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Apr 1, 2019
Quirky and Humane, I often found myself humbled by the greatness that is the character "Mob" who has grown to be my fav superhero, if you could call him that, along with Saitama of course. Season 2 has the comedy, action, relatablitly, the whole entertainment package of Season 1 but what makes it, in my opinion, a level above season 1 is the deeper layers of introspection and empathy, which you are barely prepared for when it knocks you sideways. The final episode was a great conclusion to season 2 with some mind-bending action in a tense and superbly animated, choreographed fight which eventually concluded
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with a giant, unpredictable punchline for a joke. An episode that speaks for itself about why ONE is beyond a genius, I need news of season 3 ASAP.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 30, 2019
Maquia was everything I expected it to be and more. It is a warm yet heartbreaking fantasy adventure. Mari Okada has done a commendable job on her directorial debut. With a little less than two hours she's made me feel like I traveled through someone's entire life, The movie has that impact on me. A fresh take on love and in this case, A Mother's love. The animation is gorgeous, The music is great. Very impressed with some of the character development. The fantasy ideas and concepts are simple but creative and well done. The journey of Maquia and Ariel is something that is both
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poetic and epic, A journey that takes you thorough time, love, loss, pain, fear and everything else that connects it and comes along with it. Definitely recommend to give this a try.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 9, 2018
Megalo Box - The Genuine Article
What is the real deal? Over the years as an anime fan, Modern anime has given me lots to cherish. I've seen some good ones, bad ones, great ones, instant classics. Looking back, anime this decade can even be argued to be anime's golden age considering how diverse and consistent the products are and in this digital era, anime production is at an all time high in terms of efficiency and animation can be enhanced through means such as CGI, 3D technology and particle effects and the market is diverse enough to sell anything from lust to gore. But how
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good is it really, when it is stripped off everything. In it's rawest form, does it still manage to deliver a level of quality set by classics and pioneers? Such is not the mockery but also the challenge taken up by Megalo Box, An anime original that was made to pay tribute to boxing classic - 'Ashita no Joe' on it's 50th Anniversary, And I dare say, it succeeds at doing just that.
Megalo Box has been one of the standout's of Spring 2018, which was crowded with anticipated anime and popular hits, But Megalo Box immediately managed to stand out and get the attention of the viewers, quickly becoming the #1 anime original of the season. An underdog in every way, this anime was not even released in HD (intentionally), there was no fanservice or any other desperate gimmicks for the show to gain viewership. You could argue that the vintage art style and sound were gimmicky enough to set it apart from other modern anime but just like "Gearless" Joe himself who started off as a bluff and became the real deal, anything that this anime started off as gimmick genuinely became an integral part of what the show is. It is not just a tribute to the older anime, but it's wants the viewer to know, making a strong statement - "I am the real deal".
I was sold within the first five minutes of watching Megalo Box. Upon starting this, in it's opening scene it immediately introduces us to three of it's biggest attributes - A badass underdog MC, The vintage SD art style and what is probably my most favorite thing about this show - The music. Me being a huge fan of Hip Hop, I could really appreciate how good these instrumentals were and it compliments the style of the anime and the superb editing and framework of this show. There were a few times where they actually rapped in Japanese as well, which I thought was fresh as fuck. The setting, music and art style reminded me of anime like Cowboy Bebop and Trigun. Apart from being a 50th anniversary tribute to Ashita no Joe, I think it can also be considered a tribute to Cowboy Bebop and Trigun as they celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2018.
