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Mar 17, 2023
If a single movie can destroy the liking you have for its 50-episode main series, you know it's in a bad place. I watched this film not long after I finished Fresh Precure, a season where my liking towards it was already on thin ice. This film tipped it over the edge.
This film can generally be summed up as the Precure franchise's take on Toy Story- Very very literally. But unlike the Pixar classic, the plot of the Fresh Movie is extremely generic and too predictable for it to be truly compelling. Predictability doesn't always make stories uncompelling, but it indicates a lack of effort
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to try and structure or express the same message differently with the context in mind, which I think this movie was unable to do. I managed to correctly predict the ending halfway into the movie, and the resolution wasn't a convincing enough message for me to take away.
The only Cure that had any sort of relevance in this film was Peach, and the other three practically didn't need to be here at all. And I get it; Lead Cure ftw, but there have been movies that have done this relevancy issue better even if the story is focused on mostly one Cure (Suite, MahoPre, StarPre, to name a few). So from the get-go, the success of this movie was dependent on Love. And she failed.
Years later, Mahoutsukai Precure would feature a similar Cure-Toy story in Mirai and Mofurun, which was put into the spotlight properly in both series and movie, that created one of the best Cure-Mascot relations and Precure movies of all time. Fresh's movie brought in Usapyon as a movie-exclusive character, who had no impact on the main series whatsoever. It created too much of a burden towards making a deep story between Love and Usapyon for the "Forgotten toy" prompt to be emotionally powerful. Love's defence and promise to Usapyon did not convince me and came off as a spoon-fed message.
Maybe it's to do with how I never really liked Fresh Precure, but this movie was TERRIBLY boring. The board game concept slowed down the pace drastically and only Passion's individual fight scene really made me bat an eye. The CGI for the final battle was jarring as heck and the villain has zero personality. All comedic relief did nothing; I recorded my reaction and as I looked back through it I don't think there were even 5 moments where I was truly engaged. It was more like "Yes yes let's kick the villain's butt and get out of here." As basically a mega-fan of Precure for 4 years, this attitude of mine was unfathomable. But there's a first time for everything.
I've lost count of how many of my Precure friends I've ranted to about this film, going as far as saying "This movie wasted my time." I do feel my disdain towards this film is partly subjective, and I've tried to keep most of it outside of this review. Generally, this film was a bore-fest and it led to Fresh Precure being the only season of the franchise I left hating it. The series had good qualities, but this one- I cannot excuse.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Jan 28, 2022
Since this is a single anime special, I'm just here to talk about what I thought about the OVA without diving too much into it.
This special turned from a one-episode last Harrah (For now) into a one-hit-wonder in my book. From the moment they announced the OVA with a teaser trailer I knew this was going to be a good one. And it was.
Episode 10 of Season 2 basically promised us a return of Chloe, who was the main star of that episode. It is also coincidentally my most memorable episode of the series because it's one of those out-of-the-blue ideas that we didn't know
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we needed. A successful episode, indeed, warranted a return of this new and likable character. To theme an entire OVA around them was an awesome idea and a gift to everybody who loved that episode, including myself.
Although Chloe was obviously the center of attention in this special, there's no shortage of what makes the series so enjoyed by its fanbase. Moving aside from the controversies over the vibe it gives (COUGH COUGH BIRD APP), this OVA still utilizes the original cast to its fullest potential and nailed the characters and their interactions. In particular, Saikawa meeting Chloe was just about the most wholesome thing to come out of this series, not that it's not wholesome already. Heck, that has been something I've looked forward to ever since the episode aired.
The whole special was just a fun-filled project with a touch of seriousness when it came to the culture shock Chloe experienced. I loved the scene between her and Kobayashi, the vibe was great and the grown-up conveyed just the right amount of information to avoid misunderstanding. Chloe's friendship with Kanna got more development, and I do bet on some sort of tension between Saikawa and Chloe. The potential for these three absolutely guarantees there's more in store.
But of course, the end of the episode and what Kobayashi said to Tohru indicates that there's still more for her and the other Dragons. Season 2 was only the start of KyoAni's genius attempt to tap into the potential of everyone in the cast. This OVA is almost like a message from them that even though the circumstances leading up to this show's sequel season were so dramatic and horrifying, now, they're doing just fine.
With the support from its fanbase, this OVA is like their thank you gift to us, and a heads up that this franchise still has more to come. If a season 3 comes up, you know I'll be back on the hype train.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Nov 14, 2021
(Disclaimer: The following review contains spoilers for Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Season 2. I highly recommend watching the anime before reading the specifics here.)
"Undefeated", "The GOAT", "Miracle". These words decorated the main characters of Uma Musume Pretty Derby. But to me, they describe how I feel towards this season and the anime in its entirety.
Never have I dared to say any story or series is perfect. A story's quality fades in time- How it brought me joy and inspiration, and how it was written- I will gradually see my overvaluation of a series in time, as with many, many others. Yet... I'm now left with
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the disappointment of never again seeing a better series, and simultaneously the greatest jubilation of, at least for now, finding "the one". The perfect anime.
Let me get the boring things out the way in the review first, before the characters and story.
Art and Sound: 10/10 (Both)
Every piece of music was a seamless fit for every occasion. Racing music, angst music, relaxed and happy music. They elevated the atmosphere and emotions no matter what the show brought to the table. The voice acting was brilliant on every character, and especially the main character. I've been accustomed to seeing Machico work more on the vocal and singing side of things, but her voice acting was incredible all season.
The animation would never top that of the franchise game, but it was still exceptional. The artstyle was splendid and the heat and tense races were captured in spectacular fashion. There was no room for error in the art department. Implications of angst and tragedy incoming always managed to make me panic, and the pain and denial will always be shown crystal clear, breaking me every time.
Character: 10/10
God. Where do I even begin here?
