- Supporter
- Last Online44 minutes ago
- GenderMale
- BirthdayApr 30, 1993
- JoinedJun 9, 2011
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Sep 29, 2020
1 of 1 episodes seen
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6
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
The Pokémon franchise is what many would call an outlier. Its success can only be described as historic, and one of the very few franchises that bridges the generational gap. Pokémon has continued to capture the hearts of young and old alike through creativity and fun. As it nears its 25th Anniversary (also Pikachu's Pokedex number), Game Freak and Nintendo surely have some exciting things up their sleeves.
To kick off the celebration, Game Freak showed off a music video that fully encapsulated the spirit and wonder of the Pokémon world. Animated by the legendary Studio Bones, it kicks off with reference to what could be
the very first easter egg in the entire franchise. An almost shot for shot sequence from the classic movie, "Stand By Me", which of course was what was playing on the protagonists' TV in their room in the original Red and Blue. From there, it felt like being shot out of a rocket, as every game, protagonist, villain, legendary, starter, gym leader, and professor was shown and given the spotlight. The sheer amount of detail and things happening on screen was staggering, making multiple views absolutely mandatory.
As we travel through Pokémon history, we also follow two new characters and their partner Pokémon, Pikachu and Eevee. Their designs are unique and wild, which perfectly fits the tone of this stunning music video. We see instances of them growing up with their partners and setting off on their own Pokémon journeys. They both have distinct personalities, as well as their Pokémon, making them very memorable.
Visually, this was absolutely stunning. The sheer amount of detail, references, and care is abundant. This was clearly made by fans, for fans. Colors are vibrant and bold, the animation was fluid and gorgeously detailed, making this total eye candy. I think one of the most pronounced visual aspects of the video were the key battles and vital moments from each game. Be it finding Blue in the final room of the Elite Four, Gold facing off against Red on Mt. Silver, Wally running towards Brendan/May for one final fight; the list just goes on and on. That was hugely important, as it really felt that every game got a chance to shine and show what made it special.
All of this was accompanied by one of the most popular Japanese Rock Bands of the current era, BUMP OF CHICKEN. Bump has done various anime Opening and Ending songs, making them widely known across the world. The song used here, Acacia, really puts their best qualities forward with the upbeat and positive style they're best known for.
This music video will go down as one of the greats, where love and care were clearly put into every frame. As Pokémon kicks off its 25th celebration, we use this to fondly look back on the experiences and friends we made along the way. I'm ready for another 25 fantastic years of Pokémon.
read more
Mar 28, 2020
12 of 12 episodes seen
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77
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
9 |
| Story |
7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
In the West, Anime and Manga are often conflated with Hentai. This is because of their often use of pervy jokes, skimpy and risque outfits, and at times, even nudity. So generally, the medium is looked at as a perverted one. This is due to the differing values between Japan and the West. While the West is more than happy to show violence, killing, and gore, sexual things are often considered taboo. This is the exact opposite of Japan; sexual subject matter is fine, as it's a natural thing we all feel. While violence is often censored or used sparingly. These cultural differences are why
there are a multitude of Anime and Manga with at least some sexual content.
Then, there is of course the Ecchi genre that's dedicated to all things pervy. There's a pretty wide spectrum for the genre; series that are fairly mild all the way to being borderline Hentai. You start with more mild series like Food Wars and Fairy Tail with quick and often censored shots, then up to series like Highschool DxD and To Love Ru where boob flashes and groping are commonplace, finally all the way up to the extreme envelop-pushing Prison School and Shimoneta. I personally never thought something would eclipse Shimoneta or Prison School, but once again, Japan has surpassed my expectations and introduced us to perverted masterpiece that is Interspecies Reviewers.
Interspecies Reviewers was so perverted and rife with controversial material, it was dropped by its English licensor Funimation and even multiple Japanese television stations. But make no mistake, this series is a titillating tour de force.
Here we follow Stunk, a Human male, and Zel, a male Elf as they go on a quest to sleep with every kind of species in the wide and diverse world they inhabit. They accomplish this task by visiting Succubi Brothels, then they review the Brothels and post their thoughts at local Inns and Taverns; hence the name Interspecies Reviewers! One day, they come across the rarest species of all, an Angel by the name of Crim. They befriend Crim and show him(her?) the world of Succubi Brothels.
I think this show's strongest aspect is its sheer originality and creativity. The girls range from ultra busty cow girls, to on fire salamander girls, to undead cuties, and everything in between. Many of these species are known to anime fans as "Monster Girls". These have grown in popularity in recent years thanks to many manga, anime, and eroge games. But this series takes it to a whole other level with how unique each species can be. This was a vital aspect that the mangaka/writers HAD to get right if they wanted viewers to come back, and they absolutely nailed it. Every week was a total blast seeing what wild and crazy species the gang would jump into bed with next. Be it busty cuties, sexy and slimy hotties, or creepy but alluring babes, the girls were a feast for the eyes.
