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Mar 2, 2024
I'm going to start by saying Beastings is a good anthology. The stories as they stand individually and separately are very well written, colorful, and humorous. It is the fact that series is in full color that makes this anthology shine. The artwork is truly a sight to behold with rich details of both the cast, and how their species characteristics are shown off. No corners were cut when it came to the "beasts" of Beaststrings. I cannot stress enough how gorgeous the characters are from beginning to end. Say what you want about the plot, and trust me I will, the eye-candy alone makes
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this a worthwhile book to read. The humor is great as well but that is more subjective.
It is when the individual stories try to come together to tell an overarching narrative that Beastrings as a whole falls apart as it's spread too thin among its large cast and attempt at an interconnected story. To understand this series as a whole we need to look at the stories individually.
Part 1 The Mayor's Story: This first story does a good job introducing the reader to Juso City, the main setting of the book, the conflict which is a vague demonic threat, and of course the first main characters we are introduced to being the mayor and his two secretaries. All in all I say this story is the weakest of the book plot wise as it spends more time introducing lore, different aspects of the city, and the city's inhabitants rather than focusing on the mayor's story which itself is nothing special being a strange vigilante story that is light on the vigilante and more serves as a vehicle to inform the reader that there is a threat to the city that needs to be stopped. It is at the end of this that the reader gets the first taste of the "lewd fantasies" that randomly pop up throughout the story which are both jarring and questionable for an anthology rated teen readers.
Part 2: The Zodiac This is the most unique part of the anthology by which it could be an anthology in it of itself. We are introduced to several characters one after the other, each an animal of the Zodiac (6 of them anyway) and each one has their own gimmick. The thing about this is while it is weak on plot, it makes up for in both humor and character relationship. Each Zodiac story is a story about love. Mostly romanic love beside the first which is about parental love. As the reader moves through each story, the relationship and the characters get more and more complicated. More conflict and story in added in each chapter starting at the first which is the most shallow and ending with fourth which is the best because it has the most complete story arc. That is not to say that the first is bad, in fact is is quite funny for being a short skit and the same goes for the second. They're cute for what they are which are very short micro stories. The third part is focused more on relationship between two characters but what I liked about this one is that is takes the time to focus on the beast's biology. When you have characters that are essentially anthropomorphic animals, it is critical that their biology is taken into account and that is what the third part does which I applaud. The fourth and final story notes Zodiac arc, is the best and most elaborate as it feels like a complete story with its own conflict, climax, and resolution. The characters themselves are also hilarious and the best in the Zodiac arc. The first two sections are actually connected which is what I expected from the entire arc, but the third and fourth are separate from the others which is a shame. The arc could've benefited greatly if each section bled into the next.
Part 3: The Witch and the Wolf: If you are like me and you adore the interspecies relationship trope, then this is the section for you. A classic fairy tale like budding romance between an elf witch and her wolf butler. It is very, for the like of a better word, tropey but still the best arc in the anthology. The characters are both flawed, well-meaning, and struggle with their respective desires as well as their feelings for each other. One wants to be a witch while the other just wants to protect her but is afraid of getting too close because of their different life spans. The real highlight of this part is the wolf's background. They are the only species in the anthology where the reader gets to see the world outside of Juso City. The wolves have their own culture, land, and lives all to themselves and the book does a good job as introducing both the reader and the elf to this culture without it feeling forced or disingenuous. Out of all the characters and plots in the anthology, this one felt the most real and grounded.
Part 4: The Bard and the Dragon: This is the most odd part of the anthology. It combines a lot of typical fantasy elements with an urban coat of paint and the result leaves you scratching your head. You have a bard who wants to start a band and a dragoniod who is a professional wrestler but also wrestler is his adventurer class? They are a strange pair but that doesn't take away from the chemistry they have with each other or the struggles they both face. They both have dreams, pasts that need to be confronted, and problems that can't be faced alone. They need each other even if they don't want to admit it. At this point in the story, the events of all four parts are starting to converge together as the story returns to its original conflict of the demon invasion. This leads directly the fifth part of the anthology.
