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Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry pleasantly surprised me...but only because I was able to make it through the first couple of episodes. I nearly dropped the show in the middle of the second episode: I'm not interested in watching an anime full of typical unrealistic tropes and "anime" situations (like our main character walking in on the female protagonist in a state of undress, and declaring that he too will strip, or his little sister greeting him with a kiss on the lips in the 2nd episode.). Thankfully Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry deviated away from that and focused on telling its story starting at about episode ... 3.

Once it got rolling, the show gave me about what I expected. Ikki, the main character, is a good guy though at times a bit too "pure". Quite like a Knight sometimes actually. And when the romance finally did get going it was very cute, though I wish we could've gotten a little more in this regard. Still, it was quite enjoyable to watch most of the time.

The battles and the plot of the story were interesting enough to keep me watching. I was never really on the edge of my seat (the plot armor of the main character is about as subtle as an actual suit of armor), but I didn't hate watching the battles. I will say that the anime felt like it had too much for 12 episodes. I found myself thinking that several episodes could've been split into 2 episodes very easily. Particularly towards the end of the series it felt rushed.

Overall, it was a cute series. The romance was enjoyable, and the plot entertaining. There was nothing that blew me away about the series, and it was very predictable. I'd recommend this show if you are looking for something a bit on the lighter side and not too serious.

The first time I saw Spice and Wolf, I took one look and decided it wasn't for me. After all, the main character appears to be a half-wolf half-human thing, and that's just not my thing. I like mature, romance stories, not super fantasy tales.

I couldn't have been more wrong about Spice and Wolf. Spice and Wolf is one of the most mature, well done romances I have ever seen. I've seen more human emotion out of the wolf-goddess Holo than in half of the nonsensical tsunderes I see every day. I'm not typically a fan of fantasy-esque elements in anime; yet I never felt ... like the fantasy elements of Spice and Wolf detracted from the main storyline. They were always present in the storyline yet never overpowering. From the beginning It was clearly a story of Lawrence and Holo and that never changed throughout the entire series. The budding relationship of Lawrence and Holo is what drives the story throughout season 1 and 2.

Another worry I had before watching the show, was that it would be too focused on "economics". You hear "medieval economics" all the time when reading about the show. I'm not particularly interested in economics or medieval life. However I found Spice and Wolf yet again to never overplay it. The plots revolving around money schemes and the daily life of Holo/Lawrence were always interesting. I never felt overwhelmed with strange terminology, or bored. It was the perfect mix.

Spice and Wolf wasn't without its one major downside though. And that's the fact that there wasn't a season 3. Spice and Wolf is the only anime to date that I've actually thought was worth reading the source material (light novels) afterwards. I was really blown away by just how much the Light Novels read like watching the show. It was 100% worth it to continue on and finish the story from the anime. The entire experience was brilliant.

Even if the story just ended with the 2 seasons of anime though, it would be worth the watch. For fans of mature stories, of which there are so few that are well done in anime, Spice and Wolf is a MUST watch. Give it a chance if you're skeptical about its setting. It'll blow you expectations away.

I've never felt as uncomfortable after finishing a show as I am now, after finishing Shinsekai Yori. The show makes you look inward; it makes you evaluate what you think is right and what is wrong. And it did so in a way I wasn't expecting. Whether by design or unintentionally, the show manages to put some of the main dilemmas right in front of you, while simultaneously distracting you with seemingly more important events. Shinsekai Yori has quite a bit of mystery to it, and this mystery is constantly driving the story. It's suspenseful at times, its sad at times, and more than not ... its thought provoking.

*There will be some minor spoilers in this next section, but I will try to keep them to a minimum*

The reason I only rated this show an 8, is perhaps a result not of the show's quality, but of my own uneasiness. Character is important to me in any story. The main character of the show, Saki, is excellent. Perhaps one of my favorite characters of any show I've watched. But several of the other characters don't come across well to me (which may be intentional). It can be hard to understand the motivations of the "adults" in the story; however I'm willing to give that a pass because of the dystopian world in which they live and were raised in. However Satoru poses a bit of a problem for me, though only at the end of the story. By the end of the story I was in agreement with the antagonists of the story. Saki seemed to share the same misgivings I did every step of the way. But Satoru...after everything Satoru endured with Saki, he seemed to be stuck in an old way of thinking. The story ended on a positive note, but it took a major revelation for Satoru's character to reach a point that I felt he should've reached even without the major revelation.

Shinsekai Yori is a wonderful story, but I wouldn't say it is a happy story. The plot and the questions contained within, are not something you can find in many anime. The story is meant for a more mature audience, and if you want something that's a little more than mindless fun then Shinsekai Yori is probably for you.

12 Episodes. After 12 of the 13 episodes, I had pretty much made up my mind on the series. I had even thought of most of what I was going to say in my review of it. By in large, the characters were either bland or their actions half the time (Nanaka) didn't make any sense. It seemed like it was trying to have some kind of deeper plot going on below the surface, but it wasn't really clicking. There was a definite lack of focus, something that a show with only 13 episodes really cannot afford to have, in my opinion.

