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May 19, 2019
I am still new to reviews, but I thought I had to do give my take on the show while it is still fresh in my mind, y'know?
The story, is in a sense, a mix of Ao Haru Ride and Tokyo Ghoul; that being, the not-quite lovers trying to open up, and our primary suspect has his fate stolen from him at a young age, eventually accepting the path they now traverse. I enjoyed it. It moved me in a way not many have. I have never felt such bliss from anything this precious, nor been swayed to tears
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so easily. However, I also was confused as to who was involved with who, and what schemes had been set, for the first eight episodes I mean. The last couple cleared everything up. If queerbaiting is an issue to you, so be it. I like the mystery. All in all, story gets a 7/10.
Okay. I have never seen a Chinese anime before, so the scenery was a nice change of pace. The attention to detail, both in the architecture, and flashbacks, is phenomenal. Each character (excluding Jiun and the Shito lady) each had a unique appearance that set them apart from everyone else on the show. While not every character is wholly original in the looks department, it still helps the anime to be more rounded with the cast, and I 100% would love to cosplay as Huayu Yin/ Kau(the leaf girl) if given the chance! The rain always gives it a nice touch (sorry, biased?) and the props had some time to detail as well. Shading, top notch in most scenes as well. Art gets an 8/10.
Sound sets the tone, and Ling Qi's soundtrack spares no one. Episode 5 in particular was the high for me, what with the soul contract, and episode 6 showing a moment of weakness. Or maybe I am talking about the 10 episode TV show where it patches two episodes into one? Probably that. Action scenes with intense music, touching scenes with more delicate ambiance, and the voice actors almost take the cake. Maybe it's the Japanese dub to blame, but from the tone of voice, I didn't hear such raw emotion that I expected the scene to bring to the table. This was especially apparent in the scenes Ki's fiancee was furious with Keika, as I thought she sounded mildly perturbed, rather than seething with rage at the fact he chose Keika over her. Sound gets a 7/10 from me.
Character... Keika is the one I see the most growth from, but that is understandable considering he can't take his money with him to the afterlife. He starts off as materialistic as a human could be, maybe even more. Over time, he starts to lose the sentiment he once held for such things, and eventually, choosing Ki over all else. I wouldn't say he is completely changed, but I see a new passion inside him he never quite had before. I can relate to Shiyou way better though, but I have my anger under control, I promise. :) While she is definitely jealous of Keika, she learns to care for his safety despite Ki's favoritism towards him. She eventually accepts the anger she is ashamed of, and shows initiative in troubling times. I feel like Ki has more time to grow in the following season, and I might review that too (but no promises). I was unclear of Yinzhe/Intetsu's intentions for the longest time, but in the end, he is just a strict teacher after all. I kind of wish I didn't hate him so much before. I also desire to learn of the others in time. I guess I just was not satisfied. For season 1, I give Character a 6/10.
Now, watching this was the best Sunday afternoon I've had in awhile. It may even rival Gunslinger Girl's enjoyment level (unbeknownst to you as of yet). There was never a dull moment for me. I said before that episode 5 was a high for me, but I feel that episode 9 is to be my favorite. Enjoyment is a 9/10 for me.
The characters are enjoyable, the story is wholesome and somewhat original, the setting was a nice change from the modern school anime, a memorable ending theme, and an enjoyable tale that touched my heart on more than one occasion. Overall, I total my score at a little over 7/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 7, 2019
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, or Your Lie in April, starts off where one would expect a school-kid anime to, at the start of their year. Kousei (our male protagonist) gives the wrong first impression to a girl (Kaori), who happens to be dating his best friend. Despite this, their love of music is what sparked his interest, but is later demoted to Friend A. Throughout the anime, we learn of Kousei's past, his cast of friends (especially Kaori) do what they can to drive him towards the prime he once held as a young musician, and in time, free his heart.
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Everything comes at a cost though, as he desperately struggles to win over his PTSD, and the losses he suffers on the side.
When I first saw this a year ago (in April, haha), I did not enjoy it one bit, and quit about halfway through. Eventually, I had to give it a second chance. I started, knowing I did not like it, but I would indeed see it through. The subject of classical music and performance in general was my cup of tea, so of course it had a great first impression; but with modern gags and the anguishing experiences taking a toll on Kousei... I waned. It wasn't until this time around that I began to take it in as something of substance. If rooting for a ship was a test of loyalty, I would have been let go without charge, because why would I not want Tsubaki to be happy? Anyway, I felt the dynamics between the contestants was believable, performances were inspiring, and to be blunt: I always felt like it would be tragic, even without hearing others' feedback. I love tragedies, okay? It did feel a tiny bit dragged out though. Story is an 8/10!
