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Red Garden starts off with an intriguing premise that screams mystery. Yet while its initial setup is what draws viewers in, the general plot doesn’t carry on at a particularly fast pace. It takes some time for the main four girls of the series to figure out their situation entirely, along with what they must do and the consequences of the burdens they bear. While some people may consider the anime too much of a slow burn, important character moments are interspersed among the main story; and honestly it’s the characters that are the big focus here.

Each member of the main cast, which consists of ... Kate, Claire, Rachel, and Rose, gets a great amount of time in the spotlight throughout the show’s runtime. Much emphasis is put on their personal struggles alongside their coming to grips with their roles in the story. Moments of denials, rejections, and acceptances are present within each of their narratives, and each girl has a series of character arcs which they progress through at a steady rate. You could consider this to be like a mini ensemble cast in regard to the main characters. However even the side characters get some time in the limelight as well, whether it be a solo focus or supporting the main girls as a group or individually.

The character writing itself is also something to be admired. In addition to dealing with their ongoing situation, the main four also face the obstacles present in their daily lives in ways that are very grounded and relatable. For just one example of how the character writing is handled, there’s one scene where two characters get into a big argument over family matters. They repeatedly talk over each other as things escalate, which is something you would often see in a heated argument in real life, but not so much in the average anime. It made me curious about who was in charge of the writing, and I found it was none other than the famed Mari Okada, who has done scriptwriting work for series such as AnoHana, Toradora, and Nagi no Asukara, among others; now it’s not so surprising to me as to why the characters of Red Garden are so good.

Before I digress too much, I just wanted to reinforce the point that none of the characters feel flat, and because of this each character moment was gripping; this made me really care about each scene whether it directly pushed the plot forward or not. Going back to the main plot, it isn’t anything truly amazing, but put simply it works. At first I was hoping certain plot points would be more fleshed out, or others made more apparently clear, but later I realized this story especially was more of a vehicle to drive the characters forward. The way that the story pushes the characters to deal with their problems and progress their arcs was done so in a suitable way. If the overarching story beats had been a much bigger focus here, it may have taken away from the development of the characters in other areas. So for those reasons I can’t fault the story itself.

Now as for the soundtrack, it may be a bit of a mixed bag depending on who you ask. I feel that the opening is great and matches the series perfectly. The theme is very jazzy and lyrics encapsulate the tone of the show. Endings-wise, the songs performed by visual kei band LM.C are a bit harder to consider fit for the show. But I personally enjoy these songs and they do (lyrically) match the themes of the show to an extent. The rest of the music I would say fits the show appropriately, and the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about it is “classy”. One point I didn’t mention earlier is that the characters occasionally break out into song at certain points in the anime. Some may consider this jarring and breaking the pace of the story, but I personally didn’t mind it. At any rate these “singalongs” are mostly in the beginning episodes and not a constant presence. Another thing in particular I really liked is the intermissions at the halfway point of each episode, complete with the classy tunes and nice intermission frames featuring artwork similar to that found in the opening.

Speaking of art, the art style of Red Garden is quite unique among anime. The character designs in particular are far more grounded in realism compared to the standard anime look. This made each character unique and their appearance memorable. Overall it may take some getting used to but I found the character designs very pleasant to look at. Admittedly the art itself can look a bit muddied especially in far off shots, so not everything is perfect. But as this is a Studio Gonzo anime I can forgive this, since they’re not exactly known for peak production values. I can say similar about the animation, which I feel is fine even when it comes to the action scenes; it is acceptable in that it doesn’t affect enjoyment or the quality of the other elements.

With all that said I greatly enjoyed Red Garden and found it engaging all the way through. It isn’t among the most technically impressive in the anime medium, and it may not win any awards for story (although it isn’t a bad one). However, the characters and their writing in general is phenomenal. Along with this the style, tone, and overall feel of the show is unlike anything else I’ve seen in anime. With this in mind I’d give Red Garden a 9/10 for being so different yet also succeeding incredibly in its strengths.

