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Jan 20, 2019
The Phantom Troupe Arc and Chimera Ant Arc were the only good arcs in my opinion. Luckily, the Chimera Ant Arc is ~50 episodes, and it was all spectacularly crafted. In both these arcs, the story gets dark, and we see some character development in Kurapika and Killua, respectively. The worst part for me was the length of the series i.e. the time it took to get to these two arcs. The other arcs are very stereotypical shounen, with the Hunter Exam Arc being the most intolerable in this respect. Side note: you will get annoyed w/lack of OST in beginning of series.
The series
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took me over a year to finish because I kept tuning out midway through these lesser arcs. It took friends nagging to get me to finish, but I'm glad I did. The Chimera Ant arc really redeems the rest of the show.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 24, 2017
"What is this fuckery with my emotions?" This is the question I keep asking myself as I watched this anime.
Code Geass surprised me in many ways. I started watching it with an expectation that it be basically a mimic of Death Note, and while I admit that there are fundamental overlying tenets with Death Note, it is pleasantly much more different than I had imagined.
Let's start with the good things about CG:
The characters. You hate them. You love them. You want to punch them in their faces. You want to hug them during times of tragedy. Ultimately, the characters presented in CG are come off
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as much more human and are more relatable than the characters in Death Note. Lelouch is a much more complicated. There are times during which his dark side shine, and you really believe he is a demon. However, throughout the season, he faces many more moral dilemmas than Light does. This is simply due to the fact that Lelouch has many more people he deeply cares about than Light does. His intentions are a messy mix of thirst for revenge, corruption by power, arrogance, guilt over hurting those close to him, and his love for his sister. Many of the supporting characters are equally complex, notably Suzaku. One of the most intense and interesting characteristics about this anime is the juxtaposition between Suzaku's and Lelouch's ideology and what Lelouch says, "which one of us is the bigger hypocrite."
Even if you don't end up liking Lelouch or Suzaku (the two central characters), the chances are that you'll find at least one other character you can empathize with or at the very least root for.
I like the setting of the anime and the general framework of the plot. Let's be real. Just because there are megatrons and magical girls running around, this anime isn't completely out of this world. In a colonial society, the Japanese or Elevens have a choice: submit to the higher authority in a state of indefinite subjugation, or risk losing everything to fight for true freedom. Like any war or military conflict, lives will be lost. Morals will be questioned. People will be led down the path of darkness. Many things happen that you don't want to happen, but that's the bleak reality of what happens in a colonial struggle like this one. While this certainly isn't the only theme of CG, it does get you thinking about the world around you. Remove the fantasy and sci-fi elements from this, and you basically have an idea of the questions that arose in most of the countries that exist today as they revolted against their colonial oppressors.
However, for me, the plot was driven mostly be the interactions between characters and their struggle to distinguish right from wrong. Layered atop a complex battle for independence is the emotional fuckery I was talking about. This anime tugged at my heartstrings a lot more than I expected because of the inherent human element to it.
Now, my qualms:
Ultimately, my qualms are pretty minor. One of the things CG tries to do is cover as many anime genres as possible from mecha to slice of life. Tidbits of romance and fanservice are incorporated. While I thought it was done decently well, I can see why people would complain about CG trying to tackle too many things at once and spreading itself out thin.
Another qualm I have is with Kallen's character development. An episode was narrated by her, and although she is a main character (fights in all battles), I feel like there's some empty room for real character exploration that the show doesn't quite fulfill. Essentially, it's lost potential.
Lastly, I find Lelouch's ideology to be hard to follow. Light's was simple: create a world without villains/criminals with him as the arbiter of justice. WHile I like lelouch's complexity, I find his elaborate schemes to be a bit "extra" if his sole motivation is to protect his sister. However, some of these problems are resolved in s2, when he finally gets a better idea of what it is he's truly fighting for.
Overall, it's a must watch anime!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 24, 2017
Story [9]:
I'm usually not a slice of life fan, but I really enjoyed this one. The plot moved at a good enough pace that kept me wanting to know more. There were gaps that were lost from the manga to anime adaption, however. I wish it incorporated the epilogue at the end of the manga in the movie.
Art [10]:
High-quality, sharp, colorful, and great visual effects.
Sound [10]:
Warm, fuzzy, calm, and beautiful.
Character [8]:
The reason I give this a lower score is that I didn't think the anime depicted Ueno as well as the manga did. While she is a complex character, certain important details about her
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and her thoughts of Nishimiya were dropped from the adaption. Overall, her intentions and motives are less clear in the anime than in the manga. Also, I feel like Mashiba is just kinda there without a purpose. He has more lines in the manga, and we get to know him more in the manga. However, these are just minor complaints in contrast with the overall character development. Ishida and Nishimiya are definitely dynamic characters, and as you watch the movie, you definitely root for them the entire time.
