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This anime is 3 things. It's bland, boring, and bitterly overrated.

I wanted to love this show. I really did. No matter how boring each episode was, I pushed on and thought "maybe the next one will be better", but no, I was wrong. Time and time again this show has disappointed me.

This anime suffers from a lack of identity, it really just doesn't know what it wants to be. Does it want to be a cheerful show about discovering monster gourmet with the gang? Does it want to be a thrilling fantasy type affair with it's ubiquitous world-building and lore? Does it want to ... be a dark, gritty show that showcases the deep political intrigue surrounding the dungeon and the quest to become the most powerful in the world by heading into it's depths? No, no, and no.

Sometimes it does hit things out of the park. But for the most part, it's just not interesting enough. The red dragon arc did somewhat hook me, and so too did the last 3 episodes with the Griffin. However, there's just really not much substance to hold this show together.

It introduces interesting concepts from time to time, it flips between different characters to give us a different perspective of the story, it sprinkles some fascinating lore here and there, but it doesn't do anything with it. It's too inconsistent with it's writing, and the tone shifts too much for any fan of a specific part of the show to be fully satisfied.

It's a show full of contradictions and I cannot tell what story it's trying to tell most of the time.

Another issue is the characters. Boy, oh boy, do I hate the characters. The main cast for me is more or less bearable; heck, they might even be what I'd call "entertaining". Laios, while I find him to be annoying for how simply insensitive and nonchalant he takes things, his dedication to hunting down and eating monsters and saving his sister is his saving grace. Senshi, great cook, actually does stuff, he passes. Chilchuck, absolutely hate him, but his seemingly self-aware and depressing commentary still makes him slightly funny. Marcille, peak character. I absolute adore the little thing, regardless of how annoying she is.

The side characters meanwhile are a whole other story. I hate every one of them. Especially Kabru. If there's one reason to never watch this show, it's him. Every single time he's on screen is when the show turns from completely decent, to straight up horrible. Probably a just a me thing, but he really just gives off a horrible vibe that really ruins the show. That constant thirst for power is what sets me off. Fucking piece of shit, no wonder he can't get past the first few floors.

Whenever I look back at this show, I always see glimpses of what could've been. Like I mentioned, it could have been a nice, almost therapeutic show about tasting monster food. It could've been a gripping fantasy show with it's deep lore and action, perhaps something along the lines of Mushoku Tensei. But no. It missed the mark.

Will I watch a future season 2? Probably. Like I said, the show has some really interesting concepts that I would like to be expanded upon in a future season. But would I recommend this show to someone who just wants a decent fantasy anime or a cooking show? No, probably not. It's a huge waste of time that doesn't manage to scratch that itch. It's always almost there, but never reaches it.

I rest my case.

Hands down one of the best SOL/Romance anime out there.

Why, you may ask? Because for one, it has everything a romance anime should have, at least in my opinion. An interesting (albeit cliche) hook, strong and deep characters, realistic dialogue and relationship dynamics, and probably best of all: a straight to the fucking point plot.

One of the main strengths of Horimiya as a romance anime is how the characters waste no time in getting their feelings across to each other. It's not a slog like other shows out there and I really appreciate that. Of course, you could say, "oh it's not that realistic cause ... high schoolers don't really take that quick to confess or whatever", well let me just remind you that the show's pacing really cuts out a lot of the fluff you see in regular romance anime (which is a point I'll get to later). The straightforwardness really helped me to enjoy the various character's reactions much more and made the show more interesting to watch.

Another one of it's strengths is it's realism when it comes to portraying relationships, both in romantic and simply platonic terms. Some may argue with me on this but based on personal experience, it's pretty close. There's often a level of self-awareness that high schoolers (including myself), reflect when it comes to being in a relationship.

Oftentimes, we question if we're suitable enough for our partner, we question if our actions, thoughts, behaviours, and mannuerisms are in line with what our partner expects or finds as a passable, we question our appearance, our personality, our hobbies, and so much more. And I think that is beautifully portrayed here. It's very nice to see just how Miyamura and Hori aim to understand everything about each other more and more, and how at the end of the day, they accept themselves for who they are despite each other's shortcomings.

