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Aug 3, 2020
God. Magic. Wars. Loli (Sort of). Youjo Senki is made up of these ingredients. Is it pushing you away or getting you more interested? Before you do answer that, let me just tell you, this recipe ain't that bad.
Story (8/10):
After encountering "god" and dissing all his efforts, our protagonist finds himself reincarnated into a world where the odds are nowhere near his favor as a payback for his insults. However, both "god" (the antagonist) and the protagonist are petty and refuse to let one beat the other. So whose ideals and judgement will emerge victorious in the end?
I was intrigued with the premise of Youjo
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Senki or The Saga of Tanya the Evil. Given a situation where a person would be pit against a supreme being but refuses to accept defeat is like the ultimate underdog story. The story branches out to other forms of conflict and world building but at the heart of it all, it is still just the feud between man and god.
The story does highlight on realism, practicality and logic (logic to an extent, you can't expect anime to be that logical). The story also doesn't leave you brain dead since you really have to focus and understand certain details going on here and there. Another redeeming factor of the story is its extensive and (more or less) accurate military and strategic depiction. If you're a fan of politics and military shows, this is your cup of tea.
Art (9/10):
The art is unique. I was bothered with facial proportions when I first saw this but it grew on me. It's very detailed, from character expressions to the scenery. There was rough patch of art (it gave off CGI vibes) especially with scenes containing a massive army or a military vehicle.
Sound (9/10):
The OP and ED are solid. Upbeat and edgy, perfect for a war-torn theme. Background music was not disturbing but complemented the scenes it went with. I had an issue with volume as there were scenes that spiked up too much but that might just have been a "me" thing.
Character (8/10):
Great development with main character and just the main character. Supporting cast did not really get a time to shine and more often than not, completely forgettable. I understand that the premise of this whole show revolves around the protagonist but I don't think it would have hurt to showcase (maybe a brief flashback?) some supporting characters.
Would it have been irrelevant if they did so? No. Because these supporting characters are always seen around the protagonist and they also help to contribute to the protagonist and story's development.
Enjoyment (9/10):
Overall (9/10):
The cynical protagonist is really one of the best things I enjoyed in this show. His ideology along with his beef with god, makes it interesting to find out how things will unfold around him. Their depiction with war, tactics and strategies is also quite accurate and believable. The idea this anime had was very innovative. I do suggest watching the movie right after finishing the 12 episodes of this anime but.
I'd recommend this anime to anyone looking for serious action with a good plot line and a loli protagonist. Hey if any of those three got your attention then come on down.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 31, 2020
Ever dreamed of starting a new life in a fantasy world, where you could go on adventures, fight monsters and the occasional romance at the side? Sounds all fun and games until you realize what this wish entails. Living has never been easy and sometimes you just don't get that plot armor that makes you invincible to anything.
How long do you think you could survive in your new world where monsters exists and the only way for you to earn your living would be to hunt them down?
Grimgar reminds us of the terrors that exist with adventures through its simple story.
Story (7/10):
Grimgar follows the
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story of a group of people who find themselves in a fantasy world with no memories from where they came from or how they go there. This group struggles to survive and make a living for themselves as voluntary soldiers (or roughly similar to adventurers).
This is the whole plot of Grimgar. If you take it as is, it really sounds to simple to be good. But, how you tell a story, simple or not, makes all the difference. The approach it took with telling the story made it slightly different than other shows in its caliber. Grimgar's take on the fantasy-adventure genre was quite serious and down to how real it could possibly get. You only get once chance in life. There are no checkpoints. There are no re-dos. And you are not Natsuki Subaru.
With a lot of other shows exaggerating the durability of their characters, it's refreshing to see how the story gives emphasis to the frailness of life despite the fact it is an issekai anime. Real world concepts and rules being applied to the world of Grimgar made it so much more relatable and personal. The characters don't have plot convenience and plot armor backing them up. Their world relies on chance and wits. Their thrill and fear, you can feel and sympathize. The story telling and character development worked so well together that it made its cliche story, good.
Art (5/10):
The emphasis and detail was consumed by the characters. Character development was really important with how the story progressed. Character expressions were smooth and very expressive. If the character art was all I that I would rate, it would get a 9/10. But, taking into account the background art... well...
The background was lackluster. There was so little detail given to it that it got to the point where it was distracting and clearly on a lower level with the characters' animation. There were certain parts in the story where the background clearly mattered but the art did not match its importance.
Sound (8/10):
The music was good. The background music was also notable. There were however, certain scenes where it wouldn't hurt to add some background music.