Continuing with the sheer originality and creativity point, another part of the show was actually reviewing said species. While we got plenty of bed action like sucking, thrusting, licking, and everything in between; the hilarity came from the various visual gags the writers used to get the opinion of each character across. After each hot and heavy scene, we would be shown the gang writing and talking about their thoughts of brothel they were currently partaking in. Varying from subtle to in your face gags, the visuals used to describe their feelings of pleasure, or at times displeasure, were genius, hilarious, and wildly entertaining.
Visually, this was of course, very appealing. The art style was soft and cute and sexy all in one. If I could compare it to something, I would say that "soft" feeling was similar to a show like Sora no Otoshimono (another ecchi masterpiece). The designs were unique, cute, sexy, and just plain hot. Of course for a show with this subject matter, this was an absolutely essential aspect to the overall success of the series. The animation, while nothing spectacular, was good in its own right. Great jiggle physics and often above average motion when things were getting hot and heavy.
The story itself is simple, yet intriguing. Going from brothel to brothel reviewing their personal experiences is just downright entertaining. Again, thanks in part to its creativity for each species. This never tried to be anything more than it is, a show about sex, and it wore that as a badge of honor.
While the soundtrack was not something I would call outstanding, the music was appropriate where necessary. Nice baby-making piano and jazzy pieces to help set the mood for each sexual situation. The real draw was the terrific performances by the actors, both male and female. Moans of pleasure, hilarious one liners, and overall very believable performances helped make this even sexier than it already was.
The characters themselves were all lovable in their own way, each with their own fetishes and preferences that helped make things more diverse depending on what you're in to. It never got boring because of this. Stunk, our relatable human protagonist preferred them young, beautiful, and busty. While Zel, our Elf protagonist didn't really care about looks, but more about mana, but still enjoyed his fair share of cuties and large busts. Other side characters liked things such as collars and masochistic fetishes, others were worried about smells, while Crim, our third protagonist was more innocent and was forced into things with a sort of "virgin" perspective.
On the subject of Crim, I think he's(she's?) a little divisive. Often in Anime/Manga, Angels are shown to be hermaphrodites. With both functional male and female parts. This is the same with Crim, who looks both girly and a bit boyish as well. I personally, wasn't a fan of Crim because I wasn't interested in watching a girlish/boyish child having intercourse. But in the end, Crim was a "necessary evil" as they are used a vehicle for the viewer to help understand the world of Interspecies Reviewers better. Because Crim was new to the world, Crim would often ask questions about customs, cultures, and so on.
As someone who has seen his fair share of ecchi, I can confidently say Interspecies Reviewers has cemented itself as a masterpiece in the ecchi genre. I have not seen a series that has pushed more boundaries or has been more unique than this show. Entertaining, extremely sexy, unflinchingly confident, and downright hilarious, Interspecies Reviewers will always make me want to come back for more.
Now let's go to Paradise!
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Dec 16, 2019
24 of 24 episodes seen
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3
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
You're probably reading this review on a computer or smart phone, using an internet connection inside a building with a set, comfortable temperature. Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a computer, phone, building, or air conditioner? What about the things that power them? What about the internet or a connection to a cellular tower? Often we take for granted these miraculous amenities we indulge in every single day. But what if all of it was gone in a flash?
Dr. Stone is very different than your average shounen story. This is a story of survival, perseverance, and hope. But most of all, Dr.
Stone is a story of human spirit and ingenuity.
The story follows Senku Ishigami, a genius high schooler who is obsessed with learning how anything and everything works, with the dream of one day reaching space. His good friend Taiju on the other hand isn't very bright, but is a genuine and nice guy who only wants to confess to the girl he loves. However, before he could finally admit his true feelings, a flash of green light enveloped the world, turning every single human to stone. Thousands of years have passed, and thanks to the forces of nature and a little bit of luck, Senku and Taiju are finally released from their stony prisons. They now live in a world completely foreign to the one we live in today. No buildings, no phones, no power, no anything; humanity has been reset, with all of our work and knowledge lost. The genius Senku and the relentless Taiju are now working together to solve the mystery of humans turning to stone and restoring humanity back to its former glory.
From beginning to end, Dr. Stone is a delight. Its comedy is well executed and its explanation of how things work is fascinating. Its story of survival is what immediately jumps out to me as interesting. Most shounen consist of epic battles, power-ups, and lots of yelling; but Dr. Stone pits Senku against the forces of nature armed with nothing but his knowledge and wit. With limited resources he has to start at the very beginning, making primitive tools from rock and wood.
