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I have kind of stopped writing reviews as of late for a few reasons, but I went to see this film last night and it really made me want to say a few words about it.

The art was just spectacular and it was nothing less from the mega franchise of SAO. The way that the world would transform around them and become the fantasy-esq world is one of the coolest ways that they could make the real world exciting and enjoyable to look at. I would actually enjoy watching the different areas change into something dark and evil that was once just a normal ... office building. It gave depth to the style of art by allowing it to have a seamless transform right before your eyes. The colors and the costumes were also a nice change of pace from the anime TV series, but the fan-service near the end was a much appreciated nod to those who fell in love with the anime from the start.

The music direction was pretty important I would say throughout the whole film. With music being the primary goal of Yuna and all of that going for her, they actually had great in-movie songs as well as a fantastic soundtrack. I loved hearing those piano melodies behind an emotional scene (and there were a lot of them) but there was also a lot of room for growth and a lot of impact music. it made each scene feel alive and real rather than just a screen, it was able to fully immerse me in the film.

The story was pretty good i would say, kind of falling short at some points, and the main antagonists motives were not readily clear (which could be a good thing but to me it was just annoying). The use of Augmented reality video games is not a super new concept, especially with Pokemon GO breaking out on the scene last summer, but the way they used it in this sense makes me long for it in real life. Don't get me wrong i wish i could still go Full Dive but if AR is the best i can get? SIGN ME UP. either way the AR game starts to seemingly affect people in strange ways and when Asuna and others are in danger, Kirito has to step up and do his best to save them. Pretty standard SAO plot structure I'd say.

My personal enjoyment was through the roof. I loved this film and it made me so happy to actually go see it in the theater. I througholy enjoyed every bit of the emotional story that focused on Kirito and Asuna's relationship and by the end i was tearing up just because of how happy I was. There was a lot of fan-service (as in they gave the fans what they wanted, not just ecchi type stuff) and to be honest it fit really well. I enjoyed seeing the characters in certain environments and the final battle was really something that i think a lot of fans were hoping for. This film is a great film to watch if you've never seen SAO, but you will appreciate it so much more if you have.

Overall Rating - 9.5/10

Sousei no Onmyouji (Twin Star Exorcists) (MID-SEASON REVIEW)

Art/Characters: So there are a few things that are unique to this show (or maybe it’s this genre) that make the art pretty cool. First and foremost, the character designs themselves are nice to look at and the colors surrounding them are great. There are a few weird design choices that were made, and some of them work to the benefit of the show while others are more of a distraction. An example of something good: Seigen’s dark circles under his eyes show that he really struggles to sleep at night. But Rokuro’s teeth are more like a ... row of shark teeth than human teeth really just gets distracting, because that trait is unique to him. There is a weird change in art style whenever they encounter a Kegare, the art of that beast looks to be more “brushed” than drawn. The main character themselves are really quite interesting. Rokuro is an exorcist that shows a lot of spunk and a whole lot of passion when it comes to the people he cares about. Benio on the other had is cold and distant, really only focusing on her own ambitions.

Music/Sound: The music throughout the show is actually pretty good. The battle scenes feel intense and the calm moments are a breather in between the action. The opening track really showcases the show in a way that is enjoyable to watch and nice to listen too. The music that we find in battle scenes specifically is really put together to pull you into the fight as well. The sounds that occur at times are a little distracting, for example when the characters say a certain spell that they want to use, it will appear in Kanji on the screen along with some stinger sounds and then an accompanying scream from Rokuro or Benio. While I am not against this, it made the show feel much older than it was, but then again I am pretty sure it is common for Shounen manga to do this, so an adaptation would really be faithful to the source material.

