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I loved the first season and I was waiting for this sequel for a very long time, to the point that I didn't read the manga to stave off my hunger. However, three episodes in, I have witnessed probably the MOST BORING episode in all of anime I have ever watched EVER. I have NEVER committed the sin of watching anime in 2x speed ever in my life until watching this anime.

The first episode is a typical refresher for the characters, and that's not really a bad thing. The art has greatly improved, and the opening is catchy. However, when the second episode dropped, I ... can forgive one episode of flashbacks with these "other heroes" as it was somewhat enough to make me look forward to them meeting our main character, but after that, a whole another episode dedicated to them after the flashback was EXTREMELY BORING, considering the fact that we're seeing the side of hyumans, which the audience was supposed to hate, or at least that's what the story is wanting me to do. After a season hating the hyumans, is the story wanting me to feel some sympathy or something? The reason why I am still watching, though, is that I like the story's premise and am still looking forward for these heroes to meet Makoto, and I am expecting no more flashback episodes.

The first three episodes, more accurately the second and third episodes of the anime, are egregiously boring deviations that might not be totally unnecessary as it gives some perspective on the opposition, but it totally overstayed its welcome and was thus extremely boring. Nevertheless, I still recommend this anime to those who have watched the first season and I am hoping that my score right now isn't the final one I will give when the next episodes air.

I'm going to ask you a question. French for "a flash of lightning," this chocolate-topped dessert that got its name because it is eaten quickly is called what? The answer would be "eclair." However, for characters of this anime, the moment the consonant cluster "fl" for "flash" is pronounced, they have already pressed the buzzer and gotten the correct answer. Okay, one more. The three great festivals of Kyoto are Gion Festival, Aoi Festival, and what? The correct answer would be "Jidai Festival," and you might have already guessed that once the "A" part of "Aoi" was spoken, the correct answer ... would already have been determined. Okay, last one. Jumping flea in Hawaiian is the name origin of what instrument? The correct answer would be "ukulele," and some of the best competitors would have already known the answer when the word "flea" was spoken.

Growing up, I have always been fascinated with random trivia questions from a wide variety of subjects, and even now, if you tell me a totally random trivia fact and ask me "Did you know?" questions, I will always, and I mean ALWAYS be interested. So of course, when I found an anime that focuses on trivia quizzes, and leveled it up into an intense competition, it became an instant favorite.

Nana Maru San Batsu, or in English, Fastest Fingers First, or to be more accurate, 7 Correct Answers and 3 Mistakes—but I guess that wouldn't be a popular title—is a school anime centering on Shiki Koshiyama, a bookworm who somehow finds himself participating in a mini quiz bee competition at his school after being chosen at random. Shiki ends up being able to answer only one question, but that question was actually the hardest one. He gets the attention of his classmate, Mari Fukami, who is an experienced quizzer and was one of the participants that voluntarily joined the same quiz, but was not fast enough to answer that particular question. Seeing his potential, Mari invites Shiki to join the quiz club, where Shiki finds a new hobby in competitive quizzes where his knowledge on difficult topics stemming from his habits as a bookworm will prove to be extremely useful.

The story is very niche as I can't recall any anime that's so focused on academic competitions aside from Baka to Test, but even the premise of that anime is significantly different from Fastest Fingers First, so that's beside the point. This distinction alone, I believe, makes this anime's story deservedly unique and arguably, there should be more anime like this. Not only that, but it also capitalizes on the brains part of school competitions, which is already rare by itself as these types of anime usually focuses on sports, and by extension, the physical body. This appeals to me especially because I used to take part in these types of competitions all the time when I was in elementary and high school. The feelings of nostalgia make me yearn to be a part of those contests again. Sadly, I can't do that as a student anymore, but since I am studying to become a teacher, then I can guide my future students toward the same path, but I digress.

One more thing I want to point out is that this anime has that kind of story that is better to be watched again for some reason. It's like, I first watched this anime when I was 18 years old, and I rewatched it for the sake of this review, three years later that I'm now 21. For some reason, the story becomes more appealing as you grow up, so I'd recommend that you watch this anime, enjoy it, then wait some years after you've gained more worldly knowledge and experiences, then rewatch this anime. Better if you don't actively think about it.

Now, let's talk about the characters. Our main character, Koshiyama, is a fresh look at the so-called "overpowered main character" trope. Why do I say he's overpowered? His knowledge base alone is the overpowered thing about him, but the nature of the quiz bee suppresses the power his knowledge brings him. If he hears the entire question, he would be amazing, period. But since competitive quiz bees rely on competitors answering questions even before the halfpoint of the questions, even if you know the answer, it would not be so much of an advantage. This quality also makes Koshiyama a fresh look at the so-called "super rookie" trope because even though he catches attention later on, the anime still gives us an actual character development that portrays delayed gratification. These two points make Koshiyama a good character who's not rushed into glory, but instead, we are given a protagonist who gradually improves, and once again, is a fresh breath of air in this anime period where everyone is overpowered from the get-go.

