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Sep 26, 2017
I just finished watching Magikano and throughout the series I couldn't decide whether or not I like the anime, but by the end I found it to be okay.
Story (6):
The story follows a witch Ayumi Mamiya who is cursed to lose her powers unless she awakens the boy she saw in the mirror who happens to be the protagonist Haruo.
It's pretty basic as far as harem anime goes. To be honest, by episode three I wondered if this anime was intended to be a parody of the harem genre by just how over the top it could be with some of these cliches.
The episodes
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that focus on advancing the plot, such as the one with the class play, or the final two episodes, are enjoyable to watch. Had there been more focus on the main plot throughout, the story would've received a higher score. There is a lot of filler and a few cringey episodes to get through, but a good amount of humor makes it possible.
The ending comes out of nowhere and is quite a disappointment.
Characters (4):
A lot of the characters in this anime are unlikeable. To begin with the main protagonist is your run of the mill harem lead. Though to be fair, his obliviousness is not his fault due to his sisters constantly erasing his mind. (This reason for him being oblivious is why I considered this being a parody). However when he finally is able to resist the mind erasing charm, he is legitimately angry, and I would have liked to see more of that side of Haruo, unfortunately that's about as far as it goes. So there's nothing special about the protagonist.
I found every single girl in this anime, except the minor character who has a crush on Yuri, and Rika (pretty much the only two who aren't interested in Haruo) to be annoying. The main character Ayumi is too whiny and selfish. Maika, who is in love with her own brother, annoys me by not allowing her brother to make his own choices. Actually that can be said about all of them. All they are concerned with is getting Haruo, yet not a one considers Haruo's feelings on the matter. Ayumi is the only one who actually has a reason, but as for the others, I don't understand why they're so interested in this one guy, it's never explained.
The best characters by far are Haruo's friends: Sora and Hajime, the boys in the supernatural science club. They are hilarious every moment they're on screen. And they break the pervert best friend trope by actually having hobbies and personalities. In fact I wish they were the main characters.
Art (7):
The art is decent. The animation is decent. It's nothing ground breaking, but it still looks good.
Sound (8):
I love the ending song. It's so catchy and fast paced. The dancing animation that accompanies the ending is fun to watch. It's a song I would listen to on its own as well. The opening song is calming and sweet.
I watched the English dub of this anime and I love the dialogue humor. I laughed so much at all the puns and references throughout. They made many references to other fandoms which earned a chuckle or two. The girls arguing with each other is funny. They speak in modern vernacular in a way that doesn't come across as annoying or trying too hard.
Still the best part has to be the commercials. Whenever Sora and Hajime introduced a new item there was an infomercial type voice over that explained what the item was and included the fast talking fine print and all. Those moments never failed to make me laugh thanks in large parts to the voice actor.
Enjoyment (6):
The enjoyment was hit or miss depending on the episode. There were some good episodes such as the sports day one (with the best surprise ending), the pool episode (again, great resolution), the school play episode, and all the plot relevant action episodes. Then there were a few lousy episodes, the second episode and the one with the talking underwear were too annoying and ridiculous to enjoy.
Mostly it was the humor and the dialogue that made the anime fun to watch. In many cases the episode's resolution did come as a surprise, which I felt added to the enjoyment of that particular episode.
As mentioned earlier, I didn't care much for the overall ending.
Overall (6):
Magikano had potential to be good. As far as overall plot it's decent, and the humor is great. However there were too many cliche and annoying characters to really enjoy it to the max. The fact I didn't root for any of the girls due to their obnoxious personalities (and overall objectifying Haruo) made it a little less enjoyable.
The music and humor are this show's best qualities. However, I'm still going to have to give Magikano a score of mediocre.
6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Sep 21, 2016
While in the mood for watching an anime focused on food and cooking, this one was ranked in a top ten list for that genre. After viewing the twenty four five minute episodes I'd say it's decent, but probably not the best.
Story (5):
I give the story a rather low score because I feel that there really isn't much of a story here. It isn't until the last four episodes concerning the baking competition that there is something resembling a plot.
For the most part the episodes focus on more slice of life moments of the character and her "love interests." I put that in quotations as
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she never really shows much romantic love for any of them.
This anime feels very much like a dating simulator. I actually wasn't surprised when I found out after finishing the anime that was the original source material.
There are a lot of genuine comedic moments such as the competitions the boys constantly find themselves in, or the episode with the snowball fight. This one succeeds as a comedy.
My major complaint is that there is not nearly enough cooking in this anime. Many times it shows the character getting ready to bake and then jumps to the finished product. Other times it focuses on the emotions used in cooking and then proceeds with the characters posing or moving in a manner that would be better fitted for an action anime rather than baking. In an anime about cooking/baking, I would have liked to see more involving that subject.
