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Nov 4, 2017

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya Movie: Sekka no Chikai (Anime) add

Recommended

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya: Oath Under Snow is an excellent watch and a must-watch for Fate fans (especially those that are following the actual Prisma Illya manga/anime). Before I continue, I will disclose the fact that I have been following the series (both manga & anime) and read the manga story-line the movie adapts so have this in mind when reading my review.

Story: 10
Having read the original story prior to watching (and loved it), I had high hopes for the story's adaptation into movie format. For the most part, the movie had adapted nearly every aspect of the story save for the actual framing device ... of the story in the original source material and a few minor parts but those were not issues for me. As for the actual story, Oath Under Snow is the prequel to the events of the Prisma Illya series that tells the origins of Miyu (a main character in the aforementioned series) prior to her appearance in the actual series though the story's focus is placed on her brother, Shirou Emiya. There are some changes to certain parts of the story from the source material (with some key moments switched to other parts of the film) but I found that those changes benefited the movie in establishing certain facts (with some possibly being able to help fresh newcomers gain a grasp of the story - I can't say for certain on this point since as I've stated before, I am following the series). Overall, I give the story a 10 for how much I enjoyed this adaptation of a story I already loved.

Art: 6
Firstly, bear in mind that I am not the best judge for aesthetics so take what I say with a grain of salt: This is probably the film's only real weak point. For the most part, the art was good and the animation of an acceptable quality. While nothing compared to Ufotable's animation, I found the art of the film satisfying to watch.

EDIT: Upon retrospective, I would have to amend this part. The animation is not that great. The animation is not that great and definitely could be improved a lot. The direction of the main fights while good, are hampered by the film's animation. With that in mind, I'm changing the actual Art score to 6. It's fair, not great but not god awful either. I've seen god awful animation in other Fate anime and this film... is not that bad. Just not great for this arc.

Sound: 10
I will have to split this part into two segments, voice and music. For voice, the voice actors pulled off amazing performances all around. Noriyaki Sugiyama especially pulls off an amazing performance as Shirou Emiya, hitting all the right notes and tones for the dialogue and monologues for his character. The only gripe I can come up with is that Kiritsugu (yes he is in this movie) comes across as lacking emotion at times but this is a negligible issue at best. As for music, it is fitting and great at setting up the tone & emotions for the scenes with a recurring Leitmotif that plays in appropriate moments in the story. The editing of the music was great as well. The best of the music in the film would have to be in the final battle of the film with every beat matching up with the scene to make for an amazing viewing experience. Even now, I still want to go back to watch the film again just to watch the climax again and see that amazing blend of visuals and music. Thus, I would give the sound a 10.

Character: 10
Part of why I enjoyed the story is due to Shirou Emiya's arc in this story. I will not go into detail on Shirou here to avoid spoilers but let me just say that Shirou's arc is well-portrayed and presented in the film with stellar voice acting as mentioned before. As for the rest, they do their parts well with the Ainsworth family being antagonists with heroic goals (though being cruel enough to make Shirou sympathetic despite the implications of his success). Sakura also appears in this film too with a great performance by Noriko Shitaya, hitting the right notes and tones for her character (I wound up liking Sakura quite a bit here which is a stark contrast with my indifference to her in the original series she is from). Overall, the characters are outstanding to me at least which is why I give a score of 10.

Enjoyment: 10
As someone following the manga and having read the original source material, this film was an outstanding experience for me from start to finish. As an adaptation, the film is great with key points and moments adapted well along with fitting voice acting and music throughout. I still recall sitting at the edge of my seat in sheer glee as scenes straight out of the manga are adapted into enjoyable spectacles (and as mentioned before, the film even adds on an original montage showcasing more of Shirou's battles). In the end, I was left thoroughly satisfied and happy to have seen the film in cinemas. I'll probably watch the film again in the near future. Overall, this gets a 10.

Overall: 9
I enjoyed this film as a person following the original source material and its anime adaptation. Every element was done well enough to provide for a great experience that I want to relive through future re-watching. After the rather poor final episodes of 3rei during its original airing (though I hear the Blu-Ray versions are better), it is great to see Silver Link putting in such a good amount of effort to make such a satisfying final product.

EDIT: Now thinking about it, here's another definitive issue. Pacing. The film goes by fast.

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Sep 10, 2015

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 2wei Herz! (Anime) add

Recommended

Preliminary (7/10 eps)

With all the shows that have been airing, I would like to draw attention to Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 2wei Herz! which happens to be a good stand-out anime for anyone with patience. This review is based on the 7 episodes that have aired so far and may not be relevant by the time the show ends.

