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If I had to choose between Hidden Dungeon and its near-peer DanMachi, I ironically would pick the former. Although Hidden Dungeon is essentially what you would expect (a trashy, harem, romcom, fantasy adventure with a dungeoning twist), it does so without reservation or apology. This ends up making it significantly more enjoyable and, surprisingly rewatchable.

Story: 7/10

The story or overall plot progression of Hidden Dungeon is pretty standard. You have your very typical character introduction (via narration), some opening arcs to set the scene and introduce the main girls, a few growth arcs, some fillers, and finally the ultimate battle at the end. If you're ... looking for some philosophical deep-take, you probably will be disappointed; but if you're just looking for a good time, then it's about perfect. The pacing is decent, the arcs have pretty solid lead-ins, and you end the show with a good understanding of the characters and world.

My only issue in this regard would be the pretty underwhelming exploration of the premise: The MC can create any skill. If the show took itself a little more seriously and expanded on this idea more, it could be a lot bigger and better.

Tl;dr - Plot is standard, not bad not good.

Character: 9/10

By far the character writing is what saved the show from becoming an even worse version of DanMachi. While the harem girls aren't necessarily unique or memorable, their character designs and initiative sets them just a bit apart from the typical, ultimately making them much more enjoyable to watch; and I think this is in part due to the show knowing itself.

Unlike with a typical harem cast where the girls are passive, these girls take the initiative and work towards their harem. Some examples of this includes kissing the MC in Episode 1 (yes, you read correctly), accepting that the MC has a weird lecherous quirk instead of trying to bash his head in every 5 seconds without even listening to reason, being powerful in their own right, not waiting for the MC to be their white knight, speaking their mind about their interest for the MC and acknowledging each other as rivals without excessive jealousy, etc. All of these and more make these girls much more interesting to watch, and enhances rather than detract from the show.

Tl;dr - The girls aren't annoying and actually show proper affection to their target MC

Art/Animation: 7/10

The art and animation is slightly substandard for a typical harem adventure. This is most obvious in terms of the intricacy of skill effects and such. Other than that, it holds up well in terms of attention to detail, continuity, and style. Doesn't detract from or add to the show.

Rewatchability: 7/10

Ultimately, I have to say I enjoyed the show. I wouldn't go out of my way to rewatch it, but I might just pick it up again if I happen to remember. It gave me some good laughs, and doesn't try to fool its viewers or pretend to be a grander show. Sometimes, that's all you can ask for, as long as you don't go in expecting too much.

If you're watching DanMachi expecting a swashbuckling dungeon adventure tale or a heart-swooning harem romance, then you'll be sorely disappointed. I decided to give the show a shot since I've been on a fantasy/adventure binge lately, and the show is relatively well-known and has decent ratings. However, 3 episodes in, and I found myself hitting the pause button more than play. Ultimately, I made the hard choice to drop the show from my list, which is something I rarely ever do for one that's rated higher than 7.0 on MAL. However, I simply couldn't continue watching for two major reasons:

1. Lack of plot and confusing ... story development.

I've watched my fair share of shows that have clear plot lines, shows that have no central direction, and everything in between, but DanMachi struck me as the worst of both worlds. The show is confusing, to say the least, unless the series I watch was missing an entire episode. Right at the beginning of episode 1, you are thrown into a narrated action sequence that is supposed to introduce the main character. However, it does so in such a convoluted way that leaves you with more questions than answers: Who is this boy? Why is he in a dungeon? Who is narrating? What is their relation to one another?

After a while, I realized that the show was just trying to do a "show, don't tell", but did so in such a mediocre way that it would have been much better for them to take the traditional approach of background exposition through narration. I spent so much time trying to understand the connection between the MC and the main heroine, and trying to place the MC in the world, that I never really digested what the entirety of the first episode was about.

And it just gets worse. Three episodes in, and things are moving along, but every episode seems to bring more questions than answers. Who are these gods and goddesses? Why the hell are they living among people? What are Familias? Why is the MC a servant of his goddess, does he owe her something? How did the MC and main heroine meet in the first place? How do these characters know each other? Why does he, or rather why does everyone, keep going back into the dungeon? What are these levels?