Lastly I feel that too much time is given to those little cream puff looking creatures that always say "Maro." I'm not sure if they're some supernatural element, or a part of Sayuri's imagination, but I didn't find them relevant to the story.
Characters (7):
Pretty much all the characters are likable. I like how all four of the "love interests" have their own set personalities, each one as endearing as the next.
I do feel that the main character Sayuri is rather bland. She is kind, but other than that she doesn't seem to have much of a personality, which makes it hard for me to believe that all these other characters would be so interested in her alone. I suppose this is because she's designed this way so the viewer can imagine him/herself as the main character, which works for a game, but not so much in a show.
The best friend Ran and the rival character Tsubaki are much more interesting than Sayuri. I would've rather had one of them at the center of the story than her.
Also, the rival team in the competition are full of intriguing characters. I felt that it was a waste that we didn't get to know more about them as I feel they had potential to be great characters if given the chance to shine.
Art (8):
The art in this anime is beautiful. All of the characters have their own unique and pretty design. The bright colors used with each design has its own loveliness.
The backgrounds are gorgeous. The school itself, the shops they visit, the beach, the sights in town all look amazing. I like the use of lighting in this anime.
The use of color throughout is fantastic.
The animation is fluid. It all looks smooth and pretty.
In short this anime is beautiful to watch.
Sound (7):
The sound is good. I like the opening credits. The ending credit song is decent, but not quite as good as the opening.
The voice acting is all nicely done. I especially commend the actor who played Gilbert as the personality shines through with every line. Each voice matched well with the character.
Enjoyment (8):
As mentioned earlier, this anime is visually pleasing to watch. The story may not be the best, but this is one to definitely watch for the art.
Also I do find it funny. At times this series can get random, especially with the dream sequence episode, and the ridiculous shenanigans the crew finds themselves in. Of course the episode with the cooking competition had me laughing so hard with how over the top it is.
Although I did find it awkward how close the teachers were with their student Sayuri, especially when it was discovered that teacher-student relationships were forbidden. At times they acted too close that it caused some discomfort.
In all this is a light, fun show to watch.
Conclusion (7):
Bonjour Koiaji Patisserie doesn't have a concrete story, but it's decent for what it is. It's not trying to be anything great, but works fine as a light comedy. Although I wouldn't go so far as to classify it as a cooking anime as there is too little of that present.
The protagonist is boring, but all the other characters are fun to watch with their array of personalities.
The art is beautiful. The animation is good. The sound is good.
In all it's a short, fun time.
7/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 18, 2016
I love the novel A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, so upon finding an anime for that story I had to watch it. For the most part I found it enjoyable and faithful to the original source material.
Story (8):
The story follows Sara Crewe, the young daughter of a rich widower, who enrolls in an English boarding school. For the first fourth of the anime, Sara is praised by everyone both in the school and outside for her manners, kindness, and how pretty she looks in her fine clothes. By episode eleven she receives the news that her father has died bankrupt making her lose
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her position.
The majority of the rest of the anime follows Sara's new life as a hard-working, unpaid maid for the seminary. She is tormented and mistreated by everyone save two faithful previous classmates, the other young maid, and the child who used to be her driver.
This anime has an intriguing story that is meant for children, but people of all ages can enjoy it. There are good themes and messages such as: holding on when everything looks bleak, showing kindness to everyone (including your enemies), and forgiveness. Sara (and Becky) face a lot of hardship and abuse-physically, verbally, and emotionally-and through it all Sara still remains the bigger person by not stooping to their level.
As mentioned before, for the most part I feel that the anime stays true to the book. Almost all of the important plot points are present (although they do sometimes occur in a different order, or different times than they do in the book).
However I do feel that there are a lot of unnecessary filler episodes. I think about ten of these episodes could have been omitted and the story would have been the same. They're not bad episodes as they do include character development and show details of Sara's life as a servant in more detail that wasn't in the book. I just think that this story didn't need forty six episodes when thirty five to forty would've sufficed.
Also, I feel the need to mention the ending. I was surprised to see how the ending of this anime differed from the one in the book. Having watched it I can understand why the creators of this anime went with that ending instead of the original. While some may not like it for obvious reasons that I can't explain without spoiling anything, I think it actually works in Sara's favor. Considering what she could have done (and what many people would have in her shoes) it shows the strength of her character with the decision she makes. I can't go into any more detail without revealing spoilers. In all I actually was satisfied with how the anime ended.
Characters (9):
For the most part I think the characters were portrayed accurately.