For the next main character, my impressions of Mari Fukami are similar to Going Home Club's Sakura Doumyouji. Yes, I also thought that her voice was perfectly average, or in other words, perfectly portraying the average Japanese person in my opinion because that's how I feel it even though I do not know what the average is because I am not a Japanese person, to the point that I once thought that the two had the same voice actresses. Similar to Sakura's VA's situation, Mari's VA, Umika Kawashima, only had one role as a main character, before stopping for some reason. As such, I think it's a waste for these talents not to be nurtured for them to perfect their craft. I don't know if this is the case, but I think that many people would disagree with me and instead call these types of voices bad voice acting. They may have a point, but these voices appeal to me, and once again, and I hope that by some miracle, both Umika Kawashima and Miharu Kobayashi (Sakura Doumyouji's VA) or someone with a voice caliber similar to theirs would come again to the voice acting scene once more. Aside from her voice, Mari is also a character I'd consider good, but sadly, I was busy simping for another character whose name I won't say, but I believe you'd like her the instant you will see her.

Lastly, a quick comment on Chisato Mikuriya, who you could treat as the antagonist of the series due to his adeptness not only in knowledge but also in speed. He's literally me frfr, in the sense that I also feel a sense of rivalry quite intensely, and I always want to compete with people in terms of academics, knowledge, and things similar to those. My school life would've been complete if I was involved in a rivalry similar to Mikuriya and Koshiyama's. Sigh, such a shame.

Now, the music, especially the opening theme, because that's the one thing that stood out to me—"On My MiND" by Mrs. Green Apple. Yes, the same ones who sang Fire Force's iconic opening theme, "Inferno." It's so sad to think that such a different hype to an anime and the time they were released makes this much of a difference. Sure, Fire Force had 15x more audience than Fastest Fingers First, and that means by extension, Inferno has had more reach, and that's why it's iconic. However, in terms of catchiness, I believe that On My MiND is equally catchy and I hope more people will listen to it.

This anime is a dream come true for trivia nerds like me out there. Overall, such an amazing concept: interesting niche, characters with good development, a character who's literally me frfr, but not so sluggish on everything else. It focuses on its main premise on point without much derailment, which makes the interest of those watching it constantly glued to what they're watching. Now if we can get more people who are interested in quiz bowl to watch this anime, or if we can get people who watch this anime to become interested in quiz bowl, that would be nice.

Last question before I end, coming from the French word "revoir" which means "to see again," what do you call a long article that is a critical evaluation of something you experienced? Indeed, it is a review. And by that, I say au revoir, and I'll see you again soon.

If you ask me to give an example of an anime that is a slow-paced slice-of-life school comedy with a full main character cast of girls in a group, you have anime like Lucky Star, Azumanga Daiou, Hidamari Sketch, K-On, Yuru Yuri, and so on. These types of anime, after all, are really popular and it's really hard to deny that.

Kitaku-bu Katsudou Kiroku, or in English, Chronicles of the Going Home Club is one of these anime, which I believe sadly just didn't get popular like the ones I mentioned above. Like I said earlier, this is a slice-of-life school comedy anime that centers ... around the Going Home Club, which is quite ironically named since in Japanese slang, students who are not part of any club usually call themselves members of the "going home club," which just means they go home right after school. But in this anime, the Going Home Club is an actual school club composed of Karin, an ideal Yamato Nadeshiko who everyone loves; Claire, an extremely rich ojou-sama who spends money like water; Botan, a lady who is immersed in humanly impossible martial arts; Sakura, a self-proclaimed normal girl but is president of a clearly not-so-normal club; and of course, Natsuki, our MAIN main character who got dragged into all of this.

Among all of these characters, I would like to give the club's president, Doumyouji Sakura, an extremely special mention. She has that energetic personality that you can find in just about many comedy characters throughout, she carries about 90% of the comedic scenes in the anime, she does her job really well despite being, quote on quote, a normal girl. But what I believe is the best thing about her is her voice, and by extension, her voice actress Miharu Kobayashi. Whenever I hear Sakura's voice acting, I describe her voice as… perfectly average. I don't mean that her voice is in the middle of the pack, but instead, it's perfectly articulated to portray someone average, and that deserves a lot of praise. Whenever I listen to her voice, I feel like I'm hearing a Japanese person speak with real-life intonation, even though I am not a Japanese person and I do not know what real-life Japanese intonation really is. That's just the vibe I'm getting. Because of this reason, I find her voice really endearing, I love it, and it's a REALLY BIG SHAME that Miharu Kobayashi only has this one role, and the only news about her if she continued voice acting is a short anime about anthropomorphized ramen girls. You could argue that her voice wasn't that special, that's why she did not get any more roles, but I disagree on that stance fully. I love her voice acting for Sakura, and I will die on this hill.