The show just keeps pulling more and more random trivia out of its backside that never ends up getting properly explained, so you're left trying to figure everything out while the main action is happening, and not in a good, brain-stimulating way.

2. Bland characters

Even though I only watched 3 episodes, this has to be by far one of the worst character development I've ever seen. You essentially get no background on any of the characters that show up, and yet they all seem to know one another. None of the characters also feel like they mature or grow throughout the course of the series, and new characters keep randomly popping up without getting properly introduced. Imagine opening up a Map Editor for a brand new RPG game and then just spawning in every character on the roster. That's how it feels to watch the show. Half the time, you're wondering who they are, where they came from, why they're important, and how they know one another, as the show tries to explain while failing miserably.

Even the most trashy, cookie-cutter, harem fantasy/action does a better job in acclimating you to the characters than this show. I seriously wonder how it managed to get such a high rating, considering the fan service isn't what one would consider appealing.

All in all, I'm very surprised to say, but I would not recommend picking up DanMachi. If you want to see a show that's pretty similar in premise, but executed in a much better fashion, watch Cautious Hero instead.

Mahouka. There's so many good things I can say about it, but I'll try and keep it short. If you're a fan of overdog posing as underdog tropes, you need to give this series a watch, hands down. If you like overpowered protagonists who dominate everyone, yet are still loved and respected by their peers and rivals alike, you need to watch this series. If you're sick and tired of protagonists who act like they've misplaced their brain in their last bathroom visit, you need to give this a go. Is it perfect? No. Will it satisfy that craving for a good fantasy/school life/action/harem? Hell ... yes.

Plot: 10/10
Mahouka's plot development is well-paced and fleshed out. Being a longer series of 26 episodes, it certainly has more time to do so. However, this is done without heavy use of filler episodes that contribute nothing to the story, and even "filler" sequences include subtle foreshadowing or character development. After watching all 26 episodes, you will feel as if you've been to the world of Mahouka and back, rather than just being a passive observer. There's enough of the jargonic explanation to create a solid basis for the world's elements, but not excessive that it becomes boring.

Each of the story arcs are resolved in very decisive, conclusive, and satisfying ways that either bolsters or consolidate the image or strength of the MC and his group.

Character:10/10
If you enjoy seeing an OP MC, you're in for a treat. Tatsuya is hands-down one of the most powerful and smartest MCs out there. Not only does he possess what are essentially god-like abilities, he's also very intelligent and perceptive. Sure, there are times where his OPness is tested, but never to a degree where it's brought into question as to how powerful he actually is. Also, if you are tired of seeing characters who keep blindly walking into stupid situations, look no further. Tatsuya always carefully plans and analyzes the situation he's in, and then adapt to overcome whatever challenges that are thrown his way. He never shies away from an incident or doubt himself to a significant degree, and his confidence is positively infectious. He's also very active in finding and resolving the root cause of any issues, so you never have to worry about things coming back to bite him in the ass because he's almost always ready.

Even the side characters are very enjoyable. Unlike a lot of other series, the side characters often play a significant role in the story, but in a way that doesn't overshadow the MC. It doesn't hurt that the side characters are pretty powerful too, with some being made so thanks to the MC's coaching.

That brings me to the final point about character development: The MC and his group deserves their strength. Unlike a lot of shows where the protagonist and his group is strong because plot, Mahouka shows that Tatsuya is strong because he takes the time to innovate and train, as well as coach and encourage his friends, who also help each other. There is no "power of friendship overcomes all". If they prevail, it's because they were powerful or cunning enough to do so. If they weren't, then they failed, but the failure never happened simply because the plot desired it, but rather because they were either careless or outmatched, which doesn't detract from their actual strength.

Art/Animation:10/10
Pretty upper-tier modern anime art and animation that pairs well with the magical-technological world. Some of the spell sequences and background scenes are very beautiful, and adds to the storytelling.

