Back to AnimeApollo's Profile AnimeApollo's Profile

An absolutely triumphant and gorgeous return for Monogatari after five years that continues to push the envelope on what anime can be as an art form.

Off and Monster Season (Off Season especially) have more of an anthology structure compared to the original run of the series, and so I think it’s perfect for the team at Shaft to crank the experimental dial up to 110%. This season is absolutely crazy - past the continuation of Araragi’s story in Shinobumonogatari, we have a Gothic-style arc set hundreds of years in the past, a one-off for Tsukihi and Yotsugi, and a beautiful continuation of Nadeko’s story ... that perfectly redeems her from her original appearances in the previous seasons.

It’s been so exciting to catch Monogatari week upon week and be absolutely blown away every single time. On top of my nostalgia from mainlining the series and then watching Owarimonogatari S2 at release all those years ago, Off and Monster Season is just so much fun that I can’t help but love it and never want it to end. I will be waiting eagerly for the next season now.

I've been scared to finish Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Sotsu for months now. I got about two thirds through and the story didn't seem to be reaching any sound conclusion, so I put it on hold for months. Now I've finally finished it, and oh boy it feels like Higurashi has been completely massacred.

The final message of Gou/Sotsu is actually very nice, and it matches the tone and quality of the overarching morals of the original eight chapters/two seasons. Unfortunately, where Kai's ending felt satisfying because of all the character's past failures, Sotsu's ending just feels... unfulfilling. I rather liked Gou when it aired, ... but looking back on the new course of 39 episodes between Gou and Sotsu, much of it is simply repeated events (Not different events across June 1983 like before, but rather the exact same events already portrayed earlier in Gou or Sotsu from a different angle) and incessant gore. Essentially, what people mistake Higurashi for before they experience the whole of the original story that concluded with Higurashi Kai.

In the original story, I still stand by my belief that the gore is heavy, but is ultimately rarely shown and is never front and centre during the show at any point. In Sotsu, it is absolutely front and centre. Every episode is just death after death, culminating in a tone-deaf "final battle" that feels more like a 90s shounen series than it does the culmination of a long-running psychological anime. Again, the message is great, but the means of getting there really aren't at all. Honestly, looking back on it, I'd rather have never gotten Gou/Sotsu at all, and been left with what I view as an already perfect ending between Kai and Rei. Rika and Satoko no longer feel like themselves, and honestly regardless of the whole witch plot thread and the ties to Umineko no Naku Koro Ni, Satoko's actions across these two seasons are inexcusable, and it just feels like the show immediately forgives her once the final episode has run its course. There was so much room to do something, anything, with the clash between these two characters, but ultimately it's just too little, too late.

On a final note, I can't in good conscience recommend you watch Gou or Sotsu unless you consider yourself to be a die-hard fan of either the Higurashi Visual Novels or the original 2006-2009 anime adaptations of the series. Sotsu especially feels like a massive step down, both thematically and structurally, from what came before, and honestly, despite some sweet fanservice scenes at the end, I've reached the conclusion of this reboot of one of my beloved series with a bitter taste in my mouth.

I've been waiting for RE: Infinite Darkness for quite a while now. I've followed all the trailers and announcements, often occurring at the same time as the Resident Evil Village announcements. RE8 came out earlier in the year, I loved it, and now Infinite Darkness (ID from here on out) is out, and I have... rather mixed thoughts on it. These are all fresh in my mind, having just binged it all on release day, so bare with me as I collect all of my thoughts and try and make them cohesive here.

Story - 6/10
The story was actually really enjoyable, I thought. I feel as ... though I would totally benefit from a rewatch soon so that I can maybe get all of the little convoluted bits I missed. While I would rather get my Leon and Claire CGI fix from Resident Evil: Degeneration, I think they're handled well enough here. I would have liked for there to have been a little more balance between the individual A and B-plots involving Leon and Claire, respectively, but I did enjoy it plenty.
My only gripe is that I feel like Infinite Darkness would have worked so much better as another movie. Each episode feels like an excuse to disconnect Claire's side plot from the main plot as a cold open. Maybe it is just me needlessly complaining, but I do personally prefer the nonstop action in the three CGI films that preceded this series.
Bottom line is, good story, some pacing issues.

