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Going full throttle on the insatiably comedic Yakuza and househusband crossover, we as the audience are strangely captivated by all the nonsensical ways Tatsu "The Immortal Dragon" pushes the boundaries of everything surrounding housework, community affairs, and marital competence. This time, however, audiences are already privy to the arduous path Tatsu has taken to acquire his esteemed level of house husbandry, and they can find satisfaction in the transference of skills and knowledge into the new, crazy scenarios Tatsu involves himself in as a result of his inescapable Yakuza past. The feature of old and new faces alike also doesn't hurt, as it helps set ... up well-timed punchlines and stints of character development. "Gokushufudou" never fails to deliver its intention to entertain and amaze because the protagonist is something whose past, present, and future the viewer loves to see challenged and related to.

In a sea of recommended reviews for "Sensei wa Koi wo Oshierarenai," I've decided to put my foot down against this not-so-creative premise of a rom-com for one reason: child predation. Yes, I'm fully aware of the implications and severity of what is being said, but the message is being laid clearly in front of readers' eyes from the first chapter, and I never fully accepted the blatant misdoings and skewed rationale of the main characters by participating in this disgusting act. Perhaps there are cultural lines not being communicated from the storyboards to foreign readers that I have not readily understood, but despite this, ... attempting to romanticize the tale of a teacher-and-student relationship as something not inherently criminal, scandalous, and career-ending rubs me the wrong way. "Sensei wa Koi wo Oshierarenai" as a concept for a romantic comedy, to begin with, is a contradiction in itself. How can taking advantage of a boy when in a professional environment be viewed through a comedic lens? The female professor in this relationship is made out to readers as the intelligent and stringent type but is somehow blind to the fact she is partaking in a commonly understood felony. To readers who oppose what is being said in my argument and have read this series in its entirety, I get that the characters themselves know what they are getting into should they be found out and reported. But if you can imagine the sensei here either behind bars or left on the street without any future chances of employment because she was discovered to be with a minor 8 years younger than her, you can more easily grasp the magnitude of what is being purported by this relationship. There is little means to justify the two and their level of intimacy because 'they weren't caught,' although the characters don't really do that well either. Even story and plot-wise, the chapters and small arcs, later on, fail to demonstrate any meaningful and traceable progress between the two, depending entirely on the basis of their secretive and illegal relationship to carry the comedy and dialogue. There are genuine moments between these characters that allow, even for just a second, readers to confide in the struggles of keeping a tender and warmhearted love a secret. But allowing what's best for the other person and abstaining may be the real signature of love, however much it hurts to do.

We all know that someone: the cool and mysterious type who manages to make everything look casual and effortless, but who knows what goes on through their head in acting that way? "Cool Doji Doshi" examines those very personalities with no room left in between using four, and eventually five, personable characters. Although they are all equally clumsy, each showcases their own charms and unique ways of dealing with their deficiencies to a hilariously relatable effect. Aside from the premise behind each character's personality, this half-long episode series weaves an intricate tale of how the bubble these characters occupy intersects with one another. bringing these ... like-minded people together. What's special about "Cool Doji Doshi" is the seamless transition from the series' plainly episodic trajectory to one that tells a story of men in different places in their lives who find a thing or two to learn from one another. At times near the end of the 24-episode run, audiences almost forget what it is they originally came for in favor of something greater because the series has done so well to emphasize story building and key moments of character growth rather than, without progress, continuously latch onto its original premise of cool yet somewhat graceless men. Characters without much substance can only go so far, and it's a delight to see genuine articles of continuity throughout that reward the viewer for legitimizing the bond between these characters. "Cool Doji Doshi" tells us that no matter how outwardly cool and confident one appears, it's the small and stupid everyday mistakes that shape who we are.

"ReLife" includes just about nothing an anime can ask for in its characters: a token blockhead protagonist, a token tsundere, a token intelligent but clueless classmate, a token airhead, and a token best girl. With a relatively substandard animation style, (at least for a production originally airing in 2016) "ReLIFE" relies heavily upon a cohesive plot backed by a cast of colorful and meaningful characters. Immediately, we as the audience are introduced to the protagonist Kaizaki Arata and the staleness of his everyday life as an unemployed and socially alienated citizen. At no point throughout the series are viewers clued into who our protagonist is, ... how his upbringing has influenced what motivates him, and the thought process that spurs him into leaping into action as he so fearlessly does. This creates confusion and contradicts how the main character portrays himself in his interactions with others from the concept of ReLIFE as a NEET rehabilitation organization. Aside from flashbacks that were introduced far too late to produce any real impact on the story moving forward, the viewer is left helplessly grasping at straws to infer how the main character's former history and affiliations affect his second life as a high schooler once again.