Part 5: The Final Battle: This is when the anthology is at its weakest overall. The ending feels tacked on at the last minute in an attempt to tie the four parts together and give the series its final climax. The only problem is that while the events from the beginning of the anthology come full circle, the entire battle seems needless and confusing. Not to mention it's over almost as quickly as it begins. Like I said it feels like a last minute addition to take a bunch of stories that happen to take place in the same setting, and have their respective plots connect in a meaningful way but ultimately fails to do so. Honestly the ending is whatever because it is needless.
I cannot stress enough how good the artwork is.The characters, action scenes, settings, and even the most mundane panels are look amazing. While the plot and conflict overall is weak, the characters are not (both in personality and physical prowess). The characters are what matters. Their flaws, their personal connections, and how they work together is what makes the series shine so brightly, not some loosely connected conflict. The romance, the bonds, the relationships no matter what form they take is the takeaway from this series no matter how spread thin they may seem.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 25, 2023
The best way to describe this series/season is sweet with a bitter aftertaste. A classic story of a girl desperate to achieve greatness in a sexist society and finds a reluctant ally in the form of a fairy slave which they form a genuine bond. It's sweet, fluffy, and more than often cliche. To understand this series, we have to break it down by its individual parts.
Part 1: This is the part that was the best of the three. Its classic take on the reluctant warrior protecting the rambunctious and strong-willed love interest is a tale as old as time. What I liked about this
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is that at no point during the first few episodes did any chemistry between the two seem to take place. By the time feelings formed it felt genuine and earned. No love at first sight, no awkward nonsense, but only Anne's commitment to earning Challe's respect. Jonas was an excellent third wheel up to the point of his eventual and obvious betrayal. Even how they introduced Hugh Mercury was a nice touch leading to the reveal of his prominent role in the kingdom. It was a slow burn leading to an emotionally fueled betrayal, heartbreak, and resolution before we reached our climax. To say the least, a near perfect story. If the show ended there, I would have given the series a higher rating.
Part 2: Let me start off by saying while this part was very emotional and heartbreaking, it was weak in numerous ways. It started off with an interesting side story as we are introduced to Keith and his shop. From a storytelling perspective it was a good way to break up the acts with a minor but still important story after the emotional rollercoaster of the first act. It was afterwards when we enter the Duke's story that things take a sour turn. The story relied heavily on recycled story elements from numerous other works and itself. Jonas once again being a jerk felt unneeded in this act and could have easily been replaced by a stronger newer character. The introduction into the kingdom's politics felt out of place rather than interesting world building. The only strength in this act was the heartbreaking tale of the duke and his lover whom he was obsessed with reunited with. I cried but was also unswayed in my opinion that this act was exceptionally weak.
Part 3: More drama surrounding Jonas and the Radcliffe clan. To the series credit, Jonas was a minor character in this act and even began on the path to redemption which would have been stronger if he hadn't sunk so low in the previous act. This act's strength came from the world building. This time we got good world building as the kingdom's sexism is now on full display as well as some interesting and tragic lore surrounding the human's relationship with the fairies. Unfortunately, the story again relies heavily on villainous cliches and eye-rolling romantic drama now that Anne and Challe are one step away from being an official item. Misunderstandings and betrayal abound and while each were resolved quickly and painlessly, their inclusion in the first place does hurt the story overall. The ending was the most bitter of all with a cliffhanger that only feels justified knowing that the story continues onward.
