Back to tigermaskshinobi's Profile tigermaskshinobi's Profile

The first four episodes of "Wind Breaker" had me hooked. I loved the world and the premise, The MC was interesting, the animation was very good. It seemed like it was going to be a fun watch, but the whole 1v1 Bofurin vs Lion Head arc started and that entire thing was a chore to get through. This is something that can only be pulled off after establishing the characters and having a good story build up, not straight out the gate with 6 episodes into the start of the story. It felt like a lot of lazy info dump with the flashbacks, the emotional ... scenes were not hitting, the redemption of Lion Heads leaders created moments of some of the most forced character development scenes I've ever seen and the execution of it was honestly even cringe at times. Personally felt it was a thematically shallow, poorly written and just an overall forgettable arc that dragged on for quite a few episodes. The show did have a strong finish, Not strong enough to cover the shit show of the 1v1 arc but enough for me to be interested in a second season. I think there is something genuinely interesting here that can be developed into something more fun in the future.

We finally get to see "The battle of the garbage dump", something that Haikyu has been building up incredibly well over it's four previous seasons and boy is it worth the hype. 90 mins of pure joy, This movie is Intense, fast paced, hilarious, exciting, wholesome. There is a lot of pay off for everything that has been set up between Karasuno and Nekoma in the past. Haikyu is known for giving it's characters some incredible moments and developing them and there are a lot of such moments in this film, especially with Kenma, who is definitely the star of this movie. His development kind ... of gives the same satisfaction that we get with Tsukishima's development and there is brilliant POV scene with Kenma that was breathtakingly animated. I watched this in a packed IMAX screening and everyone lost their minds seeing that. Definitely one of my most memorable movie going experiences, I already can't wait for the next movie!

There's something about a master film maker in his late 70s and early 80s conjuring up the most wildly surreal, magical and imaginative adventure film about *checks notes* a young boy processing grief. In many ways, experiencing 'The Boy And The Heron' felt like a cleansing of the mind and the soul, one way is the art - It's been nearly a decade since the last Ghibli feature film, no matter what new technology is developed for animation and how flashy it gets, there is nothing that moves me quite like the art of Ghibli's films, this is something I've been missing personally and with ... this new film I think Ghibli has showcased one of their best efforts in terms of animation. To watch art like this again is simply refreshing and it shows what we've been missing. Another way is thematically, like in Miyazaki's previous film - 'The Wind Rises', the 'The Boy And The Heron' seems to dealing with more mature subjects that is tailored for adult audiences rather than kids, but what Miyazaki has been able to do with these films is turn adults into kids and take us on a journey where we can reflect, heal and rekindle the wonder and imagination we had as kids.

I found Mahito to be a bit different from other Ghibli protagonists. Studio Ghibli protagonists are known for their simplicity, kindness, strength, innocence, bravery, keen sense of adventure, Mahito has some of that but he stands out because of his trauma and grief, he's lonely and angry, he's finding everything around him hard to accept and he's hurting. you see him crying in his sleep and you just want to give him a big hug. This set up of his character is what makes his development that much better, and the adventure that takes place during the second half of the film that much more joyful and impactful. When you think of the world he's entered, it's perfect for someone like him who is deeply unsatisfied with the real world, which is what his grand uncle tells him as well. His growth and development throughout the film is simply stunning, to hear a Ghibli protagonist admit he has malice in his heart and reflect on it and gain new faith in life to move on, this was simply one of the most beautiful endings to a film I've seen recently.

This is a film that can be seen as a culmination of Miyazaki's films and his ideas, The films is extremely layered and there can be many interpretations of what it is about. I think it's original title 'How Do You Live' could have captured the ambiguity of the film's message a lot better, it could describe the question Mahito has for himself, maybe something Miyazaki is asking the audience, maybe it's something Miyazaki is reflecting on.

The third act of the film is very overwhelming, I think a lot of people may find it messy, but personally this is where I loved the film even more. It completely flows like as if you're watching a dream, the art is extremely immersive and Mahito's journey, both physically and mentally transforms into something really chaotic but also wholesome.

