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I know why you are here. You probably heard some imbecile call this anime atrocious, or maybe the art style gave you the impression that this is a “so bad it’s good” hidden gem. A good candidate for that drunken watch on a Friday night, right? It couldn’t be further from the truth.

The plot is nothing unusual for a romcom: high school boy falls in love with his teacher but she has a dark secret (is addicted to the 2D world), so he tries to emulate her favourite character. As with any comedy, the quality relies on whether the author is able to deliver fresh ... scenarios and jokes before the audience is able to predict the outcome in advance. As this is the case here, highlighted by a bright cast, this paragraph could end right here with a succinct positive recommendation.

But this is not the slightly above average romcom of the season. This is one of the best litmus tests for appreciation of artistry in the anime medium. Bear with me.

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In any artistic medium, it’s easy to correlate a display of technical competence with overall quality. Bernini is rightfully known as a genius for transforming blocks of marble into seraphic representations of myths and legends. If you take “Apollo and Daphne” and compare it to that amorphous clay piece your nephew gave you after school, it’s easy to conclude the former is a superior form of art in technical terms (even though you may cherish your nephew’s present more than a free pass to the Galleria Borghese).

Nonetheless, such correlation is not perfect. Art has a strong subjective component. If that was not the case, one of those thousands of “perfectly drawn portraits” we see on social media would be more valued than Picasso’s whole career, since they are a 1:1 copy of a real-life image, while Guernica looks like the aftermath of an ugly accident between Lego trains. Still, one can easily spend dozens of minutes staring at Guernica, appreciating every small detail in awe. The carnage represented by that one painting is arguably more effective in representing the horror of war than a carbon copy painting of a scene from a gore film. While browsing Instagram, you may find m@ndy009’s charcoal drawing of a horse impressive, but it lacks expressiveness if it's only a display of technical prowess. It’s nothing a good photograph couldn’t capture as well. Why is Guernica’s deformed horse more noteworthy? If you take a look at Picasso’s early works, you can see he had the capacity to paint however he wanted. So why choose simple geometric forms? There is a special component that separates good art from sublime art: artistry, or the creative vision to express oneself.

My former examples were restricted to sculpture and painting, but we can make parallels to any other medium. Nowadays videogames can look as “realistic” as live action films, yet it’s hard to find any new decent game to play. The film industry is capable of using top notch special effects to make magic seem real; the only problem is how boring they make those magical worlds. The best music is not necessarily the most difficult to reproduce. The best book does not necessarily contain the widest vocabulary. In animation, a crisp art style with fluid movements may be good to look at, but I’d rather rewatch Texhnolyze than to follow the new seasons of a “sakuga porn”.

Any piece of art is a collection of components assembled together to reach the finished product. Animation, script writing and soundtrack all can individually stand out or singlehandedly ruin an anime. You don’t need each and every one of them to be state-of-the-art displays of technical prowess to make an anime good. In fact, working within constrains or even choosing an alternative “subpar” style to better express their vision will arrive at a more meaningful result. Each part must serve the overall work. They can be compared to organs in a body. While your pancreas is not aesthetically pleasing to look at, it still serves a pivotal function. When you admire the beauty of Monica Bellucci, keep in mind her ugly pancreas is working just fine.

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Now, let’s make sense of all my rambling.

Murai no Koi, to put it gently, has a minimalistic animation and art style. My middle school stop motion flicks had more frames than some scenes from this anime. However, this is not a problem at all. The direction was able to use those sudden movements and “camera angles” to maximize the comic delivery. Absurd inner monologues were perfectly matched by even more absurd facial and body expressions. Because actions sequences were in jest, not having that fluid movement was no detriment at all. The plot follows an appropriately erratic pace, which is only achievable if the production team is competent and not burdened by three sleepless nights in a row. You can see they were having as much fun as the spectator.

Overall, it’s a breath of fresh air. Here you have an anime that escapes from the vicious convergence in art style and animation standards most series conform to (or fail trying to). The director understood the heart of the (already good) original manga. He then worked within his budget to deliver its full potential. Jokes and references land; all characters have their time to shine; the plot is paced properly. Everything works as a highly functioning organism.

In defence of the author, we non-native speakers inevitably fall into the traps of expressions, slangs and idioms at least once in the quest for the English language. As someone who once got weird looks for saying "Australia has many beautiful beaches" (pronunciation issue) and previously thought "to be on the pull" meant "to work hard", I hereby show my solidarity with the creator of Wind Breaker.

The plot follows the “school delinquents” trope: boy is shunned by society, moves to a crime-ridden district, enrols at a dustbin school (Furin) with the goal to become the top dog and eventually finds a valuable group of friends. ... However, something about the school defies the cliché: Furin students vow to defend their town from criminal gangs. Instead of terrorising the locals, they formed a militia to keep public order, resulting in them becoming the local heroes. Quite a creative premise to push the plot forward while allowing a plausible renewal of conflict.

I could stop the review here by giving boring accounts of the quality of animation, soundtrack, voice acting and blah blah blah. Instead, I’ll point at something odd that caught my attention: the fight between Furin and Shishitoren is eerily similar to the Battle of Leuctra. Before you dismiss me as just another madman with too much free time who unfortunately has access to the internet, hear me out.