Rewatchability: 10/10
I've rewatched this series completely over 10 times. It's one of those series that you just don't get sick of watching, because it's consistently good. There's no heavy moments that will make you have second thoughts, and you'll always end the series feeling thoroughly entertained and pumped. Subsequent rewatches will also reveal a lot of foreshadowing and hints that you may have missed.

Overall, if you like series with a powerful protagonist and don't mind a little sibling love, you absolutely need to give Mahouka a try. Chances are, it'll become your favorite.

Akashic Records is a decent action-harem anime, with more emphasis on action sequences and character development than on romance fan service. It's a show that, while lacking in plot development and confusing at times, is entertaining enough on its own to keep you watching until the end. Additionally, if you enjoy watching shows with an OP protagonist, you'll feel relatively at home here. Overall, I would give it a 7.5/10 rounded to 8, and a 5/10 rewatchability score.

Plot: 6/10
Akashic Records' plot development leaves a lot to be desired. My biggest issue with it was the seemingly random lead-ins between arcs. In a strange way, the ... show is lacking in filler episodes that would help with the flow of the overall storyline. If Akashic Records was a 26-episode series, it probably would do a lot better. Instead, its plot development feels very crammed, and even cliche at times. A good comparison would be to imagine the entirety of Zero no Tsukaima compacted into one 13-episode season. And unlike ZnT, story arcs in Akashic Records just seem to happen without any clear indication as to why, and is often lacking a good backstory. Also, for an average anime enjoyer, the resolution of each arc isn't necessarily predictable, but don't feel very satisfying.

Character: 8.5/10
Akashic Records make up for its plot shortcomings by its much better character work. While it's essentially a harem anime, it goes very light on the romance fan-service, and actually takes time to flesh out each girl's attraction to the protagonist. Much of the romance plot is pushed along by the main story, rather than being shoved in your face, which makes it a lot more enjoyable and meaningful. Although, the MC can be a bit of an ass sometimes, so be prepared for a little bit of frustration.

In terms of character interactions, there are sufficient meaningful ones to make me laugh and giggle, as well as slightly get emotional.

In regards to it being a good "OP MC anime", the MC Glenn, is a classic overdog-posing-as-underdog trope. He's clearly powerful in his own right, although his actual power seems to be governed more by plot armor. However, if you're expecting a total beatdown, be prepared to be disappointed as he gets his ass kicked. A lot. And most of the times he does win, it's usually due to some sort of luck rather than overwhelming strength or intellect. At least the MC does get recognized and appreciated by his peers, so that's a plus.

Art/Animation: 8.5/10
Decent graphics that have no glaring issues. It won't detract or add to your viewing experience.

Rewatchability: 5/10
This is one of those anime where you will either like it enough to pick it up again once in a while, or watch once and forget. Since the odds of that is about 50/50, I'll give it a 5/10.

Before beginning this review, it is important that a disclaimer be made:

DO NOT WATCH THIS ANIME UNLESS YOU HAVE PLAYED THE GAME TO A GOOD EXTENT

...and even then, do not approach it as a serious anime. Azur Lane The Animation is best seen as a tribute to the mobile game, a strictly fan-service piece of work. It is not intended to be taken as a standalone anime, or to compete with other mainstream masterpieces.

By itself, Azur Lane The Animation is a bland, generic anime with not enough character development, a rushed plot development, and seemingly subpar animations. By itself, the anime should not deserve anything ... higher than a 5-6, and a 3-4 for stricter judges.

However, as a tribute piece to the mobile game, it does a lot of things right.

1. AL:TA showcases a majority of the game's characters. For veteran players of the game who have particular favorite "shipfus", this is a pleasant surprise. It did not fall into the trap of only including a handful of "main characters" and never even allowing others screentime, which is what I had assumed it would do going in. Granted, in a lot of cases, these appearances are very brief.