Story: Rokuro lives in a world and with people who are known as Exorcists. These Exorcists purify monsters (Kegare) that terrorize a parallel world known as Magano. Because of a traumatic past experience Rokuro has no interest in being an exorcist and does his best to avoid the life at all costs. But suddenly when he is saving someone from a Kegare attack; he meets a girl, Benio, who is working hard to become the strongest exorcists in the world. As the two are barely getting to know each other an oracle from the Twelve Guardians (the twelve strongest exorcists ever known) proclaims the pair the Twin Star Exorcists, aka the two destined to marry and birth the strongest exorcist the world has ever seen. The two spend time learning what it means to fight as a pair and how to burst through problems that come along the way including Benio’s family, enemies from Rokuro’s past, and the strongest Kegare that they’ve ever encountered called a Basara.

Personal Reflection: So I was a little skeptical when I chose to start watching this show earlier this year, but I have to say that it does not disappoint. This show has gotten me to feel a lot of things, including; joy, excitement, fear, terror, pity, and even sadness (for an enemy!). I fell that this is one of those shows where you don’t really anticipate much because it sounds like it is going to be just another “underdog takes the world” which those shows are plentiful and popular, but it is so much more than that. The funny dynamic between two socially awkward teens who are told that because they have been prophesied to be the two most powerful exorcists, they have to get married and conceive a child–This really through me through a loop. While I have found a plot hole here or there, the show really has a great base and I am excited to see where they continue to go with it. Being this is only a mid-series review; I have seen only 25 of the 50 episodes that are supposed to be a part of the series. So if you enjoy action, spells, prophesy, monsters, and a classic Shounen feel, catch up on Sousei no Onmyouji!

Overall Rating: 7.6/10

Orange

Art/Characters: I really love the art style of this show because of how natural it feels. There is no over the top hair or out of line characters, but it really feels like there are real people on the other side of this animation. That being said, I really enjoyed watching the emotion that came over the characters when it came to the really sensitive parts. The emotion here isn’t even over the top, and that is really fantastic to see a character show that kind of genuine emotion. The characters themselves are really great as well. Naho, the lead has a lot of dynamics, ... but I must say she can be a little infuriating at times. Kakeru is very much reserved in his actions and is having a hard time fitting in, but his amazing friends are happy to help with that. Suwa is someone who we only get glimpses into his life and I wish I could have seen more when the story began to unfold. Hagita is the stereotypical “glasses-guy” but he has some interesting things to point out from a unique perspective. Finally, Takako and Azusa are a pair that really are just playing off of each other. While each character seems to have a counterpart, these two definitely stick to each other.

Music/Sound: The music that we hear peppered throughout this series really fills the air and makes the mood great. There were a few parts where I wish the music was a bit stronger and things could have just gotten louder, because that would really have made a better impact. The sound in general made a huge impact, however. There were some scenes that were conveyed almost entirely through sounds rather than images or words, and it speaks volumes when you don’t even have to show something happen and the world holds its breath wondering what will happen next. The opening song is definitely one that I will listen to over and over again because of how catchy it is, but it will always bring a somber happiness because that is the true nature of the show.

Story: Naho Takamiya receives a letter on the opening ceremony day at her high school. She begins to read and is quickly confused because of the letter’s contents. Apparently the letter is from Naho herself, ten years into the future. When the letter begins to predict things that are scary accurate, she starts taking it seriously and reads closer; a new transfer student will be joining them on day one of classes, Kakeru Naruse, from Tokyo. The letter tells about the amazing friendship of this transfer student and how she actually has a lot of regrets regarding him. Then a stinger hits when she reads that ten years, Kakeru is no longer with them. The Naho of that future time begs that she keep a closer eye on Kakeru. The story continues and there are a lot of twists and turns and it really comes out to be an emotional roller coaster that I can’t seem to get enough of.

