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The long awaited second season of Kuroko no Basuke- if you found the first season enjoyable, then I assure you... the second will not disappoint.

As expected, the second season acted as a continuation from the first, cutting straight to the Winter Cup and previewing of most of the main participating teams. If I were to describe the plot in one sentence, it would simply be 'Seirin High fights to win the Winter Cup.'

And that's all the second season needed to be as incredibly epic it was.

Was this story unique? In a way, it was. In a way, it wasn't. Kuroko no Basuke is categorized ... as a shounen anime; therefore, do not watch this series (this goes for the first season as well, obviously) not expecting certain shounen elements. Don't watch this series if you utterly DESPISE shounen, because more than likely, you will be disappointed. Like any other shounen, Kuroko no Basuke has friendship elements- players power up for the sake of friendship.

However, the uniqueness of this anime all boils down to one thing: the characters. If crazy as fuck abilities are what made this anime a shounen, then it's these characters that pull the show back to reality. I've seen many a shounen, and while the characters are awesome, the excitement is often short-lived. Shounen protagonists may not always be completely flat. I have seen promising characters with engaging and emotional pasts and come to love them. But what TRULY makes a series, which happens over a span of time, is character DEVELOPMENT. There is nothing more disappointing than jumping in with the characters and following along on their journey, only to realize they never grow.

Because of these incredibly dynamic characters (and despite being a relatively short series, the number of characters who got development is impressive) a complex plot lies underneath that one simple sentence. Humans are complex, and the way these characters are portrayed is almost astonishing. This plot is nothing to awe at; just hearing it alone won't prepare you in the slightest for what this series will bring you... but it suits it incredibly well. This is about high school boys doing what they love- playing basketball. A plot more complicated than this simply will not do.

This plot, however, will have its downsides for certain people. For one: it is incredibly exaggerated. Characters will have five minute dialogues in the middle of the court, thought speeches in the middle of a dunk or a shot, and impossibly agile movements that are enough to make your eyes spin. A major complaint for this show is that it’s very unrealistic compared to actual basketball. And the truth could not have been said better. Face it folks, never in your life will you see someone legitimately shoot a basketball on the opposite end of the court, have an arc high enough to nearly reach the ceiling, and make it in without so much as touching the rim. If you are looking specifically for honest, realistic basketball, then save yourself some time because that is not what you will find here. (I would suggest Slam Dunk.)

However, this exaggerated plot is also what makes this anime unique, because it takes basketball on a completely different level- and does it well. While this show may be ridiculous, this provides all the more opportunities to break out huge levels of excitement and pure thrill from the watchers. It made this as interesting, epic and thrilling as it was. Never once was I bored watching them play a game. And as mentioned before, this is a shounen; characters will have ridiculous abilities… but these abilities are also very cool. :D

Two: on a basic level, the show can be predictable. From watching, you could probably guess who wins or loses. This is that kind of anime that makes you think, ‘The main guys will probably win.’ In that sense, and in that sense only, this show is predictable.

But the method by which they win is not predictable. A game will take unexpected twists and turns, and while you probably know that they’ll come out on top in the end, you may wind up thinking at some point, ‘This looks really bad for Seirin.’ By the time the last buzzer sounds, having seen them struggle like hell, you would feel that they truly did deserve their victory, that they did not just pull a victory from their asses in the name of ‘friendship’ because the physical and mental struggles were so well depicted. While Kuroko no Basuke did throw logic out the window and made its own, there is a certain flow to their victories that follow logic to that extent. Forgive my poor explanation, but that’s all I can say on this particular matter.

Three: there’s… fanservice? Kuroko no Basuke is by no means chock full of it, but during those few instances, they don’t hold back, both on the male and female side. If you despise fanservice, then this anime may not be so great for you.

The plot has excellent pacing with endings that make you want to pull your hair out. Humor is a strong point with this one, and the show never tries too hard to be funny which is good. Their moments are well timed and contributed to my enjoyment quite a bit. In terms of plot, the show is definitely well off.