2. AL:TA adds to the game by providing veteran players with insight into parts of the game that is not shown in significant detail. One of these is the life-in-the-dorm of the major factions. For example, it was nice to see how ships in the Sakura Empire interacted with each other, and see how their "dorm life" looks like, something that would only be glossed over in the game. Another case would be the depiction of the Sirens, who do not have voice-over in the game for the most part; they do in the anime, and gain personality as a result. This provides for a fuller experience in the game.

3. AL:TA makes secret references to in-game aspects, everywhere. For those who have extensively played the game, Easter Eggs are all over the place. Each of the "main characters" in the anime will at some point say some of the voice lines they normally do in the game, which leads to a "OMG SHE FINALLY SAID IT" moment. This is often missed by the casual viewer, who thinks it's just another badly-delivered line. However, for those who notice, it really grounds the characters as an extension of their counterpart in the game, which makes them immediately relatable. This also applies to things like Manjuus (who finally have an explained role in the AL universe), or seemingly random background scenery that is actually seen in the game. Another example would be Ark Royal's love of lolis.

4. AL:TA pays homage to the game's actual character quirks and designs, and expands on it. It is one thing to play the game and control your ships' 2D chibi sprite. It is a whole other thing to see that character's full-sized model actually fire its guns and torpedoes, or launch planes based on their character's designs. One of the most genius scene is when Zuikaku charges up her katana by clicking her rigging with the hilt. It finally explains to veteran players some of the ways Sakura Empire ships combine their sword and riggings in combat. Another example would be Prinz Eugen's rigging chomping at the Siren. Need I say more?

5. AL:TA pulls at the veteran players' heartstrings. Any long-time fan of AL will get excited at Enterprise's entry scene to save the fleet, or cry at Amagi's vanishing, or experience a surge of pride when all of the ships of both Azur Lane and Red Axis show up on the horizon to defeat the final boss, or feel their heart on fire at the finale, when the same music that is heard all the time at the main menu of the game plays at the end of the show in a montage.

For these reasons, and many more, I believe that Azur Lane The Animation, taken IN CONTEXT, deserves anywhere between a 7 - 8 and, for those who love the game, a watch. Of course, with the right budget, goal, and team the anime could have been a lot better. However, for what it is, the anime is surprisingly enjoyable; it could have been so much worse.

Azumanga Daioh is often hailed as the mother of all Slice of Lifes, and for a good reason. Not only does it pioneer the idea of "cute girls doing cute things" and "daily life activities with little plot," it does these two things right.

Story: 10

The lack of a story is its story. Azumanga Daioh is a classic SOL manga, where most of its content is dependent upon showing the day-to-day activities of its characters, their interactions with one another, and their general progression through life (in this case school life).

While it does have a central focus driving it along (the characters' journeys from the ... beginning of high school to graduation), this focus is subtle, and is often felt as an aftereffect rather than directly demonstrated.

Additionally, there is no romance subplot to be had, which I would argue tends to be the downfall of many SOL manga. As such, the reader isn't hellbent on the result of the relationship, and instead can focus on enjoying the day-to-day aspect.

Art: 9

The art is not good. Period. It is an old manga, and the techniques, technology, and style clearly shows. Don't expect breathtaking scenery or beautiful wallpaper-worthy panels. Don't expect adorable girls with detailed hair and clothing, flying in the wind. That said, this is the one manga where a lack of good art...WORKS.

This is due to one primary factor: The characters are supposed to be ordinary. Oftentimes, manga artists tend to make the mistake of trying to pass off their main characters as ordinary and unremarkable, but end up drawing them as clear protagonists, with amazing details and shading. In my opinion, if your MC's can be distinguished from NPC's, they are NOT "normal." This is not the case for Azumanga Daioh. Any of the MC's can easily pass as an NPC, and none of them can truly be called "pretty." Sure, some people can argue Chiyo and Osaka looks cute, but it often is due to their personalities than their actual character designs, which looks downright basic.

Yet, in this particular case, it only serves to drive home the theme of the manga as a SOL. Take for example the final graduation scene. The reader can really feel the ordinariness and humanity of the student body. They are not protagonists who will all become doctors, lawyers, researchers, or ambassadors. Some of them really look like they will fail at life, while others have an uncertain road ahead of them. This, I would argue, is the reason why so many readers often cite this as one of the most emotional graduation scene: because they can relate.

