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Gokushufudou returns for its second part, and honestly, not all too much has changed. Is it a bad thing? For those who didn't mind the animation and had fun, expect more of the same, and to those who were turned off by the animation, then sadly that's still the case for this season.

Story-wise, it's still the good-old fun and hilarious slice-of-lice moments with Tatsu, Miku, Masa, and the others. It doesn't derive too much from what was shown in the first season, although I will say that I liked the development with Tatsu and Masa's friendship.

Speaking of Tatsu and Masa, the characters are still ... entertaining in Part 2. One thing leads to another, and the next thing you know, they once again get into wacky and hilarious situations. While Tatsu and Kenjiro Tsuda's performance is still amazing, for me, the glasses otaku guy stole the show whenever he's shown.

Art-wise, yep, it's still the PowerPoint-esque animation that everyone saw in Part 1. and I'll say it again: if you didn't mind it, you don't have anything to worry about, and if you didn't like it, Part 2 doesn't really have anything going for it in order to convince you to continue watching. Personally, the animation grew on me. Sound-wise, also nothing special, although when the wacky situations starts to unfold, the addition of sound does help elevate the scene to make it even funnier.

Overall, if Part 1 was fun for you and you weren't bothered with the animation, then check out the continuation. If that wasn't the case for you, then that's totally fine, as you aren't really missing out, except for what is possibly Kenjiro Tsuda's funniest voice acting performance in recent memory.

(6.4/10)

Season 2 of Beastars reminded me just how much I love anime as a medium.

Telling a gripping story about a carnivore coming to realize his place in this anthropomorphous society and going against a fellow carnivore to put an end to the mysterious incident at Cherryton Academy, season 2 of Beastars has taken a huge leap forward in the storytelling department while also still retaining the pros it had in season 1 production-wise, making for a very solid sequel.

Let’s start with the show’s greatest strength: the story. Season 1 of Beastars left off with Legoshi rescuing Haru from the Shishigumi, promising her to become stronger ... than his instincts. Season 2’s story goes back to the show’s roots, bringing up the murder that happened in Cherryton, an incident which Legoshi attempts to solve while also overcoming his predatory instincts. Legoshi’s story develops into something more of a thriller mystery, where the events slowly unfolding onto his life challenges him until the eventual climax approaches, testing the limits of his abilities. On the other side of the spectrum, Louis’s story develops into a story of corruption as it continues with him becoming the boss of the Shishigumi after season 1, giving the criminal organization a more refined reputation in the Black Market, while also finding a new perspective in the life of herbivores and carnivores throughout his experiences. These contrasting viewpoints come together, creating a juxtaposition of justice and injustice, but manages to coincide by the finale. To put it shortly, the show has managed to tell two opposite sides of the coin, each having their own respective journey and eventually combining as one to create and conclude an emotional, dramatic, and memorable arc.

By now, the story of season 2 has definitely made a huge impact in the character development portion of the main characters. Legoshi, being the awkward and reserved wolf he is, hones himself beyond his instincts while also coming to realize how vulnerable herbivores really are in this unfair society of the hunter and the hunted. Meanwhile, Louis, who generally has a dislike to carnivores, has come to realize just how much carnivores have made an impact towards his life and accepting them. However, let’s not forget the other characters who are also just as important as the main duo: Riz, Pina, and Ibuki. Riz, usually seen as the friendly-looking grizzly bear, is eventually revealed as Tem’s killer, but is also struggling with his own personal problems that eventually led him to killing his best friend. Pina gives the impression of nothing but a playboy, but dramatically reveals in a practice session in the Drama Club that, regardless of his status as an herbivore, he will not cower and falter. Ibuki, who is perceived to be a fierce and threatening lion, protects the people he cares about, hating the fact that people have been frightened by him as he grows. Basically, season 1’s purpose is to give a general introduction, while season 2’s purpose is to showcase great development with its various cast of characters.

Going into the production side of things, it certainly feels like season 2 is just more of the same things we’ve seen and heard in the previous season. Still, that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing. The animation and art are great as always, assuring you that Studio Orange definitely cares about the source material. A lot of sequences in how the camera angles are shot reminds me why I love this series so much, as it is able to convey fluid movements in its action and dramatic moments. One moment, in particular, was with the Riz and Tem sequence in Cherryton, where it perfectly encapsulated the beauty of friendship between herbivore and carnivore, as well as the horrific aftermath of uncontrollable desires that followed. Aside from its already-great art and cinematography, the show’s soundtrack and the way it is used is exceptional too, like with the sequence of Louis and Juno dancing in the streets of the Black Market, showcasing a stark contrast between the beauty of dancing in a bleak and dark place. I could go on and on about how the art, animation, cinematography, and soundtrack are so good, but that would make this already lengthy review an even longer one, so to sum it all up, Studio Orange’s production of season 2 of Beastars is nothing short of incredible.