Art is high budget these days, and those on-project worked very hard to make it stand out from others I have seen before (not like this was made specifically for me, but whatever :P). The sparkle in people's eyes, the sakura buffered by the wind, the warm palette, how sudden yet observable the difference in color between healthy and hospitalized Kaori was, just to name a few. A music anime wouldn't be complete without on-par performance portrayal, would it? Then again, I am no trained musician, but it looks to me like they went the extra mile to animate their performances the right way. The water felt so realistic that I myself felt I was going to drown alongside Kousei, and I already have a fear of plunging below... of course the portrayal was immersive. Have you met someone with PTSD? I am getting ahead of myself, sorry. I love precipitation, but while the snow was a sight for sore eyes, the rain bothered me for some reason. It just felt synthetic in comparison to everything else, whether it be how sparse it was, the sound it made, or how it never stains the pavement! That was probably why... but regardless, Art gets a 9/10.
I have a passion for music, as have my previous reviews stated. Like I said at first, the musician aspect attracted me to the show. I would like to say that regarding violin and piano, it was impeccable. However, while the opening and ending animation did their jobs to flow with their themes, the themes sort of fell short (except for the acoustic rendition of Orange I mean) ! Kousei out of everyone has the most memorable voice of all! That is not to say the rest of the cast was under-performing; they all put on a great show. Kousei's mother was haunting, while Hiroko was endearing as ever! As did they meld well. The ambiance did its job well too. Sound was an 8/10.
In terms of character, I feel Kousei's character altered gradually; fast enough to span the season, but slow enough to admire. While we only see Nagi for a few episodes, you feel for her, learn of her journey, and see her grow, finally grasping what she had been looking for this entire time: her brother's attention. Kaori's actions were of intention; while not entirely fleshed out, we get a sense of who she is in the end. I just wish Watari and Tsubaki got more attention than simply the guy who loves every cute girl in his periphery and the violent tomboy with her heart set on Piano Man. I also wish Tsusei was canon, but a girl can dream, can't she? I give Character a 7/10.
Okay, I might be a little, tiny bit sour about Tsusei... and the drowning thing... and the creepy cat... but the instruments gave me solace. Kousei, as he taught Nagi, as he took back his life, as he grew to be a man, it gave me hope. I knew Kaori would be the Juliet, but it gave me hope. Sometimes I question the validity of my own existence, sometimes it questions me. Such are the question I faced. While it is a piece of art, I feel it may have been at the back of the Louvre if anything. I mean, I would have gone there in a flash, but it just was not the most enjoyable. I still choke on my tears, even when the time has gone and passed me by, but I asked to breathe. While I love tragedies, I have seen better. Enjoyment was a 6/10.
A music anime with a shining cast of characters, unique art style, tragic premise, and one that deals you a bottle of inspiration every once in awhile. While it is imperfect, it still clings to my heart as to be expected. Overall, Your Lie in April is a 7/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 6, 2019
Orange, my favorite anime. However, I will level with you: my biases will be set aside for this, as nothing is perfect.
Story wise, this has the premise of another shoujo anime; but the twist is, the original group of five regret letting the other (Kakeru) go in their futures, and decide they will write to their younger selves what they wish could be erased, such has Kakeru's death. The entire story is basically a lesson of "don't let your regrets weigh you down" and I think it was handled well. I myself have been regretting many things, but
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this helped soften the blow at times. There are moments of hilarity, sincerity, determination, fear, solace, among others. One thing confuses me though: how could they send a package across the Atlantic if they are on the Pacific side? This didn't hamper my score much though. I give the story an 8/10.
The art aspect of the series is just as breathtaking. I can't tell whether the environments were hand-painted or CGI-based, but they are beautiful to say the least, especially when you take a look at different times of the day. Since it is a school-based anime, you will of course find the interior to be spic-and-span. Clothing is not as detailed as you might think, but a lot of time was put into realizing the expressions of each character on-screen, and shading has tapped into it's potential to say the least. I wonder how far the dub will fall short in terms of voice matchups? Props also add to the experience. I really feel like the filters added to the opening give it a sobering feel, as do the pictures that flip through in the end credits. Art gets an 8/10.
Sound is a plus for the series. It has an engaging soundscape, and a signature soundtrack front-and-center that I so desperately wish I could purchase outright, but things happen. Each character in this series has their own unique voice, a voice I will always track back to this very project if heard elsewhere. Ueda Rio though, her voice is grating on the soul (no offense to the voice actress though, sorry.) The opening and ending themes both capture the audience, setting the tone for the series. In fact, the opening is one reason why I started learning Japanese! In all, the sound aspect is a 9/10.
The series revolves around helping Kakeru open up and let go of regret. I feel this was the main focus of the writer - Ichigo Takano - and thus, he has the most progress, albeit unnoticed by me since I am no storyteller or analyst. Naho in time strives to be more forward and confident in her mission, even if senpai has it out for her, who often became a roadblock to her, until the very end. The other four have mini-arcs, or rather, the girls have trouble choosing who they root for (in terms of love), Suwa realizes his worth, and Hagita... he is mostly the same from what I saw. Still, the cast is colorful, albeit familiar in other ways. Character is an 8/10.