Character: 10

Of course, the art is not the only thing that accentuates the characters. Their personalities are also very distinct and down to earth, making them appeal very much to an average reader. You will like some, you will hate some, you will not notice some, and you will find some annoying; almost as if you were really looking at your actual classroom.

Enjoyment: 8

It was enjoyable, and how could it not be with all of the above reasons?

However, did I read it in one sitting? No. The lack of any centralized plot (including romantic subplot) does act as a double-edged sword, as it can make the manga somewhat repetitive and mundane, especially if the reader is conditioned by manga with more exciting plot development.

Some of the annoying characters can also end up getting under your skin after a while.

Nonetheless, it was a pleasant read, and especially hardcore fans of SOL titles such as Non Non Biyori will certainly find it endlessly appealing, although I would be incredibly shocked if such a fan have not read Azumanga Daioh.

Overall: 10. Classic. Well worth the read. Masterfully crafted.

Fudatsuki no Kyouko-chan is a pretty decent manga that just didn't live up to its full potential.

Story: 7
The pacing of the story is nice, but the level of development in the main premise is lacking. For a story that is based primarily on the interactions between sister and brother, the side romance element seems to be too overwhelming and forced. It feels like the author is desperately trying to "ship" the brother and Hibino out of fear of the taboo of the alternative (bro+sis ship), when in fact doing so would create a much more powerful and surprising narrative (if the sister was actually the ... brocon deep down). This is mostly because of Hibino's character development and interactions with the MC.

Art: 9
The artist very nicely draws a distinction between dere Kyoko vs. tsun Kyoko. Best example of this is the first time her ribbon came off. That super adorable smiling and apologetic face, when juxtaposed with her usual appearance, clearly conveys a sense of bipolarism in the character.

The MC's expressions are also well-drawn, so that the reader feels his anger, embarrassment, and even horror whenever the ribbon comes off.

Character: 7
The characters are decently likable, but their full potential weren't realized. The tension between Kyoko's two states and their relationship with the MC could have been explored in much more depth, especially with Hibino as fuel. However, because the author chose to develop a romance between Hibino and the MC, Kyoko's quirks became secondary. Added to that is Hibino's blandness as a character: She never really was much more than a passive person who wasn't afraid of the MC, and by some convenient reason he liked her. In a way, it felt like she didn't deserve him. On the other hand, because of her tsundere personality, it always felt as if there was something more to Kyoko's feelings towards her brother the MC, but this was glossed over in favor of a less "incest"-y manga.

Due to all of this, while the ending was fine, it felt a little bit like a cop-out. The central problem still isn't resolved. Kyoko dangerous nature is never fully addressed or tamed.

Enjoyment: 7
It was good. It gave me a few laughs, but nothing more. I did get hooked on it enough to read to the end, so it was interesting. Yet, due to the issues mentioned, it felt incomplete. It never reached its peak and definitely didn't end with a bang.

Overall: 7
Could have been one hell of a manga, but ended up being just decent.

Among romance series, it is often rare to find a gem that fits your bill. This is especially true if you're into light-hearted romance + comedy. Most often, there's either too much melodrama, too much fan-service, or both. Chihaya-san's Fine is one of those series that, for me, happened to check as many good points as possible: It is a super-vanilla romance with a conclusive ending, sprinkled with tsukkomi-style humor, wrapped up nicely in a relaxing 4-koma slice-of-life-school-life setting.

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Story: 9

The story progresses at a nice pace. You never feel like an arc is being dragged out too long. You never end up feeling super teased ... about the main ship. The best part, though, is that the drama is incredibly light, and yet the core story remains interesting. The author even satirically employ some common cliche drama problems as humor by presenting it as light-yuri. For me, this was a whole lot better than the alternative. In fact, this is one of the few mangas that actually used the "moving" drama properly, by showing subsequent interactions instead of just doing a timeskip.