In conclusion, season 2 of Beastars is definitely a huge improvement over its already solid debut season, and it is also a good example of how sequels of already great anime should be done. At the time of typing this review, season 2 isn’t released worldwide yet, so be sure to check it out when it does come out on Netflix (hopefully with the original Japanese dub and the English dub), as it will be worth the watch.

Akudama Drive is a dystopian, cyberpunk rollercoaster ride of hype, excitement, and edginess that raises its stakes every episode that either adds to the enjoyment or irritation while watching, depending on what kind of entertainment viewers enjoy the most.

Don’t expect a drama story that sticks with you because of how it deeply impacted your emotions, because the story in this anime is fairly straight-forward. It’s basically what a cyberpunk version of Suicide Squad is, except if Suicide Squad itself was actually a good movie in the first place. You get a bunch of criminals, make them a team whether they like it or not, and ... assign them a mission that can only be done as a team, forcing them to cooperate with each other through their unique special set of skills. Where this anime kind of diverts from Suicide Squad is with the main character, Swindler, an innocent bystander who is forced to join the team of criminals called the “Akudama.” Along the way, we get to see twists and turns, crazy fights, and high-octane action that is surprisingly decently written for the most part, which could be expected from a series that already has a chaotic premise and of course, its crazy cast of characters.

It is near impossible to talk about this series without talking about its main “driving” point: its characters. If you’re here to expect relatable characters that undergo dramatic character development that turns their lives around, then you, the viewer, might as well be the one to turn around and stay away as you’re not going to find that much substance with the characters here in this anime, as most of the time, they are just characters that start off as one or two-dimensional shells that are unlikeable, which I find to be a double-edged sword in this case. On one hand, they do develop overtime, but not as deep as you might expect. On the other hand, their characters at times kind of feel lacking by the time they get the spotlight in specific episodes. Regarding the villains, they are also just doing “bad guys doing bad guy things” for the most part, except for some that do get some characterization to at least make them stand out. In short, the characters are exactly what you might expect from a series as chaotic as this, which can simultaneously be a good thing and a bad thing.

While the anime’s characters certainly aren’t all that amazing, I couldn’t say the same for its art. Studio Pierrot, good job on you, as this anime really does capture the vibe of what a cyberpunk dystopia is. Its character design and animation is phenomenal and I feel that Studio Pierrot really outdone themselves with this anime, which makes me ask how do they pull this off while juggling two long-running series at the same time. Its music also does its job well as it helps set up the “aesthetically brutal” world that the characters are in. I’d say the production in this anime is pretty great and if the aim was to create this feeling of a dark, technology-driven world, they certainly pulled it off well.

In summary, Akudama Drive is surprisingly good for its premise that I would consider to be risky, but it certainly delivered on its strong points while still having flaws that don’t really affect the overall enjoyment of the show. If you want a “turn off your brain while watching (for the most part)” kind of anime, this is definitely it. Otherwise, just skip it. (7.9/10)

Ikebukuro West Gate Park is a strange beast. On one hand, it explores serious real-world issues like racism, but on the other hand, it attempts to fit those conflicts and tell episodic stories with its diverse cast of characters that can sometimes hit home greatly, or miss by a long shot.

Story-wise, IWGP is an interesting take on the “gang” genre. The main character gets involved with different kinds of conflicts and attempts to resolve them without using forceful methods for the most part, but occasionally seeks help from his friend, who is the leader of a gang, to help him out when things aren’t ... smooth-sailing. These conflicts are certainly great choices to tell multiple stories that happen in Ikebukuro, but there are times where it feels as if the episodes that tackle some of these conflicts feel like they are lacking the extra punch or “oomph” to really give viewers an impact that will be felt long after the ED plays, save for a few that are actually pretty solid because it does have that extra punch like the two-episode arcs.

On the positive side, IWGP’s characters feel grounded to reality, which makes sense as this anime basically is grounded too. Their experiences in life mostly revolve around the conflicts that the episode tackles, which is a good way to set up the mood of the episode. While on the topic of characters, the main character, Makoto, fights for justice and will use any means necessary so long as violence is avoided for the most part. Aside from that, he also empathizes with those who seek help from him and help them out to make Ikebukuro a better place. Of course, there are characters that are one-dimensional, but they are mostly just there for the plot and are unimportant for the most part. One drawback, however, is that I don’t really feel interested or invested with some of the characters, but for most of the time, they manage to keep my interest.

