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Jan 8, 2025
Sailor Moon Season 1
Well 2025 started off with a BANG as the long term series I selected was none other than the pioneering magical girl series “Sailor Moon”. I had a hunch that it could potentially hit that My Little Pony Hunch that I ventured through in 2024. And while not a 1:1 experience, did this ooze and even match that same level of friendly, comical, and unexpected thrilling narrative shifts that had me at the edge of my bed.
This season had many ingredients that I fell in love with: the comedy and silliness of our characters, the concept of the dark world
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and silver crystal, and their identities and powers hanging in the balance. With the inclusion of the surprising jazzy soundtrack that lifted the battle scenes, background music, and transformations to the incredible character designs that included scary elements to balance the cute and vibrant nature with 90s horror styled monsters and villains, the aesthetics were shocking, delightful and ahead of its time.
If these aspects weren’t enough, this show contains some of the most unorthodox and adept climaxes and alteration of moods I’ve seen in anime, specifically the reveal of the Usagi, the guardians, and Tuxedo man’s links to the Dark Kingdom as well another mouth opening final three episodes that cemented the series’ impact. Never has a series killed off its long tenured members piece by piece in order to reset it into an open ended/fatalistic reunion. Also with the addition of each girl having a romantic interest and perception of love, it gave those sluggish moments life and meaning that was enjoyable to see them get nervous or anxious about.
Overall, my first impression of Sailor Moon blew me away. With its great cast of characters, earth shattering reveals and narrative shifts, a simple but interest plot device of the crystals and dark world, to the aesthetics of transformations, monsters, and characters designs, and the playful bantering with a touch of romantic pining, Sailor Moon as made its mark and has me excited to continue the series! While I may still struggle with my preference of Usagi or Rei and with not rushing through the rest of it to preserve it, maybe I do find the anime equivalent to MLP. 8-8.5/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 1, 2024
A show that is both sedentary and nomadic, serene yet venturesome, Moomin is a surprising series that spreads its cozy and warm approach and pairs it up with electrifying yet mystical and mythical adventure and wisdom. This is treated as a children’s show but with many of the mature stories and fables Moomin includes, it is wondrous how explorative and intricate this show is from a place that is secluded and unhurried. A lovable cast, incredible music, a healthy and welcoming family that exudes and establishes a nonjudgmental (besides little my) environment, simplicity in its plots alongside some awe inspiring occurrences, this show seamlessly blends
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and mixes the still life with idle.
One of the stand out elements this show contains is its episode to episode continuity. The pacing from episodic to miniature to longer arcs gives this show subtle vast and strong storytelling. Not knowing whether one episode will lead into the next episode or be the start of a new adventure adds to the spontaneity and unexpected thrill this show consistently has. To add on, we experience the Moomin’s during all four seasons which allows episodes and arcs to go alongside the weather and seasonal conditions thus adding to the events matching their day to day life. It’s gives a specific timeline, conclusion, and beginning to the quaint and injected supernatural life they go on to live. It’s inspiring to see that the world still moves on as they are hibernating and when they do disturb the balance of things they come upon new things they shouldn’t or wouldn’t have otherwise been made aware of.
Moomin in comfort, adventurous, playful, lazy, and explorative. It’s one of the special gems I’ve discovered on my anime and animation journey. Never have I seen a show go from making pancakes one episode to suddenly their unacknowledged world become a new world they need to escape to seeing mythical legends; this should feel jarring and slapdash but it isn’t. Perhaps that is the reason why Moomin is marvelous as it’s an empty and lonely town that suddenly and unintentionally finds itself in the midst of the supernatural and is that helping hand that will not deny anyone or anything. Moomin is a series that is that warm embrace after a hard day. Seeing them accept and incorporate so many different types of people like Alesia, not fearing leaving their home looking for that spark like in the lighthouse, learning about our character’s pasts and personalities like with Moominpappa and Snufkin, and accepting the bizarre nature of their circumstances with the Hobgoblin, Phoenix, Ice Queen, Imps, this show manages to be more adventurous than majority of shows try to be just by simply staying put. All of this chaos gravitates to them. They figure it out and make it apart of their lives. There’s a world outside them but there is also a world within them. Time to go to hibernation. 8.5/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 31, 2024
An unexpected show that captured my heart. Girls’ Last Tour is the CGDCT that was made for me. Cute and existential is an unorthodox combo but it gave me comfort and a sense of clarity. There is something about confining in the hopelessness of life and still experiencing and discovering the simple pleasantries of the every day life. Conversations go from casual to banter to informational to emotional flawlessly. The people, animals, and machines, they meet along the way give our characters more empathy and understanding of the world around and behind them which also taps into having this one and only encounter with them,
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deepening the empirical spirit. Despite this, the most impressive aspect of this show was the score; The music heightens and amplifies this show’s presence. Lingering stares and pans into the sunset, rain sounds and such fills the space perfectly and adds grappling yearning and serenity. The music enhanced the experience and this might be one of the best soundtracks I have heard.
