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Bye, Bye Earth had an aesthetic present in the trailers that aligned with my tastes visually and I looked forward to watching it as it aired. I can honestly say that I wasn't equipped to fully appreciate this anime since I don't often connect on an emotional level with music when it's one of the themes of a show. Music is used here to more than just elevate the impact of a scene but plays an integral role in the story's progression, giving us a lens into a character's turmoil. Belle's lack of connection to the people around her makes her feel like an outsider ... to society and Adonis is seeking connection with something or someone because it's been denied to him his entire life. I can now see why Kevin Penkin has so much respect in the community, as I don't see this anime succeeding as it did without his involvement in the musical aspect. Outside of that Bye, Bye Earth makes the uncommon choice in the modern era of telling an anthropomorphic fantasy which I love to see, especially since I'm a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia.

While I would recommend Bye, Bye Earth to fans of the fantasy genre, I would caveat that the anime trusts the viewer to develop their feelings for the meaning behind an action, instead of being overly descriptive. This has led to the major criticism of the show being confusing.

When it comes to anime, for years they've used the concept of MMOs as a marketing exercise to profit from falsely representing subgenres like Isekai as an MMO experience to abandon the theme halfway through the first episode instead of legitimately finding a way to incorporate it into the story. Sword Art Online and Log Horizon have come close while being praised for their accurate depictions by people who fanaticize about the MMO experience and how great it'd be to be trapped in one but give up quickly after seeing the time investment needed for these games. Shangri-La Frontier integrated the MMO experience with an ... anime narrative properly, but why have so many anime that came before and that will come after failed to?

When I think of the pillars that allow an MMO to succeed, there are three. Community, Gameplay and for longevity the developers. Of these the one that anime has best represented is community. Recovery of an MMO Junkie and My Love Story with Yamada-Kun at Lv999 have displayed how in-game friendships can blossom into real-life relationships. Log Horizon highlighted how people group to form guilds; and SAO depicted the leaderboard system for the players that cleared the most floors, which can be an important sense of accomplishment and determining factor for participating in content.

Shangri-La Frontier shows us Sunraku level-up and progress through the VR game allowing us to see a hero's journey and the gameplay elements. There are many parallels between a main character's story and that of the leveling process of an MMO. If you speed through either of them, the plot being conveyed is less rewarding and relationships with characters are weaker. Many anime faces the problem of rushing to when the MC is overpowered and that hurts our viewing experience. In Sword Art Online's case we don't get to see Kirito level up or clear Aincrad's floors, making his development feel undeserving. Ironically this is a popular criticism for many modern MMOs that put more effort into the endgame content, implementing things like in-game transactions that undermine the hard work of players to progress. Through the rush we end up lacking a surrounding cast to breathe life into the anime. The surrounding cast is much like the importance of an MMO having a strong community. If you are leveling in a game, interacting with players for resources, getting help with difficult content, or an endless list of unique player-generated scenarios; you'll become more immersed in the virtual world. SLF does this by introducing characters Sunraku's known from previous games; Pencilgon a rival and comrade across other games, longtime fellow trash game enjoyer Oikatzo, as well as NPC personalities of the unique realm Rabituza and to not forget the unreciprocated love interest Psyger-0.

The grind of the main characters of Shangri-La Frontier is an experience I know all too well after all MMOs have always been a part of my life. From family members no lifing Ultima Online and selling rare drops on Ebay to learning how to read from quests in World of Warcraft, and in the present where new titles end up disappointing me and I return once more to playing WoW. Throughout the years it's always been the case that MMO players are degenerates willing to sink ridiculous amounts of time in for their reason or addiction to the game. The saying: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." is a phrase that doesn't apply to the lows MMO players willingly reach. To that end the standard since the 2010s for participating in high-end content as casual or hardcore players alike is the perceived most optimal path to victory. Sunraku interacts with the world like I'd expect from a player pursuing end-game content. This is not the case for other anime that say the main character is a veteran or top player. Little things like Sunraku killing ridiculous amounts of rabbits for rare crit daggers, gathering ore for new equipment, or exploiting a mob spawn for better XP gains to level quicker. These things give SLF the feel of an MMO and the extra lengths quote-on-quote hardcore players are willing to go to for a slight damage increase or to be perceived as a better player.

I've had a lot of praise for this anime but unfortunately theirs a weakness I couldn't overlook, even when something is really enjoyable I’m a cynic. Unique encounters or scenarios are only possible in a utopian MMO. With the game boasting a player base of 30 million, there are just too many players not to leak information. Maybe someone's sharing this knowledge to help others or it might be their ego getting the better of them and want to flex they've done something others haven't, of course after they've reaped the benefits from it before it can become worse. Above all of these, we have the most sinister and dreaded reason, depending on who you ask, Datamining. Datamining is a process where data sets are extracted to figure out upcoming content. This could be something minor like cosmetics coming to a game or on a much larger scale like in the case of Season of Discovery, a reimagining of Original World of Warcraft, where the leaks let players know of changes to items or new gear, upcoming events, changes to bosses as well as power augments that were one of the main selling points for the remake. You might be thinking it's fiction, Shangri-La Frontier doesn't have to be realistic however to some extent fiction has to be drawn from reality. From every imaginable deterrent you can come up with, these companies have tried without lasting success to stop data miners.