Luckily, Senku isn't your run of the mill low IQ, always hungry shounen protagonist. Throughout his life Senku dedicated himself to science, learning anything and everything he could about the world and how things worked. Right from the git-go, Senku is interesting, unique, and just damn fun to watch. With this knowledge Senku, with the help of Taiju's strength of course, is able to jump thousands of years simply knowing how to make more advanced tools.
Senku continues to up the ante making more miraculous things out of materials that you never thought possible in this "Stone World". He meets a cast of colorful characters who, more often than not, are used to help him make said things. To avoid any potential spoilers, I'll refrain from speaking anymore about story details. But I can say, watching Senku and his friends build technology, filled me with excitement and pride for the human race, and how far we've come with our amazing inventions. Every episode brings something new to the table and never feels boring, as you never know what you'll learn next.
Visually, Dr. Stone can be hit or miss. The studio was clearly trying to emulate the manga's sometimes very detailed art. At times, it looked really off and silly. Not to say the art is bad, but it can come off as wonky at times. The character designs are varied, but sometimes looked inconsistent, especially with the female characters. With that said, the girls are still cute, and Senku has this iconic look to him with his crazy hair going from white to green. The animation felt a bit limited, but with the use of comedy, they utilized exaggerated designs, chibi characters, etc. These visuals helped emphasize the brilliant comedy, and the comedy was a huge part of the series' charm.
The sounds of Dr. Stone really supported the setting of the "Stone World". Instruments consisted of acoustic instruments, with wood sounding flutes, drums, and bells. It gave off a very "Earthy" sound, it sounded natural as if everything was made from materials you could find out in the wild. The acoustic guitar riffs were especially nice and they stood out to me the most, especially during exciting moments.
The voice acting was great, or as great sounding as someone who doesn't speak Japanese can tell. Senku's actor had a stellar performance. The English dub has the same quality, with Aaron Dismuke delivering an excellent performance as Senku.
The colorful cast of Dr. Stone are a huge pillar of the show's success, with Senku being the central figure. As I said previously, he isn't a run of the mill protagonist. His intelligence and determination really set him apart from other characters. He isn't a completely virtuous character either, often using underhanded tactics to fool others and achieve his goals. This is one of the many things I love about his character. The supporting characters of the fearless Chrome, the strong and practical Kohaku, the adventurous and helpful Suika, and the relentless Taiju are all also very enjoyable. No one felt useless or unneeded, each one brought something to the table and made the show all the more fun to watch.
With all of this in mind, Dr. Stone was a very enjoyable watch. Some explanations felt long and drawn out, other times the show felt like it was dragging. But those complaints are few and far between, as this never failed to invigorate my spirit with it's detailed and clever story. If there's one thing that this made me realize, it's that we really do take the technology and amenities we use every day for granted. Seeing Senku work so hard to create something we view as commonplace really puts things in perspective. The appreciation for the everyday modern miracles was the most powerful lesson from this show for me.
Ultimately, Dr. Stone doesn't redefine the shounen genre, nor does it take any huge risks. It's inconsistent visuals can hinder it at times and the soundtrack is great, but not entirely memorable. But its unique premise and stellar main character really help set it apart from most properties in the genre.
Dr. Stone is a story of human spirit and ingenuity. With determination, perseverance, strength, and courage, humanity can accomplish anything. In these divided times I think it's an inspiring message that we can all get behind. And I ten billion percent can't wait to see where Senku takes us next.
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Sep 19, 2019
12 of 12 episodes seen
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4
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
Anime is known as the medium of extremes, both to its benefit and detriment. Extreme designs, animation, plots, and so on. But with so many anime out there reaching all kinds of extremes, it can be difficult to break out from the crowd and truly feel original. So why not make something that most would say is the exact opposite of what anime fans are interested in? That idea might just be crazy enough to work; and for "How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift?", it certainly does.
Creating a show about working out has to be difficult, especially with an audience who has zero interest
in the subject. But throw in cute girls, a great art style, fantastic comedy, well placed ecchi, and genuinely entertaining educational moments, you can't help but be sucked in to such a crazy, but hilarious series.
The show follows Hibiki and her friends as they dive into the world of weight lifting and exercising. Anime girls exercising is something that piqued my interest simply because of how out there it was, and I quickly found myself loving it every single week. A big reason is because of the characters. Hibiki, our main character, eats a little too much, but wants a beach body for the summer. She joins the gym on a whim thanks in part to her friend Akemi, who is obsessed with muscles. The cast continues to get crazier and more hilarious as the series goes on. This includes the attractive, yet insanely muscly, gym trainer Machio. Which I'm sure you can already tell just by his name how macho he really is.