Personal Reflection: Sadness. That word crossed my mind at the end of nearly every episode of Orange. Now I am not saying that the show is absolutely bathed in sadness, but the story itself really is one that is somber in nature, but the motives of the characters are pure and that is amazing. To be given the information that your friend isn’t around ten years later; it’s sobering. I think of if I was given a similar opportunity to learn that kind of information and how would I handle it. Well Naho and her friends really do absolutely everything that they can do to make sure Kakeru stays with them. I am being intentionally ambiguous for a reason, so please don’t think to much about that and just watch if your interest is perked. There are a few plot holes that don’t get fully answered, and sometimes Naho can just drive me insane because SHE WON’T JUST DO WHAT SHE KNOWS IS RIGHT. Excuse me, lost my cool there. Overall Orange is a show that gets you to feel things. I mean, really experience joy and sorrow in an amazing way that I have not felt in an anime for quite some time. I wish Suwa was developed more as a character, but luckily there was a movie announced, Orange: Mirai, which tells the entire story from the perspective of Suwa, so I am highly anticipating that. If you love dramatic, true romance stories and realistic art, then you will absolutely love Orange.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Rewrite

Art/Characters: So the art style for this show is pretty traditional for a stereotypical harem, but there are a few differences. The main thing being that a lot of the characters really look alike when you just glance at them. I had legitimate struggles telling the difference between three characters because their face and their hair styles are so similar. As for the rest of the cast, there are two Moe girls and one sassy/tough girl, and this is all exemplified through their art style. The interesting thing about this art is how cartoonish is can get at times. Sometimes things will be serious and ... really great art, but other times, things look more airbrushed. Another big problem I have is the use of CGI when it comes to some of the things in later episodes, and it really throws me through a loop. The characters themselves are pretty generic for a show like this: The stoic one, the moe one, the shy moe one, the sassy one, the childhood friend, and the overly happy one. As for the lead guy in Rewrite, he is your run-of-the-mill guy who gets embarrassed easily but is deep down kind of a pervert. He cares for his friends tremendously and that can be seen throughout the story which makes it very watchable.

Music/Sound: The music that we hear through the show is actually pretty generic, and pretty forgettable. For example, I just watched the last episode this morning and I can’t remember the theme this afternoon. There are some good songs that can be found in the background of the show, but really there is only one song that really caught my attention and that was at the end of the final arc of the show. Sound itself did a pretty good job however. There were a lot of times where I would catch myself looking away and not really caring what was happening but all of a sudden there was a sound that caught me and hooked me back in. This is a trait I don’t see often and I would like to see more of.

Story: Kotarou Tennouji is a seemingly average high school boy who just wants to be friends with the people around him. But something has been plaguing him and keeping him up at night the last few nights, a girl in a black dress with a red ribbon. He goes and tries to find her one night where he is seemingly killed by this girl. He wakes up, startled, and thankful that it was just a dream, goes back to sleep. But he has a new ability, the ability to rewrite any part of his body to give him more strength and more speed. He is convinced that this has something to do with the girl so he sets out and joins the Occult club, with his friends, to figure out what the heck has happened to him and what is so special about this girl.

Personal Reflection: So the first thing I figured out about this show was that the first episode was 45 minutes, instead of 23. I did not sign up for that, and it was a little unwanted. There was nothing that moved the plot a long in those extra 23ish minutes, and it should have just stuck with being a regular episode. I don’t know maybe this show had a lot of hype, but to me, I was watching and the beginning was just so slow. After things began to pick up with the occult club and the friend group began to grow I was more interested in it. Then all of a sudden, all hell seems to break loose and the plot of the show changes dramatically. I won’t give it away, but the twist came so far out of left field that I almost stopped watching because it was almost like watching a completely different show. The nice thing is that they were able to tie it all back together by the end. Speaking of the end, there was a firm conclusion. I feel like this is actually uncommon for a lot of shows because the anime adaptation is from an ongoing manga or light novel series, but because this was a visual novel there was a clear end and no room for the story to continue. It provided me with a sense of closure that I don’t normally get. If you are into crazy club antics and deep dramatics with a group of friends, you will probably enjoy Rewrite!

Overall Score: 6/10

Love Live! Sunshine!