Season 1 has already done wonders with Team Spica, not to mention Spe-chan. Season 2 goes above and beyond to show the journey of not just our main characters, but also a few others as well. Twin Turbo, Rice Shower, Mejiro Palmer, Nice Nature, Mihono Bourbon, you name it.
What the predecessor could not achieve, this installment did, and better than I can ever imagine. Regarding their focus on other horse girls, they didn't just bring them up for show, they actually made efforts to dive deep into their character- Most notably Rice Shower. For a 13-episode anime, this is a gargantuan task with so many development balance issues that I didn't think it would be reasonable to go with it. Yet somehow, it worked. And it added so much to the theme of the series.
Of course, I can't leave this section without talking about Spica, or specifically, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen. These two did what the first protagonist pair didn't, who were also outstanding in their own right. Special Week and Silent Suzuka had such a lovely bond, but Teio and McQueen's bond went so much further than the former did. Their rivalry and friendship merged together perfectly, creating touching moments between them and making both grow as racers.
Teio in particular shone this season. From someone who didn't get noticed in S1, to the main character of S2 and a legend. She spun the empty and overused message of "Never giving up" into a story that would truly do it justice. She went through shattered dreams, demoralizing setbacks, and despair nobody can comprehend unless they've experienced it. Yet, the background to her story does not mean her perseverance is out-of-touch. Her will to hold onto hope, her almost accepting the end of everything, her sorrow with every setback, we can all relate to that.
I could never say everything I want to say here. Compared to season 1, the characters amazed me more than ever.
Story: 10/10
It is so infuriating I can't actually rate this story past the perfect score of 10. Uma Musume Pretty Derby itself has tapped into a theme that is so rare in story-writing: Competition. This season capitalized on the theme massively.
While Special Week's story in season 1 showcased an athlete with a big dream and her journey to achieving it, Tokai Teio's story in season 2 focused on everything we don't normally think about athletes. How the most successful and talented fall from grace, through setbacks, through upsets, through their physical limitations. They are hungry for victory, to uphold their dominance, and yet are pelted with moments that drive them into despair. Teio was an example of triumphing against the odds, as well as an example of dealing with your losses.
Mejiro McQueen had a golden story to tell as well. Similar to Teio, she was an incredible horse girl, but her story was about finding the motivation to continue racing. When you think you've had it all, you desire competition from someone new, you want to beat them, to challenge yourself. And when she was faced with an incurable disease that would cripple her career, she showed how in pain losing- Not to anyone- can feel.
The other horse girls showcased many dimensions of racing. Striving to the max for success (Turbo), confidence in oneself (Palmer), and even the courage to upset the best and build your own legacy (Rice). But all in all, "competition" has been the overarching theme, defying the mentality that being competitive is a bad thing between people. It has always been about making others your motivation, your strength, and your goal to keep moving forward- To run.
Enjoyment: 10/10
I was apprehensive going into season 2. Season 1 brought me so much excitement and I showered it with adoration and love, but I feared season 2 would fail to live up to my expectations.
I've never been more glad to go into an anime series. Pretty Derby S2 championed all my expectations and made me motivated beyond belief from start to end. Every crushing moment, every exciting race, every wholesome interaction, I felt that. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I was scared to keep watching, because my heart was being hammered again and again with emotion, happy and sad.
Even though there are so many moments like this, I will never ever forget what the final episode- the Arima Kinen, did to me. Because no animated media had made me so engaged as that moment.
As Tokai Teio made the comeback of the century, charging to the front, surpassing the new generation of racers after a year of absence... After ALL of the things she had been through to cross the finish line in first...
I was on the verge of tears. But my heart was DROWNING.
Overall: 10/10
I don't care if anyone calls me biased, dumb, dramatic, or whatever for giving Pretty Derby a perfect score on all five fronts and overall. From season 1 to season 2, this was an adventure I will remember forever. To meet all of these amazing characters, to see a mature and bittersweet tale unfold, and all of the little things that made me laugh and cry made me glad to be alive.
I cannot wait to get an official translated version of the Pretty Derby game so I can get back into the franchise. For now, though- Spe, Teio, Suzuka, McQueen, and everyone who made this season and the whole series so gosh darn insane and amazing...
This was the greatest run ever.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 22, 2021
(Disclaimer: The following review may contain spoilers. Please do not read until you have watched the whole series.)
In December 2020, I made a decision to watch something a little different from the usual tastes I've developed in anime over 2020, my anime breakout year. I was quite skeptical to dive into a more serious, deep, and thought-provoking series, which is the anime I am reviewing today: Kino's Journey.
Though slow and not my type, this anime is a must-watch for anyone interested in animated stories that are more than just entertainment. It is a beautifully written piece that, as I experienced for myself, is hard to
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digest at first, but the more you watch, the more you'll come to enjoy what's on your plate.
Story: 9/10
Kino's Journey is a series of 12 different stories, one for each episode. In each episode, Kino visits different countries as she travels around the vast wilderness with her motorcycle sidekick Hermes. Kino meets many people and stumbled upon a few comrades, namely Shizu, Riku, and Tifana.
An old, textbook trick when it comes to slice-of-life anime, yet it really does go well with the context and aim of the story. While most other anime of the genre I've seen thus far have done so, the approach dulls over time. Not this series, however. Every episode features a new and intriguing country, giving each individual tale its own uniqueness. And in each country, viewers and our protagonists alike can learn something new about being human and the diversity of identity, thoughts, and beliefs of the human race.
For example: In episode 3, Kino stumbles upon a "Travelling Country" that is constantly moving itself around the world, which does cause an annoyance to other countries or cities as they are immobile from the path of this traveling nation. This nation accepts this fault of theirs and embraces an attitude that all living beings cause an annoyance to one another.
Kino's Journey can be seen as helping its viewers open up to how everyone in our world is very different and have our own strengths and faults- Hence the series name, "The Beautiful World". Some people may be able to accept that, some may not, but there's nothing inherently wrong with the above attitude.
