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Story: 6 (5/10 for the fantasy world, 7/10 for the real world)
Characters: 6
Animation: 7
Sound: 7.5
Enjoyment: 6.5
Overall: 6.6/10

Notes: Ah, what a joy to have so many manga that I used to read 5+ years back getting anime adaptations, many of which I picked up on a complete whim. *This* is one such title. Now, I'll be honest... the manga was cute at first, but it quickly bored me, so I was quite apprehensive on starting "Welcome to Japan, Elf-san". Well... I was only half-right to be apprehensive.

See, this particular title has two sides to it: the human world, and the fantasy world, and while Mariabelle ... (the elf) being in the real world and having to adjust to the overwhelming culture, a new language, technology and innovations, etc. is quite entertaining and cute to watch... I swear, the fantasy world is so bland, generic, and draining in comparison. *Especially* when there are fight scenes, the fantasy world just sucks, massively. The show would have been so much better had the MCs not been able to hop between worlds via sleeping, with Mariabelle instead being trapped in the real world, and watching her adjust/adapt.

Speaking of Mariabelle, she is undoubtably the best part of the show/manga. Her mannerisms, personality, charm, just... all of it. She is downright adorable, and although I don't particularly care for Kazuhiro/Kazuhiho (the MC), watching the pair of them fumble around in a blossoming romance is just too cute. Which, by the way, the show doesn't skate around. Yes, the characters are innocent, and yes, they're afraid to make the first move, but there are no stupid interruptions, no cop outs, none of that cliché garbage. Instead, their progression feels genuine, like friends that are truly struggling on how to bring up the idea of a relationship without tarnishing what they currently have. The two of them together, in the human world, is just pure diabetes-inducing sweetness.

So again... real world = good, fantasy world = bad, real world supporting cast = good, fantasy world supporting cast = meh. To which the fantasy world takes up ~half of the show's runtime. Despite this, I'm giving the show a low 7/10 on my grading scale, so... take that as you will. Don't expect anything revolutionary (especially from the fantasy world), but if you like romance-driven slice-of-life shows, and are looking for something a bit more unorthodox/less run-of-the-mill, then give "Welcome to Japan, Elf-san" a chance.

Story: 1
Characters: 2
Animation: 5
Sound: 4
Enjoyment: 2
Overall: 2.8/10

Notes: What am I doing with my life...? I deeply regret picking this show up; it was the worst (amongst the shows I picked up) this season by far. Which... is crazy to say, considering I've also watched "Noble on the Brink of Ruin" this season, but here we are.

Towards the last couple of episodes, there were times that I was watching this at 2x speed, and honestly even times where I was watching at 4x speed, and anxiously watching the time left for each episode. When even speeding up the episode's playback speed wouldn't work, I'd distract myself ... with whatever else, including my tax returns, instead of sitting through this torture-adjacent show.

Notice how I haven't actually talked about the "content" of this drivel? That's because the plethora of other reviews have brought up the numerous shortcomings with the plot, characters, the MC's motivations, the animation, etc. I'd just be regurgitating what everyone else is saying, and frankly, I don't think any of that is necessary.

The plot could be well-written, the characters well-developed, the fights well-choreographed, the animation polished and fluid, etc., and none of it would matter because with everything put together? The result was a boring, repetitive, non-thought-provoking pile of slop. Considering that "Girumasu" is average AT BEST regarding all of those elements I just brought up, there really is no saving it.

"Girumasu" is a waste of time, potential, and effort. There are very few shows that I would say are objectively terrible, and I'm quite certain this is one of them. Do not watch, unless you've completely exhausted everything on your PTW, and even then... I'm telling you, you aren't missing anything with this one.

Story: 5
Characters: 7
Animation: 8.5
Sound: 9
Enjoyment: 7
Overall: 7.3/10

Notes: It's crazy to say, but honestly... the worst parts of "Blue Box" are its main pairing, and the sports sub-plot. It's crazy, because one of Chinatsu and Taiki are almost always on screen, and the whole show uses the sports theme as a crutch to support itself/the romance. But genuinely, I feel that those two things are what is holding "Blue Box" back.

Only one of the sports (badminton, basketball, or rhythmic gymnastics) should have been the focus (and I mean actually focused upon, not simply as part of the setting), and Hina, Kyou, Ayame and Kengo should have ... been the main characters. Chinatsu and the entire basketball team can be hard demoted to the background, and Taiki would be demoted to supporting cast, as Kyou's and Kengo's teammate. I genuinely think the show would have benefited greatly from such alterations, as the supporting cast really shines in "Blue Box", making Chinatsu and Taiki rough to watch as they bumble around "aimlessly" for 25 episodes.

But if we aren't going to hard change anything about the show, then it needs more badminton, or hell ANY basketball, I'll even take some rhythmic gymnastics over, well... NOTHING. And obviously, the show desperately needs to develop Chinatsu and Taiki as characters, because frankly at this point Hina deserves better, making Taiki look bad for rejecting her and Chinatsu look bad for being Taiki's target of affection. Taiki is bland, and Chinatsu... Chinatsu is beyond bland.

I will say, though... "Blue Box" is cute, sweet, and easy to digest, with some surprisingly real moments coming from the supporting cast + Hina. Even Taiki has a relatable moment or two, somehow, and it is moments like those that kept me invested in the show, even during its lulls.

Frankly... at this stage, "Blue Box" is hard carried by the studio's great animation/decent directing, solid OPs/EDs, and superb VA casting. Without a high quality studio at the helm, this show is a 6/10, probably worse.

To close things off: It's vanilla, it's slow-paced, the sports element hardly exists, the main pairing sucks, huge payout moments come up and then are backpedaled upon with 0 end result... but I still liked it, surprisingly. Not loved, but liked. If a S2 comes, I'll take it. If not... I won't lose any sleep over it.

Story: 6.5
Characters: 7.5
Animation: 7.5
Sound: 9
Enjoyment: 8
Overall: 7.7/10


Slower-paced, less action, and with an episodic feel to it this time around. To top it all off, we have a studio change which is kinda hit and miss at the same time. For some, all of this is a deal breaker. But not for me. S2 of Goblin Slayer was like revisiting an old friend; not quite the same as the last time I saw them, but after an icebreaker it's as if we never parted ways.

...
The new animation/character designs can feel a little jarring at first, but either they got better at capturing White Fox's style as the season went on or I simply got used to it with time. Still a downgrade overall, IMO.


The characters of Goblin Slayer are back to their usual shenanigans, with some new faces added to the mix, some good and some not-so-good, but I suppose that's just par for the course. The old favorites are still solid and at the forefront, so no complaints from me.


Mili's back at it with another solid OP theme, which I'll admit didn't click initially like "Rightfully" did, but it grew on me as the season went on. Now on the other hand, "To the Misty Side" by Yuki Nakashima absolutely blew my expectations away. It might just be my favorite ED of the Fall 2023 season. She nailed it, 100%. The OST, on the other hand... nothing stood out to me, but hey, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.


To conclude, I'll say this: S2 is not like S1. I cannot guarantee that S2 will land as a fan of S1. All I can ask is to keep an open mind, and remember that ol' Goblin Slayer is, and always will be, all about the goblins. Nothing more, nothing less. Expect some greater-arching story, or large amounts of character development, and you'll be destined for disappointment. It's all about the goblin slaying, friends. Gotta purge 'em all.


8/10, S3 when?