Girls’ Last Tour is cute, existential, desolate, and wondrous. Two girls trying to find hope in the hopeless as they ration and deal with scarcity with one another. They joke and get serious while learning about the world around them. With a soundtrack that ties in and accompanies their adventure, this show is true brilliance! It also might have become one of my all time favorite series. 9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 25, 2024
(THIS WILL INCLUDE THE SPOILERS, FINAL ACT, and NO Yashahime)
Inuyasha is one of the most unique shounen series in the medium as it combines action, supernatural, and romance seamlessly. This allows the show to dip into story lines and commit to tone shifts that coincide with our characters development with relationships and themselves. All of these elements play alongside one another which makes the show feel even more connected. The lengthy but focused cast also allows the show’s trajectory and direction to fulfill their resolve and ambitions which makes the group concerted effort valiant and worthwhile. With the addition of the Shikon Jewel, Naraku, Kikyo,
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and Sesshomaru, it allows all walks of life to aim for their goal. The love triangle between Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyo injects romance in ways shounen believes it can do. As multifaceted and ahead of its time this show can be, there are some serious issues that keep this show from being the pristine masterpiece it should have been.
The first 2-3 season is some of the best anime I have experienced as the pacing, tragedies, and encounters were magnificent. Unfortunately the quality and consistency falls off a cliff as the filler and non canon arcs kills this shows momentum as it turned to a slog and made for arcs that wouldn’t have any relevance down the line. Following this was the over-stayed Naraku. At first he was a sensational villain as he controlled every demon around and moved around his incarnation like a chess board with a menacing presence, however, the series runs into serious pacing issues when they suddenly make every battle with his involvement: a flee spree, a “this all part of my plan” excuse, resting and sending third rate and unmemorable villains to do his fighting, and over complicating dead plot lines or magically bringing those dead plot lines back. The inclusion of Hakudoushi and the band of seven also hindered and slowed down any and all progression of the story. I understand the build up and purpose but it got to the point where finishing the final season and the final act became a chore vs the anticipation and brilliance it had in its first three seasons. It seemed the later half of the show was always on the line of brilliant and “what is this?”. In some ways, The final act does manage to bandage the broken and uninteresting parts with its inclusion of strong performances from Sesshomaru and Kohaku but still manages to still feel written to work rather than building up to this point. To add on, the animation and battles were never flashy or objectively impressive. The more dramatic and sentimental parts were more stand out which for a show that’s heavily invested in its theories and techniques, is a bit disappointing.
Inuyasha is one of the most bizarre experiences I’ve had with an anime. It had a Cinderella-like start as every facet of it had me claiming and praising how amazing and marvelous it was with its concept, female cast, blend of romance and action, and antagonists. Then the further along it went on, the more it became uninteresting with its filler, pacing, overstayed villains/groups, and unsatisfying and convoluted callbacks. I was ready to mark this show as one of my all time favorites but I suppose that is why we don’t count our chickens before they hatch. This was still a fun experience and also further proves to me that no show is ever the same. An ending I felt a bit underwhelmed but also satisfied with just about explains my feelings about this show. Oh also Sesshomaru and Kagome are amazing characters. Thanks for the memories, Inuyasha 🐾🗡️💎
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 30, 2024
What is your definition of love? Is it romance that is built up from youth? Long tenured loyalty that stands the test of time? Spontaneous, unexplainable and instantaneous ardent feelings that come in not waves but a tsunami? Is it the grappling and sensual physical passion that isn’t appropriate to tell the youth? The intimate and emotional connection that fulfills your being and makes the world feel easy and infinite? Rarely does romance in Anime capture any of these qualities or elements as the formula of 12-24 episode experiences leaves a lot to be desired with the rushed process, growth, and realism that one envisions
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and actually experiences.