Character (9/10):
Character development was on par with its story. These two elements complemented each other and would be the greatest strength this anime had. I admired how every character in the main group was unique and how they were each given enough time to develop.
Their motif was not spoon fed to the viewers. And in the end, I wasn't still sure as to what a couple of characters were trying to do but the show left it open for interpretation. I kinda just wished that they didn't do that.
Enjoyment (7/10):
Overall (8/10):
The show didn't end on a high note but it was satisfying. I was a little bothered with the pacing but, I also didn't feel that it deserved to be dragged on any longer or to get another season. What it gave me right now was enough but not enough for me to fawn over it. For a personal preference, I would've wanted more of the protagonist's love interest to bloom.
This show is a more serious take on the issekai genre and I would recommend anyone interested in such to watch it. Gore and violence are kept to a minimum and over bearing characters are nowhere to be found (sort of).
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 27, 2020
You know how some anime save themselves with some good'ol fan service and nothing else worth mentioning asides that? Well this anime ISN'T just that.
Story (9/10)
Shuuichi comes off as your average "smart highschool boy". He does give us his thoughts about being like that and you set off on the idea of him being like that. Meeting Clair was the reason his life went downhill and brought us a masterpiece which is Gleipnir. We follow this two on their investigation with the appearance of monsters and the disappearance of something (or someone) Clair holds dear.
The "mystery" they try to solve actually gets them nowhere
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and the things they find out only lead to more questions unanswered. The world they gotten themselves into has no place for mercy or rest. What will these two seemingly normal highschool kids, give up for the truth? What will they give up for their lives?
The story was hard to follow. I couldn't put my head around it, but something just felt distant. It sort of felt like something had already happened and the viewers got dropped in the middle of things without any context or background. To be honest, it was quite irritating. They also did this with the characters and all the more made the show hard for me to continue on.
So why did I give it a 9? The first few episodes didn't have much to go with. You would know too little to ever fathom what in the hell was going on. However, I shouldn't have been quick too judge. The show completely redeemed itself (story-wise). The story was already there and how they told the story made it even better. Our protagonist is surrounded with mystery and unanswered questions, the show very well tries to put the audience in the same trance. It worked. It almost felt interactive in way that what the MC knew is what we should also know. This is how the story connected to the viewers, or for myself. The story-telling was also careful when telling things from an all-seeing perspective. The concept of this show being a mystery-thriller sticks through the first episode to the last.
Art (9/10):
The art style was really smooth. The fight scenes was really well choreographed and executed. They were also sure to capture the character's emotions quite expressively. Though the background could use some improvement or a little bit more details but, that's just a personal preference.
Sound (10/10):
This show blasts us with its opening song on the very first episode. I wouldn't recommend watching it at first, because OPs do give off somewhat of a spoiler. When I did watch the opening song, hell it was quite upbeat and catchy. Their background music was also quite notable. They played a wide range of music, for fight scenes you'd get this sick EDM beat and for thrillers you'd get this sound that would creep you out and fill in some ominous vibes. The random choices of the sounds they played, worked out and contributed the shows mood and story telling.
Character (8/10):
Despite the great story, I felt like there were gaps or holes in characters that could have been told and the mystery or thrill would still have been there. There was also some inconsistencies with character behavior that made me question if something happened in between scenes that was not shown.
Enjoyment (8/10):
Overall (9/10):
My enjoyment with this anime started in later half of the series. It did redeem itself with its story and character development in the later half, but I just can't seem to feel satisfied with how things started. Other than that, the show for me ended on a high note.
I think when this show came out, I dropped it at first because not being able to watch the 13 episodes continuously would actually be a turn-off. Especially how the show was brought about in its first half of episodes, I didn't really have much of a reason to go on with it. This anime is quite edgy and "dark" that would not make it ideal to be watched out in public. There are various sub themes that are not quite tackled but it is still there and it is not really public appropriate. I would recommend this anime to anyone who could sit through the first few episodes and also to anyone who has a taste for edgy ecchi.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 25, 2020
Something a bit different in the Shounen genre but then again, it is still a Shounen.
Story (7/10):
The premise of this show takes place in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo that is almost entirely steampunk. Like every shounen, the story telling is mostly omnipresent but focused and revolves around the protagonist, Kusakabe Shinra. Given his shounen background (i.e., lost of a family member(s), or being hated or being an outcast growing up), he is your go-to shounen character. The build-up they took was quite different. Each episode offered a piece to contribute to the development of the whole story. In other words, there was no fillers
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or brain-dead content to keep the show going.
