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Jun 22, 2023
A show about handmade crafts and DIY inadvertently delivers the wrong message to an audience that presumably is new to the concept, just like the main character is. The message being that to properly do DIY, you have to be a natural or at least incredibly smart as is. While the show is cute, with a warm and cozy style, the overall experience can be passed off as a checkmark for the CGDCT universe. There are multiple problems that hinder the show as a whole, past it's pleasant OST and overall comfy vibes. Usually, these types of shows are rather surface level, but having the
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main character slash their hand with a box cutter just to be played up for laughs leaves me rather unsettled.
Characters: 3/10
The characters do not feel grounded at all, probably due to the fact that all of them are either incredibly smart, at the top of their class, or already experienced with most of the tools used for their projects. Whether it's the 12-year-old super genius foreign exchange student that uses augmented reality during builds, or the club leader who's lived her entire life around power tools and carries a toolkit around with her nonchalantly. The satisfaction from these crafts in a show like this should come from trial and error, especially to novices. None of the characters, besides the MC, make a mistake with their crafts in such a way that it feels like they hindered their creation or the progress of the team. Instead of showing the weaknesses of these different club members, with each other using their different strengths to make up for what the others lack, none of them struggle whatsoever. The only reason the MC struggles is because she's naturally clumsy, as the show makes it clear that if she wasn't an airhead, she would be the smartest student in her class.
Setting: 2/10
The prospect of humans going back to their roots with hands on creation or learning in a futuristic setting makes sense in theory, but that concept is completely shattered when the 12-year-old genius utilizes said advanced technology in the crafts. Is it really satisfying to watch them try and build a tree house when augmented reality helps the cast ensure there won't be any hiccups? There was no need for the main two girls to go to different schools other than creating a literal gap between them, even if they're neighbors.
Art: 6/10
The character designs and overall style of the show are unique and eye-catching. There were some very well animated shots at times, but I feel as though there was not enough variety in the DIY projects depicted. There was no sanding down wood, going through thrown out materials that were being gifted to them, or even any feeling that the girls were struggling to learn new tools introduced to them. It would have been great to see the different styles of equipment or DIY processes animated in this style, but that was substituted for character development that really wasn't needed.
Enjoyment: 3/10
The characters and sadly the crafts themselves are rather shallow. There's no hiccup in their plans, or a moment where they have to re-evaluate their plan of action. The only mistake is due to the school itself throwing out their wood near the end, trying to build tension when that's not really needed for a show about cute girls trying to build stuff together.
TLDR: This show is frustrating as it has a recipe to be so much more, but it skimps out and delivers the bare minimum.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jun 21, 2023
Mayoiga, the lost village, is a deceiving parody of horror tropes, since it leaves the audience anticipating the stereotypical gore fest without ever following through. While it is true that the listings for what genre and theme Mayoiga falls under is a bit of a stretch, Mayoiga is rather different as there is no youtube kill count to sum up the entire show with. In fact, the show ends on a rather philosophical and introspective note for the audience to dwell on, which is not something predominantly expected under the umbrella of horror. Mayoiga seems to confuse its audience over the fact that it is
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indeed a parody. Mayoiga does not immediately make this clear, leaving the theme and the character tropes that it's making fun of to be completely ignored.
Having over 30 characters introduced in the first episode alone, with each representing a different kind of generalization of characters found in the horror genre, leaves the viewer anticipating how brutal some of the more obnoxious archetypes will be presumably disposed of. It's understandable that Mayoiga cannot live up to the expectations suddenly placed upon it, as horror shows without kills of any kind can feel like a bait and switch of sorts.
Within the first three episodes, Mayoiga makes it abundantly clear that it is taking jabs at the different stereotypes prevalent throughout the japanese horror medium. Whether it's the constant sickly kid making his way all the way to a village in the middle of nowhere, just to solely complain about his sickness when the spotlight is on him, or the promiscuous woman who makes innuendos for half of her appearance of the show. Even going so far to complain about walking through the woods in high heels, only for another character to chide her for even wearing them in the first place having known where they were heading, just for her to nonchalantly rebuke that the only footwear she owns *are* high heels.