While the story was the weakest part of the show, the animation was the best. Beautiful watercolor backgrounds, gorgeous sugar sculptures that I only wish could be real, and the subtle strokes of animation during the crafting scenes that show how much care went into the creation of the sculptures as well as highlighting their importance to the plot. Anne and Challe were the other highlights of the series. Both strong characters with a romantic relationship that felt earned and nurtured over the course of the show that is only strengthened by their rough beginning. Enemies to lovers may be a frowned upon trope among many critics but I personally will never tire of it when done well. The other characters range from okay to great to cringey at best. What the show needed was a strong antagonist because the ones we saw were as fragile and dull as the sugar sculptures they created.
Final thoughts, not the best fantasy romance but it was one that I watched from start to finish solely to watch Anne's dreams come true and to watch her and Challe's relationship continue to grow and blossom.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Mar 23, 2023
While I originally gave this a 7 out of ten a more accurate score would be 7.5 out of ten. I will say it is better than your average fantasy/isekai it has great highs but those highs are few and far between, and filling the gaps are not lows but long dragging scenes of dull dialogue and exposition. The series itself starts off strong, a classic scene of rejection with our heroine crashing into the gala only to emphasize her chaotic and flippant nature. This is the first of many scenes, where our characters go against the expected norm that has been established by its
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predecessors in the genre. The characters are each strong, unique, and interesting in their own ways but they hare handicapped by a show whose plot revolves around spending less time doing anything that would be exciting and more around dialogue and exposition. Yes we get it, the princess can't use magic, magicology is a "sin", and they're gay. These are things that get shoved in the viewers face each episode. What is missing is a key element and that is the fact that this show is still an isekai. While Anis's inventions, love of magic, and other small details are sprinkled in the series to emphasize that this show is an isekai, those elements are few and far between as well as serve little to the plot or characters as a whole. If they were removed, she would be a normal princess with no magic but a love of magic who was still creative to make an electric teapot, then nothing would really change within the story. It is only at the end that she reveals to Euphillia that she remembers her time on earth and emotions that we had no clue existed come pouring out. If she was this troubled by her past memories, that should have been hinted at or shown earlier than in the last five minutes of the series.
One of the series greatest strengths is its animation and combat. Fluid fights with beautiful animations and colors that add a glamorous tone to the series. Each of the three majors fights, while shorter than the last, are well animated and honestly more needed within the series to break up the monotony.
One of the series greatest weaknesses is its pacing. As stated above, the epic fights and actions scenes are few and far between and filling those gaps are again monotonous repetitive dialogue and expositions. That isn't to say that they are all like that, no far from it. There were several key scenes where the cruel and power hoarding nobility showed their true colors in obvious cartoonish ways but also in subtle more disgusting ways that hurt to watch Anis have to suffer through. This is again where the series shines and dims depending on the scene.
Getting back to the fights, there were two that stood out the most in the series. The first being the dragon fight where was by far the highest point of the series as a whole. While simple and straightforward in nature, it was incredible from start to finish. But along side that fight was the duel between Anis and her brother, Prince Algard. This is where i was the most concerned expecting and dreading that the series would fall into a painful cliche. Much to my relief we avoided all cliches and even surpassed my expectations. Lainie, was a victim from beginning to end, and Algard proved to be a sympathetic antagonist who was driven by his warped desire to bring about his own revolution to the kingdom. The relationship between Anis and Algard, was put on full display as the rift between became painfully apparent. Tears were shed and hearts were broken, which was more than I could have asked for.
Finally, the romance. To me the romance between Anis and Euphie felt forced. There was little to no romantic chemistry between them. Throughout the entire series, they felt more like best friends rather than lovers. This was mainly on Euphie who felt like she was forcing herself to have feelings for Anis both for the princess's sake as well as for at the sake of the show. None of it felt genuine. These are two strong, well made, characters with their own sparkling personalities and traits being shoved together despite the fact that the show doesn't make it feel like they belong together.