Moving on to its art and music, it’s certainly not bad. Its minimalistic take on its character designs reminds me of another anime from this year from Doga Kobo, which is Sing “Yesterday” for Me. Speaking of Sing “Yesterday”, IWGP is kind of similar to it in a way that it doesn’t really use too much music aside from a few scenes, which makes me more focused with its dialogue and what’s happening on the screen. Now while all these things sound positive, I think that overall, there is really nothing to write home about with IWGP in terms of art and music, as I think it doesn’t really make enough effort in order for it to at least let its art and music stick with me.

In conclusion, Ikebukuro West Gate Park is neither a great nor bad show. It is simply an “okay” show from Doga Kobo, and here’s to hoping that they manage to produce great shows in the future. Would I recommend it? If you have the patience, I’d say go for it, as there are certainly aspects of the show where I can see people enjoy it, but if you don’t have the patience, it would be in your best interest to skip it, as you are not really missing out on a ton. (6.2/10, but since 6.2 isn't an option on MAL, I'll just round it off to a 6.)

Not gonna lie, a few episodes in and I thought I was watching some edgy fanfiction my 13-year old self would crave. The combination of dark themes and ecchi/erotic themes in movies/series tends to affect my viewing pleasure. Most of the time, I would just regard what I watched as plain bad, but after reading the source material while also finishing the anime, do I consider Gleipnir an exception or an addition to the catalogue of failed genre mixing that I’ve personally seen? Well, it’s a bit of both.

Gleipnir, for the most part, has an interesting set of characters. The relationship between the two ... main protagonists and their character development are good, although I’m still suspicious of Clair’s intentions. The side characters were okay, except for the “camera-cuck” as what the fans call him. The villains were not bad, especially that one villain named Madoka and of course, the flashback episode where some of the story begins to clear up and is probably what I would consider to be the first major turning point in the series.

The soundtrack was pretty great. It made me bob my head along as I watch an intense fight between the characters. Speaking of intense fights, the animation is very solid. Every frame of a fight choreography had so much detail put in it that it made my eyes stay glued to the screen.

However, I have mixed feelings with the plot. Some episodes I felt didn’t do much to progress the plot, which is saying much for a 13-episode anime. Of course we can’t forget the “ecchi-ness” of this series, which to my shock, is actually more censored in this anime adaptation when compared to the manga, which is mostly uncensored. For me, the way the studio pulls off ecchi can either make or break that anime, and in Gleipnir’s case, once again, it’s a bit of both.

Surprisingly, there were also quite a few changes to the anime like the fates of their characters and most notably, the ending. While I do understand the 13 episode limit, the anime-original ending could have been pulled off better. Some of the characters’ decisions felt rushed and impulsive, which was completely different to the progression of the manga, which I will not get into to avoid spoilers, but what I can say is the flashback episode was good, but it was made rather redundant after seeing the ending. The last episode does set-up for a second season, which also made me wonder how will the studio continue this series’ plot, especially when they derive this much from the source material.

At the end of the day, it’s an okay watch for those who love dark shows, although you could spend more time looking for other shows that are far superior to Gleipnir.

6.3/10

I rarely do watch seasonal anime, but for once in my life, since I have all this free time during quarantine, I decided to try watching some anime that aired this season. One of those anime series is Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai?: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen (Kaguya-sama: Love is War - Season 2).

Among the very few shows that I’ve watched this season, this show was one that I was actively waiting for every Sunday (Philippine Standard Time). The show’s first season was good, and this second season was even better than I expected.

As an avid fan of the source material, I wonder at times how A-1 ... Pictures would pull off adapting the manga chapters that I found to be very funny or very emotional. Fortunately, the studio’s love for the manga shows as when I watched every new episode while having read the chapters they adapted, I felt their effort and passion trying to outdo the manga with its great voice acting, soundtrack, and of course, the animation.

The show doesn’t take itself too seriously as its comedy gets better with every new episode and the relationships between the two main protagonists and their fellow council members develop at a slow but worthwhile pace. It has its serious moments as well, and when that happens, you actually get to know and appreciate the characters more as they receive great development not usually tackled in the first season or even the first few episodes of this season. The studio also went the extra mile and referenced other media like other anime and musical references, which I thought was a nice touch in order to make this season not just a straightforward adaptation of the manga.