Maison Ikkoku is one of the best romance stories to be told in the medium as this 80s gem created by the illustrious Rumiko Takahashi delivers a true to life story of how two ordinary people find their way to each other through the difficulties of grief, obstacles, profession, and nosey instigating neighbors and family. I was astonished at how grounded and down to earth this show’s toned managed to be. This 96 episode romantic voyage immerses one into the slow-burn interactions, drama, and everyday life of the characters which subverts majority of romance stories. This allows for the days and interactions to go by as we slowly collect dialogue, personal developments, and actions that will make its way into our character’s ever growing relationship. The internal monologue that describes their guilt or intentions, the jealousy of potential threats or reminders that they are not with each other, the thought process of how a certain event or conversation will go, and tid-bits of their honest and true feelings that can come out in visible anger or infatuation.
Sometimes it takes six episodes to get the confirmation or validation; that brief green light to keep the hope alive or the opposite occurs where the humanism in mistakes and misinterpretations causes a spiraling of clashing and step-backs to the relationships. The way the show includes hidden feelings stacked on-top of situationships and constant misunderstandings makes for non-stop drama and developments. It’s this exact pacing and natural slow style that gives Maison Ikkoku such an authentic and relatable depiction of the development of romance. The longer episode count establishes worthwhile payoffs which makes those monotonous and inactive moments so climatic as the inflated conflict bubble pops and the spicy and important progression blooms and slaps you across the face. Even then, it can still feel like these subtle and minor moments are monumental and a big step forward while also staying in the same place. It’s this constant push and pull between vital and stagnant which is genuine and too damn real. At times it’s all of this time and work for a simple hello or an answer to the curiosity that was eating at their mind. Other times it’s more substantial as maybe one wants to know if this chase is pointless or to finally be honest with the way they make them feel. This patient and honest approach is what separates Maison Ikkoku from any and all romance anime to date.
When discussing Maison Ikkoku, the most prominent element to the show is the premise. Your typical romance or harem would include the on-standby individuals that go through of whirlwind of romantic awkwardness and tenderness only for a childhood friend to faintly shake the landscape only to not be a realistic chance. Rant and bashing aside, the stage is always set for the genre which can make for the same formulaic resolves and downpour of events. Maison Ikkoku puts Kyouko in the position of being a young widow who is convinced that her death partner was the love of her life. There is no physical threat but an emotional and nostalgic presence that never got to bloom. There is no amount of intimacy or pleasure that can shake the confines of impede love. This is the entire balance of the show as the main love pursuits stand no chance regardless of how charming or swooning they are. The only thing that can deter Kyouko is the natural process of grief and acceptance, the depth here is unmatched. Also side note, I loved the symbolism of the dog being her holding onto her husband and that constant reminder that he will always be with her.
One of the most important elements and advantages Maison Ikkoku has is the age and setting of the characters. Compared to the average show that takes place in high school which is more impulsive, hormone driven, and coy, the adult cast allows for much more interesting situations and failures that entice the exposition and issues. The cast is filled with brimming, lively, and frustrating characters that only add onto the theatrics which makes situations both better and worse. The gossiping and no life lodge members that will have you wanting Godai to move out the residency but at the same time, they invest so much time and effort into knowing what’s going on that you are kind of appreciative of it. The flings they characters have going create this initial rivalry and love polygon that’s filled with longing, hope, and non commitment. You see all the sides of jealousy, competition, halfhearted and unsure time spent. It’s just a cluster of constant seeds being planted for those major professions and confessions that shake up the entire livelihood of their well being and attitudes. A drunken night has a confession go horribly wrong, a late shift has caused anxiety and fear, girls visiting the lodge brings snarky and annoyed tones, the prying in from outsiders adds onto the undecided and confused feelings the characters harbor. At almost every point the setting and the vast cast have their fingerprints on the outcomes and resolutions of the show. This transitions into another masterful part that Maison Ikkoku executes beautifully is with its connections. The threads that the characters and plot find themselves in throughout the series gives effectual occurrences. How naturally the character go on about their own life’s and how aware they are of these arrangements and acts is the icing on this shows everlasting and inching experience. No matter how annoying the tenants and members are, they directly influence and notify the romance balance and outlook is by bringing those hidden urges and desires up, the perfect way to further this silent and passive aggressive cat and mouse affair.