The art has certainly ramped up quite a bit from the first season, both in the drawing of its characters and the animation... oh, the animation. It's nothing to laugh at. In the first season, the animation, most particularly in the beginning, was on that fine line between average and just plain bad. While it did have its moments (one being Aomine's ridiculous play) for the most part it wasn't anything to brag about. It did its job, but, for lack of any other way to say it, it was average. The SECOND season, however, had little or nothing to complain about. If you've seen the first season, the second you see the second season's OP... you know this series will be one hell of a ride. Just those few short minutes will tell you how far the show has come in terms of animation and art. The characters appear slightly older (which isn't unexpected) and art also a bit cleaner and brighter, well worthy of 2013/14. If you are a person who watches anime for attractive characters, then you will not be disappointed. Of course, there is and always will be those moments where the video stops to buffer or you happen to pause at a particularly awkward moment and the character was drawn so terribly in that one frame that it's enough to make you want to face palm. Very rarely do I notice these awkward moments while the video is running, however, and when I do it's never for more than a few seconds and not nearly enough to take my enjoyment away from it or make me complain.

Sound for the second season was another plus in my book. As far as I know, all the characters of season one retained their VA's into season two, and I have no qualms with the new additions. Kagami's English is still laughably bad, but whether you consider that a pro or con, I'll leave to you. Soundtrack, while not as good as the first season's, does have its redeeming pieces and never worked against the story. However, they have gotten repetitive to the point where I've NOTICED that tracks were being used more than a few times, and as this was never a problem for me in the first season, this could be called a negative. The openings and endings, however... were excellent, There's no other way to put it. While the actual sound tracks weren't as good as in season one, the openings and endings I believe to have exceeded the first's overall quality. I've come to like each and every one of them, which is unusual because no matter how short a series there would always be a few I didn't have particular love for. But, all of them were excellent. Though the first OP and the second ED (sung by Kuroko, mind you) are my personal favorites, I've fallen for every single one of them.

As mentioned before, the characters are where the show excels. Ever changing and growing, if there's a single character you dislike, there will be at least ten you love. Ranging from a small, quiet and unnoticeable boy (gee I wonder who that is) to an eight feet tall lazy ass freshman of a colossal titan on the court, each and every one of the characters has their own memorable quirk that will make impossible to forget. These guys WILL use their pasts to jerk feels from you, whether you like it or not. They have their weaknesses, their strengths, and the way they interact with each other is pure gold. Truly, they are high school boys. They may fight, they may argue, and they may beat each other senseless, but they come through in the end. I have zero complaints as far as their appearance and designs (you could literally tell who's who just by looking at their hair) and their personalities complimented their skills on the court quite well. Unfortunately, I do have SOME complaints in terms of the characters, and while they weren't enough to keep me from loving this show, I do believe they're worth mentioning.

Most certainly, I was overjoyed that some characters who were in the last season had a chance to show who they really were. A good amount of characters were explored, an amazing amount of characters developed... but a lot of characters were also left neglected. The girls, though I hate to say it, were used for little more than fanservice. Sure, Momoi dragged Aomine's ass to see a game and Riko trained the boys, and though I wouldn't say they weren't portrayed as a significant part of the plot, they didn't get nearly as much development as they should have. Seirin's coach, despite training them to the level where they had advanced to the finals of the Interhigh with nothing but freshmen, and being a freshman and a GIRL herself, had her past explored very little. But, a tad more of her personality is revealed so the whole season wasn't just for naught. However, I can't say the same applied to Touo's manager, who also seems under appreciated. A few more females wander their way into the second season, and while logically they did have MAJOR roles in terms of impact on the characters, their situation in terms of screen time and development aren't any better than those of our previous women. Other under appreciated characters includes the other freshmen on the team, who literally got NOTHING during the second season, though they trained just as hard as the others. These characters should have definitely been given more attention, and it is upsetting that they didn't get more than they did. Regardless, it wasn't enough just yet to keep from watching the show, and I do believe the other characters were developed to the point where this isn't a large problem as for a 25 episode series, the sheer amount of development was already amazing.

My enjoyment? This may have already been obvious, but I enjoyed this series like no other. Sure, some series may have had me laughing a bit more, crying a bit more, and thoroughly ENGAGED a bit more, but what made Kuroko no Basuke special for me was the careful and vast amounts of all three. The anime is very balanced in every aspect and will not fail to get you hyped. Having already rewatched the first season as well as the majority of the specials, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to do the same for this season. Even on the last episode, I was grinning like an idiot yet incredibly sad when it ended. I love this series from the bottom of my heart and would love to get this out to as many people as possible. If someone I knew wished to give anime a try, I would gladly direct their attention to this wonderful series, because it had nearly every positive characteristic the world of anime has to offer.