What I mean can be illustrated in episode 6. Photo, a female slave in the episode, was bound to the control of an oppressive tribe in the alps. Despite the mistreatment, she doesn't show hatred against them and believes in a world where only people of virtue exist. This spells blasphemy to the tribe, but Photo isn't wrong at all for thinking this way. By doing so, she can see the world in a more positive and colorful light.
The world-traveling helps Kino gain a grander view of what the world is like. A girl originally born in a country that saw no value in prolonged youth, Kino takes such experience to heart, fuelling her desire to explore and travel, without a start; without an end; without a definitive place to call home. Her travels have helped her understood more about different people, helped her gain a sense of independence and thrill from discovery, and helped her find a hobby that would truly bring happiness and meaning to her life.
Today, in a world where people are confined to their own bubble and their homeland, where people refuse to broaden their horizons for various reasons, and in a world where traveling has become more of a luxury and way of personal entertainment, we seem to have lost what it means to go somewhere we previously don't know. These stories help us understand that.
Art: 10/10
Kino's Journey takes its viewers on an enchanting journey filled with stunning landscapes and country views. It doesn't slack off even on little details, like the petals in the wind from the flowerbed in episode 11, or the sudden stop every time Kino stops Hermes on the road. Swift animation of action scenes, such as the showdown in episode 1, or Kino's battle against the sheep army in episode 12, makes for a great change in mood or pace. Animators make good use of facial expressions, lighting, and even speed changes to bring out a suitable atmosphere for every scene.
Sound: 8/10
There's nothing particularly special about the anime with this category, but nothing dramatically bad either. All the SFXs were clear and suitable, music brings out a good touch if need be. Although, a larger variety of background music for each country would bring more to impress on the table, depending on the style and atmosphere of a place.
Characters: 9/10
Contrary to my usual reviews, this category is not my main focus when planning my verdict. Regardless, the series' characters were written very nicely.
Of course, Kino is an excellent character. She is mature, independent and composed in high-stress situations, and does not like to show her extreme emotions openly. She is someone filled with a desire to explore, but interestingly, she tries going into each country with a clean slate, maintaining a cautious attitude if suitable. I usually don't find enjoyment from characters with such traits, yet her curiosity during travel makes me find interest in her tales.
Her bond with Hermes is also one thing that added a nice splash of humor and fun into the serious storyline, especially the last episode. As they started their adventures together, it was cool to see the trust and support they had for each other every time they visit someplace new.
In episode 2, we are introduced to Shizu and his dog Riku. Shizu, coming from a sort of corrupted country, contrasts highly in terms of personality with Kino. Shizu likes to avoid conflict (Episode 8), and is comfortable with being "A humble man" (Episode 4). Adding him to the series is a nice way to show how different people deal with sudden situations during their travels.
Riku is quite adorbs sometimes, especially when on a later episode, he bonds with someone Shizu met in his travels- Tifana. Said segment is quite short, but two things: One, it further solidified Riku as a surprisingly nice supporting character for Shizu and Tifana, and two, now that I mentioned it, he helped Tifana open up.
Speaking of her, Tifana was originally shy and quiet, and is quite violent when she is forced to be. But later on she bonds with Riku, and yes, it is super cute. :3 I wish I saw more of her, since she's an interesting character.
Finally, there were so many characters throughout the whole series that would take too long to discuss. In general, the producers did an impressive job at utilising a variety of characters to give us a great representation of each country.
Enjoyment: 9/10
Originally, I wasn't quite fond of this series. But as it went on, it gave me surprise after surprise, the writing getting better and better. This anime had me thinking about lots of things, like values, attitudes, etc, and I enjoyed the process a lot.
Not only that, there were episodes I absolutely enjoyed, like episode 6 mentioned earlier. Episode 10, the Kind Country, also became one of the saddest anime episodes I have seen to date. The grief I had- The sign of true engagement and attachment to the storywriting. I applaud.
Overall: 9.1/10
Kino's Journey is a beautiful piece. It's the first anime I watched that's more on the serious end, but it's still filled with a lot of fun as well. I'm glad I stuck around to see some stories I see myself remembering for quite some time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 6, 2021
(Disclaimer: The following review may contain spoilers. Please avoid reading this until you've watched the whole season. And this time, trust me, it's worth it.)
Healin' Good Precure- The Eighth season I am watching in the Precure Franchise, also the first one where I followed the broadcast from start to end.
So, I heard a lot of people bash Healin' Good Precure (HealPre) for being the most boring, slow-paced, and the biggest letdown of a season yet? Well- Screw that! Because THIS! SEASON! IS! Not perfect, BUT JUST DOWNRIGHT AMAZING.
It's SO good, that I literally cannot say ALL I want to say in the following Review. HealPre,
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with it's excellent and in-depth characters, colourful and eye-catching animation, a story with some of the most psychological and greatest messages I've seen yet, and SO MANY other things- This rendition is sealing itself as, in my eyes, the best season in Precure History.
Story: 10/10
The idea of HealPre's general story is surprisingly simple. A nature haven named the Healing Garden is attacked by the Byogens, a force that resembles a magic disease that is trying to infect the whole world.
I say "Idea of general story", because this is just the tip of the iceberg. Although not much to build on, the crew working behind HealPre seemed to have this incredible magic to milk almost every possible ounce of potential out of this series. It is a powerful season with, as I said, some extremely psychological messages that everyone should lend an ear for listening.
There are A LOT of these messages in HealPre. But perhaps what make this season such a diamond for yours truly is, ironically, a certain disease that killed millions, not in their world, but ours.