On one last note: the Red Garden: Dead Girls OVA is a bit of a curveball. You may love it or hate it depending on how you perceive the series proper. I personally really liked its concept and approach!

Junketsu no Maria, or Maria the Virgin Witch, is a series with a lot of interesting ideas. On one hand it addresses philosophical contexts such as free will and the problem of evil, while on the other it offers a mild critique on strict adherence to religious customs. The deeper questions posed by this anime are packed within a rather unique blend of a historical and fantasy adventure setting.

Junketsu no Maria can be thought of as an adventure with no clear destination. But I don’t mean that in a bad way, more so literally. There is no real journey for the main character to set ... out on, but rather a dream she wishes to impose on those around her. The show stars the eponymous Maria, named after the Virgin Mary, who is a witch and also happens to be a virgin. Amid the historical war between France and England during the Middle Ages, Maria has an unwavering desire for peace and to end all conflict by any means necessary. Thus she has a tendency to quell any battles with the use of her magic. These repeated interferences eventually draw the attention of Heaven, particularly the archangel Michael. Michael scorns Maria for deviating from the natural order of things and vows to stop any of her future attempts. Alongside this warning, he puts a curse on her in which she will only retain her witch powers on the condition she keeps her virginity. This bit sounds as though it could come right out of an Ecchi anime, but in this case it is surprisingly fitting within the historical context.

As the series progresses, Maria meets many people who are influenced by her goal in achieving peace. Other key characters include a vassal named Joseph who takes a liking to Maria, and Ezekiel, a messenger sent by Michael to watch over Maria. The series has a decent array of supporting cast that consists of Maria’s fellow witches, her familiars, townspeople, members of the Church, and soldiers on both sides. One thing I especially applaud the anime on is how each character carries and develops their own will and beliefs which may not always align with that of others. While at times the anime is a little too clear in painting religion in a bad light, it also reaches compromises. It demonstrates well that the world isn’t simply black and white, as some deserving characters do not always get their comeuppance. All in all I find the storytelling perspectives refreshing, and this carries on pretty well throughout the whole show. One note of warning is that the anime can be a bit overbearing with some sexual remarks, at least in the beginning. There are also instances of almost-assault-but-not-quite which is played for laughs, and another that’s on the darker side, which some may find uncomfortable. Yet these examples still fit in appropriately with the context of the show.

As much as I appreciate the concept and cast of Junketsu no Maria, some of its other aspects aren’t particularly noteworthy. While the art style is quite nice and Production I.G did a fine job with production, nothing much sets the anime apart from its peers. The animation is good but not very flashy, even when it comes to the battles. It works for what it is but the main thing that comes to mind is simplicity. This can also be said of the music used. My favorite track is probably the opening which is quite upbeat and fits the tone of the show. The ending is a rather standard, mellow outro that winds things down. Background music largely consists of sounds you would expect from a fantasy type show with nothing really standout. Nothing amazing but it all works well enough to be serviceable.

Despite some small things I didn’t really care for, I enjoyed Junketsu no Maria a good amount. The anime did well in balancing philosophical and religious themes without becoming too preachy about its own stance on the matter. The setting is unique and combined with the story, it is a refreshing kind of thing you don’t often see in the anime medium. Additionally the show concludes quite satisfactorily for the most part despite how short it is. I wouldn’t say it is underrated or anything, but I think it could afford to be watched more. People may be turned off by the seemingly lightheartedness of the show or some early instances of “Ecchi-like” content, but there are some things that can really be appreciated by certain viewers. If you like anime that isn’t afraid to get philosophical and critique established norms, watch this show. If you’re interested in a relatively unique setting which combines elements of fantasy, medieval history, and religion, also watch it. If you want strong characters that form their own ideals and values, give Junketsu no Maria a chance. Personally it was a worthwhile watch that left me satisfied in the end.

Arpeggio of Blue Steel -Ars Nova- surprised me. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would like it given its very apparent use of CGI which I’m generally not a fan of. However my worries were quickly cast aside as the show offers a lot beneath its exterior.