Art/Characters: The interesting thing about this new season of Love Live! is how similar things are. While the art is almost identical, there is a more modern feel to it and the character designs at least feel somewhat original. Unfortunately, It is just a little too similar when it comes to the characters together. For a lot of the first few episodes, I had trouble keeping up with which character was which, and I wouldn’t say that it an uncommon issue. But aside from that things were fluid and fun to watch. The other thing that I loved to see is what the ... costumes and the dances that Aquorus would perform. Something interesting to note was that the frame rate picked up quite a bit and that was a little weird from time to time. The characters themselves were actually pretty much the same character concepts as Muse from the previous season. Primarily Chika, the lead, felt like just a carbon-copy of Honoka from the previous season. There were a few other characters that felt like this as well, but Ruby, the character I expected to be like Niko (this was actually Dia), was a very cute and shy character that I don’t quite remember seeing anyone like her in the other seasons of this show. The rest of the girls are pretty dull, but there is some good development and their chemistry together is a lot of fun to watch and play out; specifically near the end of the series when two characters grow in an unexpected way.

Music/Sound: Being a show primarily focused on music, it could be inferred that the music was going to be good. A lot of the time, there was good and catchy songs that I am sure to play over and over again, now that the season has concluded. I have to say this; the songs from Aquorus are great, but the songs often sung by competitors are also fantastic, and it shows that the songs were really a focal point for the show, much more than the story (but we can get to that in a minute). The sound here was also pretty well done. Being able to hear the waves of the ocean and the wind blowing through the hair of the girls gave the world life. There was sound that we hear all the time in our daily lives. The idle chatter of people in a busy restaurant and the crash of someone falling on top of other people; It made me laugh at things I hadn’t even seen yet; and I like that.

Story: Have you seen “Love Live! School Idol Project!”? Well if you have, you’ve seen most of this show. Almost all of this shows story is taken from the previous setting. But for those who haven’t seen that or want to know the subtle differences, tune in. Chika, our main character, sees a billboard advertising Muse (the idol group from the previous setting) and the Love Live! Competition. Inspired by their story from normal to idols she gathers up some friends to try and form an idol group and be just like Muse! Unfortunately not everyone is as excited as she is when it comes to singing and dancing on the stage. But when the school is in danger of being closed due to under-enrollment, Chika must gather up her friends and inspire them to sing, dance through the pain of failure and rejection so they can save the school by winning Love Live (sound familiar?)!

Personal Reflection: It sounds like I am giving this show a bad rep for taking a lot from the original show, but even after I say all that stuff about the story, I still get excited when I watch them because the characters are super lovable and so much fun to watch. Is it pretty much just a re-brand? Yeah, kinda, but it doesn’t make it any less fun to watch. Sometimes I felt like they tried to push a story where there really didn’t need to be one, and it falls flat before the 10 minute mark of an episode, and it just seems unnecessary. I was able to have fun with this show because I love the concept and I think they did a great job coming up with new songs. Is it the best show I’ve ever seen? No, but it certainly isn’t the worst. If you watched the original Love Live, you will probably enjoy this, as long as you don’t mind the story getting too repetitive.

Overall Rating: 7/10

Shokugeki no Souma: Ni no Sara

Art/Characters: The art style is just like the previous season; that is to say it is impeccable. The sharp design and the detail of not only the people but of the food as well is really what makes this show stick out among the crowd. The way the food is presented and the flavors can be seen rather than just heard about drags me into this world of food and excitement. One of the best parts about this art is the amount of detail that the food has as a finished product. If layers are important to the composition of ... the dish, you better believe those layers will be present and they will be so eye catching you won’t be able to take your eyes off of it. There is a healthy amount of fan-service in this season, as well as the previous season, but it was more male that female; that being said, do your best not to let the fan-service draw you away from this masterpiece of a show. The characters themselves are quite interesting if I do say so myself. Obviously Yukihara is up to his usually antics and everyone wants to see him in action, and the same goes for the people surrounding him, but the people I want to focus on are some characters that we haven’t seen prior, like Mimasaka, a crazy stalker guy that takes down his opponents by making the exact same dish as them, but making it better, or the growth of a former teacher in the latter half of the season. Overall there was a lot of growth coming from the cast here, but the focus is primarily on Yukihara, with the others hardly making an appearance.

