If Shoji Kawamori wasn't so intent on doubling down on the series' claims, I'd call Arjuna a psy-op against environmentalism. It's odd he's so militant given in Macross, he sees the greatest gift of mankind as the mall and as far as Macross Delta, the good guys do their duty gentrifying the universe.
Arjuna is such an unpleasant, anger-inducing anime where they take a poor girl, dump her IMMEDIATELY into a terrible situation, and essentially look down on her for not being good enough despite not teaching her ANYTHING. It should be noted they don't directly tell her about one of her powers until the LAST
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Sep 18, 2024
Season 2 is a harder pill to swallow as a fellow country bumpkin gifted kid who was always inches away from being thrown in the trash the moment I'm too much of a problem. "Our Empty Selves" is a painful watch for anyone who's had terrible things done to them "for their own good."
But it's what makes Witch from Mercury a worthy successor to Revolutionary Girl Utena despite lacking the latter's artistic flair. I know people who finished Utena's playhouse of metaphor who felt the series was an inspiration, but the ending stops before dealing with the "real world." Despite souped-up sci-fi and a bunch ... 
Aug 5, 2024
Maybe I'm just a filthy Fumoffu lover who doesn't appreciate the pure FMP experience, but the full lean into the 80's and early 90's action movies that inspired the franchise is a cynical, depressing, and predictable experience with none of the cocaine involved that made those movies ridiculous and fun.
It starts off immediately letting us know it's FOR REAL as Sagura graduates and everyone tells him, "NO ONE'S GOING TO PROTECT YOU ANYMORE! IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, IT'S YOUR ASS. NO MORE FUN FOREVER!!!" Then we get one conversation to remember why this relationship is good before they're separated because THIS SERIES IS PLAYING FOR ... 
Jul 27, 2024
Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu
(Anime)
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As a fellow extreme introvert who secretly holds the world up, the Yuki parts of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya are truly special, even if it's just at a base wish fulfilment level of feeling recognized and thanked for doing the incredibly stressful and draining activities that are invisible for everyone else until they don't get done. This is why both the Yuki-chan manga and anime are COMPLETE GARBAGE.
It's not just they completely changed the character to a generic cute girl. It's not just the way they try to force the normal series continuity into the new imagination like how Yuki's trying to save ... 
Jun 17, 2024
So Ra No Wo To
(Anime)
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In that mix of mid-00's anime like Haibane Renmei and Aria that are slice-of-life with a cast of women and girls in an alien-but-comfortable world, it might have been up there with my favorites if I hadn't taken a couple decades to catch up with it. It falls in the middle of these of how REAL it gets, occasionally dipping into dark backstories of the characters and the world, but still keeps a friendly tone. You're not going to be looking at the darkest parts of these people's souls, but as a military base on the border with a country that they had just been
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Jun 3, 2024
Shinsekai yori
(Anime)
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It is a heavy, complicated anime about the distortion of history written by the conquerors. There is much to unpack, and I'm sure one can find many things to criticize, especially the point of view ultimately being held by people who had nothing to do with it and sympathize with what they find out, but still benefit from a completely broken system. I don't think it's much comfort to anyone on the other side of what is considered "the best that can be done" at the end.
But once the anime plays its slow, occasionally clunky hand, the impact is undeniable, and how it changes ... 
Nov 12, 2023
I can't tell you whether I love this show or hate it. I can't tell you whether it's a brilliant burst of creativity that overcomes a miniscule budget with maniacal glee towards a story nobody else would touch without cleaning up the rough edges, or a cruel and nihilistic attempt at scoring points with the pretentious crowd, name-dropping titles like "The Sheltering Sky" along the way to let them know they're buds. Did I watch an anime that is a wild ride that shows what really happens when people play God, or pointless drivel that punches down on scientists who already have enough problems being
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Nov 12, 2023
Okusama ga Seitokaichou!
(Anime)
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To be fair, the edited version gets a 3/10. This is not anything towards censorship or whatever. The edited version has a little corner of manic energy that fills the time instead whenever a blatantly sexual thing that can't be edited occurs. This gives the creators a chance to be creative and FUNNY. The rest of the show is about an idiot with zero spine or willpower who gets his face and crotch crammed into extremely forced situations that are unfunny, unentertaining, and unsexy. Then he wonders, without clarifying situations or talking to anyone, "Why does this happen to me?" I wonder.... /"Tiny" Lister voice
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