The characters have a great synergy with one another that was very entertaining. This is thanks to how well written the comedy for this show is. With the hilarious focus on outrageous muscles, the various ways to workout, and the hi-jinks that ensue, every episode was always an enjoyable watch. It embraced its absurdity and used it to only make the show funnier. It never felt too tried hard, nor did this ever take itself seriously.
But to my surprise, I found myself really enjoying the educational part of the show too. From lessons about basic workouts, to proper form for each workout, safety precautions, various ways to workout without going to a gym, and more, the educational part never felt like a detriment to the show. Lessons were perfectly weaved into the show based on what was going on in the story.
Visually, it was a pleasure to look at. The girls are insanely cute, and the art style is just downright attractive. Characters like Machio with highly defined muscles all looked accurate and detailed. The animation wasn't bad and I would say that this was above average in the visual department.
Sound was great due to terrific performances by the cast. Stand outs would be Hibiki's actress, Ai Fairouz, Machio's actor, Kaito Ishikawa, and Gina's actress, Nao Touyama. These are just 3 stand outs in an already excellent cast. The Opening and Ending themes are fantastic, both being as equally entertaining to listen to (with many of us adding them to our workout playlists). The soundtrack itself never really stood out to me. I don't really remember any specific tracking sticking out to me, save for the super catchy song that played during Machio's lessons. The sound design was great, as it utilized comedic sounds to help emphasize jokes.
Whether you're on the beach, walking down the street, at home with no equipment, or whatever the case may be, How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift shows that you can workout any time and anywhere. It presents it in a clear and easy to understand way that's both funny and entertaining. It promotes and encourages a healthy lifestyle, which is a great message for a show to have.
The comedy and visual style are excellent as they embrace their absurdity with a barrage of jokes that don't let up. The charm of the cast quickly grows on you too, which only amplifies the humor. If you're a fan of comedy and something that's a little different, I highly recommend checking out this show. I believe in time, it will become a comedy classic.
Nice Bulk!
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Aug 26, 2019
1 of 1 episodes seen
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3
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
7 |
| Story |
6 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
I think many people misunderstand what a non-canon anime movie is. A movie for an on-going series must be a self contained story that does not affect the source material as to avoid ruining the continuity of the original work. With that in mind, most anime movies are nothing more than popcorn-fare that are only meant for the enjoyment of the fans of the series. So walking into a film and expecting the storytelling of Bebop will leave you very disappointed, every time.
The Arrow of the Orion was yet another non-canon anime movie with a self-contained plot and heroine with no real development for the
characters. As someone who's watched his fair share of Naruto, Bleach, etc. anime films, I knew full well what I was getting into. Mainly for non-canon movies like this, what I look for is 1. How entertaining is the film? and 2. What does the movie do to make itself unique?
The movie has Bell and the gang help a Goddess in need to defeat an ancient evil, but the quest is not all as it seems as the Hestia Familia begin to unravel the unsettling truth behind the quest and the Goddess who offered it.
This plot is pretty standard. It's doesn't really stand out and most people can guess what's going to happen before it even happens on screen. I was however, very happy that we are finally exposed to the world outside the city of Orario. While most of it was fairly generic backdrops, it was still nice to get out of the city. I would say the plot is the weakest aspect of the film. But for a non-canon film, this isn't necessarily a deal breaker. Personally, I'm just happy we get to spend more time with these characters.
I myself am a big fan of the Danmachi franchise. I like many of the characters and find the world interesting. Even Bell, who can be considered a "generic protagonist", is someone I find both endearing and someone I love to cheer on. I very much enjoyed the first season and I can't wait to see where the second season takes us.
With that in mind, I found that this movie did a great job with character interactions; most were fun and entertaining. I love this cast, and seeing them further joke around and talk is something I'll always find enjoyable. Hestia especially has really great screen presence. Jokes hit most of the time and I found myself smiling during the groups' antics. But as I've said, there isn't any room for any real development for characters in a film like this.
You'll be hard pressed to find a movie that doesn't have improved visuals over its TV counterpart, and this was no different. The animation for multiple action scenes was stellar. Danmachi also has a very appealing art style. The design for the movie-only character, Artemis, was as great as the regular casts'. The group also got some nice movie outfits which were a nice touch. The only real downside was the mediocre CGI that was used for the monsters in the film. Unfortunately, this has become an industry norm that I've more or less have gotten used to. Regardless, Danmachi has always had solid visuals in both animation and art, and that continues in this film.