The anime's story portrays the members of the club and their various shenanigans, mostly carried by what I would say well-executed exaggeration, especially when it comes to their fourth wall breaks, and the unrealistic things that happen because of their hijinks. For example, in the very first episode, we get two false credits that happen even before the midpoint of the episode, which caught me off guard, and it left me wondering as to why the anime producers even thought to make the characters do those scenes. Then I remember that there were some scenes where the characters were saying that they did not get enough budget, in which the blatant honesty is very hilarious. I guess being able to reuse scenes even for a few seconds saves some budget, and I'm all for it.

Even so, it is balanced by cute, wholesome, and sometimes ridiculous but oddly relatable moments that remind us that despite all of these, they're still a group of friends making the most of their time to socialize and foster their relationships. These make up the identity of this anime as a whole. It sets itself apart from the other anime I mentioned earlier, but at the same time, it fits in the group just fine,

Now let's delve into its opening theme, 2 Gakki Debut Daisakusen! by Otome Shinto, the same idol group that performed Good Job Club's opening theme as well. The opening melodic line alone is very attention-grabbing. It is one of the very few themes that I actually listened to the whole song the very first time I heard of it, in fact, just remembering it makes me want to sing it.

ichigakki ni wa amanjiteta no (I somewhat underestimated my first semester)
CLASS no POSITION nigun no ichi (My position in class was around in the middle)
Honto ha watashi yareba dekiru ko (But I'm actually a capable student)
sukoshi namaketa dake da mon!! (I was just procrastinating a bit)
sorya seiseki mo ALL 3 (san) dashi (But even if my grades are all 3s)
gakuen DRAMA mitai na seishun mo (Even if my youth isn't like those school dramas) —

Once you start, it's quite difficult to stop. It's very energetic throughout, and I actually like the meaning of the lyrics, so that adds to the punch. Then there's the first ending theme that the first episode was hyping for the entirety of the episode, and boy do I tell you, when it finally ran without being stopped prematurely, the song did not disappoint:

Ima shika dekinai koto ga shitai (There's something I want to do that I can only do now)

Okay, let's stop before I go overboard. Overall, the anime's comedy is really executed well, and it's such a big waste to let this series go hidden any longer. Sure, the art isn't too much of a spectacle, that's why I opted not to talk about it, but that should not distract you from the notion that everything else is astounding. The anime isn't deep, but I believe that its characteristics as a comedy anime, especially in its tendencies to casually break walls give it the depth that it needs, and I hope that you'll like it as much as I did. After all, this anime is truly a must watch.

I don't know how it goes for kids these days, but when I myself was a kid, my parents made me watch a lot of shows and read a lot of stories that have a lot of educational moral lessons that I can use later in life. For example, the Rabbit and the Turtle tells us that those who think they're above all others will be humbled, as well as never giving up despite the overwhelming odds. You get my point. So when an anime combines, well first of all, the anime style of animation that I clearly love so much, and the essence of ... these stories that I consumed a lot in my childhood, the nostalgia that resulted from it is simply divine. Before I continue, I will be discussing many parts about Episodes 3 and 4, so if you haven't watched the series, please watch out for spoilers.

Based on the mobile game of almost the same name, Merc Storia: Mukiryoku no Shounen to Bin no Naka no Shoujo, or in English, Merc Storia: The Apathetic Boy and the Girl in a Bottle, is about a boy named Yuu who has the power to "heal" monsters, or in other words, tame them. One day, he receives a bottle from his father. Little did he know, there is a girl in that bottle named Merc, who has lost her memory. Now to help Merc regain her memories, Yuu takes Merc on a grand adventure around many places in the world, healing many monsters and putting an end to various conflicts in the countries they visit in their journey.

Sure, the plot might be quite simple, a guy meets a companion, and they go on a journey, helping people along the way. But because of this, the story is light and easy to digest, and the end results of each miniature arc are calming, wholesome, somewhat relatable, and the cherry on top would be the moral lessons I was talking about earlier. For example, the third episode takes us into a setting about a fairy kingdom under the threat of something that could destroy that same kingdom altogether. Here, we get a princess who's pompous, lazy, and naive, but for some reason, she wants to tackle this crisis head-on. This is a very, very obvious message that one should not bite off more than what they can chew, especially if it's life-threatening. But soon after, we come to know that the princess was the one actually responsible for the kingdom's crisis, and is trying to own up to her mistake in her own way. So that's another lesson, admit to your mistakes, and take responsibility.

