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Amano Akari is a high school girl with some strange tastes and hobbies. She loves things occult and gothic, and is especially fond of collecting dolls that other people find extremely eerie. That’s not to say Akari is “a goth,” or “emo”—she is cheerful, excitable, energetic, and expressive. What other people find scary, she finds cute. So, imagine how this oddball reacts when she meets a real vampire—the attractive Sophie Twilight. It’s not long before Akari has moved in with her beloved vampire friend! (Slice-of-Life, Vampire, Comedy, hints of Shoujo Ai.)

Story: 5/10

It being a slice-of-life without any real romance or serious drama, the anime ... does not have a central plot. This was a letdown for me because, while watching, I constantly imagined how much better the show would be with even just a little more direction. The main story could have explored the hinted shoujo ai relationships between the girls, with the conclusion being the establishment of the couples. Alternatively, the creators could have taken seriously the jokes about Akari becoming a vampire, focusing on her acclimation to them, and ending with her transformation into one. I still greatly enjoyed Tonari Kyuketsuki; it’s an endearing, silly, and ironic show about how a supernatural creature tries to live a normal, quiet life. Still, with so much story opportunity squandered, I must give it a 5/10.

Art: 5/10
The character designs are cute, and the main setting of Sophie's house is nice to look at. However, there was nothing particularly creative in this show's art-style or animation. It's about average, not much different from any other anime featuring cutesy, chibi art-styles. I give it 5/10, which isn't to say it's bad, but only to say it's normal and unremarkable.

Sound: 6/10
For sound, it’s pretty much the same deal as with the visuals. It's not poor quality, but it just lacks anything to make it stick out. There was nothing special in the sound effects, music scores, opening song, or ending song. The voice-acting was fair, but even if each main cast member is extremely talented, this is not the kind of dramatic series where they can show their true talent. I will note that I was impressed with Akari’s seiyuu, Sasahara Yuu. I’d never heard her in anything before, and it seems like she’s just starting her anime voice-acting career. Miss Sasahara did well in portraying a girl who has very unusual tastes but is completely harmless, and also adorable in a weird kind of way. I give the sound for Tonari Kyuketsuki a 6/10 “Fine.”

Characters: 7/10

The show did not focus all that much on character development, so while the characters are all cute and funny, they lack some depth that could have made them even better. Sophie is the best of the cast in terms of originality and time spent expounding on her personality. What would a 300-year-old vampire be like if she lived in modern society and didn't have to hurt humans to keep fed? What would her personality be like? Where does she get blood? How would she react to having a young human girl trying to become close to her? Watch and you'll find the surprising and humorous answers to these questions.

The other main protagonist, Akari, is primarily a comedic character. She's got quirks, hobbies, reactions, and expressions that are always genuinely funny. Her character could have been improved if the show spent some time explaining exactly how and why she became interested in things occult and gothic. In the second half of the final episode, Akari's character shines in a new way. Removing the abundant humor temporarily, the last scene communicates how much Akari cares for Sophie-- not just as a doll to be pampered, but as a special someone to share a home with, to spend time with, and to depend on.

In the interest of keeping the review short, I won't analyze the other main characters, Ellie and Hinata. They were also good characters. Each has a handful of peculiarities that keeps them amusing and unconventional.

Personal Enjoyment: 8/10

I found Tonari Kyuketsuki delightful for a number of reasons. A lot of vampire anime either glorify, romanticize, and idolize vampires, or gore-ify vampires in a bloody setting where they’re all savage beasts by nature. Tonari Kyuketsuki does follows neither path, instead depicting the vampire myth as comedy. There is variety in type of vampire, too. There’s the patient, well-adjusted, and harmless Sophie, in addition to the mischievous and potentially dangerous vampire Ellie. In this way, there are no extremes of either glorification or gore-ification.

I loved that the show used some dark humor in addition to the situational, ironic, and reactive-types of comedy. (For example, take Ellie's hobby of enjoying a literal bloodbath. Or look at the vampires' reactions to movies that show blood and anime that shows “delicious” virgins.) Another reason I enjoyed Tonari Kyuketsuki was that there was very little fan-service. I am easily irritated by the sexualizing of "loli" characters.