I think one thing this franchise doesn't get enough praise for is its sound design. The sound design for this was outstanding. Some standout sounds came from the final fight, as well as during special powerful attacks. But even more common sounds, like when someone defeats a monster, sounds terrific. The sound is strong and very bass heavy, but some others sound alien and weird; I just love it. The soundtrack was also good. If you're familiar with the TV series' OST, the movie's soundtrack sounds very similar. I think the franchise as a whole has had above average music, especially during fight scenes with the violin segments.
While this movie doesn't break any new ground and plays it pretty safe with its simple story, I still enjoyed myself. If you're not a fan of the franchise, or you dislike non-canon movies, then I'm not sure why you're here. But if you're a fan of this franchise and just want to see more of Bell, Hestia, and the whole gang, then grab your adventuring gear, because this film is worth your time.
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May 15, 2019
12 of 12 episodes seen
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15
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
6 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
Director Tatsuki has been on a turbulent journey these past few years. He became a household name after the unparalleled success of Kemono Friends in 2017. Kemono Friends was a no name franchise from a failed mobile game and manga until the airing of the anime, which turned it into the industry giant it is today. That was largely thanks in part to the talent of Director Tatsuki. The man is a master of mystique and a world building wonder. He incorporates adorable characters into dark and sometimes even twisted stories, but in a meaningful and endearing way.
After the success of Kemono Friends, we
all thought the sky was the limit. But thanks to corporate greed, Tatsuki was kicked to the curb when they thought his usefulness had ended. Following this incident was a massive social media outcry from not only Japan, but around the world. Despite the hardship,Tatsuki and Studio Yaoyorozu picked themselves back up and went to work to tell another compelling story. This time, with an entire fandom in tow.
Kemurikusa is a brand new series by Tatsuki and animated by Studio Yaoyorozu. It's set in a dystopian world following the sisters Rin, Ritsu, and Rina. I have to preemptively say, there are a large amount of similarities to the first season of Kemono Friends. Obviously because they both share the same director, but it's something worth pointing out. This time around the story is much darker and bleaker than Kemono Friends. The characters are constantly trying to survive as they attempt to find water and fight off Red Bugs. They come upon a mysterious person named Wakaba, who may very well help them find the paradise they've longed for.
The characters are the first thing I want to touch on. I found this cast of characters delightful and a joy to see them interact with one another. Tatsuki is incredibly good at making adorable, likable characters. They contrast very well with the dark, mysterious, and dystopian backdrop. And again, like Kemono Friends, the characters have a synergistic relationship with one another. The sisters have special powers and are able to fight the Red Bugs, while Wakaba is both intelligent and is able to think outside the box thanks in part to his insatiable curiosity. This relationship works so well because it allows everyone to be useful, and no one is left to irrelevancy. Rin is serious is always on the lookout for the enemy, Ristu is motherly and kind, Rina is goofy, innocent, and childlike, and finally Wakaba is easy going, sometimes air-headed, and easily frightened. It's a nice mix of personalities that you are quickly charmed by. Seeing these cute, endearing characters struggle in this twisted world only made you cheer for them more.
Continuing on the story itself, it's a story of survival and trying to find a better life with the ones you love. The plot strings you along the entire time as there are numerous mysterious elements that keep you hooked. This is another aspect Tatsuki is very good at; his stories never lack mystique. How did the world get this way? Where did everyone go? What's the story behind the mysterious, yet powerful Kemurikusa leaves? Because of the survival element, tension was consistently present. The characters' lives were constantly in danger as they walked into the unknown; be it from fighting off Red Bugs or running out of water.
I did however, find myself bored a handful of times. At least one or two times an episode it's nothing but showing the characters walking and getting around difficult terrain. While it is interesting to see the world unfold in front of us, I just couldn't shake my feeling of boredom at times.
There are a number of things that I don't feel as though they were explained well enough, which left me feeling a little disappointed. However, the entire story is contained in the 12 episodes. Which to me, is a breath of fresh air. There always seems to be room for a sequel nowadays, but this resolves the entire story from beginning to end which gives you a feeling of fulfillment and completeness.
Visually, this was a big step up from Kemono Friends. Studio Yaoyorozu now has more experience, and it shows, but this may have also got more funding behind it as well. While it still retains the simple looking animation, the character designs are attractive and the animation is much smoother and more intricate. However, the animation still looks rough at times and at best it's only middle of the road, at least for industry standards. I think what helps set it apart is the art style, which is cute and round. It's basically becoming iconic at this point.
As for backgrounds, it was filled with crumbling buildings and structures, empty cars filling some streets while others are completely barren. You'll see a variety of structures like an amusement park, a residential district, an industrial district and more. What happened to what appears to be this once great society? Tatsuki uses this to his advantage as a "show, don't tell" technique that he did so well in Kemono Friends.
