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Jun 30, 2019
These 10 episodes have been built up to since episode 1 - it is the defining arc of Attack on Titan. The entire story of this anime comes together here. It has the hype of S1, the intense mystery of S2, and the interesting political intrigue of S3A (in the latter episodes mind you) - and then adds a layer of its own. Does it live up to the hype? The ridiculously high score given by the users of MAL, contrasting to the other seasons of AoT?
Yes.
Story - 10
Again, this is what the rest of the series has been building up to. Cruel fates are
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met by friends and foes alike; emotional turmoil runs rampant; hidden truths are unveiled; and mindblowing moments are everywhere. The writing is stellar.
See, build-up has to payoff in order for the story to work, otherwise it isn’t even build-up - because if the culmination of everything isn’t satisfying, the series itself isn’t satisfying. This season delivers on everything it has presented to you thus far. The basement isn’t some last-episode-of-the-series, far off plot point anymore, it’s a main focus now. The Colossal Titan is no longer some “big baddie” you see once in a while who then runs off, as this is the ultimate battle with him.
Mindgames and in-depth battle tactics are everywhere. How major players are defeated simply makes sense - and the characters use what they already have at their disposal to achieve their goal. This arc has the most big-name deaths, not just side character deaths - and yes, plot armor is still there, but it mostly makes sense as to why a certain character survived (except for one character - a villain, though).
The payoff near the end of the season is unparalleled. I don’t want to go in-depth because of spoilers, but the world of Attack on Titan is expanded beautifully. You will, without a doubt, have to rewatch certain episodes to make sure you got the full gist of everything, because new information will hit you like a brick, but it all just makes sense. The basement lives up to the hype. It will destroy your mind.
The pacing is stellar, with the 8 out of the 10 episodes adapting 2 chapters of the manga, and the other two episodes not feeling too dragged out. Heartfelt moments are executed brilliantly. Character arcs come to a satisfying close as new ones begin, and with the more emotional moments, tears will flow.
Negatives, as far as story goes, would have to be a certain villain’s frustrating plot armor and the possibility of being left completely confused after an information-heavy episode.
Art - 9
There is a battle sequence that took about a month to animate, and it is one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the series. I really hope WIT stays with Attack on Titan, because they are perfect for this series. The backgrounds, especially in the latter episodes, are astonishingly breathtaking; scenes without said backgrounds would not be nearly as hard-hitting.
However, it is not entirely perfect, which is why it receives a 9 rather than a 10: it is inconsistent. Even within the best-animated episodes are a few wonky-looking animations, lazy hair movements, and ODM sequences that just feel… off. It’s only on occasion and is more prevalent in episodes 2-5, getting better as it goes along. Along with that is the dreaded CGI Colossal Titan. It can look downright atrocious at times. Other times, it looks fine, and when it is properly animated in 2D, it looks great.
But, again, the pros vastly outweigh the cons in this area, and it’s still an upgrade from the latter half of season 2 when every other shot was a still.
Sound - 10
Sawano is a genius. Every single one of his OSTs is a banger. From melancholy pieces for the sad moments to thrilling pieces for the hype moments, the Attack on Titan soundtrack remains one of the greatest; and the new tracks created for this season are no different. The sheer emotion one can feel from a track he created is simply amazing.
Voice acting is superb, well, the Japanese VAs anyway. I remember one scene that chose a haunting silence instead of a soundtrack coupled with amazing voice acting, making for some very tense moments that fill you with goosebumps.
Character - 10
One of the biggest complaints from S1 is now completely gone. This area has progressively gotten better over the series, and arcs that began long ago come to a conclusion in this season. Characters previously thought to be one-note throwaways are now complex human beings that see things differently from everybody else. The main protagonist, Eren, who was criticized for being a cliche screaming “I want to achieve X” MC is now one of the most well-written characters in the series. Just like the story built up to this season, character arcs that have been built up also come to a conclusion, whether it be ending with their death or beginning to head in a new direction.
Enjoyment - 10
Combining the hype moments, the jaw-dropping reveals, and the tearjerkers, this season is a banger. It is the bangiest of bangers. How does one combine every possible amazing thing an anime can do, into one anime? I don’t know, ask Isayama and WIT. But this season achieves something truly great, making for one of the most enjoyable experiences you’ll ever have.
