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Mar 22, 2025
Howl's Moving Castle is undeniably visually stunning, a hallmark of Studio Ghibli’s masterful animation. The whimsical world-building, intricate character designs, and fluid animation are impressive and engaging, making it a treat for the eyes. However, despite its technical brilliance and heartwarming moments, the film falls short in certain areas that make it a bit disappointing when compared to its widespread acclaim.
The pacing of the film feels uneven. The narrative, based on Diana Wynne Jones' novel, is often meandering and lacks clear direction. While the core plot revolves around Sophie’s curse and Howl’s own emotional journey, these storylines don’t always come together cohesively. The stakes seem
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unclear at times, especially with the vague portrayal of the war that looms in the background. The political elements of the story are underdeveloped, making them feel more like a backdrop rather than a meaningful part of the narrative.
The character development is also lacking. Sophie’s transformation into an older woman presents an intriguing premise, but her journey to self-empowerment is not as deep as it could be. Howl, while charming, feels somewhat one-dimensional, with his mysterious nature remaining largely unexplored despite the hints at a deeper backstory. Their relationship, though sweet, doesn’t feel as emotionally compelling as it could have been, especially given the time the film spends on it.
While many viewers are drawn to Howl’s Moving Castle for its whimsical fantasy elements and breathtaking animation, the lack of strong, consistent storytelling and character depth may leave some feeling disappointed. It's an enjoyable film, but it doesn’t quite live up to the masterpiece status that many attribute to it. The high rating from fans might stem from the visual appeal and the Studio Ghibli name rather than the narrative execution, making it a solid 6 rather than the 8-10 range many expect.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 4, 2025
I have no idea why but i decided to watch some anime that had quite bad ratings and was recent and this came up. Honestly with the recent disappointment in the anime i watched lately i thought how bad could this be right ? its still at least a 5+ could be worse.
And FOR ONCE finally i wasnt disappointed even worse, this wasnt some mega mind twister or heavy action packed anime, especially with how it started but it wasnt the worst.
It really starts slow so you have to give it a chance before quitting it (basically gotta watch it all or dont even start
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it ), and i know some of you wont make it trough the start as i did and wont blame ya, it feels like its going nowhere and you also get almost 0 explanation of what is going on.
And even later on you still dont get explained much besides the basics so tihs is one of the reasons why i just cant rate it higher besides all the other failings it has as an anime.
So to not drag it any further, personally i dont think this anime is very bad but its mediocre....average....run of the mill.....pebble in the sand.....dirt on the land.... and you get the point, it doesnt excel in anything that it does but at least its not super bad in anything else as well.
So if you want some average anime with some basic psychology mind games that wont tire our your tired brain already and that you dont mind its slow and bad and confusing a bit start, you sure will like the other half of it so it just might be worth it for you :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Dec 31, 2024
One day i decided i wanted to watch sad anime and many people and places recommended Kanon as a very sad anime, and some in fact put it like in top 5, and i delayed it for a while since i was on a sad spree and after few months i finally decided to give it a try...
AND O BOY WAS A SURPRISED...... in a negative way sadly
I have no idea how most of it is supposed to be sad when you get random characters thrown in with no background info or anything just the basic oh they were in the childhood but he remembers
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nothing so yea have fun !
That made me not to connect with them and they didnt do any better job trhought the whole anime.
Honestly no idea how this can be even close to top 5 saddest anime when the main thing thats supposed to be doing is the kinda the worst thing in this whole anime...
Characters are a mess, story is a mess, didnt make me feel almost any emotions at all and it was 24 eps anime...
IF BY ANY CHANCE YOU GET THIS ANIME RECOMMENDED AS A SAD ONE DO NOT WATCH IT, its not sad at all, only thing sad about it is its portrayal of sadness.
But if you want to watch mediocre anime to fill up some free time go ahead
PS. ending will make you cry for sure though.... because you will realize you wasted so much time for nothing and could have watched way better sad anime or even anime in general !
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Dec 25, 2024
The characters have decent chemistry, with Momo’s tough exterior contrasting with Okarun’s more eccentric personality.
However, while the show is fast-paced and visually striking, the humor often feels a bit desperate. The jokes and comedic moments are sometimes forced, relying heavily on over-exaggerated gags that don’t always land. It’s clear that the series aims for a fun, off-the-wall vibe, but the humor can feel repetitive and one-note at times.
Despite the frantic energy and cool action that this anime tries to portray, the lack of depth in the characters and some predictable plot points make it hard to get fully invested. Dandadan wants to seem like a
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wild ride, but its not one that’s particularly memorable or emotionally engaging.
And the worst part of it all is that the more it went on the worse it got kinda, if it kept what it had at start i would give it even 8 maybe, but as it went on and started detoriating very fast in all fields i simply cant give it more than 6, its fine if you like the art and some casual new stuff to watch and got nothing else going on but i wouldnt be thrilled about it...
Ps. No idea how this has 8+ tbh, no matter how i look at it i cant see anything greater than 7....
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Dec 9, 2024
I didnt expect much but at least had some hope that would be at least around average or slightly above and i was right...
It will give you a couple laughs here and there but nothing more than that
While Isekai Ojisan offers a unique twist on the isekai genre, its reliance on humor and character interactions over action or world-building may not be for everyone. The pacing can feel slow at times, and the focus on comedy and slice-of-life elements might not hold the interest of seeking a more dynamic or action-packed story. Although the dynamic between Ojisan and Takafumi adds some
charm, the series lacks
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the depth and excitement many expect from an isekai, making it an enjoyable but ultimately average experience.