The plot is scattered and jumps too erratically back and forth between focusing on the narrative of change for the main character as a result of enrolling in ReLIFE and the hapless, oftentimes nearly irrelevant, dealings of the story's other main/side characters. There are commendable attempts made to weave the endeavors of the supporting cast to signify the effect Kaizaki Arata has wrought upon them, but ultimately, the lack of realism in favor of implementing the overused trope of misunderstandings makes this series a sore sight for eyes. Other irksome plot elements were also introduced that did less to serve as comical relief or fulfill some other purpose rather than downplaying the legitimacy of the characters. One example is Arata's complete inadequacy to pass high school exams, despite already having graduated from graduate school. As he continually fails his exams, his results show viewers he is undisciplined and lazy but the story means to perpetuate the opposite idea that Arata is somewhat studious and capable of transforming himself and others. Why not just have him eventually pass his exams instead of giving credence to the idea he is wasting his time at ReLIFE by being represented as a constant failure in this one aspect? Or take Kariu as another example. She learned early on not to run and mask her feelings, but several episodes later, she is seen doing exactly that and in an even more egregious manner.

Overall, the show was a drag, especially when more unnecessary plotlines in the second half of the series began to blur the focus of the story further.

In my opinion, the most compelling articles of "Inside Mari" grapple with the psychological impulses driving human behavior rather than the phenomenon of perspective 'body swapping.' Moreover, the story engages readers in a volatile - thus unpredictable - plot, ushering choices that the three main characters (Mari, Yori, and Komori) must confusingly consider due to bizarre circumstances which are of utmost importance to the stakes at hand. Some readers may find the extreme course of action taken, fueled by irrational and debasing logic, as ridiculous, but when illnesses such as depression, obsession, nihilism, and schizophrenia are reified to the mind, nothing is out of the ... question for sociopathic tendencies. Oshimi Shuuzou highlights what lengths humans will cross to gratify their lust and egos for the express purpose of selfishness. Change following realization demonstrates to readers how reflecting on the most jarring events and actions acts as the catalyst for discovering greater self-worth and achieving maturity. These characters are twisted beyond standard merit, yes, but there is always a reason, a starting point that catapults people to participate in some of the most degrading behavior imaginable. Therefore, this is what I believe the author intended in detailing the sinister mind propelling human thought into action. 8/10

What happens when a romanticized image of a young, innocent maiden falls into your lap as an "observer?" "I sold my life for ten thousand yen per year" is a likewise story of an incel male dropping all priorities, interests, and resources to squeeze out funding for someone's OnlyFans. Therefore, getting to brass tax, it's not totally unreasonable for the protagonist Kusunoki to terminate the remainder of his lifespan. This becomes especially true when strapped for cash as a college student and resorting to pre-meditated death instead of facing employment. For anticipatory readers rooting for our underdog Kusunoki, they will be less than enthralled ... when greeted by this hopeless dork. His attempts at any socialization include being ignored by a friend he met in college, blundering all hopes of maintaining a friendship with an acquaintance from high school, and being shut off entirely by the supposed love of his life from his idyllic naivety as a 10-year-old.

But the fall makes the triumph of victory taste all the sweeter because Kusunoki has a stunning, yet deadpan beauty watching and recording his every action, satiating his role as the observable. Everyone is a winner here: the main character gets to die whilst legally stalked by the girl of his dreams, and she gets amusement. But a not-so-shocking plot twist - said attractive observer falls for the protagonist as none of her assignments were ever clinically insane enough to embrace her nonexistent presence in public. Kusunoki gets special treatment but god forbid if 53-year-old, 360-pound Jimmy, who moderates three Discord servers, ever did the same he wouldn't hear the end of it. All in all, the romance is sweet, some story elements for the sake of progression are contrived, and dying with someone is far better than doing it alone.

7/10

It really doesn't take Inspector Gadget to realize "Pumpkin Night" is a grotesque slasher with the sole aim of illustrating as much gore and intestinal carnage as possible. In regards to characters, they seem to exist for the express purpose of enabling Kirino Naoko, or "Pumpkin Night," to torture, ravage, and eviscerate any living thing in her path. The story is at least capable of evolving through different plotlines rather than remain at a complete standstill. Points for adopting creative ways where Pumpkin Night can make use of any object and manifest grisliness akin to your most twisted subconscious thoughts. Recommended to anyone who relishes ... the ideation of massacre, but don't go in expecting any depth to the senseless slaughtering. 4/10

"Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku," "Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii," or simply "Wotakoi" is the essential, declassified, must-read manga for all Japanese-culture lovers who desperately yearn for the ultimate prize they can only imagine for themselves: a romantic relationship. Jokes aside, "Wotakoi" examines the perverse relationship sparked between Fujoshi Narumi Momose, and gaming maniac Hirotaka Nifuji after their reunion as co-workers since their childhood days in school. As the atmosphere settles between the two after an awkward confession, the two learn to navigate a life of work, anime, games, cosplay, socializing, and secrets.