Music/Sound: The music that we hear throughout the show makes a splash and helps move the plot along just as much as any of the characters do. The opening is catchy and I find myself listening to it over and over again. As for the music that is in the background, it is refreshing to listen to exciting music to accompany excitement on the screen. And it isn’t some generic music that they use over and over, but it is new and it fits the scene in just a spectacular way. The one song they do use over and over happens to be when Yukihara all of a sudden looks like he is about to take the lead in a challenge and it is both awesome and inspirational, and I find I can’t get the smile off my face when I hear it. The sound direction itself went in a fantastic direction. Much like the previous season, we have sounds for food as well as images (and dare I say smells). We hear the sizzling of meat on the pan, the crunchiness of vegetables being bitten into, and the overwhelming sensation of smell when the food bursts out of an oven. This attention to detail is what brings me to love this show so much.

Story: We pick up the story right at the beginning of the Finals for the Autumn Elections, and Yukihara is not even close to feeling the pressure. He was able to come in 2nd place, only behind Hayama, in the Block challenges, but now it is time for the best of the best. The thrilling conclusion to the Autumnal finals is underway and you do not want to miss the outcome. As for the second arc, we explore with Yukihara the depths of his own cooking and what really makes it great; and from one former professor, what he can do to make it better.

Personal Reflection: FOOD WARS!!!!!!! Now that that is out of my system; this show is spectacular. I fell in love with the first season, and if you haven’t read my season 1 review, I ended it mentioning that I was desperate for a second season, and I begin with this: I am desperate for a Third Season! Everything about this show screamed amazing. The Shokugeki’s, the autumnal finals, and so much more, this show put me in the mindset that I want to be able to cook like that. Now, I am not a professional chef, and I never will be, but I have just enough cooking talent to see this show and want to try, even though I see the rigorous training and the extremely stressful environment might tear me to pieces. In all seriousness though, this show really made my top 2 of this season. The characters were fun and energetic, the art was spectacular, and just when I thought the story was predictable, there is something to trip me up and makes me wonder if I know anything about story. Shokugeki no Souma: No ni Sara is an amazing ride and an incredible squeal to the first season. If you have seen the first season and loved it, I am surprised if you haven’t yet seen The Second Plate!

Overall Score: 9.7/10

Momokuri

Art/Characters: When first seeing this art, I was a little hesitant, but overall it looked pretty cute and the characters seemed to be interesting, so I gave it a go. I was not disappointed after watching just one or two episodes. The colors are really bright and cute and the animation is fluid and easy to follow. Overall I felt that this show was really easy on the eyes. One of the other things that I really appreciated about this art style is how crisp the characters look. The surroundings are the same way, and because of this, it didn’t look like the characters were ... superimposed on top of a background that was clearly a different style than the rest. As for the characters themselves, I felt that Kurihara’s character really stood out to me as a rather obsessive character, but it was just obsessive enough without getting to creepy and that made it really funny and cute to watch. As for Momo, the other lead, he was just a bit to oblivious for my liking, but he still gave off a vibe of someone who wanted to be in love and wanted to make sure things always work out. The opening did a really good job of showcasing the different personality traits of each character and that is always a plus that we hardly ever see.

Music/Sound: While this show had pretty generic music, I still really liked it. The opening song was one that I just could never skip because of how catchy it was. Normally when I come across a great opening song, it is a good indication of how much I will enjoy a show, and this was no exception. Not only the opening but the music that accompanies the scenes gives the show depth in places where it seems to lack, and this is highlighted really well in the latter half of the series. As for the sound there is a little bit of dip in the quality of this show, I am not too surprised, seeing as it was an Original Net Animation rather than a full-fledged production, but it wasn’t something that I can speak too negatively about. The music more than compensated for this, and that isn’t to say there wasn’t any sound, it was just very much overshadowed by the background music.