So as the princess starts her journey, she meets our traveling protagonists, as well as two fairies who are in opposing clans. Not only did I end up shipping the two of them the first scene they appeared in, but that's one more lesson: sometimes, you might not know that one of your greatest rivals might be one of your greatest allies, well, as long as you aren't deathly hostile to each other, otherwise that would be a pipe dream. This is actually a staple in anime, and I will never get tired of this trope no matter how many times I see it. And at last, probably the deepest one for this two-episode arc, is when our motley crew is rescued by what seems to be a dark fairy that claims to be from a separate organization that does not follow the fairy queen. But despite this, he does help the group solve the issue at hand, which proves that even if their loyalty is not anchored on the same leader, they're still fairies in the end, and ensuring the survival of their homeland takes precedence over their differences. We humans could take a good example from these fairies for a lot of obvious reasons.

Now, it's a good thing to note that this is simply two episodes out of twelve, and the things that we can pick up from the story telling, while painfully obvious, and some might say as cheesy, cliched, or shallow, is actually good in relaying to us, the audience, thoughts and ideas that we might be forgetting. The story is so simple that I would even argue that this anime is one of the few that's very suitable for a child's gateway anime despite being PG-13.

Now for the art, in accordance to the claim I said that this anime is suitable for children, is cartoonish, starting with Merc's design, as well as the fluffy feel of the various monsters in the series, but it also complements the anime's nature as, well, a Japanese anime that I believe is a good indicator that it can be a nice introduction to someone most likely used to Western animation. Similar anime worked with me when I was kid, so I believe it can happen.

Music-wise, I am going to give props to how the opening theme completely captures the light yet journey-like essence of the anime as a whole with the progression from a solo piano introduction, to violins, then going electric guitar and drums in the first 20 seconds of the opening theme. Yes, this formula is staple in anime songs, but this anime's OP really feels upbeat that I feel happy listening to it, even though I don't really grasp the lyrics that much, maybe because of my hearing, but aside from that, the band, Mili's performance for this song is really exquisite. By the way, Mili is also the band that played world.execute(me);, which is a super good song on its own and one of my favorite charts in the game Arcaea, but I digress.

For the ending theme, however, the solemn feel of the song hits you right in the feels, as if it's reminding you that part of the journey is the end, but the bonds you form along the way are irreplaceable. Not to mention it's Minase Inori, Merc's voice actress, as well as one of my all-time favorite VAs and singers.

Atataka na tenohira ni tsutsumare (Wrapped in warm palms)
Mebuku hana kigi wa yure (The budding flowers and trees sway)

Add marching drums and more strings on that refrain and it would be suitable for an angelic choir to sing it in utmost harmony, as if you're in heaven.

And at last, character development. I want to focus on our protagonist duo, and I'll keep it sweet: an apathetic boy who learned to care not only for his friends but also for the people around him, and a loud boisterous girl who, despite losing her memories, has grown a little bit mature and knowing to think about the effects she might have to the people around her. Isn't that simply amazing?

Overall, a pretty solid anime that should be watched by children and adults alike. The value it has that goes unrealized due to being obscure is a big waste. The way personal relationships between people who are family, friends, and enemies alike are portrayed in this anime make it an unexpected gem that I didn't even see coming when I first watched this. Truly a Must Watch.

When watching anime and you're hooked on the story, you feel that time goes by too fast, quickly scarfing those 12 or 13 episodes in one go, and you don't notice that you have already consumed five hours. Conversely, if you're watching anime and it feels that time drags on and it passes so slowly, it's a sign that you're bored and it's not surprising that you'll find yourself sleeping within the next 15 minutes or so. But what if there's an anime that makes you, well, at least me, feel that time has slowed down, and actually made me feel drowsy—even making me sleep, ... but in my mind, not bored at all? That anime, my friends, is Ichigo Mashimaro, or in English, Strawberry Marshmallow.

Ichigo Mashimaro is a CGDCT, or cute girls doing cute things, comedic iyashikei slice-of-life and as such, it portrays the daily lives of five girls, Nobue, her sister Chika, and Chika's schoolmates and best friends Miu, Matsuri, and Ana. Due to the nature of the anime, there's no deep plot or story, so there's nothing much to critique about it. It does have your usual slice-of-life elements like the cast going to school, school breaks, summer homework, beach episode, festivals, candied apples, and many more from what you can expect from a series like this. But then again, even though it's repetitive "in my perspective" due to me already watching many anime and reading many manga similar to this series' premises—quite ironic for something adapted in 2005, by the way—it did not get boring.

