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Sep 18, 2017
Let's start with this first - either Ping Pong gets too much praise is what some say, while on the other hand it gets too much hate. I'm here to give it a tinyy more leeway than either along with yes, this show is not perfect. However, it's still a fairly groundbreaking show and genuinely something in itself. Also, keep in mind that I prefer at -least- one or a few girls in the main cast, but that really is not this show. Do you see what I mean for one?
Gosh... the first few episodes for this show just made me think ahah, well this
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show is pretty unique, but not anything super special. BUT NO it's so much more than that if you're someone who can see the hidden depths of a character. The story is also interesting enough since... is this about Ping Pong solely? Hm it might not be but do not misunderstand! It's about the characters AND ping pong versus solely the latter itself. Do you know those shows where it goes so deep into a character's backstory and it's either meaningless in the end or they never show up again? This series does neither and gives instead but depth and realism. For example to simply believe a character would do something -against- their will is a fairly absurd notion! There is not meaningless drama, there is reason, and past yet Ping Pong does not drag these things on endlessly.
Ah yes, the art - one of the biggest gripes most people have. Oh believe me! When I first watched the show I didn't like it, either! After I finished the show I purposely went back to rewatch the first episodes and examined the art carefully. I realized that it wasn't the art style that was so unappealing it was actually because I was saturated with SO many anime styles where they were so much less realistic. This show is NOT afraid to show you the elderly versus a supposed old parent with literally -three or four- wrinkles on their face. It isn't afraid to show you that people have different looks versus every attractive or unattractive person looks the same in their group. For example, stylized eyes solely for looks, all the same mouths, same slender body structures, very simplified noses... we don't have those here. If I have any art grips with this series it's one sequence in the animated opening (that I still find pretty strange) and the awkwardly put in original opening. But trust me the actual, true opening of this show? For the most part it's quite wonderful in matching the great OP song along with being an artist's dream, animation artist or not. Also give the actual opening some slack because one of the people involved? His motto is basically to always go off model because that's actually his style. The show itself though you won't find those inconsistencies if anything it's consistent.
The sound and music? This, this is where I would say the show has its falling out. I found very few tracks with this show memorable and I actually stumbled across the ost! Yeah, no, no kidding here I have standards and... I'm not into mindless edm for example. Electronic? Good. Dance? Good. Edm? Edm is rarely good and if you think so you're talking about wayy too over saturated and try hard music this is just cruel honesty. I tried pretty hard to listen to Ping Pong's ost and... that's... what some of the tracks reminded me of. But that isn't the only problem! The tracks also don't do a good job of conveying some scenes! And that's where one of the bigger issues is is what it seems like to me. You can dislike a series but still adore the music and that really is not what happened with me. I find the music quite average so it's somewhat of a shame, really.
It's obvious when the show does it, but wow. Characterization you say... also, you see... boy, girl, trans, bigender, doesn't matter if the character's a jerk and -especially- with no redeeming qualities I -already- won't like them. What's the point in being such a jerk you're not the king of the world deal. Hell, why -would- you want to be a jerk IF you're king of the world? However hear me out - when you start to see that there's more to a said jerk and there's actually -reason- for someone you thought was a jerk to lash out... it can change everything. Bear in mind! This character I'm talking about I don't even like that much! But it goes to show that there's an actual realism with characterization here, at least with the main cast. If anything I don't even the like main characters of this show that much, but ??? They're still endearing even though they'd be nowhere near my character favorites. Peco isn't a complete hero, but I find that was sort of the point and why a big layer of friction happened in this story in the first place. He's not an almighty hero, he's not a saint, but who is in reality? Who do you know is a true hero who would never do something bad if they could get away with it? If you know someone like this you're possibly just very lucky. What makes Peco special is his uniqueness in general, not just for a "sports anime." Smile? The way Smile was portrayed in Ping Pong is something that needs to be more often. Yes he's very gloomy but regarding some of his circumstances I can understand somewhat, why he's the way he is. It's in the -way- he was portrayed that gives him an edge with being more unique. There is -one- character who I... still don't really like, but he too, gets his development. Did he deserve what happened to him in his backstory though? Hell no that situation was awful. None of these characters would be my favorites but gosh was it good watching them try their very best.
It's obvious to see how much I like this show, but wait! I have more than one issue with it! However those are spoilers and instead, I tell you to not have expectations with this show like when I started it. Heck to make you feel better too I've rewatched this show a total of twice or thrice and what did I do? Have expectations, and what happened? I still enjoyed the ride each time and I do not regret it. If anything... you should be prepared for the ending because that's one of my issues with Ping Pong. The ending was pretty sudden and short to boot, even -if- it's a little longer than the manga. So yes while I thought the ending itself could've been stronger I STILL recommend watching this show. For Spring 2014's season, Mushishi, completely different genres is also good to the point where... it'd be unfair to compare these two anime. While I -do- like Ping Pong more as a show, Mushishi would be an experience in itself! But for the season Ping Pong was and IS still definitely a head of its time. If you go in with some judgment like I did that's fine. Just do not unfairly judge a show simply because the art isn't huge eyes with tiny mouths and necks so thin they can't support a head. You'd be kinda missing the point there, bud. I do hope this sheds more light on this series and I hope with or without me it'll lessen the unfair hate its gotten. Thanks a bunch for reading!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 23, 2013
I really, really do hope that the anime adaptation isn't messed up for this manga... so far, I have a bad feeling about it... anyway. A big and enthusiastic yes to Noragami. Believe me, I sure am glad that I stumbled across such a gem. It's not an overused or typical story, and it's very interesting. How so?