But the 13th episode....that ... was pretty good. While I think a bad ending can ruin a really good show, this is the first time I think I can say that a really good ending improved an otherwise mediocre show. The twists at the end, were great. It completely caught me off guard when I learned what actually happened to Nanaka, and the scenes following the reveal were very touching. As I watched Sana, for the first time I really felt for him and the situation he was in. After I finished that last episode I wanted to stand up and say "this is what the entire show should've been like!"

While never really bad, Myself ; Yourself really struggles through most of the series. Two episodes are dedicated to a character who almost never appears outside of those episodes, and many of the other episodes spend a lot of time focusing on supporting characters. I'll reiterate that the show suffers from a lack of focus, and while there is the occasional moment or two in which I went "neat, didn't see that coming" the plot largely was predictable and sometimes boring. The characters were a bit better, but not anything beyond good; I am grateful that Nanaka did start making more sense as the series went on. But the ending, the ending at least was done right.

I wouldn't call Myself ; Yourself a romance, and if you are looking for romance this isn't the place. If you're a fan of Drama and Slice of Life, this might be a decent show to watch. But don't expect a lot beyond decent. The ending, while great, doesn't make up for 12 episodes that came before it. Still, with only 13 episodes I could think of worse ways to pass the time, and it's not the worse anime I've ever seen. If you do start it, try to make it to the ending.

Before I begin I'd like to say beck was a good anime, and you can find several reviews here to give you a plethora of good reasons to watch it; or determine if it isn't your cup of tea. Instead of reviewing every aspect of the show, I'm going to review what I consider the "romantic" aspect. Keep in mind, Beck first and foremost is an anime about the band, and is not centered around romance. However even in non-romance stories, I find that if there is a romance it can be important to how I perceive the show and even play a big ... factor in determining if I enjoy it. So if romance is important to you, I hope I can help. [Note: while there may be some minor spoilers, I'm going to try my best to keep it spoiler free]

Everything starts off well enough. Koyuki is likeable and at the very first episode it seems like his friend Izumi is going to play an important role in his life. And shortly afterwards we're introduced to Maho, the younger sister of Ryusuke (the lead guitarist/founding member of beck). And though Izumi gets a bit left out, we get to see some good development with Maho. I'd say really in the first 12 episodes BECK looks like it could development into drama with a romantic plot. Koyuki and Maho even share a kiss in ep.11 (though influenced a bit by a small wager from an earlier episode). Then the very next episode Izumi comes back, and I'll say this: I hate in anime how often silly misunderstandings can be the reasons for major plot developments. What I love about what BECK does here is that even though there might be a bit of a misunderstanding that happens, the thoughts and intentions of the characters come through over it.

And just when I think things are going to start getting good, BECK really tones it down. Maho is still around, and it's pretty obvious she and Koyuki like one another...but not a lot is ever happening. And I think it never really becomes enough a priority for Koyuki, or for Maho really either. While the buildup was pretty good, and the anime ended well enough, I felt like it left a lot of potential hanging (at least for a romantic plot). For every brief moment of potential romantic drama, or scene with Maho and Koyuki actually developing (towards each other), there's practically an eternity. I wanted more. But it never really came. It had sparks, but it never caught fire.

BECK was a very fun show to watch, and while the buildup of the first half kinda fizzles out in the 2nd, it's still there. The ending in terms of romance, though short, was very enjoyable and happy, and I was pleased to see that it did matter somewhat at the end. However, BECK is primarily about the band; and that shines through in every aspect of the show and it's characters. Iif you want a little romance, there's a bit here. Not a ton. But enough to keep me (and hopefully you) happy.

Hanasaku Iroha is adorable! I think that's probably the best word to describe it.

This series went down like tea with a bit of honey. It's refreshing to see slice of life done like this. It starts with Ohana, the main character. You can't help but root for her. She comes across as energetic yet earnest. We follow Ohana from her start at Kissuiso and watch as she matures and grows while at the hot spring. From there, the series explores a wide variety of characters. While I had my doubts at first, the cast at Kissuiso was very well rounded and interesting. Hanasaku Iroha ... did a good job of keeping focused on the main character in a sea of supporting characters.

As opposed to my usual preference for drama and psychological/dark events, there's not a lot of drama in Hanasaku Iroha and the story telling largely remains positive and happy. But I was never bored and always looked forward to the next episode. With a very light sprinkle of romance (and I mean light, but the ending is well done in this regard) Hanasaku Iroha is probably the best "slice of life" I've seen.

If you don't need non-stop fighting action or secret plots and enjoy slice of life then Hanasaku Iroha is for you. I passed on this at first because I read it didn't have a lot of romance, and while this is true I do believe it's probably still worth your time if you're a fan of Rom-Coms/slice of life type shows.

P.S. very well done in regards to this taking place in a hot spring inn. I never felt like there was unnecessary fan servicey-type shots. Well done and tasteful.