To summarize my thoughts, this was an above average fantasy anime but a below average isekai. The highs were high but the spaces between them were long and I often found myself either distracted or wishing for the episode to end faster. There is not enough yuri in the world to make up for slow pacing, dull dialogue, and boring tertiary characters. If i were to recommend something, it would either to read the manga or light novels. If you really want to watch the show, find some clips on youtube.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jul 20, 2022
Sonny Boy as a show is an exercise in how to create a masterful illusion. Underneath the teenage drama, superpowers, and talking animals, there is nothing but an empty void disguised by bright colors, special effects, and endless number of distractions to keep the audience from realizing that there is nothing to Sonny Boy but vague thematic messages about life and entering adulthood. One could say the entire show is reflection of itself because everything in the show could be used describe the show itself. Let me explain what I mean. You have characters talking about how they are hollow shells in which they need
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to escape. A black void that surrounds them and exists within them which again is a good way to describe the lack of substance in the series as a whole. The miniature stories, themes, and messages in the series are both infinite and only exist in the minds of the viewer much like the worlds being continuously spawned in the story. It can be whatever you want it to be if you choose to believe it so.
Sonny Boy doesn't hold your hand or explain anything about how the worlds are structured or anything works. It's the exact opposite of stories that spend five minutes explaining everything to you in long exposition dumps but that's not a good thing just an equal but opposite problem. Scenes are skipped, little information or explanation is given, most of the time zero explanation for events are given, and things just happen without cause. You're supposed to figure it out yourself. (I guess that's another metaphor for adulthood). Its like a teacher giving you the material and expecting you to figure it out on your own with no assistance then groans if you don't understand. Instead of trying to explain they point at the material and screams how it's "right there" and it's our fault for not understanding it. Then just walks away. That's not how you tell a story, make an anime, and a pretty pathetic way of looking at life.
I read comments on MAL that do explain the general overall themes and symbolism of the show and they make sense but the entire thing was made very niche audience and I'm not sure if that was intentional or if it matters. The entire thing felt like an exercise in pointless if someone still has to spoon feed you the answers. It basically sacrificed basic story telling, deep narrative plot, meaningful character development, and even the overarching mystery itself to shovel symbolism and abstract themes down your throat in the most surreal methods possible. There was no substance just flash and colors without anything holding it together. A show made for sole purpose of showing off. That is the one thing it succeeded at.
The little plot that exists within the series is simple: Get back home. Even that is lost as the show goes on as characters are introduced only to be forgotten or lost. Conflicts introduced are cut and go nowhere. Settings shift continuously with little to know explanation to their significance or purpose. Plot points are added as quickly as they are taken away leaving nothing left that resembles a coherent story. Its a failure as a story but succeeds at show.
Visually its well done with a variety of well drawn backgrounds, characters, and assets in each scene. But the over reliance on special effects, visual set pieces, abstract images is again why I find this series to be exceedingly frustrating. It's all an illusion to cover the fact that any perceived depth or dense storytelling exists solely in the mind of the audience. One could say this is a masterful stroke of art. A show that could have an infinite number of meanings, themes, messages, and everyone get something different out of it. I'm sure an infinite number of arguments could spawn from watching it. But that's all it is, abstract storytelling with nothing substantial behind it.
The most insulting part of the show were the characters. The little growth the main characters, Nagara, Mizuho, Nozomi had was both limited and basic. SO much so that the entire adventure seemed pointless and over the top to accomplish as little as it did. The rest of the cast were easy forgotten and deserted as the scope of the series slowly focused on the main group while the rest who at the beginning seemed important and like they would effect the plot in some substantial way, were simply cut out and lost. There were so many moments where characters were set up to be important to the conflict or the story only to wander off or completely shift in their personalities. Some were left behind, others didn't change at all, and most made me question their inclusion in the first place. (Another metaphor for life perhaps that some people will grow while others stay the same and we all drift apart and forget each other).
The entire thing is frustrating because it embodies everything that is wrong with type of storytelling. On one side you have those standing around breaking down why everything was so great and wonderful and put together while simultaneously remarking how it could have been better. Then the other side of people who can't even enjoy any part of it because it barely even tried to accommodate them. If you have to dangle a shiny object in the form of a talking dog and cats to keep people's interest then you messed up.