Story: 8
As said, this manga isn't a typical one. It's the type that keeps you wanting more and more. It presents some small feelings of mystery, and a bit of dread. Kind of like hidden dark parts to the plot. The first chapter was a disappointment to me.
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With how it was going, I didn't think I'd like Noragami. It was disjointed. However, once you past the first chapter, it feels different. There's a possibility that it was originally a one-shot chapter. Again, as MAL's guidelines say, for summaries, take a look at the synopsis. Continuing on.
Art: 9
The artwork is pretty amazing. It reminds me a bit of Bakuman's later chapters. Not the style, but the quality. Lines are done well, characters are expressive, eyes are drawn well, too. The hairstyles and the way they're drawn are also good. The biggest points are the lines and eyes. Unfortunately, there's fanservice in this. The character opposing our leading male character, Yato, is the sort of alluring (?) female character (I have mixed feelings about her, but moving on). According to MAL, her name's "Bishamon." According to the manga translation I've read, it's K-something; a long European name. Apparently, she has some sort of sickness, where she has to take herbal baths. I feel like this is an attempt to pull in male readers, considering how often those scenes are shown. I mean it -was- revealed that she's really sick, but I still feel that there were too many scenes with that whole shenanigan. It's not to the point where you'd drop Noragami, but it is pretty unneeded since the point was made. All in all, the art's fairly gorgeous, despite flaws. It's not perfect with its style, but still really good anyway.
Characters: 9
I really adore most of the characters. The ones I don't particularly like too much don't frustrate you, and aren't characters who seem to have no role.
Our heroine, Hiyori, isn't your typical female character. She isn't a Mary Sue. She wanders based on what she herself wants to do and takes action of her own violation, and has a sense of justice. She's kind and caring, yet when angered, Yato and Yukine are subject to her violence. Basically the typical pretty girl, but she has a strong will and is independent. She's adorable and on the shy and innocent side, but she'll take more than enough action whenever she can.
Yato is a great main character. He's very goofy, but he has the typical tragic past. Even when alone, he's still goofy; he doesn't do that thing some characters do. As in acting easygoing with others, then all angsty when alone. He's a capable fighter, but he is nowhere near overpowered. He's seen as the underdog by most of the cast, but he'll keep trying, even with his self-doubt. You see, he's struggling to get by, but he doesn't give up. A very non-typical type of character, and he isn't of typical high school age, either.
Our third leading character, Yukine, I have a lot of issues with. However, there are reasons to why he was the way he is, even if he took very unreasonable actions and had a really selfish personality. He's pretty much a child in terms of age. More correctly would be a fairly young teen. He has progressed so far, and I am proud of his improvement.
Enjoyment: 10
Past the first chapter, it was all a great ride reading this ongoing and wonderful manga. Around the first half of twelve chapters, Noragami gained a place in my heart as one of my favorite manga (that's not exactly an easy feat). I'd recommend this to any manga enthusiast who wants some originality, good art and characters.
Overall: 9
This manga is something you have to give a try to around twelve chapters. The series steadily grew in my heart. The story's not something you've seen a lot, the art's great, and so are the characters. I'm anticipating the thirteenth chapter, and I hope the anime aids it by gaining more recognition. Thank you for reading!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 23, 2013
You have -got- to be kidding me. That's something that both you, the reader of this review, and myself would say. Why would someone give Arcana Famiglia an eight? Instead of clicking on not helpful JUST because I scored it as such, I ask that you try reading this review first. Anyway, let me tell you why I'd say that first line. I hateee most reverse harem anime; I usually dislike any anime too heavy on harem or reverse harem traits. I was curious about Arcana's score after finishing it. I was surprised at how low the score was. Do you know what's very interesting,
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though? I noticed one of the first reviews was hating on it back before I tried it out. You see, my friend said it wasn't too overdone with the whole reverse harem factor. Anyway, I checked again way way after, and there's a clear pattern to me. A hater starts out by hating it, and then others follow. I'm not saying everyone did that, because not everyone did, but I see a sort of pattern here. Go with the majority? I'm sorry, that's childish and stupid. It's like a bunch of bullies making everyone else join in.