I don't think we can talk about this film without mentioning Joe Hisaishi's score, which may very well be his best work to date. The score kept playing in my head even long after the screening, it perfectly compliments the magic of the film and also it's themes. Sometimes music captures what words cannot and these composition feel like celebration of the indescribable bittersweet experience we call life.

'The Boy And The Heron' is a special film by a special film maker, personally I think Hayao Miyazaki has one of the best filmographies a director can have and although I'm not surprised, it does blow me away to see him add another such gem to his life's work. He's 83 years old and he's just dropped a film that contains arguably his best art and thematically his most ambitious and complex work (also arguably), If this is his final film, it does feel fitting and I'm genuinely so thankful and content with his work, but I will also be praying that he comes out of retirement once again to drop another masterpiece.

"You see Suzume, no matter how sad you are right now, you are going to grow up"

Makoto Shinkai has always been someone who has moved me immensely with his visuals, there is something so magical about his art, the mood it creates stays with you for a long time, but over his last few films he has evolved so much as a storyteller and a director and has created characters who have a lot of depth.

'Suzume' is perhaps Shinkai's most accessible film, it's entertaining from start to finish, it is perfectly paced and I did not feel the movie was lagging even once. Even with ... all the metaphors and symbolisms, it's light and easy to follow, It's got some really good action and chase sequences and it's often hilarious, infact I would say one of the most redmeeing factors of the movie is it's sense of humor, throughout it's 2 hour runtime it offers so many good laughs.

But even so, underneath all the warmth and tenderness, there is something so tragic about Suzume. Especially coming after the covid pandemic, it hits a little harder, about the trauma of the survivors, the dead who are forgotten due to calamities. So many kids have to grow up without parents and entire familes, which is why the climax hit so hard, it was like as if Suzume was talking directly to all these kids, I clenched my teeth so hard but I had to shed some tears. I think that's where Shinkai deserves so much more praise, he consistently delivers these kind of scenes where he is able to convey something so dark in a very subtle, light and hard hitting way, and through interesting means.

In the opening scene of Isao Takahata's 1988 masterpiece 'Grave Of The Fireflies', we see a station worker throw away a candy can containing the ashes of one of our protagonist, symbolizing how these kids are forgotten and cast away. After many years I've now seen Shinkai come somewhat close to that same impact about depicting forgotten people, although of course, 'Grave Of The Fireflies' is in a league of it's own and is the saddest movie I've ever seen.

'Suzume' is a superbly animated film with a great story. It's a moving adventure of Suzume, fighting for what she loves, meeting new people and coming to terms with her own trauma. It's another gem from Makoto Shinkai that deserves to be seen on the Big Screen.

To say the "The Angel Next Door is a typical old school romance drama" pretty much captures what this anime is all about. If you are fan of romance, it doesn't get better than this. It has all the markings of a proper typical romance - it's cute, it's cheesy, the characters are wholesome and do things that make you smile and the innocence and purity of their bond will make your heart throb. This is something fans of the genre will crave. It's probably safe to say this anime is something that you may either really love or really hate, but I do find ... myself somewhere in the middle, I do appreciate it's take on the romance genre and how unabashed it is about portraying love in all it's cuteness and corniness, but also I felt sometimes it did get a bit too cringey and awkward, a lot of it is actually because of how bad some of the animation is. Although there isn't much scope for animation in this anime it still feels sloppy. The story follows a very limited set of characters who are all fine, it's just the main characters who completely carry the show, I found their development and the growth of their feelings towards one another quite natural and it was paced well throughout the 12 episodes, It's something I appreciate cause in contrast, an anime like 'Horimiya' felt rushed and I saw the characters get to certain points without showing any progress for it, this anime does not make that mistake. There is not too much else to talk about this show, it's just a formulaic feel good romance, if that's something you're into, you'll love it, if it's not then you'll probably absolutely hate it.