The Battle of Leuctra was the infamous battle that took down Sparta's dominion in Ancient Greece. The main victors were Thebans, led by Epaminondas and an elite force of lovers, the Sacred Band. Now let’s examine how exactly does this anime match the historical event.

- Umemiya is Epaminondas. The Greek general was a generalist. He was trained in music, dance and philosophy, as well as always having shown proficiency in physical activities. It’s said he had lived most of his life in poverty, resulting in a generous and incorruptible personality. Umemiya (apparently) comes from a nearly destitute background. He dismisses formality among his ranks, seeing power as a means to achieve his goals and serve the community. His social skills are notable (one of the few characters who can hold conversations without resorting to violence), he’s a great gardener and managed to articulate a stable solution to a major social ill in his town. As we can attest to, he is among the best fighters in this series.

- Both Umemiya and Epaminondas walked thorny paths to reach the top. Their initial scenarios were a bit different: Greece was under the hegemony of a militaristic city-state (Sparta), while Makochi was a town ravaged by a plethora of school gangs. Still, both leaders fought their way to the top against all odds (leading a revolt and taking down the ruling school faction, respectively).

- Furin’s elite squad is the Sacred Band. The Sacred Band of Thebes was not only known for their mastery in combat. They were famous for being formed by 150 male couples. Their name was probably in reference to the sacred vows between lovers and beloved. Shippers may disagree, but members of Bofurin are not this close. Still, they are carefully selected for competence, developing a strong bond as they work together. Right below the leader there are the Four Heavenly Kings, mimicking the religious symbolism of their Theban counterparts.

- Shishitoren is Sparta. Most of us are familiar with Sparta’s brutal militarism. They practiced a strict form of eugenics and early training to weed out any boy that didn’t conform to their notion of strength. Their main cardinal virtue was an extreme form of fortitude. Shishitoren had similar principles (not as lethal, of course). Might makes right; weakling won’t see the light.

- They decisively won the major battle. Against all odds, both emerged victorious. Thebes had fewer men going against an opponent deemed invincible. They annihilated the Spartans. Estimates for casualties were around a few hundred Thebans against a few thousand Spartans. Bofurin entered their enemy’s turf for a 5v5 and won every single fight.

- Both Furin and Thebes led a (somewhat) peaceful and prosperous period for their populace. High school history lessons usually skip over Epaminondas, at least in this corner of the world. That’s probably because less than 30 years after his death a boy named Alexander destroyed Thebes. In Antiquity, however, he was widely respected as one of the best leaders in Greece (‘the first man of Greece’, according to Cicero). He was a liberator for many city-states long oppressed by the Spartans. He revolutionised military tactics, built cities and led a virtuous life. An idealist who wrote his name in history through a combination of strength and wisdom. A similar description could fit the story of Umemiya. Makochi was a cesspit completely subjugated by crime. The turning point was the revolution brought by Bofurin, which now works hard to build a better city alongside its inhabitants.

The parallel I just drew may crumble as the story advances, or we may get an Alexander to unify all school gangs under their authority. Maybe our "Sacred Band" falls apart, or the author gets inspired by Thebes and decides to give the fujoshi some fan service. With what we currently have available (in the anime), the comparison is nothing short of obvious for any good observer.

P.S. I was not under the influence when writing this review. Remember kids, don’t do drugs.

Expectations for an original anime rely on trailers, production team, synopsis and our own references within the medium. All those considered, I can see why many would watch Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyers (MSMD) fishing for hidden messages in the subtext, or trying to interpret the plot as a commentary on social phenomena. Dystopian stories with exquisite art directions tend to favour those expectations. However, MSMD doesn’t take itself seriously enough to spark deep conversations on each episode. If you want a wacky show to enjoy your Friday nights or to watch under influence, look no further.

In a dystopian 2008 Japan, a censorious group aims to ... crush otaku culture in the country. Akihabara, now in shambles, is the last refuge for the community. Otaku Hero, the main character, joins forces with the mysterious magical girls Anarchy, Pink and Blue to lead an uprising against the status quo.

Until the last episodes, there’s not much plot progression other than introducing characters, worldbuilding, paying homage to our beloved activities and brutally mauling Kyotaro in creative ways. Plenty of the show’s villains are otaku at heart. They may deny their status out of shame, but our heroes are there to smack some sense into them. In the end, we know some people who hate otaku the most are other otaku.

Animation was great during the later fights. There were some dips in quality, but nothing bizarre and overall solid. Both the overall art style and sequence of events look like what my friend told me about his acid trips. I’d say this is the main selling point, if you are interested in this type of art. The soundtrack is great. Both OP and ED are among the greatest for the 2023 Spring Season.

Overall, I’d recommend MSMD to anyone who loves absurdist comedy. I can see a resemblance with Shimoneta (premise), FLCL (trippy art), Flip Flappers (Mahou Shoujo) or Kill la Kill (frenetic action). I imagine this anime is what would happen if the Genshiken crew were to play a LARP with this background setting. An apt comparison would be to Panty & Stocking: magical girls with twisted personalities going on a frenzy amidst dirty jokes.