Story: 8
Arcana Famiglia's story is interesting. Yes, for those of you who know of the ending, it was lacking, but it's not like it was bad. The fillers and off-trackness of this anime wasn't the best, but it's not like it wasn't entertaining. I liked how it was both serious and not serious. Remember that this is aimed at GIRLS, and that it's originally an OTOME GAME. If there's lack of action, how can we place any blame? So the ending left some desire for more, but I wouldn't say it ruined the rest of the show. Like MAL's guidelines say. If you need a summary, there's the synopsis up there. Anyway.
Art: 7
The art wasn't the best for me, but still pretty good. The animation quality was on the high side, but from what I've seen, the art style fell short of the official art for the game. Of course, this is an adaptation, so we can't really compare the anime to a game much. Again, art style's not the best, but it's still good. Effects are utilized nicely, and the shading was good.
Sound: 8
I didn't like the opening (a certain someone's singing is a bit off; instrumentals were good), but the ending was pretty great. Arcana's bgm is ordinary- you won't really remember it at all. The ending left a memory on me, and I remember how the opening goes. These two left a good impression overall. Otherwise, not much here.
Characters: 8
This is a tricky part, but one of the main issues besides the story. I really can't believe Felicita got so much hate. "She's too much of a good person- that's unrealistic." Wait, what? Sawako from Kimi ni Todoke? A bunchhh of female characters out there? Hello? Just because our world is filled with a lot of bad people, doesn't mean a goody-goody personality isn't impossible. In fact, I know a lot of friends like that. Even if morally bad people outnumber them. Another issue is people having an issue with Mamiko Noto's depiction of her voice. I'll admit, I found it unfitting at first. She seems like the type to have a higher-pitched voice, albeit soft (so Kana Hanazawa, then?). However, I got used to this after an episode or two. The voice becomes her, it ends up becoming a part of who Felitcita is. Another topic is how she's not the most emotionally active. Well, let's see. SHE HAS AMNESIA, REMEMBER? Why is it that Tachibana Kanade from Angel Beats! gets praise, and Felicita gets hate? I'd say both characters have their pros and cons. Moving on.
The rest of the cast in Arcana Famiglia are fairly strong. The weakness of some series is having too many characters. This also applies to the show, but there's something very notable about this one. With my knowledge, most reverse harems have multiple guys all liking the heroine in some way or another. Yet with this, you have mostly Liberta and Nova having a rivalry over her. Indeed, the other male characters show some interest in her, but it's NOT overdone. It's much more realistic when compared to others of the same genre. Felicita isn't fawned over by a bunch of guys like crazy. Another strong point is how each and every character is notable in their own way. You don't have a bland character, or the one that's mistaken for someone else. How this is executed is commendable.
Enjoyment: 8
I was shocked that I actually liked this anime. This was after a few episodes. It managed to pull me in, and I'd have that "Come out sooner," thought for it. I know it seems ordinary from my scoring, but it really isn't. I'd recommend Arcana Famiglia to anyone who is able to understand that people like Felicita really aren't that unrealistic. That there's more to this series than meets the eye. Not amazing, no, but good and notable. I really wish more people on MAL were able to see its potential.
Overall: 8
A recap of sorts. Not the most amazing plot, but still good. Somewhat rushed at the end, but a otome game-anime transition has to do with that (anime requires a huge budget, you know; it also doesn't give much profit unless really popular among fans). Art's notable, even if it's not extraordinary. Opening and ending shouldn't disappoint you with those instrumentals. Overall BGM's sup-par, though. As for characters, you'd have to skim back up. I enjoyed this anime, and wish people would reconsider it a lot more. It really isn't as bad as some make it out to be. Don't be so harsh on something when it's not horrible, y'know? Constructive criticism and considerate arguments are welcome. Have a nice day~
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 15, 2013
Before we begin, let me ask you this. How many shoujo manga have you read where the heroine is terribly clumsy, isn't smart, doesn't have friends, and the dark-haired boy is the one she falls for in the end, the boy is the most handsome and/or popular, a girl or girls plays dirty against the heroine, coincidental encounters, etcetera? Oh, don't forget the (ugh) "I'll protect you," saying. Those are only some of the overused and cringe worthy, shoujo manga cliches. Well, this manga is -none- of those things. In fact, it has a good story, the art's unique and above average, the characters are
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great, and it's funny to boot. To top it off, it's really cute in a heartwarming way. No shallow, forced tricks to be found here.
Story: 9
Hana-kun to Koisuru Watashi is a breath of fresh air of sorts. How so, you ask? At first, you see the boy introduced as a "delinquent." Yes, I know that's been used a lot, but hear me out. So the titular Hana is misunderstood, however. He isn't just the typical tough guy with a rarely shown soft side, he's a bit on the quiet side and because of the way others perceive him, he's mistaken to be an unreasonable troublemaker. Nanase, the heroine, didn't exactly see him in a good light. She was a bit wary of him, but, over time and after just a few initial misunderstandings (which are resolved pretty quickly), she learns that he's kind, a good person, and that he's caring. However, she learns that he likes someone, and here's another cliche avoided. The person in question isn't the popular or pretty girl. If I went past here it, there would be spoilers, and you don't really need a story summary or synopsis for reviews. At first, I didn't like this manga that much. Yet after re-reading 1-2 times, I understood things and they all added up into a great manga. Once certain things happen, it was the start of this series gradually moving up to my heart. It literally knocked out all my other favorites. There's something going on when it knocks down my favorite seinen series of several years, and that I keep re-reading over and over when it's still ongoing.
