10 - Something that appeals to me in so many specific ways that I could sing its praises without end. More than a story, it's a world onto itself that I look forward to revisiting and experiencing well into the future.
9 - Something that leaves me with such a powerful sense of emotion and self that the show becomes synonymous with that feeling. It perfectly embodies its ideas and imparts them in ways you won't ever forget.
8 - Shows that earn this score are ones I'd readily rewatch. The themes shine through in every aspect of the world and characters; so much so, that the series itself becomes a reference point for the concepts introduced or it's particular take of a concept. They also strike a sweet spot with tone and pacing that make them a treat to marathon. This marks the start of shows I get excited just thinking about.
7 - Clear thematic follow through and a fair number of standout traits. They may fall short in some areas, but have enough strengths that I'd still consider watching them.
6 - Distinguishes itself from other shows of its ilk in at least one aspect, but fails to generate lasting interest.
Given that I'll drop a show within the first minute if it seems bland or outright bad, these scores will rarely be used. I'll give a description to one when I sit through enough of an anime that deserves it.
5 - At this point, the show feels soulless. It follows structural rules of storytelling, but little else.
4 - Lacks coherence.
3 - ...
2 - .....
1 - Zero no Tsukaima
Random Reviews:
Accel World - (Light 8)*
One of the first series I watched that revolved around a virtual world. It had everything I wanted at the time and I'm guessing I'd still enjoy it now. A youth exclusive virtual world that moves at an accelerated pace and is designed to have players battle their way to the top. However, players who lose all their points in battle have the game forcibly uninstalled and their memories wiped. This leads to major factions calling for an armistice as many players value the experience the game offers and don't wish to lose access to that world. For others, this peace breeds stagnation, which pushes them down a war path to reach the highest level and uncover the game's greatest secrets. Character conflict and motivation largely draws from the nature of the game, which adds weight to the world as a whole. There are certain conceits I'd expect to raise an eyebrow at here and there, but nothing that would detract from everything else the show does right.
Acchi Kocchi - (Solid 6)*
Don't remember much other than some wholesome gags and a comfy atmosphere.
Aho Girl - (Strong 7)
Fun gags, amusing characters, and simple subversions. Threw this one on after joking/arguing about how the banana love definitely included other things as well, and it certainly did! This idiot girl is always on the hunt; especially for the main male's. It's subtle but clear in the beginning, then the creators do me a favor and confirm it outright at the end. Easy win! Recommended for some laughs and the blue-haired girl whose name I don't know.
Amagi Brilliant Park - (Solid 7)
The novelty of a narcissistic main character and sensible heroine were what kept me with the show early on. The main male also received a power that gave him very vague Lelouch vibes near the start, and earned the show a little more goodwill. As I continued to watch, that impression faded, as did any application of the power, and I just took joy in moment to moment happenings over whatever was being done to the narrative. It was a colorful world with some fun moments. Buy a ticket, not a season pass. One time will do it.
Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya - (Light 8)
An incredibly meta magical girls show that is single-handedly responsible for my fascination and love for the genre. It seamlessly pokes fun at common tropes while telling an engaging narrative through those same means. The primary focus falls on Illya, a normal girl who's dragged from her everyday life into a magical battle. Given her image of magical girls, she initially goes along with these developments to chase an exciting fantasy, but once the threat of death rears its head she's desperate to escape it all. Throughout this journey, Miyu serves as her peer, and also the main point of comparison. In this way, we learn a significant amount about both characters, with their dynamic bringing the themes of normalcy, fear, and friendship to life.
Tonally, the series balances levity and intensity well, never lingering too long on one sentiment or transitioning too quickly from another. Even if you know nothing of Fate, and can't appreciate the humor/depth of having these characters in these roles, you have plenty to look forward to in this self-contained story. And if you are familiar with Fate, you not only get all that, but a fresh take on beloved concepts like Noble Phantasms and the Holy Grail War. Give Prisma Illya a go!
Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 2wei! - (Strong 8)
Improving battle scenes, maintaining consistent visuals, and conveying narrative through imagery, are just a few of the areas in which 2wei! surpasses its predecessor. As before, the OP captures the essence of the season, as theme songs are ought to do. I'm not sure how often I do this for shows, but contextualizing OPs via the narrative yields a succinct, aesthetic rush that only improves upon revisit, and I’m happy to have that here.