But, as I've also hinted, Kuroko no Basuke is not a perfect series. It has its flaws, and while there are few in my opinion, these flaws will break the show for some people. Again, if you hate shounen, do not watch this. If you’re looking for “realistic” basketball, do not watch this. If women with F-cup breasts are enough to ruin a show for you, do not watch this. If people with ridiculously bright colored hair turn you off, then for the love of God, please do not watch this.

However, if you’re someone like me who’s willing to dive into any anime, regardless of how crazy it looks and how impossible it is, just for the thrill and enjoyment of it, then please, do watch this. Because from Kuroko no Basuke, thrill, enjoyment, and a HECKLOAD of feels… will come.

Katekyo Hitman Reborn is a comedy/shounen/ action anime, told from the view of a male, middle-school student named Tsunayoshi Sawada. The series is almost, if not completely told from his point of view, (I fail to remember any time it wasn't.) and did fit moderately well together. It wasn't completely consistent, as there were some random, filler episodes popping up every now and then mainly for comedic purposes, but it didn't stray too far from the original plot and for the most part amusing, so nothing I would harp about. I have to say, what made this series one of the most interesting was its ... originality. An infant (emphasis on infant) named Reborn, who is supposedly the most famous hitman on the planet (the anime failed to elaborate more on Reborn's past, unfortunately, but again, nothing I would harp about) suddenly shows up to Tsunayoshi's house, tells the boy he was there to tutor him (and quite the arduous task, as the child legitimately failed at everything.) and throws him into a hell of training, later revealing that this meek, pathetic child was to become a mafia boss. It is not an OVERLY complex story. It does get a bit complicated, especially involving the family matters (mafia family, mind you) but not exactly rocket science. Far from it, actually. Really, most people shouldn't have a problem whereas understanding the plot is concerned. Pacing was, in terms of plot advancement, VERY slow in the beginning, which is probably what kept the anime from getting the recognition it deserved. However, as things got on (third, fourth arc or so) there were little or no problems. Another thing I liked was that it can quite unpredictable at times. Predictable sometimes, but many times unpredictable. There are crazy plot twists that absolutely no one could anticipate (unless they had read the manga), which is very good, especially in Shounen anime, which tend to be repetitive and predictable. These plot twists were rather exciting for me. The show portrayed comedy pretty well. I laughed a good many times through the show, and found most of it very amusing, but there were some that seemed, put very bluntly, awkward. And in some cases, even slightly annoying. Of course, the anime wouldn't have been nearly as good as it was without this humor, so I'll take the good as well as the bad. The ending was... somewhat satisfying. Not abrupt at all, but there were a few mysteries that the anime never solved, and ended in a scenario that left you wondering what would have happened if the series continues, but it wasn't too bad. These mysteries were solved in the manga, so if it is ever animated (something I doubt, after such a period of time, unfortunately) there would be no problems. :D The ending wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. That's really all I can say about it.

One thing that sets this apart from typical shounen was... it wasn't your typical shounen. There WERE friendship themes, undeniably. However, instead of win win win for the sake of your comrades, as many shounen are, in Katekyo Hitman Reborn, there ARE losses. For the most part, not losses losses, but they actually sacrificed for each other instead of powering up insanely at the thought of their friends. Granted, it did happen, but never did it seem forced or typical. It was actually touching to see.

The art in Katekyo Hitman Reborn was standard, if not slightly higher. Nothing spectacular, but it did its job and didn't bring the series down. For me, it was memorable. I have never seen this particular style in any series before, and, though there is nothing remarkable, I quite liked it. I VERY much like how the characters look, easy to distinguish and... well, the characters look cute walking around town but seriously epic in a battle. They all have their own serious expressions and their normal, ones, unique to their personalities, which gave the story a good mood. The animation however, was very, very good. No complaints. They were smooth, dramatic (sometimes a bit too
dramatic, but makes things a bit more exciting for some people) and just plain fun to watch, especially the battles. You get a clear idea of what's going on, which is one of the key points to truly being able to enjoy such scenes. The quality of the art DID get better throughout the series. Not drastically better, but the change is noticeable. I noticed next to nothing as far as the animation department goes, but it was already good so I have no complaints.

Sound was very good. The anime had great soundtracks and background music, which did their job for the scenario nicely. It's not AMAZINGLY great, but great nonetheless. I LOVED the openings for the most part, especially the second and third. Actually, there were rather few that I DIDN'T like. Either way, the openings were great. The endings, however, were very... skippable. Not bad, but not attention catching. Not very memorable at all. The seiyuus did their job VERY well. For the most part, the characters in Katekyo Hitman Reborn were.... eccentric. There were so many scenes that required drastic emotion and gusto to pull off, yet their did their jobs so plainly well. It just seemed natural and was very fitting for the anime. I have absolutely no complaints.

