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Paradox Live the Animation was awesome...for the most part (will get to that later).

For context, it's an anime adaptation of the mixed media project of the same name. Before the anime, Paradox Live's story was told through drama CDs, music videos, and people's votes. I got to check out the drama CDs thanks to the anime and from what I could tell the anime tries to adapt the story told in the drama CDs while adding its own spin.

And for the most part, it's done well.

First off, I loved the concept. I loved the idea of performers using a special metal to help them sing ... their hearts out to prove something in exchange for being afflicted by the demons of their pasts before dying a painful death by becoming one with that same metal. It had the potential for character drama and storylines. While it might seem ridiculous that these people are risking their lives for what seemed like a glorified special effect, I'm game with the absurdity of it and it still made some sense thematically. This could be a more direct or literal representation on how these characters are putting their entire being on the line for what they believed in. After all, they used the metal to literally project their emotions into their songs.

Next was the execution which was mostly okay. Each episode was engaging and able to build off each other. I enjoyed the performances that were presented as well as the characters who sang them. These characters were likeable, memorable, and very good singers. My favorite groups were cozmez and BAE, and I enjoyed their stories in the anime and the drama CDs.

Sometimes, the anime gave me Idolish7 vibes where the characters and their drama were the focal point over the music. For the most part, it worked. I loved watching these characters bantered, and the slice-of-life moments can be so funny. The anime was at times clever with the way it rearranged or rewrote some of the key moments in the project. The drama was also well-executed as conversations between characters ended up becoming highlights for me. I also liked how certain episodes foreshadow or went full circle with certain mysteries and plot twists. Some examples I had in mind were how Episode 10 intentionally paralleled Episode 1 or how Nayuta was consistently portrayed as an enigma throughout the series which led to the reveal being pretty well done. Also, in context with Nayuta, I loved how his plot twist recontextualized a conversation he had with Kanata on Episode 5. During that scene, Nayuta told Kanata to expand his world. When Kanata asked why Nayuta's not including himself in the picture, Nayuta simply said, "You know why" which could be referring to how Kanata already knew the truth (that Nayuta's long gone*) but was repressing it. It's really cool.

That said, there were some nitpicks that I had with the show.

First of, it's the pacing. Like I said before, Paradox Live the Animation sometimes gave me Idolish7 vibes where the character drama is the focal point over the music. While the show was able to do well for the most part, its pacing at times suffered as a result. The reason why Idolish7 was able to get away with prioritizing its characters over the music was because it had enough story content to justify it and it does provide music when it's extremely necessary. Paradox Live only had 12 episodes where the primary backdrop was a competition between four groups. While the anime still covers the same results as the project, its lack of time didn't allow it to reveal all of the performances on screen. As a result, we'll be told who's the winner in one round but not know exactly why or what songs were used unless we backtracked with the mixed media project's music collection. Another thing some people might be mixed about is how the show seemed a bit more BAE-centric. For context, the project technically didn’t have a central protagonist as every group was given ample screentime. However, in the show, BAE—from their vibes, to the number of songs they got to perform, to their role (specifically Allen’s) in the overall plot seems to be given a bigger protagonist role. Personally, I didn’t mind this change but this will affect the season finale.

That's said, it's not terribly paced and the show's still enjoyable. But, it did lead to my biggest nitpick: the last three episodes.

To be clear, those episodes were good. I was very entertained and I understood why the show chose this particular direction.

So, those last three episodes (Episodes 10-12) were the show's original spin to a plotline that's vaguely addressed in the drama CDs--Alter Trigger, Buraikan, and their involvement with Paradox Live. This plotline was also connected to Kanata's character arc where he finally remembered Nayuta's death* and how he created an illusion of Nayuta to cope all this time. For context, the drama CDs never revealed how Kanata remembered so having the anime adapt that "blank period" was interesting. And in-between all that, the show initially introduced the possibility of BAE and cozmez having one more showdown before the final battle.

That's a neat concept that’s mostly well-executed…but then here were some problems I had with it.