Don't get me wrong- Covid-19 is no joke. However, with that, HealPre came out in the right time and place to make it so special. In MANY episodes of HealPre, we see countless reflections of our world under the pandemic. We see the spirit and values of the Healthcare Industry in the healing work of the Precure. We see the struggles of a patient with a disease that cripples them to no end in the story of Nodoka, our main Cure. We see the will of every living being on this planet- The will to live and to survive even when all hope seems lost, from the preseverance of the Cures, the fairies, and the many people we see in the series.
No confrontation has left me more mesmerized and thought-provoked than the final showdown and epilogue of HealPre. The concept that Byogens and humans are no different, to harm nature for the sake of survival and their own benefit- Their own lives. We are a selfish species. But it's not only our lives we fight for- We fight for the sake of others too. And that includes nature as well. It's a battle that, so long as we live, we are destined and reponsible to participate in. That brings hope to me more than ever during this daunting era we live in today.
HealPre is a subtlely progressing story on both sides of the conflict, and has a delicate balance between character development, team development, plot progression, and so on. All aspects shine in this lovely present- It's packaging quite dull on the outside, but on the inside, it's a gift to me, to all the fans, and to the entire world. A stunning work of art that's fun, uplifting, and just pleasant to watch the whole way through.
Art: 10/10
HealPre's animation gives off a relaxing vibe and matches with the pleasant and nicely paced story. A warm and colourful setting and environment helps people engage with the series whenever scenery is concerned.
It achieves a drastic but cool change when switching between the normal episodic story and the weekly fight, from peaceful to epic and bold. Attacks this season were beautiful and are exactly what they're intended to feel- They are powerful.
Designs for the Cures were perfect for the theme across different forms, and Villains were designed to give off a vicious and antagonizing touch, making their menace well-shown. The upgraded forms of each character are just icing on the cake.
Specific episodes, such as episode 16, 29, 41, and so on, are able to better bring out hidden meanings in the story, both in the episode itself or the overall season through attention to details.
Sound: 10/10
HealPre's background music matches with the mood, the setting, and the animation. It is with music I frequently immerse myself into this already eye-catching season. Continuing its trend of being peaceful while adding a splash of colour here and there, the series treats us to a spectrum of tunes. Enjoy the tranquil tunes in heart-to-hearts and breathtaking scenes. Cheer on the Cures as you jam to the battle themes. Picture yourself in the moment as a catchy country melody plays in the countrysides.
Cool sound effects here and there, like the Cure Touch, the Elements, and all those bling bling moments are just so great to hear.
This section won't be complete without me mentioning the superb voice acting. Pretty much every main character I can think of has amazing voice acting, most particularly, Nodoka and Rabirin. Rabirin has had her fantastic moments when it comes to her lines (Episode 28).
Character: 9.5/10
This is the part I wish I can detail on, but this review would be way too long if I did. So I will make it hopefully not as long.
I'll start with Chiyu. In the past, I tend to be less in favor of the Blue Cure, but I really like this one! Not as much as the others, but Chiyu has a great double character arc- Yes, a double arc! Her development was geared towards both as an Athlete and an Innkeeper, and I thought this approach would be messy, but by the end, it seemed as if the arcs joined together perfectly. She is a very independent girl with a strong heart, and she grew into a great person through the series. And while other Blue Cures would have their arc end with them choosing between two life paths, Chiyu actually chose both! That's new.
Next, Hinata. Hinata was an extremely fun character to watch, making her my fav. I love her enthusiasm and her clumsiness sometimes, but her insecurity regarding failure is very relatable, seeing her go through the struggles was awesome to watch. She's just a great girl and entertained me so much, but what's disappointing was that due to the Covid-19 pandemic causing the show to have a hiatus, it was rumoured that Hinata lost quite a few episodes to the restructuring of the series.
Then, there is Asumi. Now, I agree with the fandom that Asumi is HEAVILY underdeveloped, which is one of the few problems that I had with this season. But regardless, I actually enjoy watching her very much! Asumi was a character that was strong as a Cure, but not very bright when it came to daily life. I find her humanizing very intriguing.
And finally, and definitely not least (And I totally did not accidentally leave her out before posting this), Nodoka. I can talk about her for hours- Because she has become the greatest Precure to have ever existed. I shall spare you, dear reader, the pain of reading this long review become even longer. Simply put, Nodoka has the most unique, most powerful, and most emotional story of any Precure Lead to have ever appeared, let alone of any Precure in general. She is a girl filled with endless excitement for things around her, filled with kindness for those she loves. But, she is also fearless, valiant, persistent, and most importantly, a leader at heart. Even today, I still can't believe it- I failed to find a single crack in her story. Nodoka is my long-awaited peak of character development. And I forever love her for what she had done for this season.
Enjoyment: 10/10
HealPre is a fantastic show for people like me, who have been used to the pace of the franchise. It may be slow but it isn't slow without reason, because this season shows the value of character development to such a critical degree.
Besides that, the characters are just a treat to watch. It's a team I love watching very much, with all of their interactions from highs to lows. And as Toei continued to blow away my expectations again and again, I was astounded. And I applauded as the series closed with a brilliant and meaningful ending.
Overall: 9.9/10
This season was... Just unbelievable. It has it's own set of problems, but just about every season past Go Princess, the previous peak, has had huge problems. I would dare to say this time, every one of those huge problems have been fixed and done right.
No Precure season triumphs the real-world reflections that Healin' Good Precure has made. No season has given yours truly more crucial values to carry for the rest of my life. While this season isn't my favorite season, and it's not a season I recommend watching if you're not used to slow-paced anime, I will say:
Healin' Good Precure is a masterpiece through and through.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Nov 6, 2020
(This review may contain spoilers. Please don't read this until you've finished watching the series.)
For those who've checked out what I'm into, I'm a big Precure fan and one of the seasons I've watched is the legendary Hugtto Precure. The main character for that show is designed with the cheerleader motif in mind and would become one of my favorite characters.
So, when I saw another show that's ALL about Cheerleading, I'm all for it. And wow, I was not expecting this.