Art - 8/10
I don't really have any issues on this front either. Not much of a difference from the CGI in Resident Evil: Vendetta, but even there, the CGI was near-perfect. Some characters look a little choppy in motion (For example, the closing shot of Leon walking towards the White House) and some characters do look a little stiff sometimes, but I think that's to be expected. All of the environments look fantastic, arguably better than they did in Vendetta, and in ID, I noticed that there seems to be a little more experimentation with visuals (Such as shadows dancing on walls to signify graphic deaths, lighting changes in the submarine in the second episode, etc.) Overall, really solid.

Sound - 7/10
I thought the opening was badass, and the soundtrack really suits action sequences well, but I thought it was a little out of place for scenes that try to go down the tense, survival-horror route. I can't recall the soundtrack from the CGI movies but, just from my experience of the games, even the action-centered games, not to mention the genuine horror titles in the franchise have fantastic soundtracks that know when to be loud, and when to subdue a little bit. Considering Infinite Darkness seems to toe the line between full-on action and quieter horror at times, I feel like this balance would have benefitted the series more.

Character - 9/10
It's Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy, what more do you need? (Might I add, played to perfection by RE2 Remake alums Stephanie Panisello and Nick Apostolides.) They merit a 10/10 alone, in my opinion, but I also found myself liking characters like Shen May too, even if she does seem like something of a knockoff Ada Wong. Otherwise, the other characters were rather forgettable, even the President, father of RE4's Ashley Graham, but many characters were super boring in the three CGI films and I still found myself loving those despite it all.
I didn't like that they left Leon and Claire on something of a sour note, though. The only issue when it comes to making a piece of media that takes place midway through the timeline of the franchise is that it has to gel with everything that comes afterwards, chronologically. At the moment, this is the last chronological appearance of Leon and Claire together, and so I just sort of wish that they didn't leave one another with any sort of issue or quarrel between them.

Enjoyment - 8/10
Despite my few issues, I did find myself really enjoying this. For the most part, it riffs off of both the horror and action elements of the games that we've come to know and love. Even in comparison to RE Village, you can clearly see stark influences with the way that the story progresses. I thought that this was an enjoyable, if a little mismatched, experience.

Overall - 7/10

And I've pretty much said my piece. Sorry for rambling!! I'd totally recommend this if you're a fan of the games, or if you enjoyed the CGI films that came before. It is a fairly short watch so, even if you're not a fan, if you have a couple of hours spare, maybe give it a try.

"I can't save you. Only you can save yourself."

Bakemonogatari tells the story of high-school senior Araragi Koyomi, and his run-ins with five girls, each with their own emotional baggage and afflictions in the form of aberrations or monsters that forever Mr. Nice Guy Araragi must help them sort out.

I love Bakemonogatari. I love the entirety of the Monogatari Series, but no part of it stuck with me as much as Bake did. It's stories, characters, it's one-of-a-kind art design, truly make for a unique and breathtaking experience.

Story - 8/10
The story, first and foremost, follows five arcs, each titled after the centric afflicted girl in it, ... i.e. Hitagi Crab, Mayoi Snail, etc. Each one not only introduces or gives depth to the character in question but also reveals more about other characters and previously-established events, making for an entirely immersive experience. Bakemonogatari dives deep into psychology and how the human mind works, and is definitely one of the strong points in the plot department. How far would you go to save someone close to you? How would you deal with your emotions, your pain, upon being affected by an aberration or after a traumatic event? Bakemonogatari takes a deep dive into the human psyche, and it's honestly one of the best parts of it for me. Some parts are slower than others, for example the Suruga Monkey and Nadeko Snake arcs most notably, but they are still enjoyable in their own right and this shouldn't put you off of the series.