The first was the extra battle that never happened! In episode 10, BAE and cozmez were getting ready for this match. However, after a bad conversation with his dad, Allen had an emotional crisis where he lost sight of his music. The result? He ran away on the night he’s supposed to perform. Since Anne and Hajun were running after him, cozmez won by default. This rubbed me off the wrong way. In the mixed media project, cozmez originally won because they received the most votes which meant that for the most part—they won through merit. Having them win by default not only undermines cozmez’s abilities but also Allen’s character. Outside the fact that this moment contradicts Allen’s actions later on in the drama CD, Allen’s the type of person who would perform no matter what. He wouldn’t leave someone hanging, and he would definitely try to keep his promise to Kanata that he’ll face him head on. In the anime’s defense, maybe they chose this route because it’s easier to explain. Cozmez only performed one song throughout the entire series while BAE had more opportunities so it’s probably a lot easier to justify at the time. So yeah, that episode was a mixed bag.

Then there’s episode 11, which was a lot better than episode 10 but slightly suffered from some pacing issues. The episode changes perspectives between BAE and everyone else in the Paradox Live arena so the transitions felt jarring at times. But like I said, there’s a lot to like from this episode. Buraikan’s presence was strange and eerie, the moment Kanata’s memories were revealed painful and traumatizing, and BAE’s bonding was pretty solid. Then, there’s that cliff hanger with Kanata’s screaming—awesome.

Now, there’s episode 12 and it may or may not be for everyone. So basically, Kanata (who’s mind was broken at this point) was forced to become this phantom metal vessel that will make everyone “one with the metal.” The goal of the scientist (who’s been a reoccurring antagonistic figure in the show) was to have that happen so that everyone will no longer suffer under the collective subconscious. This aspect was not fully addressed or explained. There were no debates on why it’s good or bad to be one with the metal, and the scientist wasn’t written well enough to be a character study for that matter. Then again, I would cut the show some slack for not fully delving into this. The drama CDs never really explored Alter Trigger either, and technically the story’s slightly low-stakes by design as no one really died by the phantom metal.

Overall, I liked the concept of the episode. It turned on my inner angst, and it’s a good reason to bring everyone together. Also, Kanata’s dilemma reminded me of what happened in the finale of Magic Kyun Renaissance where Kohana was reduced to a sleep-like state due to the magic arts right down to the magic vines that consume the area. What’s even cooler for me was how similar to the finale of Magic Kyun, the characters were able to rescue Kanata by singing and reaching his psyche. That said, this is where some parts may cause some mixed feelings.

To start, the scenes when the characters try to save Kanata might make some viewers cringe. It didn’t make me cringe completely, but I did chuckle when everyone suddenly started circling around Kanata like we’re in a ritual. Also, there were times when I felt like the antagonist was a waste of space. All he did was laugh evilly. He didn’t even have an interesting backstory to explain his 10-year experiment. Buraikan’s fate was also a bit confusing if you also watched the drama CDs. In the anime, it’s revealed that one of the Buraikan members passed away, but the drama CDs set after it (the Road to Legend Arc) showed that both members were alive (unless I missed something). So, if a season two were to exist I wondered how they’ll address that.

Some might find BAE—specially Allen’s role of the hero to be a bit annoying but I think it’s not a bad choice as Allen and Kanata established their chemistry early on. It’s when Allen started talking to Kanata that made me a bit mixed. For context, in the drama CD, Allen and Kanata had an important discussion where the former’s trying to convince the latter to not give up on his music. Kanata wanted to quit after finding out Nayuta’s death since he felt everything he’s been doing until this point lost its meaning and that he can’t accept a win that’s not truly made by cozmez—but his own “delusion”. It was a very engaging conversation in the drama CD and while bits of it was implemented in the finale, I think it would’ve been better if Kanata’s fully conscious to hear it and actually engage with, but that’s more of a personal preference. One final nitpick I had with the episode was how the ending rushed the reveal that Nayuta’s alive all along. The drama CD was able to build up that plot twist, but the show seemed to just slot it in right in the end to make way for Allen playing hero—which is important to note that in the drama CD he’s not the only reason why Kanata got better emotionally.

