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I feel like this show deserves more recognition but at the same time I do recognize elements of it that would drive people away. It's not for everyone but if it's for you then you will enjoy it quite a bit.

Cloverworks handled the production side of things very well. The visuals are pretty great but a lot of it is achieved through clever use of different artstyles and angles. The show has a lot of energy and drive both in terms of visuals and pacing (although it does slow down closer to the end). The nagative side of production is occasional CG models ... and while it's good CG, you will notice it and it does feel a bit weightless at times especially when weapons are involved.

Now, the controversial part is the tone. At first it was a bit jarring going from lighthearted, wholesome stuff to blood and death (and the show doesn't have much chill when it comes to violence) but as soon as I noticed that different characters react to these tonal shifts differently, it kinda made sense. Also. it's an era when death often doensn't come from old age and it makes sense for characters close to fighting to not be too phased by it. Still, because of those tonal shifts the overall impression the show creates is rather lighthearted despite the occasional limb getting detached... Or maybe it's just me...

This is what happens when you mix a traditional, serious mecha show, a cheesy tokusatsu (e.g. Power Rangers) show and Top Gun.

If this description made you curious then it might be for you. I can't really recommend it easily because the show is definitely not for everyone. If you can't take the cheesyness then you will probably dislike it, if you don't want self-aware comedy in your mecha anime then you will probably dislike it and if the "bromance" is too much for you to handle then you might also... Dislike it. Yet for people who look at the ingredients and think they have to ... try the dish, well, it might just be exactly what you never knew you wanted.

The show looks good but, unfortunately, the times of complex, hand-drawn, mechanical operations are gone. Still, I think the CG used here is pretty good. Also, it's a complete story. Sound design is pretty good and is fitting for both the tokusatsu part of the show and the mecha one. There are certainly some problems but a lot of them can be attributed to the meld of genres. As far as writing goes, Bravern doesn't explain a lot of things and sometimes future events give you satisfying answers but sometimes things are just left unexpalined or they don't really need an explanation. Like, do you really need some exposition about how a sentient alien robot can eat human food? No. You really don't. I think that some thigs can be left like that but there are definitely people who would need to know exactly how the food is consumed, digested, what happens to leftovers if there are any and so on.

At the end of the day, the first 3 episodes will give you a very good idea if the show is for you or not. If the premise sounds like your kinda thing or at least interests you - give it a shot.

I don't really feel the need to write a proper review for it and yet I am writing something. Hear yee! Hear yee! A show that everyone is gushing over is actually really good. Pick up your jaws from the floor, people. But seriously, what else is there to say that wasn't said before? My thoughts are but a drop in the ocean... Although... How else would this ocean come to be?

Frieren took the audiences around the world by storm. A warm, comfortable storm, profoundly beautiful and beatifully profound. My expectations were very high and I was still left impressed: from impeccable presentation to themes ... that resonated with me to characters I hope to see more of. There were some very minor moments when pacing could've been a bit better but overall I loved every minute of it and would love to see more. The high I got from finishing it is still very fresh in my head so my score might drop a tiny bit later but whatever it ends up being, whether someone ends up reading this "review" or not, I'm leaving Frieren with a glowing recommendation. I don't think a bigger review is needed. Short and sweet. Otherwise, would it be embarrassing when we met again?

So, I took several days to cool down and now I'm ready to talk about Pluto calmly. I'll preface it with my thoughts on Urasawa. I've read 20th and 21st Century Boys and watched Monster. I had problems with all of it. Generally speaking, I don't like how unfocused his story can get, how some characters get enough development to become proper characters but not enough to do anything worthwhile with them. Most of his stories could be significantly trimmed down to focus on what matters. The degrees to which these problems manifest themselves in his works vary a lot as well. There is also ... a question of realism and plot holes. Urasawa writes stories that want to be taken seriously but all of them have elements that rip you out of the story, be it military personel not shooting a terrorist because he is is playing his guitar really well, a pregnant woman about to give birth climbing through ventilation shafts and over fences or a robot dog having a hearbeat.

However, despite my problems with Monster and 20th Century Boys, they both have something to offer. 20th Century Boys has good character chemistry and a generally interesting story with nice atmosphere (until 21st Century Boys ruins most of it) and the art is pretty good as well. Monster has some phylosophical questions that, while not perfectly explored or presented, are interesting and the character of Johan is... Well, a double edged sword as he is is the biggest selling point and the biggest problem of Monster. Pluto though...

Pluto has all the problems of Urasawa's writing in one messy package. There are no plot holes, there are plot craters. The whole technical aspect of the show is utterly nonsensical. Watching it made me angry. Despite Pluto being 8 hours it barely develops any characters beyond the basics. The story is simple and would've been enough in some battle shounen but is woefully basic and unfit for a show (I haven't read the manga, I'm only talking about the adaptation) like Pluto that is trying to be something serious, intellectual and profound. Pluto could've told a story of robots and humans, of how artificial differs from real or how close they can get, of what it means to be human, it could've been filled with political intrigue, sharp twists and mystery, instead Pluto does a bit of everything which amounts to nothing in the end. It has one main message of "Hatred is bad", barely any interesting characters, no intrigue, no logic, no point. And I have to mention that I was gonna give it a 6 but the last episode was such a dumpster fire I had to lower it. I wanted it to be over with so bad and it ended so unceremoniously I literally went "That's it?".