Lastly, one of the most underrated aspects of the show in my opinion, would be the comedy. I don't know what it is about the show's comedy but it is right up my alley, and I'd say it even bests the likes of shows that were meant to be funny, like Nichijou for example. It just has a certain level of relatability for me and that's what makes it feel so familiar and hillarious, couldn't stop laughing throughout the entire show. Reminds me a lot of the local rom-coms and soap operas in my country that I used to watch a whole lot.

Of course, it's not a perfect show. It certainly has it's issues, such as problems with pacing, how it seemingly flip-flops between the stories of each of the characters, how some characters like Honoka Sawada feel kinda worthless, and how it sometimes struggles to get the thought processes of the characters across, but overall I think these issues are more or less negated by the good aspects of the show, and they are certainly not dealbreakers at all.

So in summary, Horimiya is a standout in the anime scene because it offers a compelling blend of straightforward storytelling, realistic character portrayals, and relatable humor. It captures the essence of youthful romance and the complexities of human relationships with a deft touch, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. Whether you're drawn to the heartfelt romance, the character-driven drama, or the relatable humor, it delivers on all fronts, making it a truly exceptional series.

I rest my case.

Boy this was awesome.
This anime deserves the world in what it brings to the table. While it never really made me cry tears or whatever, nor did it emotionally haunt me for months on end, there is possibly no other anime that can surpass this show in showcasing how effective anime can be in storytelling.

To preface my review, let me ask you one question, what is the meaning of time for you, and what would you do if you had infinite amounts of it? That is the question that (at least the first part) of Frieren aims to answer. The show centres around Frieren, an ... elf who lives a practically infinite lifespan, and how she goes on a journey to understand human emotions after a comrade of hers in a party who defeated the Demon King dies.

Right off the bat, it throws us an interesting concept that we've really never seen before. Sure, we get a ton of Isekai and Fantasy shows that focus on defeating the Demon King of some sorts, but this is the first show that truly asks: "So, we beat em. What happens next?". The ability to create a concept and expand upon it so well is something Frieren does extremely well.

For Frieren, time is nothing. A year goes by in a blink of an eye. A decade goes by in a few steps. A century goes by after a day.
One of the most interesting aspects of this show would be how it manages to encapsulate just the speed at how Frieren views the world at, especially in the beginning before she embarks on her journey of self-discovery. You feel just how fast she views everything, especially with the first episode. Everything feels a bit rushed for me, but that's just how it's supposed to be. We're seeing how Frieren views time, a hundred plus years were basically the equivalent of a 24-minute episode for her back then.

The characters are also another strong point of the show. All of them are very well written and have motives behind the paths they took in life. Not once have I seen one that doesn't have something beneath the surface, even having quirks that each of them express which I think is a nice touch, makes for some really cute and funny moments in the show. Furthermore, it's interesting to just see the story of why they are they way they are unfold. It adds to the feeling of the world being real, and plays into Frieren's agenda of trying to understand human emotions.

But possibly what I think is the greatest feat of this show is how it managed to move on from it's main gimmick of tackling what happens after the renowned party defeats the Demon King. While the initial 12 episodes were more focused on world building and character building, as well as uncovering more about Frieren and her party members (Fern and Stark), the rest were just a flat out great fantasy-action type affair. The exam arc really featured some great battles and I really like the stories they uncovered throughout their journey. But the difference here is that they still manage to make it play into what this story was about in the first place: Frieren understanding human emotions and discovering what Himmel truly meant to her.

Not to mention, this is all complemented by the immaculate animation and music, courtesy of Madhouse and Evan Call respectively. I wouldn't say it's JJK or Your Name levels of amazing, but I'd definitely rate it A+ tier. It's quite in a similar vein to Mushoku Tensei. Good stuff.