The music wasn't anything to write home about. It served it's purpose as I don't have anything particularly positive or negative to say about it. And from what I can tell of the voice acting, it was great. Everyone had a distinct and innocent sound to them that I just loved.
It's been a long road for Tatsuki since the end of Kemono Friends. But I can happily say he has another winner on his hands. At the time of this review, volume 1 of Kemurikusa has sold 15,000 units. Kemurikusa is an interesting world with a great cast of characters. The story leaves you with a sense of satisfaction and is an overall enjoyable experience. While it does lag behind in couple of key aspects, Kemurikusa is still a memorable show that I found myself loving by the time episode 12 rolled around.
After the way he was treated, it's terrific to see a director like Tatsuki land back on his feet with Kemurikusa. His blending of cute and dark along with a twist of mystery, Tatsuki has found a successful formula that works, and I can't wait to see what he has in store for the future.
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May 4, 2019
12 of 12 episodes seen
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2
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
I think in this day and age most are too quick to judge something because of its outward appearance. Often when the average fan comes upon a show where ecchi is front and center, most shrug it off as nothing more than a titsfest with nothing of value. But look at a classic like Tenchi Muyo, or the modern day classic Highschool DxD. While both are ecchi and contain harems often fighting for a single guy's attention, both have a lot more to offer with their unique plots and set-ups. Sekirei is no different.
The story itself was somewhat unique for its time, 108 Sekirei's are
loosed into the city of Tokyo to find their Ashikabi so they may compete in the Sekirei Plan, where Sekirei fight Sekirei to become the last one standing. Sekirei are lifeforms that are like humans, but are given special powers like the ability to control water or lighting, extreme strength, or masterful skills with a sword. Ashikabi are their masters who can help give them power in a fight against another Sekirei.
This free for all battle style has become increasing popular since the airing of Sekirei, especially with the popularity spike in the Fate series. This kind of set up allows for serious stakes and suspense. As the Sekirei Plan progresses throughout the story, the walls begin to close in around the characters forcing more and more frequent combat. This tension really makes it compelling to watch. But at the center of the action, there is a very human story about relationships and loving ones close to you.
Minato is the main character, who is pretty bland in all honesty. If it weren't for Joel McDonald's unique voice and great performance, he would be even more forgettable. This is rather unfortunate, as the series I mentioned in the first paragraph both have fairly memorable protagonists. Where the characters really shine in this series are the girls themselves. Musubi, Tsukiumi, Matsu, and little Kusano are where you'll find the majority of entertainment and comedy. Their designs are extremely attractive and personalities distinct albeit a bit cliche at times. Tsukiumi is the clear standout, with Lydia MacKay offering an outstanding performance using Shakespearean English in the place of the classic Japanese Tsukiumi uses in the Japanese version. Despite their massive differences, these four begin to develop a sisterhood that is fun to watch grow throughout the season. On the other side of the aisle with the villains, Minaka is a fun and often hilarious foil to our heroes. He is the Game Master, and wants nothing more than the Sekirei Plan to come to fruition. This makes the peril of the main cast nothing more than entertainment for him, which makes him deliciously fun.
I loved the idea of Sekirei finding their Ashikabi. The author used the Red String of Fate trope to connect Sekirei and their Ashikabi. They are destined to find one another. But, the whole concept of Sekirei also helps legitimizes the harem itself. What I mean by that is Sekirei are completely ok with their Ashikabi having more than one Sekirei. Usually harems get messy and fall into the tired cliches of fighting over the guy and in the end only one girl gets him. This is a genuine breath of fresh air to those of us who love the harem genre. I think it's also one of the key hooks Sekirei has over other harem series.
For sound, the music is passable with a number of upbeat piano pieces, but the real draw is the outstanding English dub. Alexis Tipton, Lydia MacKay, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Monica Rial, Chuck Huber, and Joel McDonald all have terrific performances. Huber's wackiness and MacKay's gorgeous voice are the clear standouts.
Visually, Sekirei has this distinct art style that I find really attractive. You really can't find it anywhere else, and you can almost immediately recognize almost any frame and know that it's Sekirei. Going back to what I said about the character designs earlier, they are really stellar for the Sekirei themselves. Each one is unique and attractive. the Ashikabi on the other hand are pretty bland, but I honestly believe it's intentional to help separate regular humans and Sekirei. The quality of ecchi was also really top notch for this one. The hi-jinks were fun and sexy, keeping you glued to the screen.
The animation isn't too bad either, there are a few action scenes that have much improved movement while the ecchi scenes have plenty of jiggle. Other than that, most scenes are pretty basic for its time. The action itself was intense and had some great choreography for certain fights. I don't think I can think of one fight that disappoints.
