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Nov 5, 2023
It's hard to believe that we have finally reached the end of the road for Attack On Titan. Where have all the years gone?! While I know this is mainly supposed to be for the final season...or should I call it the final final season, I definitely have to talk about Attack On Titan as a whole since I've never written a review up until this point.
Attack On Titan is hands down one of the biggest emotional roller coasters I've ever experienced in a TV series period. Following the journey of Eren Yeager and the incredible main cast was a hold on to your
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seat experience from start to finish. I couldn't have predicted where things were going despite having clear indications in episode 2 that things were not going to end with Eren becoming what so many animes tend to set up the main character to be and I think that such a subtle tell was a masterful approach because if you did not pay attention you have no earthly idea how much sh*t is about to hit the fan.
Before the end it was more than obvious what Eren's intentions were going to be but the outcome was mesmerizing none the less and I loved every minute of it.
Despite the story having so many moving pieces, some of which I'm going to have to go back and watch to make sense of, I don't think there is much confusion with the end result and I've found tying things together is often a hard thing for most animes to do but this one did it well.
It must be said that the animation was amazing throughout - one of the best looking animes hands down no question in my mind. The art style may have changed slightly but overall it did not take away from the overall experience for each season.
The music was also outstanding as well having given us a ton of incredible intro and outros along with some great arrangements during action sequences especially.
Obviously all things must come to end and I have to say that this one did end as expected, in my opinion. With that being said, it doesn't take away from the incredible work that was done over the years and I salute every hand that played a part in creating such amazing anime that I will come back to enjoy again....after I've procured the final box set.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 20, 2022
For me, Edge Runner was an amazing blast from the past and as always an amazing work of art created by the fine folks at studio Trigger.
Art Style and Animation 9
Studio trigger always does top notch work when it comes to their art style and animation and I was pleasantly surprised to find out they were the ones involved in creating this anime as I honestly had no clue until I started to watch.
I don’t know if it is the 80’s steam punk style that inhabits the world of Edge Runner or just an artistic choice from the director, but this
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anime brings back so many memories of classics like bubble gum crisis. If you have ever viewed anime in the 90’s, I’m sure you are going to get that feeling when watching Edge Runner.
It’s almost scary how well it captures that period in time and this is probably the biggest joy I had personally when watching this anime. The only thing that was missing was speed lines and if they did that I would have been through the roof lol.
Another thing that bears mention was the astute attention to detail with the phone calls. While it was a bit hard on the eyes to read and sometimes follow, it was a really nice touch and another bravo is in order for going that far for the sake of keeping to the source material of the game.
Story 7.5
What I’ll say about the plot for Edge Runner is that it does not get in the way. There was nothing ground breaking and the finale could have been far more dramatic but the opportunity was missed in my opinion. It is a bit head scratching because I felt like the characters were all very memorable but something was just missing overall. It was almost as if there was a rush to come to a conclusion.
The story follows David, who is attending a prestigious institution despite very destitute circumstances that are leading him into desperate decisions to stay afloat. A random incident, something that can actually occur in the world based on the video game, changes his life abruptly and things go from there.
Music 7
Outside of the intro, I honestly can’t recall much of Edge Runner’s sound track it may have been the visual eye candy was just absorbing all of my other senses but nothing really stood out to me in this regard.
Overall, Edge Runner was a visually stunning watch and it certainly brought back those feelings of old that you rarely get from today’s anime. When it comes to animes that are based on video games, Edge Runner definitely stands at the top of the list. With a more captivating story line it could have been so much more but for the entire package, it does very little to disappoint and is certainly a worth it watch without question.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 22, 2022
Season 3 of Kingdom is, in my opinion, a defining moment for the anime as a whole. Whether it is the animation, music, or the already incredible story line, Season 3 out does the seasons that came before it which is why I felt compelled to write this review.