Briefly, I wanted to mention some of the more production aspects to the Maison Ikkoku. I was always left astonished with the cinematography as the frames would freeze in what seems like an eternity, the music is snatched from the scene, and the moment plays out to which we all are at the edge of seats. Speaking of the music, Maison Ikkoku has an empyrean and saccharine soundtrack with its playful and still life nature. The mind-blowing aspect about the OST is in the key and climatic moments as it seems the budget and attention matches the stunning and decisive moments. The show suddenly gains such orchestral expressiveness, softness and melancholy with its shimmering pianos and violins that it’s quaint and staggering. To have this accompany the payoffs to the story and the love narrative of our characters is nothing short of breathtaking.
All of what I have said isn’t my definition of love but as someone who hasn’t had any success with romance or the dating world, this style seems to be the most convincing and captivating. It’s the small and intimate moments where you see if they are paying attention to you, the anger and jealousy one gets when they are with someone else, the strong-willed determination and support they give that they brush off as if it was always apart of their own character, the unhurried evolution of actions and words that suddenly become building blocks for your feelings towards them. All of this blossoms into this beautiful story that plays with and pulls your heartstrings. This is only capable of happening because of the amount of commitment and time spent with these characters and their stories. I value this more organic execution and story of love as it shows you the trials and tribulations of the good and bad for the entire series. The uneventful, the boring, the wins, the losses, the hair pulling madness, and the rewarding fuzzy, story book moments. Maybe it’s crazy to ask for 50+ episode romance shows that take a more insistent approach but it’s one of the few love stories that has opened my heart and has me searching to the ends of the earth for something that has 3/4 of this experience. Maison Ikkoku is a one of a kind series that its contemporaries and everything preceding it have failed to capture. Whether that’s because of the modern attention span fueled by the limited and cutthroat expected amount of episodes, or how the shift and demand of romance differs in today’s generation from its creators, Maison ikkoku will always be ahead of the curve and proves to be one of the best and most underrated romance journeys in Anime. It’s a series that I randomly stumbled upon and ended up falling in love with. While it’s not a show that changed my world, it has changed a lot about how I view romance, relationships, and the pursuits of it. Anime and Manga creators, if you are listening, PLEASE make longer and realistic romance stories. These are some of the most satisfying and well told stories because they are the core of what everyone needs and wants in this life. Whether it is a happy or sad story, ending, it’s real and honest and that’s all that matters. 8.5/10
Weaknesses
- Sporadic Jumps in Career Path
- Quick Time Frame
- Some Background Characters can be uninteresting or insufferable
Favorite OPs
OP3: Suki Sa
OP4: Sunny Shining Morning
Favorite EDs
OP5: Hidamari
OP1: Kanashimi yo
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 5, 2023
2013. Perhaps 2014. This was the first time I watched Attack on Titan, before the true weeb and true animation enthusiast became a part of my person and existence. Ever since then, I've been on a rollercoaster as I experienced the delays/on-and-off scheduling that would plague the series for the next decade. Today on November 3rd 2023, this journey and work of fiction is finally put to rest. This review will consist of only this finale but one could take the message and words as an entire encapsulation of the series.
When discussing an episode, one would immediately dive into the story, ending, cinematography,
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juxtaposition, music, animation, transitions, dialogue, and such, however, Attack on Titan is a series where these elements and their execution come as no surprise. They have consistently blown away and giving countless unforgettable experiences with their pacing, explosive action packed climaxes, and beautifully written interactions that result in the best display and showcase of any animated works. From the team centered nostalgia built battles, epic transformations, and clutch moments from the scouts on Eren's Body as they fight the past titans, the glimpses of timelines and the lessons learned, the animosity and impending death of the rumbling for the citizens and the world, the desolate and hopelessness of the situation when Armin isn't able to be active, the professing and reminiscing between characters and their memories with Ymir, Mikasa, and Eren, it is all masterful and exquisite.