Overall - 10
Did you watch S1 and drop it? Understandable, I guess. S1 was nothing special - it was GOOD, but compared to this… I don’t want to insult S1, but this is just in another league entirely. Watch it. Watch this season and then rewatch to pick up on all of the hints and foreshadowing for the reveals this season has to offer.
Watch Attack on Titan.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 17, 2017
I am writing this for the people who are thinking about watching the anime, but aren't sure. I will not include spoilers in my review.
Attack on Titan Season 2 is a fast-paced, action-packed, plot-twist-filled 12 episodes. It became incredibly popular the instant season 1 started airing, and the fanbase managed to remain active during its hiatus. And the fandom revived during this season, and for a good reason.
The story takes a step up from last season. It's much more unpredictable. It's much more mysterious. Hell, it can even be scary at times. There's always something going on in this anime, and always another mindblowing plot
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twist to keep you interested. The reveals are insane. The fights are glorious. And the last two episodes are damn near perfect after being built up to during the other 10 episodes.
The mystery is the main point of the first half, and the second half focuses on action and reveals. My only complaints regarding the story is this season feels messy at times, as that's the downside of being unpredictable, and not enough answers are given to satisfy you with all of the mysteries that are given.
The art is almost as good as the first season. Still movie-worthy. It's just so pleasing to look at. There are the occasional hiccups, and the use of CGI brings it down a considerable amount, but it's for brief sequences so usually you don't notice it (except for a certain moment in episode 7...) Other than that, I love the art, it really brings the manga to life.
Sound gets a perfect 10. They somehow outdid the first season's OST with awesome tracks like Barricades, APETITAN, and ERENtheCOORDINATE. The sound effects are great as well; the ODM gear sound is simply so satisfying. The music complements every single moment, from heartbreaking, to intense, to HYPE. No complaints here.
The characters have a massive improvement this season. Is it the best? No. But it's a step in the right direction. See, they finally give the side character much-needed development, and you actually care about them, for once. Intriguing backstories are made. Character relationships form. The main trio get development, too, though in the later half. This is still the series' biggest flaw, but it's much better than how it was in season 1. Even a flat character like Mikasa becomes very interesting near the end.
Enjoyment is its best aspect. It's just so goddamn hype. The music, art, and amazing plot make for a hell of an experience. All of the intense moments are so masterfully done and it makes up for the character problems I spoke of above. You'll constantly be on the edge of your seat. You'll cry when a character you liked dies. You'll laugh when one of the side characters make a stupid joke with the other characters, despite their bad situation. And you'll be filled with excitement when a hype moment comes along. It's the entire package.
Overall, it's a popular anime with some visible flaws, but with much more pros than cons. People hate on this anime because it's overhyped. It may be overhyped but it's not bad at ALL. It's amazing. I give it a 9.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 2, 2017
So, I started watching this anime alongside the new Attack on Titan because I wanted another show to watch on Saturday mornings, and also to see if it lives up to the hype.
Does it live up to the hype? Hell no. But neither does Attack on Titan.
Is it bad? Hell no. I love waking up early on Saturdays to see the new episode.
This review, along with my score, will be edited throughout the coming weeks, and eventually when season two is completed. For now, here are my thoughts (on both season one and season two).
My Hero Academia, to me, feels very uninspired, uninteresting, and cliche.
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It's not bad, per se, but it just doesn't bring anything new to the table. It has a school setting, it has superpowers, and it has a tournament arc - stuff that people LOVE. And that's okay. If you love all things shounen, you'll love this series. If you're looking for something more... well, you won't find it here. It's an anime in which you can find all its aspects in other anime. You've got your regular MC who doesn't believe in himself, the cliche love interest, the MC's good friend, his rival who hates him, blah, blah, blah. You've got your superpowers, which have NO boundaries unlike other anime (devil fruits, stands), you've got your regular ole bad guy group (legit called the league of villains).... generally, nothing really feels new in this anime. There isn't one single aspect it completely fails on, but it also doesn't nail anything either. Here are my more specific thoughts:
Story: 6 - I think we can all agree story is not this series' strong suit. It's cliche, very simple, and even misleading at first. It draws you in with a story about a boy who has no superpowers in a world filled with superpowers. You'd think it'd be about him getting along in the world without being special, and gradually building up his confidence but NOPE by like episode 2 he suddenly has superpowers and everything's fine. Then, he trains for a bit and goes to a superhero school. By the end, there are some bad guys or something, and they fight. They're like "We'll be back!" Yeah. That's the entire story of season one. And now, there's some type of fighting tournament going on in season two. That's it.