To begin with Sara is a kind, cheerful girl who tries to find the best in any situation no matter how miserable it may be. She has a lot of courage, strength, and faith not to break after all she endures in the length of this series. She is a good role model for many children in terms of her kindness, generosity, and not seeking revenge. If I do have one complaint I do wish she would have defended herself more when she was in the right. Due to one episode concerning the doll Emily, I feel that the other students would have rushed to her aid had she stood up to Minchin more often.
Next is the character Lottie. I didn't have much of an opinion on her in the book, but I liked her much more in this anime. She is given more of a role, and I love how loyal she stays to Sara-the one person who treated her kindly and with understanding. What more I like how on several occasions she is the only person to stand up for Sara. Lottie is given a lot of development in this anime and she is one of my favorite characters in the series.
This version showed Minchin to be the cruel and loathsome person any human being could possibly be. I felt so bad for Sara everytime Minchin showed up to ruin things, and how she took pleasure in torturing Sara. However this anime did give a little backstory for her that was not present in the novel-although I don't think it excuses her for all the horrible things she did.
I also like the extra characterization given to Lavinia. While she wasn't too fond of Sara in the book, this anime expanded a lot on this girl showing her to be as cruel and much of a bully as Minchin. It added more to the story of Sara's suffering as well as Sara's character by how she still remains kind to her despite all that happened.
Lastly, I like the original character of Peter added in this story. It's nice for Sara to have another friend and someone to count on. At times I do feel like he is a dues ex machina character as he comes up with the solutions to many of the problems. Nonetheless he does add some good and comedic moments in this show.
One complaint I have is I feel that Ermengarde is downplayed in this version. So many times I got annoyed with her for not speaking out on Sara's behalf. I know she is supposed to be timid, but I find it hard to believe she would just let the girl who is supposed to be her best friend get treated so horribly without speaking a word. The same could be said about the other girls in the seminary.
Art (6):
The art in this anime is pretty good considering it was made three decades ago. I especially love the backgrounds. So many of the locations such as: the park, the church, the marketplace/town, the interior of Sara's first room, and the attic all look real; they're very detailed. It's clear what city and time period this story takes place.
The character designs aren't bad. Sara does look the way she's described in the book. Each of the main characters have their own distinct look. Even the minor and unnamed characters don't look lazily designed. The costumes look beautiful (especially Sara's birthday dress, and the clothes Lavinia's mother wears).
The animation is not the best. There are plenty of times it looks choppy. What more there are a lot of background characters. What I mean by that is that the unnamed characters in the background rarely move, if at all, so they look painted on. There's one scene in particular where Sara and Peter are at the dock, and for over a minute a woman has her head turned to the side and doesn't move from that pose during the entire time.
I do like the animation used for the ending where one horse-drawn carriage is followed closely by another. I just like the steady movement of those coaches. That's all that happens in the closing credits, but it's calming to watch.
Sound (9):
The sound is good. I like the voice actors chosen for each character. Not a single voice sounds out of place. The actress assigned for Minchin is byfar the best. The shrieking used when alarmed or angered is done well. All the voice actors did well with portraying emotion.
The music is good. I like the opening and ending songs. They both sound cheery with a hint of sadness thrown in the lyrics, which I feel fits the tone of this story well.
The instrumental score fits both the scenes and the time period of this story.
Enjoyment (8):
For the most part I found the story likable. There are some scenes that are hard to watch knowing how much suffering this character has to endure. On the other hand there are a lot of warm, endearing scenes that make up for the harsh ones.
I like the sense of hope given throughout. Everytime Sara has something else taken from her, at times just because one of the other characters just wants to be mean, she still keeps her head high. It's actually pretty inspirational.
Conclusion (8):
This is a good, heartfelt story that will play with the audience's emotions throughout. Most of the characters are developed (even if some are deplorable). The art is decent, the animation is not the best, but it's not the worst either. The soundtrack is good. Above all there are important themes and morals in this one.
I would recommend A Little Princess Sara to anyone.
8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 8, 2016
To be honest, I was hesitant to watch this one due to all the hype surrounding it. However back in the summer of 2014 I watched the clips of the two openings and immediately went to iTunes and bought both songs before even watching the show.
About a month later I gave it a watch and it quickly became one of my favorite anime series. Not since viewing Death Note in 2010 had I been so engrossed in an anime, staying up to early hours just to view the next episode.
Story (9):
This is one of the most original concepts I've seen in anime. It's an action
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series in which the humans are having to fight for survival against these giant humanoid creatures called titans that kill humans for no known reason. A wall was constructed to keep the titans out and it worked for years. However one day an abnormal titan broke the wall allowing the others inside and plunged the human race into hiding while those in the military fight for humanity's survival.