The series opens in the year 2039, in which humanity makes its last stand against the mysterious Fleet of Fog. The Fog demonstrates a tremendous advantage in naval warfare and dominates human forces on the sea. This ultimately leads to a severe restriction in communications and commerce by sea, effectively isolating nations on an international level. Some years ... later, the vessel I-401 and its crew embark on operations to change the tide of battle. The I-401 crew, referred to as Blue Steel, consists of captain Gunzou Chihaya and his friends, along with Fleet of Fog “Mental Model” Iona; basically, a Mental Model is the essence of a ship with human characteristics: think warships given human form. Iona is an anomaly among the Fog in that she takes the side of humanity, obeying Gunzou above all else.

While the premise of Arpeggio of Blue Steel isn’t entirely new, its execution of plot among other developments is where it really shines. Before diving into this anime I was interested in seeing how the battles and conflicts would play out, and boy did they deliver. The show puts a good amount of focus on the naval warfare aspect especially on a tactical angle. You’d be hard-pressed to find moments in which the main cast overpowers their adversaries through pure firepower and strength alone. Most often, they make use of minute calculations and carefully planned attacks to turn battles around. I found this to be a refreshing change of pace compared to other similar series.

When it comes to main characters, there is a lot of focus on the main duo of Gunzou and Iona. A young man with a checkered family history, Gunzou is calm and calculating but also has a compassionate side to him. Meanwhile, Iona starts off with little emotion and is more inclined to follow direct orders. The Blue Steel crew, other Mental Models, and some military personnel make up the bulk of the remaining cast. Alongside the tactical battles mentioned above, another major focus of the series is the character development of Iona and the other Mental Models present in the series, which is handled very well as the series progresses. All in all, I can’t say the entire cast is well-rounded: Gunzou’s friends from the naval academy are explored very minimally for instance. But the show does a good job where it truly counts in developing major characters. All the while, there is a focus on the Blue Steel crew’s overarching mission which ties in well to the other elements. As a side note, there are some fanservicey moments here and there which may be off-putting to some, but they personally didn’t bother me much. At any rate, they’re not common enough to really detract from the experience.

As far as soundtrack goes, the anime does a good job with the music and has a good number of fitting tunes. Tracks often consist of rock and electronic styles to accompany battles. There are also some orchestral tracks and related tones that show up occasionally. The series offers a good variety of genres to match the mood and intensity of the scenes in the moment; honestly the soundtrack is good enough that I’d like to listen to it on its own. Considering the opening, it is also rock and electronic focused, and it really does a great job at drumming up hype. The endings are much more lowkey but are suitable in their own right; I particularly enjoy the calmness of the second. I feel the voice acting work was of good quality all around, especially for those voicing the Mental Models who really captured the emotional developments of those characters. Also shoutout to Gunzou’s voice actor, his voice is so pleasant to listen to. It baffles me as to why he has so few leading roles even to this day!

Now here comes the main point of contention: the heavy use of CGI in the show. It may be a deterrent to some, but personally I didn’t find it to be much of an issue at all. In fact, I think it’s among the best use of CGI and 3D rendering I’ve seen in an anime series, both inside and outside of the action sequences. That aside, the visual effects make battles an absolute spectacle to watch. It impressed me a ton given the techniques that were used.

Overall, I enjoyed Arpeggio of Blue Steel immensely. The show isn’t one that has a single defining point at the expense of other aspects, rather it has many strong points: good action, engaging battle sequences, intriguing character developments, and a coherent and reasonable plot to name some. It also has some of the best final episodes I’ve seen in an anime, and a satisfying conclusion given it’s merely 12 episodes. With all that in mind, I consider this show to be a hidden gem that just isn’t watched enough. If one can simply look past the surface presentation and use of CGI there is a lot to appreciate about this series.

First impressions aren’t everything, and Kiniro Mosaic shows this well. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily.

The anime starts off with a rather strong premise given its nature as a Cute Girls Doing Cute Things (CGDCT) series. Main character Shinobu Oomiya takes part in a brief homestay in England, under the care of her mother’s friend. While there, she meets a girl her age, Alice, and after some initial awkwardness the two become friends. During their time together they break down language barriers to get to know each other while also learning more about their respective cultures. This is all done in a way that’s ... fitting for this type of show, and all in all it was a great start.