As a huge fan of football I've always wanted an anime adapting the sport that can be on the level of something like Haikyuu, Ping Pong the animation etc but the fact that we have not, at least in my opinion come close to making anything of that quality ever made me go into this anime with a little bit of skepticism, football anime like 'Days' was such a disappointment, while there are some good ones that capture the spirit of the game such as a classic like 'Captain Tsubasa', there is always something lacking about the reality of how football is played. That's where ... Blue Lock was such a surprise, It filled the void that Haikyuu left for me, giving me the adrenaline rush and excitement that comes with watching nail biting moments that Characters find themselves in and them growing and evolving in front of your eyes. That's the most important thing that Blue Lock gets right,

I haven't felt this much hype from an anime in a long time, every episode, especially in the 2nd cour was incredibly fun. Blue Lock does this very well because of it's unique concept which gives the writing a lot of scope to always stay fresh and try something different. One of the things about Sport anime is that it can get a little repetitive and predictable as time goes on, In the first few episodes of Blue Lock I was worried this would happen because it seemed like all the characters were in one place and you kind of felt that things were going to go in a manner that was predictable and limited but surprisingly Blue Lock never finds itself in such a predicament, it keeps switching up and goes in directions you do not expect. Another aspect of the show that really makes it stand out is it's "ego" ideology, a usual dynamic of sports anime is about friendship and teamwork and togetherness, but blue lock takes the opposite approach where characters are tested on how selfish they are, in that way I think it captures the harsh, brutal reality of sports. When protagonist Isagi is introduced you wonder how such a player is going to make it through this, but his development throughout the 24 episodes have been fantastic, the writing does not force his growth but wonderfully makes him evolve in a very believable and practical way by taking him and also us deep through the many layers of how football is played, it's about the tactics, the skills that one acquires, how he acquires it and applying it in-game, some of these games are like chess, it's brilliant.

It's truly refreshing to see something like this, a sports anime that experiments with a lot of fun and interesting characters, exploring it's unique concept and thesis and doing so in a way that's true to football but also executing it with great animation and sound and making something that explodes with it's entertainment value. Just give me the second season already.

The second season of 86 hits like a breath of fresh air, There are so many positives starting with just how it picks up from the end of season 1 and just gives us something different by not just how well it expands the world but also giving new takes on certain themes such as racism, which has always been at the heart of the show, It is a bit light compared to how grim and intense Season 1 was, but for the most part it does build on the strengths of the prequel. The season especially gets better in it's second half, the first ... six episodes were really good but i felt it was also a bit rushed, the next six episodes however were bangers filled with great moments that give you chills. The great moments in this anime often come like a beat drop - you're expecting it, you don't know when, you don't know how, but when it drops there is an immense feeling of satisfaction. The character development, especially that of the protagonists are very good, Shin is a wonderful protagonist, everything about his writing is carefully balanced which makes him come off as extremely genuine, He is strong, he is vulnerable, he shows the right emotions at the right place, there isn't as much of Lena but when she does appear it is easy to notice how much she has grown since season 1. some of the new characters were enjoyable as well, Frederica being one of the important introductions offers a lot of comedic relief to the show and her voice actor has done a remarkable job, however some of her more emotional moments are a bit over the top for me and I didn't always connect with her, another aspect that I thought season 2 did better than season 1 were the battles, The battles in the previous season were a bit mundane for me, I thought the mecha battles this season were a lot more exciting and had a lot more to offer overall. 86 so far has continued to impress in all departments whether that is in it's writing or just the overall execution of it's animation, editing and direction, the music fits perfectly, this is a promising show with tons of potential, I wish for it's success and also for sequels, hope we get them soon.