Anima Yell looks like just another slice of life anime to the average viewer, but personally, this anime was great! For once, an anime that
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I was pumped up for until the very end, haven't had that feeling in a long time.
Story: 9/10
The story of Anima Yell is quite basic and in typical slice of life fashion. Our protagonist, Kohane, one day saw the amazing sight that is cheerleading. She was immediately hooked and wanted to start her own Cheer Club at school. Over time, she recruited our other parts of the cast whom she'd become great friends with- Hizume, Uki, Kotetsu, and Kana. They have some good ol' cheerleading fun and learning more about it in the process.
I've had my share of slice of life animes in the past, but most of them feel as if you don't really have to watch every episode to watch any given episode. But with Anima Yell, it felt different. Maybe it's just I've been learning more about how anime works in general in the past year, but Anima Yell is structured in a way that gives quite decent development to the crew and to each character, allowing the story to be considerably consistent and more enjoyable since I get to watch the cast grow, both as individuals and as a cheerleading squad.
I like how the series tried to break stereotypes people have about cheerleading. For example, both Uki and Kotetsu originally found cheerleading embarrassing (And I do admit it kind of is, given I have been forced to do it before,) but after Kohane and Hizume show them the ropes and what it's all about, they were hooked. It sort of gives off a vibe that some things aren't as stupid as you think, like how in episode 9, where Uki's brother had the impression originally when his sister had to cheer for him, and ending up being more passive about it.
The progression of the plot was very gradual and interconnecting, something that I have rarely seen in the genre thus far, making Anima Yell very intriguing and great to watch for me.
Art: 9/10
The animation style for Anima Yell was nothing new, really, but the way they animate each character was important as this anime is quite an active one for obvious reasons, and they nailed it in my opinion. They also took the time to compliment the many comedic jokes and scenes throughout the series with hilarious facial expressions and special effects which I think add a nice touch.
Sound: 10/10
In most animes, I don't really know how to judge this category, but this time I know from the get-go to give this a 10 because I can't believe the producers managed to make so many cool and catchy tunes just for the sake of the several performances in the show! It really livens up the atmosphere and even gets viewers like me going.
Character: 8.5/10
To start, we are of course going to talk about Kohane. Kohane is a bright girl with a great passion for helping others and, of course, cheering them on. Throughout the series, Kohane never deviated from her cute cheery self unless the plot provides her the situation to, but outside of that, she learns throughout the series what it truly means to be a cheerleader and what makes the role so special.
Hizume is up next and it almost feels like, toward the end of the series, she became the main character as we start connecting her to her past head-on. She was afraid of her obliviousness in terms of socializing with others causing her to become isolated, and she has been criticized for it. But in working together with Kohane and the others, she learned to open herself up to both others and cheer as a whole.
Uki, Kotetsu, and Kana joined midway, and they showed interesting growth with themselves by joining the Cheer Club as well, breaking their initial skepticism with cheer (Uki and Kotetsu), and getting to bond with those she holds dear (Kana.) You can start to see a trend that the show wants to help each character build a learning curve for cheer and for their personal growth, and I think this show did a really great job on it. If anything, I wish Anima Yell could be a 24 episode series instead of 12.
The only nitpick I have is related to that last part- The story can get a bit too focussed on Kohane and Hizume's development. If we had more to see for the other three, maybe what I just mentioned could give off an even greater result!
Enjoyment: 10/10
As a fan of the magical girl titan that is Precure, I enjoy flashy things and things that could get me bouncing in my chair.
This anime does that, and my expectations were blown away just from the first episode. The story is very colorful and filled with life, and is one of the few shows I've seen so far except Precure, where I would be pumped up and excited to continue watching from where I left off, for the entire season.
Any story that could get me excited about it from beginning to end is a good story in my book, that's what I think.
The show also had great humor and lovely character interactions that make my heart very warm. I enjoyed the show from beginning to end, and couldn't stop smiling. (Unless the show throws out some awkward situation. That I can't help with.)
Overall: 9.1/10
Anima Yell is a story filled with wonder. I could watch it while I'm bored with nothing to do, or I could watch it if I ever need something to cheer myself up. That's what the series wants to do- To give cheers to all its fans. And with all that said, I think this anime is something that I feel like living through all over again anytime in the future.
Of course, please don't just take my word for it, go see what others think too! (This is the first time I reviewed an anime that is not Precure, after all.)
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 3, 2020
(This review may contain Spoilers. Please do not read until you've watched the whole season.)
Mahoutsukai Precure: The seventh season I'm watching in the Precure franchise. My experience in watching this season can be summed up like this:
Miracles do happen- But are you willing to wait for them?
Mahoutsukai Precure (Referred to as MahoPre from here) is a war of expectations and hope as a viewer, demonstrating Toei's exotic ability- Or perhaps a vicious curse- of keeping you hanging by a thread over standards they can't keep up. MahoPre has many shining moments and filled with touchy emotions overall, but if you don't look at the big
...
picture, your patience will be pushed to your very limits with the season's overall quality.
Story: 7/10
Get ready because this will be one hell of a rant, ladies and gentlemen.
I never thought I'd say this again- MahoPre, just like Star Twinkle 3 years after it, is an example of a story that was never done justice. And in truth, I am utterly heartbroken about it, because as I am about to explain later in this review, the Cures are actually not at fault at all for the story's downfall, as the story of the Cure team and the mascot this time around was excellent and beautiful.
Unfortunately, let's talk about the Premise. The premise of the story is that there are two worlds, the magic world and the non-magic world which is Earth. And we have two Cures that come from these two respective worlds, filled with many fascinating differences and special things for our protagonists to learn about. We are pulling a Harry Potter in Precure, exposed to a Hogwarts-like mystical world. The amount of world exploration and story potential from this is insane! And since we know so much about the world we live in, surely the magic world should take more of the spotlight! Yet, that never came to pass, as most of what we see was centered around the magic school. We do see a slice of this other world, but they don't seem to be as big of a spotlight in comparison to the episodes in the school or Earth.