Art - 10/10
The art is a particular standout in this installment of the Monogatari Series, having more ambitious imagery and overall artistic flair over the majority of the rest of the series honestly. It is only ever really done to such a high caliber again in Kizumonogatari. The character designs are very well done and faithful to the original light novel illustrations and descriptions for the most part, and even when they are different they still respect and even reference the original in some cases, i.e. Senjougahara's purple hair becoming brown in certain scenes like her LN counterpart. Absolutely outstanding effort from Shaft here and my favourite out of the entirety of Monogatari.

Sound - 9/10
The soundtrack to Bakemonogatari is literally one of my favourites, trumped only by the likes of FLCL and Cowboy Bebop for me. Some tracks are repetitive in the series however, but this is definitely improved upon as the series goes on past Bake. Not much to say here, but very good and very original soundtrack indeed.

Character - 10/10
The characters are definitely where Bakemonogatari shines the brightest. Each one is so amazingly fleshed out and given life here, each with their own mannerisms, motivations, emotions and problems. They all feel unique and memorable, even the male protagonist who can be taken as a mockery of sorts to typical harem protagonists. Trust me, you'll find a girl or two that you absolutely love here, and each arc where their initial problem is resolved is so well put-together and amazing. Definitely consider Bakemonogatari most for the characters if not anything else.

Enjoyment - 9/10
Bakemonogatari's length, form and content above all else make for a fantastic experience. As I mentioned before, the Suruga Monkey and Nadeko Snake arcs are slower and with slightly poorer pacing, but overall Bakemonogatari is a fully immersive, completely enjoyable experience that is paced well and has a logically somewhat medium-sized length.

Overall - 10/10
So, in short, Bakemonogatari is one of, if not my absolute favourite anime. It gripped me so much and stuck with me, and will be on my favourites for years to come. I really do recommend it for anyone looking for an immersive series to sink their teeth into, I'm sure that you will not be disappointed.

Air tells the story of the "1000th Summer", the summer that Yukito Kunisaki spends with a handful of girls each with their own problems, and ties to the Winged Maiden, the exiled beauty that Yukito is in search of.

This anime makes me feel so nostalgic. This might be personal to me more than anyone else but the breathtaking soundtrack and visuals, and the story and unique characters all on the backdrop of a solitary summer make me feel so many emotions, not only to the amazing story that has roots over hundreds of years but how stuck it is in a summer of the mid-2000s, ... when the anime came out. I have so many fond memories of both that time and my experiences in anime, and they make for an amazing combination.

Just like any other Key or KyoAni show, Air is incredibly saddening at times, yet comedic and dramatic amongst others to boot. It is a very prominent precursor to Clannad and Clannad: After Story in these departments, so if you like those then give Air a shot. Air is unique in it's setting and how it chooses to deal with it's characters, and that is why I love it so much.

Art is pretty standard and nothing special when it comes to casual scenes and the basic character designs, more along the lines of same old from a KyoAni show. But the backdrops and the depictions of the Winged Maiden throughout the show that truly take your breath away and are absolutely outstanding. The story could be paced a little better in my opinion, but it is immensely enjoyable nonetheless.

So, Air is a delightfully nostalgic trip into the past with an enjoyable storyline and unique characters and motivations. I highly recommend it for the experience.

Compared to the manga, this anime adaptation of Tokyo Ghoul from Studio Pierrot was alright. The characters are totally different than described in the manga; Kaneki is a total wuss compared to his college bookworm personality from the manga, Touka is a lot more tsundere-like than the manga, and Tsukiyama is less crazier than the manga (Although Miyano Mamoru still did a great job voicing him).

The anime was ok, but, in my opinion, not as good as the manga. The story in the anime tends to be very fastpaced compared to the slow, well thought out, detailed approach of the manga. Tokyo Ghoul just becomes ... a crappy adaptation because of Studio Pierrot trying to fit a quality manga into just 12 episodes.

Overall, I give the anime 7/10.