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I don't usually write reviews, let alone for romances since for me it's more of like a genre similar to a movie that you go to the theatre for just so you can get popcorn. The first thing that might come to mind is that this is manga is very similar to Nagatoro but FMC being drum-maker and not a dick. And though it might not be entirely wrong, it'd be wrong to devoid the author of their credit, as there's something sweet about this one. Like, nothing screams 'youth' more than a limonade at a hot afternoon at summer break.

There isn't much to ... say about the characters yet since it's rather new and short yet, but they're likeable at the very least, and the art is nice and clean. The only thing that confuses me is how early the "will they, will they not?" gets resolved, since when it happens like that, then usually mangas don't last long. And also I kinda get the feeling like the author regretted using a school setting since it feels like it got speedruns throught it.

But all that aside, anyone wanting some dosis of diabetes are in for a treat.

Where do I even start with this one... Don't get me wrong, despite the score I don't think this is a bad movie per se, or should I say a bad production, because the main reason it fails so damn hard for me is exactly because of that. IT FAILS BECAUSE IT'S A MOVIE.

Now, let me both explain and rant for a bit. It doesn't have enough runtime or exposition to explain why the characters have that much emotional connection. and it's because of that it disrupts the narrative and anything the movie tries to portray, making the characters and therefore their relationships feel ... artificial, unrealistic and unidimensional.

Sure, making it a 22 episodes core might be too much of a gamble, but I don't think 12 episodes would be enough to build the bonds or have enough build-up to reach the kind of climax they tried to achieve, let alone explain the core basis of how the 'universe' within the movie came to be the way it is. Damn, they could even have made character arcs on how the characters use the parkour gimmick of the show as a way to express escapism of their current life situation.

It's a somewhat good idea but fails real bad because the producers didn't have enough faith in the project to make it a proper series and played it safe with a short movie, trimming it to the very bones and ending with a pretentious, empty-looking rushed film

The more I read Frieren, the more I can't wait for the next chapter to drop. That's the effect it has on me, but you might wonder why. 

The cliché and most of the time trivialized story of the hero's party going on a one-in-a-lifetime journey is yet so often the way to go with a simple, yet appealing premise as a setting stone to develop unique characters and display the gimmicks of that particular story as to set it apart from its peers. Also, often filled with the classic races of good ol' fantasy literature, as elves, dwarfs, orcs, demons, etc.

But even if also somewhat ... falls into those clichés, then what makes Sousou no Frieren so great? For instance, the story starts with the end of the journey (and no, you didn't open the book backwards), and it peaks from there because what it goes for is that melancholic feeling of "now what...?". But even then, there's a problem to that... remember when I told you there were different races here? What if I tell you the protagonist of this story ain't the leader of the group, the hero who has slain the demon lord and brought a peaceful era? After being introduced to the gang, would you believe me if I tell you that the actual protagonist here is that stoic-looking, almost emotionally numb elf girl? It's brilliant because regardless of how well written of a character she might be, she'd be nothing but a supporting role on the "main adventure", yet here she steals the lead role by a landslide.

It's not often a story really digs into the long lifespan of an elf as part of the plot. As most of the time it goes like "See the pointy ears? These are elves." and be done with it. Here we see how Frieren sees time, way different from the others, and so those 10 years they spent together traveling to defeat the demon king were nothing but a blink to her. But it isn't until a member of the group pass away that she actually realize how little to none she really knew them, opening the road for the real story here, one about learning to open up to others, get to know them and ultimately also becoming a self-discovery journey in the process.

How Frieren sees time and how she sees others shifts along the way, that and the slow yet great world building and characterization makes this for a great read. It quickly became one of my all-times favorite and, as you might guess, I highly recommend it.

It's shocking to me there isn't any review for this side story, and despite as of now I can't seem to find the last chapters translated anywhere I can still say it was worth the ride and damn it was interesting. The first half starts like we fans of steins;gate already know, but from there it adds more and more than I could have ever asked for.

It was a sad and painful read, but it was also that it made it so beautiful, it brings more depth and insight to Kurisu's character at a critical point on the story. And I dare you all not ... feel the introspective journey this particular little piece of the story presents! As for myself reaching the moment of "the sprint", I simply couldn't hold it anymore and ended up sobbing.

That's just how good it is, a must read for any real fan of the series.