I had to re-read Hana-kun to Koisuru Watashi multiple times -just- to find most of the "shoujo cliches" that actually are used. I must say, such cliches are quite scarce with this one. An example would be the girl has no umbrella scenario. Yes, they share an umbrella, but there is absolutely no romance on Hana's part, and Nanase doesn't start blushing like crazy. They spend a normal afterschool time as friends at a ramen place Hana frequents. Very slice of life like and normal, but still sweet in a moderate way. Another factor to mention is that "appearances" are barely brought up, like the other hundreds of shoujo manga out there.
Art: 8
I didn't really notice the art at first, but that's how I'm usually like starting most manga. I don't pay a lot of attention to how good or bad art is unless it's particularly either of the two. For this manga, it's all right at first. I didn't notice that it's not exactly the best with the starting chapters, but the art -does- notably change. The beginning art is still decent enough to keep going, so even if it doesn't impress you at first, remember that it notably improves! I purposely compared the current and starting art, and you can visually see differences. Overall, I like and enjoy the art, even if it's not the best, it's still enjoyable. Nanase's eyes aren't drawn too huge (even if they're on the big side anyway; that's a shoujo manga element), and the art style isn't the kind that's overused to death. The style's really one of a kind. I've actually tried out half a thousand or so shoujo manga that aren't even listed in my manga list, and let me tell you something. There are times where different mangaka from different time periods "somehow" end up with art styles that are much too similar. Heck, more than usual, it looks downright bad and displeasing, even with some new shoujo manga. You won't have to worry about that with this. There are a few minor inconsistencies if you look carefully, but it doesn't affect your reading. Oh, and I shouldn't forget to mention that even from the beginning, character facial expressions are hilarious during funny moments. During such times, the way faces are drawn are very expressive and comical. I enjoy how well that's done. The art style used in Hana-kun to Koisuru Watashi is the opposite of boring with this added factor. It makes the manga real funny and something to like.
Characters: 9
Ah, yes, our two main characters are really what make this series so great. You have Sakashita Nanase, who isn't your typical airhead and isn't treated like a loser like so many other shoujo manga. She's diligent, doesn't blush super duper easily, she's pretty, cute, kind, and a bit on the innocent side. Nanase's caring and considerate, but isn't afraid to call herself out whenever she thinks she's being selfish or acting out of place. She's also the class representative, and she's smart. One thing I like a lot about her is that she isn't the typical girl who blushes constantly EVERY time she's around the boy she likes, or avoids him (which causes typical "problems" in other shoujo manga). She casually talks to Hana in the cafeteria when they pass by each other, all the while keeping the fact that she likes him in the back her head. She's not overly shy, and she's a genuinely good-natured girl, who has flaws she sets to improve upon over time. Of course, we can't forget Daikou Hana. From a misleading appearance and attitude that he gives off to others, he's literally seen as bad-natured to nearly everyone else. Nanase thought badly of him, too. Through her, we find out that that he picks fights with people for understandable reason (even if he thinks of violence a bit too quickly to solve situations, he doesn't get into fights often). When he starts falling for Nanase, we begin to see his reservedness, shyness, and kindness. Also how he's careful around her, and just how much he treasures her after a certain point. He's not your typical pretty boy, nor is he the typical popular cliche boy. He's adorable in both actions and appearance, and he's a caring person. Hana also has a slight shy side, and he's a sweet guy. Oh, and of course! The side characters are memorable, and they're interesting.
These two do very cute things. Innocent, sickeningly cute things, but in a good and heartwarming way of sorts. It kind of pierces you through the heart with fluffiness. Examples would be (watch out for semi-spoilers here!) when the two become a couple, and Hana steals a quick kiss from Nanase, and he flees (it's an actual "sound effect" from the manga). Nanase is standing there, and he does a side kiss from behind, fleeing, and it becomes a comical moment. There's a part where she mentions that they make faces at each other when they have nothing to say, Hana's kind look at her when they're together, a ton of things. I'm quite surprised that I haven't died reading this shoujo manga. It's too sweet for anyone's heart.
Enjoyment: 10
If you haven't noticed already, I very much enjoy this series. It utilizes very few cliches, the main two are great characters, the story isn't overused, and implements its own ideas. Don't forget that it'll also make you laugh. In all honesty, I feel like everyone should give this a try. It's very sweet and adorable. Re-reading this so many gosh darn times is a good thing. Every time I do so, I am never disappointed. I will warn you, though. It probably or might seem like nothing too special at first, but once you've gotten past a certain point, and whether you re-read it or not, you will enjoy it as well. I seriously hope that this underrated manga gets noticed someday, as it is well-received by fans from the manga site I use, but not elsewhere. I daresay that it's a rare gem hidden in the rough. I really do hope that you'll enjoy it, too!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 25, 2013
A seinen with a gripping story that's also different from others. What more could I ever ask for, right?