And then, *sigh*.
The villains. HOLY BEJESUS. TOEI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING.
WHY. LIKE, WHY. This season has the worst villain camp I have EVER seen. In this day and age, throwing a story about people being evil for the sake of evil is... Bland. I mean sure, if you're Disney then I have nothing to say, but WOW does this season's villains feel BLAND as all hell. The first half was somewhat better, each villain is sort of different in ways, but as a motivator to push the story forward they are very lackluster.
Oh, what's that I hear? That's the end of it, you ask? NOPE! I HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN WHAT I WANTED TO SAY. They pulled a Futari Wa and made ANOTHER VILLAIN TEAM. And this one is EVEN WORSE. I could complain about The Cataclysm being the absolute most BS antagonists I've seen till the sun is dead, so I will save your and my sanity by keeping this as short as possible.
PURELY generic villains. UNBELIEVABLY CHILDISH motives. ABSOLUTELY NO personalities that differentiate them from one another. AND they had to make them as ANNOYING as they can possibly get, with their whole "Mugic is better than magic and magic is garbage so we win and you can die in Deusmast's reign" trashtalk. MY GOD, they were so garbage that the final battle of this season was only FIVE MINUTES long. YEAH. That just shows even Toei knew they messed up. IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ANOTHER VILLAIN TEAM, DON'T F*CKING MAKE THEM THE STUPIDEST AND MOST HORRIBLY WRITTEN VILLAINS I'VE SEEN IN MY LIFE!!!!
I'm sorry, my fellow viewer. I'm just really annoyed.
Art: 10/10
So after that horrendous rant, let me move on to something I can praise about this season, shall we?
The animation and art style for MahoPre was very enchanting and pleasant to look at, fitting the theme of the season. Besides all the pretty backgrounds and fight scenes and the concept of multiple transformation styles, this season basks in the full power of implications and details with its animation. Examples of this include the love confession by Mayumi in episode 34 and the final farewell between Mirai and Riko in episode 49. Perfect in this department.
Sound/Music: 10/10
Also exceptional in this department. There are lots of soundtracks that I see as exclusive to this season and you'd know it's this season when you hear it because you won't hear as many magical music pieces as you do in MahoPre.
Two of my favorite and personal best songs in the Precure franchise, Sparkling Vows and Two Wishes, come from this season. And can I just say, when Two Wishes played in episode 49, I want to cry. T~T
Character: 9/10
This Character review is probably one of the most infuriating reviews I have ever done on this website. Not because of the Cures, though.
First! Mirai.
Now, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought that Mirai in terms of her voicing was super underrated. No, I'm not just talking about how superb the voice acting was for Mirai in several moments, but I want to take this chance to vent out my disappointment of her being overshadowed by characters who, like her, was voiced by the amazing Takahashi Rie, during the season's running. Because wow, Mirai is good. Just watch episode 49.
Of course, I have to look at the story. This season's development is a bit different for our Pink because the show wanted to heavily emphasize Mirai and Riko's friendship, but on her own Mirai is also very much likable, bright and a bundle of fun by her own right. Mirai can get clumsy at times but she's also very strong and treasures her friendships greatly.
For Riko, since she didn't come from the non-magic world, we got to see more development on her individual character than we did for Mirai. Over the course of the season, Riko learns more about what it truly means to acheive her dream as an excellent magician. She learns the value of friendship, trust and support. When paired with someone so different from her as Mirai, she helped Mirai to bring out the best of herself as Mirai did the same for Riko herself. MahoPre's approach to Mirai and Riko's friendship is excellent, and makes the final farewell all the more heartbreaking.
And then, we have a fairy Cure and a mascot.
Kotoha aka Ha-Chan has taken the place as my third favourite Cure in history, and though she only debuted in the disasterous second half, her beginnings as Kotoha in the 20s was pleasant and joyous to sit through. As if Mirai and Riko's friendship wasn't enough, Ha-chan joins in the fun and turns this team into an outright Precure family, and it's just friggin adorable how that turned out.
Mofurun also took the cake as one of if not the best mascot/Precure ally I have seen so far, highlighted in her friendship with Mirai both in the series and the movie of the season. She received more profound development than many other mascot I've seen so far, and that's saying quite a lot since this is my 7th season- And of course, the quality doesn't disappoint.
You can see- I have nothing against the Cures and Mofurun, they were unbelievable in all of their stories and had the best team dynamics of all the teams I've seen. But lord and behold, of course the villains had to come and destroy everything. Not only is the development on that horrible, it is so bad that I would honestly wish the manga had been the legitimate story of MahoPre. The villains do NOTHING but drag down the story pace. No, not so much for the Dark Magicians (First half), but the Cataclysm ones. Although I have to give props to Oruba and of course Chikurun for trying to be decent, the latter being much better at it.
Enjoyment: 8/10
2020 was quite an awkward year for me and Precure, since I've been expanding on other anime. MahoPre got caught in the crossfire easily with many of its problems. Poorly written villains, really unstable quality of episodes, pacing slower than it had to be, and of course, it's been so many seasons and I'm used to all the Precure flair now.
But if I had to say whether I enjoyed the series, of course I did, I've seen much worse (You can tell by looking at my anime list.) As I said, this season's team is friggin adorable together, and I can't ask for more than just 3 Cures and a teddy bear and sometimes a bee going through a cool double life of saving the world. The season had so many cute moments, quite a bit of emotional wrecks, and arguably the greatest season finale which made me had to wait like over a week to write this review so I have no bias.
Overall: 8.6/10
Mahoutsukai Precure has, in some ways, been a letdown. But the great moments of the season make the gaps worth it- You'll just have to be patient for them. So if you're not the kind to wait for the good content, this season might not be for you, but the story of the Cures is one to smile at nonetheless.