What I like about this anime is that the danger of the situation is real. No character is guaranteed survival. Not even the main characters, not even the important characters, not even the fan favorites. Any character can die at anytime, and in some brutal ways.
This show is heavy from the beginning. The first episode is memorable due to how horrifying the violence and numbers of deaths in that single opening episode. A very important loss that motivates the main character happens in an unforgettable scene. The fear of these characters (both important and nameless ones) is apparent as they realize their hopeless situations too late.
There is a lot of good action. The characters have to rely on their equipment, strategy, and chance (as even the most strategic plan can still fail due to poor luck). That alone makes this anime stand out among others in its genre.
The situation is serious and it treats its audience seriously too.
However it is not flawless. One complaint I have is that some of the conversations can go on for longer than necessary. One instance in particular are Armin's monologues. At one point I even said outloud, "Okay, Armin, you made your point, can we move on with the story?"
In all I was intrigued with every episode and couldn't wait to find out what happened in the next one. I eagerly await the second season.
Characters (9):
Out of this huge cast there are only two characters I'd say I dislike. Ninety nine percent of the characters are believable and endearing which gives an even greater impact when they are suddenly slaughtered.
To begin with I like the main character Eren. He is far from perfect and his personality may not be the best, but his determination and lust for revenge is what keeps him going. It's easy to feel this kid's struggle (keep in mind he's only fifteen) as he's watched so many of his friends fall. Despite all that he holds tight to his goal, and cares deeply for his friends, which I find admirable.
Next is the main female Mikasa. I do like her as a character, especially her devotion to her friend and last remaining family-Eren. However I feel that she is probably too perfect. Even with that she still remains a likable character.
The character I feel has the most development in this anime is Jean. He starts out as a selfish jerk, but over the course of the twenty five episodes grows into a likable and relatable character.
Of course Levi is awesome. I can't write this review without mentioning him. He is such a unique, mysterious character. I actually didn't like him at first, but he quickly grew on me within a span of two episodes. While he may act cold, it's clear that he carries a heavy burden and cares deeply for his subordinates.
For the sake of keeping this review brief, I can't go into every amazing character. Such as Armin who also grows from a timid kid to a great asset with his skills of strategy. The goofy, yet brave Sasha. The energetic and eccentric Hanji who gives some comic relief in this otherwise desolate world. And of course my favorite character Krista/Historia.
In all I found the characters to be a strong point of this anime.
Art (10):
I love the art in this anime. All the characters have a unique design. Even the minor characters and the titans themselves are given distinguished features.
The backgrounds are beautiful. I like the whole medieval vibe the setting gives off. The scale is huge-both inside the walls and outside. I like watching the characters zoom through these setting on their maneuver gear.
That brings me to the animation. Everything is solid and fluid. The action scenes are entertaining. There is so much detail that brings those scenes to life such as steam rising from a titan's injury, or debris slamming into those standing by when the wall in knocked in.
One of my favorite scenes is when one particular titan is fighting the other titans-and the movement when he uses his teeth to fight as his arms are out of order. I've watched that scene countless times due to the fantastic animation (I can't talk anymore on that scene without revealing a huge spoiler). Pretty much there is nothing sloppy as far as animation is concerned.
In short this anime is visually pleasing to watch.
Sound (10):
As mentioned earlier, the whole reason I watched this show in the first place is because I like the opening songs so much I decided to give it a chance, and boy am I glad I did.
The two openings, "Guren no Yumiya" and "Jiyuu no Tsubasa" are both catchy songs that gets the audience pumped up to the fast pace of this anime. Of course I love "Guren no Yumiya" quite a bit more than the second opening.
The original soundtrack has a lot of amazing songs all which go perfectly for the scenes they accompany. One in particular is actually titled, "Attack on Titan" which is used during some memorable moments and I was happy to find that song on iTunes as well. In all this is one of the best anime soundtracks I've ever heard.
The voice acting in the original audio is stellar. I can't think of better voice actors for Eren, Levi, and Armin-each voice fit the characters perfectly. I was actually disappointed when I watched one episode of the English dub after hearing the fantastic work of the subbed voices. However to its credit, the English dub actresses for Annie and Mikasa did a good job.
Enjoyment (9):
I think it's no surprise by now that I really enjoyed watching this anime. It pulled me into its story and made me care to find out what would happen in the next episode.
Some parts of this anime might be hard to sit through for some audiences. This isn't a happy story. However, I think that's what makes it so effective-it's not meant to be happy. There is a high certainty that none of these great characters will make it out alive, or even if the humans will win. Again that's what makes this story unique.
Conclusion (9):
It's been a long time since I saw an anime I liked this much. It has a great story, likable characters, a real struggle for those characters. The art is amazing, the animation fantastic. I would rate the soundtrack among my top five favorite anime soundtracks.