Of course, it's not all perfect, I think the ludicrous and confusing pacing, the heavy story, and the somewhat insignificant moments in the show may be unenjoyable to some, but still, this is one of the best anime that has EVER come out, and one of the masters of storytelling. I've really yet to see anything like it.

It's a show that literally anyone can pick up and find something they take interest in. No matter if you liked the emotionally touching story of stuff like Violet Evergarden and Vinland Saga, the bombastic fantasy-action power trip of shows like Mushoku Tensei and Re:Zero, or the more lighthearted fantasy-exploration affair of shows like Majo no Tabitabi or Dungeon Meshi, this show is for you.

I rest my case.

Like the previous season, COTE S3 continues to serve as a very interesting drama anime that puts forward the true cruelty that lies within people and their struggle for power, no matter how over exaggerated this representation is.

It's very weird to explain what hooks me to watch this anime and its subsequent seasons however. The drama is predictable at best (though there are decent plot twists throughout), the characters feel somewhat flat and unrealistic (they're either the usual very OP villains and protags and stuff like that or just flat out useless, boring side characters), and the plot itself leaves a whole lot of holes ... in it that I just wish they'd explain. But overall this show still does serve its purpose of being interesting, especially for anime-only watchers. It knows it's being edgy and goes with it, but not too much to the point it's cringe, is what I would say about this show, especially for the third season.

I do like how the power dynamic changes quite significantly, as it allows us to explore different characters throughout each season such is the case for Sakayanagi, Ichinose, and Nagumo, among others. Especially excited for how this season will build up Sakayanagi’s character, as she mostly operated in the background in the past 2 seasons. Ichinose’s story arc was pretty interesting as well.

Overall, if you enjoyed S1 and S2, and want more of this rich school drama type show and can handle the slightly over exaggerated character personalities here, boy is it a good watch. Definitely one of my personal guilty pleasure anime. I also highly recommend going in blind to prevent from blowing your enjoyment.

This...now this...this may have been the best anime I have ever watched in my life. Normally I don't review what I watch unless it hits it out of the park, sucks ass, or has some glaring flaws, but this one, I can say with certainty, that Angel Beats is a masterpiece.

Obviously, it does have it's flaws. While the 13 episode length of the show didn't really bother me (I thought it was actually a pretty good way to end the show on as it made it easily digestible), I feel like it could've done a much better job at just explaining everything in a 24 ... episode anime. But then again, I think the short length of the show really helped pull the emotional weight of each of the events much further. Another offset of this short length would just be the fairly flat feeling of some of the characters, as their backstories were never really fully explained either. Characters such as Noda, Takeyama, and TK were people who I really wanted to see backstories for, but in the end they just ended up feeling unsubstantial due to their lack of respective histories. Furthermore, there are quite a number of plotholes manifested within the story, such as who really was the programmer, whether Otonashi really ascended to the afterlife, Kanade's backstory, and so on.

But, when we look past that, this show is truly amazing at what it does. It knows how to make my stone cold heart feel things, and I really love it for that. The things that make this show great for me would probably be the premise, the characters, and the good balance between emotion and humour.

The premise of the show is really unique, and while some people may not like that, I personally did. Great break from a lot of the recycled ideas in a lot of anime nowadays. It's a story about people uncovering their backstories in the afterlife and trying to move on, something I've never really heard of before.

The characters (well, at least the ones that mattered), were all very well built and possess distinctive personalities and motivations that can drive their actions, largely concerning with them wanting to do what they couldn't in their previous life. And this helps to make every moment feel that much more substantial. Such as with Yui, who's scenes in EP 10 really moved me. Like just seeing someone as positive move on, it's both a happy thing and hurts a lot, y'know?

The great balance of emotion and humour is also really good as well. The show really knows how to perfectly balance these two elements, making sure that one doesn't overpower the other, while also not making the transition between them too harsh. One moment, the show could go from really hillarious slapstick humour or interactions between the fairly idiotic characters, and the next could be dealing with them moving on and getting obliterated. But despite that, again, the transition still feels natural.

Couple that with the exceptional visuals and soundtrack, and this show really had me crying by the end of it.