The Story is a normal but gritty tale about the rise of an underdog boxer who is looking for a tough opponent to get serious with. What makes it so interesting are the characters and the way in which it is executed. They don't bore us with unnecessary backstory and flashbacks wasting precious screen time on it to drag the show. It's short and to the point, focusing more about what drives the characters and the interesting parallels between them. The second half of the anime features some good plot twists as well. The dialogues were solid, there were so many amazing quotables that you can find throughout the show. Even the fights, I guess some would have complaints in this area considering the fights were always pretty short, often anticlimatic and surely no the best choreography that you will see. Some might even say that the main character wore plot armors at times which I think can be argued but for the most part I was glad that they didn't go the usual route of extremely long, dramatic and dragged out fights. Instead we got fights that were short, meaningful and intense in the moment stuff that play well into the heart of the story. I look at it as something like Ping Pong the Animation, where the sport takes a backseat to the parallels and what it actually means to the characters. They were real, relatable, inspiring and well written, especially the character Aragaki, the soldier. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say his character really hits home. The amount of realness and emotion that they bring to the screen with him is simply one of the high points of the show.
Megalo Box is a combination of so many great things that play into why not a moment in this anime was boring to me. I think it certainly deserves all the success that comes along it's way. It was a very enjoyable short anime and I'm not sure when we will something in this format again, something that is of such high quality in it's rawest form, I definitely hope it inspires other anime to do so. I usually like to give my thoughts about an anime as soon as I finish it, but with this, I decided to just sit with thoughts for a couple of days and deeply appreciate what I had witnessed, cause I know what I had witnessed was the real deal.
9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 7, 2018
20 years of Serial Experiments Lain, The legacy and relevance of this mind bending psychological classic.
On July 6th 1998 aired the first episode of Serial Experiments Lain. How does it hold up 20 years later? I can't even believe someone wrote this in the 90s, I don't think I have seen a more mind blowing and frightening prediction of this modern day internet obsessed era. All the messages, symbols and concepts that come into play in this anime, we can see in our day to day life. Although it will come off as exaggerated, at it's core it's depiction of what's going on are pretty
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accurate. Without spoiling anything I'll just say it so brilliantly depicts with the blur between physical and online reality and the further we go into a growing culture of social media, the more relevant it becomes, it's one of those shows that just gets more important as it ages with time.
As genius as it is, It's certainly not an anime for everyone, if you're looking for something fast paced, dramatic and dialogue heavy, you're probably gonna find this boring (But even so I highly recommend who watch the whole thing). Lain feels incohesive, like a bunch of random scenes and events and characters put together and you're watching it without it giving you any info on what's happening or understanding the character, there is almost no soundtrack to pull you in although the OP and ED are both excellent and there are some spooky electronic riffs that are part of the experience. it's just a really weird, messy and confusing story. I couldn't watch more than 2 episodes continuously, but the way it comes together in the final two episodes just makes the whole thing worth it. Looking back, there were so many layers to show I might, a lot which I might not even have got, it's just super crazy. I think the best way to describe Serial experiments Lain is like watching a masterful painting being painted in real time. The artist is using different colors, different strokes on different part of the canvas, the audience is super confused and has no idea what he's doing, all of a sudden he flips the canvas and it all makes sense, your brain is blown into a million pieces.
Like it or not, The way Serial Experiments Lain continues to make us think decades after it's release and influences other works of art, looking back it was such a bold and diverse anime that pushed the genre and stands out from a lot of works in the 90s, it is without a doubt, A cemented classic anime, A successful experiment indeed.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 29, 2018
This was more wholesome than expected. Madhouse takes another W with Sora Yori Mo Tooi Basho (A Place Further Than The Universe).
It's a great tale of friendship and adventure that makes you wanna get up, throw your laptop away and embark on a journey to some place far away. It's cute, funny, emotional, relatable and powerful, It is well paced and has some extremely good moments. The portrayal of friendship is it's strongest attribute, especially When it comes to Hinata and Shirase, it really makes you wish you did these things in your life or will attempt to do. It's an anime that can truly
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move you. The Music and Animation are nothing special but works superbly for the nostalgic vibe of the show. There are some memorable songs and bgms though. The characters are lovable and interesting, their development and interactions can be a real treat to watch. Everything they experience feels so real and they seamlessly made us connect with their experience. The VA's have also done a splendid job voicing these characters.
