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Sep 15, 2022
John Lasseter, the former chief creative officer of Pixar, once said: "No amount of great animation will save a bad story." That quote reminds me a lot of FLCL. It's hard to deny the brilliance of Fooly Cooly in terms of its animation, art style, and music, but all of those mean nothing if they can't manage to tell a compelling narrative. Symbolisms can be worthwhile only if the story is entertaining, and in the case of FLCL, it is flavorless. Having a meaningful message is one thing, but effectively conveying it to the audience is another level of excellence which the creators of this
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show miserably failed at.
Story:
The plot is uninspiring and perplexing. Clarity of the premise is non-existent. It meanders since the first episode and continues to display nonsensical sequences instead of having a significant story line. The unconventional storytelling made it more confusing and unbearable to watch. Consistently, it throws a bunch of ambiguous symbolisms to the audience, most are random and subtle. On the contrary, it has its own identity when it comes to its style of writing, but 'unique' doesn't necessarily indicate 'good quality'. The pacing is as fast as lightning, and pausing would be futile, because of the incoherence of the story.
Characters:
It has the most colourless and abrasive characters I've seen in this medium. Few things about them impressed me. It's hard to care for any of them, because they lack a sufficient amount of charm. Sometimes, the nature of the setting doesn't blend well with the characters especially the 'energetic one'. Each character has a distinct personality and mystique emanating from them, but it didn't add any appeal to them. Collectively, the characters have a dynamic relationship, and it looks better that way as opposed to seeing them independently. The surroundings have a strong presence, but the characters are replaceable.
Audio-Visual Presentation:
The art style and animation are its biggest strength. The art is the most recognizable aspect of the show; it is bright and lively. The animation flows smoothly; the magnificence of it is clearly shown at the succession of events in the final episode. The music is upbeat and one of a kind; the best song is clearly the ending song. Despite of the good remarks in this department, it didn't do much to elevate the quality of the story.
Who would enjoy FLCL?
I agree with the adherents of this OVA when they claim that the enjoyment of this work comes from thoroughly analyzing it, and if you're that sort of person, you might like this. This is a kind of work that gives more importance to its themes than the story or characters. It gives more emphasis on the style of narration than the actual content. Fans of Serial Experiments Lain and Angel's Egg would definitely like this.
Overall experience:
Reading and watching reviews of FLCL are far more pleasurable than actually watching the show. I can appreciate and respect what they are trying to accomplish here, but at the end of the day, it boils down to the quality of how it was told. Dumpster fire is the best way I can describe this. Imagine experiencing pain, boredom and disappointment in one go, that's my Fooly Cooly viewing experience.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Sep 9, 2022
Maybe you want something short and comforting? If yes, you should definitely check this out.
This ONA is a tourism advertisement for Hitoyoshi Kuma. Natsume and Ponta take an excursion to this serene place just to relax and enjoy the beautiful sceneries. It's just the two of them strolling in paradise, completely free from any conflicts and distractions. We've seen this many times before, and it is still enjoyable after 6 seasons. The quality of background arts and music is stellar and is quite similar to a regular full-length Natsume episode. It is simple, but wholesome. This is worth replaying, and maybe you'll consider going to
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this place someday. If you're a fan of Natsume Yuujinchou, you'll enjoy this certainly.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 4, 2022
Season 3 maintains the good quality of the previous seasons, but what sets this apart is the progression of the relationship between Takagi and Nishikata. Takagi is getting bolder in hinting her feelings to Nishikata in many creative ways. Nishikata is the same as always in most aspects, but he is beginning to realize 'something' about the two of them. Outside of the main duo, there are lots of funny skits coming from the other supporting characters who finally receive their fair share of spotlight. Just like season 2, the entire content feels like 60% Romance and 40% Comedy.
In this season, many of the jokes
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have a build-up which creates anticipation for the audience until the punchline, the best example would be the Valentine's Day episode where they focus on one subject and expanded the idea throughout the episode until the payoff. One would get the gratification of guessing and waiting for the climax. Most of the punchlines are humorous and memorable, sometimes predictable but far from being substandard. They've rehash familiar jokes from the earlier seasons, but those are now used in different scenarios. There are no bad episodes, but episode 1 felt ordinary and is not in the same league compared to the rest, at least to me. The production of the last 5 episodes looks grandiose and unique, especially the Christmas and White Day episodes.
Will you experience something new this season? Yes.
Does this season have the best episode of the entire series? Yes.