9/10

When the first season of Demon Slayer came out, I felt (and wrote) it was a show that was generic and deeply flawed yet to an extent entertaining and had the potential to improve, since then there have been a couple of sequels to this series, both of which have been a bit more impressive. Mugen Train is definitely peak Demon Slayer (So far, I haven't read the manga) for me, although it started off a bit slow, I thought the dream sequences were very haunting and the rest of the film capitalized on a nice concept and made it a fun watch which ended ... on a very interesting and emotional plot point. The way it ended set the stage for more interesting face offs in the future, and so I was looking forward to the next season - Entertainment District Arc. The opening couple of episodes were very promising, I was instantly hooked to the setting of the show and the nature of their mission, I loved the humor and funny dynamic between the lead three and Tengen Uzui and I thought the show was playing to its strengths, the demon slayers were infiltrating a place with specific tasks to find the demon and Uzui's wife, there was a lot of potential for writing mystery and exploring this world and its inhabitants, I would have liked for more of this, for the protagonists do more detective shit and interact with more characters there and see how things go down with twists and turns, but the way it plays out, it all just got over so soon, the mystery was not just predictable but also unraveled itself in a very blunt and boring manner, in just about 4 episodes or so they got this out of the way, the rest of the season was just pure action, which in this show has it's own pros and cons. The battles are mostly entertaining, if nothing else they at least worth watching for their flashy animation and overall making, the stakes are high and so is the tension, can all the good guys make it back in one piece? Also there was a twist in the middle of the fight that I quite liked, but other than that these battles do have issues with pacing and can feel quite repetitive and exhausting, almost every episode of the battles you see Tanjiro doing his best, falling down, having an flashback or a dream where a family member asks him to get up, getting back up and repeating the same inner monologue over and over again and then fighting or unlocking a new power even though he shouldn't even be walking, by defying all logic and what not simply because he's the protagonist, the plot conveniences used by the writer are numerous. The show did end on a high, despite a chunk of the finale being "another sad demon back story" that I had to sit through thanks to Tanjiro's talk no jutsu, I get it every demon has a sad back story, I don't think they particularly add much and they even come off as lazy, it did end on a high with an explosive climax to the battle and once again sets the stage for the anime to go in an interesting direction, Personally for me, Demon Slayer after two seasons and a movie has still not addressed most of my problems with it, but it remains to be enjoyable while capitalizing on its strengths. Looking forward to season 3.

The first season of Megalo Box came out 3 years ago as a tribute anime for the 50th anniversary of the classic boxing manga Ashita no Joe. It was a simple anime, a classic tale of an underdog's rise to the top and was enjoyable for it's lovable characters, the futuristic setting, the call back to the retro style of art and aesthetic, the lofi Hip Hop scores, some great action and filled with moments of inspiration and emotion. The second season however, the focus is shifted to the the tough fights outside the ring, it's one of the most wholesome and mature takes on ... redemption, recovery and finding oneself that I've ever seen in anime, a sequel that adds a lot of depth to these wonderful characters and their story, also it's depiction of immigrants and all the Latin influences is something quite unique and only add to the depth, originality and rich aesthetic of the show. There aren't many fights in this season, but the fights that do exist are short, well choreographed and unpredictable, I think this is how a sequel should be, taking new risks and improving the original while maintaining everything that we loved about the original.

I think the idea of this what if situation where our technologically advanced age were to go back to the stone age and in a pretty much post apocalyptic scenario, what would a survivor do considering he is intelligent and has great knowledge about the science of our age? I think this idea is original, interesting and has so much potential. I think it makes up for an interesting world that begs to be explored and the challenges the protagonist faces as he recreates various inventions from our time is what keeps me invested in this anime, From creating modern dishes to fighting diseases and ... creating weapons and electricity and mobile phones, I think the reinventing challenges picked for the protagonist are very interesting ones. I think Dr Stone is a fun anime and is also kind of educational. I don't think the characters are super well written but they are engaging. I also like the moral battle going on between the protagonist and the antagonist about whether or not everyone should be revived and it extends the debate between the overall workings of stone age and the technological age about freedom and what is natural. I think it's what makes Tsukasa a kind of decent villain but I think where it loses me is just realistically I don't think Tsukasa would be able to form an army, at least very easily, like imagine if you were revived by Tsukasa and you were told that you are going to be a part of a youth army but your parents and anyone you loved who was a gen x or boomer wouldn't be revived, I don't think every young person would accept that unless he was bullied by Tsukasa to follow him, and that's just a part of a broader issue I have with this anime which is I think it overlooks some important human emotion and logically it takes the liberties of a generic shonen, whether that may be in the actions of a character or the storytelling itself. one of my biggest problems comes during the revelations of Senku's step father and what happened to them, Probably a lot of what happened to them might still be unrevealed but it brings up a lot of questions like why basically they didn't do anything much except for passing information in some codey way called the hundred stories or something, a lot of it feels very convenient for melodrama and there's a huge discussion that can be had on them but I'm not going into that now. Another problem I had was I felt the animation wasn't always good, I think it's decent but it can be really sloppy and rough sometimes. Overall I do like Dr Stone, I think it has potential to be better and I'm interested to see where and how it will go, looking forward to season 2.