Shangri-La Frontier is the best anime depiction of the MMO experience from how grindy the games can be, the importance of community and showcasing the mentality towards approaching end-game content. Combining all of these into one makes Shangri-La Frontier the new standard and what other video game anime should be looking to emulate.

Mushoku Tensei’s second season was the anime I’d been patiently waiting for ever since part two of the first season finished airing. This show is one of my favorite isekai of all time as well as being the best Isekai of Summer 2023. This is due to the fact it doesn’t abandon who the main character was before being isekai’d and found a balance between having a strong protagonist and obstacles that are difficult to overcome. The second season wasn’t the insane follow up to where we’d left off in the story some might’ve wanted, but was an important opportunity for Rudeus to look inward ... and address some of his thoughts and feelings.

The main obstacle of the season being his lack of libido came off as ridiculous, however when unpacked is a legitimate premise. Being abandoned by someone you’ve become so close with is bound to have negative psychological effects. The downward spiral that left Rudeus unconfident and fearful of getting close to someone ending up the same way was on full display. Time and time again, Mushoku Tensei has shown its willingness to ask difficult questions and distance itself from the plethora of mind numbing power fantasy isekai. I look forward to whatever is next in store for us.

When I reflect on My Home Hero I’m hit with a wave of disappointment because I wanted it to succeed so much. Tetsuo grappling with the immorality of taking someone’s life, being pulled farther into the depths of the criminal underworld and how his family might react to the truth. These were all interesting questions that I thought might be explored and I was let down every step of the way. The ease in which Kasen becomes a willing participant in her husband’s murder is wild, she doesn't second guess and say I can’t believe you killed someone, no she validates it and is the ... one that sets in motion the murder cover up.

We don’t get to see Tetsuo struggling mentally with the murder, instead it’s just about getting away with it. Any suspense My Home Hero might’ve had is destroyed by the husband and wife somehow becoming the ultimate special agents through Tetsuo being an author; excelling at hacking accounts, lockpicking, subterfuge and obfuscation is a bit too fantastical. Having the knowledge of how to commit a crime doesn't mean someone would be able to apply it successfully. In the end Tetsuo got everything he wanted and the only ramification was a scar on his head.

Hell’s Paradise was the best anime of Spring 2023 to me. It's like watching the mangaka write a love letter to Zen and Bushido philosophy. One of the easiest ways to sell myself on a show I know nothing about is by having a historical or mythological perspective, that way I’m entertained as I learn new things about a culture. The popularity of something like the Percy Jackson novel series or the game series Assassin's Creed speaks to this sentiment.

Hell’s Paradise had amazing fights and beautiful and grotesque visuals that helped convey a sense of duality to this mysterious island. While I ... really like Gabimaru, he’s a white haired shinobi so what’s not to love. The main character that really impressed me was Sagiri. It’s no secret that Shounen’s track record for female leads isn’t exactly the best, here Sagiri is one of the categories' outliers; actively participating in the story.

Someone that can appreciates Zen, many of the moments will remind you of the parables used for the art of swordsmanship, the samurai’s code of honor and conduct and lastly the mysteries and apparent paradoxes of Zen. The lack of prior knowledge about Zen or Bushido can take away from the subtleties of a moment, however at the end of the day I'd still recommend Hell's Paradise.

I had high hopes that the second season could pick up from where they left off in the finale of the previous season and fix the problems the middle half of the anime had. Unfortunately, this was not the case. I don’t want to spend too much time talking about the first season, but we need it to contextualize the current state of The Rising of the Shield Hero. Much of the first and last sections of the first season were focused on Naofumi adjusting to his new environment, finding a small group to call friends, and getting revenge for the wrongs done to him, ... all while an imminent world ending disaster could happen at any moment. 

Naofumi was the underdog because of the people and their misguided perceptions of his abilities as the shield hero and the lies that attacked his character. The thing is, the pacing failed to develop much of the minor cast around him, leaving their personalities and motives very bland, and occasionally the show would decide we needed to know more about them. When this shift of character priority happened, the storyline with Naofumi suffered, and it would feel like he was taking a backseat in his own story. While the first season did some things poorly, enough of a framework had been created to be hopeful for the second season to knock it out of the park. 

Immediately out of the gate the first episode hit us with exploring a character we were barely familiar with. The most we knew of Rishia was maybe half of the very last episode from last season, which means that her lack of involvement previously was so disorienting for returning viewers that it felt as if we had false memories of the first season. Combine this with rocky animation as many will attest to with the turtle monster. Then all of a sudden we are teleporting around, becoming friends with people that have wronged Naofumi and the people he cares about, as well as introducing character after character in lightning fast repetition. 