Spoilers ahead!
Dogs: Bullets & Carnage, a manga where the story seems so very simple. ...in actuality, when you get far enough, it can confuse you. That's how complex it can get and it's not loopholes or anything of that sort. It's the kind of story that confuses you and makes sense when things are revealed later. At first it's pretty linear, and then what's this? Plot twists? A lot of them? Secrets being revealed? Oh what are its readers to do. DBC follows Haine, a guy anyone
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with common sense wouldn't wanna cross paths with. Well, if you don't know him well enough that is. He hangs around a church of all places, and has a bad past. He wants to get to the mysterious, ominous, "underground" to finally put down the evil female scientist, Angelika, who created him. He also wants to find out more of his past, and is joined by Badou, a "mellow-like" chain smoker. Joining them are Mihai, an old man who knows his combat, and the beautiful "sword maiden" Naoto. These four are the main protagonists, and the manga follows their past and futures.
The story's great, yes. However, past halfway, it starts to slow down and drag around a bit, but immediately pick up later. Anyone who can really appreciate the different world and mood this manga has to offer wouldn't wanna miss out on it.
Ah, the art. The kind of famous yet underrated mangaka Miwa Shirow. He's done work for the notable band Supercell, after already working on Dogs. His style has evolved so much, that it's amazing to see his progress. In the beginning, Dogs seems to be on the semi-realistic side, with detailed backgrounds and shadow. Halfway through this series, everything gets smoother, there are less backgrounds (which is hard to explain aesthetically, but it's pleasing and actually gives pages flair), and the characters become more well-defined. The most recent chapters have shown even more progress. Now he has a set defining style, and there are no backgrounds. Why doesn't he draw them? Let's see, he's a mangaka drawing detailed clothing wrinkles, puts in a lot of inking, works for Supercell, AND has no assistants. All in all, its become a part of his amazing style, and I respect him for it a good deal.
The characters of DBC are great. They're colorful and complement each other. Haine is interesting in that he has a lot to him, and receives character growth. He changes throughout the manga, and improves. He's broken all over mentally and physically, with the added case of a fear of women. This is partially from Angelika who experimented on him, and accidentally killing a sister-like female friend, Lily. His terrible past makes him anti-social (honestly you can't really blame him), and added violent tendencies as he was experimented on. Heck, there's "someone else" inside of him. His fear puts him at odds with our main female protagonist Naoto, who is also on the quiet side. Beautiful, short-haired, and slender, she suffers from a bad case of amnesia. Haine, coming from the infamous underground, is followed for information. Naoto is strong physically, emotionally guarded, level-headed, and the fact that she doesn't give up hounding Haine displeased him greatly. Through time, they accept one another, are able to work together, and walk side by side.
Badou, the seemingly simple and lazy smoker. Long red hair, and an eyepatch. This guy just seems so harmless, huh? WRONG. No smokes? He's going to destroy everything on the whole block, no joke. Aside from that, a sort of nervous, and comic relief character. He's easygoing and pretty friendly, even if he can be kind of crude. An information broker with many sides to him. Does a bunch of odd jobs for cash and info. Haine's "friend."
Of course we can't forget Mihai. A quiet older man, who seems to have a tragic past, which he did indeed have, just humbly hanging around a certain cafe, drinking coffee. Right. He can fight with his fists, and can shoot well. A force to be reckoned with. Sort of wise, and a nice person. This guy is not what he seems, however. Yes, he's nice, but he can be deadly serious if he wanted to be.
Dogs: Bullets & Carnage is actually my favorite manga. How? The story's great, the art's great, and these are my favorite characters; Haine and Naoto, if you noticed that. All by an artist I respect. What else could I say? Of course I enjoy this manga.
This manga's score overall is a 9. A point docked down for the story's pacing, which is a very big deal when a manga loses your interest for a time, even if it's short. It's not quick in your face ground-breaking, but it's a slow ground-breaking. You just don't realize how good it really is until later.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Feb 25, 2013
I first watched some of Samurai Champloo as a child through the dub (I do not recommend, as in go for the subs instead). Of course it was when I was in very early middle school and that wasn't a good thing, but the good side of that is that I found it "boring." Anyway, fast-forward to around 2012, I decided to try finishing Samurai Champloo. Of course, I really did finish, and I ended up feeling empty inside. Why? I felt like I lost three good friends, and gosh... it was a melancholic feeling and I still remember it from time to time.