Like I said it was an exercise in pointless because if people don't understand what you're trying to tell them or get them to engage with your work then you screwed up. If you wanted to watch a show that is nothing but kaleidoscope of bright lights, strong visuals, and micro themes then this is a perfect show. If you just want to watch a show that makes you feel smart for sitting through all 12 episodes then this is a good show. But if you want a show where narrative story telling and character is what matters then you're better off watching something else.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Mar 29, 2022
Despite what the narrator says this is NOT a story a romantic comedy about a guy and a girl who used to be a guy, but a story about two life long friends going on an adventure. A buddy comedy would be more accurate to call it than a romantic comedy. A road trip in another world with a lot of baggage.
This is a satirical isekai fantasy and does not try to pretend or delude the audience by pretending to be anything but that. Between mocking romantic tropes one would find in a traditional rom-com to obvious cracks at more popular isekai stories, the
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show is full of jokes designed to make the most harden isekai fan laugh. And it does a good job. The characters are where the show shines with its straight-laced lead of Jinguuji and its wacky gender-bent "heroine" Tachibana, the two are a classic comedy duo trying desperately to avoid catching feelings for one another until they get their real feelings sorted out. While the show lacks a deep or meaningful plot, it makes up for that by showing the audience a pretty deep look into the complicated relationship between childhood friends. Like I said this is a buddy comedy. If you've been friends for someone for long enough there will be hidden resentments and envy on both sides. This show does a good job consistently hinting and flashing those resentments throughout the season until finally the curtain is pulled back and the two leads are forced to face each other and come to terms with the fact that, like a romantic relationship, even a platonic friendship is complicated. Jealousy, envy, how one is raised, how one grows up, and of course gender dysphoria form a labyrinth for the characters to navigate which at times can be more daunting than any demon lord.
There isn't much of a plot beyond traveling to the demon lord and the shenanigans that ensue due to Tachibana's beauty so I'm not going to say much beyond that is the shows weakest point. If you want a deep fantasy tale with original ideas and concepts, look elsewhere. If you want to laugh at two 30-something year olds acting like teenagers in another world then this is the show for you.
Lastly I want to give a few shout-outs to Schwartz and Lucius who came through in the end. At first you look at them both and think they're just one-off jokes. HAHA look at the Kirito character, laugh at his foolishness. Yes he is foolish but he is far for a one-off joke character. He actually grows and matures more than even many main isekai protagonists you see in other shows. He had a more than significant place in the story and that is in no small part thanks to Lucius who serves as a much needed buffer, teacher, and support for Schwartz which allows him to grow from a painfully obvious joke character to a real character.
I want to give a nod to the door to Tachibana's apartment. You see something that silly and think okay that's cute but whatever. But it actually was used as a real tool than just a cheat skill which deserves praise.
This is a satirical isekai comedy but the characters make it so much more. Tachibana gives the audience a look at the complexity of gender identity which is never an easy subject to examine. Jinguuji is a refreshingly intelligent and sturdy no nonsense character that is nice to see in this genre. Schwartz is an example of how even the most obvious of gags can be so much more if effort is put into development them. The elf queen was fun to watch as well. So this is a story that while disgusted as a rom-com about two dudes trying to avoid falling in love with each other and more about two dudes who are trying to work together to achieve a common goal while preserving and unraveling 20 years of complicated friendship. That to me is worth watching.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 23, 2022
Isekai like Leadale offer the protagonist a second chance when their previous lives are filled with disappointment or in Cayna's case, pure tragedy. Even before her death Cayna's life had ended before it could begin which put her in a more unique position compared to other isekai protagonists or even compared to other "Players" that ended up in Leadale. Her "reincarnation" into Leadale allowed her to live a life she could not have dreamed possible back in the hospital bed where she was once imprisoned. But while Cayna seemed to have the life she never had the other characters weren't in those positions which raises
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some big problems with the show as a whole.