In all I would recommend this anime to everyone thirteen and older. Anyone under that age group might be turned away by the violence and seriousness of the story. I watched it through with intrigue and would gladly watch it again.
9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 31, 2016
I just recently finished this anime and in general I found it to be entertaining. It is an older anime, but for the most part I found it enjoyable.
Story (7):
There is no main plot to this story. Basically the characters are adventurers and face several challenges and mishaps as they set out searching for treasure and adventure.
The best thing about this anime is the comedy. A lot of anime that are listed under comedy I don't find funny, but this one had me chuckling throughout the series. I watched the English dub and there are so many hilarious puns and breaking the fourth wall jokes
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that works well in its favor. The writing is clever, and it doesn't use tired cliches to try and force a laugh.
At some points (especially the body switching arc) it does drag. However it wasn't enough to turn me away from watching.
Characters (8):
I love the characters in this anime. Every single character has something endearing and likable about them.
To begin with, the title character Gokudo is probably one of the worst type of people. He's rude, selfish, greedy, and mean-spirited. In any other situation I would not like this character, but for some reason he has a charm that makes him likable despite his loathsome character traits. Whether it's the humor of the situation or the fact that nothing ever goes his way, it's difficult to despise him.
On the same note I would usually not like someone like Niari (a womanizer) or Rubette (an over-confident tough girl trope), but the writing of their characters and the humor makes both of them likable.
All the side characters are equally funny and lovable. The only character I find slightly annoying is the useless character Panda. Even though I felt he overstayed his welcome, he is still tolerable.
Art (6):
This is an older anime, so the art is not as great as more recent ones. For its time it is decent. I enjoyed watching the fight scenes.
There is nothing spectacular about any of the designs or the animation, but it's watchable, and in no way distracts from the story.
Sound (8):
Both the opening and the first ending songs are good. They are catchy and set the mood for this adventure story. I also found the background music fitting for the scenes.
The English dubbing is good (I didn't watch it in its original audio). Each voice matched the character perfectly. While watching it sounded like the voice actors were having fun recording the dialogue for this show.
Enjoyment (7):
While it's not the best anime out there, it is one of the more enjoyable ones I've watched recently. I didn't find too many annoying cliches. The story is fresh and entertaining with a lot of surprise twists.
The humor is actually funny. Sometimes the jokes made it feel like I was watching a comedic commentary. Not everyone will like the puns, but I found them funny.
In short, I enjoyed watching this one.
Conclusion (7):
The story is entertaining. The comedy is good. The characters are likable. The art is not the best, but it's certainly not the worst. There is good voice acting.
This is one that I would likely watch a second time.
7/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Aug 25, 2016
It took a few years for me to form an opinion on this anime. There are some good elements to this anime and others that are just horrendous. Finally I came to the conclusion that I'm not sure whether or not I like it.
Story (7):
The story is good. It is one of the more original stories I've seen in an anime.
The story follows the main character Lucy-a diclonius (a human-like creature with horns and invisible arms called vectors) who escapes imprisonment in a lab, and due to an accident washes up on a beach, only to be rescued by two college students. The head
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researcher wants her back and hires the military along with other dicloni to track her down.
This anime represents some heavy themes, some of which I think are well portrayed. These themes include: prejudice, forgiveness, and the extent of human cruelty. While watching it begs the question: are human beings any different from these supposed murderous monsters.
I also like the inclusion of all the character's backstories, in particular the male lead Kouta. Given all the tragic backstories of the characters brought together, I like how they formed a family unit. Their interactions at the house are among the best moments in this show.
Of course with the good comes the bad. I would have scored the story as a ten had it not been for two major issues that came with this anime. I am of course talking about the unnecessary amount of violence and detailed graphic gore. Before watching I was warned that this was a violent anime, but I figured after watching violent shonen action series for most of my life, it would be no big deal. Wrong. This anime has some of the most brutal scenes I've ever seen in animation. Gruesome deaths and dismemberment-I don't recommend for anyone who is squeamish.
Secondly there is a lot of unnecessary nudity that adds nothing to the plot. It's just there for fan service, and I personally don't like fan service just for the sake of fan service. These pointless scenes add nothing to the story, or the characters, it's just there for fan service.
The concept of this story is great. There were original ideas, especially with the vectors. And there are some deep themes presented. However, I feel the excessive gore and nudity distract too much from the story to give it a higher score.
Characters (7):
To put it bluntly, there are some good characters and some not so good ones.