Story: Kurihara Yuki is a high school 2nd year who is just trying to make it along in her life, but Momotsuki Shinya, a first year at the same school, is the focus of all of her time. She spends a lot of time admiring him from afar; taking pictures, collecting his trash, and generally obsessing over him, all without Momo’s knowledge. But after Kurihara, with some help from her best friend Mizuyama, musters up the courage to confess her feelings to Momo, he agrees to start going out with her. Even though they start to date, Kurihara can’t seem to stop her collecting behaviors. The plot progresses as these two explore dating and friendships within their groups. There are twists and turns that really make the show easy to follow and fun to watch.

Personal Reflection: I really enjoyed seeing this show in the list of Summer Anime, I knew nothing about it but the art style was cute and the first episode was hilarious that I couldn’t stay away. I really loved how Kurihara wasn’t that creepy. An example of an over the line creepy character would be Kaho’s brother in Hatsukoi Monster (I go into more depth on that review), but there is just something about Kurihara that makes her less creepy and easier to pass off, even when the behavior isn’t much different. The problems that Momo faces when it comes to Kurihara are very real and not to out-of-character for someone who has never had a girlfriend before. There are times when Him and Kurihara have disagreements, or even outright fights, and rather than going back to normal in an instant (which would be extremely out of character for him, he grows and moves on from the problem after learning from it. Momokuri is a show of first-times, confusion, a hint of crazy, and a whole lot of funny; if that seems like something you are into, check it out!

Overall Score: 8/10

Amanchu!

Art/Characters: The art style of this show is quite nice to look at, and some of the scenes are so beautiful and so all-encompassing that it really makes one feel special. The look of the water and the and the style of each of the characters really make the show come to life. Each character has their own unique look to them (save for the twins) and have a unique personality. The one downside to this would be the faces that the characters occasionally make. For example, Pikari, when she gets really excited she goes extremely simple and kind of ridiculous and has a completely ... different look on her face. I really was not a fan of this. It was funny the first few times, but after the episodes continued, and the episodes had this other face on Pikari, Futaba, and sometimes even Ai, the joke just gets old. As for the characters individually, I really love Pikari’s optimism. It isn’t like an overly bubbly and generic happiness, but it is legit optimism. Not very many times have I seen a character that is able to embody true optimism without seeming artificial. As for Futaba, she is almost the exact opposite, pessimistic with the best, but she balances out Pikari and makes things seem real. Having a character like Futaba, that plays off of the strengths of the other main, makes this show very watchable.

Sound/Music: The music isn’t something that I can get very excited about in this show and that really disappointing to me. While yes there are plenty of songs in the background and in the opening and closing animations, nothing really stuck out as being fantastic. There was occasionally a song the exemplified wonder and excitement, but it would quickly dissipate and it goes back to the generic background music that is repetitive and easy to forget. The sounds in the background could have been a lot better. I want to feel like i am underwater when I am with the characters underwater, but the sound is not quite what you are expecting and it just doesn’t deliver that rush that I know the characters are feeling.

Story: This story surrounds two students out on the coast of Japan, Pikari, a high school first year who loves to dive out in the open ocean and spend time with her grandmother. And on the opposite side we have Futaba, a nervous girl also starting high-school but she just moved to the coast from Tokyo and is feeling extremely out of her element. The two become fast friends and before they know it, Pikari has convinced Futaba to go into the diving club’s club room and use their diving equipment so that Futaba can experience the thing that Pikari loves so much, even if it’s only diving in a swimming pool. The show explores the incredible feat that is open water diving and the amazing things that one can see, but it also explores the nature of friendship and how moving to a new place can be scary and nerve-wracking; but that can all disappear with just one person’s kindness.