Leadale is a mediocre isekai fantasy. There is no denying that. But the problems with the show as a whole come from the distinct lack of direction for the plot.
Why did the players get trapped in the bodies of their video game avatars?
How did the players get sent to Leadale?
What are they going to do about this?
Where are they going to get answers to these questions?
Who was responsible for this?
The driving plot for Leadale is Cayna activating the Guardian Towers that have been abandoned after 200 years since Leadale the Game was shut down. Okay. Nothing too remarkable but it's a start. Its a goal for the main character. The problem is there is no reason why beyond Cayna is bored. Will activating the towers magically give us the answers to those questions of why and how all these people ended up trapped in Leadale. Can they use the towers to contact someone who can help them? We don't know. There are no answers or hints given at any point during the 12 episodes. But its okay because no one seems concerned.
Aside from the lack of a concrete plot, the characters are what makes and breaks Leadale as a series. Cayna is a problem character. Hot and cold. Psychotic and motherly. She is constantly bouncing between two if not more personality traits like a game of ping pong. It seems that the author couldn't nail down a personality for her so instead borrowed the traits of other isekai protagonist from across various series instead of making one from scratch. Her chaotic personality theoretically should have been enduring or funny but is neither and instead comes off as deranged and broken.
The side characters are where Leadale shines. Lovable and funny the NPC's are the heart of the show and the world of Leadale. The other player characters are more complicated. While they are far improvements from Cayna, they lack drive and agency. Not once did any of them seem concerned or question how or why they ended up on Leadale. Years of their lives lost in this other world that they randomly found themselves in and they seem fine with it. Acceptance is a worthwhile trait to have since dwelling on the past won't get them anywhere, but they act like they don't even care at all about what they lost. 2, 3, even 10 years they were trapped there without answers and those answers are what they and the audience deserve. Cayna shows up, who is probably the one person who could possibly have or be able to get answers or call for help, but the thought doesn't cross their minds to ask. This makes their characters incredibly shallow and no different from the NPCs. It's painfully frustrating to watch these characters ignore what happened to them and settle for a state of ignorance and basically ignore the problem. Having them question how they ended up in Leadale or how do they get back home, would give them more agency and significance as characters beyond just appearing and disappearing on and off. Expressing some thought or feeling about their situation no matter what it is would give them much needed depth. Happy, Sad, frustrated, content? This ties back to the lack of direction for the plot.
All in all things in Leadale just kinda happen. There is no driving narrative, only this happens and its easy resolved so another thing happens. There is nothing really connecting the events together to create a cohesive narrative. Its all the whims and desires of the author without a plan. I think Leadale would improve far beyond mediocrity it did have a more driving force behind Cayna's actions like trying to get the other players back home or even finding answers. The show is like Cayna, constantly shifting between light and dark and just doing whatever it wants to because there is no one there to guide it. That ultimately hurts it in the long term.
If there was any series where i would suggest skipping the anime and reading the light novel, it would be Leadale.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Feb 8, 2022
When does a story have too much satire? It's when the author doesn't take what they write seriously so why should the audience. Even in the parts that should be taken the most serious can't because the audience has learned that nothing about what they are watching is important but instead a joke.