That's where the iyashikei part of this anime comes in. For a quick refresh, the term "iyashikei" refers to anime and manga that "heal" the audience by instilling a calming feeling or evoking emotional catharsis. I guess that I have been a little bit sleep-deprived within these past few days and as such, this anime's relaxing aura healed me and allowed me to sleep soundly. Now that I think of it, it might sound that I'm just saying that the anime is boring to the point that it made me sleep in a respectful way, but I'll just hope you'll take my word for it. Like I said earlier, the plot isn't boring—there isn't even a plot in the first place—it's relaxing. And slow. But relaxing.

For a 2005 anime to be in 16:9 resolution is quite a spectacle and it really represents how anime is becoming modernized around that time. Apart from that, my thoughts about the art can be summed up into one sentence. The first line of the opening theme goes like:

" 'Kawaii' nante sonna koto iccha dame desu!" (Don't call us something like "cute!")

*inhales*

Sonna koto wa jijitsu dakara sou iimasu! (That's the fact so I will say it.)

The characters are simply cute. There's no need for any more convoluted explanations. It's simply a fact. However, each of their personalities shines the most in the nostalgic sense. It might seem strange that I feel nostalgic in the first place, but watching this anime really reminds me of me and my siblings' childhood. Since I am four years older than my sister and the fact that she has her group of friends and there is no one in the neighborhood that is my age, I really relate to Nobue's role in this anime where she looks after her sister and her best friends as the mature, well, at least the oldest one.

Moreover, the girls' personalities hit close to home as well as they really resemble my sister's group. We have Chika, who is the mature one in the group, but sadly she isn't comparable to my sister, who's more like Miu, the noisy, boisterous, and over-energetic girl. Then we have Matsuri who's the most timid and shy, who also reminds me of my cousin, and we have Ana, who's overly polite and has the aura of a prim and proper girl, and I think my sister also had that kind of friend, but I recall her moving away and I can't remember her name. What a shame. Still nostalgic though.

As for the sound, I'm just going to critique the opening and ending themes. However, this might be the most impactful thing this anime has left me, so I'll savor the moment and go through it profoundly. As such, I recommend that you finish the anime first before coming back here.

For the opening theme, "Ichigo Complete," is totally something I'd expect from an anime of this caliber—the four main girls singing together. It's common but it never gets old. From the opening line:

" 'Kawaii' nante sonna koto iccha dame desu!" (Don't call us something like "cute!")

Once again, how can I not say that they're cute if it's the truth? Then there's the bridge before the refrain, which is totally a perfect transition really good to the ears!

Chigu hagu na iro de ii mon rakugaki shichao (Mixing up the colors is fine, let's just scribble!)
Shippai mo atari mae da yo ne (It's perfectly fine to make mistakes, right?)
Watashitachi wo yurushite agenasai (So please forgive us!)

If that bridge isn't complemented by a good refrain, then it would be a waste, isn't it? Thankfully, it is a good refrain, and the energy radiated by it really gets you going, quite ironic from my earlier statement that this anime is perfect for getting a good night's sleep.

Okoranaide ne okoranaide suki ni sasete ne (Don't get mad at us, let us do what we want)
Otona ni wa wakannai (Adults won't understand)
Suteki! Kiseki! Kanpeki! (Wondrous! Miraculous! Perfect!)
"Kawaii" nante sonna koto iccha dame desu (Don't call us something like "cute)
Totetsumonai egao mashimaro na onna no ko (Us marshmallow girls with fantastic smiles)

As for the ending theme, Classmate, it feels weird.

Wasurekaketa yume wo omoidashitara (When I remembered the dream I've begun to forget)
Fuini kimi no egao ga ukande kita yo (You smile suddenly came into my mind)

From these first two lines, in my first impression, I immediately thought, what's with these awkward one-and-a-half beats that don't make any sense and make the song more difficult to sing?

Ashita sae mada shiranai (Even if we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow)
Nee, asonde bakari ita ano hi (Those were the days where we played a lot)
Kyuunasaka michi demo (Even if it was a steep uphill road)
Nee, heiki na furishite hashitta (We'd run while pretending we're fine)

At first, I didn't really think much of the song as it was, to be honest, clunky. But as the series went on, everything made sense.

Isoide isoide (Hurry, hurry)
Mimimoto de sasayaku itazura kageboushi (A mischievous silhouette whispers through the ear)
SKIRT yurameki suzukaze ga hiza wo tataita (The skirt flaps as a cool breeze waves through the knee)
Ano ne, kimi wa ima doko ni imasu ka? (Hey, where are you right now?)