This season's narrative is powered by the presence and influence of our third magical girl, Chloe. Her introduction adds immensely to character dynamics, tonal balance, and the exploration of the shows main themes. Visually speaking, she’s a mirror image of Illya, initially mistaken by others as her twin; however, there’s far more to say figuratively, given the recurring associations with mirrors and the abstractions therein.
As for Chloe herself, her antics, personality, and energy are a refreshing addition to the series, and her embodiment of the Holy Grail deserves the same praise. Both her existence and motives explain as many things as they hint towards (from Illya's actions after her "switch getting flipped" to indirectly raising the topic of Holy Grails for Miyu to react towards). She also has one of the most beautiful and complete character arcs in a single season, setting her up to be a strong foundation of support.
By and large, Chloe's the catalyst for new scenarios, bringing out different sides of main characters and side characters alike. Whereas season 1 revolved around Illya, playing off Miyu by comparison, Chloe is the focal point of 2wei! through which we delve deeper into other characters. And given her high level of engagement with the world around her, following Chloe feels like a natural exploration of the entire cast rather than an intended character study. Adding to this even more, the world itself feels more livable as characters move around more freely and explore a variety of locations. In short, praise be to Chloe! I came away from this rewatch with a much greater appreciation for her and look forward to finding even more to love in 2wei Herz!
Following right along from 2wei’s finale, summer vacation has arrived, with Illya and company preparing for their trip to the beach. Early into it though, Chloe pulls Illya aside, avoiding eye contact as she asks for mana. This is the first trace of shyness Chloe displays about it, relying on Illya to create the cover story for leaving the group and to initiate the act when they’re alone. It’s a total turnabout in behavior that baffles Illya, but given how Chloe views her after 2wei’s conclusion, it’s easy to see why pushing herself on Illya isn’t something she can bring herself to do – to the point where she becomes more flustered at reminders of how these exchanges once played out. Only when Illya resists too much, saying something of minor offense, does Chloe take control of the conversation, leading Illya to submit and start things off. Interestingly enough, Chloe changes places with Illya when we cut back to them, the latter now against the wall as the exchange continues, and it’s an excellent way to showcase the change in their dynamic that will be a staple of this season. What's more, it also plants the seed for Mimi’s character arc, which serves as a microcosm of Miyu’s. Bear in mind, these are just the opening scenes of the first episode.
By the time we hit the season finale, Miyu has resigned herself to an assigned role, and the silent fight she’s long endured comes across clearly. We feel what’s in this girl’s heart – a fear of the darkness she was born into with a soul that hardly dares to dream of escaping it, having long acknowledged its strength so much as to call it fate. Relinquishing her power to Illya, she concedes her will to fight before allowing herself to be absorbed.
Having only been able to learn the truth about Miyu in the final hour, not from confronting her directly but as a result of a crisis, Illya commits herself entirely to the battle in order to save Miyu and deliver the answer she’s nurtured all season long.
Suffice it to say, this season is brimming with ideas, and they’re packaged incredibly well. As it stands, Prisma Illya stands out clearly in my mind, and I consider it a favorite. To me, it’s the quintessential magical girls show, bringing the meta and magic of the genre to life. I’m glad to have watched it, and look forward to revisiting it many times in the future.
Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 3rei! – (Strong 9)
[Unable to fit due to character limit]
Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure - (Strong 9)
One of many classic shows that I’d have left on-hold if friends and family hadn’t continued to encourage it. In both Johnathan and Joseph’s journeys, we’re treated to rapid and refreshing shifts in tone, which is a balance only seen in series that go “all in” with their premises and conceits. The visuals and aesthetic of the characters draw on much the same notion, as insanely muscular men duke it out with creatures of the night, and occasionally their fellow man; yet there’s as much calculation in these clashes as there is raw will, giving plenty for the audience to anticipate and celebrate between each exchange. It’s an over-the-top ride spanning across generations of the Joestar line, with each descendant seeming to outdo the last, and I can’t wait to revel in more of this resounding sensation. Give Jojo a go!
Kaguya-sama: Love is War – (Solid 9)
A psychological battle between two student elites to make the other confess their love. A hilarious and great angle to approach power dynamics within relationships, and a concept that gets well explored despite the humorous nature and short length of the show.
Shirogane and Kaguya are immensely talented in their own rights and have plenty going for them aside from their desired romance, but the desire to see these two come together starts strong and grows even stronger. Throughout their bouts, we learn both their backgrounds and beliefs in more detail than I’d have reasonably expected, and none of it feels out of place. At the end of the series, and even well before it, you have a strong sense of who these characters are as people, and it feels great to know them.