Given the standard idea of Shounen, Fire Force doesn't try that much to force the emotions of its story or scenes onto the viewers. Rather, they told the story as is and let the viewers decide how to feel about each scene or moment. Compared to other shows in the genre, which ques emotional backstory or background song, Fire Force doesn't have a lot of that (I mean it still has its moments, it's shounen after all). This makes the story less of a cringe and it never really does reach the point wherein the protagonist gets on your nerves with his signature tagline.
The world building is slow but, for a reason. I appreciate how almost every story in each episode contributes to the world building gradually until you get a clear picture of the world they're in. Don't expect it to come earlier than episode 10, like I said, world building is slow but, for a reason.
Why 7? The storytelling was good. The story itself was innovative but not new. There were some parts that was left without a proper introduction early on that I decided to give up on waiting for an explanation, only to be hit with it, several episodes later wherein I feel didn't exactly mattered to be told at that point.
Art (9/10):
The art was detailed. You could feel the vibes it was trying to give off every setting. I also appreciate how they showcase the detail of their art by focusing on it on a frame (they also sometimes use this as a transition, which I think is smooth).
Sound (9/10):
I really enjoyed the first OP. I could have watched that for the next 24 episodes and not get tired of it. The OST was not overlapping scenes but going with it. The balance between the sounds and scenes were exceptional. They also got rid of certain SFX where you would get anywhere else (For example, if a character did something stupid or perhaps tripped, you wouldn't get that OOF sound. I believe doing this was also essential to let the viewers decide on how to feel between and during the scenes).
Character (7/10):
Now, character development was present. Was it linear? No. Did it bother me at first? Quite. But, I suggest holding out. In other shows, the main protagonist would be introduced in episode 1 along with around 80 to 100% of what you should know about him. Fire Force threw Shinra at us at episode 1 and I didn't even have a concrete idea on who he is. They didn't make it so wherein you had to accept the main character right then and there. His development is seen throughout the entirety of the anime. our acceptance of him and his ideal come off natural and not forced.
I have given Fire Force a 7 because I feel like its omnipresent storytelling has caused some developments in side characters that could have been left untouched for the time being. Some side characters, who play an important part to the story, will incur your prejudiced. This will cause you to doubt them and things they do, which didn't really matter at this point yet.
Enjoyment (9/10):
Overall (8/10):
The storytelling does wonders for this show. Especially since it is competing with tons of others in the shounen genre, it does do something to stand out. Don't expect too much because no matter how it does go about it, in the end of the day, it is still a shounen anime. Some things might be predictable and others might be too idealistic but it is what it is. For someone new to anime, this would be a great gateway drug. For those who are accustomed to this genre, nothing wrong with taking in a little more shounen, especially this.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 22, 2020
When you've seen tons of other anime in the similar genre, Plunderer almost failed entirely to give us something new. This anime was like a mash-up of characters from Seven Deadly Sins and world building from Gate and SukaSuka.
Story (6/10):
The concept with the living with the rules of numbers and their count reflecting their power capabilities and social standing seemed original and full of potential. If someone came to me and told me that this is what Plunderer was about, then I would be all-in. Sadly, I would be facing disappointment.
The anime and how it portrayed its story in the first three
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episodes almost lost me. The plot build-up was so slow and uninteresting at first that if you didn't have the patience or the determination to finish what you started watching then you would drop this anime then and there.
Luckily, despite my disgust with the generic and almost copied character archetypes (I could swear that the main characters in Plunderer have their exact counterparts in Seven Deadly Sins), I decided to sit through it. This anime somehow turned itself around episode 4 and 5 because they dropped a "bomb" to the whole idea of the world building they were doing.
This anime has so many concepts and ideas it's trying to put together. All of which, are remarkably interesting ideas, and if combined right, it would have been so much more than what was presented. The story deepens as you move along but, despite seeing so much of this story, it was more or less predictable.
Art (6/10):
The art was sort of stale. It didn't exactly bring to life the emotions the characters were trying to portray. And in some cases it felt lacking.
Sound (4/10):
The OST was not at all helpful. When I get emotional scenes, I expect music in the background accompanying the scenes to make it more come to life. I got the music but, it just didn't match the scenes they were accompanying.
Character (5/10):
Too generic. I mean I could swear that Licht Bach is Melodias from the first Ep alone with Hina being his Elizabeth. And not to mention the other deadly sins (not all) also have there counterpart in Plunderer. And their motif is also quite similar.
Well the characters in Plunderer are quite developed and I like how it offers room for the viewers to imagine how these characters came to be. But, I think that they could have done that in a much shorter time compared to how much episodes they allocated for it.
You could see that the anime was focusing on character building compared to action sequences. That would have been great if the anime focused on drama and had a good story going for them but, this was not the case.