The concept driving "Wotakoi" is nothing out of the ordinary. It ... follows the standard formula of romance manga with a twist. However, the execution, grounded in its realism, sets apart this manga from others works that fail to achieve the essence of romance. The amount of material present for each couple is so plentiful that seemingly trivial chapters end up spotlighting which aspects of their daily life are considered normal. These are in stark contrast to the several-chapter-long episodes that exist and serve to challenge characters, which naturally brings about their tendencies in response to setback or flaws in their personality. These two storytelling styles offer a colorful balance of interaction for understanding each character's greatest strengths and weaknesses. Next, the dialogue, at times, is dense but seldom does it leave the reader with a drained reaction to these conversations. Behind the story includes the creator, Fujjita, and his team who comprehend the full extent of otaku lifestyle. The insertion of real-life experiences and the research done into crafting an accurate representation of this specific romantic affair is a testament to the many lives that still thrive from the wonders of Japanese culture.

Unfortunately, despite hours of available content from this manga, the main lead, Hirotaka Nifuji, had solid development but not enough to justify the closeness to his lover, Narumi Momose, by the manga's closing chapters. While other relationships dug deep into what defined them, the same could not be said about the primary cast of companions. The restrictiveness placed on Nifuji's character from his dull backstory to his personality, was extremely difficult to manage. Although the attempt was well done, not much could be done about salvaging a, mostly, one-dimensional character.

The manga has a lot going for it, and its awareness to comedic elements in all facets of the series is great. 7/10

I live or die as an "Attack on Titan Tard." Unironically, I believe AoT is the greatest piece of Japanese media to have ever existed. It channels all there is about human connection and how tragedy can push someone to brink of their physical and mental limits. Every characters is redemptive, and for a few, the paradigm shift of their situation is what allows them to broaden their views, swallow their pride, and compromise with enemies to achieve a common goal. No one opinion is righteous, and the narrative is moved along perfectly to reflect this. Not a moment of screen time is wasted; a ... clear line of storytelling through explanation, motives, and execution are equally balanced throughout to highlight the stakes and assemble unity. The mix of action-packed battle, political and world dilemmas, and the responsibilities of tying up loose ends, all for the selfish gains of each party involved, clash in a breathtaking production of human conflict and psychology.

Attack on Titan is less so a piece of entertainment than a journey to unravel the audience's outlook on what pushes the human psyche to process and act upon the brutality of injustices. When each episode runs past 20 minutes, yet manages to create an experience where each episode looks like it just started by the end, the interest factor is unmistakable. This season represents but a modicum of action and more so the setup of the consequential actions when human vie for authority and self-interest. Nothing else could be more anticipated than what this season prepares as a final, end-all-be-all scenario between titans, humans, and all the emotional gravity in between. 10/10

"Wonder Egg Priority" is so disappointing, it's infuriating. At first, viewers are immersed in carefully woven world, one which animators took painstakingly fastidious effort creating. Unfortunately, all story building components are, in comparison, a letdown from their polished handiwork. The directive vision of the first few episodes muddles what could have been a mysterious and sublime conclusion. Instead, every character is given shallow motivations, the basis of the show generates a plethora of forgettable and irrelevant characters, and thematic elements of tragedy are handled with abhorrent insensitivity.

Heroine Ai Ohto loses her best friend, Koito Nagase, in an unfortunate series of circumstances that follow her ... life of being bullied and, therefore, isolated. Ohto is originally presented as meek and rebellious, a clear representation of an identity that lasts for around one episode. With the introduction of the other main leads in the series, Ohto suddenly embraces the social butterfly personality in conversation. This example, along with numerous other cases, demonstrate clear character inconsistencies which make rooting for any particular character for their redeeming qualities practically impossible. Although this show doesn't fall into the pitfalls of generalization for sad anime, the attempts to make use of "edgy" and shocking graphic scenes are executed without any careful consideration. Every traumatized girl that spawns from wonder eggs and their dilemmas to face those troubles serve less to offer emotional depth to the show than prove that, yes, the world they inhabit is very susceptible to various injustices. Abuse, sexual harassment, parental absence, and the like all rooted deep within the main and supporting characters are given little second-thought or downplayed tremendously just to meaninglessly provide some action onscreen.

Many questions are left unanswered and the conclusion is hurriedly left on a unfulfilling note. The viewer has to endure hours of episode-by-episode drivel which merits little reward for why character affairs are sentimental. Not to mention that every major character introduction ends up as awkward and without much explanation, especially the victims and their abrupt involvement in wonder eggs. Aonuma Neiru's existence in the first or second episode left me completely clueless as to whether she would even become a character of interest. In any case, when an anime, especially an original work, devotes an entire episode to recap, the equivalent of blindfolding yourself and walking aimlessly into a minefield is an appropriate analogy for how the creators managed the show's overall organization. The show falls in the middle of the pack, 5/10.