So yeah, Paradox Live the Animation is awesome for the most part. It may have some pacing issues, it’s still very entertaining. I would highly suggest to also listen to the drama CDs and let’s have our fingers crossed for a season two.

Chainsaw Man is a juxtaposition between its wild situations and profound moments. At first glance, it's a visually-arresting series that proudly presents this messed up, demon-infested world Denji lives in. Jumping between demon battles and Denji's horny mind, Chainsaw Man may come off as a chaotic mess of glorified violence with characters who aren't as easily likeable as other shounen series--at times they may come off as mean-spirited, annoying, or one-note. It could be argued that there is no meaning to the violence and chaos that occurred to the characters.

That being said, I disagree. Hidden within the anime violence is subtle direction that may ... not be as explicit as other stories, but nevertheless could be felt if you know where to look. To me, Chainsaw Man is a story that encourages the viewer to read between the lines--to analyze what has been said and the actions that accompany those words. I remembered how awesome it was when I spotted the subtle development of certain characters and relationships based off what was shown on screen. Characters rarely point out anything that the viewer could spot on their own; the change just happen and it still makes sense. In addition, the season's discussions about human relationships and how our connections shape us was meaningful and I look forward to the continuation of the series. This is what I like about Chainsaw Man. Its spectacle is contrasted with nuance. If I think about, most of the season 1's runtime focuses on conversations between characters and how these characters' perspectives of each other change overtime.

Of course, in terms of story, season one is incomplete which might be a factor to why the characters may came off as mean-spirited or one-note since their character arcs weren't fully addressed yet. Nevertheless, I think this season is a good start for the Chainsaw Man anime.

The production is incredible. The animation is so well done, that it's almost film-quality. The soundtrack is a banger. The OP never fails to hype me up, and all the EDs were creative and bangers in their own right. The voice acting is also great. I definitely hope that the new VAs who debut in the series would go big in the future because they did great!

Overall, I really recommend the series. It's an awesome adaptation to a well-written manga, so I encourage you to give it a shot.

Mob Psycho 100 II is everything a jaw-dropping sequel should be.

It stays true to the themes and tone that the first season established, while at the same time builds on that foundation with something better. The pacing is tight as the series knows how to seamlessly transition from comedic slice of life to heart-pumping action to heartwarming drama to sometimes heart-stopping dread. The story is also just as well-written, with each arc possessing its own flavor on the crazy things that happen to the characters. The characters are still as likeable and I enjoy watching how experience change them. Mob's pursuit to become a well-rounded ... person is always endearing, and I love how he's slowly becoming more vocal about his views or what he wants. His compassion is definitely more emphasized in this season as he meets more psychics whose views are not as benevolent whether it be due to trauma or an inflated ego.

In relation to the story and characters, one of my favorite aspects of this season is its discussion on relationships. If season one challenges the notion of being special, season two questions how we treat other people. Through this season, Mob encounters characters who either use or were used by people which affected the way they see themselves. The season also addresses the elephant of the room: Mob and Reigen's relationship. Although their mentor-mentee relationship is one of the highlights of the series, the show acknowledged early on that their current dynamic is flawed. As a result, season two challenges it with each episode slowly revealing a strain between Mob and Reigen as the former starts to realize that sometimes not everything the latter says is true. I won't spoil what happens, but it's definitely one of the best moments of character writing in the show.

This well-written story is supported by an amazing production. The animation and art direction are just as great--if not better than season one. The psychic fight scenes are sights to behold--beautiful anime violence. The soundtrack is also awesome, with the OP and ED being bangers. The English dub is also excellent.

Overall, Mob Psycho 100 II is worth the hype. It's a kaleidoscope of action, comedy, and drama filled with provoking life lessons. If you watched season one, this is a great addition to the series as it once again reminds me that my life is my own.

Mob Psycho 100 is hands-down one of my most favorite anime of all time.