I felt the strongest impact during episode 12. And that's where I finally got it. This song isn't just any song haphazardly written with lots of abrupt one-and-a-half beats and sung without any kind of musical proofreading, it's actually kind of a genius production. As the series went into its final episode, accompanied by this song, gives the feeling that not only the episode has ended, but the series as well. It has the spirit of ending written all over it. It pains the heart, telling you one and one thing only. It has ended. A sublime work of art. I love it.

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed the anime. Nostalgic to the point that it reminded me of my childhood, and it managed to slow down time for me, helping me fix my sleep schedule. It's slow-paced but not boring, and overall, another unique experience to add in my book. If you feel burnt out, burdened by the realities of this life, then Ichigo Mashimaro is there to relieve your pain.

Watching many anime over the years, I have come to the conclusion that there are two types of hidden gems. One type are hidden gems that should remain hidden for people to dig up and come across their value themselves. The other hidden gems need to be exposed so that everyone knows and appreciates them as much as possible. In my opinion, Kaijin Kaihatsu-bu no Kuroitsu-san, or in English, Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department, belongs to the latter. It is clearly one of the most, if not the most underrated anime this Winter 2022 season.

So the story is about Touka Kuroitsu, a monster ... development researcher for the evil organization Agastia. Alongside her senpai Hajime, she, well, develops monsters to fight against "heroes," and in Kuroitsu's case, she fights against Blader. When I tried recommending this to other people, some of them kind of brushed it off as a mere Kamen Rider parody, which it is, don't get me wrong, but of course I'm not reviewing this anime if it's only just that. Moreover, we also have mahou shoujo, so to dismiss this as a mere Kamen Rider parody is not good and it totally undermines this anime's true potential. To be totally honest, my childhood is more on Power Rangers, which is basically the same series, but I'm not really a big fan of either so this anime's connection to Kamen Rider is not that significant as to why I loved Kaijin Kaihatsu-bu no Kuroitsu-san.

We don't have an exact story or a deep plot that involves something like Agastia totally ruling over the world, even though that's their ultimate goal. Instead, we have a slice-of-life story that still manages to fit in an episodic story, like your regular superhero series back then, that totally captures the essence of what "Kamen Rider"-esque series should be. But it's not all just fighting. There are also wholesome moments that, once again, make this anime deviate from being just a simple Kamen Rider parody. Yes, people dismissing this anime like that makes me salty. Very salty indeed.

Then there's the comedic parts that make this anime stand out and in my opinion is its strongest point. One of the things that I would especially like to point out is that while I do not think that the trope about "evil organizations" actually being not really that evil and sometimes even law-abiding not uncommon in fiction in general, I think it's really rare for anime and no matter what, I do not find myself getting tired. Most of Kaijin Kaihatsu-bu no Kuroitsu-san's comedy stems from the fact that Agastia, dubbed as the leading evil organization, is actually a pretty chill company. They pay their workers well with good benefits, and the work environment is comparable to normal jobs. It's written so well that I wouldn't mind another anime with this kind of trope in the future.

Next up would be the art. While I can't say that the art has been consistent throughout, the art from each new monster and character per episode clearly checks out. Perhaps you can call me out for having a little bit of bias towards anime waifus because it's very true. The best thing I can praise this anime for is for its character designs that are most oddly the most emphasized. For example, Kuroitsu is somehow still too pretty despite her job in a laboratory—especially in a laboratory where literal biological monster… uh… things are developed. Just imagine the stress and the complicated chemicals that are involved in the process that are almost guaranteed to have a negative effect on a person's face. Nevertheless, real world logic doesn't really apply to anime, so I'm not going to cry on spilled milk much further.

In terms of character design, some of the "monsters" like Wolf Bete and Hydra are just so cute and endearing. The same is also true for Agastia's CEO, Akashic, (fbi open up) and the magical girls. As for the Kamen Rider parody characters like Blader and other evil organizations' nemeses, their variations are actually quite good to see, reminding me of the sheer number of Power Rangers and Kamen Rider variations within its years of existence. While I say that I don't like people dismissing this anime as a mere Kamen Rider parody, I still give props to how it pays homage to it which contributes to this anime's goodness.

For sound, I'm only going to critique the opening and ending themes, which are so good that I keep singing their tunes. The opening theme "Special Force" by AXXX1S reminds me of your usual shounen theme, but still hits hard. Not to mention that banger of a refrain!