Personal Reflection: This show made me feel a lot of things over the summer, and I am glad it was over the summer that this came out because it gave me the opportunity to explore those urges I got to dive, in a way. While I wasn’t able to go open water diving, I got to experience something like it with this show. It gave me an interest that I have never had before, and who knows when it will happen again. When I watched Sword Art Online, something similar happened with MMORPGs, but that was a long time ago. Amanchu! may have had some hiccups and maybe it wasn’t the best when it came to music, and hey, so what if they used Pikari’s overly excited face as a way to say “HEY this part is a funny part”. The show made me feel warm and fuzzy, and made me want to jump into the lake I was living on and explore the depths that were just outside my door. The parts when Pikari’s face changed got pretty annoying, but only because I was so much more invested in the show when she was being serious. The faces made it seem really forced and it took me out of the world that they were in. If I could make a suggestion it would be to hold back when it comes to that sort of thing because it feel artifical, but when there is a real person (real in this context meaning not drawn awkwardly) laughing and showing excitement, it makes me want to get excited too, rather than just feel awkward. This is a show about two people becoming best friends and sharing a love for the ocean. If you love the ocean, love friendship, or just want a great story about someone overcoming their fears, check out Amanchu!

Overall Score: 7.5/10

Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! (This Art Club Has A Problem!)
Art/Characters: Before anything else, I need to say how much I love the opening animation to this show. It shows the basic steps to drawing a character and making it come to life, and the characters are the main ones in the show. It’s a play on images! I think that is just so much fun and then it shows well how they all interact together and all of the confusion that the show promises is available to see in the opening animation. As for the art of the show as a whole ... I felt that it was fresh and not too generic, as it could have easily been. It had a shine to it that is unlike anything I have really seen at all in this season. But just because it is fresh doesn’t mean there aren’t anime clichés. The twin tails girl, the awkward adviser, and one of the main characters having a messy hair style, either way it still felt good and original. As for the characters themselves, I have seen them before, but their character style isn’t overused. The main girl is hopelessly in love with main guy but the main guy doesn’t seem to notice. Uchimaki is just focused on his 2D anime wife. The club president is actually a new character I haven’t really seen, he seems to take on the role of “person most likely to nap through school”. As for Colette, her most interesting trait is that she doesn’t have dialogue until a few episodes in, but can be seen hiding in episode 1.

Sound/Music: The music! The Music! THE MUSIC of this show is so catchy and so poppy and so fun and so enjoyable that I would pay to own the soundtrack. The bubbly and the synth music just go so well together that I can’t get over it. This is the type of background music that compliments the show so well, that it actually gives the show depth. The actual sound direction however, is a little lax. There was the occasional crash when something fell, or the door sliding open, but what would have really pulled me in, would be when the closeness of the camera was on the canvas, and you would be able to hear the paint brush sweep across creating a new dynamic. It would have been nice, but it didn’t happen. However, I must say that the music that replaced that sound, more than compensated and I was happy anyway.

Story: This is the story of how Usami is trying to win the love of her life, Uchimaki. But he is not interested in 3D girls, and he is only focused on the wives that he paints and the ones he watches in anime. While she is trying to win him over, she is surrounded by Colette, a troublemaker that seems to only want to goof off, and the club president, who really only wants to sleep through club activities. Between, trying to win his love and being surrounded by people who don’t seem to care, Usami really just wants to use the club time to paint and express herself with what she deems as “True art”, aka. not anime girls.