To begin with, I don't like the main character Lucy. Even with her tragic backstory I find her too cold and psychotic. She kills people in cold blood (and in gruesome, painful ways). Even people who have done nothing to her are victim to her wrath. I can understand how her past would lead her to loathe humanity, but not enough to excuse her blood lust throughout the show.
The male lead Kouta is a decent guy, a bit bland though. I think it's interesting to see how a traumatic past has led him to repressing horrible memories. It's not something I've seen often in anime, so that gives him some originality. I also like how he serves as a foil to Lucy, in which he experienced a severe tragedy in childhood, but didn't turn to violence. Other than that nothing really stands out about him.
My favorite character has to be Yuka. She is in love with Kouta which leads to moments of jealousy towards Lucy. Yet at the same time she acts as a mother figure to the innocent side of Lucy (Nyu) and the runaway Mayu. I think that gives her some complexity.
There are two other characters that I feel need mentioning. Firstly is the other diclonius Nana-who, unlike the others, feels no ill will towards humans, and only desires a happy existence. I think she is there to act as a contrast to Lucy. The other is the antagonist Bando, who has a love for violence. As with Nana, I feel that Bando is there to show that humans are just as dangerous as the dicloni.
Art (8):
I found it strange that a show that is so dark and includes graphic bloody scenes would design cute characters. All the bright, happy colors contrast with the story its telling. It's an odd choice, but not a bad one.
The backgrounds are colorful and pretty. This is especially true during the scenes of Kouta and Lucy's past.
I also like the homage to Gustav Klimt's artwork in the opening credits. That alone prompted me to score the art as an eight instead of a seven. I have to give this anime credit for having one of the most unique opening scenes in both song and artwork.
Sound (9):
I have to admit the reason I even watched this anime in the first place is its theme song "Lilium." I watched a video that used that song and loved it, so afterwards decided to watch the anime that it accompanied.
To this day "Lilium" is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. I love all the variations of that song in this anime. I like the main vocals the best, but the chanting version and the music box version are also pleasant to listen to. How it is placed with the most emotional parts of the series makes it hard to listen to without feeling sad afterwards.
The voice acting is decent. I have no complaints there.
Enjoyment (5):
In all honesty, I can't say I enjoyed watching this anime. Some scenes are hard to get through, and others are so gruesome it makes it at times feel like gore porn. It happens too often that I feel it loses its impact. Had the gore been used sparingly it would have made those specific scenes heavier.
Also I felt so distant from the main character it made it hard to root for her most of the time.
I don't think I would watch this anime a second time.
Conclusion (6):
I think the story is good. It has an original plot with dark subject matter that I applaud the creators for focusing on. However, the excessive violence, gore, and nudity distract from the story too often.
Some of the characters are likable, but the protagonist and two of the main antagonists (Bando and Mariko) are incredibly unlikable.
The art is good and the music is fantastic. Even if skipping the anime, I recommend the theme song.
I don't regret watching Elfen Lied, as it is worth a watch, but I'd probably not view it again.
6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Aug 15, 2016
I just finished this one last week. In short I felt this story had potential, and had great moments, but by the end just fell short of what it could've been.
Story (6):
The story is decent. Basically it takes place in a world where everyone can do magic, but everyone has a different amount of spells they can perform in their lifetime. Once someone uses up all their magic, they turn to ash.
The main character Kazuki only has eight spells, but because his children may be the most powerful magicians in the world, the three main girls (along with a fourth) all desire him.
I do like
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that the harem element does have a logical reason for why these girls are interested in him. That sets this apart from others in the genre by giving these characters a reason. Of course over the series all four of them fall in love with him (although Yuna loved him from the very beginning).
The story of this anime is broken into two halves. The first half follows Kazuki's growing relationships with these girls, and how he uses his magic to overcome obstacles, despite the females begging him not to as he only has a small number left.
I enjoyed the first half of this anime quite a bit. I was intrigued by what conflict that episode would concern, and how they would overcome it. Sometimes there were even good twists to how the problem was solved, such as the episode with the tree.
However, I feel that the second half of this anime is not as interesting, and drags on for quite some time. I can't explain in detail without revealing a huge spoiler. Nonetheless, there are some good episodes in this half, such as the one where Kazuki accompanies Kuriko to her party, or the episode that focuses on Rin's relationship with her brother. But overall it's not as enjoyable as the first half.
Finally, the ending. The last two episodes had great drama. Both characters involved in the conflict had their reasons for their choices, and I was excited to see how the issue would be fixed. However, I feel that the build up led to a let down. I found the overall conclusion to be disappointing.
Characters (6):
To begin with Kazuki is pretty much your average harem male lead. He's kind and sacrifices to make others happy, while letting the girls in his life treat him however they want. He's likable, but there were times I wished he had been more outspoken about his resentment for the way the girls treated him.