(MINOR SPOILERS may be present)

Story (7/10):
This series adapts the second half of the Fate/kaleid liner Prisma ☆ Ilya 2wei manga and continues from Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 2wei where the main characters have to deal with the mysterious Eighth card. The reason why the score is rather low here as the ... first 6 episodes are mostly slice of life filler that, while not awful for the most part, may overstay its welcome for some. They are fun to watch though and some even foreshadow the involvement of certain characters while highlighting the strength of the main characters' bonds towards each other. The fanservice that does appear however does make it difficult for non-regular viewers to continue watching though said service does fade away in time and can detract from the main story at times. The latest episode at time of writing however brings the plot back into focus and already it brings in great plot escalation along with intense battles (that are arguably equal to or better than ufotable's UBW in terms of escalation, tension and intensity). Since the show is still ongoing, a review of the story cannot be completed until it is fully shown. As for now, the story is neither bad nor amazing but stuck in the middle territory.

Art (8/10):
Silver Link has chosen to use the same style of art as the preceding series with minor improvements (at least from what I can tell). This is not a bad thing here as the bright and colourful art style fits a story about magical girls that attempt to be optimistic in the face of a dangerous hidden world. The character designs also fit this design by being adorable with hints of a tease but not being too adorable that the action looks peculiar with said designs. The latest chapter has eschewed the bright and colourful art style for a darker art style to show the change in tone as the characters confront a new threat that they are to combat with lethal consequences should they fail. Without wishing to spoil, the effects for the latest episode (at time of writing) is brilliant and is able to portray the intensity of the battle to a good degree. There is some CGI work done in the latest episode that is somewhat jarring though not to the extent of a eyesore. Overall, without wishing to spoil, the art is decent enough to portray the characters as they are in that setting while providing enough of a spectacle to keep viewers entertained especially in the action sequences.

Sound (8/10):
As for this category, the voice actors are excellent in portraying their characters as each of them convey the emotions of their characters without any issues. It was fun to watch the many exasperated shrieks of Ilya and Miyu's deadpan reactions to the many comedic antics in the first six episodes while the rest of the cast portrayed their characters to the best of their abilities (special credit to Bazett's VA for being able to be both comedic and badass when appropriate). In addition, the soundtrack used is well in conveying the slice of life scenarios and the intense battles with old favourites from soundtracks from prior works even returning as easter eggs or actual tracks in the series. The new OP song is rather nice on the ears and as of now, two different ED songs have been revealed which acknowledges the progression of the story. As a whole, the voice acting, soundtrack and songs are rather good and are able to convey the tone of the story as it progresses (at least for now).

Character (9/10):
The meat of this series lies with the characters who are entertaining to watch. Ilya and Miyu are still fun to watch with their reactions based around exaggerated and barely existing emotions being present while Kuro, being a tease, provides the fuel for more hilarious scenarios. Other regulars such as Rin, Luvia and the two Kaleidosticks perform their routines for the slice of life bits with enough of their positive traits being portrayed for the narrative-relevant parts. When the story becomes more serious however, these comedic portrayals are reduced and their own serious traits surface, showing a deep bond between them. Joining the series as a regular is Bazett, who is able to balance her role as both comic relief and a hyper-competent combatant, is always fun to watch whenever she becomes one or the other. Her methods of facing her current reality in the series was a highlight for me when watching this show. My only complaint here would be the character of Tatsuko, as her many antics can get annoying and is worsened by her many appearances in the slice of life segments. The remaining characters (too many to list) are decent and do not overstay their welcomes while being able to provide comedic entertainment and for some, intrigue. As of now, the characters are fun to watch and have depth that hints at further developments with focus on one in particular.

Enjoyment (10/10):
While the slice of life may overstay its welcome at times, it does not stop it from being entertaining and intriguing in establishing the level of depth for the character's relationships. The gags that appear in the show provide fun references for Type Moon fans and have enough substance (both visually and in dialogue) to bring a great level of enjoyment. The fanservice moments are a mixed bag but at least are infrequent. At time of writing, episode 7 has allowed the plot to progress, bringing amazing effects, fast-paced action with actual intensity (and methodology explained) and dramatic tension. The Eighth card is certainly not a disappointment to watch (the identity of said card will not be revealed here to avoid spoilers). Hopefully, Silver Link can maintain the quality they have produced in episode 7 for the remaining episodes in the season.

Overall (8/10):
Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 2wei Herz! is a very good follow-up series to Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 2wei! that brings enough entertainment to keep viewers sated until the plot continues. When it does, the escalation brings about action sequences that are a welcome treat for most viewers and will keep viewers on their seats as they wonder how it will end. It is a solid show for this season and worth a look at least going from episode 7. Hopefully Silver Link maintains the level of quality that episode 7 was able to produce or else, future reviews here may not be as favourable.

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