Watching this show the parts that were the most serious and heartfelt were drowned by a downpour of silliness that nothing had any meaning. A story about death and moving on is reduced to a statical circus of over-the-top characters with oversized props and 2-dimensional personalities instead of anything meaningful. Case in
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point the protagonist Kazuhito comes across several people from his past life all of which were impacted greatly by his death. Instead of dealing with the issues or emotions that come with that loss, the story shifts to ridiculous anime showdowns that don't belong in a series with the theme of writing and what it means to be an author at its core. This is most egregious with the episodes centered around Madoka and Hami, two characters who were the closest to Kazuhito and the most impacted by his death. While it is true that each one did have the chance to pour out their emotions and begin to find closure with his death and reincarnation, the moment was quick and fleeting as the story shifted into a fight scene that offered less emotional impact and resolution than confronting the reality that the characters faced and overcoming it like realistic people. Honestly, this was the biggest issue with the show along with a treasure trove of other problems ranging from:
Characters appearing and immediately being taken away before the conflict begins
The fact that only two characters could understand Kazuhito without explaining why (although that might be explained later in the LN)
Kirihime's sadistic character traits which does not count as a fleshed out personality
The rest of the characters were caricatures and not close to having real personalities
Many story lines ended as briefly as they began without satisfying resolutions
The overwhelming amount of violence in a show about books and writing that seeming highly unnecessary even as comic relief
Repetition of jokes that were barely funny the first time
But the show was funny overall. While this is a matter taste, this is definitely a show that was made to cater to a extremely niche audience and people with a particular sense of humor. Saying it's not for everyone is putting it mildly. It does have its strong suits
Kazuhito and Kirihime relationship (as deranged as it is) can be heartfelt at times when they open up to each other and deepen their bond.
Kazuhito and his sister is similar although it could be greatly improved after her arc
Kazuhito and Ham was the most meaningful and it was refreshing to see her character taken seriously however briefly which proves that she didn't need to be a constant nutcase.
The animation, specifically, the more cartoonish moments were the best of all as they did wonders to express Kazuhito's feelings without needing to hear him speak.
There were jokes that were especially funny like Kazuhito vs. his sister's curry
If there was ever a show that could've benefited from someone taking the time to look over what was written with a red pen and a fresh pair of eyes, it would be this one. Flesh out the parts that were designed as deranged satirical humor and change novel components that would deepen the characters and their development. Add a overarching plot would go a long way as well beyond Kazuhito and Kirihime just messing with each other, and you would have had a much better story. Maybe not a masterpiece but something that could be taken more seriously while still retaining the satirical humor that made it enjoyable to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 7, 2022
I wanted to like this show. I really wanted to but that didn't seem to happen for a number of reasons and finishing all the episodes became a obligation rather than something I actively wanted to do. To put it simply, the characters were dull. There is no other way to put this. Each one was the equivalent of white bread with about about as much personality with the except of one or two. The main character of William was the most guilty of this white bread personality flaw. He was responsible to a fault and so strait-laced mature that he came off as robotic.
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If you had a conversation with him it would go like this
Q: "What is your goal?"
A: "To spread the word of the goddess Gracefeel."
Q: "What are your interests?"
A: "Speading the teachings of the goddess Gracefeel."
Q: "What do you do in your free time?"
A: "Train so I can become strong like my parents who died and defeat demons in the name of Gracefeel"
To say the least William's entire being revolved around the memory of his parents and Gracefeel to the point of being cult-like.
The pacing story itself was dreadfully slow. It took forever to do even the most minor task because of the endless verbosity of the characters dialogue and explanation that went into every scene to the point everything slowed to a halt including the fights. Given it makes sense to take time to explore and set-up the world of the characters and train them up to a realistic level but somehow they made everything incredibly tedious and one reason was because the characters themselves weren't engaging and neither was the mundane training scenarios. Even after the first part of the season, things barely improved with more tedious fantasy activities that have been repeatedly done since the day Lord of the Rings was first published. To say the least the plot was severely lacking in originality as well as charisma.
One thing I will give the show credit for is the level of world-building that went into the show. The religion systems in place in this world were well-crafted and someone put a lot of thought into the gods and how they affect the world. The setting was the most redeeming part of the show because it was the part that the most thought and care went into. But even then the world itself, like the villages and towns, was still mediocre when you take into consideration the sheer endless series and stories that have done the exact same thing.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Nov 29, 2021
To sum up this story I would say for every good idea it had there was an equally bad one. Shakunetsu no Nirai Kanai was cancelled within a year of publication so that says a lot about the overall story. It's a miracle that the author was able to complete the tale with just 47 chapters. If you read the manga, the answer to the question why was it cancelled so early becomes fairly obvious.