This probably isn't my best written review at all, far from it, but with just how much this show moved me, I found it impossible not to make a review. It's just something that I really didn't expect to make me this emotional for shit that ain't even real. Not only that but it actually got me to look at my life and ask myself, "Is there any regret I have that I could still solve while I'm here?". It's a show that knows how to move people. It's a show that knows how to portray people's stories. It's a show that knows how to use all of it's elements to not only give you a bit of a heartache, but also make you look back at your life and what you've done.

No matter what your opinion on this show is, I will always say, that THIS, is the perfect example of how anime as a medium can portray a story. It might not be for everyone, but you can't deny that at least in some way, this show will still remain beautiful and as a timeless gem for the ages.

Thanks for reading.

So, I'll just get straight to the point here, Zom 100 is probably both one of the best yet uninspiring anime out there. From a critical standpoint, while the premise is quite unique and interesting, in my opinion, where it falls flat is simply the depth of the characters and the world, as well as the lack of a deeper message going forward apart from "just enjoy life" or whatever. It doesn't aim to create any lore for itself or make the characters more interesting and feel real either. Everything here just feels very stereotypical and idealised to the point where it just gets annoying ... at times.

The plot just revolves around the theme of escapism, as the characters use the zombie apocalypse in order to find time to truly enjoy life, something they haven't been able to do due to overwork at their jobs, specifically in the case of Akira Tendou, the MC. Again, the plot is simple, but unique. As the story goes on, the characters in the show eventually learn about the harsh realities of life in a zombie apocalypse while trying to chase their dreams and finish everything they set out to do in their "100 things I want to do before I become a zombie" notebook.

In my opinion, the (ironically enough) part where the show really shines is in every second of enjoyability and just the impact of every moment, and I think this is enough to be able to recommend the the show. Because at the end of the day the show is meant to just be simple, chaotic fun and I really do like it for that. A lot of the moments in the show *do* feel cheesy but at the same time, it manages to contribute to the overall charm and lightheartedness that it aims to deliver, and it really becomes a guilty pleasure of sorts when watching. It really knows how to draw you into the characters' experiences, even if it lacks the depth or complexity seen in some other anime.

Something I think a lot of people really get wrong about this show is in the mindset that Zom 100 is a show that's trying to be deeper than what it is and something that's trying to push the boundaries of the genre like a ton of other anime this season, when it reality it's not. Like I said, at the end of the day, the show is just meant to be simple, chaotic fun and should be consumed as such, not as a deep commentary on life in a zombie apocalypse, Japan's toxic work culture, or the problems of depressing, anxiety, and social rejection. Because if it is taken more seriously than it should be, it really hides just how good this show truly is.

Lastly, I'd also like to give a shoutout to the great animation within the show, especially for a studio new to the industry like Bug Films, it's really amazing to see just how good the animation turned out, even if it resulted in numerous episode delays (which caused me to lower my rating considerably since I and probably a lot of other people lost interest after the last 4 episodes didn't air until Christmas). Kudos to them and all the people who helped in production.

TL:DR, great show with pretty good comedy, characters, and animation, but lacks depth and can be stereotypical at times. If you dislike comedy or lighthearted shows and/or are looking for something more in-depth and serious, or something like a horrific zombie horror show then this isn't the show for you.

Also, Shizuka best girl.

Probably one of the best animovies I've seen so far, hands down. Makoto Shinkai has done it again lads.
Had the chance to watch this at the mall near me, I actually didn't expect it to release in my country so early but here we are.

TL;DR: Essentially another Makoto Shinkai film, but with its own personality and style that I personally enjoy. The animation scenes are smooth, the art and backgrounds are stunning, all of the characters are fantastic, and the story is flawless. I'll say that the
the "romance" between the MCs did feel a little forced. It almost felt like it was just thrown in ... there to match the likes of Your Name or Weathering With You. Nonetheless, it's a fantastic film, and I appreciated how the plot became more focused on preventing disasters and how the characters come to solve problems along the way rather than the romantic development between the two characters and how the respective issues that occur in each of their respective storylines affected their relationship with each other, as in Shinkai's other works.