The main idea I wanted to commend and praise were the more overall thematic concepts and messaging. While many can see the finality of the series as divisive and disappointing with some more Shounen approach of love, emotions, timelines, and togetherness, the intertwining of these elements proved to be well written and realistically depicted as it comes from a series that has made its name from this typical carnage and despair.
Attack on Titan captures the plights and struggle of the human condition through the lens of fatalism of war and the butterfly effect and how that transpires into regret and sacrifice. This includes this finale to have a philosophical identity filled with existentialism that is both bleak and hopeful which captures the humanity of life and freedom. Is genocide the only way to give my species and people a chance at a normal life? To remove the stigma that has been eternal to give my loved ones the life everyone deserves. There is only one path and one future and it is inevitable so is it better to reluctantly submit to this future or to ruminate on other hypothetical situations that would not have freed our people but only give them a momentary cure? Despite all this toiling, pain, and endlessness, this life is still worth living. Its the sentimental moments like throwing a baseball, running to a tree with your friends, and the connections we make. It is the love we have for our friends, families, peers, communities. It is the sacrifices people have exerted for our own benefit and for the future that we will not get to see or witness. Attack on Titan morbidly but accurately depicts the passage of time and the perpetual cycle of humanity. All the training, war, optimism, victories, death, heartaches, despair was worth it to liberate his loved ones as they are the pillar of the worlds for the next generation. The stories are passed down, the cycle is broken, and one day all the progress we have made will inevitably loop back to that initial fear and destruction whether it was from intentional evils or curiosity in the most distorted and human way possible. The balance of hopeless and bleakness. The conflicting duality and layers to our existence and approach to life is what Attack on Titan represents. It still begs the question, are we really free when we are born into this world considering the path set out for us and the potential hardships along the way? I'm sure I missed a lot of plot points and analysis but that's okay. This finale is a spiritual and philosophical experience that not only ends one of the best must-watch pieces that anime and animation has to offer but one of the best works of stories and fiction to be told. I was alive to see and witness Attack on Titan. Thank you for the ride!
End.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Oct 27, 2023
Fire Force has me dumbfounded of the acclaim and identity it has garnered in the anime community and with how I initially dropped this after 6 episodes. Coming into and revisiting this, I had anticipated a shameless and polarizing shounen but what I got was one of the most impressive and consistent shounens I have watched in my intermediate anime career. This experience is eerie similar to Food Wars where I think the ecchi and trashy elements are highly over exaggerated and magnified which is unfair for a show that has so much going for it.
Fire Force is an all around bundle of goodness
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as it hits the mark on all facets of plot, world, characters, emotions, action, and comedy. The plot is simple but still includes some surprisingly depth, emotion, and twists that make it captivating. There’s a great balance of the general infernal outbreak, character motivation, district involvement, and evangelist antagonists that all coexist well. The characters are easy to root for and love since they work and play off each other fantastically. One of the main elements I wanted to point out is how beautifully they intertwine the squads and districts. majority of shows shove an abundant amount of characters, senseis, and squads, which all eventually become forgettable or overwhelming. Fire Force has it so we are allowed time to get familiar with a squad only to then seamlessly interact with other squads and allow them time. It does this for the entire season and it makes their world and characters recognizable and important. A potential weak-spot could be the lack of stand out characters as I think there is potential, nice depth, and cohesion but does lack a strong and solo presence that many anime do capture better and faster. The action and choreography is exquisite with its well paced build ups, incredible sound design, and explosive rush of sequences. The overall tone and seriousness is apparent as the show does a great job letting the emotional moments linger and the seriousness remain undisturbed. There is also a realistic sense of humanism with their power system, power source, and generations. Well… that is 90% of the truth until one of the obvious blemishes comes into play with the addition of Tamaki as she becomes a perverted magnet which does taint the established attitude and atmosphere of the show. While her parts are suppose to be over the top and fan service directed, it can be ridiculous even to the most open-minded viewer. Luckily these moments are overstated and is what I expected for majority of this show. There are only a hands worth of these moments which I don’t think is enough to represent the total identity of the series and everything it has going for it.