Like I said for every good idea the story had there was a bad one. Let's start with the good ideas. Dolphin cop raising a little girl on a remote
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island that is home to a sea worshipping cult with magic ocean powers. That is definitely one of the more interesting settings and a premise with a lot of mystery and potential. You had strong characters with stronger personalities and stronger muscles. Even a unique fighting system and a lot of research into aquatic physics and biology. At the stories core, it was a shonen with a lot of potential that really nailed the shonen jump formula.
Of course then comes the bad and honestly borderline amateur ideas and concepts the story used. The biggest flaw comes with the hardboiled cop motif. Reading the story made me think that the author did not have a good grasp on detective genre or cop stories. Everything was resolved either too easily when it came to the actual police work or just became overbearing. The "I'm a cop and uphold the law" dialogue and mindset became a hinderance at times of high tension. The second biggest issue was the character of Chaoko, the young girl. Her entire power from the beginning was one of those ideas that was never properly fleshed out and made little sense no matter how many times it was explained. Honestly it was a bad idea from its inception and it was too late to change it. The third were the mermen species. This one was poor and unimaginative given that the merfolk were humans gangers that would sprout weird fish like appendages from strange places. Even the underwater setting was just modern Japan under water. There was nothing unique or creative about it. Zero thought went into the merman culture, city, or anything. There are several other minor things within the story like someone playing incorrect notes in a song. Nothing that disrupts the story but you notice. There were a lot of silly fourthwall breaking and dump jokes that struck as the work of someone who didn't know what to write so they gave in to the temptation of breaking the fourth wall.
Of course since the chapters of the series was limited and had to be finished so quickly, the ending, while complete, was rushed. The final fight was extremely quick and you can tell where the author knew it had end quickly. While I am glad the story had a ending, I was neither happy with the ending and honestly wanted to see the story continued to be fleshed out and continue on with all the characters.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Oct 19, 2021
While not the most original or creative isekai ever convinced, the story is drenched in so much satire that it is impossible not to chuckle at the comedic humor and situations the characters find themselves in. Despite looking like the late night caffeine induced creation of a high school or college student, the manga truly puts the "com" in romcom.
Jinguuji and Tachibana have more chemistry together than most other protagonists will have in their entire runs. While their relationship isn't the most though provoking or mature, they play off each other in ways that not many authors can manage which is itself praise worthy.
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The strait laced Jinguuji is a welcome relief to the tired isekai trope characters with his holier than though attitude and impenetrable wall of stoic behavior that comes from being a 32 year old man. Even among middle age protagonists, he is more rounded and relatable than most.
My mine issues with the story as a whole can be summarized in two gripes. One is that the gender bender that he story hinges on is not only completely unnecessary for the story (which is good enough on its own comedic merit to not have to resort to such cringy tropes) but actively hinders the story from reaching greater heights. To be honest, having a normal boy/girl romance where they are constantly bickering but secretly harbor feelings for one another would have been perfectly fine and possibly even better for this story.
The second gripe is the constant harping on the characters age. We understand that they are 32 but the way they act, its like either a badge of honor or a major character flaw depending on the beat of the story. Not only is this fact brought up almost as often as the reader is reminded that yes, Tachibana is in fact a 32 year old man in a loli body, but is completely irrelevant to the plot as a whole. Even when the two men are put in conjunction with the usual teen protagonists, their age is neither remarkable or interesting. They are no stronger or weaker than the teens.
All in all, the story is so much of a parody of the isekai genre that it both succeeds as an isekai and a romcom despite the unnecessary inclusions of weird quirks. Could it be better and more original without relying on standard tropes (even if they are played as satire), yes. Personally, I'm curious to see what else comes down the line as the series continues.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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