Art: 9 - Probably some of the best art I've seen, it's unique, quirky, and reminds me of One Piece. (I love One Piece.) The animation is crisp and great. No complaints here.
Sound: 8 - I mean, the sound isn't BAD, per se, it's just not that good either. The voices are okay, but the main character sounds like a weenie hut junior type guy. His voice is pretty annoying, and is compounded by his personality. During fights, the sound effects are pretty good, and that paired with the good animation make an enjoyable experience.
Character: 5 - My biggest gripe. It's also my biggest gripe for the new Attack on Titan. The characters are supposed to be what this anime is all about, but they all feel like narrow-minded, one-dimensional stand-in tropes that are there to fulfill a certain purpose. Izuku is your run-of-the-mill loser protag with a crappy childhood but ends up being "the chosen one" type deal. Ochako is there as a cliche love interest introduced early on. Her backstory can be summarized in like 1 or 2 sentences. Iida is just kinda there, I mean he has some quirky personality but that's it. Kacchan is your cliche MC rival that hates the MC, and is hotheaded. All Might is basically superman. And Todoroki is pretty decent, though he has a cliche tragic backstory. For an anime with a big focus on is characters, this is pretty disappointing.
Enjoyment: 8 - When it comes down to it this is all that matters - whether or not you enjoy what you're watching. I enjoy this anime. I enjoyed binging its first season and catching up with its current episode. It's fun to watch, the fights are entertaining, and the interactions between the albeit cardboard characters are pretty funny at times. It all depends on whether or not you can look past the complaints listed above, and well, I sure can.
Overall: 7
If you liked season one you'll 100% like season two. It's basically more of the same.
Again, this review will change with time as more of season 2 comes out.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 30, 2017
Before you read this review, I'd like to let you know that I am a huge SnK fan. I read the manga, surf the SnK subreddit on a daily basis, and talk with my friends about it all the time. The series as a whole is phenomenal IMO, but, even though I'm a massive fanboy, I don't think season one is the masterpiece everybody says it is.
((a few season 1 spoilers))
Story: 8/10 - It pulls you in with a zombie/godzilla type story that it teases with its first few episodes. It's intriguing, but not that original. However, past episode 5, this changes dramatically, and it
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takes a 180 by episode 8 and the direction changes almost entirely. See, this series pulls so many 180s that some are left disappointed because it's not what they originally expected, and this happens A LOT, especially in the story arcs past the first season. But let's not focus on past season one, though.
What started out as a story of the last bit of humanity fighting for survival quickly turns into flesh mechs, flashy reveals, betrayals, and WTF moments that aren't explained until later on. This series likes to show some bizarre, random ass scenes that either aren't explained until much later or not at all. It teases you with something about Eren's dad's basement, but leaves it too mysterious for you to care. It shows the Colossal and Armored titans at the beginning, but they don't show up for the rest of the season making you think they were a one-and-done deal. It raises more questions than it gives answers, leaving many frustrated; by the end of the season, when the main villain of the second half is defeated, she legit locks herself in a crystal, therefore giving NO answers about who she is or where she comes from. The villain is given hints of a backstory regarding her dad just as she's being beaten, but it's not elaborated on at all. See, the story teases you too much. It leaves you unsatisfied; the 4 year wait only made it worse. On top of all that, there's an end credits scene that acts as another 'reveal' but only leaves you confused as HELL.
Aside from those gripes, the story is good in that it is consistently interesting and well-thought out. It is very mystery driven at some points, and the build up to the fights is tense as well. There are pacing problems, though, so the episodes are best watched in a cluster.
Art: 10/10 - The animation of SnK is wonderful. It's among the best I've seen in any anime. It's movie-worthy. Studio WIT did a wonderful job. The manga's art is subpar, and even straight up bad for the first few volumes, but the anime just nails it. The backgrounds are always beautiful, the characters are always highly-detailed, and the fight scenes feel so smooth. Absolutely no complaints here.
