiko's character is one that I find fairly likable for being outgoing and ability to attract others with her friendly personality. She's also passionate about music and not just making a career to get rich or fame. A prominent example is her relationship with Nanami, a street singer she met and quickly formed a friendship with. Watching their relationship shows how Eiko determines to prove herself while also forming a relationship with someone with similar interests as her. However, I will say that a twist of fate later in the story brings together a more complex turn of events for the two. I won't spoil it but it makes Eiko strive to work even harder.

Although Eiko and Kongming are mostly the center of attention in this show, one other character that attracts a lot of attention is the rapper Kabe Taijin. That's right, the art of rap hasn't gone out of style in Tokyo and we witness firsthand with his skills. Similar to Eiko, Kabe has a strong desire to prove himself to others. Watching his performance shows his passion to entertain an audience and be himself. To me, this anime captures the essence of performance arts and allow characters to express themselves. It's what entertainment is about in this world's modern tokyo. If you're starving for some entertainment that stretches beyond the generic idol performances you often see on TV, then you're in for a treat.

While the main attraction of Paripi Koumei is its character cast and musical elements, we also can't overlook the designs and overall visual quality of the show. It's something that feels underappreciated because the music and soundtrack often overshadows its animation quality. But judging by its character designs, it's clear that the anime made its cast look like superstars such as Eiko. Kongming still maintains his look from his original timeline although he adapts a more formal way of speaking the modern language. Let's also not forget the most important feature and that is the character expressions. When performing in front of a crowd, we see how passionate characters express themselves through body language and emotions. It's one of the highlights that brings out the best of performances and should be appreciated.

If there's an underrated show of the year for 2022, Paripi Koumei is up on the list for a potential winner. This anime is easily overlooked but earns its spot among the most entertaining show of the year. For its character cast, music, and storytelling, it's a show that I can't help but recommend to anyone. Give yourself a treat and tell your friends about Paripi Koumei. They'll be dancing along this show's sensation in no time.

We all make mistakes. Humans makes mistakes because common sense sometimes outwits our own intellect. Attack on Titan defies the logic of common sense with the presence of titans. By trascending beyond logic, we have been graced with one of the most popular anime franchises in recent memory. Oh yes, say hello to Attack on Titan the Final Season Part 2. This season needed to be split multiple parts because logic dedicates that it does not have enough episodes to conclude the story.

However, make no mistake. The producers wanted to adapt the manga to its completion. This show has been practically sitting on a ... goldmine of popularity that it's just the obvious goal to complete. It begins directly from part 1 with no recapping but instead with our characters thrown into a chaotic struggle at Shiganshina. The struggle between the Eldains and Marleyans continue to breed the battlegrounds with blood, destruction, and death. More importantly, one of the primary objectives in the early stages of this season is to prevent Eren making contact with Zeke. As you expect, the first episode begins as a chaotic warfare involving soldiers, warriors, and Titans. Important characters such as Porco, Pieck, and Reiner makes their presence known for their actions. To be fair, this season is going to be a lot of bloodshed so having an arm blown off is treated more like a meme than a shocker moment. Right, Pieck?

Jokes aside, Attack on Titan's Final Season (Part 2) brings together an important evolution of storytelling. When we watch Eren's plan come to fruition, you have to realize how much of an impact it can have on their entire world. I'm talking about genocide, perhaps the extinction of humankind itself. Adapted out of the manga, 'The Rumbling' is an extraordinary event taking place this season. It chronicles a dark and grim reality for all life that concerns with the Marley and Eldians. While this season doesn't adapt The Rumbling at its fullest, it does bring in many questions for the anime only audience. Will anyone be able to stop The Rumbling? Who will live and who will die? What will be the ultimate outcome of Eren's plan in the end? Sadly, those questions won't have their full answers this season. However, you can fully expect the anime to capitalize on the importance of such an event.

Attack on Titan has been known for its deep character emotions and this season is also no exception. In particular episode, we are greeted with a mixed cast of characters from different sides of the war. However, it is Yelena who truly brings out the emotions out of guys such as Jean and Reiner. It's a pivotal moment to show that the past has not been forgotten. Jean has changed so much from his rookie years as a survey corps member to a loyal soldier fighting for his cause. Knowing the truth hurt him but he also realized what must be done for the greater good. Furthermore, we are also reintroduced to another prominent character from the Warrior Unit. I won't spoil it but let's just say that their presence makes this season that much more interesting.

Finally, we can't forget the Jaegerists, a group of rebels with their own agenda. Formed from members of the Paradis Island, they stand as a major obstacle against Mikasa, Armin, Pieck, Porco, Hange, Jean, and the rest of their new alliance. The episodes later this season highlights how far they'll go to push their plan even it means killing whoever stands in their way. And that is a common theme about Attack on Titan. There's bloodshed and death, where sacrifices are needed for a greater cause. Eren's goal is perhaps the most controversial for he puts entire mankind and the ecosystem at risk. Nonetheless, that makes this season worth so much more enticing to watch.

It's 12 episodes but common sense designates that this season needed more episodes to flesh out the rest of the story. Trust me, it's not enough for this season and of course, Wit Studio and its producers would take this show to the next season. This franchise is literally a goldmine that pushes the limits of popularity in modern years and I hope its success continues.