Next is Yuna. She is the girl who truly loves Kazuki and not just the high possibility that he will produce powerful children. In the first half of the anime this is the girl I rooted for. She was very likable and was the most compatible with Kazuki. However, by the second half she had a huge personality change. Suddenly (and without explanation) she became super jealous, possessive, and just annoying to watch. By the end of the anime, I found Yuna to be one of the most annoying anime characters ever.
Now onto Kuriko. This is the rich, handsy girl who initially was interested in only Kazuki's genes. The exact opposite of what happened with Yuna, happened to Kuriko. In the beginning Kuriko was my least favorite, but by the end she had become my favorite character in the anime. Yes, she is full of herself and demanding, but she's also very compassionate as seen mostly in her motherly relationship with the ghost child Elizabeth. In my opinion, she had the most development in the series.
The third girl Rin is likable from beginning to end.
Shino-the main antagonist of the second half is interesting. She was the only intriguing part of the second half. I like the mystery surrounding her, and her motives make sense.
I also like the side characters of Dr. Akai, Elizabeth (the little ghost girl), Karei, and Chiyaha. However, Kazuki's other classmates are extremely annoying, and are given way more screen time than they need. Half the time their inclusion isn't even relevant to the plot.
There are hits and misses when it comes to the characters.
Art (7):
The art is decent. I like the character designs. All the characters have their own distinct look. I really do like the design of the female school uniforms. I honestly believe the uniforms in this anime is among the prettiest school uniforms in anime.
The animation is decent. There are a lot of pretty bright colors. I especially like the way that the action scenes are done.
In all the art of this anime looks good.
Sound (9):
Now onto my favorite part of this anime-the soundtrack. Maburaho has some good songs. I especially love the calm and lovely ending theme. The opening theme is upbeat and enjoyable to listen to.
In addition some of the instrumental scores are so pretty-I enjoy listening to them on their own, as they are calming. Especially the one "Snow Falls," it's just a pretty piano piece.
I watched the English dub of this anime, so I can't say anything on the original voice acting. I think the voice acting in the dub is decent.
Enjoyment (7):
I did enjoy the first half of this anime. Even the second half had its memorable episodes. In all I was pleased with this one. While the second half did lag, I never felt frustrated. It is definitely worth a watch.
Conclusion (6):
The story is decent. There is an actual reason for the harem elements. Some of the characters are likable, and others just plain annoying or unnecessary. Some episodes are good, and others not so much.
The first half is good. The second half doesn't hold up as much. The overall ending is disappointing.
However, the music is fantastic. Even if skipping the show, I'd recommend giving the soundtrack a listen.
In all I am glad I watched it, but it's not high on my rewatch list.
6/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jul 11, 2016
Since I recently wrote a review on Free!, I'll now write one on the second season.
I really enjoyed Free!, but Free!: Eternal Summer is even better.
Story (9):
As with the first series, the show focuses on the main school's swim team participating in events. However, this time the group is now on good terms with Rin and the opposing team.
In addition to the drama inside the pool, I like the added drama in the characters' individual lives. For some of the characters, this is their last year in high school and they are all expected to choose what they want to do with their lives.
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In addition the main character Haruka questioning his reasons for wanting to swim.
There are some intense moments of conflict between the characters. I was hooked, wanting to find out what would happen next.
Characters (9):
The characters is a big praise I have for this show. There is not a single character I dislike in this show. Some new characters are added, some for the purpose of conflict. Each of them have something likable and relatable about them.
Something else I wanted to point out. I actually did like the development of Haruka in this series. That was one of my complaints in the first one, that I felt he was bland compared to the rest of the characters, but I actually feel more connected to him in this one.
Many of the characters get more development and more information surrounding their backstories. This is especially true of Rin (especially seen in the episode where they go to Australia and meet the family who hosted him when he was younger), and a new character Sousuke-who is a well developed character.
Art (9):
The art is beautiful. The water is lovely and I like the animation of the swimming. The settings are pretty to look at.
As in the first season, the animation is great. Nothing ever looks choppy or rushed, but very fluid.
Sound (7):
The sound is good. I watched some episodes in English and some in the original Japanese. I think that in both cases the voice acting is good.
The ending song is catchy.
Enjoyment (9):
I found this series to be highly enjoyable. I was intrigued in the story and invested in the characters. I would definitely watch it again.
Overall (9):
I think this anime is worth watching. It has a good story, good drama, good characters, and lovely animation.
9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 3, 2016
I went into this anime not knowing anything except that it's a show about a swim club and that it was pretty popular. Having never watched sports anime, I didn't know what to expect. After watching it, I love it.