It takes everything to 100% from its jaw-dropping psychic-powered-fueled fight scenes to the simply hilarious day-to-day lives of the main cast. Most of all, the series' greatest strength comes through its writing. Mob Psycho 100 questions the idea of what does it mean to be "special" through the eyes of Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama--a 14 year old boy who despite being one of the most powerful espers in the series believes that his power alone won't help him achieve his goal which is to be a better person. It not only provides a ... compelling discussion on what "special" means, but it also knows when to be funny and when to be serious. All the characters are likeable--whether it be the main cast or the supporting characters. Mob may come off as a quiet protagonist with a neutral disposition, but he's incredibly endearing. There's a reason why he tries to keep his emotions in check and it's compelling to watch him slowly change his outlook about certain things. My second most favorite character is Reigen and I love his relationship with Mob.

The show's production is awesome. Its art direction is charming and allows epic animation sequences. What's cool is that the animation is not only top tier in the psychic scenes, but it's also excellent in daily life moments--especially when there's physical comedy. The OST is also solid, and the OP & ED are well-done.

Overall, Mob Psycho 100 is a great watch and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

IDOLISH7 just keeps getting better.

Although this is only the first half of season three, Third Beat does an excellent job in not only introducing ZOOL and the new antagonist, but also increasing the stakes--the drama by tearing down the status quo that was established since season one. I won't spoil the details, but let's just say that the first half of Third Beat is the beginning of the end for certain characters.

This season's strength seems to be in the way it builds up to certain events and how it fleshes out IDOLISH's worldbuilding by elaborating on the social climate of its entertainment industry which in ... turn influences the events in the story. Each episodes builds on the other and the pacing is just chef's kiss! It's hilarious one minute, but chilling the next! It just makes the lead up to the second half so exciting. The recurring cast is just as likeable and endearing as ever, and the newcomers are just as compelling as they shake things up.

The OST is consistently solid. I love the OP and ED, not just because they're catchy but because of the way they may have foreshadowed certain events. The overall production is high quality, and I look forward to how this entire season will end.

Dawn of the Witch could have become a great follow-up to Grimoire of Zero if only its pacing was better.

After hearing the show's announcement, I decided to watch its predecessor Grimoire of Zero to refresh on the story and its lore. I loved its story, characters, and world building with each episode paced and ended brilliantly--making me eager for more. The reason why I brought this up is because Dawn of the Witch failed to do just that. Despite its premise and the mystery aspect of it, the show's intrigue wore down because of its lack luster pacing. It seemed to randomly end each of ... its episodes with random cliffhangers and I personally think certain plot beats and scenes could've been combined together instead of being cut separately to improve the pacing and themes. The characters seemed stuck in one place for far too long, so the way the story was paced made it look like there wasn't any progression at all.

This way of pacing also affected the way the characters were portrayed as well. Despite claiming to become close, the show made it look random and unearned compared to the relationships forged by its predecessor. The protagonist felt incredibly bland despite his background and I think the mystery surrounding his circumstances could've been fleshed out more than just saying that it happened to him.

That being said, the show has good merits. Its matter-of-fact tone helps portray a witch's way of thinking which in turn creates interesting discussions that made up most of the story. The characters themselves were good at its core despite being held back by its pacing. The comedy and drama were well executed overall, and I still look forward to what these characters will be doing next. The world building is still sold and provides good additions that shows how previous events affected their world after Grimoire of Zero. For instance, the addition to how future Beastfallen are becoming more humanoid due to the distillation of the magic surrounding it was pretty interesting. That being said, I can't help but wonder if that's an excuse for making the female beastfallen look like a conventionally cute anime girl with minimal animal features while the male beastfallen are still hardcore with the animal designs. Overall, the character designs are cute.

The production was alright overall. There weren't any memorable soundtracks, but the OP and ED were pleasing.

Overall, I think this show is still enjoyable despite its flaws.

The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody lied to me the moment it showed me its title. Rather than become a "typical nobody", Ard Meteor just became the greatest human being in his world and neither he nor the writing was funny or absurd enough to make this trope interesting.