Sound: 10/10 - Another perfect 10, Sawano did an amazing job on the soundtrack, and the sound effects are satisfying as well. Sad moments are occupied with tear-jerking OSTs, and intense moments are only made more intense with the soundtrack. It includes my favorite anime OST ever, Vogel im Kafig. Also, the ODM gear sound is very satisfying and it's something that you don't feel when reading the manga.
Character: 6/10 - I will admit right here and now, the manga, especially the later arcs, fix a lot of the problems I'm about to state. Doesn't excuse the fact that I hate how Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are characterized for the entire first season.
Eren is your typical shounen protag with a distinct goal, stubborn personality, and edgy "i swore to kill the all!" lines. Mikasa is your usual female lead that's obsessed with the main character - she is given pretty decent development in the first half (ex. ep. 6), but she's simply really annoying. Constantly being like "Eren! Eren! Are you okay?!" Armin is annoying, though he became my favorite character in the manga. He's your standard bookworm that gets bullied and such, and never believes in himself. He's obviously really smart and can think of good plans, but it takes half an episode for Eren & Mikasa to convince him to do anything. The side characters aren't given enough development until season 2, and the characters they DO focus on are pretty one-dimensional. This is the worst aspect of SnK season 1 by far.
Enjoyment: 9/10 - The first time I watched SnK, I was new to anime. I loved it. I binged it in just a few days. When I watch it with my friends, they love it as well. It's an anime a lot of non-anime fans watch. It's popular because it's simply fun to watch. The fights, glorious animation, soundtrack, and jaw-dropping reveals outshine most of the negative. Seeing the characters flying around on their spiderman-like gear fighting giant naked men is so intriguing and satisfying.
Overall: 8/10 - Very enjoyable anime with pacing and characterization problems. It's one of the most popular anime for a reason - the simple yet intriguing premise, and the quality soundtrack & animation. Don't go into it expecting a masterpiece and you should be pleasantly surprised. Again, a lot of the problems are fixed in later seasons/the manga, especially the characterization. I actually wrote an analysis of why I think Eren's characterization is genius.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 17, 2016
One Piece is honestly the best show I’ve ever watched in my entire life. What Oda, the creator of OP, gave us, was more than just a story - he gave us an entire world, filled with unique people with their own backstories. It takes the time to tell us about the different characters Luffy meets along the way, and all of their stories are somehow interconnected, whether it’s tragic or happy or strange or mysterious. It really puts everything in perspective, y’know? That everyone on planet earth has their own story and there’s no end to it.
It takes the time to show how
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its multidimensional characters grow, change, and how it affects the world. Or how it doesn’t affect the world. Like that dog back in Orange Town, who was just trying to protect his late master’s house… tons of instances like that is why I love One Piece. It’ll make you cry, laugh, smile, squeal in excitement, and just be in awe of how well put-together the world of One Piece is.
It’s not just all about the characters, though. The overarching plot of One Piece is amazing, as well. In the world ruled by a corrupt government and pirates constantly battling for power, there’s always something new to see, and always something else to affect the plot. The essence of a plot is that it’s formed by hundred and hundreds of character decisions, and you begin to understand the story as you see said decisions being made. You’re shown all of the main character’s goals, and why. You’re shown why villains do what they do, and sometimes you even feel bad for them - like Arlong or Hody Jones, who grew up in hatred of humans from what they’d done to Fishman Island. You’re shown all of the evil of the world, and how it’s always going to be there, and that makes the world of OP that more realistic. You’re shown all of the good of the world, and how some even die in the name of justice, and how some even used to be villains. Everything you see in One Piece just… makes sense. It’s all interwoven - the characters, the backstories, the plot, everything.
The wonderful world building, the incredible cast of rich, relatable characters, and the plot that makes you just ache to see the next episode makes watching One Piece through all the way worth it.
I will say, this show wasn’t even in my top ten until around episode 100, and not in the top three until around three hundred. The first 20 or so episodes felt like a drag. Many are turned off by One Piece’s art, and others dislike the slow pace. I wasn’t too fond of either at first. Now, I believe One Piece is the best show - no, the best story in general to ever exist.
If you haven’t watched One Piece, watch it. Now.
Story: 10 - amazing, well-thought out plot
Art: 7 - after the timeskip the art gets worse
Sound: 8 - Music is awesome and catchy, & sound effects are shared w/ DBZ
Character: 10 - great development and emotional moments
Enjoyment: 10 - from squealing in excitement to being on the edge of my seat, damn have I enjoyed this anime
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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