Negatives are it can get cliched at times and it did fell a bit anti-climatic, maybe cause I wish they spent more time or did more things in the Antarctic, a couple more episodes of even filler with a couple more challenging tasks would've done it, But it's no biggie, they did end it perfectly, Like perfect in every sense of the word, which is good cause the last thing I want to do is wait for a Madhouse sequel of a great anime. If they do give us a season 2 I would prefer a time skip. Just saying.
Highly recommend this anime, it's just so fun and moving. Especially if you enjoy genres like Shoujo/ Slice of life/ Adventure, do not miss this one. I'm giving it an 8.25/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 24, 2017
Himouto! Umaru Chan, one of my favorite guilty pleasure anime. When I came across the first season, I don't know why but I was so hooked that I binged the entire thing so fast, since then I was really hoping for a sequel and I am GLAD we got this cause it is so enjoyable and just what I needed after watching some serious dark anime like Made in Abyss.
I usually say for anime like this, there is really nothing much to break down, They are just made for you sit back and have a good time, but in modern anime, shows like this
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are so over saturated that a lot of time you can't give them a pass, They force a bunch of bad jokes and stereotypical cuteness at your face with a bunch of lazy ass characters that makes it seem like they are just trying to sell the show using a formual instead of giving you something to have a good time, and that's why a lot of these shows that use the same formula are so painful to watch but Himouto Umaru chan is just so organic, they do use a similar formula and it has it's fair share of cliched scenes, but using that they have constructed something that is so worthwhile.
Part of what makes Umaru chan work is how effortlessly relatable it is, you gotta admit that there is an Umaru in all of us, she is the child in us that just wants to laze around, eat junk food and have fun all day and there are so many scenes that just make you go like "Ah, That is so me!".
Also Why this show is good is this environment that is being created, it almost makes you want to go live there, that's how you know a slice of life is working. The different characters placed in this environment and the impact they have on the different personas of Umaru makes it seem like a superhero character and the interesting ways he hides his identity and reacts when he's not himself, apart from all the fun and jokes, this is the element of the show that really captivates you.
Coming to the jokes, This shit is hilarious! You gotta be super serious to think this is not funny lmao, while I would say the second season isn't nearly as funny as the first one, they make up for it by kind of really exploring the other characters which I thought was really interesting and the way they connect these characters together and create circumstances really add to the flavor of the show. One gripe I do have about this show is the pacing of it, like they would build up scenes for Christmas and then go all the way to new year. Like what's the rush man? calm down gahdamn.
Nothing much to say about the Art and Music, I usually skip the OP and ED. The background music does it's job but it's nothing to talk about, the Animation is cool, It is pretty consistent throughout and gives you that laid back and jolly feel so I will give them credit for that, The true magic is the voice acting, Hats off to the voice actors, they don't sound cute or funny just to be that, they deliver the jokes in a way that makes it feel genuine and 10 times funnier than it should be.
Overall man this was a great season and I am really hoping for the announcement of a 3rd one, This is one of those shows you wish never end. Himuto Umaru chan is a very rare show that has mastered being flawed and formulaic and yet remain extremely entertaining.
7.25-7.5/10
Just give me more, please.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 16, 2017
Sakura Quest is a breath of fresh air, It brings a lot of new things to the table, A setting based around a rural tourism board led by a group of five young women whose leader is an urban reject? Where have you seen that before? But that's not the only thing that makes Sakura Quest so new but it's the way it's shows these problems and how it decides the stakes of these villages, how history is lost and created, the way it affects the people and the ways it can be tackled, and it's not just the problem of improving economy and shit
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like that, it delves deep into various other problems like the mindset of people living there and the outside forces that could help but also take over their culture and make them their slave, the livelihood of senior citizen in such places, how technology can help in a huge way, Saving shopping districts, embracing different cultures instead of selfishly just celebrating yours, uniting the residents, realizing self worth there are so great values that this show imposes and this coupled with the wonderful ensemble cast who are all driven by their own goals, through 25 episodes we such steady and great character development from almost everyone, their personal problems mixed with the challenges of the tourism board taking into account the imagery of it's impact on individual residents adds so much layers and dynamics to this anime on content alone! This anime original has so much to offer in 25 episodes and nothing comes off as too much, it is well balanced and the pacing is perfect. Everything in this anime can legit happen in real life except the fact that no one in that village except an old man wanted to smash Sanae.