A solid 6/10, worth watching if you’re a fan of laid-back humor, but not a standout in the genre.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Nov 16, 2024
This will be my longest yet review so buckle up!
The early arcs show some potential with interesting villains and high-stakes battles, but as the series progresses, the plot tends to meander. The villains, while charismatic in design, often lack the depth needed to make their confrontations with Kenshin feel truly consequential. Several of the later arcs seem like a rehash of earlier material, relying on formulaic tropes rather than pushing the narrative forward or introducing more meaningful conflict.
Characters: Shallow Yet Familiar
Kenshin, the central character, is one of anime’s most iconic "tragic heroes," but his personality is far from complex. His constant internal struggle between his
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vow not to kill and his need to protect the innocent is an intriguing concept, yet it becomes repetitive. His character arc—while grounded in redemption—is frustratingly static for much of the series. Kenshin's decisions often feel predictable, as his sense of righteousness overshadows any real growth.
The supporting cast, while colorful, are not much better. Kaoru, the headstrong dojo master, is a familiar anime archetype—a spirited but emotionally volatile woman who exists mostly to serve as Kenshin's emotional anchor. The side characters like Saito, Yahiko, and Megumi are often reduced to caricatures or plot devices, lacking the depth that would make them truly memorable. Their relationships with Kenshin are predictable, and while they do add moments of levity, the overall character dynamics feel one-dimensional at times.
Conclusion:
When it comes to the animation, Rurouni Kenshin is competent but rarely exceptional. The fight scenes, which should be the highlight of any action-oriented anime, are serviceable, though they often feel repetitive. The animation quality dips noticeably in the latter half of the series, particularly in some of the less action-heavy episodes, where characters are poorly drawn and backgrounds look generic. The lack of fluidity in certain battle sequences detracts from the intensity that the show is supposed to deliver.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Oct 6, 2024
The premise of this anime looked really good and gave me hopes that this might be "IT" to watch and enjoy it fully. But although the plan looked good, it was kinda poorly executed.
The characters never really seemed to develop from what they are and that is bad news for anime that is 25 eps... i mean it would be ok for me for they to stay the same if it was 12 eps but not acceptable for 25 ep anime.
Also if you think oh its anime about a legendary pro hitman and crime and its going to have some hot action packed and stacked....
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well think again it has only the bare minimum.
And dont even bother with the "comedy" and "suspense" genres. i mean there is almost no comedy, at least i didnt find it funny, interesting? perhaps but not funny to make you laugh, and nothing suspenseful in this anime, since we all know how things will end every time after the first thing that happens.
In general this is an anime that had great potential but squandered it and honestly i cant fully recommend it although it is not bad, its nothing special, its interesting enough to fill your time if you dont have anything to do or any better anime to watch, but i cant say its a must watch sadly.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Sep 19, 2024
Hello there... First let me say i have read few reviews about this anime how its nasty and its people trying to normalize loli and some f-ed up other stuff, and kinda made me scibitty scoob pap pap around it if you know what i mean.
But after exhausting my other anime on my list i decided to watch it, thinking "eh at least lets see how bad can it get".
So this anime is not bad by any means and i kinda see where people can get the idea that its like trying to normalize weird things, but i think its mostly blown up out of
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proportion after finishing this anime. It has feelings and meaning behind it and its a little more unique than the most classic fantasy isekai...
But thats kinda where it ends, yes its not some fantasy world its same world and its showbiz its not slaying monsters and so on, BUT there is not much shown here in the sense of action or even mystery and so on. Its very simple, so people that like simple things i do recommend this anime, it for sure good enough to fill in your time, and its not boring to watch it, but for people expecting some mystery and solving it or some action at least from time to time, that wont happen, so id advise you to look for something else.
Overall its mostly the freshness in isekai that made me gave it a solid rating, and also the animation is good and it can make you feel once or twice so so there's that.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 22, 2023
When you read Synopsis you might think this might be an awesome anime if you into action and fantasy, well.... you might be wrong and right, let me quickly say why.
The animation style is really kind weird compared to other mainstream anime, so that can put you off, as it did for me at the start, but as i watched it i got used to it, so it didnt bother me later on (although i still dont like it).
So if you can get pass that then this anime isnt that bad actually, it has action, erotic characters(a bit fucked up and i didnt like that
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part) and some questionable things going on if that intrigues you...
The part that made it a bit different from other anime is that the "good" guys are just op compared to the bad ones and they just whoop their ass easy, no random fake struggling and then they win in the end, and that made me like it.
But the saddest part is that it ends unfinished and i doubt it will ever get the end it needs.
So in the end its not a must watch anime by any means but it can be good for a lot of people.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Sep 20, 2023
Honestly i didnt think this anime would amount to much, but after a year or so seeing such high rating i decided to give it a try finally.... and oh boy i got exactly what i thought it would be... an average anime with no major "feels" moments, no action basically no anything in particular...
I have no idea how this anime got so high ratings, its not really a comedy since there is nothing funny there like not even basic jokes or basic funny moment attempts, the drama starts decent, you think it will develop more, but nope stays on that level and slowly fades
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away near the end...
The adventure isnt much of an adventure as well, i mean this anime had potential especially for the antartic part but ironically even though that was the whole point of this anime it showed there even less than when they were home.
Overall disappointing anime, only watch it if you got nothing else to do, then its good for killing time, or if you want a bit of cozy/comfy atmosphere...
6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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