While I don't like fan-service-based shoujo ai like Citrus, I am a big fan of shoujo ai that tells a good story with characters that feel genuine. I fantasize about girl-girl couples often as I watch anime. So I liked that there was some suggestion of girl-girl couples in Tonari Kyuketsuki. Besides the opening song, which features the girls kissing each other's cheeks or holding hands, there is also enough subtle content in the show to justify making yuri ships. (Main options-- Sophie x Akari, Hinata x Akari, Hinata x Ellie, and Sophie x Ellie.)

Things like the occasional dark humor, the lack of fan-service, the hints of shoujo ai, and the unique, comedic swing on traditional vampires all made Tonari Kyuketsuki entertaining for me. If you enjoy those aspects, give it a whirl. The characters are cute, funny, and fairly interesting. Just keep in mind there's nothing exceptional in art or sound, and there’s no real plot. If you can handle that, you'll love the show.

Final Note: It's difficult to be critical of anime like this, where my personal and emotional enjoyment ranked so high. Still, I try to be a rational reviewer as I compare it to many, many other anime. That's why, even though my enjoyment level was high, I must put the overall rating at 6/10 Fine. That’s as an anime critic. As a casual watcher who hadn’t seen a lot of anime, I would have given it 8/10 Very Good.

The anime masterpiece "Monster" is most interesting for its psychological components, often eerily close to reality, and its amazing characters, such as the enigmatic, charismatic, and utterly unforgettable Johan Leibert. If you like dark series, mystery, mindgames, creepy children, historical dramas, and/or debates about ethics, conditioning, children's rights, psychology, crime, killing, and justice, you will thoroughly enjoy "Monster" for having all of these motifs. Without a doubt it's one of the most psychological anime in existence.

There's no need to be put off by the length of the series either, because even the slightly less consequential arcs can be thrilling, the characters are always well ... developed, and the various arcs all tie in neatly with the central story. Since new twists are revealed right up to the very last episode, be sure to watch the whole series if you watch any of it. Otherwise you may not be able to appreciate the depth of "Monster" 's story or its notable characters.

Without a doubt, my favorite thing about "Monster" is the unique relationship between Johan and his sister Anna/Nina. You'll see what I mean if you watch it. I also love this show's portrayal of what society now largely considers mental illness. The illnesses portrayed include Sociopathy and/or Antisocial Personality Disorder, Dissociative Amnesia, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Addiction/Substance Abuse, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If you or someone you know suffers from any of these disorders, like me, you may appreciate "Monster" all the more for it.

The only downsides I might mention is that, for better or worse, not everything in "Monster" is explained. Much is open to interpretation. This bothers some anime fans, but to me it's a positive aspect of the series. I also would warn potential viewers that this is a very dark anime, so don't go into it blindly. In addition to murders, debates of justice, and discussion of dark psychology, this series includes characters suffering from child abuse, identity confusion, the aftereffects of war, and various other types of trauma. I recommend viewers to be cautious of any triggers, and I personally do not recommend the show for people under sixteen. As long as you are fully prepared, however, then by all means check out "Monster"! It just may be the most psychologically interesting series you ever watch.

Note: when I rate different anime, I am comparing them with only the other anime in my list. Ao no Exorcist is "Fine (6)" compared with the ~80 other series on my list. By itself, however, I would easily call this series "Very Good" or 8 out of 10. Though unoriginal in some aspects, "Ao no Exorcist" is a superbly made, exciting, and humorous fantasy/supernatural series.

The characters are simply adorable: in animation, development, and not to mention sound-- several excellent voice actors such as Kana Hanazawa feature in "Ao no Exorcist." The excellent writing managed to make the story charming and exciting, despite some ... unoriginal tropes (the son fighting the father, the boy who is part demon, the universe comprised of two domains like earth and a spirit world, an overpowered main character, childish jokes, etc.). A few elements were refreshingly original, however, such as the system of magic used by Exorcists. The psychological nature of the backstory of Rin's mother is particularly surprising in an anime that is often more light-hearted. In fact, that's my favorite aspect of the series, this backstory of Rin's mother and its implications to that world's "Church".

Why should you watch it? If you want a funny and action-packed fantasy tale, "Ao no Exorcist" is a great choice, especially if you're looking for something that isn't twenty seasons long. If you like supernatural stories where there's a god and a satan, as well as any other magical creatures, again "Ao no Exorcist" is great.