What kinda stopped this anime from being as impactful as it should have been, at least for me, lied in it's technical stuff, The animation and music were decent at best, although that Dragon Song is extremely beautiful and might have you even tear up, the character designs are not very good, I guess they wanted everyone to look normal for realistic purposes but they just look bland and often way too cartoony, the color contrast between them stick like a sore thumb especially since the realistic ambitions of this show are ever present. There are some great quotes here and there but the dialogues aren't as hard hitting as they should've been, mainly since the delivery of the Voice actors were often like they voice a stage play, it just doesn't pull you in like it could've, A lot of times the editing between scenes is pretty abrupt as well. The anime is still great overall but these are just some things that hold it back a little and makes it harder for the viewer to see how unique it really is and prevents it from aging and being labelled even a cult classic if not a definite classic.
Overall I think Sakura Quest is a great anime that is rich in content and captures several aspects of modern times in ignored areas, it is not for everyone but it's worth checking out, There is a lot of infotainment and entertainment to be found in Manoyama, A pleasant town full of lovable characters rich in culture and commentary, No second season needed, completely satisfied from start to finish, I'm glad they ended it the way they did, to show Sakura's Quest is one that highlights the small things that make this turbulent journey called life, worth travelling.
I'm feeling an 8.25-8.5/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 29, 2017
Made in Abyss, The dark horse of the season, and probably of the year. There was something about this anime that made me look forward to it, before the season even started. And surely, it did not disappoint. It became one of the most memorable anime of the year, probably one of the best fantasy anime I've come across and easily the anime of the summer.
Made in Abyss is a breathtaking adventure that paints the explosion of a creation's imagination with a story that is dark, depressing, interesting, unpredictable and EXTREMELY creative. The fear of the unknown, not many shows I can say have
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pulled it off as good. The setting of the abyss, it's layers, the concepts such as the curse of the abyss, whistles of cave raiders, and the different creatures and the way those creatures work from a fantasy standpoint to a biological standpoint are so well thought out and structured, hats off the creator Tsukushi Akihito, who did outdid himself creating such a detailed environment that is unpredictable, grand, scary, confusing (in a good way) and claustrophobic. I love the pacing of the story, it progresses significantly better with each episode but it's never too much that you can't digest or too less to not fill you up.
The characters are what make the show a lot more fun, they are cute and provide comedic relief, especially two of the main three, Reg and Riko who get most of the screentime. But although they look cute I must say some of things they do and their experiences, their background are quite mature, almost quite depressing. I don't want to spoil and I'm not going to but There is one scene in the second half that really fucked me up. I knew I was in for something dark but that was beyond anything I had expected. The side characters and the ones they meet in their journey are pretty interesting as well, they all have something unique which makes it notable that they are part of that environment, they are diverse and what they offer to the story is quite interesting, I gotta say about all their dresses, it's kind of like a mix of modern and historic design.
The art and animation is fantastic as well, Probably the best work of Kinema Citrus. Beautiful landscapes, great usage of color, they've done justice to the microscopic detail of the abyss, The action scenes really show the effort they put into each frame, it's just smooth as fuck. Don't even get me started on the musical score and insert songs, they had this english song playing in the first episode, it automatically tells you shit is going to be epic! some of the sound effects like when reg is blasting his hand ray or whatever it's called and that extra bass sound that they give when they're trouble, it adds so much to the overall experience. The voice acting is too cartoony though, especially notable in Ouzen's character, but it kinda works, almost like it is perfectly blending a kid show with something that a kid shouldn't be anywhere near of.
My only problem with this anime is that I was left wanting for more, I would've preferred this to be 20+ episodes and with the momentum and popularity that it has been buiding throughout the course of the season, I'm sure it would have helped the studio that is yet to make a commercial super hit, This might be the one for Kinema citrus. And each episode has like a four minute outro and the two minute ED which took away 6 minutes of the entire episode, gladly it didn't mess with the overall pacing of the show.
