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Oct 24, 2014
~ No spoilers, but I will assume that you have already seen Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic~
Magi features a story driven plot supported by a HUGE cast of characters. As the mysteries of Aladdin's origins and the abnormalities in the world begin to unfold, this series manages to turn the prequel on its head with its increased intensity and scale. No longer is this simply a story of a lost boy trying to find himself in the world, but a much grander chain of events that shake the world.
Along with the bump up in scale of events, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic played out a
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number of deeper themes, touching on topics of social hierarchy, moral superiority, order and chaos, and what we choose to spend what little time we have alive doing. These themes interact with the cast of characters to create a deeply woven plot that is beautifully written and presented as we follow Aladdin on his journeys.
This series includes some action, however, the action scenes sort of take a backseat to long dialogue and storytelling. I liked the action sequences much better than the first series, but keep in mind that, while they are very well animated, the story of Magi is not really a story that relies on a lot of action, and therefore is not very realistic in terms of battles.
Characters in Magi are varied and plenty, each of them unique and carrying depth that is not often seen in other series. What I love about these characters is that they are never truly who you expect them to be. Several characters who were introduced in the first series reveal a much deeper history to their characters. A meaningful message to take from this show is that a first impression is only ever a scratch on the surface of somebody who is much more than you think they are.
Magi's production values were absolutely magnificent. Episodes were meaningful from the absolute beginning to the absolute end, and openings and endings were polished works of art. I almost never skipped an opening throughout the entire series. In addition, this show doesn't waste time on long summaries of previous episodes or previews of next ones - you won't find yourself lost transitioning from one episode to the next, but you won't get bored watching the same thing over again either.
And finally, the art. Outstanding. Magi's distinct art style really shows itself in the level of detail and effort seen on the characters. Especially when Djinn equips are shown, I truly appreciated how much work was put into designing and displaying each character. Moreover, the art style of Magi follows closely of the previous series in that the bold use of color is splendidly displayed throughout the Magi world and is used to indicate both mood and intensity. This, along with the epic story and already well established soundtrack from the first series, brought tears to my eyes more than once.
Needless to say, I was very satisfied with this series. It started off, however, a little slow for my taste. The first 7 episodes were actually quite a drag for me. As Magi: The Kingdom of Magic is a continuation of an already existing series, it does not really pique your interest in the first few episodes with new content, but rather tries to ease you back into the story that is about to unfold in new, dramatic ways. After the story picks up, however, it really flies, all the way until the end.
10/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Oct 17, 2014
NO SPOILERS. I promise! :)
Mirai Nikki, for most people, will be a hit or miss. It tries to combine a HELL of a lot of genres into one small package's worth of 26 episodes. There's probably a misconception that Mirai Nikki can be classified a "psychological thriller" the same way Death Note or Steins;Gate is commonly labeled, however, Mirai Nikki takes on a slightly different tone. At its core, Mirai Nikki was a romance.
Story - 8
It's difficult to judge Mirai Nikki's story. While it's concept is incredibly unique, it's hard to say that the presentation of it is done well. The plot twists are unexpected
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and wild, especially as the story reaches its climax, but gaping plot holes tarnish the experience a bit. You will NOT enjoy Mirai Nikki's story if you are expecting a bulletproof mystery story.
The first few episodes were extremely interesting for me. As the story progresses, however, it becomes apparent that many questions are left unanswered, and the show starts to become dull and dragged on. Mirai Nikki is another example of an anime that was too long for the story it had to tell. However, the show pulls itself together during the final episodes and picks up the pace in time to leave a mixed final impression.
Art - 9
The art is great, but not outstanding. It's evident that a lot of work was put into the action scenes to make it, well, action, and characters are drawn well. Overall, the art scheme is simply very fitting for what Mirai Nikki is. It's dark enough to be taken seriously as an action/psychological/thriller, but comedic and lighthearted as well for the aspects that need it. Mood changes within the anime are carried out pretty well.
Sound - 9
Great openings, endings, and BGM. Nothing too memorable, though.
Character - 10
Character is where Mirai Nikki becomes something to love or hate. For one thing, there are so many characters in this anime that it could not possibly hope to develop all of them or properly introduce them. The one thing it never falters from, however, is the focus on the two main characters, Yuki and Yuno. And this is where I believe Mirai Nikki truly shines.
A note on the main protagonist: Yuki is the typical Shinji archetype. He's weak, pathetic, and socially screwed, and although he goes through some incredible character development, he never becomes strong. If you are looking for that kind of Shounen anime, you should turn away now, because this kind of main character gets annoying REALLY fast.
There is no doubt in my heart, though, that Yuki becomes an entirely different person at the end of the show. He goes through a beautiful cycle of love, depression, misunderstanding and regret. Although Yuno's character development seems nonexistent at first, she is a truly unique character that is slowly unraveled and developed as well as the story reaches its climax.
Enjoyment - 8
Overall, I was pleased with the feeling that Mirai Nikki gave me. The only aspect of the show that brought it down to an 8 was that the story dragged on too long in the middle and my interest waned. I was pleasantly surprised, however, as the series finished. And although I usually come to dislike most endings, the ending to Mirai Nikki wasn't too bad.
Overall - 9
Watch it for a unique experience, but it may not be what you're looking for.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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