The whole time Naofumi just goes along with it, like a spectator to his own life. What happened to that character progression we saw? The times he refused help even if it negatively impacted him? As the shield hero Naofumi would take all the bad onto himself, it made for a complex character we knew was good but would act like a villain to protect the people he cared about and his own emotions. Sure this issue of pacing popped up last season but with the very title of the show being "The Rising of the Shield Hero" I thought maybe the shield hero would be playing a much bigger role, but instead the show just feels like the "Rising of the Heroes." 

This criticism doesn’t mean that characters like Raphtalia didn't deserve more time in the show; the issue is the way in which character development derailed the plot even further. At this point we’ve moved so far away from what’s been established that I don’t know what characters to care about, why we’ve abandoned the original world, and why the confrontations of last season mattered. It’s just chaos, and the lack of stability hurts how much we can be invested in the series. I did enjoy the progression of Raphtalia towards the end of the second season but it felt too rushed, hurting the impact of her change. In most good shows one character cannot bear the entire weight of the story. A healthy balance needs to be struck so the main character can grow and the plot blossom. 

It’s so sad to see the potential this show had going into the season be wasted, especially with the hype given by manga readers saying how good the story would become. I'm aware certain plot points from the manga were skipped, however the anime is its own thing and is criticized as such. I may not have been one of the biggest fans but I was excited enough to have been patiently waiting. I can’t see myself doing that again, with the upcoming season being slotted far earlier than the second. I find myself wondering if the season was good enough to give the third one a try. On the one hand, I’ve been left disappointed. On the other hand, we could go with a sunken cost fallacy. At the very least, The Rising of Shield Hero will not deserve to be watched seasonally episode by episode. 

Peach Boy Riverside just finished airing, and wow it fit in really well with all the other Summer 2021 season's mediocrity. Peach Boy Riverside is a Shounen Fantasy anime that follows the main characters Sally and Mikoto, who have a mysterious power that cause others to dub them "Peach Boy". Mikoto is a femboy that seeks the destruction of powerful Chinese, also known as ogres; that fear him for the power he wields. Sally is a tomboy that sought adventure outside her home nation, but finds herself as a ambassador for peace in the world. If you follow the three episode rule to determine if ... an anime is for you, well Peach Boy delivers a compelling argument to continue it. An interesting dichotomy between the main characters, a intriguing supporting cast and a provocative question.

Can different beings co-exist, or is the gulf between one another too great? Reality sinks in quickly, the viewer realizes this question can't be delivered on. To make matters worse it's incredible hard to watch due to the confusing placement of episodes. Due to the director's insistence on making Sally play a huge role from the beginning we lose out on who the story was meant to focus on, and that's Mikoto. The whole reason the anime is named the way it is, isn't to serve as clickbait. Rather the stories inspiration is from Japanese folklore named Momotaro, which translates to Peach Boy. Much like how the Witcher series was inspired by European folklore and mythology.

The great director Shigeru Ueda got it in his mind to purposefully air the anime out of sequential order. Ueda "felt" the real start of the story was when Sally and Frau met. I can't figure out who to blame, the director or Gekidol for not waiting till the manga completed the needed volumes for the series to animate. This is where there can be some hope for those that might have wanted to give this anime a chance. Don't watch this animation how it was aired, rather in the intended Time Series version.

Maybe this is my fault, I don't look at reviews or look up information on the shows. I try to form a opinion on a episode to episode and completed work basis. No matter what Shigeru Ueda believes about the web comic or manga, he's gave me a migraine reflecting. Pacing is important for entertainment, things that compromise that hurt effectiveness of what the narrative is trying to convey. The issue is Ueda doesn't understand narrative techniques, the aired version has such an over compensation with flashbacks and flashforwards. This is different then something like So I'm a Spider, So What? that tried to implement a unique narrative tool and failed.

Watching as the series' aired and the story progressed, it became evident that the important characters were backseated for the director's vision. Without Mikoto's backstory he felt like a hollow character with no reason but hate for mercilessly killing ogres. Frau is a mysterious demi-human is used as relief and to show Sally's strength. I was curious in who or what her backstory was and due to decisions outside of the anime's control, I was left disappointed. Sumeragi is meant to be the main antagonist and yet due to airing order feels more like a lovable puppeteer.

As a viewer how are we suppose to be surprised or left in suspense due to a cliffhanger ending to an episode when we already know the resolution. Other integral characters needed for moving the plot along had their crucial moment turned into a blindside. It's hard to reference a particular moment from another anime as a 1 to 1 example, but it's pretty much like if an important object or character randomly showed up with no introduction and your expected to understand their role. It's disappointing to see potential, especially in fantasy; be wasted.

Just a typical fantasy ecchi trope anime, doesn't try to be anything else. MC is really boring as usual, nothing wrong with that. Plot is relatively straightforward as well.

Though likely low budget it has solid quality, which I'd say was slightly better than another fantasy anime Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? that came out Winter 2021 as well. (Guess anime still struggles with meshing animation and CGI)

If you enjoy an op mc with a harem enjoy the time you'll waste watching this, I know I did. Look out for episode five, it's the most enjoyable episode of the show. This isn't a must watch ... for the genre, if you've got some spare time enjoy a lewd laugh.