After such a strong opener, it wouldn’t be strange for one to expect more of these kinds of developments. However, the show instead begins to drift into a different direction, for better or worse. It is one that’s more standard for a CGDCT anime, but I still believe there are more positives than negatives to this approach.


Story and Plot:

Outside of the premise of connecting despite cultural differences and learning about others’ cultures, there isn’t much of a story to Kiniro Mosaic. In the first few episodes there is a more distinctive focus on the original premise, but after the main cast gets to know each other, things shift to a more typical formula. The show is mostly episodic with a series of loosely connected moments of the characters interacting with each other. These range from comedic bits to more wholesome and heartwarming moments between the cast. Most of the comedy stems from the cultural differences or characters acting absurdly in their affections for the others, while heartfelt moments also revolve around the difference in values along with the cast’s growing friendship. Overall, the anime offers a good mix of comedic and wholesome moments while continuing with the slice of life approach as the show progresses; this is all while it offers its own unique flair as it mostly builds on the foundation of the original premise.

7/10


Characters:

This is probably Kiniro Mosaic’s strongest aspect. The main cast is rather small and the show revolves around five main characters: Shinobu, Alice, Aya, Youko, and Karen. Shinobu, along with Alice, is the token cutesy character. She is a fanatic of Western culture and has a strong obsession with blonde girls; these two traits are often played on for comedic effect. Alice comes from England and has learned Japanese in order to be with Shinobu in high school. She is typically shy but at the same time very affectionate of Shinobu. Aya is the smart and reliable one of the group who also gets flustered easily, especially around her best friend Youko. Youko is more of an outgoing “genki” girl and also a jokester, but at the same time also acts as the “straight man” in some cases. Karen also comes from England, but in contrast to Alice she is very easygoing and carefree, never hesitant to speak her mind. There are also recurring characters like the homeroom teacher and Shinobu’s sister to fill out the supporting cast.

Coming into the show and having seen the legendary “Ayaya” scene, I figured that Karen would have stolen the show the moment she appeared. Surprisingly though, none of the main characters seemed to get special treatment, and no one was overshadowed by another. Each character gets their moments in the spotlight. Along with this, their antics and interactions with each other are a joy to watch. Definitely the highlight of the show.

9/10


Audio and Visuals:

The anime’s opening is upbeat and energetic, certainly appropriate for the tone of the series. Meanwhile, the ending closely matches the energy of the opening, while being a little more lowkey as to befit an ending. As for the background music, it isn’t exceptional but it tends to fit the respective scenes quite well. For example, the exaggerated depiction of Western life is often accompanied by a classical music style. On the other hand, the slice of life scenes are typically complemented with what you would expect from a standard CGDCT/comedy show, with different tones depending on the mood.

As for the art, the show is quite colorful and vibrant. But for the most part the art style and animation are fairly simplistic outside of the nice character designs. Particularly notable to me were the watercolor-esque backgrounds, most prominent in the early episodes when it came to showcasing the beauty of Western culture. I though the approach to background art was neat and went well with the show’s style. Overall, the production value isn’t too much to write home about but was still quite fitting.

8/10


Enjoyment:

Looking back, I enjoyed this series a lot! When it had started to drift into the episodic format, I was a little worried that I would lose interest, but that wasn’t the case at all. There wasn’t a moment where I was outright bored of the show, and it gave me a lot of laughs and entertainment along the way. Equally so, the wholesome moments really resonated with me in addition to the overall message, despite the show’s seemingly simplistic nature at first glance. It also has some of the most endearing Engrish I’ve heard in an anime.

9/10


Overall: 8/10

I think a good way to describe this show would be that it reels you in with its premise while still having more to offer outside of that. “Come for the premise, stay for the endearing characters and their interactions” might be a bit of a mouthful but explains it well enough. The first impression wasn’t everything to me, and I found a lot to love even as the series changed its pace.