Long story short, Pluto is a waste of potential, animation and setting. The only value it has is production value. I would only recommend it to people who can "turn their brains off" while watching.

Don't get me wrong, while I'm giving it a tentative recommendation, my feelings are definitely mixed in some ways. Especially when it comes to the Demon King, if you know what I mean. The review can wait. Would you do him? Him? Her? A homie who looks like a child most of the time but can also look like a hot girl and also cooks like a pro chef? It might just be the way... Oh and I'm signing the contract. Sorry, not sorry.

Ehem, anyway, I expceted something like Jahy, Jashin or Demon Girl Next Door but it doesn't quite work as well overall. The ... action parts are better than expected and the occasional fanservice was fairly nice while not detracting too much from what was happening. The characters are quite specific and might not be to everyone's taste though. The hero is an asshole with a heart of gold but the asshole part is not downplayed. If you'd like to see a washed up hero who rarely gives a damn and goes to adult cinemas to rub one out then you would enjoy him. There is also (one) room to grow which might bethe ned game of his character. The Demon King is confusing in so many ways though... As a character they work but... It's technically a dude but most of the time they look like a child... Gremlin... Kinda... Thing... And sometimes they look like a hot girl... They certainly behave in a feminine way and most likely have a crush on the hero and would probably not mind getting it on as a female... You see what I mean? It is a good way to explain why the hero doesn't want to stick it in the Demon King though. And I guess if you are an immortal being who can change appearances then you would play both teams anyway.

The supporting cast is nice but desperately needs more screen time. Fred's entourage can be fairly fun and they would probably shine with more development, Zenia is hot and endearing and the hero party can also be quite entertaining and charming if given enough time.

Overall it's definitely not bad and can get better with more episodes.

Oh and both the music and action can be pleasantly surprising. The story also has some potential.

How do you piss off multiple fanbases with one review? Well, you compare two shows that have nothing to do with each other and proclaim one show's superiourity. So, I dropped Zetsuen no Tempest after 3 epsidoes. I wasn't invested in the slightest and cared not for any of the characters or the plot. Why am I bringing it up? Because it took Oshi no Ko 2 minutes to get my attention.

So, Oshi no Ko, while there are some things that I can mildly criticize, overall it's a great start. I suppose the biggest criticism would be that the whole revenge thing is ... not as fleshed out yet but then again, it can't be extremely specific this early on without taking center stage. If the author's previous works are anything to go by, all the elements in play will get their time to shine. That said, it does a very good job balancing those elements for now. From the industry know-how that is not only naturally delivered but also natural in terms of realism and its place in the narrative, to character relationships, this show has something to offer to many a viewer. Comedy, romance, drama, it seems to be doing quite well on all fronts. The small bits of symbolism and visual metaphors add to the experience without demanding focus on it. Production-wise, Doga Kobo did a great job as did the actors. The source material is doing all the heavy lifting but Doga Kobo's contribution can't be overstated.

I will say that the author is probably self inserting quite a bit as Aqua and Shirogane from Kaguya share not only visual simiarities but also some defining features. Speaking of Aqua, his importance to the story is pretty massive and I would've been quite critical of that if not for him being an interesting character as unlike Shirogane he has a darker side and is not afraid of using people. But, at the end of the day he is still the good guy. Ruby, on the other hand, will probably have a big arc later on as right now she is not excatly the focus. All in all I enjoyed what was on offer and want to see more, but my score as of right now hinges on the potential of the story and established achievements of the author.

The Eminence in Shadow is all that's wrong with isekai done right.

The protagonist is a delusional chuunibyou, he is sociopathic, selfish and completely drunk on power. Speaking of power, he is absurdly overpowered and revels in it in his own way, obsessed with being an extra in the streets and a cool edgelord in the sheets, so to say. The world is his playground and it changes based on his whimsical acts of self indulgent revelry. Fair maidens fall head over heels for him by accident as he is not interested in romance, if he is even capable of that, diabolical ... cults put their plans into motion, characters get traumatized for the sake of his fun.

I feel guilty. I feel like I shouldn't enjoy it. But maybe I should? One way or another, I had quite a bit of fun with this show and would love to see more of it. The source material is not over yet which is alarming as I'm not confident the author can retain the level of what has been adapted so far. I also feel like dragging it for too long would be detremental as the unusual elements might either become mundane or cannibalize upon themselves, which is very typical for the genre. That said, for now the show, or rather the source material, has been doing a good job utilizing the protagonist's whims to introduce a certain level of variety in action and setpieces, the future will tell if it keeps up.

"This pink thing can't be this relatable", the show that infiltrated the memes of a plethora of different communities, a surprise hit of the season, the slice-of-life that outscored *that* show with chainsaws, barf kisses and mommy issues, yadda yadda...