Art style and Animation 8
It goes without saying: the art style and animation for season 3 has vastly improved over its predecessors. The use of computer animation has almost vanished this time around to the point you barely notice its use. The character design has slightly been bumped up from the previous season but it’s
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the animation that has truly gone through a huge transformation and I’m certainly hopeful things will get even better for the next season…which has already started.
Story 8.5
The story line for Kingdom has truly had the greatest impact when it comes to the staying power of this anime and it certainly continues to move the needle further with season 3. The ominous warning of Rai Boku(or Mui Li depending on the translation) in the last season comes to the fore front making what I believe to be the most pivotal moments in character development for the main protagonists thus far.
If there had to be a stand out for character development, I would say Ei Sei(Zheng Ying) who, in my opinion, definitely shows up the main star of the show Xin(Shin) this time around through his actions in this arc.
Music 7
Personally, the soundtrack for Kingdom in general hasn’t really made much of an impact in the viewing experience but this time around, I found a few high points in certain episodes that definitely intensified the moment making them more memorable in the process.
Overall, Kingdom season 3 feels very close to the masterpiece that it should have been from the beginning. Granted, the animations are not spectacular but they are such an improvement that I can’t help but praise the efforts of Studio Pierrot and look forward to jumping into season 4….which I’ve already started watching.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Feb 2, 2021
I’m not embarrassed to say that some pretty good anime gets past my radar even when the poster invites a curiosity that is asking me to just give it a gander. It took a positive reception of the second season for World Trigger to really give this anime a chance and after watching season 1, I think I have a good idea of why the new season is getting a good score.
After finding out Studio Toei’s involvement with this anime, something I neglected to pay attention to after watching 26 episodes, it now makes sense why the Art in World Trigger feels just a
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bit off. The animation is not a complete turn off as there are particular moments where it can turn from mediocre to stunning. With that being said, you can still see that senior artists play a big factor in the anime’s random quality which really hurt its chances of a higher score.
What really becomes the saving grace of World Trigger is the plot. The story follows Mikumo a 15-year old high school student who gets saved from the Kaiju like “neighbors” which come from another world. A chance encounter with a new classmate leads Mikumo down a path to becoming what is suspected as an unlikely hero in this dire situation.
As you watch each episode, you begin to understand the World of……World Trigger is an expansive one. What I grew to appreciate was the surgical push of information. This becomes apparent in the first big fight scene as we only learn just enough to follow what's happening and nothing more. The next big fight scene then continues to deliver more information in one of the most creative ways I’ve seen from an anime and it was at this point I was all in to find out just how deep this rabbit hole gets.
While the story of World Trigger isn’t a light hearted one, it definitely does not take its self seriously….at all. The writing is just as detailed as the plot and you get a great sense of personality from each character.
The soundtrack is also pleasing. I hate to be that 90’s guy but this anime is definitely giving off that deliberate vibe and the music is its main culprit.
Overall, I enjoyed the first season of World Trigger. Better animation would have made this a standout of the season, and what I believe to be a filler arc almost took me out of the anime(I skipped it) but I do recommend giving this one a chance as it will pull you in eventually.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 28, 2019
An amazing season to the start of Kimetsu no Yaiba has come to an end..and I'm finding it hard to say goodbye honestly. From it's art design to the animation, you can't help but be mystified and blown away by its pristine presentation and I found it hard not to miss an episode as it released each week.
The story follows main protagonist Tanjiro on his journey to becoming a demon slayer. As you might have guessed, the motivations of Tanjiro are..clearly going to be obvious but this also involves his sister Nezuko, who becomes the "wait a minute" surprise that intrigues this very moving
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plot forward.
What makes this tale such an engaging one is the gravity of this brother/sister relationship. It especially pulled me in on gravitational level as it relates to my personal relationship of having siblings and does an exceptional job of relaying this emotion as you watch this amazing anime unfold.
It's hard to understate the fact that this anime does not seem to disappoint on any level. The soundtrack is just as on point as the rest of its offering and it all culminates in a must watch if this one slipped past your radar.