"itsumo BA-RI-BA-RI-BA-RI tachimukatte
GI-RI-GI-RI-GI-RI kuishibatte
kimi wa “zettai akiramenai”
sore ga chikara sa taisetsu na Special force
kyou mo BA-RI-BA-RI-BA-RI tsukisusunde
GI-RI-GI-RI-GI-RI norikoete
ikou yo Stronger
kimi no utsukushii Special force"

Utterly splendid. The abrupt one-and-a-half beats between the lines are so hard to keep up which makes it even better to sing. Moreover, I never thought I would be hyped up with a boyband like this. As for the ending themes, there are two, both by the idol group Maybe Me, which alternate between episodes. First one is "Destiny," which kind of sounds like an opening, especially with its very upbeat introduction to a mellow strophe, which is staple in J-pop but still is nice.

"Tomose yuuki wo sono yaiba de
Kotae naki michi wo ittou ryoudan mirai he
Ano koro yori mo tsuyoku natteru hazu
Hashiridase yo fuan wo kette"

Then there's "Aimai Identity," which I feel is better than the other because of its easier and clearer lyrical structure. There are almost no accidentals that force the singer to speak an excessive amount of syllables within a set amount of beats like the previous song. Moreover, that refrain! It's the best out of the three songs!

"Doyagao de TRY
Ponkotsu de CRY
Riaru wa choppiri sechigarai
Kiseki wa matsu mono janai
Jibun no te de tsukamu mono
Akiramenai maketakunai
Dakeredo ganbaritaku ha nai
Konna watashi mo watashi na no
Aimai IDENTITY"

Time to become a Maybe Me fan!

The main character, Touka Kuroitsu, is a hard worker whose goal is actually to become an Agastia executive staff member, so she does all she can to impress them. This actually allows her to have a motive to be such an impressive and quite sassy character which makes it hard to get annoyed by her potentially annoying personality. Instead, it draws you in, because not only does she have the confidence, she has the skills and kindness to back it up. Ironic for an evil organization to have a majority of kind and caring staff, but once again, that's what makes Kaijin Kaihatsu-bu no Kuroitsu-san a good anime in its own right. I'd also like to mention Kuroitsu's right hand, Wolf Bete. She, well, he was supposed to be male, but was given a female body. As such, her, uh, his interactions with other characters are more interesting which really gives me a laugh whenever it comes up.

But out of all characters, my favorite one for this series goes to "Camula," the head of Agastia's Pluripotent Cell Department. Her dominant personality was enough to hook me on her from the first frame she appeared, and the fact that she has her gap moe of being an idol fan is truly adorable. Also, Ayana Taketatsu as her voice actress? No surprises there.

Like I said earlier, this anime is a hidden gem that should be known to everyone. This anime is simply not a Kamen Rider parody, and it is utterly preemptive to just dismiss it as that. It is a unique anime in its own right and is an unexpectedly enjoyable masterpiece. Watching the ending episode was also one of the most hyped I have been that not even Fantasy Bishoujo Juniku Ojisan to has given me. And like many anime that preceded it, I want a second season of Kaijin Kaihatsu-bu no Kuroitsu-san.

Every time I hear the word Bleach—even laundry bleach to be honest—I always get struck by the nostalgia given to me by this anime. After all, I used to watch this anime a whole lot when it was shown in Philippines' channel GMA in the mornings. Before I continue, I want to make it clear that I'm reviewing this anime until around the Rurichiyo arc, so if you do not know who Rurichiyo is, please take care of possible spoilers!

Being one of the shounen I have consumed since I was a kid, Bleach has some of the best storylines as far as I can remember. ... I recall trying to find bamboo sticks when I was younger, adorning them with a pink cloth from a ripped-out curtain, and shouting "ZANPAKUTO" and "BANKAI" when I'm playing by myself. That's how the storylines of Bleach influenced me. Perhaps the most memorable arc I have watched "so far" would be the Aizen arc, around episodes 150 to 170. Such spectacular execution that I would want to rewatch it sometime soon.

The art, especially when the aspect ratio became 16:9, the improvement was certainly amazing as well, not to mention that many of the characters I liked based on their art—it evolved even more! The improvement per episode is nothing to scoff at, and judging by the fact that even more Bleach episodes will be released in the future, there is still many things to behold! As for the music, I would just want to praise one thing: the third opening entitled "Ichirin no Hana." I implore you to listen to it and hope that you'll get hooked just like how I did.

The characters, especially the shinigami, were also memorable that even after years, I still remember their faces clearly. My two favorite characters would be Shuusuke Amagai—that one captain who gets drunk after one sip, and Rurichiyo Kasumiouji—that head of her clan.

Overall, I am good memories of this anime that I still cherish to this day. I know that when I make time to rewatch this anime and fully complete it, my praises will soar even higher—more than this brief review I offer.