Is it better than the previous seasons? No, because it's almost the same quality.
Is this the ending? No.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 27, 2022
Story:
Furiko is brief but still manages to convey a meaningful message. It is a story of a man full of regrets and how he deals with the sad reality that time can't be reset. Most men will eventually experience this at some point in their lifetime. It is a simple story, but one that is rare in this medium. It is touching and realistic. This special is a necessary watch.
Character:
The main character, most of the time, is indifferent towards others. He is a pessimist and a klutz, but one who is common among humans. He is someone many adults can relate, but not celebrate.
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His daily life is a painful cycle of adulthood. It's not that this guy had hit rock bottom or anything, but he lacks appreciation of the people around him. One can be jealous of the life he has, but for some reason, he lives an unfulfilling existence.
Presentation:
The flow of the story is fast just like a music video. The art is simplistic and suitable. The song chosen splendidly encapsulates the feeling of nostalgia. It is surrounded by a melancholic vibe.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Aug 15, 2022
School days is NOT a bad anime. It is a story that diverts from what it originally was, but that doesn't make it a lackluster show. It went from a wholesome romance and slice of life series to a completely unexpected genre one can hardly anticipate. The events that happened here can occur in the real world as much as some people want to deny it. The actions and decisions of the characters can be frustrating at times, but it's far from being illogical.
The characters are well-written. Some of them deserved sympathy, but others are repugnant, but that's life, you will meet a wide variety
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of people whether you want them or not. The point I'm making here is that one can dislike or disagree with one particular character without labeling said character as poorly-written. The majority of criticisms about this show stem from the audiences' aversion to one specific character, and not because of poor writing.
Presentation-wise, it's not spectacular, but it's far from being uncomfortable. The art-style is generic. The atmosphere is not lively nor dull. The music blends well with the scenes especially in the last episode.
School days is more of a social commentary about modern teenaged relationships than a story one can enjoy. It's realistic, unpredictable and distressful. If the story didn't change from it's original course, it would definitely be forgotten. If you're someone who's searching for a story that is unafraid of showing harsh realities of romantic relationships, then this is for you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jul 22, 2022
This review includes all the seasons of Fruits Basket.
I. What's it about?
We're all familiar with the quote: "It's okay to not be okay.", and that single line best describes the philosophy and nature of Fruits Basket. It tells us that we all experience tragedy, pain and sadness, but at the same time, optimistic things like love, empathy and belongingness come to remind us that life is worth living. It tells us that both the genetics(nature) and environment(nurture) of a person play a critical role in shaping one's identity. The major conflict of the story is
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about fatalism vs free will - can someone truly escape his/her destiny or are they bound to fail from the very start? The subjects and themes of the story are crafted in a palatable way in which the audience can easily relate. If you're someone who wants to unwind and feel a solidarity with the world, then this series is for you.
II. Story
Tohru Honda is an orphan who is forced to live on her own in the woods due to unfavorable circumstances in her life. One day, upon wandering through the forest, she discovered a manor where she met the Sohma family, a mysterious clan, who immediately let her live with them in exchange of her household services. After some time, she learns the secret of their clan and meets other members who each has their own damaging past caused by the 'zodiac curse', a thing that binds them together as a family destructively. She helps them recuperate from their traumas through her encouraging words. Each of the characters, including Tohru, learns the value of connection, acceptance and moving forward.
III. Characters
There is a wide range of characters in Fruits Basket from the charming protagonist to the contemptible head of the family. All of them have a sense of familiarity. They are carefully presented in a way to demonstrate human qualities whether it be good or bad. Furuba is a proponent of the gray area. You might dislike one character at first, but by the end of their arc, you might feel empathy to him/her.
A. Notable good-written characters
A1.Tohru Honda
She is the epitome of benevolence. She has a positive outlook of life and cares deeply for the people around her. She has a great level of understanding towards others; she is nonjudgmental. For her, every person can be redeemed.
A2. Yuki
He is a calm and collected person but behind his smiles is his past that he wants to suppress. He is a popular guy that everyone views as 'the role model'. He is sociable, but most of the time, it's hard for him to connect with others. He is the most developed character in the series; the story can be seen in his perspective as well.
A3. Kyo
He is a loner and ill-tempered type of person. At first glance, it looks like he doesn't care, but in reality, that's not the case. Unlike Yuki, he has a small circle, but can easily connect with others. He is the complete opposite of Yuki in most aspects. In my opinion, he has the best story arc.
