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May 21, 2016
A quick and easy review of Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider. SPOILER FREE for your enjoyment.
PROS:
+ Pleasant, detailed animation; an interesting and fitting color scheme.
+ Enjoyable sound track, with a great OP and ED
+ Nice voice acting
CONS:
- "Mystery" is predictable (At least for someone who has watched a lot of TV. By episode 5 it was pretty clear to me, yet it takes a VERY SLOW five episodes more for the characters to put it together).
- Little characterization leads to one-dimensional characters (i.e., the "young and in love," the "suave man of intellect," the "unfeeling genius," etc.)
- Slow plot progression
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(I normally don't mind this; many murder mysteries seem slow as you gather the details that lead to the big reveal or twist, but even taking this into account, Perfect Insider lagged too much)
OVERALL:
If you're a fan of mysteries and don't mind a slow plot, give it a go. Because it's only 11 episodes, it doesn't take much time to complete. (But if, by episode 5, you think you have everything figured out, you're probably right.)
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Dec 9, 2015
A quick and easy review of Ao no Exorcist (Blue Exorcist)-- SPOILER FREE for your enjoyment.
PROS:
+ Interesting story
+ Good comedy factor
+ Beautiful art with bright colors and good use of light/dark contrasts
+ Fantastic voice actors
+ Great in sub or dub
+ Good soundtrack
+ Interesting characters (no one annoyed me!)
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+ Quick paced and exciting
+ High overall enjoyment
CONS:
+ Ending seems a little disjointed
+ "Typical" shonen story (if that bothers you)
+ Not much growth/change for supporting characters
+ Some unnecessary characters
Want some more detail? See blow:
STORY:
For people to say this story is cliche is, in my opinion, a bit close minded. Definitely, the idea of a main protagonist who become stronger in order to fight evil and defend those he loves is a nearly ageless story. The key is how writers reinvent that classic story to make it interesting. In the case of Ao no Exorcist this involves a son of Satan, various demons, cool weaponry, a school for exorcists, magic spells, and some awesome powers/abilities. These factors are the keys that make this show interesting!
Some people are put off by the fact that not every episode is moving towards the final climax. And it is true that at some points the show is more episodic than larger story-oriented. I normally DO NOT like episodic show, but for some reason, this one stayed enjoyable to me the whole time. It didn't feel at all repetitive or like it was dragging. It just presents the audience with a lot of great illustrations of the world it is trying to create.
BONUS-- I get tired of 11 year old protagonists saving the world, and was glad to have at least high school aged characters.
Also, I wasn't expecting much comedy from this, and found myself pleasantly surprised by steady humor throughout with some really good laugh out loud moments.
ART:
Great art with very few inconsistencies. Too many shows these days are animated so darkly that you can hardly see details and, on the flip side, many shows are so bright that its like there is no variation in lighting. Ao no Exorcist does a good job utilizing both light and dark frames to create great contrasts, and using a wide spectrum of colors to give the animation depth.
SOUND:
THE VOICE ACTORS-- they are all so great! Really strong casts both in Japanese and English. The original cast is led by Okamoto Nobuhiko (Niizuma Eiji in Bakuman, Nishinoya Yuu in Haikyuu, Usui Takumi in Kaichou wa Maid-Sama) and Fukuyama Jun (Lelouch Lamperouge in Code Geass, Dr. Shinra Kishitani in Durarara!!, Kazuma in Noragami, Grell in Kuroshitsuji). They also have others you know and love, i.e. Kamiya Hiroshi (Orihara Izaya in Durarara!!, Akashi Seijuurou in Kuroko no Basket, Yato in Noragami, Levi in Shingeki no Kyojin).
The english cast is led by Bryce Papenbrook (Eren Jaeger in Attack on Titan, Kirito in Sword Art Online, Shirou Emiya in Fate/Stay Night: UBW, Masaomi Kida in Durarara!!) and Johnny Young Bosch (Makoto Tachibana in Free!, Izaya Orihara in Durarara!!, Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach, Yusaku Kitamura in Toradora!).
Point is, you'll love the sub or the dub. Great casts no matter what.
Music is good throughout but nothing amazing. Enjoyed the first OST better than the second, but sound track was fine overall.