From the soundtrack, the emotion, the character interaction, the premise, and the attitude towards the topic of suicide and regret, I feel I should say that this anime immersed me! It is definitely rewatchable - I did at least thrice - and it is always my first to suggest to anyone, unless of course they are super into action and mecha stuff. Regardless, it is my favorite anime, and I enjoyed every second of it - this even includes the Mirai episode. I even downloaded each episode to my PlayStation Vita for on-the-go entertainment! Enjoyment suffice to say is a perfect 10/10!
Overall, the premise delivered its quota, the art is top of the line, the sound is superb, characters are colorful but defined, and every rewatch has immersed me even more. It fell a little short of a 9, so I give Orange an 8/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 4, 2019
Guilty Crown: the Lost Christmas OVA.
Before I start, can I say this is my first review of anything in ages, first of an anime too? I also failed my critique class in arts college awhile back, so that was not good; but I digress.
The Lost Christmas is in a sense the precursor to the Guilty Crown series in name more so than story. It takes place in a "near" future where humans have begun genetically altering each other, providing pest control, etc. I wonder where else we've seen this? This time around, they essentially borrow
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the souls of other compatible humans so they can use their genetic mutations to battle, which at times can seem discomforting both in the execution and, in general, artistic representation does it little to seem less grotesque. It was not explained how the hero found the government base, nor how everyone else fell into place at that spot in time, with an enigmatic onlooker cliche to boot. Story is a 4/10, but the series might be better understood than this - probably my next review.
Artistic representation you say? Well, here it is. The animation is okay. I am guessing this is an early sketch of the show, so it would be less polished and spearheaded as the series is, but it still works. The motions seem realistic in terms of how science-fiction it's portrayed to be. The action sequences - specifically explosions, smoke, fire, etc. - seem more natural and less hyped than Hollywood would agree to. The crystals are a little much, and shading was a little off, but I see work was put into costume design and well... how cute is Doluudo? Art is a 7/10 for me.
Ambience is what defines a setting for a piece of art. Whether it be the cicadas in the afternoon rays, the trail of a projectile, the shattering of crystals, it delivers a crisp and familiar chime to the ear. The voice actors for the most part live up to their intentions, especially Doluudo (sorry, but he is my favorite doggo in anime). In conclusion to it all, the Departures ending track by egoist was phenomenal, and this is coming from someone who is not really a fan of the Alter Ego recording... or is it the same one? I have no clue. If it is, then I guess I will have another listen. Sound is 8/10, and I want villain guy's phonograph.
Character development is hindered in a 14-minute short. You get introduced to a girl with a dog, walking up to some guy on a bus bench. The dog (Doluudo) takes a liking to bus bench, but girl scolds him for not giving doggy-doo affection (this is not immediately obvious, but he crystalizes everything his hand touches because of genetic misfires). They get chased by a rocket and escape by some fluke; I am not quite sure how though. Some crazy dude walks into a twister of crystals (on purpose) and doesn't regret a thing, laughing maniacally at the aftermath of it all. Up until then, the girl and Mr. Genetics Experiment show no sense of familiarity in each other, only to turn a 180 as she takes a pleasure cruise off him plucking her soul away. Then he crystalizes her dog, which she gives no care about whatsoever, the only one of them with enough screen time to make you sympathize with, and he just dies there and then. I never watched the whole series, so I am thinking these two never show up again (at least not looking exactly like that - could be because it was a sketch of the new protagonists), and thus, this is less a story, and more a demonstration/summary of what is to come, using throwaway characters no less. Character is 4/10, but Doluudo wins the Academy Award in my heart. <3
I must say, it felt too short for me. I was expecting an hour and a half, but it was only 14 minutes in length, so it was barely enough time to squeeze anything of importance into this. I also seemed to be too focused on analysis to actually sit back on my piano stool and watch as an anime fan. I feel like I would understand this less if I had not seen the first few episodes of Guilty Crown beforehand, which was in part because of my love of the Psycho-Pass series and the works of Ryo and Chelly (egoist). Watching it wasn't too boring, but if you were looking for substance, you came to the wrong place. Maybe watch it a few times to fully absorb it? I feel it would be a better fit for when your morning routine wraps up early and you can sit down with a bowl of cereal or something, because it is not going to take too much of your time if you were in a rush. Anyway, I feel I should give enjoyment a 5/10, but I would have given it a 7 if Doluudo lived. Haha...
Overall, there are better things to watch. I am unsure how closely this fits with the lore in it's namesake series, but it seems moderately similar. A precursory summary of this world, but not enough time to delve into it. The world is alive, but the people grow more corrupt, like the monologue tells. Doluudo will live on in my heart, but turquoise-hair and bus bench will fade away in time. I wish I could give this better, but I made my decision. Guilty Crown: Lost Christmas - An Episode of Port Town was a 6/10 for me.
P.S. Can you tell me how I did, and how I can improve on my reviews in the future?
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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