Finally, regarding the anime's treatment of "The Church", it is acceptable for Christians, since there is a God and Satan. But it's also acceptable for minority religions where demons or spirits are worshiped, because the "demons" of this Series are not entirely evil. In this way, I think it attracts a larger audience.

So try it out if you want some explosive fantasy fun.

"Akuma no Riddle", being about assassins, is hard to tie down to a particular genre. However, it is widely considered a Yuri series; even though there's nothing explicit and no real talk of love, most fans interpret the two main girls as romantic partners. They can also be interpreted as close friends. Whether you think it's Yuri or not, "Akuma no Riddle" will probably delight anyone who likes assassin stories, well-animated combat sequences, and of course pretty-but-deadly young women.

The art is great, the story is interesting, and the main characters are unforgettable. However, "Akuma no Riddle" is certainly not perfect. The worst flaw ... in the series occurs at the end, and while I won't tell you what happened, many fans were upset with it. Yuri fans like me were also disappointed to see so little physical/romantic affection between the two girls. Also, the music isn't really memorable, and the opening song is just plain annoying. These are the kind of flaws that prevent "Akuma no Riddle" from being rated any higher. Still, I think it's good overall and I encourage you to watch it.

Personally, I loved the character Tokaku Akuma. Her fighting skills are amazing, she's emotionally strong, and she is loyal almost to a fault. Whether she is a lesbian or not, her devotion to the other main girl is outstanding. She reminds me of myself, except I'm not that great with knives and obstacle courses. If you don't like Miss Akuma, don't worry: there are many assassins to choose from, each with their own histories and their own kind of charm. I encourage viewers to check out "Akuma no Riddle."

This series translates as "We still don't know the name of the flower we saw that day" but for simplicity I will call it "Ano Hana" (That flower). This series is a supernatural/psychological genre anime with hints of romance and slice-of-life. The music and art are very pretty, the story is original enough for my tastes, and the surprisingly realistic characters are developed quite well given that "Ano Hana" has only eleven episodes. There are many fascinating psychological themes, and the show, at heart, is really about moving past one's trauma.

The only reason I don't consider this a masterpiece is simply the scope of ... the story. It's not an epic, or an adventure; for better or worse, it's largely about real life (plus a little supernatural). If there's anything "wrong" with "Ano Hana", it's the fact that it can make a grown man cry. This series is one of the most tear-jerking shows in anime history, but there are both tears of sadness and tears of joy. This one isn't as dark as you might think it would be with the story's main premise. So give a whirl and see if you like it!

What I love most about "Ano Hana" is how it accurately portrays some elements of some mental illnesses. I know because I have several. One character exhibits traits of Major Depressive order during the first half of the series. Another character is almost obsessive enough to be called psychotic. A third character exhibits some signs of PTSD. Even outside of mental illness, anyone who has suffered a sudden and tragic loss may empathize with the idea of seeing "ghosts", whether it appears as a person, a place, or a past event. People like myself with Dissociative Disorders can also empathize with the identity confusion shown by one or two of the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this show and greatly respect its creators.

"Btoom!" is one series of the increasingly popular "survival game" genre. It comes with a few downsides, such as extensive fan-service, and sexual content that is only appropriate for 17 and up, in my opinion. There's nothing particularly special about the art or the sound; however, the storytelling was well done. The various battles and predicaments in the survival game are just original enough to get you excited and curious. The main characters, if not terribly deep, are developed enough so that you can sincerely cheer them on as they try their best to survive. My favorite aspect of the series is the process ... by which candidates of the survival game are chosen. I can't give spoilers, so, if you like battle royale, you'll have to see for yourself and give "Btoom!" a try.

If you like the genres of supernatural, fantasy, comedy, or a bit of romance and slice-of-life, "Noragami" covers all five bases. It also features a decent soundtrack, wonderful animation style, and memorable characters. Before you get too excited, though, be warned that this series contains some major downsides, mostly in the story and character development.

It's difficult to explain without giving spoilers, but there were several elements of the plot and the Noragami world which ruffled my feathers and nearly ruined the series for me. The system of Gods and Weapons is flawed and unfair. The protagonist is a Narcissist posing as a moral authority. ... The development and closure for the character of Yuuki was, without giving spoilers, thoroughly disappointing. Many plot holes appear in this series as well. You can probably tell without hearing any spoilers that Noragami is not all it's cracked up to be.