Story (7):
The story follows a group of swimmers who were childhood friends who end up forming a swim club at their high school. They then plan to compete against other teams, and ultimately race against their old friend now rival at an opposing school.
The drama is nicely done. I quickly found myself invested in these characters and their dilemmas, both in the swim world, and in
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their life outside the sport.
There is a lot of drama, but also a good amount of comedy. There is one episode in particular where the team goes to a festival, and one character follows around two of their rivals-it is hilarious.
One issue I do have (and I realize it's a personal pet peeve) is the excess of fan service. There is quite a bit of it in this anime, which I feel takes away from the overall story.
Also, Haruka's fascination with water does get old pretty quick.
Characters (9):
This is probably one of the few anime I've seen in which I don't dislike a single character. Every single character has their own personality and are each naturally likable and relatable.
Makoto is incredibly sweet-the kind of person you'd want to be your best friend. Nagisa is adorable and hilarious. Rei is a great character-and it's fun to watch him transform from someone who can't swim to being an important member of the team. Rin is a good antagonist while still remaining likable.
Ironically, the only character I don't have too strong a connection to is the protagonist Haruka. I don't dislike him, but compared to the other wonderful characters he comes across as a bit bland.
The characters are what made me like this show.
Art (8):
The art is beautiful. I've never seen water so clear, so pretty, and so beautifully animated as it is in this anime. The swimming animation is also pretty to watch.
The character designs are all well done, each one stands out.
In short, this anime is beautiful to watch.
Sound (8):
The voice acting is good. I watched a few episodes in the original audio, and a few with the English dub. I found both to be enjoyable.
The opening song is cool. Still it is the ending theme that I love. It's one of my all time favorite anime ending songs, and even now I enjoy listening to that song by itself.
Enjoyment (8):
I was intrigued with this anime. I had a fun time watching it and would definitely watch both this one and the second season again.
Overall (8):
Free! is a fun anime to watch. It's pretty to look at and has good characters. The story is interesting. And of course, that ending song is fantastic.
8/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 30, 2016
As of today, Pupa is my second least favorite anime I have ever watched.
Story (1)
The story begins with a brother Utsutsu and his sister Yume coming home from school. Yume is infected with the Pupa virus that turns her into a monster that can only survive by eating human flesh. Her brother also has the virus that allows him to instantly heal.
A woman named Maria captures the siblings for research. She persuades Utsutsu to forever act as food for Yume so she won't have to kill. This leads to gory scenes of watching Yume eat her brother. Also there are a few scenes of
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Utsutsu being tortured. While he can quickly heal, it does nothing to rid him of the pain. I personally found both of these instances uncomfortable to watch.
There is no real plot. The story itself is confusing. Later in the anime it is told through the mother that Yume has always eaten raw animals. It's never revealed if this actually happened, or a part of her hallucinations. There are lots of subplots that never go anywhere, such as Maria randomly being pregnant that is never mentioned again. The reason for the virus is never explained, nor why Maria is so interested in researching these kids.
Then the last episode is in no way relevant to the rest of the story.
Mostly I feel that this is just gory and disturbing just to be gory and disturbing. What more there is no message in this anime.
While the episodes are extremely short, I finished watching the series confused as to what actually happened.
Characters (1)
All of the characters in this anime are unlikable and have no development.
I think Utsutsu was meant to be portrayed as literally self-sacrificing. He endures all this suffering without ever fighting back, or searching for another alternative. Other than caring for his sister, nothing is known about the guy. He has no personality, a very bland character.
Yume is unlikable as possible. She greedily feasts on her brother and never once thanks him or shows remorse for hurting him or killing the other characters in this story.
Every other character in Pupa has no personality and pretty much nothing is known about them. It is hard to relate to a character when the audience is given no information on them.
Art (4)
The art is not bad.
I like the use of the color red here. It's interesting how the backgrounds and clothing are neutral which better displays the red butterflies, the blood, and what I assume is Utsutsu's birthmark.
Something I feel is clever is the use of the teddy bears. Several times violent scenes are shown through the teddy bears that represent a particular character. For instance, the Yume teddy is shown eating stuffing from the Utsutsu teddy. Had all the gruesome moments been shown with the stuffed animals, I feel it would have been much more effective.
Sound (4)
The sound is decent. I don't have any complaints or compliments here.
Enjoyment (1)
This anime was uncomfortable to watch. It's disturbing and had it not been so short, I would not have been able to finish it. It was a horrible experience and I will never watch this anime again.
Conclusion (1)
The story is confusing. There is no plot. It's gruesome, disturbing, and uncomfortable to watch. The characters are unlikable and have no development. The art is okay, but not enough to make up for everything else.
I would not recommend this to anyone.
1/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 1
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