Gosick is a good show if you're looking for something to watch but don't have something specific in mind. It's a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, all wrapped around a plot that (while sometimes confusing) is enjoyable. The setting is in a fictitious European country in the 1920's, but the writing style that comes across in the episodes has a very modern feel; it wasn't like reading Shakespeare.

Gosick at its core feels like it wants to be a love story. A love story set amongst the crazy events of a crazy world. But while intriguing, I never felt like I just had ... to keep watching; like I couldn't stop and had to see what was going to happen next (either with the plot or with the characters). I felt like the character/relationship development between the 2 main characters stalled out at some point and wasn't explored. That's not to say that the romance aspect was bad, it was....okay. But I wanted to see more: I wanted to see how they dealt with pain, with hardship within their relationship. I wanted somebody to have to say how they felt. Gosick deals a lot with what isn't said. The love between the characters is more implied....and felt. It was cute, and enjoyable. But for me it wasn't real enough to really be great.

Gosick was fun, but it wasn't amazing. But it was easy to watch and it felt like it fit like a glove. The art/sound/music were all great and it had probably my favorite opening/ending sequences at the end of each episode for any anime I've watched. It's a good anime to just take it slow and enjoy.

Planetes....what a gem, in so many unexpected ways.

I started Planetes the way I've started most animes: hoping for a decent romance that ends well. I've been a sci-fi can for most of my life so Romance+Scifi+drama seemed like a good fit. And it started off a lot like I expected: a slowly developing romance with dashes of comedy and hints of a love triangle...Back when I was in school studying literature we learned about the Dramatic structure, how a story will have rising action leading to a huge climax. Planetes starts that climb slowly...but as the series goes on (and approaches its end) it doesn't ... level off, it continues to climb more and more sharply.

As the show progressed I found myself asking just what it was I had fallen into. This wasn't just a simple love story. This wasn't a dramatic tale of love triangles. It was...unique in a lot of ways. The psychological aspect of the story completely blew me away: I never expected the (main) characters to go through what they went through. To see the Hachimaki and the way his mind changes throughout the series was pretty wild; I've never quite liked a character then hated a character then loved a character before. And Tanabe was quite the shining light, making some of parts of the series that were hard to watch more bearable.

I won't lie, sometimes it was hard to watch. It was painful to watch things fall apart. But with Planetes, they weren't falling apart only falling into place. The lighthearted tone (see the ninja episode) at the start goes away the longer you watch. But by the end of the last episode, I was content.

Planetes gets a 10 from me not because it was perfect: there were a lot of flaws. But the positive aspects outshined the flaws in a brilliant way. Planetes was (mostly) realistic, had a good plot, had great characters, and dealt with drama and psychological issues. But most of all it had a romance; a romance that had flaws, that didn't always seem like it was going to work out, that sometimes felt impossible...and it still managed to end happy without me feeling dissatisfied. Best damn ending to a romance I've seen.

Love, Elections, Chocolate.

On the surface it seems like a typical highschool drama. There's a boy, he's part of a club, and that club is going to be disbanded if they don't do something! When I see a story like this what it comes down to typically is how enjoyable the characters are to watch. Coming into this I knew the anime wasn't my typical selection: It's not in the top 1000, and it's rated 7.4. But I found the anime to be enjoyable overall.

If you're trying to decide whether or not to give this a try, I'd say be ready to accept a certain amount ... of tropes and cliches. I'd say it's not a masterpiece, it's not great. It had a lot of flaws. But I found it enjoyable, and it has a happy and romantic ending.

To begin, this is based off of a visual novel by the same name. As such, it suffers a quite a bit from "all sorts of females are inexplicably in love with the main character" syndome (ironically not so much the club members). It feels very scatter brained because you can tell where there would've been multiple routes for different heroines in the visual novel; however these are not pursued in the anime. This leaves the Main Character feeling rather weak and indecisive at times. For the majority of the episodes though you have a slice of life show about a guy trying to get elected, with occasional bits of drama sprinkled in. The plot and drama really heat up in the last stretch of episodes, and this is when the show is at it's best in my opinion.

The art/sound were both well done but nothing to be amazed at. They don't detract from the storytelling, and the music does a good job of setting the mood at the right times (mostly).

The anime would've been better if it had focused on one primary female heroine, and if the main character felt a bit stronger and decisive. It did feel like the story had gaps, it was as if there was too much story to fit into 12 episodes (again, probably because it's based on a visual novel in which all of this could be explained in more detail). Still, it did something I find few animes doing these days and that's end happily. And I liked the fact that it didn't try to spring a new romance into the fray mid way through. Despite the fact that the M.C. feels pretty weak in his convictions (towards potential romantic interests) at times, the anime ended romantically as I think it should've.

Based on enjoyment alone I'd give it a 7, but I think overall I have to go with a 6. I by no means feel like this was a bad show, but you've gotta be ready to accept it for what it is: a nice little story about a club trying to get their friend elected president with a little bit of plot to intensify the romance at the end.