A4. Arisa and Hanajima
They are the best friends of Tohru. Both of them have strong individual arcs. The dynamic they shared with her is enticing to watch. They are attached to her, because she and her mother helped them deal with their traumas in the past. Just like a guardian, they are overprotective of Tohru. The good thing about the three of them is that even though they are totally different from one another, they all get along.
A5. Akito
The mysterious chief antagonist of the series and the person everyone hates, this character has the biggest effect to the Sohmas. This despicable being knows every single little thing happening within their family and the one most obsessed to unite them together. He gets along with few zodiac members. Every relationship by Akito can be described as toxic and manipulative.
A6. Shigure
In terms of morality, this character can be seen as the 'true neutral' of the story. He is composed, but shady at the same time. He is accessible to everyone, whether it be good or evil characters. One could argue that he is the true villain of the series and that is a valid point. He is definitely the most complex character in the show.
B. Bad-written characters
With a large cast, it is inevitable to have characters that are abrasive and/or lacking depth, e.g. a character who constantly berates someone with insulting words and a character who always apologizes. These characters are so frustrating that it almost made me drop the show. Gladly, they did get developed later on. Most of them are supporting characters that the main characters learned from.
Fruits Basket 1st Season (7.4/10)
Season 1, for the most part, is presented in an episodic-like and character-of-the-week manner, and is leaning towards a human heavy drama more than a slice of life. Each episode contains three important things: 1.) the subject character and his/her backstory, mostly bittersweet, 2.) how do they cope with their traumas, and 3.) the lessons they've learned. Tohru is an active listener and an effective adviser to every person that she meets; in other words, she serves like their therapist or sometimes, a parental figure. Many of the stories are excellent especially episode 7 and the majority of the last 12 episodes, but the weaker episodes are noticeably insipid. The consistency of the story felt like a wave, but the high moments are laudable and unforgettable. It doesn't have the best introductory episodes, but people should at least decide to continue or not after watching episode 5.
Fruits Basket 2nd Season (8.3/10)
Season 2 is the heart of the series. I have to preface that the first 4 episodes felt out of place and inferior compared to the rest, but other than that, it was a harmonious experience. Compared to season 1, this has a great balance of slice of life and light drama. The characters have a clearer insight of what they want to achieve. The bond of the characters strengthened because of their openness and experiences. From episodes 5 to 25, the feelings of belongingness, hope and moving forward are efficiently conveyed through the characters. Another good thing is how the series manage to successfully expressed the sentiments of being young. As the secrets of the zodiac curse get revealed, I wanted to immediately see the next episode. Episode 21 is one of the most rewarding episode that I've seen in any drama anime. One thing that prevents me from giving this a 9/10 is episode 13 where I was heavily offended by the actions of one character, but thankfully this character develop later on.
Fruits Basket: The Final (8.3/10)
This is darker compared to the first two seasons. The major theme here is acceptance. There's a big revelation in every episode. It felt short, but the last 6 episodes were meaningful. Every major character gets a closure. Some characters have grown a backbone. Episode 8 is another candidate for my favorite episode in the entire series.
As a Romance:
Fruits Basket contains different types of romance such as self-love, familial love, friendship, infatuation, passionate love and even abusive love, and all of it are magnificently conveyed. It is an advocate of caring for oneself and others. The best example would be the motherly love of Kyouko to her daughter Tohru. Seeing them together made me realize that there's a lot of positive things in this world.
As a Drama:
Furuba centers around teenagers and their stories of loss, tragedy and abuse. It is dark most of the time, but it also contains light drama, mostly about teenage romance. The topics discussed are normally not a subject of discourse in our society. This show talks about depression, guilt and hopelessness in the perspective of victims of uncontrolled circumstances in an intricate manner.
As a Slice-of-Life:
This is the relaxing part of the show. Everything you'd expect from a high school life in Japan is here like school festivals, trips, bonding with friends, reunions, and beach episodes. Most of these delightful moments occur in season 2. It doesn't overlap with the serious elements of the story.
Visual Presentation:
It is clean and welcoming. The color palette blends well with the mood of a given scene; they use bright colors when the tone is pleasant, whereas dark colors when it is melancholic. The architecture of houses, roads and buildings is pleasurable to look at, but it is at its finest when it is close to nature.