CHARACTER:
I am someone who gets easily annoyed by characters. Fortunately, there weren't any characters in Ao no Exorcist that I was dreading being on screen. I really enjoyed them all, even though they may fit into some of the common character tropes. While the leads are well-developed, most of the supporting characters get only minimal background and development. However, for a 25 episode series, I thought the amount of character development was appropriate.
There were a two characters in particular hanging around that I found unnecessary (maybe they play a bigger part in the manga?), but I was disappointed that they weren't ever really fleshed out. These characters were used at times to manipulate the plot in ways that seemed a little cheap.
ENJOYMENT:
Despite some of its faults, I found this show to be very enjoyable. I sped through it, and never found myself bored. It is quick-paced and action packed, and had much more comedy than I was expecting. If you enjoy shonen, battles, magic, or demons (with some great comedy and a fun school-setting), give it a try!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 28, 2015
An easy review of DRAMAtical Murder-- SPOILER FREE for your enjoyment!
OVERALL--
DRAMAtical Murder is adapted from a visual novel. As is the case with many VN to anime adaptions, the anime rushes as it tries to incorporate information from all of the various VN routes. With only 12 episodes, DRAMAtical Murder struggles in its development of both characters and the overall world. This leads to a slightly lackluster ending, with characters you really wish you could have known better. Still, I found it fairly enjoyable overall and would say it's worth watching since it's a quick 12 episodes. It's not amazing, but it's not as terrible
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as some people suggest.
STORY--
DRAMAtical Murder presents viewers with what could have been a very interesting story; unfortunately, it fails to fully take shape in only 12 episodes. It takes about 8 episodes before you actually begin to grasp the main conflict, and just when that conflict should begin to expand, the show is winding towards a quick conclusion. The story in itself is strong, but the anime fails to portray that in the time it is given. The ending left me asking, "That was all there was to it?" as I had hoped for greater depth and development.
CHARACTERS--
All of the characters have great designs with lots of detail and personality. I found each of them fun to watch and listen to. They also had very diverse personalities that seemed promising. Sadly, the little character development that happens in the show occurs so quickly that it doesn't really feel meaningful. These characters are ones you WANT to care about, but the show doesn't really give you the time to form strong attachments to them.
PROS--
+ Interesting character designs (with lots of good looking boys!)
+ Compelling story idea
+ Soundtrack is fitting of the futuristic setting
+ Enjoyable voice actors
+ Bright, colorful animation (but pretty low-budget)
CONS--
- Story is underdeveloped and could have benefitted from 24 episodes rather than 12
- Climax is rushed and ending conflict is pretty vanilla
- No good explanation of the setting/world of the story
- No meaningful character development
- Took the L outta BL (the VN is BL)
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Oct 17, 2015
Here's an easy review highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of Guilty Crown-- SPOILER FREE for your enjoyment!
OVERALL--
Guilty Crown is a bit like an unsafe roller coaster: just when you think it is finally on track, it goes shooting off in another unexpected direction. Though it had an interesting premise, it didn't live up to the story's potential. The 22 episode anime is split into two main arcs (first: episodes 1-12, second: episodes 13-22). The first arc seems fairly well thought out, but drags at some points. I found the second arc more entertaining, but lacking a solid direction or motivation, as if the writers weren't
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quite sure what to do with the story towards the end. This leads to some awkward pacing, an antagonistic organization that is never really explained, and a bit of a deus ex machina ending.
CHARACTERS--
Perhaps the biggest flaw in Guilty Crown is the characterization. More people may have been willing to overlook some of the story's inconsistencies if the characters were really lovable. Unfortunately, they aren't. The characters are one-dimensional and static, without much backstory. The little backstory that is given is poorly executed, and doesn't serve to make any of the characters more likable or sympathetic. This leaves a cast of individuals (protagonists and antagonists alike) who lack any sort of clear or believable motivation. In the last six episodes, there is a quick attempt to make the main character, Shu, more dynamic. I wouldn't say this progression is groundbreaking or particularly meaningful, but Shu's internal struggles and resulting evolution do make the story's second arc more interesting.