One of the things that made this series so amazingly lovable, were its lovable characters. There ARE good number of characters for the show, but every single one was memorable. Each and every character served a kind of purpose or role, no one unnecessary. They were all so different, and fun to watch. The way they interacted was just so realistic. The characters were consistent, and showed significant development throughout the series. Appearances and voices fit them very well. They were well-rounded, each with their own set of weaknesses and strengths. I really did fall in love with all of them, and even the enemies were just so memorable. They all reacted to their situations as their personalities would have. As far as the characters go, I had no problems at all.

I enjoyed this VERY much. It is a personal favorite and I remember I dearly, even considering rewatchng all 203 episodes. I laughed, cried, grinned like a fool... it could be rather touching at times. And, I have to admit, I was disheartened when I finished. After I read the manga (which you will be driven to do after you're done) I was even more disheartened, as there were many things that happened in the manga that SHOULD be animated. But alas, low chance after so many years. Put very simply, I ADORED this series.

Overall, I loved it. I LOVE it. The only thing that kept me from giving this a 10, was the random filler and awkward beginning. Thing is, with this series, you have to be patient. Though the first 30 or so episodes show little plot development, you really shouldn't skip it. Even without the plot development, there IS character development, there IS bonding between the characters, and unless you tough out the first 30, you most likely won't be able to grasp how deep their bonds are, what their interactions symbolize later on in the series. It also gives you more time with them by the time it's over, and probably enjoy it even more. So, I wouldn't recommend skipping the first bit, no matter how irritating it can get. (Tsuna's boxer transformation DO cease eventually. I did find this first arc amusing, but these transformations were undeniably irritating.) I would recommend this to any shounen, comedy lover, and even any shounen, so long as they can tough out the first bit because it does get INCREDIBLY good later on, and you'll be happy you didn't miss anything by the time the series is over. I would NOT recommend watching this after the manga, because the anime will seem hellishly slow.

So, this is a very good anime. I hope you found this review helpful and, if you decide to try the anime, find it to your liking.

For the story, I was caught between a 3 and a 4. I didn't find it 'decent,' but nor did I think it was poor. In the end, I chose a 4, because I thought it was slightly closer to decent. The story was told mainly from Shu's, the main character, point of view. The episodes did not fit neatly together. Many times, I found myself thinking that it's as if different people were constructing the episode from the previous, with only a general idea of what went on. The order didn't make much sense, and neither did the timeskips. At first, the story was ... quite straightforward, very easy to understand. Over the episodes, however, things got increasingly complex to the point where I've actually gotten bored. The pacing was ridiculous. Perfect in the beginning, but after maybe 6 or 7 episodes, it's either extremely slow or extremely quick. The show is categorized as action, which was quite clear in the beginning, but in the second half it was more of a cheesy love story (which really doesn't go well with action). The action was still there, yes, but it was bland, and more often then not had no significant meaning. The romance was... well, it hurt to watch. The series is a darker one, with plot indicating a heavy atmosphere and high tension. Romance of that caliber really shouldn't be in it. And besides that, it seemed extremely forced. The ending was alright. It actually got quite interesting towards the end, but it just doesn't match well with how the show first started. The original concept was amazing, and I thought it was genius. But the plot shortly went haywire. Many people have most likely said this already, but I will say it myself because I strongly believe to be true; Guilty Crown was wasted potential. With this concept, a truly amazing story could have been created, but this... this is not it.

With Guilty Crown and all its flaws, the art is gorgeous. There's no denying it. The style is similar to many others I've seen, but just somehow more beautiful. The animation was perfect, with smooth transitions and stunning lights. The backgrounds were amazingly detailed, to the point where it's almost realistic. For having aired in 2011-2012, the art is exceptional. The style didn't seem to change through the series, and the character designs were highly appealing and easily distinguishable, and fairly suitable to their personalities. The art itself is one of the main reasons I watched this through to the end.

The voices fit the characters quite nicely, and they did their job extremely well. The background music was perfect for the settings and situation, and made the battles seem more realistic. The OP and ED were absolutely amazing (the first OP was heaven to my ears) , and I'm quite fond of all of them. These songs had some sort of depth to them, and another one of the reasons I enjoyed it as I did.