That being said, I do think viewers should give this show a try; others may be less critical of the Gods' systems and less disappointed at the outcomes of the characters. One thing it really has going for it, too, is the humor of the series. In short, this one is hit-or-miss. You be like me: continually puzzled at the show's popularity, and thoroughly disappointed with the main characters. On the other hand you might fall in love with the characters, beautiful art, and comedic escapades. For me it only gets two and a half stars out of five.

My first thought on “Bokurano” is that it bears a strange resemblance to “Gantz”, a survival game series featuring bizarre, dark themes, like "Bokurano." I also thought it’s interesting for an anime to not have a central protagonist; rather, all fourteen of the kids are the protagonists. Then I thought “Oh, I get it: this the male version of ‘Madoka Magica’!” What do I mean? Well, both stories are about being tricked into a cruel destiny and then discovering the system is completely corrupt— “Bokurano” simply inserts robot fights instead of magical girls and witches.

All that to say, Bokurano fits into several genres such ... as mecha, survival game, mystery, psychological, and sci-fi. It contains themes such as the difficulties of growing up, the reality of death, the loss of innocence, the sacrifices that come with battle, and the evil of corrupt systems. If you’re looking for a happy anime or something with uplifting messages, don’t watch Bokurano. However, if you love dark anime like I do, then by all means give it a try! Some of the best elements of the series are noted below.

Considering how much of the animation budget was probably allocated to robot fights, the rest of the art is fairly good, especially if you like slightly more realistic and less cutesy animation. Instead of being over-the-top like most fight scenes in anime, the impressive robot battles were refreshingly realistic. The music scores were fair, and the opening and ending songs are beautiful. Although the central plot felt somewhat unoriginal to me at times, it’s the variety of characters and their own stories that saved the series for me.

Overall, “Bokurano” proved quite enjoyable, and I would give it three and a half stars out of five. Personally, my favorite thing about “Bokurano” is the discussion of parallel universes. I cannot elaborate, however, without giving spoilers. I will point out that many sci-fi and mecha series contain discussion of other planets, but relatively few deal with parallel or alternate universes. In that sense, “Bokurano” is like a rare gem. In short, if you like giant robots, survival games, and dark themes, this series is an excellent watch.

The “Erased” series consisted of elements from supernatural, mystery, and psychological-thriller genres. If you are a mystery buff, you will no doubt solve the main questions long before the characters do. I had the basic idea by episode five... but even so, the story contains a few twists that not even I saw coming. The series also wraps things up excellently. In particular, the last two episodes of the twelve-episode series were extremely well executed. Long story short, actually, just about everything was well done.

While it may not compare to the similar masterpiece series “Steins;gate”, the “Erased” series still earns four out of five ... stars, in my own humble opinion. It was well written, well-paced, and pretty much won in every area. (If it was missing anything, it was the humor as well as the scope of its counterpart “Steins;gate.”) The art style is not overly cutesy and features amusing character designs, the character development is excellent for being only twelve episodes, and the soundtrack is memorable, if not always particularly original. (That said, I usually detest anime openings, but the opening theme song of “Erased” was actually tolerable.) My favorite thing about this series is probably its characters; let me not forget to say that Satoru’s mother might win the “Award” of “Best Anime Mom Ever.”

Why should you watch it? One of the most appealing things about “Erased” is that its characters range in age from ten to fifty-something, making it an excellent choice for almost any audience (over 13 or 14, of course). It’s a thriller, so it will likely grab your attention and leave you wanting more, and if you like mystery and a little bit of “the feels”, then whether you’re thirteen or fifty, you will most likely enjoy it.

This show is thrilling and extremely thought provoking. If you are interested in ethics, philosophy, biology, and/or sci-fi, this one's for you--- you just have to put up with a few shortcomings. The show does falls prey to these tropes: 1) completely unnecessary gore and massacre like in Deadman Wonderland 2) the main character's overdone obsession with human values (like in Tokyo Ghoul), and 3) Like in many parasite stories, there's only a rather vague explanation of the parasites' existence. But other than those holes, it's spot-on. Great writing, original story, good characters for the most part, decent art style, great music, and EXCELLENT fleshing ... out of all the what-ifs of a world where humans are preyed upon by another species. This show makes Tokyo Ghoul look like some 12-year-old's attempt at horror. Seriously, watch it.