The first episode gave me a positive impression with the protagonist failing to make friends miserably due to his strength. His goals were sympathetic and the story about his first friend was pretty cute. However, since episode two, the show lost whatever charm it left me with. Most of the show was basically ... Ard trying not to stand out only to stand out anyway due to his strength. Otherwise, it's him attracting the female leads which isn't interesting because there isn't enough romantic chemistry to justify it and even if there is, they seemed more willing to "share" Ard as a harem which is messed up. Overall, the story wasn't funny or interesting to make its premise work. They wanted an overpowered hero, but they also wanted to portray him as an underdog, and yet made him praised by the world and his harem. They wanted a comedic harem, but wants to act like it's a serious show with implicit lore. It's like the show wanted everything, but couldn't make up its mind.

There were also some contradictions in its plot, such as how a certain character is best friend's with this important character even though it was already established that this character was friendless before their first appearance in the show. Things like that could affect the immersion.

That being said, there are some appeals in the show. The production looks okay, the character designs are cute. Ard's interactions with his friends can be quite enjoyable. Plus, it's sometimes fun watching Ard beat up other characters with little to no effort. However, the nitpicks outweigh the good and while I think this show might be enjoyable to others, it's not for me.

What if one of the greatest tacticians of the Three Kingdoms period of third-century China becomes the manager of an upcoming singer in modern day? That's Paripi Koumei! It has everything one could want: Catchy insert songs. Comedy. Drama. Romance of the Three Kingdoms references, and many more!

The plot is both slice-of-life and progressive as each instance is the characters growing in both career and confidence. All the characters--including the antagonist felt fleshed out and relatable. There's this level of nuance that made me understand why the characters think this way even though I dislike some more than others. The show's interpretation of Kongming is ... also interesting as he is a person who not only wish to live a peaceful life but to also do the things he regretted not doing during his previous life. The show itself is visually and musically pleasing too. I love the concert lights, the neon of Shibuya, and the sound design is top notch. I even enjoy the rapping segments.

Overall, I recommend this show if you're into music anime with a sprinkle of comedy, drama, and fun.

Shield Hero S2 felt like watching a story I enjoy die--or at least become ill. I haven't read the light novel it's based on, but I can tell that there's a lot of missing content that could have better fleshed out the plot because what was presented was disappointment.

While season one had its questionable moments, its story was well-paced and enjoyable. The characters were likeable and whoever's the focus of the plot had enough time to become interesting. Season 2 wasn't that. Its story was divided into two arcs. The first was a conflict with a Spirit Tortoise that sadly felt jarring due to ... its lack of buildup in terms of character and strategy to justify the payoff they wanted to show off. As a result, some moments felt unearned and some plot twists fell flat. The second arc was the characters being sent to a different place to deal with a certain threat and while it's a bit more enjoyable than the first arc, it's nonetheless held back by the poor execution of the first arc. In fact, the transition between the two arcs felt unnatural.

The production value of the show wasn't bad overall, but the first half was definitely not its best looking. Its first attempt to animate the Spirit Tortoise wasn't impressive and the battle could've been composed better. Then again, with the way the show paced the planning and battle stages...I'm not sure if better animation would save it. The OST was okay and the new OP by MADKID was great.

This season was unfortunate because I enjoyed season one and after researching the plot of the novel, there's a lot of cool stuff that happened in the future. All these years of waiting went to waste because the show decided to cut corners in how to tell its story. That being said, I hope that if the show releases a season three, it will be able to redeem this story.

D.N. Angel is underrated.

Its plot and characters may seem simple, but its execution is definitely noteworthy. The main and side characters are charming and believable, the story's magic system is compelling, and I adore the characters' overall relationships. Daisuke and Dark are a great pair, and while the former may seem like a typical protagonist he's a nice guy and I want him to succeed. His interactions with the cast have good chemistry, particularly with Dark and Hiwatari and the "romantic" bits are reasonable for the characters' age group.

That being said, D.N. isn't perfect. Its story strays a bit from the manga so some ... details may be lost in translation, especially with the ending. While I am fine with the cast, some may find them as one-note or annoying. The artwork is definitely as old and retro as the early 2000s, and the ending can be seen as unsatisfying. Regardless, the good outweighs them.