Mayoiga is hated due to the faults of horror anime as a whole, and the expectations that come with it when it comes to such a large and one-dimensional cast. Although it has a very strong message about trauma, with characters leaving the show either accepting themselves and their hardships or knowing that some trauma is just too much to overcome, and that it's okay for them to face it in a way that leaves them fulfilled. Even if that means ignoring their trauma completely. The second half of the show did drag on and did not have as much humor that would have benefitted it as the first half did, but looking past its flaws it holds a profound and inspiring conclusion for all of the characters involved.
Story: 7/10
Art: 6/10
Sound: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Overall: 7/10
TLDR: Mayoiga is hated because of the expectation for over-the-top gore and deaths due to countless horror media before it. It's theme and message about trauma is overshadowed by the fact that the parody is at odds with a coherent story, opting for a more philosophical route rather than focusing more on critique of the genre, or fully embracing the horror medium as a whole.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 31, 2023
There are not a lot of protagonists in anime and manga that are anthropomorphic animals, adjacent to that of the appeal of furries and whatnot. High School Inari Tamamo-chan takes a risk in centering the story around divine messenger sisters that appear to the human cast as anthro white foxes. For a story with an official english translation that could be found in Barnes and Noble, it certainly is an eyecatcher when spotted on a shelf.
While there is an overabundance of kemonomimi based characters nowadays, it is a shame that this manga is glossed over or judged for the inclusion of anthro characters. The
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art is gorgeous, and it's evident that the author put a lot of themselves into this story and it's characters. A lot of the problems that stem from this manga aren't entirely at the fault of it's creator.
Story: 5
This is a slice of life comedy manga, and it's rather surface level. Each chapter usually opens with information about Japanese myth regarding foxes and shrines. The pacing starts off really good, however, it is very clear that the last volume and ending of the story is rushed to completion. This hindered the story as a whole, as a lot of the development for these anthropomorphic characters who live for thousands of years feels a tad meaningless by the end. A whole school year that used to span over multiple volumes suddenly took place in single chapters near the end, which while it makes sense for foxes who live for millennia to have time fly by fast, it ends up feeling anticlimactic.
Characters: 8
The Anthro characters very prominently carry this story, yet oddly enough Tamamo is probably the weakest out of the whole anthro cast. As the MC, she was much more enjoyable when interacting with her family or the other anthros in the world. In all honesty, within chapters that solely focused on her and her human classmates and teachers, sometimes it was rather uncomfortable watching a lot of these interactions that transpired. Under the guise of a rather wholesome atmosphere, it was incredibly awkward watching high school aged humans try to take risque and erotic photos of Tamamo after they would constantly compare her to that of a pet dog who would try to catch balls thrown at her or since she would go "Awoo".
Tamamo's sisters are the strongest and most enjoyable element of this story. However, of Tamamo's three sisters, only two are properly introduced to the reader throughout the story. Without spoiling much, there was a lot of build up for a lot of these character's arcs that are suddenly and hastily completed by the end. If Tamamo and her sisters live for so long that a lifetime for a human is barely anything for them, then I would expect for there to be some profound or long-lasting development that would change their worldview by the end or at least impact them as individuals. Although Tamamo's main motivation for going through all of this is to have fun, there should have been a few other goals for these characters who have first handedly witnessed almost the entire history of humankind.
Enjoyment: 7
It's not a story that will leave it's reader changed by the end of it, but for enjoyers of intricate and detailed drawings of cute anthro fox girls, then this might be a great read. Even if anthro characters are a turn off for many, those who have their curiosity even slightly peaked by this manga will most likely enjoy what it provides. If anything, it's sad knowing that art of these characters will be rather scarce from here on out.
This is rather enjoyable for a slice of life manga with anthro characters, and there's a little bit of something for everyone to like. It is a shame that it feels like it was cancelled near the end. Tenko best girl.
Overall: 7
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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