After the first couple of episodes I wasn't exactly convinced. I was enjoying it but not to the same extent as reviews led me to expect, however, the show really comes into its own once the band is together and they are bouncing off each other. Superb production value, great comedic value, chemistry and development elevate it quite a bit. The creators clearly know ... a thing a two about music and its depiction seems to be pretty on point while people knowledgeable in the culture on display can pick upon some things mere mortals would miss yet both crowds can enjoy it for what it is.

Bocchi is (unfortunately?) extremely relatable, it's hard not to root for her while also laughing at her, oh so familiar, societal hic ups. It balances out Bocchi's anxiety with outrageous animation shifts and over the top expressions and effects to make situations that could've been cringe, funny and light-hearted while still keeping the core of the problem well-presented.

Comedy is subjective but even without it there is a lot to like about the show and since the comedic aspect worked really well for me, it's a 9 in my book. I might reconsider my score a bit once I cool my head but for now I feel like this is prime slice-of-life and also a great music show while demonstrating getting over social anxiety in a fun yet relatable way without crossing into the cringeworthy like some other shows did *cough* Watamote *cough*.

When I first saw the name I was curious and when I saw the cover it was too late - I was going to watch it. The asthetic of the show draws you in and it's a good thing it does because I might've skipped this show otherwise.

So what is Shadows House? It's a mystery with very subtle hints of horror. It's not difficult to feel that something is not right even with Emilico blasting you with positivity from the very first episode... Honestly, I did no like her at first but she grew on me (the characters in general grow a lot and I ... enjoyed watching them alone or interacting with each other). But her being genki to the bone didn't detract from the sheer intrigue of the setting. Who are the shadows? Who are the dolls? What about humans? Is soot a sort of virus? Fascinating and intriguing, the show reminded me of Neverland but if Neverland is akin to an abusive parent who goes wild with a certain regularity, Shadows House is a foster parent who, you think, may or may not be planning to sell you to a Nike factory in China. Both are good, by the way (the shows, not abusive parents). While Shadows House might be a bit too positive and subtle at times, there is a lot to like here otherwise, whether it's the style or the plot.

Why am I praising this but not Odd Taxi (an amazing show from the same season) or even Neverland? Because Shadows House deserves more attention. I don't need to tell you that Neverland is good *cough* the first season *cough* but do give Shadows House a chance. it might pleasantly surprise you.

You want reviews? Fast, to the point? Do you seek validation? 8 out of 10, excited for season 2.

Calling FBI yet? Yes, the show's MC is a degenerate. He knows, the show knows, we know. If you need a good guy, a paladin in shining armor to light the way with his raging righteousness, the show is not for you. If you are still with me, let's dig a bit deeper.

So, a 30-something neet get's hit by our lovely friend Truck-kun and get's transported into another world to be reborn as Rudeus, a talented kid born into a family of well-off ex-adventurers. He gropes his ... mom's milkers almost right away and steals his first (in this body, probably) pair of underwear not too long after. Later on he almost pulls panties off a kid and later still he almost beds her (at that moment she was 12, I believe). Closer to the end his peeping on her is played for laughs.

Now, do I have a problem with all that? Not all of it. Playing it for laughs was not a smooth move but the rest is fine. We are not supposed to cheer Rudy on as he almost lays a 12-year-old. He has to become a better person. He has to get over it. It's okay to have a protagonist who is a bad person. As soon as it's something sexual, especially when kids are involved, people lose their shit. You eat up Joker, Punisher, Light, Alucard but this is where you draw the line? Because killing people is cool but wanting to bang a female character who is OLDER than your current body is, WILLING, 3 years away from being considered an ADULT by the society she is in while you are even encouraged to do it, is not as cool. The guy lived in that body for 10 years after living in his old body for 36 or something. For him she is bigger than him and he has been a virgin for 46 years while also hitting puberty for the second time... He is also a perv... And his current dad is a walking libido factory so I'm sure some of it passed down... I'm surprised he hadn't done it with a goat or something before that. The society Rudy is in is different from ours. Gender and age standards are closer to what they used to be when girls had children before they hit 18 and knight was not an insult on reddit. Yes, Rudy is scum but it makes total sense narratively.

Bottom line is, I don't have a problem with Rudy. He is a well-written character who is interesting to observe. He is very flawed as a person and we can only hope to see him improve. He is grounded. Other characters have a certain charm to them and it's nice watching them interract with each other and Rudeus. The main focus IS on Rudeus so if you are repusled by him and can't watch him, don't. Drop the show or don't even start it.

The presentation is top notch, world building is pretty good, there are many little things that make it alive. The show is hardly original but it does the things you've already seen very well while also having enough to stand on its own being this late to the party. I would say that pacing is not perfect and some things are quite convenient but never to a point where it takes you completely out of it.

No, you are not pedo or a degenerate if you don't want to set Rudy on fire. If you don't mind him as the main character and are interested in the show, give it a shot.