Story: The
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plot of this series is just amazing because it is not your typical samurai anime- it just isn't. It is an anime with an actual noticeable, yet small amount of slice of life included. There are moral questions that show up all the time. A realistic-like adventure (that also has goofiness) with three colorful friends. Our topic, Samurai Champloo, follows Fuu, a 15 year old girl who lost her mother. Yes that sounds very overused, but this isn't done shallowly at all in this show, and I kid you not. It's heartbreaking when you find out what lead to her death when you think about it. Anyway, Fuu was working at her relatives' shop, when Mugen shows up. Mugen, being one who likes fighting opponents stronger than him, instantly wanted to kill Jin, another one of our trio, when he appeared at the shop. This all happened because of an egocentric father-son duo.
Champloo is an action show, with the large element of traveling through Japan, which is based on a fictionalized and real mix of the Edo era with other elements mixed in. The most central point of the story which is the goal of Fuu our heroine, is to find the "sunflower samurai," who she doesn't where to find. Mugen and Jin, being in her debt, had to promise and accompany her, and find this samurai.
Now, keep in mind, as amazing as this anime is, it's a mature rated anime as I mentioned earlier. How so? I was 18 when I watched this, and I found the element of brothels and prostitutes, included with the fact that Mugen is a womanizer, and Jin who would accompany him to red districts difficult for me to watch at times. However, it's not anything so explicit that it takes away from the show. So if you're not one comfortable with these kinds of things or you're a preteen, maybe you shouldn't pick this up. HOWEVER, that is up to you. If anything I highly recommend to watch this show years later if you're not around 18 or so. Now if this was an anime where brothels were centuries out of use, and this sort of thing was going on, I'd be saying really different things. Anyway, onto the art we go.
Art: The art of Champloo is somewhat inconsistent. At times it'll look really smooth, other times, it'll seem like an early 90's anime quality, gritty lines, pretty low quality. It ranges from great art, to below average. However, overall the art is still quite good. The animation is well-done, fight scenes are great, and movements quick and smooth. When the animators did so, some scenes are very dramatic and suspenseful, the colors being perfect for a scene. The effects used are also done very well, and they're definitely not plain; big props to good effects that aren't overkill or boring. Regardless of a few downgrades near the first episodes, the art still passes well.
Sound: Samurai Champloo's sound is one of the most noteworthy. You only have to start this anime once and you'll find multiple very memorable tracks. This mostly refers to the bgm courtesy of Nujabes, Tsutchie, Force of Nature, and many more artists. A WIDE variety of composers and singers took part in the soundtrack, and that is no joke. MINMI, who did an excellent job on two endings, Kazami for a great English ending, Midicronica for another notable ending, and there are even Japanese folk songs that have an important part in the show. The music is amazing, and sets the mood for Champloo just so well. The songs can be moving, relaxing, or ominous. The sound for this series is leveled with its story. To add, the voice acting for this series is very spot-on. Our main cast's voices match so well with our characters, you'd think that they're the same person or something of the like. All in all, superb sound for this series.
Character: Beware of some spoilers here! Here, the character descriptions get longer and longer as the farther you get, the more I talk about character relations with one another.
The three main characters, Fuu, Mugen, and Jin.
Fuu, the petite 15 year old with a monstrous appetite, who is cheery and a hard worker when she needs to be. She can be lazy, a liar, many things and isn't exactly very womanly, but she's feminine, has a good sense of justice, and is very determined to reach her goal. In truth, she is actually very considerate. Regardless of what most characters see of her, there are many deeper sides to her, and she has had a tragic past, even if that doesn't show up all the time. An adorable, seemingly upbeat girl, who is a pretty strong female lead.
Mugen is the crude, fighting-obsessed, lazy, violent, women-chasing, in your face dishonest one of the trio. He's rough, on the mean side, and seems completely selfish. Below the surface, he has some loyalty, and does care about his friends, as much as they would doubt that. Regardless of his many negative and infamous traits, he develops friendship with the other two. He grows attached to them, and cares for them, something he would never admit. There's a good amount of character growth that he went through in the series. Like Fuu, he also had a tragic past, leading to how he is who he is today. Mugen does not get along with Fuu, who he calls flat-chested, fat, and other things. Fuu finds him lazy, crude, and untrustworthy. Through time, they learn to worry about one another, and share a bond.
Jin is the silent, seemingly typical "good-looking" glasses one. He's very quiet and reserved. A very skilled samurai on Mugen's level, but they're complete opposites personality-wise. Jin has a sense of morals, and fights because he learned, and does it through prediction and sheer speed. Mugen would fight him with impulsive moves, kicks, and even some break-dancing. Jin and Mugen do NOT get along in the beginning. What's Fuu to do when her two bodyguards are total opposites? It's more than enough when they fight antagonists, only to say they're alive because they want to kill each other. Yet, these two opposites become friends. Respecting each other, believing each other, and relating to one another. Of course, they would never admit that. Jin follows the others with a tragic past as well, one that pretty much haunts him throughout most of their journey. Because of his quiet trait, the talkative Fuu can't really interact with him at first. Later on, they both get to know each other better, and so Fuu would become sad at a certain part of our story, when Jin abruptly says that he may leave the trio.