Story - 10:
The story was one of the high points of the movie for me. In summary, the story follows Suzume Iwato, a high school student, who meets a man named Sōta Munakata while on her way to school. Sōta is on a mission to find and lock doors in abandoned places to prevent a giant supernatural "worm" from causing earthquakes in Japan. With the help of a cat named Daijin, they find and close the doors to keep the worm at bay. Along the way, Suzume discovers that she has a special ability to see the afterlife through the doors, and she helps Sōta in his mission. In the end, Suzume saves Sōta and reconciles with her aunt.

While it does, again, feel derivative of Shinkai's other works with it's supernatural themes tied in with events that affect the real-life world, the much more original and abstract concept really kept me going along. Furthermore, the backpacking adventure that characters took which both heightened the development of the characters made me feel much more attached to them and made more interested in how they managed to overcome the problems they had along the way.

But probably one of the reasons why I like the story is just because of how it took greater inspiration from real world events, most notably the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, by portraying it as something that actually happened and affected the characters (most notably Suzume herself), instead of portraying it as a simple metaphor or base point like in the previous movies. Suzume's history of trauma after losing her mother in the Earthquake and how she overcame it, really set me aback and inspired me.

Characters - 10:
The characters were another great aspect of the movie was the characters. All the characters were great, including the supporting ones. The dialogue and the dynamic between each of the characters felt real, which honestly made the movie much more emotional for me, especially during the scene in which Suzume and her aunt argue about how she wasted her life away on her, and yet she didn't even show one hint of thankfulness for all that she did. A pretty heart-wrenching moment for someone who's suffered a similar experience before.

Each of the characters had interesting plot lines, and all felt like an integral part of the story. The side characters especially were interesting to me and in how they managed to not only aid in the development of the main characters, but how they also managed to realise something about themselves in the process of helping the MCs.

Speaking of the MCs, I personally loved the dynamic between them. While there were some romantic themes thrown in there (I do enjoy romance anime, just that I didn't really want it to be the main focus here), for the most part, it was mostly a platonic or "friendly love" romance as I'd like to call it. Nonetheless, the MCs were great and they both helped in pushing each other forward, even if their whole dynamic did feel a bit cliche.

Animation - 10:
As per usual in any Makoto Shinkai movie, the animation is top-tier. All the backgrounds look stellar, character design is amazing, animation sequences and frame pacing is smooth and CGI was well applied. Probably my only main problems stem from the fact that the character designs are getting a bit old now, and are starting to blend in with the character designs of Makoto Shinkai's other movies. Though I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing, as it provides Shinkai's movies with that signature character design where we can immediately tell it's his movie. Another thing I noticed is that while the characters and other objects were a bit less detailed, the pacing of the animation was much smoother and more life-like this time around. I immediately noticed this detail upon watching. The animation was buttery smooth to the point where it becomes harder to distinguish it from typical CGI or motion capture.

Sound and Music - 9:
As usual, Radwimps is once again back at the helm with the music for this film. Though, while the music was certainly very good, there weren't really that much hard-hitting or memorable tracks for me this time around. Their music wasn't bad by any means, it did fit the scenes that were being shown, it did fit the theme of the overall movie, just that it doesn't really stand out that much as usual. Not much to write home about.

Conclusion:
As I said at the start, this was probably one of the best animovies I've watched so far. The impact, relatability, and overall much more realistic tone of the story; combined with the authentic relationships, dynamics, and feelings of the characters and the astounding animation in tow, this is one of the movies that truly makes me appreciate anime as a medium. All in all, if you want an anime movie something more adventurous instead of the usual romance or typical action-shonen anime out there, and/or are a fan of Shinkai's previous movies, this is definitely one to put on your list(when it comes out in the west, of course).

It was genuinely an enjoyable experience for me and it truly showed me how anime movies continue to evolve over the years, and made me understand just how effective they can be in telling stories, and portraying the ups and downs of life. Truly, an anime to appreciate for the ages.