Personal Reflection: This is one of those shows that I saw the art, I saw the title, and instantly fell in love. I am such a sucker for club-based anime, and I am proud of that. This show, as I have said before, has amazing music and it is honestly one of the best parts of this show. But that alongside a hilarious pairing of a studious girl with an otaku boy, the show really blossoms into something special. There is even another character that comes around who wants to impress Usami and no matter what he does, he can’t seem to get it right, which I think is quite playfully fun and I actually feel a little bad for him. As I hinted before, the opening is so good and so clever when it comes to the way it ties the show together. I have often said that a good opening is better than a PV in many ways. The PV is supposed to give a taste of the art, the animation, and maybe the voice acting, but an opening is supposed to showcase what the characters are supposed to be like, and this opening is the crown jewel if I have ever seen one. As for the rest of the show, it is fantastic. It is funny, it pushes limits, and it is really smart. The one thing I didn’t like was that there didn’t seem to be much progression. I won’t spoil the ending, but I do think it is important to have progression through the entire show, but on the other hand, to not have any, and then have the final episode go to fast, can really kill a show for me, and I am glad that the show didn’t take the latter route. The show that is before you has a fresh and enjoyable art style, with clever humor, amazing music, and is only a little cliché; check it out if you love Club-based anime!

Overall Score: 8.5/10

Taboo Tattoo

Art/Characters: The art style is really solid. There is a little bit of similarity between some of the characters, but they were so minute and so easily distinguishable that if I had just seen the previous character, I would be able to distinguish between the two of them. However I felt that if I had fallen behind that I would struggle to figure out the placement of some characters. The light and the colors that are a theme throughout the show are really nice to look at and even though things get crazy and the lines get blurred. The characters themselves are really interesting ... when it comes to their backstories. The main, Seigi, is your average student and has a lot of the same stereotypes that come along with that. However, the inclusion of his martial art training gives him more depth than you average student. Touko is Seigi’s best friend, whom he cares deeply about, and her ability to tackle things head on even in times of fear is really admirable.

Music/Sound: The music of Taboo Tattoo is subpar really. While there is a lot of great action-pushing music, the majority of it is pretty generic and easily predictable. It does a good job of giving the mood some energy, but other than that it is pretty bland. The opener song is something to write home about because I really enjoyed watching and listening to the animation each week. It was something that I could look forward too, and while that might be something that is a little distracting on the whole picture of the show, it was still great. When it came to the sound of the show, there could have and should have been a lot more. The use of the tattoos should have had some actual sound, rather than just a generic sound that could be expected. But what would have made it better is a powerfully empty sound that would be able to accompany the Void Maker, because that is exactly what it does; makes things powerfully empty.

Story: Seigi is a middle school student that happens to be trained in martial arts, and has a passion for protecting the people that are deemed as weak. He comes across a homeless man getting mugged one day and after saving him, the old man puts a tattoo on his palm. The tattoo seems like nothing, but it turns out to be a secret weapon in an arms race between America and the Serinistan Kingdom. He tries to use his martial arts to defeat someone attacking him to take the tattoo back, and when things look bleakest he needs to figure out to trigger his new weapon. The story continues to follow Seigi and his friend Touko with the help of Izzy and Tom, to defeat the enemies that they come across.

Personal Reflection: While there is not a true ending to this show, it provides enough closer to really put the rest of the show into perspective. I really didn’t know if I wanted to watch this at first, but after seeing the art a bit more, I really liked the fluidity and the colors to a point where I would be watching the show just to look at something pretty and cute in front of me. However, the story really drew me in after just an episode or two. I found myself really relating with Seigi on his morals of protection and I really wanted to see him succeed. Even though there was no true ending, there was a lot of set up to at the very end of the final episode that would suggest a second season. The question remains; is that worth watching based on the first season? For me, I say no. I really had to test the waters on this one and it turned out alright. While the story is good in some aspects, the sound drops the quality. I do have to say this has some of the best art of any show of this current “Summer 2016” season, and that is something that I will not forget. A second season might be a fun concept because of all of the set up, but it feels a little too much of the same, and not enough variety which would have made this show 10x better. Taboo Tattoo is not the best series I’ve ever seen, but if you are into action packed/super power type shows, then give this a go!

Overall Score: 7.2/10