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You have to get through the first half of the season before it starts picking up. The light novels and manga have so much depth and a richer detailing of the story. Once it gets going I give it an 8 but the beginning is a 6 because it is just so slow and mediocre at times you really need patience or to just skip ahead (like I did having read the manga). I arrive at rating it overall a 7 with high hopes for a second season being much improved. I really hope that we get season two because once this show develops its ... outstanding with nothing else like it. It will calm and relax while diving into a beautiful world focused on adventure, friends, nature, healing and love. What is better than that?

Summer Wars is an ugly duckling of a film... it acts oddly at times but is so charming.

** here is my spoiler free review**

In Summer Wars, the Jinnouchi family forms the boisterous main character. The viewer in time with Kenji is absorbed into the family's life after some lengthy introductions. As overhwelmed as Kenji is with the family's girth and antics, he holds his own. The story only continues to up the ante and its chaos reaches new thresholds within the family and especially the online world, Oz. The odd kinship of the family is calming and cathartic and their multigenerational webbing is what ... gives the film its vigor and strength.

I rate the Characters a 9 as the Jinnouchi family shines in the film.

Contrarily, the plot material of a traditional samurai family meeting a futuristic virtual world... leaves me half aroused. Call it personal taste, but I'm not into futuristic meets traditional so extensively. It felt uncomfortable and I never settled in.

I rate the Story a 6, its not bad but its not for me.

The art is charmingly bizarre and disjointed between the virtual world and present day, I enjoyed it.
I rate the Art a 7.

The sound was ok, I wasn't struck emotionally by the score. The voice actors did well.
I rate the Sound a 7 as well.

Enjoyment wise I rate this an 8. I had fun and fell in love with heart of the family.

Overall I rate this film a 7

its fun and worth watching but it ends up feeling wobbly and off kilter for me.
I would love to see the Jinnouchi family in a comedy or drama more relevant to the family history and present day antics. I want more! This family is so damn charming and the grandma is a favorite!

I say watch it, no rush, but add it to your movie list.

one word: wholesome

ok so when I first saw clips of this anime I thought it looked bleak and boring.
I watched it after finding out Production IG animated it and soooo happy for it!!!!
here are my *spoiler free* thoughts...

Story: 8

Kurahara is a precarious college freshmen battered from extensive criticism on his previous track team. He is talented but troubled and one day meets the injured yet earnest Haiji. The two make up a team of 10 quirky/lovable individuals who in a twist of fate decide to band together in an attempt to qualify for a relay marathon.

... Art: 9

is sharp and clean from the house of Production IG (Haikyu!!)

Sound: 9
early on I was especially drawn to its soundtrack. Yuki Hayashi of My Hero Academia scored it. i want to get my hands on it! also for voice actors, they are all great. Haku's VA from spirited away voices!!

Characters: 10

honestly never felt so bonded to a group so quick, just watch you'll see. akane, the manga fanboi, will steal your heart!!

Enjoyment: 9

lets just say I caught up on all 10 episodes in lighting time so I could start watching the simulcasts. thoroughly enjoying my time with this anime!!

Overall: 9

I would perhaps offer up a 10 but Kaze ga is only half way through its season and 10s are not to be taken lightly.

Side note: Kaze ga is adapted from the novel "Feel the Wind" by acclaimed Japanese female author Shion Miura. She also wrote "The Great Passage" and a collection of essays about how Yaoi Manga is not just a hobby.

Now go watch it friends!!!! <33

one word: underdeveloped.

huge potential but the story is premature. with 16 episodes and two main characters we should know them through and through and evolve with them. this happens but really only in the last four episodes do we see substantial growth.

loved zack, okamoto was great as his voice actor. he recieved the most backstory. ray isn't as developed and suffers for it as she felt lukewarm. dr. danny was consistently a nemesis, no backstory. the priest was unbuyable, he constructs this psychopathic lair of psychological experimentation and then grows a sliver of a heart toward the end. idk.
eddie was a cute character. ... cathy was crazy and fun. all in all potentially two more characters we could connect with but zero backstory.

ultimately the plot construction was unstable and i think the producers/writers should have taken more liberties to build the dialogue from the original game. at least the art was nice.

story 4 art 8 sound 8 character 3 enjoyment 6 overall 5.

sighing to myself because there was real potential here.
oh well, i'll stop sighing and smile. glad to have taken the ride.

So I just finished this pint sized manga and wow the end felt sprung. SO much potential here and I enjoyed myself, so don't let the jerky pacing deter you. I won't include any spoilers in my review. I recommend you find an english scanslation online to enjoy as Candy Life is not available in print.

Candy Life is a one volume collection (6 chapters) of a twenty-something who wants a sweet life. She is not clear on what exactly that means. Nice things? Hot romance? Financial security? Personal freedom? The manga explores this inside a mere 6 chapters, which limits its fluidity and depth.

The beginning ... starts out strong, albeit with cliches, when depicting Makoto's dissatisfaction with her less than desirable life. If you can look past the cringey cliches and just hop right on board with the premise that this chick was hurt by life and is longing for more, you'll be gold.

She then goes on to "be saved" and get involved in a too good to be true romance, which as expected comes along with a storm of grappling with love and personal identity. Makoto explores what it means to be in love and she decides for herself that what ideals add sweetness to her life.

I genuinely was excited for and enjoyed chapters 2 and 3, even 4 was good. However by chapter 5 and the final chapter I felt like I was reading a birthday card cut off short because of lack of space. Ogawa makes a beeline ending. I would have preferred more ambiguity with secondary characters futures for more depth with our two main character's relationship growth. Makoto and her boo were enough reason to read this manga. Would love an expanded storyline around them.

Overall this is worth a read, but realize this leaves as much to be desired as it excites and entertains the reader. Overall 6.