With few blemishes that can be easily reworked and fixed, I am surprised and excited for what this series holds. There’s a solid foundation with the plot points and characters with the insane quality of the emotion, depth, and action. I would like to see more from our other members like Maki, Arthur, and maybe other squads from both a combat and person stand point. Less Tamaki but I’m sure she will making an appearance. This series seems to perhaps lack in impactful and infamous villains and hype worthy climaxes. Can S2 and onward address these issues? Nonetheless, Fire Force is great! 9/10
1. Benimaru
2. Maki
3. Shinra
4. Lisa
5. Arthur
6. Giovanni
7. Sho
8. Hinawa
9. Obi
10. Burns
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Sep 7, 2023
I have never had an experience like this before in anime. The closest I can compare this to is the infamous school days with its pacing and developments. Love Flops goes through transformative progression that is awful, incredible and it somehow sticks the landing.
The first 3-4 eps start off as your classic recycled and generic harem show. Nothing special besides some funny interactions. Ecchi but in the most obvious and mundane way we have seen. Each candidate bonds with our main character Asahi with some genuine and cute moments and break throughs. A nice twist is added when we discover that Asahi’s father was
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the one who arranged this situation as to find him a bridesmaid in typical harem fashion. It sticks to this formula for the early part in the show.
Then for episodes 5-6 we are suddenly propelled into some of the most deplorable, out the ass, and immature twists. A couple of the girls have their bonding time with Asahi but it quickly turns into this ridiculous turn of superpowers and abilities for all the girls. The middle school humor is also horrendous. They had this plot line of male chastity or something and they needed to put this device on 69 people. Yeah…. Going into this anime, all I heard about this show was that it was ecchi and it contained this twist but it was not revealed. Surely, this out-of-nowhere element of shounen and magic girl inclusion would be the twist that I had been hearing about, right?
Episodes 7-9 is a tale of two cities as it has this incredulous reveal of the presence of AI and simulation. This harem that Asahi is experiencing is all simulated and AI generated. They also are gathering and using other people’s idea of life to give the Ai those capabilities. This system has AI’s trying to learn how to love through the time spent with Asahi which connects the earlier part of the season. Asahi goes through some intense emotions and is disturbed by the separation. The shifts in tone are jarring and realistic since he’s so hopeless and confused. I love the perspective that this harem is actually taken away from him and erased in a blink of an eye. It’s an angle I have not seen in my experience with harem anime. it was unnerving and unbelievable how this was the same show that I started.
Finally, episodes 10-12 is the acceptance of the madness from this story as it intertwines all the underlying stories and uses all the time these characters spent together along with the AI twist. Since the AI gains sentience, it has the objective to delete all the other girls and take over the network. One of the more fascinating parts of this show is the character of Ai/Aoi. The origin of Aoi came from this scientist whose daughter died young, her name was Ai. He used Ai’s remaining brain data to preserve her life in his Ai project and girls. This same dying girl, is also directly related to Asashi as this was his childhood friend he grew up with. When she died, he struggled immensely and resorted to this AI program that needed volunteers to humanize and evolve their AI. It becomes this beautiful but morbid coping mechanism as Asahi used this AI program to escape the reality and pain of Ai dying. We discover that the reason this Ai takeover occurred was because there was a simultaneous combination of the actual Ai that was stored from the father and the Ai that Asahi was spending time with. These colliding feelings caused this error as those worlds started to become one since the programmed Aoi was reliving and reexperiencing asahi’s and AI’s relationship. As previously stated, the father inputted the remaining brain data into this Ai program so now those 5 girls are essentially small parts of an unawakened Ai or entirely Ai, whichever way you want to look at it. This is where we see the AI’s process of learning how to love starting to heavily relate and reflect to the experiences asahi and Aoi shared. Then, Each of the 4 remaining girls have their interactions and moments with Asahi. They are really sweet and touching as they have to sacrifice themselves for Asahi to reach Ai. This type of depth in the characters connection and this entire AI projecting and juxtaposition is not what I expected as it’s so brilliant. It’s this eerie comorbidity that is gradually built up to which is ingenious.