These three strangers, who have many conflicts in their travels, become the best of friends. A lot of things happen, a lot of things change. Things come up, things are overcome, and some are never gotten over. In the end, there is a very strong friendship between these three, even if they leave each other.
Enjoyment: As you can probably see, I very much enjoyed this show. I didn't expect to love it like I do today, but I do. It was a very wonderful adventure with our lovable trio, and it saddens me that we couldn't continue on it.
Overall, Samurai Champloo gets a high 9 for me. I hope you enjoyed this review and thank you for reading!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 23, 2013
The anime everyone's heard about. The one that was all over tumblr, mentioned on facebook - it was everywhere for the time it was being shown. ...was it worth it? Yeah, not really at all it's a truly trashy series, but hey! It wasn't all bad! Except for the fact that that barely flippin' helps. At all.
The story of SAO is actually adequate at first. It pulls you in, it's interesting! That is, until the INFAMOUS third episode. Yes, this is not a certain other VRMMO (virtual reality mmo) show, but. The person who wrote SAO's novel, who had no IDEA of that other show,
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did write something at the same time. However, instead of turning this work in, they did not. So for all these years, how much does one have to revise? Exactly. Now, back to the anime's story. Yes, it's interesting. Up until the third episode where Sachi, a minor character, is killed. The main male lead, the protagonist, Kirito, does not react. A LIVING HUMAN WAS KILLED, and he did not care all that much. Yes, he was shocked. Was he saddened? No.
There are a lot of emotional parts in SAO those are not bad. They can give you feels. However, there are so many fillers and strange aspects, that it all goes down the drain in the end, there's no lie there.
The art is a lot of things. It's "high quality," but what about the style? Everyone looks a child, excluding a few characters. Everyone's face are blobby. Like moe-blobs, in a way. Their eyes are similar, big, and shiny. If you switched the girls' hairstyles and eye colors around, would you be able to recognize them? The animation's fluid, the effects are great, but the way everything is executed is not. All in all, it's above average, but not stupendous far from it.
Ah, the sound. The bgm is good! The songs? Lisa singing the opening... Now, Lisa is a great singer. Crossing Field, however, I can't say is a very good song. It's overrated at most and this is something I'm -really- gosh darn sure about. The future opening and endings are much better! However, that's personal opinion and music taste, so that's up to you. This is one of SAO's few saving graces.
Oh, Kirito. At first, an anti-social person. There's nothing wrong with that. He made mistakes. What about the rest of the series? No. After that, he is PERFECT. Every girl wants him, every guy wants to be him, the antagonists want him to badly suffer. He's depicted as THE best. Kirito becomes an actual 2D character in the personality and depiction part. Now, Asuna, his "waifu." She is shown to be perfect, even more, than he is. She's the "only" one who can cook, everyone wants her, she's depicted as the most beautiful character in the entire series. At first, she can fight! She really can! Then, she becomes a damsel in distress, which isn't entirely her fault, but you know, strong female lead becomes... ??? She's also not the only girl who can cook, but that's what people think. Everyone forgets that she's portrayed as the most perfect girl you could be in the world of SAO. ...making these two THE strongest in this anime ruins nearly everything. Of course they'll win sooner or later.
One of the later antagonists becomes enamored with Asuna. Before they can leave the game, an older man tries to take Asuna from Kirito, because she's stuck in another VRMMO. Yes, that's right. He violates her in front of Kirito, so he'll get angry. Yepp. Some random guy just decides to do this. The characters? Nice try, but not really.
My enjoyment of this series... I honestly thought I'd like it, I really did. That all fell apart early on. I enjoyed the emotional bits, the fluid-ness of the animation, the action scenes, the effects. The story was no, the art style was no, the characters definitely not. There you have it. A not so enjoyable experience, that could've gone right. Maybe, honestly.
Overall, SAO gets pretty much a 3 from me. Notable, but not note-worthy to watch. At. All. I apologize to all fans, but this just wasn't my idea of an amazing anime. Thanks a bunch for reading, though!
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Feb 16, 2013
Tamako Market, your seemingly storyless moe anime variety. I don't exactly remember what made me start this, but I loved it near instantly. I'm actually really disappointed that this wonderful anime is over, and I very much would love a second season. Yes, TM's cute. Does it have no story? Is it pointless? To answer those questions it'd be a heck no! It has it's both sad and heartwarming scenes, and more.
TM's story is simple; a girl, Tamako, works at a mochi shop with her father, sister, and grandfather. Across the street is a rival mochi shop and home of a boy, Mochizou, who's interested
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in the oblivious Tamako. The story is of Tamako's life in both the shop, a bit of her school life, along with her two good friends. In the midst of all this, a strange talking bird appears to Tamako, and tells her he is here to find a bride for his prince. There's a decent amount of humor included. Another fact is that my younger cousins who are definitely NOT into moe, who play FPS and strategy games all the time, ENJOY this anime. TM is a simple, but heartwarming and sweet one story. If you're like me, it's able to give you feels. Happy emotions, bittersweet emotions, sad ones... this anime is able to pack many feelings into one.