The MSMD project includes an action RPG game for mobile devices. It will probably resume the plot. Officially, the 12 episodes don’t constitute a closed story. It didn’t bother me, since they give enough answers for the setting, past events and characters. However, if you dislike open endings and for some reason get deeply invested in this story, this may be a factor to consider.

Tl;dr: If you are an otaku, sit back and enjoy. If not, don’t mind our bunkers.

While sailing the seven seas, I came across this exquisite title. Taken in by the cover and synopsis, I decided to give it a go. And oh bØy, what a wild ride.
Hareluya is the heir of the almighty God. But he has a hedonistic life style and despise human beings. To teach him humility, He sends His son to Japan as a teenage human deprived of most powers. Now Hareluya tries to live his days as a high school delinquent.
If you want to explore deep philosophical themes through the religious symbolism of this series, you’ll end up disappointed. Episodes revolve around the cast facing their ... daily challenges, and they are usually self-contained stories. While recurring characters all have their personal drama, the main focus is on the comedic interactions of Hareluya and his mates.
Like other anime and manga from the 90s and early 00s depicting delinquents, many episodes involve the crew picking fights against hoodlums or saving others from bullies. The comedy of Hareluya II Boy is absurd: they face aliens, a cinema club obssessed with zombie films, ghosts, and other oddities. The recurring characters are charismatic, and their chemistry is enjoyable to watch.
Check this anime:
- If you liked 90s/00s delinquent anime, such as GTO; Kyou kara Ore wa; Gokusen; Angel Densetsu;
- If you liked The Devil is a Part-Timer for the supernatural entities trying their luck in our world;
- If you liked Lucifer (TV series or comics);
- If you want to see God’s son pacifying the streets of Toyko with a frying pan.
“Sorry, it’s time for Mass. I’m gonna head home.” - God

2020 started off by gifting us with a masterpiece that made the whole community excited (in one way or another). This anime is Ishuzoku Reviewers. At first it looks just like a typical “I can’t believe this is not hentai” series: the story focuses around the leisure time ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) of our protagonists in a world of fantasy where many different species coexist. Our heroes resemble your typical RPG characters: Zel is a highly skilled elf archer; Stunk is a strong human warrior with a noble background; Kanchal is a sneaky Halfling rogue; and Crim is a fallen angel who was saved by ... Zel and Stunk. Tired of arguing over which race is the best for physical intimacy, the group decided to create a review and rating system to better substantiate the discussion and to serve as an aid to other males’ decision making. How such a plot can develop into anything more than an excuse for the display of the female body, you may ask. Here is my humble attempt to elucidate why I see Ishuzoku Reviewers as a great lesson on the art of reviewing and why this makes it worth watching.

The first thing I’d like to point out is that this anime is honest about its premise. The characters end up creating a form of business from their love for the night. At any point it tries to present a more profound plot, or a deeper message within. It’s just a sincere conversation about fetishes and tastes. There is a clear boundary with reality, since the show doesn’t take itself so seriously. To fully enjoy this anime one must accept the suspension of disbelief and the level of abstraction proposed, which is not hard given the tone of the show.

It presents a simple yet decent worldbuilding. Through the interactions we can see a wide variety of races in this fantasy world, and they all coexist peacefully. Still, there are conflicts between them, for instance, in the case of the demons’ low popularity and its relation with local politics. In this setting, this conversation about preferences comes up naturally.

The analyses made by the characters follow an appropriate method to evaluate the businesses. They are rich in detail, using both objective and personal subjective criteria. This gives their readers a good idea of what to expect from the girls and if their own experiences there would be enjoyable.

Their race plays an important role in this perception. Right in the first episode, for example, we see how different species see a female elf. Zel (the elf) has a great connection to spiritual energy, so he sees the female elf as being too old for him. A werewolf greatly considers the smell. Stunk (the human) only cares about the young looks of the elf. And all these perceptions are weighted in their final analyses and used as the base of a final verdict.

Not only race differences are important, but also individual differences are considered. From the main trio (Zel, Stunk and Crim), both the human and the elf are more experienced in the nightlife. In the beginning, they have to almost carry Crim to the brothels with them. Nonetheless, as the story progresses, the angel starts to treat his/her sexuality more openly, and seeks out opportunities to shag more often. Yet, he/she remains as an important counterpoint to the way the other two see the businesses and relations to a more fundamental level. He/she also considers the experiences from a more emotional standpoint, giving reviews from the point of view of a more sensitive and bigger ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) individual.

The anime maintain a base narrative that is still dynamic enough to fit an episodic format. They manage to approach different concepts in different episodes without changing the comedic tone. It concludes that the perception of reality is different for each of them, and they try to explain to one another what is important to them. They are in a condition where one respects the other while acknowledging their differences.

Also, the opening was strongly influenced by Village People. This is glorious.

Tldr:

Who is this anime for: anyone willing to have some laughs without caring about explicit content. These people will be served with simple yet cohesive plot, character development and worldbuilding.

Who I wouldn’t recommend this anime for: people who are adamant about not watching ecchi and people who can’t hide the anime they watch from others.