Only downside: There are some parts in the plot that felt a little confusing and random, and others that felt just a little unfinished.

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Art: 10

Not Picasso or anything, but the art really matches the characters' moods as well as the current tone of the story. Absolutely perfect facial expressions. Nothing to complain about. That is one realistic-looking panda.

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Character: 10

Each and every one of the characters are properly developed and shows growth throughout the series. They also grow on the reader, so that you don't end up hating anyone, which would be rather unfortunate in a non-dramatic romance SoL.

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Enjoyment: 10

I enjoyed it. It took a little bit in the beginning to pick up, but once that started, the story was captivating enough to keep me reading. Because it's more SoL, it also doesn't hurt to put on pause for a few days. Even towards the end, there was none of the usual rushed feeling of "I have to finish this and know the ending." It just felt like everything will work out.

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Overall: 10

For a medium-length manga, you can do a LOT worse, especially if what you're looking for is a nice, sweet romance-comedy with a SoL setting with no BS and no drama.

It's good, but feels off.

Story: 8
Probably the best part of the series. If you go in expecting to read a story about finding yourself and understanding what it means to be a particular person, then you won't be disappointed. In that regard, the story does well.
What it doesn't do too well, in my opinion, is its romantic aspect. It feels really forced and unnatural to the flow of the story, almost as if following some kind of strange formula.

Art: 5
The biggest killer of the series. Either you like it or it bothers you the whole time. The manga is old, so it's understandable, but it's ... not the age that's problematic. The character design is also a bit odd, but it fits into the awkwardness of the MC, so it's acceptable (although it might turn you away). Rather, it's the apparently lack of emotions shown by the characters. The one "emotion" it seems to show well is when trying to shed a character in a menacing light, but that's about it. The blushing detail when a character is angry, sad, embarrassed, etc., none of that comes through. You end up feeling very estranged from the characters, even though they detail their thoughts to you.

Character: 7
Pretty distinct and memorable. They also develop well through the series, and the audience can feel that dynamism. My biggest complaint has to do with the mismatch between the character's apparent personality and their actions. It's not that they're constantly doing things out of character, but more when a critical moment arises, they sometimes act in unexpected ways. It's not exactly bad, but definitely does put a weird spin on the characters throughout the series.

Enjoyment: 7
I did enjoy it and at the same time, didn't. There were funny moments, but the jokes often failed to come across (maybe due to the specific translation or art). There were also heartwarming moments, but it felt lacking.
In the end, I'd rather not re-read the series, but it was an interesting ride.

Overall: 7

Kimi to Kamihikooki to is a light-hearted 4-koma romance SOL that tried too hard.

Story: 5
The story is ridiculously slow for the length of the manga, the ending is not conclusive, and any conflict seems forced and childish. The concept of paper planes as a means of communication is interesting, but barely explored, and instead used more as a moe device. This series should either go down the path of being a bit more dramatic and longer or kill off the melodrama and commit to just cute kids doing cute things.

Art: 7
Average for this kind of story. Pretty cute, but also somewhat inconsistent. Everything is just ... a little too small. The characters are distinct, but their emotions don't get across well. The art is too focused on trying to be cute at times.

Character: 5
Bland. The supporting male constantly feels like someone who's supposed to be evil but forced by the author to be good; his looks, words, and actions don't match.
The MC is an absolute wuss who can't even think for himself, let alone be decisive. Practically every conflict that arises had to be drilled into him by another character. Doesn't deserve the main heroine.
The main heroine isn't that much better. Very stereotypical troubled cute/moe girl who's as fragile as a snowflake. No initiative.
The supporting female character feels like someone with split-personality. Introduced as one type of character and then suddenly becoming another by way of "the past."
Literally every character in this series is more meant to be a tool for cutesy heartstring tugging than anything meaningful.

Enjoyment: 6
I finished it. That's about as good as a 5. +1 for being somewhat cute and fulfilling that objective. Other than that, there are series with similar length that manages to do much more.

Overall: 6
Meh. Wouldn't re-read.