Kimetsu no Yaiba has a bright future ahead of it and if an upcoming movie is not an indication that it is already on the level of motion picture masterpiece, then I honestly don't know what else to tell you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jul 2, 2019
What should have been a glass shattering slam dunk for the return of One Punch man ended up being a simple two step layup as I lament over what could have been for the second season of the series.
It was clear after watching the first few episodes that something had drastically changed. Animations weren't as eye popping and Genos, especially, didn't quite have that armor all shine to his design as I once remembered.
That feeling of degradation was not a false one as I would come to learn that many of the key animators who made season one of One Punch Man the
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amazing stand out it was were, in fact, legendary animators who were free lancing at the time.
This to me, is the most tragic thing that could have ever happened to this anime because this season was made for the staff who worked on season one. Knowing this fact especially made season two very, very hard to watch.
Season two introduces a main antagonist known to us, initially, as the hero-hunter, a deadly martial artist, who was trained by an s-class hero, whose motivations for terrorizing the higher ranking heroes gets revealed through time.
The latest antagonist was by far the best addition to the show as his juxtaposition is such a stark comparison to the never give up heroes that we often revere in anime. It was this attention to character development that helped to shake-off what the season lacked and kept me going.
Even with a fairly good story line in tow, things do get a bit funky as more villains are introduced, a floppy tournament gets underway, and I found this to be very off putting as this season just didn't quite seem to have the focus that it had in the previous one.
Despite the criticisms, season 2 wasn't a complete let down. The last episode finished off strong, giving me hope that the best may have yet to come. I'm just a bit disappointed that we didn't get the best out of this season after waiting for 2 years for it to return.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 9, 2019
At the very least, Gun Grave was an apparent curiosity that turned out to be a somewhat pleasant surprise. Based on a video game that I personally never had the pleasure of getting my hands on, it seemed to be getting a fair amount of rave reviews and so I dove in to find what I felt was a very compelling story line caught in a pretty mediocre action anime.
In terms of its art style and character design, Gun Grave is mostly pleasing to the eye. The issues, as I viewed them at least, only become apparent in the latter parts of the anime
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where characters become altered in some...peculiar ways. The somewhat hyped up confrontations conjured from an amazing beginning often led to a disappointing end as action sequences seldom wow and just feel rushed in their approach.
The story follows two main characters Harry and his friend only known as Grave as they struggle to make it out of a hard life of poverty when an incident changes their lives and outlooks for a roller coaster that you have a front ride seat through.
The additional cast members help to interconnect and foreshadow what is to come clearly making the story engaging..that is until the plot takes a fairly strange turn and becomes a bit of a struggle to watch thereafter. This happens up until the fated ending which somehow stumbles to recreate the same draw that it so masterfully managed to do in the beginning parts of the story.
Gun Grave is kind of…kind of a majestic storytelling and the soundtrack helps to accentuate that feeling further with its mellow undertones while using its main theme to supplant the feeling that something action oriented is about to take place, which, I have already expressed a quite mundane feeling about.
Ultimately, Gun Grave was a good watch. A bit more polish on the action sequences would have put this anime on a must revisit sooner than later list, none the less, I recommend you give this one a chance as your sentiments may not echo my own in terms of overall likability.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jul 7, 2018
Darling in the FranXX is quite a deceptive piece of work in my opinion. On the surface it paraded itself as an action mech anime that screamed fan service but watching it further you start to uncover a hidden agenda that aims to put a thumbtack on what it means to be human ultimately making this more than just a visually stunning anime.
While Darling in the Franxx doesn't quite go heavy on the action,something studio trigger has been known to do in the past, it certainly pleases on an aesthetic level. Animations are fluid and character designs protagonists and antagonists alike both share an
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instant likability.
The anime mainly follows two characters in particular Hiro, a potential pilot who at the start of the anime is teetering on losing an opportunity to become one due to his inability to find a match, and 002 a mysterious operator of a special Mech that up until this point no pilot has been able to survive with longer than 3 outings. A fateful encounter obviously results in an outcome that will change the lives of these two individuals forever.