Sound:
Fruits Basket has one of the best soundtracks in anime. All of the Ops and Eds are great, but the songs that stand out the most are 'Again', 'One Step Closer', 'Prism', 'Home', and 'Eden'.The lyrics of every song fit the narrative. There is this beautiful instrumental song called 'I will protect you' that is played on every important moments; it creates more impact to the scenes. Both the dub and the sub are exceptional, but I slightly prefer the dub mainly because of the performance of Laura Bailey as Tohru Honda.
Overall Experience:
My three major complaints are: the inconsistency of the first season, the weak introduction of some important supporting characters, and few offensive characters. Other than that, it was a fantastic ride. This is one of the few series I cannot wait to rewatch in the near future, and maybe, I'll amend my opinion about some of my dissatisfactions. I'm glad that I got to experience a variety of emotions. This is worth recommending to people who want to heal and feel the joy that life brings.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 7, 2022
I'm currently at 31 episodes of 39, but I need to talk about it.
What's it about?:
Elitism, whether it be by merit, preference or intellectual capability, exists in all facets of modern society. Some are detrimental just like in the case of Oniisama e in which 'social class superiority' is prevalent. This series is about the toxicity of hierarchy present in a venerated society that is hard to overthrow because everyone seems to bow down to it. This is one of the few experiences where I felt the pain of the characters to the point that it's really hard to celebrate the high quality of the
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work because of the subject matter.
Characters:
Oniisama e is brimming with highly sophisticated characters. We, the audience, see everything through the lens of Nanako, the protagonist, who is kindhearted but very naive at the start. The other major characters have at least one of these characteristics: prestigious, daunting and mysterious. The characters have beauty within them, but at the same time, each of them had a tragic past which continues to haunt them for a very long time.
Story:
The story begins when Nanako, along with her friend Tomoko, transferred as freshmen high school students at the renowned exclusive girls high school Seiran Academy known for its Sorority. On her first day, she notices that all students have a strong fascination towards the Sorority members and some of them go to great lengths to be a candidate member of it just like Mariko Shinobu, a very strange resident freshman who immediately approaches her and ask to be friends. She learns from her about the three notable personalities in their school namely: Saint-Juste-sama, Kaoru-no-Kimi and Miya-sama who each will have an influence in her high school life. The story focuses on one character at a time and by doing this maximizes their development.
As a Psychological-Drama:
This is definitely one of the most suspenseful series I've seen in this genre. As the story progresses, it gets heavier and more interesting. The atmosphere is somewhat dreadful and unstable. Episode 8 is when it transitioned from good to great.
As a Slice-of-Life:
The setting is surrounded by tension, but sometimes, there are memorable light-hearted moments. This includes going to a university festival, preparing invitations, playing sports, baking, and even simple decorating. We get a glimpse of the lifestyle of this affluent society. Most of these activities occur outside of the campus.
Presentation:
I would go as far to say that this is possibly a candidate for my favorite art style; this is a thing of beauty. The drawings of landscapes are pleasing to look at. The character designs are superb especially their eyes and facial expressions when a character gets angry. The music is sullen and clear; it drives the mood of a scene, but it is at its best when an unexpected and hostile event happens.
Overall experience:
This is an excellent series, but it's hard to watch at times. I did took long breaks before watching the next episode. This is a rare thing because I empathized more than I enjoyed it. Oniisama e is two things: a great story and an effective social commentary.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 9, 2022
Romeo's Blue Skies is a work of fiction created to inspire and educate young boys about the world we live in. It is a story of a young boy named Romeo who willingly sold himself into slavery in Italy in order to provide for his impoverished family in Switzerland. In his way to Milan, he met a well-mannered boy named Alfredo who he immediately becomes friends with. Working as a chimney sweep, he experiences cruelty and hardships, but also gained friends in the process and together, they formed a faction named Black Brothers.
The general atmosphere of the series is heavy because it's dealing with topics
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such as child labor, violence, and destitution. Although, life is not always like that for Romeo, because sometimes he'll see a beam of light in a form of a person, an object or sometimes, a cause. Even though he's always tested by unexpected obstacles, he always manages to persevere as a person and learns from it, with the help of the people around him. He's the type of person who confronts every hurdles in his path head on. In every episode, there's always a new realization acquired by him.
The appeal of the show comes from the camaraderie between the characters especially the one shared by Romeo and Alfredo. Alfredo is filled with charisma and shrouded in mystery; he's definitely the most interesting character of the series. The first time they met, they both helped each other, and since then, they shared the same mutual trust and bond. Seeing the development of their brotherhood is fascinating to watch.