Enjoyment (6/10):
Overall (5/10):
!!LITTLE SPOILER AND RANT AHEAD!!
This anime would have been good for someone who was just started venturing out into anime. I would probably recommend this for beginners more compared to Sword Art Online (yes, a bit of shade there).
But as someone who has seen so much of these archetypes, I could say that Plunderer's most redeeming factor was its concept with numbers but along the way, these numbers seemed to get irrelevant. Sure in the first few fights, you get the idea that how much his count is, that's how strong he is. Then later on, you get fights wherein someone with close to a zero count beat someone with utter plot convenience and conviction?! It just gave me the idea that the numbers that they worked so hard to introduce to us just became obsolete in the long run.
I rest my case. Watch this if you're new. If you're a veteran weeb, watch this if you have some time to spare.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jul 20, 2020
It made me cry but it could have made me cry more.
Story (8/10):
This anime has a lengthy title, but most viewers just call it WorldEnd or SukaSuka. This anime is identified with the following genres: Sci-Fi, Drama, Romance and Fantasy.
WorldEnd takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth inhabited by other races such as trolls, leprechauns, lizard men, etc. Looking for humans? Well you'll find one at the most.
The first part of the anime simultaneously focuses both on world building and developing the two main characters, namely Willem and Chtholly. The world building was not spoon fed entirely to the viewers leaving them brain dead. I had
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to give thought and think about the pieces the anime was giving me to put together a general idea of what the world was like in that setting. Although it did focus more on the world building thus leaving the development of some important side characters unattended.
The story it's trying to portray will come out lighthearted at first. Going deeper into the anime and reaching the later episodes, you will be opened to the harsh reality of the world they are in and will be immediately drawn into the feeling of tragedy and helplessness. I'm not saying it's a terrible thing. As the atmosphere around the story begins to envelope in drama, I realized that the first few easygoing episodes were to lighten up what was to come.
Art (9/10):
The art was good. It matched with the theme of the world they were building. Some weird CGI here and there but, it doesn't affect my thoughts on the general art and animation that much.
Sound (10/10):
The sound was amazing. There were scenes wherein the OST completely took over the audio, in some other cases that might have been an issue for me. But as the case for WorldEnd or SukaSuka, the OST matched so well with the scenes and what was going on that you couldn't help but feel immersed in what was going on. It really helped set the mood.
Character (7/10):
Not much problem with the MCs but the side characters felt undermined especially some who I think had greater significance then what was given to them.
Enjoyment (10/10)
Overall (8/10):
At first, it struck me as another typical harem-fantasy romance gig. To be honest, I did not read the synopsis, nor did I know what genre this was. With that mind, I took the anime lightheartedly and did not expect much. I thought I was in for some Loli romance but, I was only half wrong. The drama element that this anime possessed was so captivating. It seemed to me that the drama was what they were focusing on, but the other aspects of the show was not neglected.
I was left crying and feeling empty but it does not necessarily indicate a bad end. I was satisfied with how the anime delivered its content although, they could have done better in some other areas. I just wished that they could have used all this unused potential.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 20, 2020
"Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious"
Plot/Story (8/10):
The title says it all. From the title alone, you could base your expectations and have a general idea of what you are about to watch.
I would group this anime together with a bunch of other shounen-isekai themed animes. However, among the rest I've seen with a typical protagonist who just "wings" it throughout his travels, Cautious Hero highlights a protagonist who is very meticulous and careful in everything he does.
The story unfolds quite well. For a 12-episode anime, the story does not seem rushed nor did it feel lacking in its story-telling element. The first
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few episodes will get you to watch it more for its comedy and introductions of a new isekai archetype in Seiya (the protagonist). This was an effective way to get viewers to stick around but continuing so, would cause for a loss of audience. Thankfully, there was more to its story and characters that got me curious thus, made me want to continue watching on.
Overall, the storytelling was good but the story they were telling was not that new. They do have my score for trying out something new.
Art (9/10)
From the same studio that brought me Re:Zero and Steins Gate, I could say this anime delivered and is somewhat on par with its predecessors in terms of art.
Sound (6/10):
It wasn't that impactful or memorable. The closing is kinda disturbing.
Character (7/10):
The archetype of the protagonist was new to me. The build-up of his character was there and that would get a good score. However, it lacked the spotlight of some supporting characters who contributed more to the story overall.
Enjoyment (8/10)
Overall (8/10):
It was good. The ending for me was satisfying but, it didn't leave an "amazed" expression. Cautious Hero is in a genre where it is completely saturated and even having a different take or approach to the Isekai genre, it still is competing with a lot out there. And I can't help but compare it to the ones I've seen already.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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