Franxx's plot is masterful in both keeping its secrets though hints throughout the series often make it more than predictable that things are just not adding up. Outside of an interesting plot line, however, is the character growth of Hiro and his surrounding allies. Its deceptive use of adolescent characters living in an environment that adults only observe leads to this constructive thesis about human relationships something I never saw coming from this anime.
The soundtrack isn't the most engaging centerpiece to this beautiful looking anime. None the less, it manages to fit in and complement in no way being a detriment to each episode.
Darling in the Franxx is certainly not an anime that aims to go over the top, at least not in terms of its action. It delivers in its overall message while at the same time pleases in terms of its visual fidelity making it one of the standouts that came out during the winter season of anime and I highly recommend you give this a watch if this one missed your radar.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 25, 2018
After a very rough start, Dragon Ball Super ends on a pretty good note marking an amazing return of a series that was very near and dear to my heart.
I have to admit I was not at all enthusiastic about the return of this series given what happened with GT but I was willing to give it a go based on the return of Dragon Ball's original creator Akira Toriyama and I have to be honest in saying I'm very pleased with its outcome.
If I had one big negative, it would have to be Super's Art design. I'm very aware of the conundrum of
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Studio Toei which chooses senior artists over the ones who are far more adept at handling key animations. Because of this, Supers overall design suffers greatly and does not hold a candle to its true predecessor in Z which by far had the best animation and design of all four animes. Even with that being said, Super had some mind blowing moments in terms of choreography ultimately making it the saving grace of the anime.
While Supers story was pretty boring in the beginning stages mainly choosing to follow the movies that came before it in an effort to flesh out the story, it certainly improved greatly there after.
Super's antagonists felt very thought out and well calculated. The Goku Black arc was a particular standout in storytelling while the new take on the tournament sagas, something to this day I always enjoy, definitely brought something fresh and interesting to the table.
Another standout of Super was its soundtrack. It often hit the target on intense moments adding a great experience to the show and you can tell they spared no expense in delivering a symphonic sound wave of listening enjoyment.
Ultimately, Super was a phenomenal return to the Dragon Ball universe making its argument for being around another 3 years. The hiatus is a good move in my opinion and I definitely cannot wait to see what they have in store for the movies and the series moving forward.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 7, 2018
A collaboration between Netflix and the legendary production I.G. studios, B: The Beginning delivers on amazing visuals but finds itself stumbling in terms of direction and the overall telling of the story.
As usual, production I.G. wows with its amazing art design and pristine presentation. The animations are fluid although the action sometimes gets jumbled and a bit over the top at moments. Still, you can see that time and care was put into this anime making it my main reason to continue watching each episode.
The anime's pacing is mostly where B misses the mark. The first few episodes are quite manic in its
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approach jumping from one scene to the next failing to put each moment into any real context. Things improve in the later episodes as they start to slow things down and by the end of the anime, you are certainly more engaged in the plot.
The series main protagonist is a serial killer although his objectives make him out to be more of a vigilante of sorts. Unbeknownst to the unit who is struggling to bring him to justice, B, is not your average run of the mill killer. The latest investigator brought on to capture B seems to be well aware of this fact as we the viewers uncover the motivations of B and a very unorthodox investigator.
There was nothing inherently spell bounding about the characters of B: The Beginning. The anime is so shrouded in keeping its mysteries, that it does nothing to really develop the two main protagonists involved in the anime so it mainly relies on its comedic timings, character relations, and action sequences to keep its engagement.
It's not until close to the series end as everything unravels that you start to feel some resonance from the main characters, and this ultimately is where this anime fails to really connect with me.
The soundtrack for the series is pretty much forgettable and does nothing to really add to the anime in my opinion though I take no real issue with it honestly.
B: The Beginning did not have the strongest start but ultimately it found its way. It's going to be one of those titles that you are going to want to revisit to piece together its all over the place direction though I gather it will be a much more enjoyable viewing the second time around as things will make a lot more sense.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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