But don't take my word for it- Do find out what others thought about the season!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 14, 2020
(This review may contain spoilers. Please do not read until you've watched the entire series.)
Smile Precure is the fifth season I watched in the Precure franchise. Prior to my viewing I already had a brief experience with one of its episodes, before I started watching Precure. So I was excited about what this season had to offer.
In my opinion, if you're just getting into the swing of things and need some good old Precure tropes and what the franchise is about, Smile Precure is a perfect way to demonstrate that, with its story and its immense humor.
Story: 8.5/10
The Precure franchise has always kinda targetted a
...
much younger fanbase. This season's theme and simplistic story match that well. A fairytale involving the Precure, a magical land, and of course, fairies, this season brings a laid-back sort of feeling where mostly you can just sit back and relax as the show plays. It has quite a variety of traditional Precure episode tropes and utilized each Cure's personality nicely. The mid-season finale (Episode 23) and the upgraded Smile Precure Decor arc (Episode 40 to 44) are fantastic examples of the season's strong emotional points.
For those who may find the story a bit too basic, the slice of life isn't half bad either. Everyone has great episodes where we see their growth as a team and in themselves. The team dynamics are among the strongest out of any season of Precure I have come across so far. All the Cures and even the fairies have their great moments in the show and of course bittersweet moments. Add some comedy into the mix and you've got quite a good base recipe for a Precure season imo.
Art: 9/10
Smile Precure has a very nice artstyle for its time. It is very pleasing to look at and sometimes the animation has some nice details. Plus, the attack animations, especially Rainbow Burst are of wonderful quality. Certainly not too amazing when you're looking at it 8 years in the future, but its not anything terrible either.
Sound: 10/10
The sound mixing was very good and the background music is a blast to hear to brighten up the mood or do the opposite when needed.
Character: 8/10
The season placed a good focus on trying to develop the dynamics between the members of the team and with their fairy friends, all while helping them develop inwards too.
Miyuki being the leader of the crew, delivered as being a very righteous Cure who is trying to see the best in everything. She can get quite clumsy at times but it was what made her character humourous and I love that.
Akane and Nao received good development, both being sporty and all. But besides their competitive selves, they also shine through as being powerful and easygoing.
Reika being the typical straight A Cure had a very interesting and surprisingly deep arc, tying in the purpose of learning and laying down one's path for the future. It's a very cool concept for people to touch upon.
Yayoi's arc hit me the hardest as I relate a lot to her shy self. Her arc sees her coming out of her shell and standing up for herself and I really admire that. Her charm and her desire to defend the right makes her such a likable character.
Now, why did I only give an 8, then? This is due to the very awkward and kinda dumb villains this season. Most of them don't exactly know what they're doing and just decided to wing it for most of the season. As villains play such a key role in the development of Precure this was one thing that was really detrimental to this season in its reputation of being a standard of what Precure is all about.
Enjoyment: 10/10
The humor this season can be cringy at times (Episode 17), but it was nonetheless entertaining to sit through as a whole. Plus, this season was just like other Precure seasons, being very light-hearted. A happy story with a bittersweet ending, I couldn't help but continue watching to see how much more joy and awesomeness the show could bring to the table.
Overall: 8.8/10
Smile Precure is a standard for the Precure franchise and gives a great impression of what the franchise is all about. While it is not the best season, it is worth the enjoyment and it can help ignite your optimism in life when you're at your lowest points.
But don't take my word for it- Go see what other people think too!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 14, 2020
(This review may contain spoilers. Please avoid reading this before watching the entire series.)
Kirakira Precure A La Mode, the sixth season I'm watching in the Precure franchise. This season definitely took a very out of the box thing as its theme- Desserts. And like desserts, I think this season was bittersweet in both story-wise and quality-wise. Basically, it's kinda awkward to pinpoint how I feel.
Story: 7/10
Definitely a bit different from what I'm used to from the first five seasons I've watched. We first start out with a whole bunch of smaller villains before moving on to the main ones, which isn't something I've ever seen,
...
so that's cool.
One thing that makes me feel awkward about giving a lenient score like I always do in this aspect is just how far the season can be divided between the two extremes.
The thing is the following- The main villain in Precure usually has some kind of big goal for what they exactly want to accomplish and sometimes very great motives behind it. This season managed to screw up both parts of having a decent villain. Noir's motive for his villainous acts was really awkward in comparison to seasons like Heartcatch and Hugtto. And from there, as many other seasons do, he takes advantage of the negativity of his allies, the old stuff. But to be quite honest, their acts to achieve their goals this season were quite weird. How does one plan to spread hatred by getting rid of kirakiraru again? XD
However, on the other side of the spectrum is the amazing KiraPika siblings arc, aka the Cure Parfait arc. This arc was the absolute bomb. It was an intense emotional roller coaster and ended on a heartbreaking note. The development of both this arc and Cure Parfait after that would go on to be excellent.
As for the main Cure storylines, most of them are very pleasant and good. I say good because for real though, it seemed rather simple this time around. This was one of Kirakira's weaknesses: A 6 Cure Team. We haven't seen one in almost a decade and it definitely strained the balance of development between Cures.
Art: 8/10
I originally didn't exactly like the art style but soon it would grow on me as some other seasons did. I especially love how sometimes the art compliments the mood of the scene. Plus, this season's Cures probably have some of the most exotic character designs due to their double design theme of Animals and Desserts. Some of them were great, some were... Okay.
Seriously though, can we all agree Cure Whip has the most gigantic twintails of any Precure ever? XD
Sound: 10/10
This season had pretty freaking amazing background music and I love the effort on matching certain scenes with certain tunes. They really bring out the vibes.
Character: 8/10
This part is a bit more complicated.