Made in Abyss does a great job balancing it's light and dark elements and providing content that is both grand and heavy, executing it almost flawlessly that resulted in a show that is simply pure value for entertainment. Do yourself a favor and go watch this stunner.
My rating - 9.25/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 30, 2017
"If there is such a thing as god of fate, he must be quite a troll"
quote of the year!
Tsuki ga Kirei is a love story too pure for the 21st century. It's like the anime that will make you want to get back with the ex girlfriend that you never had. It's a very sweet, innocent tale of two innocent kids from two very different worlds who cross paths and fall in love. The anime depicts their relationship when it's at a very premature stage, They don't know what to do or expect and it makes you curious in what direction they will
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go. It focuses on their trails and tribulations of trying to overcoming peer pressure, family pressure and focusing on one's ambition.
This is an anime original so i didn't know what to expect when I started this and it was quite underrated during the start of spring but I'm glad it became a little more popular, it gained quite a momentum towards the end and I hope it continues to be more successful.
The two main characters are really great, they are very relatable, even if you have never been in a relationship (I know i haven't been in one) they really resonate with you. They are portrayed as realistic as possible and they have moments where, you know, being the main character of the show didn't help them, which was quite refreshing honestly. This whole anime is a beautiful struggle and it's great to watch them grow and develop from being shy introverted characters to making some bold decisions. It just makes you wanna root for them.
The animation was pretty good, the art was simple but effective, it set a tone that fit well with the location and the atmosphere of the anime. It feels very nostalgic. The music is the real deal though, the songs are so good and the soundtrack compliments the romantic vibe so well you might even skip a beat. Oh! and I would be stupid to leave out the after credit monologues in every episodes, that alone makes this show worth watching!
But I can see some people who might find this anime to be boring, it's quite slow and the cellphone LINE conversations that they often have throughout the show might have people rolling their eyes. I didn't really have a big problem with it but I can see people calling this out, if you're not a fan of romance in general and find it to be a corny genre, I can't guarantee that this will change your mind. The problem I had with this show are the side characters, some of their behavior is just cliché and annoying. None of them are explored and they lack screen time, personally to me they come off as very one dimensional.
But yeah, Overall it was a very good anime and I really enjoyed it. It has a lot of elements that make it truly worthwhile. If you're a fan of the romance genre, this is an anime that you cannot miss.
My rating:- 7.5/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 24, 2017
This show was like a try not to cringe challenge for me. It did start off in a very sincere way in it's narration. It felt like it wanted to be taken seriously, and it could have been better. An MC with a backstory of trying to move on from his mother's passing by working hard to become a professional author, it was all good. But very soon it went downhill, forming a cliché of an harem with some exhausting characters, an awkward sibling relationship and some frustrating storytelling.
It has very few moments that might make you laugh or feel like there was some thought
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put into it but overall Eromanga sensei is a very uninspired slice of life. Forcing a lot of bad comedy and over-saturating the viewer with some annoying cuteness and fanservice. When a show does that you can tell how lazy the script is and it's terrible attempt to try and be a commercial success. Usually I don't care to talk about a show like this in this manner, but like I said earlier, Eromanga sensei is different because it actually wants to be taken seriously, and A-1 Pictures is a studio that I have a lot of respect for.
But I gotta talk about the cringe in this anime, It was just too much and too bad. There were times when i needed to pause and take my time to recover from the cringe I was hit with. A lot of the character's actions and movements were cringy, The awkward comedy and dialogues were cringy, even the voice acting made me cringe sometimes, especially Sagiri's. Her forced squeaky voice acting to make it seem cute had me cringing in all types of ways.
The animation was pretty solid, This was a very colorful and detailed anime, expect no less from A-1 pictures, solid and consistent from start to finish. The music was pretty meh though. The OP and ED were okayish and the soundtracks were nothing special.
Honestly, for anyone, you are not really missing out on anything if you don't watch this show and we can do without a second season.
My rating - 1/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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