One of the biggest flaws for this show were their characters. Appearance wise, as I've already said, they are easily distinguishable and match the character fairly well. However, personality wise, they weren't consistent. They weren't well rounded, and seemed to be all over the place. I quite liked the characters in the beginning, but they really became quite random as time went on. I can't find myself relating to them at all, and none were fleshed out very well. Some of the supporting characters were more well rounded than the main, which should never be the case. I particularly disliked Shu, and was quite disappointed in Inori towards the end. (I loved her at the beginning.) I will remember a few of the characters, yes, but Inori mainly for her unusual appearance and Ayase, my favorite character in the entire show. Others I will most likely remember as well, but only because I disliked them.

If you aren't very much into plot or getting into the story, I believe you would enjoy this show just for the amazing graphics. However, if you are one to think about what you are actually watching, I doubt you will. I believe this would apply to non-anime/manga lovers as well. Perhaps I will re-watch this again, but only in the case I'm extremely bored or am curious as to whether seeing this again would make me enjoy or dislike it more. This series wasn't particularly memorable, as the plot was quite dull. Overall, it wasn't too bad, but it most definitely could have been better.

Yes, I found the story outstanding. It was generally told from 2 characters' point of view, and was extremely distinguishable. You really can't get confused by it. Episodes flowed smoothly, with the exception of the last few in which the plot seems a bit rushed. One of the main reasons I enjoyed this was because it was completely original. Even with these familiar names, it's of no relevance to where you may have previously seen them. Their concept of magic is like one I've never seen, and I've seen many stories involving such things. The plot kept me guessing, and new things were discovered at ... every turn, but never to the point where it got too complex. Even the politics were explained well enough so you can completely understand it, but not overdone as to get boring. In other words, it's an easy to understand series. The pacing was just right for the plot, quick as it should be for a story of adventurous nature. However, as I said above, the last few seemed a bit rushed. But if one doesn't think too hard (or read the manga beforehand, as I have) I believe they won't notice anything. The adventure was displayed very well, with constant conflict and action. The slight touch of humor lightened the mood at the right moments, and though a few seemed forced, I still found them amusing. Their methods of fighting were quite varied, so it may be confusing, but the techniques of the main characters were straightforward enough. The ending wasn't quite satisfying. Not to say it's very good, because it is, but it left a few mysteries open that clearly need to be resolved in the next season. (Something I look forward greatly to.) Overall, the story was very nearly perfect.

The art in this was unique as well. All the characters have this chibi-ish appearance to them, but varied enough so the changes in their moods are displayed quite clearly. Also, every character was distinguishable, which makes any story that much easier to follow, and their appearances suit their personalities very well. The background art was beautiful, and the animation stunning. Extremely smooth, with distinguishable colors and slight, dramatic pauses and speeding, but never too dramatic. It made the action seem more realistic. The art never changed throughout the story, which is to be expected since it's one of the shorter series. I find it very memorable and enjoyable to see, and I would re-watch this series any time just to see it again.

The sound was fantastic, with upbeat OPs and EDs that get you in the mood to watch that episode and the next. I especially loved the 1st OP and the second ED, though all of them were amazing. Appropriate soundtracks at appropriate times, and realistic sounds that make it seem as if you were there. I find it exceptional on how much detail they put into the sound, and the clarity of it was amazing. The voices were perfect, matching the character's expressions to the point of flawlessness. I would gladly listen to the OST anytime; just hearing the series is a joy.

The characters were well rounded, nearly all of them indicating some sort of hard past, and individual flaws and strengths, which were clearly displayed. I can't say I can relate to the characters as I've never been in any of their situations, but I imagine I would feel something similar if I were. Some were fleshed out more than others, and some very little, but those were minor characters that had very little appearance in the show. Enough of their personality was showed for them to successfully play their roles, with just a little extra to make them memorable. The show had no narration, but that suited the series just fine. I believe I will remember nearly of these characters, and I particularly liked the main three. None I disliked, as even the enemies were well rounded. Really, the characters personality wise were quite realistic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series, and I believe others will as well. It's fun, interesting, and a thrill to watch. The characters did react to their situations in a realistic way, making it that much more easy to get in to. I think even non-anime/manga lovers would enjoy this. And, as I said before, I would re-watch the entire show at anytime. I really just loved it. It's a memorable one, and I think I won't forget it anytime soon.