What's more, the rest of the cast are damn fun as well! Neither Ishigami nor Fujiwara were quite what I expected, and it was a real treat to see them in action. Both these two wild cards, and many other recurring characters, often initiate proxy wars or defuse detailed attacks without the faintest intention; save for Hayasaka, who gives both parties a helping push and eases the transition to more melancholic moments that mark the ending tone of the series. Her presence is one of the most beautiful, serving as both a servant and guardian who watches over Kaguya’s battle with herself and Shirogane.
Furthermore, both the OP and ED are beautifully directed and hit their emotional marks dead on. If you’re looking for a well-crafted show with humor, depth, and a dash of melancholy, you’ve found a great one.
Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor – (Solid 10)
This series earns a lot of respect from me. When it comes to dark, psychological battles, striking the right balance is crucial, and I was engaged from start to end with how this show handled itself.
The majority of the battles occur at whatever staging grounds the wealthy have prepared to earn themselves some sadistic pleasure as debtors vie and die for a chance at financial freedom. Initially, the sweet-sounding deal of clearing one’s debts overnight entices many to participate despite their suspicions, even bringing out repeaters, who’ve managed to survive the horrors of such nights but still return to try strike it rich.
The themes touched on are expected, but handled so deftly that succinct summaries on the human condition strike with a very subtle strength. It’s also a pleasant surprise that our main man, Kaiji, doesn’t walk the path of a hardened vagabond. He’s doubtlessly changed after confronting the truths of the gambles, but when it came time to kill or be killed, he rejected the former even at risk of the latter. An incredibly noble and virtuous sounding feat, but the core motivation of which lies in his rejection of what these gambles are: a rat race where have-nots compete over resources without regard for their fellow man. In this framework, “victory” means embracing the values of the oppressive elite, and becoming the very thing you despise. It’s a lesson Kaiji, and the viewer, grows intimately more aware of the further we go, ultimately building a detailed discussion from both sides.
From the beginning, the presence of the elite is largely felt through the suits who oversee and conduct the gambles on their behalf. Their numbers and organization establish a presence that upholds order among participants and more notably serves to embody the will of the wealthy as a natural fixture in the world. They enforce the rules to be followed, punish any who go against the rules, and can always be replaced by other suits. In short, they aren’t something you can fight directly or hope to defeat on your own. The thing that ‘s most striking though is the sense that what the wealthy say carries real weight. Not as an ingrained falsehood that characters must simply shake off, but as truths that most be acknowledged as part of reality. This culminates in Kaiji’s bid against the chairman, who’s further humanized by a sharing of his past and the fleeting promises of many debtors. It’s towards the end, as the scale of the gambles decrease in scope, that an individualized focus comes into greater prominence, allowing us to engage with and learn about the elusive, looming chairman. A man named Hyoudou.
I can only hope the next season continues to excel in its storytelling, and look forward to seeing the future battles and “victories” sought by our lovable survivor.
My Hero Academia S1 – (Solid 8)
Within the first few moments of the show, I hoped to myself that it wouldn’t be another zero-to-hero story. Midoriya’s lack of power and his desire to be a Hero were in direct conflict, and I really respected All Might for spelling that out to him in the early moments of episode 1. From that point on, I was anticipating a realistic approach to people working within their limits and coming to terms with what they couldn’t be, but when All Might recognized Midoriya’s character and offered him a chance to seize his dream, I couldn’t fault the show in the slightest. It not only acknowledged two fundaments of a hero, but spelled out its intentions from the very start.
After just one episode, we have a clear sense of what this series stands for and the kind of story it has to tell – a zero-to-hero story that goes beyond what many in the genre have done with it. While not without its limits, aspects often overlooked, like the physical strain of powers, the social order governing society, and the inevitable exclusion of people outside that prescribed order are at the forefront of MHA, and makes its world and characters worth engaging.
Heroes and villains alike are standouts on design alone, but with their ambitions and beliefs rooted firmly in their world, each of them gains notable narrative force, expanding our understanding of the setting and instilling a deeper appreciation for what this genre can be. Dripping with pathos, enlivened by nuance, and powered by the hallmarks of shounen, MHA brings back the nostalgic romanticism of heroes in a resounding way.
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