The art of this show is of course by KyoAni, so it should seem familiar. The animation is fluid, the colors are bright, warm, and cold; it's high quality. However, anatomy-wise, it might be a little bit less accurate than K-ON!, especially with all of the characters' legs, and this applies to 99% of everyone. The female characters' hands are really small and inconsistent, and at times are either too small, other times, they're actually correctly drawn. It's not too big of an issue, though. Expressions are well-done, and lively. All in all, the animation is pretty great.
Both the opening and ending for Tamako Market are amazing. The colorful, upbeat op is a lively tune. The song matched the op sequence very well. The ending, stunning, and very catchy to boot. I find it stuck in my head, often... the seiyu for Tamako sings both of these, and she is a pretty good vocalist! The voice acting for TM is great- the cast's voices match very well. Even the bgm's great- matching, quirky, catchy songs. Love the music for TM.
Characters of this show, I find unique and lovable. Tamako is just darling and it's hard to not love her. Her friends are also unique, and have nice quirks to them. I adore both Tamako and Kanna, her brown-haired, measurement enthusiast friend. The shopping district residents are colorful, and they're all depicted very, very warmly, and are all individuals of their own right. We can't forget Dera, the characteristic bird who comes to visit. Also a lovable "character" indeed.
I thoroughly enjoy Tamako Market, even when I thought I wouldn't. It's one of the most promising series for this season for me, so you can imagine how much I like it. Every time a new episode arrives, I get really excited and smiles appear on my face no matter how down I feel. A great anime to go to if you're not feeling very happy, or you're down in the dumps.
Overall, you should watch this anime if you don't mind lightheartedness and slice of life. This anime is the one I very eagerly wait to see every week this entire season. It's a warm and sweet story, so please enjoy!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 27, 2012
When looking at the cover art, you might think something like, "A manga about a some bishounen underworld guy who cooks or whatever ('cause that's what I originally thought)," but what you get is something very, very different. Like I said, it's different from my impression of it and I am so glad it is.
Story: (some spoilers will be coming ahead later) It's really something when a manga is able to knock out every other favorite I have and achieve top rank. This doesn't apply anymore as I'm re-editing this review a bit, but it definitely did achieve that for awhile in the past. Unfortunately,
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I should say this now. It really is superb story-wise until the manga gets to a certain arc. At that point, it's just not that amazing anymore, however. It redeems itself after because everything comes together. Trials that were just whatever end up forming something moving in the end.
How can a manga about cooking be so great? Hell's Kitchen is about how the Earl of Poor Eating is tired of only consuming souls of experienced, but conceited, immoral chefs. So he comes up with the idea of possessing your most average and normal person... the protagonist of course. With this, you're invited to the wacky, but highly creative and well thought-out adventures he has at a cooking academy for very talented teens. The techniques in this manga are REAL. They're so odd, but if you research them, you find out that they're actual skills that are used, and the cooking elements are in fact, fact. I figure I should stop here because I'd be spoiling more, though. An important fact I should include is that re-reading this as I'm older made me realize that it has some very touching and realistic moments. As in the way the characters react really speak to you. I'm mainly talking about those times where there's a sad time or after a... oops I nearly spoiled you there (no, it's not a character death if that's what you were thinking).
Art: At the beginning, the art style for Hell's Kitchen is ehh. Once you get into it, which will be near the beginning, you disregard the art completely. The only way I realized that the art isn't that great, was that I re-read chapters when I got caught-up. (I purposely held this off for weeks because I didn't want to catch up) Even so, the art is decent and above average. You'll notice some mistakes if you look, but it's all right otherwise. It's one of a kind and enjoyable nonetheless. The art styles and character designs give off a lot of personality that is practically oozing out from the characters.
Characters: Oh, of course, the characters themselves. The ones in this series are quite lovable, even with their flaws. They achieve their own personal, original flair. There aren't a few or too many characters, but there's a good amount. From this, I don't remember if -all- of them have backstories, but a lot of them do. Some are short, but still provide enough, and others are split. You'll have a backstory reveal, but learn later on that there's more to their past and reasons to why they're the way they are. The characters aren't just your overused, recycled character archetypes, which are pretty common nowadays. Nearly all of the characters are real likeable- even the main antagonists at times. I really like a lot of the cast; they're very colorful and have great personality for the story. It's hard not to get attached to them.
If it wasn't obvious enough, I enjoy this manga, and I really don't know what I did to keep myself from waiting for new chapters. ...but like I said before, with the current chapters, it lost it's brilliant shine. I hope it becomes amazing again. Oh, this manga has great humor, but the omakes are even more gold. Even excluding the omakes, the manga still has good humor.
All in all, you should give it a go! It doesn't matter if you're a shounen or shoujo fan, you might just love this.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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