Surprisingly, I have little to criticize about this season, except for the chapters that the anime skipped and some follow-up episodes felt a tiny bit bad after the season’s best episodes. However, this did not affect my enjoyment of the anime as a whole at all. A season 3 announcement is inevitable seeing as how much the fans love this show, me included, and as a fan of the source material, expect the third season of this show to be just as good or even better than the other seasons if A-1 Pictures give it the same love and affection that they have have with this season.

8.5/10

I rarely do watch seasonal anime, but for once in my life, since I have all this free time during quarantine, I decided to try watching some anime that aired this season. One of those anime series is Kami no Tou (Tower of God).

Before the anime even got announced, a lot of my friends were talking about this thing called “Webtoon”, which has a vast selection of comics to choose from. One of their most talked about Webtoon series is Tower of God. Back then, I really didn’t care about the Webtoon at all. That is, until it was officially announced that this title would ... be the first-ever manhua to get an anime adaptation.

Needless to say, I was curious how a Japanese studio would handle a Korean manhua. Seeing the first few episodes, I thought they were kind of good, but not that special. Curiosity got to me and I decided to binge-read the manhua from start to finish in 4 days, and it got me hooked after a while.

Now, there are two viewpoints I have with this show. If we look at this series as an anime, it has the potential to be one of the standouts of this season. The plot is interesting, some of the characters have unique traits and the soundtrack is good. The animation itself can be a hit or miss for me personally, but the rest seem to be pretty solid. Overall, these factors are not a bad start to a new anime series.

However, if we look at this series as an adaptation of the manhua, there were a lot of things the anime missed out on due to the fact that it was only limited to 13 episodes. Some of the world building was ignored, some of the characters and their relationships were underdeveloped, and some plot points felt a little rushed, lacking a good explanation that is usually seen in the manhua.

Nevertheless, the anime adaptation was surprisingly decent for just 13 episodes. Sure, it had to sacrifice some factors in the manhua, but with how the season built up to its first major turning point and how it ended, I would say that the studio did their best to do justice to the original manhua, considering the episode count. Although this first season may not be the greatest among first seasons of other anime, I pray that this will only be the start of a stellar continuation of this series, along with many more anime adaptations of other Korean manhuas to come in the near future.

7.5/10

I rarely do watch seasonal anime, but for once in my life, since I have all this free time during quarantine, I decided to try watching some anime that aired this season. One of those anime series is Yesterday wo Utatte (Sing “Yesterday” for Me).

It’s refreshing for me to watch a show that focuses more on human drama, or drama in general, one of my favorite genres. The first couple of episodes were particularly noteworthy, mostly because of the protagonist who I somehow empathize with despite still being a student. The plot was interesting and I wondered how a Seinen type of anime would handle ... it. The way the characters of this world were introduced was great. I kind of like the rough-ish art style and the soundtrack was good. I also appreciate the show’s quiet, minimalist approach when characters are talking with each other as to give emphasis on what they are saying.

Speaking of characters, I thought they were quite good. That is, until we reached the last couple of episodes. When I found out that this show only has 12 instead of 18, I thought to myself: “How will this show end?” I had no idea how the anime will have a good conclusion to a plot that takes it time to build up. There were some good dramatic interactions and some bad interactions with the main cast as the show comes to an end. What I thought was a good show that tackles relationships between friends and lovers, ended with a sudden conclusion that would have paid off were it not for the fact that it felt rushed and could have been better if it had more episodes to develop the plot and the characters more. Seeing the extras did lighten me up about the show a little bit.

I may read the manga soon, since I have heard that the ending is different. However, at the end of the day, what started as a great show, turned out to be kind of rushed in the end.

6.5/10

This film feels like a combination of what Studio Ghibli and traditional Disney animated films give that makes them feel special, but this movie isn’t necessarily special because of that. The animation is not bad, but not really noteworthy. Both the cinematography and soundtrack are good. The story isn’t that bad, but it also doesn’t give off the same feeling as when you watch other notable films from Studio Ghibli or CoMix Wave Films (Makoto Shinkai). The characters are alright, except for the main antagonist.

Still, amidst the current situation the world is in right now, it is nice for Netflix to release a movie ... like this. Basically, at its core, it’s light-hearted, cute, and a feel-good film. If you’re feeling down and have two hours to spare, try watching this movie because who knows, maybe it’ll make your day feel a lot better than before.