ECCHI--
Though Guilty Crown isn't tagged as ecchi, it should be. Most of the female characters in the show are pretty pointless fanservice. For the most part, it isn't over the top (one or two shots per episode). The exception is the main female lead, Inori, who doesn't wear much throughout the show (and never misses an opportunity for a suggestive "coo" or "ah"). Personally, I'm not an ecchi fan, but if you are, Guilty Crown's got it!
ART--
The art of Guilty Crown is where the show really shines. It is precise and beautiful throughout. The character designs are consistent and a joy to watch, while the wider settings are carefully thought out and painstakingly crafted with detail. There are also some beautiful city shots that make you want to ditch your current home and buy a high-rise apartment in a big city.
SOUND--
Many people praise the soundtrack in Guilty Crown, but I found it average. The first arc ending seemed a little out of place to me; it gave off an air of nostalgia, which didn't really match that story arc. The other opening and ending songs are all pretty, but I didn't feel any hesitation in skipping them. The background music throughout was good, but underutilized.
SUBS OR DUBS?
As a lover of both subs and dubs in different situations, (and having watched Guilty Crown in both), I can say both provide a great viewing experience. I thought a few of the Japanese voice actors sounded too old for the characters they voiced (Gai in particular), while the English voice actors sounded a little more character age appropriate. Fortunately, this doesn't have much impact on the overall experience, so take your pick!
PROS--
+ interesting premise
+ MC experiences some personal growth
+ beautiful and detailed art
+ excellent subs and dubs both
CONS--
- uneven pacing
- winding story line (with some plot holes)
- a full cast of flat characters with little characterization or clear motivation
- female characters used as meaningless fanservice
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Oct 16, 2015
Here's an easy review to sum up the strengths and weaknesses of Tokyo Ravens--SPOILER FREE for your enjoyment!
OVERALL--
Tokyo Ravens takes about five episodes before it really finds its footing; however, once it does, this show progresses with a great pace that will keep viewers interested through all 24 episodes! The ending is slightly open to interpretation, but comes to a satisfying conclusion. It leaves the viewer ready to continue on with the characters into their next big adventure, while still bringing the current story arc to a close. Overall, a very enjoyable show and well worth the watch!
MAGIC SYSTEM--
A huge part of this anime is
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the magic system, which presents some of the show's highest and lowest points. Tokyo Raven's magic system is never given clear cut rules or limitations, which may leave some viewers frustrated. However, this lack of definite limitations allows for some excellent fight scenes because the magic can be used is so many creative and varied ways. A highlight of the series is the magic battles, which are interesting and never repetitive; they almost never use the same trick twice!
CHARACTERS--
At first, the characters may seem a little cookie-cutter, with some of the typical "anime friend group" cliches; however, the show is not limited by this because each of the mains ends up so gosh darn likable! The mains are believable, with enough backstory to give them depth.
The cast of supporting characters is wide, which allows for a lot of interesting personalities. Unfortunately, for a show with only 24 episodes, I found the cast a little TOO wide to keep track of all the characters at some points. Despite this, the wide range of characters allows the show to build up an interesting motif examining the reality and meaning of trust. As a viewer, you are never quite sure who you can trust, which mirrors the struggles of the characters. This gave the story extra intrigue as allies split into factions, friends turn into opponents, and previous enemies unite as accomplices.
ART--
The major flaw in the art is how starkly the CGI stands out against the traditional animation. The CGI is mainly used on the familiars in battle scenes, but I found it both jarring and distracting. Other than that, the art is fairly consistent throughout the show, with vivid colors, enjoyable character designs, and beautifully animated spell work.
SOUND--
The show presents a strong voice acting cast with bright sound editing and mixing, but falls short in musical composition. I didn't find either of the opening or ending themes memorable. Furthermore, the show did not make good use of background music, even though there were many instances where music could have provided a great boost to the emotion or energy of the scene.
SUBS OR DUBS?
Finally, as a lover of both subs and dubs in different situations, (and having watched Tokyo Ravens in both), I recommend the subs on this one. I found the subs to be slightly better in their explanations of plot intricacies, and the Japanese voice actors to be better suited to the characters as I understood them.
PROS--
+good pacing
+creative magic battles
+likable main characters
+visually appealing spell work
+strong Japanese voice cast
CONS--
-slow and slightly confusing start
-lack of clear rules/limitations to magic
-some distracting CGI
-little to no effective background music
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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