Enjoyment [10]:
"Leave me be. I'm in a beautiful state right now with a beautiful anime."
Overall [10]:
Not as great as Kimi no Na Wa, but a close one! It's definitely the best anime I've seen recently.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Feb 13, 2017
*No Spoiler Alerts*
Overall, I think it was a good anime, especially for those who are still a bit new to the world.
For more experienced anime viewers, let's say that if Rize's kagune could talk, and Ken Kaneki had a harem of oblivious girls, then it'd be Parasyte. Essentially, Parasyte is a prototype of Tokyo ghoul with a slightly different theme.
Parasyte tackles some thought-provoking themes (e.g. nature of humanity, the natural order, environment) and comes to controversial yet likely true conclusions about them. However, I found that sometimes these themes were introduced a bit to rapidly or became the focus solely in the later episodes.
My main
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qualm was that many of the supporting characters were never truly developed and oftentimes would disappear and reappear sporadically. However, there was significant character development in the main ones, which was done well.
Overall, I think it's an anime definitely worth watching. I think the first ~8 episodes were amazing, middle episodes made me want to stop watching at points (the only thing that kept me going was the suspense and action), and the last episodes were pretty good. Suspense is definitely played well, and I like how all of the manga has been adapted into this series, so we get closure at the end.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 28, 2017
Faults:
1) I will admit, this anime is low-key sexist since Nanami is a bit typical of shojo romance. The opening song lyrics are the pinnacle of this.
2) The only other one I can think of is that the plot is typical of Slice of Life animes, so it doesn't really progress to any set goal. However, it's only 13 episodes long per season, so it's not bad.
Pros:
1) It's definitely funny, and I did laugh out loud at moments.
2) I like the character development that goes on in the supporting characters.
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Overall:
Watch it if you have plenty of time and are bored. If you like shojo and romance, then watch it as well. If not, then you're better off finding something a little more meaningful.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 22, 2017
*No spoilers*
I normally don't read shoujo or Slice of Life because I find them all somewhat the same (and low-key sexist). However, I really enjoyed Orange.
Orange delivers some meaningful messages without delving in too deep to the point where it requires a lot of close analysis. It tells a story about the power of friendship and the natural desire for human interaction. It touches on the subject of mental illness. And it touches on the idea of living without regrets.
Although there are certain cliché elements you've seen in other animes/mangas in Orange (e.g. parallel worlds, time travel), I didn't feel like they interfered with
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my ability to enjoy the manga.
All the characters were relatable and likable, and chances are we may have our own real-life counterparts to them.
I thought the length of the manga was just right, and for the most part, it always seemed like there was a definite progression of plot. Although many of the themes of Orange are serious in nature, there are plenty of light-hearted, humorous moments in it too.
10/10 recommend reading Orange. Nuff said.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Dec 30, 2016
There's a reason this is #2 on MAL. I originally didn't want to watch this because I binge watch all animes, so 64 episodes seemed too time-consuming. BUT after finally being nagged by my friend to watch, I did, and I was sucked into it. It's so worth the time it takes!
The plot is action-packed but incorporates some deep themes (e.g. nature of humanity, divine power, family) and light-hearted moments as well!
The art is great. Everything is full of color, and the contrast between duller scenes really serves well to emphasize the more sullen nature of them. I also think the classic anime expressions
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were incorporated very well. The battle scenes are depicted amazingly too.
I really liked the soundtrack, though it doesn't make it my top 1.
I think the character development was good, and it was present in supporting characters as well! In fact, I'd say the character development in one of the supporting characters matches (or even exceeds) that of Ed himself. The only complaint I have about the characters is that Winry seems to become irrelevant towards the end of the series, which was a bit disappointing.
Overall, this is a great and must-see anime. If you want action, it's here. If you want humor, it's here. If you want deepness, it's here.
One thing I find particularly interesting is how although this anime/manga is probably the most well-known shonen, it was actually authored by a woman. I liked observing the contrasts between the various female protagonists, but that analysis is just for me :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Dec 23, 2016
**NEED NO FEAR, FEW SPOILERS HERE**
Overall, this was a fun anime that left me wanting more! The plot, for the most part, was always moving and left me with a little suspense at the end of each episode. There's a lot of great action and a bit of humor too. You definitely want to know what happens next, though there are some parts (the ones that involve his interaction with the non-important female characters) around mid-series that you can skip.
My main complaint has to do with the distribution of screen time for the supporting characters. Let's just say, it's unevenly distributed, so literally, there will
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be ~5 ep. of Subaru and ______ together before ______ disappears. However, the punctuated screen time together isn't wasted since a LOT of development happens between the characters. This leads me to my next compliment.