The enjoyment I got out of this series initially was 10 because back when I first saw it, I was just getting into anime outside of Naruto and Dragonball Z. Back then, the action mixed with perversion blew my mind. I happened to re-watch it recently for old times sake, which is what prompted this review, and I can safely say I still enjoy it to this day.
Sekirei is a story of love. A story of fighting for what you love. And while some of it may tread familiar ground, it throws in enough unique elements and legitimacy for an actual harem to make it a real stand out in the genre. Sekirei will always hold a special place in my heart as it helped guide me into the wonderful world of anime. And thanks to its excellent designs, unique story, and lovable characters, I'm sure Sekirei will hold a special place in the heart anime community as well.
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Apr 1, 2019
12 of 12 episodes seen
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93
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
5 |
| Story |
3 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
4 |
Kemono Friends was a series that should've been dead on arrival. The game that it was based off of was cancelled before the original anime aired, it was being handled by an inexperienced studio, and had incredibly poor animation. However, it turned out to be anime's biggest underdog instead. Kemono Friends was so popular that it sold over 120,000 copies of its first two volumes. A number almost unheard of in the anime community, save for industry giants like Madoka, Monogatari, and Love Live. Live concerts, collaborations with Zoos, special events, and of course an ocean of fan projects flooded the nation of Japan.
But
how did something so minuscule make such a historic splash? The original Kemono Friends was extraordinarily well written, had phenomenal atmosphere, was a master of mystery, eye-catching and charming character designs to spare, and oozed creativity and fun. This was thanks to a dedicated, hard-working team and a director with a vision. The director Tatsuki was a visionary who took what most would've laughed off as a dead brand into a wonderful story with so many important lessons to be learned. The impact of his work is amplified when you watch the uninspired empty shell that is Kemono Friends 2.
Kemono Friends 2 tried to be everything its predecessor was, and failed at every single aspect. Nearly every single facet of this almost "soft-reboot" was copy and pasted from the original season. When season 2 was announced, the community was thrilled. However, there was a misstep on the stairway to glory. Kadokawa decided to part ways with Director Tatsuki, wanting to go into a new direction. In short, they wanted to maximize as much money as possible from their new cash cow. Obviously this didn't sit well with the community, but the new season was being produced anyway with a new team and director.
As I said, this failed on nearly every aspect, except for the animation. Now that Kadokawa is putting money behind it, Kemono Friends has never looked better. The charatcer models are more detailed and are even more appealing to look at. It's animation actually looks good and the visuals are just head and shoulders above the first seasons. This is one of the few positive aspects of the show.
The story itself, almost beat for beat, copies the original season. We meet a human with a hat who appears seemingly out of nowhere who's trying to find their way home. Kyururu is basically a Kaban clone, but without the charm or development. Of course they meet new Friends on the way, but the meetings aren't meaningful or impactful. I won't reveal any more for the sake of spoilers, but if you've seen the first season you'll know what I'm talking about. It happens so often it becomes off-putting.
The characters of course have always been a strong aspect of the franchise. The Friends are cute, charming, and so much fun to watch. This season added a number of charming characters like Giant Panda, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Seal, Saltwater Crocodile, Bat-Eared Fox, Gorilla, Domestic Dog, and more. However, their character arcs are incredibly weak compared to the previous season's. Usually when a Friend had a problem, Kaban would utilize what makes the Friend unique to help solve their issue. This would leave them with a sense of self-worth and in a much better place. That was not the case here. They tried to emulate that, but it wasn't impactful.
Now, we have to talk about the elephant in the room when it comes to characters. Kyururu, Serval, and Caracal. This is possibly Kemono Friend's biggest flaw. The relationship between Kaban and Serval was phenomenal. They both played off of each other's weaknesses and it created this wonderfully charming synergistic relationship. And by the end of the season, it was clear that they had both influenced each other in positive ways. This was a highlight of the original season. This time around is just a disappointment. While Kyururu is nothing but a simpler, less developed Kaban, Caracal also joins the fray for some reason. She takes on a lot of Kaban's role as someone who is level-headed and thinks before they act, which counters Serval's often instinctively silly, spontaneous, and impulsive nature. But that inclusion really makes Kyururu a bland character with no real stand out traits.The biggest crime of all was splitting up Kaban and Serval. The writers tried to bridge the obvious gap between the two series, but the writing came off as shoddy and disappointing.
The music carries right over from the first season. Can't say I can't blame them for reusing it, it was a great soundtrack with numerous memorable tracks ranging from whimsical to mysterious. Not much else to say about that.