With Ai and Asahi reconnecting, we are shown their history from childhood until her unfortunate death. They relive their past, the times they could have had, and go on this intense and emotional dramatic argument about regret, dreams, love, and grief. It’s touching and genuine. This resolution was quite heavy and harrowing as they both need to get the closure of their situation, love, and accept the thing they both have been running away from. Not only did the childhood friend win, but this becomes one of my favorite love sequences in any anime I’ve seen as this show is a lot deeper than meets the eye. They sort of drop the ball with the ending as all the girls come back and it was a missed chance to leave this anime on an impressive and growth filled end note which does make this another weird blemish.
Going into this show, I simply wanted big ol titties and shameless fan service. What I got was a fever dream that was unconventional and peculiar which still was able to result in satisfying and great moments which has me conflicted. There’s equally many weak points and blemishes as there are brilliances that are high quality and gradually established or hinted about. To go from generic harem, to trashy, to sci-fi, and into an emotional and reflective love story was kind of fascinating. This experience feels like how the usual Visual Novel adaption goes with it being confusing and messy and it being a coin flip whether it works or not. I don’t know if what I watched was trashy, great, or a masterpiece but that’s okay. It was a unique experience that I think rarely happens. It truly does challenge the way I review and view media, that’s for sure.
7-10/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 30, 2023
Note: This is a Review for the entire series so massive spoilers and developments might be included.
Gintama is an unorthodox deconstruction for the animation medium. It includes some of the most comedic, meta, bizarre, emotional, and monumental stories to ever be developed. On the surface, Gintama comes off as a parodical sitcom that loves to entertain. In onion layer theory fashion, it reveals the overarching story in bits. Sprinkles of subtle foreshadowing, slow burn build ups, and serious arcs injects Gintama with a new, epic, explorative, and thrilling inclusion. The tone shifts from hilarity and joy to stern and bleakness. Shocking backstories and histories
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are exposed, expanded upon, and fleshed out. Jaw dropping and intense fights accompanied by well crafted dialogue is so satisfying to witness. This blend of comedy and seriousness gives Gintama a vast amount of layers, depth, intricacies and is such a brilliant contrast. It’s an investment but it is worthwhile and fulfilling for anyone who loves comedy and slow paced developments.
Author Hideaki Sorachi puts so much love and thought into his villains and minor/background characters. It’s astonishing how well written he can intertwine all these moving parts, roles, and stories while also establishing a realistic, redeeming, and empathic approach to the villains and antagonists. It confuses me how well written, lovable, and admirable the entire cast of Gintama is. It was perplexing to see an afterthought or small inclusion be involved with the climaxes of the show and given such life changing growth and importance. Someone like the Shogun who was always used as the butt of the joke turns into the most dramatic and selfless character in the series. Otse is just a landlord and is discovered that she plays an integral role with the past and current development of the city. This is only made possible by the sitcom nature of the show as it constantly includes them in their day-to-day shenanigans and adds do the shows overall presence. To add on, the way the word villain transforms into antagonist into anti-hero with its evolution and maturity throughout the series is tremendous. Takasugi, Utsuro, Kamui, Oboro, Isaburo, Nobunobu and Enshou. They give off a presence of fear, intimidation, ruthlessness, and classic diabolical aura. While they are all this, they are all wounded inside and fighting their own battle of revenge and morality which is remarkable to see develop. With the combination of progression of villains, the use of minor characters and their the overall togetherness, it is no surprise how this show contains one of the best casts in Anime.