I am not a rock person. I can barely listen to rock and roll music without wanting to have the skip button near me at all times. Because of this, at first, Detarame Rock and Roll Theory did not appeal to me, especially when the lyrics sounded desynced with the music—which is a very common part of rock and roll—and one of the main reasons why I don't like the genre.

When the song reached its refrain, however, my opinions completely flipped. How could such a refrain perfectly fit within a song like this? It's very catchy—even my brother liked it.

Overall, a very enjoyable piece, I ... should say.

As of now, September 7, 2021, MyAnimeList has about 30 Irodorimidori titles in its database. Of all those entries, this, without doubt, is my absolute favorite so far.

Nagi Kobotoke is, in my opinion, the best member of the band, of course not only because of her appearance and personality, but most especially because of her voice. The gap between her stature and her somewhat deep-ish soprano voice really suits her. Sakura Kaoru, Nagi's voice actress, deserves more recognition. Her singing voice is simply divine. Of course, this also applies to this song as well.

Analyzing the lyrics, I really found the message really appealing: wondering ... about what the future will be is truly exciting yet at the same time, anxiety-inducing. Nevertheless, this song, alongside the piano that plays in the background, truly is an amazing piece of music.

Finally, my third review for the third season for the anime I found to be truly interesting in its entirety. As usual, I start my article with a praise pertaining to the series as it is truly praiseworthy as well as great overall.

There is a saying that goes like: "Do not take in more than what you can chew."

Who cares? The anime is so great that I can't stop watching it. Every time my cellphone (I watch using my phone) discharges, I try my best to suppress my disappointment. Why did they even make cellphones have limited energy, by the way? (An everlasting power source ... is impossible. Wait for another million years.) Everything I assumed that was going to be there was there, and even if it is pure CGSCT, it doesn't disappoint.

Following the events of the first season, then the second season, again, the story, or not-a-true-story-because-it-has-no-plot centers around the main characters Akari, Kyouko, Yui and Chinatsu, again, in their Amusement Club in the Tea Club's clubhouse, along with the supporting characters Ayano, the Ikeda twins, Sakurako and her sisters, Himawari and Kaede, Nishigaki-sensei and Matsumoto, Akari's sister Akane, and others who are again,for a third time, in an all-girls school with many comedic routines, a little drama that I really found entertainment at. Truly astounding.

The three seasons has a theme that reflects each of us in our lives: Friendship. The scenes in it signifies it so much that, in some scenes, you can relate yourself with the characters. Even if you come across many difficulties in life, you can overcome it with people that you care for. And that's what friends are for. You share precious memories, have fun together, and even face hardships together. That's what I think Yuru Yuri is all about. And that's what I think that makes it interesting and outstanding. Don't you have any friends? I find that hard to believe. If not, then I don't think this is for you. May you be seeking for something sexual? Oh, well.

As long as there is Yuru Yuri, I can never get tired of the arts it has to offer. I am quite like Chinatsu, who is terrible at drawing. But nevertheless, the arts in it are satisfying that I yearn for more. The drawing, the animations, all of them. Truly wonderful and sophisticated work made by the anime industry. The character designs, too, even though unchanged, never gets old and are something invaluable to even consider.

The music. Even though I didn’t like the third season’s OP and ED that MUCH, (Note: Much…that means I still liked it. Who wouldn’t like something they like, anyway?) it was still an exhilarating experience to me that I got the chance to listen to it. Before I really say that I didn’t like the OP and ED that much, I really LOVED that ED at the end of the series itself because of its relaxing tone and the meaning (I can understand Nihongo, that’s why I can get the meaning beyond than what the subtitles say.). I loved it that I can even sing the lyrics while typing it at the same speed. And that’s not a hyperbole.

“kawaru koto no nai kono kimochi ga asu wo kagayakasete kureru”

Oh my… that song was truly fantastic. It's the song I have listened the most to as of now!

The characters, I’ll say it again for it never changes, their significance never fades away. From the main characters up to the background characters, all of them played their roles along with their personalities wonderfully. They all played their part efficiently in order to make this experience watching Yuru Yuri truly unforgettable to me. The characters was a must-see encounter.

Again and again, I will say that this anime excited me the most when it came to content, art, music and anything that you might consider in what anime should be really is. Yuri? No. The theme is what I’m talking about. Even if its theme is yuri, love between two girls, the story within is really superb. I cannot say anything negative about this.

Overall, the anime is simply splendid.

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A simple afterword


I have accidentally deleted this review, and upon uploading it again, I found myself satisfied. Not only this was a great achievement for myself, I also found out that my overall vocabulary isn’t that…good. I found myself finding synonymous words for great, nice, good and many more (like in my previous two reviews). Phew. Now that’s good.