Honestly, there's not much wrong with the characters and they're very much fine this season. But it's just that. This season doesn't exactly bring too many new things to the table in terms of character personalities, so they may get stale. (Heh, the puns!)
Ichika and Himari have pleasant arcs but they have a lot of room for improvement. Their stories are quite smooth and relaxing to sit through, sometimes touching.
Aoi's arc had an awesome start and her personality and interests were a creative idea. It was nice overall, but of course, it could've been more powerful.
Yukari and Akira's entry in the team makes this season only the second ever time to have senior high Cures (First being Moonlight from Heartcatch.) While Yukari I found and feel a bit out of reach in some cases for the usual fanbase, Akira's story with the addition of her sister Miku was both sweet and fun to see.
And then we have the highlight: Ciel. Ciel's story was mixed in with her brother Pikario's (aka Julio's) backstory. Her celebrity flair and her level of professionalism stand out amongst the rest and she has a beautiful and bittersweet arc overall. In her arc, she learned what it truly meant to be a patissier despite how great she had already been being one, and I think that's a nice touch to her character.
Overall, some Cures had better devs than others, and most of them have room to improve.
Meanwhile, the villains seemed to see a falling slope of quality as the season dragged on. Undoubtedly, Julio was the best of them and after his reformation, played a huge role in explaining the Cure Parfait arc and making his sister's story the more bittersweet.
The others? Not much to touch on.
Enjoyment: 9/10
In truth, since I've started to become accustomed to the rhythm of Precure, combine that with how this season didn't exactly bring too much new stuff to the table, I did enjoy this season a little less, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it.
Despite much criticism on the fight scenes, I personally found many hidden gems throughout the season, such as episode 40 and the finale. This was also a season where the Cures seemed to take a more ranged approach as opposed to usual close combat. I think it provided a lot of room for imaginative attacks in that sense and the attacks looked very nice, although again, it could get stale after a while.
The overall pacing was fine, could've been faster, and I love some of the character interactions, particularly the KiraPika siblings, Ichika and her mother and Ciel and Bibury (Episode 26), and a few others.
Overall: 8/10
Kirakira Precure A La Mode isn't as amazing as some of the other seasons I've watched. However, on its own, it provides a very nice emotional ride and it's the kind of show that I really love, where I could sit back and relax, and watch something to brighten up my day.
But don't take my word for it- Especially with how high my score is! XD
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 14, 2020
(This review may contain Spoilers. Please do not read until you've watched the whole season.)
Go Princess Precure (or GoPri for simplicity) is my second watched season of the Precure franchise. It was a phenomenal time of my watchthrough of Precure. Having just come out of Heartcatch, one of the best seasons of the franchise, this season had big shoes to fill. And oh boy, did this season smash it.
Story: 9/10
Going into the season, I thought this season will have a more simplistic and direct story without too many surprises. But partially why I love this season is exactly that. The story is themed around hopes
...
and dreams and the main character Haruka's desire to be a princess- But a different kind of princess.
Now, before I watched the season I scoffed at the idea of princesses being the design theme. But that's because I didn't know the depth of the theme. Princess, in this series, is sort of referring to Cures growing into someone mature, hopeful, and full of aspiration. This is a very intricate and marvelous surprise the season gave to me.
A clever theme like this must come with good development and good slice of life. Indeed, the show did well in both aspects, utilizing each character and suspense very well. The dynamics of the Cures are excellent, and the show is just brimming with amazing and emotional scenes.
Art: 10/10
You all know what time it is. XD
GoPri is extremely praised for having the greatest animation in the entire Precure franchise. The detail, the mood, the designs, the fights, EVERYTHING! It is done to near perfection. I was absolutely impressed by how beautiful everything is, not to mention the Cure designs. They might be a bit over the top sometimes but mostly they're truly gorgeous.
Sound: 10/10
The sounds are great this season, but its importance pails in comparison to the background music. Some of the most iconic tracks are the violin motifs from Prince Kanata and Princess Towa. Another great track is Conditions of Being a Princess. Fantastic stuff in this department.
Character: 9.5/10
Everyone's character development in GoPri is amazing. All of them have their dreams and aspirations very fleshed out. The suspense and problems the Cures face are portrayed well, they are quite realistic and relatable in some moments. Heck, even the fairy episode this season isn't half bad.
Minami and Kirara, as mentioned, have greatly fleshed out developments toward their dreams and bring out many valuable lessons in correspondence to the theme. One tiny problem though, perhaps it is that which made their arcs not as eye-catching than the other two despite how good their lessons are.
Meanwhile, Haruka and Towa both have insanely powerful arcs and that made them extremely lovable and admirable characters. Haruka's story is bubbling with life and joy, and Towa's is an amazing roller coaster of emotions. Their determination makes them some of the best Cures of the franchise in my opinion. Add onto the fact that they're super friendly while casual, yet fierce and awesome in battle? Just perfect.
Enjoyment: 10/10
The light-heartedness of the story and how bubbly everyone's personalities are both truly wonderful to see. The occasional suspense is on point, especially when pretty much every Cure experienced an identity crisis during the show.
And may I take a moment to praise THE FIGHT SCENES! This season, in combination with the best animation of the franchise, also delivers some of the most beautiful (And maybe the most unrealistic due to their extravagant dresses and hair) fight scenes. I am a sucker for fight scenes and Cure Flora's performance right off the bat got me in the ring. The others? Of course, they don't lose either.
It's just an extraordinary blend of action, pleasantness, tears, and ecstasy. And I adore it.
Overall: 9.6/10 (Rounded up for convenience)
Go Princess Precure prints a revolutionary picture of what it means to be a Princess and the theme of aspirations and dreams in my mind. Everything is done to almost perfection- The story, the music, the art, the characters. Truly, I see this season as one of the pinnacles of Precure in its entirety.
But don't take my word for it- You may all have your own judgment!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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