So what is Gintama? It is an Action-Comedy-Samurai-Scifi-Meta-Parody-Drama-Sitcom Shounen that will make you feel every emotion in the spectrum. But I feel it is so much more. From the small details of the intricacies that characters do, to the OP/ED change ups to fit the arcs or joke, and those minute details and self aware nature, Gintama always finds a way to give their arcs and singular episodes a fitting and impressive story and conclusion. Sakata Gintoki’s journey is representative of the centralized main themes and messages found throughout the show. He runs away from his past, he holds in anger and guilt for the world he exists in which slowly consumes him, feels lost and purposeless which gives him this careless and lackadaisical way of carrying himself, and is constantly remembering the death and violence he has experienced and seen. The dynamic between his sensei Shoyo and comrades Takasugi and Katsura is a heavy and distressing one. Shoyo taught them that change is possible. It doesn’t matter what led you to where you are, he will take your burden as his and help you overcome it. Shoyo’s unconditional love paired up with his wise, reflective, and sincere teachings shaped and molded these lost causes and gave them purpose. This is all thrown aside as Gintoki was forced to decide between his Sensei or Comrades. He would either be ending the life of someone who gave him that initial purpose and mentality or ending the brotherhood and future between him and his comrades. It’s a moral quandary that leaves with no winners and leaves you emotionally scarred. The only right decision was to kill his sensei and continue to spread his teachings through themselves. This would prove to be difficult as Gintoki copes by internalizing, drinking, and being avoidant. While he must gradually face the past that he has outran his entire life, it’s not until he makes new friendships and bonds that he starts to overcome his trauma, find his purpose, and do what he believes is right. Him starting the Odd Jobs company is the embodiment of having Shoyo live through him and continuing what Shoyo instilled in him. He is helping people the same way shoyo helped him and he is teaching the next generation the ways of Shoyo that will continue to grow. It turns out he can save his sensei after all. All that and its not even a breakdown to his character in terms of the show. His outcast and not traditional nature makes him stand out from every other main character in the medium. I find his origins, upbringing, fall outs, and how he used to internalize it all to be so relatable and horrifying. The reveal of his conflicting story that made him lose his purpose and sense of self is so poetic and tragic. It’s masked in him being the opposite of your typical anime protagonist as he drinks, is lazy, a diabetic, complains, and just your average adult. And all that is apart of what Gintama represents. To live and believe in your Samurai way. To not runaway from the past or be held down by it. You can be redeemed. You can change. You can learn. As long as the sun shines, we will live another day. Another day to find your purpose and fight to improve. Find your purpose through people, new friends, neighbors, helping other. Fighting for what’s right and staying true to your samurai way. Whether you’re a Gintoki, a villain, or a side character, you’ll find your purpose as long as you are willing to work on it.
To conclude this, I’d like to leave off with some personal self reflection of not only these 6 months but what this show has symbolized. Sorry if this is scrambled or messy. It’s how I feel right now as I conclude this post and review. For as long as I can remember, I always felt life was suppose to be busy, productive, and forceful. Whether it was with my music career pursuit, weight loss, loneliness, or issues with my relationships, it always felt like I had to overcompensate and have some aspect of that be this looming cloud of impending doom. There was this sense of being rushed, needing to do something, or this underlying deadline that didn’t exist. Always fearful of nothing too much, not enough, or doing nothing. Gintama is the perfect example of things taking balance and moving at your own pace. It was in those couple of months where I struggled and was heavily involved when I finally started to change my diet and lifestyle. 25lbs later, I’m so much healthier, happy, zen, acceptive, and emphatic towards myself. In a time where I always needed to be working toward something and have productivity show, Gintama and that entire weight loss journey were both examples of needing to slow down, be considerate, and be consistent. Much like Gintoki and many characters running away or being consumed by their past, it was always something I knew but had trouble starting to accept and overcome. Eventually, I am where I am today because of the more caring, accountability, consistency, and balance I’ve given myself. My mentality is not as cynical or pessimistic, I want to be out and be happy, I want to reconnect with others and bridge the gap, things are better with my family and siblings, I’m okay with those tough conversations. Currently our house is being remodeled and it makes me feel like the past is being removed and we are instilling a new chapter. It’s crazy how unfamiliar genuine optimism, hope, and a brighter future is. This is healing and it feels weird to be open, empathetic of others and myself, and to not have this cloud of negativity always there. To feel at peace and be able to smile and know I just have to continue what is going on is refreshing and calming. I don’t have to know what I’ll do or plan. I have reconnected with myself and I don’t think I’d be here without Gintama being there by my side. Gintama becomes one of the most important pieces of medium on my life. I can’t quite put in words how impactful and special this show is for me. I mean I tried but I’m 1400+ words and I still haven’t been able to it justice.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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