Another big let down was the refocus the show had. The new director claimed he wanted this to appeal more to young children, and decided to tone down much of the mysterious and often ominous hints the previous season was so well known for. This stuck out like a sore thumb, and took away what made Kemono Friends such a unique property. A marriage of both child-like whimsical fun with an ominous and brooding backdrop that kept the viewer hooked.
Kemono Friends is a franchise that no one expected anything out of. It overcame everything in its path and has become an icon in its own right. Season 2, attempted to ride the coattails of its predecessors success but unsurprisingly fell short. The ending left us with more questions than answers, and just ended up leaving us with an empty feeling of "What could have been?". The lessons we learned and the relationships built are but distant memories in this show that feels somewhat familiar, but just isn't the one we knew and loved. Ultimately, it feels like a cheap imitation.
The world and its characters are charming, cute, whimsical, fun, and incredibly memorable. As a fan who loves the series to death, I can't bring myself to give this a negative score. There were upsides to the sequel with improved visuals and great additions to the cast. But in the end the fans deserved better, Tatsuki and Studio Yaoyorozu deserved better, and God knows Kemono Friends deserved better.
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Jan 6, 2013
13 of 13 episodes seen
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15
people found this review helpful
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| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Character |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
IGPX 2 is everything the first season was and more. Thanks to the return of Toonami, I finally decided to sit down and watch IGPX. With high-speed action that kept you on the edge of your seat, this is a series action fans crave for. This season improved on everything the first needed. From the fun and action packed story, to the beautiful art and 3D animation (for its time), to the great soundtrack, IGPX 2 is a high-speed thrill ride worth watching.
Story:
The story of IGPX season 2 is right where season 1 left off. With the team back ready and hungry for more, they
race towards the championship. This season finally expands from just having more of Takashi being the main focus, to the whole team having problems they need to overcome. I would say this is one of the highlights of this season. Each team member had problems and changes of thier own as the went through the season. It was also paced quite nicely. With each episode the tension grew more and more. Each character had their own way of dealing with the fame that came with being in the IG1, especially Takashi. The team also learned to rely on one another, learning that the IGPX is a team sport. Which turned out to be one of the lessons this taught us.
The story was completely action packed, along with some comedy, well made drama, and dashes of romance. The romance continued to grow as the season went forward, but in a good way so it didn't take over what IGPX was really about, action filled, fast paced mecha racing. It really felt like a sports series this season. The story even expanded to showing that the other teams faced problems as well, which was a really nice touch making it feel how competitive the sport really was. A new team taking the place of Black Egg has joined the fray. Team White Snow is a mysterious dark horse that could just as easily take the crown that had been given to Takashi and the gang.
Art and Animation:
For 2006, the art was beautiful. The back drop of the futuristic city was nice and really cool to see throughout. The characters' designs seemed pretty unique for each one, some more than others. Their animation also seemed to flow very nicely. However, some parts looked to be a bit lazy and not as well done, but it didn't happen too often. But often enough for me to notice.
The 3D animation was a huge part of the series. For 2006, it was pretty good. It also seemed to flow quite well. At times though, it was choppy and sort of awkward, but at a tolerable level. I however, enjoyed it.
Sound:
The sound for IGPX was split between hip-hop beats and orchestral music. Some might think it would be a bit weird to have both in one series. But Production I.G. did a very nice job. The hip hop beats were between deep and strong, something to bob your head to a little bit, or fast paced and upbeat. A lot of the tracks done were by Amon Tobin, who did a great job, like "Easy Muffin" and "Verbal". They fit beautifully with the situations throughout the series, they also added this little "cool" feeling to the series. These usually happened during the racers' down time between races.
The orchestral music came in during the races themselves. The feel reminded me of the Transformers soundtrack, which is actually quite fitting. It was epic and dramatic, but not overbearingly. It was just enough to get your heart racing a bit faster. The soundtrack was another highlight of the series that I think was done masterfully.
Character:
One of the most essential parts to any series, are the characters. Much more developed and well rounded this season, I really liked the characters. Coming from all walks of life, each brought something to the table to make it interesting. Each had a background and problems of thier own that had been addressed in either season. This time, it was a lot more focused on all of the pilots, even thier coach. With thier pasts, physical and mental issues, and present obstacles to overcome, the team had to show perseverance and determination to try and win the title. Also learning along the way that teamwork and friendship is something very valuable. The characters are really what made this series interesting and enjoyable to watch.
Overall, IGPX 2 was an intense and fun season and an improvement on everything season 1 needed improving on. Beautifully put together,the competition was more fierce and as competitive as ever. I enjoyed it from start to finish, always eager to watch the next episode as soon as "To be continued" flew onto the screen.
Teaching us that teamwork and friendship is a key to winning, not only on the track, but in life as well, IGPX 2 is truly a "champion" of a series.
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