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Dec 20, 2018
I have complicated feelings about Banana Fish. As you can probably tell from the score, I liked it overall. I liked Ash and Eiji and most of the supporting cast. The animation and art was beautiful. The soundtrack was masterful. Almost every single one of my issues with the show stem from a single choice.
The shoddy, half-hearted, lazy modernization.
If it had made the choice to stay in the 80s, at least Banana Fish could have served as a time capsule. Its themes and story is so tied to that post-Vietnam era that they cannot be transferred to the 21st century with a coat of varnish
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and smartphones. If it had made the choice to completely re-edit the story to make it related to the American paranoias and fears of today, MAPPA might have had a masterwork. As it is, a lot of it just ends up a mess.
Adaptations are so afraid of changing the story they’re working with, probably because of negative fan reaction to such things. But Banana Fish is a story with so much potential, one begging for a revision or two to make it shine. MAPPA just couldn’t make themselves go there. The modernization idea itself is not a bad one; it’s simply that they put no thought into the decision whatsoever beyond “maybe we can make some of the research scenes go faster.” Because of this, Banana Fish ends up tangled up in itself, spiraling towards its tragic conclusion, stuck in the past, even as the story takes place ostensibly in some version of the present.
So, yes, I had a lot of issues with Banana Fish. For everything the modernization and adaptation made better, it made an equal number of things worse. The things it made better were tantalizing because they hinted at a Banana Fish that could have been perfect.
I loved Banana Fish a lot too. Ash and Eiji’s relationship is wonderfully realized, making scenes much more painful than they had any right to be, thanks to the stunning design and the amazing voice acting talents of the two leads. I was invested in the story until the end. It felt like something the people working on it felt strongly about- I don’t really have a way to prove that, but it’s just to say that the life never went out of the production. It’s a show with a lot of promise- ones it never quite made good on. I recommend giving it a watch, if only for the sake of fascination. It does so many things better than a lot of shows with BL elements and it also does so many things worse.
If you like numbers
Story: 6/10
Characters: 8/10
Modernization: 3/10
Art: 9/10
Animation: 8/10
Soundtrack: 10/10
Voice Acting: 10/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Aug 5, 2018
It's always hard to express why Kekkai Sensen is easily a 10/10 for me, mostly because I'm aware that it's very subjective. Kekkai Sensen might as well have been made for me. But I'm always sad to see people giving this series 5s or below especially on the front page for it, and so I finally wanted to take the opportunity to write something on its behalf. I will not be breaking it down by categories like many reviews do, because I want to talk about the experience holistically and personally.
I never get tired of watching Kekkai Sensen. Perhaps that's one of the best
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things I can say for it. I've watched the series, subbed and dubbed, probably over ten times. I never rewatch anything. A lot of that can come down to the outstanding voice work, the outstanding animation and, most importantly, the outstanding direction. I will follow Rie Matsumoto wherever she goes. Every thing in this show does its best to remind you that you're watching something. Leo is supposed to be the observer of everything after all, and the anime adaptation holds on to that idea. We see things through cameras frequently, and the characters even dance for us in the ED. They don't hide the stage here, and that choice allows them to up the ante stylistically until the show is bursting with cool. Kekkai Sensen is easily one of the coolest shows ever made
Now, if you're looking for a deep story full of lore and mysteries, rife for theorizing and packed with twists, Kekkai Sensen is not for you. Stuff happens because it puts the characters in fun scenarios and allows you to learn more about them. The narrative thread of White and Black added by Matsumoto gives you just enough of a narrative to hold the vignettes together while still following the themes of family and incorporating some of the monsters (Blood Breeds and the 13 Kings specifically) already introduced by Kekkai Sensen's manga. White and Black also give a quieter sounding board for Leo, allowing his character to shine through.
But mostly, I want to talk about Leo, because he's the reason that I love the show so dearly. It's easy to dismiss him as another one of those shonen heroes who are nothing remarkable and yet have super cool adventures. But that's just how Leo sees himself. He sees himself as worthless, because he thinks that his kindness, curiosity, and bravery are just the stuff that everyone is made up of. Him being able to find his worth through the influence of people around him who see him as he actually is- that's a worthwhile story, no pun intended. Mob Psycho 100, another show I love, touches on this theme as well. Everybody is just as special as anybody else, whether they can fight with their blood, see into the farthest depths of reality, or even if they just have a deep love of burgers.
You should watch Kekkai Sensen only if you're okay not having all the answers. It's effortlessly fun while still giving you things to think about- only the things you can think about are hate, love, and family, and the way we treat each other instead of guessing plot points or anything like that. The anime focuses more on the characters, the setting, and the themes than the narrative which is what I prefer in a show anyway. Both the sub and the dub are great-if you have trouble focusing with subs, the dub really works well.
I know this review has been a bit emotional, but I hope it has expressed just how much I adore this show and why you should give it a chance. Just let yourself have fun, be moved, be awed. They're on the stage for you, so let yourself be entertained.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Feb 18, 2015
I know I'm late to the game on Baccano! but it's better late than never on a show like this one.
What do you say about a show like this? It's certainly unique among anime- the overlapping stories are nothing short of masterful. Knowing what happens at the end can sometimes ruin a story, but it actually manages to enhance the experience of Baccano! Even when you know who survives aboard the Flying Pussyfoot, for example, it somehow manages to be thrilling and suspenseful throughout the experience.
What takes the interesting concept and well-executed story to the next level, however, are the characters. Even in
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the short thirteen episodes (plus the three specials afterwards), each character is fleshed out and feels real. Of course, some get more screen time, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they end up being left out. The surprise character reveal more than halfway through the show ends up being one of the most fascinating and engaging characters of the show.
And, let's be real here, this show is worth watching for Isaac and Miria alone. These two should be at the top of any best duo list- for anime or really just in general. The two prevent the anime from ever taking itself too seriously or delving too far into its more gruesome side. I've never seen a pair of character before that can just make you smile as soon as they appear. I looked forward to their every moment and they never let me down.
My only complaints- the art was fine and worked well for the show, but it wasn't anything particularly special. I'm not sure if it was just my source, but anything happening on the outside of the train was extremely dark and difficult to see as well.
That opening though. That opening is a classic of anime.
So, I would say that Baccano! is certainly a must-watch. I went with the dub, which honestly feels more natural considering that most of the show is set in 1930s New York- the different accents made it all feel more authentic. I think Baccano! is a great anime to start with too: the dub is great, the subject matter is accessible, and it's got a nice balance of drama and humor. If you've got someone you want to introduce to anime, Baccano! is the way to go.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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