It is also a great slice of life anime. Even the simplest of activities like reading a book or studying are portrayed in an optimistic manner that by the end of it, I can't help but smile. Some good moments are when unexpected rapports are formed. Majority of the characters are projected as just 'humans with different motivations' without having someone portrayed as 'evil' except in the last couple of episodes.
The art style is simply beautiful; it conveys the mood of a given scene effectively; the colors are dominantly bright and lively signifying 'hope' even when the characters experience dire situations. The music is intense most of the time; it's the type of sound that hypes you up for a big scene. The pace is a bit slow but it's appropriate due to the nature of the story. The character designs notably fit their demeanors and personalities.
Overall, it is a valuable experience. It delivered magnificently in almost areas - characters, story, presentation, writing, music and art style.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 23, 2020
Cowboy Bebop is good, but I don't think it deserves a rating of 8.9/10 which is incredibly high. There are plenty of good moments in Bebop, but at the same time you need to give a lot of patience to fully appreciate the show. From time to time, there are some good episodes, but most of the time it is just average or acceptable, but the thing is that I don't think there is a single bad episode. There is definitely an episode for you somewhere which will make you appreciate life, because Bebop at its essence is a slice of life of these individual
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characters.
It is episodic in nature, so the best way to judge its quality is to ask how many episodes are considered worth-watching? In my opinion, there are about 8 out of the 26 episodes that I consider a must watch, these are: Ballad of Fallen Angels(ep. 5), Heavy Metal Queen(ep. 7), Mushroom Samba(ep. 17), Speak like a child(ep. 18), Pierrot le Fou(ep. 20), Brain Scratch(ep. 23) and The Real Folk Blues part 1 and 2(ep. 25-26) with each deserves a rating of 7.5/10 to 8.5/10. The remaining 18 out of the 26 episodes ranges from 5/10(average) to 7.4/10 which for me, drag the show down.
Characters: 7.5/10
- The characters have a sense of coolness attached to them. They have a depth to their writing. They are reasonable, likable and deserve sympathy. Some characters like Ed and Ein only got a limited screen time which made them less memorable. The good moments of Bebop come from the individual character arcs. Spike and Jet got the most remarkable scenes. There's more to offer from these characters if the show was longer.
Story: 7/10
- Bebop is about the daily lives of space bounty hunters. They have a mission to fulfill every episode and if they succeed, they get a reward and the process repeats. It's a painful cycle of adulthood. Each of the main characters is carrying a heavy burden that is noticeably reflected through their actions and behaviors. The main story of Spike which comprises of episodes 5, 25, and 26 carried the show. Other stories can be a hit or miss. Majority of the final 7 episodes have great thematic discussions about technology, existence and pain.
Art and Sound: 8/10
- For its time, it looks phenomenal. It definitely captured my imagination. The jazz is fitting to the setting and it made the action invigorating.
Enjoyment: 7/10
- Will I ever watch this show again? Probably not, but there are moments worth a replay.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 13, 2019
Most people think of Ghibli as a studio that only create movies about magic and adventure. Well, they have Isao Takahata, a director known for his works that are representational, realistic, informative and relevant to the world. He is famous for his work Grave of the Fireflies for its serious and dark themes of WW2 but Omoide Poroporo is the opposite of that film as it happens after the war and has a vibrant tone.
Only Yesterday is a very relaxing film about reminiscing childhood experiences. It presents a nostalgic feeling of the past while making you appreciate the present. It includes themes of puberty,
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adolescence, family values, and finding self-identity; it is effectual, because the main character, Taeko, has full of wonderful memories in her childhood. The beautiful ambiance of the countryside creates a serene feeling of longing for the past.
It is also academic as it shows the cultural and historical growth of Japan from the 60s to the 90s. Modern methods of farming are discussed in a fascinating way like it wants to convince its audience to consider farming as their profession. It also shows the perspective of Taeko who is a slow-learner and how she perceives things differently when she was a child.
The best moments of Only Yesterday are when two or more people have a discussion about their life experiences, current situations, relevant topics like farming or even trivial things such as how to divide fractions. In every 5 minutes, there is a new interesting topic being discussed by the characters. The dialogue is superb and it makes every little moments special.
Overall, this movie is magnificent. It has excellent storytelling, beautiful animation, amazing attention to detail, and a calming vibe.
If you are someone who just want to relax, then this film is for you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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