I thought overall the character development with Subaru was noticeable, but his rate of development isn't constant throughout the entire series. It's punctuated. Think of it this way: if there was a graph with an x-axis representing # of ep. and y-axis representing character development, the line starting from the origin (ep. 1) isn't linear. His development is stagnant at some points and exponential at others. He ultimately ends up as the good protagonist we all like (which is more than characters like Eren Jaeger can say), but there will be bumps along the way and episodes that make you want to cringe at him--especially mid-series! In regards to other characters, there is significant development in one of the supporting characters--and the scenes with that character will tug at your heartstrings!
One thing I always search up in an anime before I (a girl) watch it is "How sexist is this anime?" Re:zero is a harem, and I can definitely see why some people would think of it as sexist. For me, the anime lies in this gray area. It's definitely not as sexist as "Kaichou wa Maid-sama" but definitely not as feminist as any Miyazaki film. The female characters were all capable young women who could easily beat the crap out of Subaru, so your interpretation of "Is this anime sexist?" will honestly lie in the details and interactions between the female characters and Subaru. I think for the general guy, this anime isn't sexist, but for some girls, it might turn you off.
My last comment has to do with the fact there are some knots that haven't been tied up and some important plot events that aren't explained. As unsatisfying as that may be, I think that's not the anime's fault. The light novel series is still ongoing, so don't expect to have all your questions answered nor blame the anime for not answering them. So you'll just have to wait for more :)
WELP, HOPE YOU FOUND THAT HELPFUL B/C I'M BEING TRASHED FOR WRITING THIS REVIEW BY MY WEEB FRIEND
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 30, 2016
Minimal spoilers here:
Overall, I enjoyed this show because it sought to ask tough questions and explore dark themes. For example, what is it that makes us human? How natural is the order humans have established? To what extent is sacrificing humanity necessary for stability? Who holds truly holds power, and is that rule just? How does age impact perception of the world and its evils?
Additionally, I felt that it incorporated elements that make it unique from its other dystopian-world anime counterparts. Shinsekai Yori aims to introduce ideas like evolution into its main plot, something we don't typically see shows like Psycho-Pass.
Even though the anime
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starts off with the protagonists as children, I thought it did a great job of blending in darker themes into the kids' adventures. IN fact, I think the show introduced its dark elements best because the protagonists were kids. The show definitely makes you feel like you're growing up alongside the characters, and there will be heart wrenching moments along the journey. Furthermore, I thought the relationship between the two main characters was beautifully developed as well.
Now, my qualms.
One problem with shows that aim to provoke too many deep questions at once (with a limited budget and episode count) is that not all of these questions are answered and not all of these ideas are addressed as deeply as they need to be. My main issue with the show is that some of the themes from season 1 (e.g. proper perception of children, dangers of the subconscious) don't seem to get the justice they deserve in season 2 and the ending. Some of these themes were very prominently featured in season 1, but I felt as if they weren't fleshed out enough in season 2.Maybe it's because season 2's emphasis on an existential threat and the characters' maturation has changed their perception of the follies of society introduced at the beginning of the show. Still, it just doesn't feel like all the loose ends were tied. Season 2 introduced some thought-provoking, disturbing ideas too, but it felt mostly plot-driven to me. I could see that the creators were trying to show society's internal issues through the manifestation of the existential threat introduced in season 2, but it could've been better incorporated. Supposedly, humanity's supposed to make progress, but I don't see concrete evidence of how. I expect grand reform, but the reform feels so much more subtle and not grand enough at the end.
My other qualm, more minor, is the relationship between the supporting characters. Although they are featured prominently at times, they tend to fade out during others. Some of these characters appear so much that they end up acting like motifs, but I don't feel like the explanation of their continued appearance and role (long after they're gone) is explained well enough.
Welp, those were my thoughts. To sum it up, I enjoyed watching it overall, but I definitely felt like the ending wasn't quite satisfying for me. The anime aims to explore deep themes, but not all of them were fleshed out well enough towards the end. The shift between seasons both made sense to me and felt inappropriate at the same time. I could understand where the creators were going with the plot, but I wasn't quite satisfied with how season 2 ended.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Sep 20, 2015
I thought that as a Rom Com, this was pretty good. Though the plot wasn't all that well developed, the show was funny and short enough to keep me watching to the end. Though I think there are a few knots that need to be tied up with the supporting characters, I could visibly see character development in the two main ones, which I value a lot. The only other complaint I'd have is that the background info was kinda sparse, so I had to research on my own what the various creatures were. But that wasn't much of a hassle. Overall, I think it's
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a really cute, light-hearted Rom Com that is tinged with a meaningful message. The relationship between the two was built at just the right pace and kept me wanting to know more!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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