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This is one of the greatest f*cking stories this planet has to offer and if I don't find out what's at the bottom of the Abyss sometime soon, I'm gonna be very upset. I have to admit, strong (or at least spectacular) worldbuilding really is my biggest anime turn-on. If a show has this brilliant worldbuilding which seems just so alive and beautiful and yet so otherworldly, mysterious and even dangerous, you bet your sweet little ass that I'm gonna watch and enjoy the heck out of it. The sense of wonder is so strong with this one and if you make this into a ... really good video game, I am willing to believe that there truly is a generous god who listens to our prayers and gifts us the fulfillment of experiencing 'first hand' exactly wtf is down there. <3 Thank you and good night

I think I might've gotten cancer from watching this godawful anime. Lord have mercy... Am I going through a masochistic phase of some sort, as I have also watched School Days two weeks prior...? And that one already annoyed me to no end (altough the ending was pretty great lmaooo)
But THIS...

Okay first of all, why are the Japanese so obsessed with portraying these sexualized brother/sister relationships - but they're almost NEVER even related by blood?? I mean sure, they're trying to make it ok, or, you know...make it seem like more of a coincidence than a weird fetish. But they do this every time and ... that's my problem. I have seen this countless times and I'm sick of it.

Look I'm really not into incest. But by making romantically involved characters actually blood-related, it would at least cause some drama that I'd actually be interested in watching (Game of Thrones is a good example). This step sibling formula is so overused that it's just beyond belief by now.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Here's all you need to know:
So there's this one girl named Mitsuki, who suddenly got herself an older 'brother' called Yuuya. Then there's this other girl which I'm just gonna call Ghost-chan. Ghost-chan died without confessing her love to Yuuya, which is why she cannot rest in peace. And so she haunts Mitsuki, makes her wear a ~magical chastity belt for some fucking reason and also casually has sex with Mitsuki every now and then to like...idek...charge the belt with...the power of yuri- I mean...satisfaction (?) I HAVE NO IDEA. But ofc it's not enough as long as Ghost-chan, who will possess Mitsuki's body whenever she pleases, doesn't get/sleep with her crush Yuuya. Yep. That's her biggest worry even after death.

The characters aren't just immature and super easily turned on by random shit, nah, they're also downright stupid. They have such unbelievably dumb moments sometimes, which is shown through the conclusions they draw for themselves and I just...wanted to cry every time.

I felt really sorry for Mitsuki though, and I hate the anime even more for how her situation is handled. She's embarassing herself multiple times; She falls on her face for no reason at least two times per episode, she is kinda raped by a ghost a few times and that fucking belt even physically hurts her at some point. But yeah OF COURSE she starts developing feelings for Yuuya herself. Mhm, that's how I like my anime girls best: Totally degraded -.- And I know this is Ecchi, but please...just don't do it like this. Mitsuki clearly isn't having fun most of the time, and I definitely didn't have fun seeing her like this.

But why didn't I rate this bullshit even lower?
Because, the art is okay I guess - as well as the sound, also very few lines were actually funny. The show even made me snort out of sheer disbelief 2-3 times, like when they referred to the Reaction Guys meme :'D But that's about it. The ending is also super bad and makes no sense, just like the whole thing. I'll never watch it ever again.

(A lil' bit of trivia: There's a live action movie which is actual porn. I'm not the least bit surprised.)

Since episode 2 I'm waiting for this anime to just deliver the final blow so I can finally drop it in peace (and for good this time). Not because it's complete garbage… But the way it's going right now, I really don't know for how much longer I can sit through this. Good heavens. Ô_Ó

„Scum's Wish“, more like „Friends With Benefits: The Anime“ is about people being each other's replacements for people they cannot have. Which is an interesting premise, that anime as a medium hasn't explored too often yet, I agree. Nonetheless it's also a premise that can be ruined spectacularly with so little ... effort, and I feel like it's already taking that route.

STORY (5/10):
- up until now, nothing but wasted potential. The majority of episode 1 seemed so very interesting, but I feel my expectations shattering more and more with every new episode :'D What expectations? Well I certainly didn't expect a freaking jizzfest, which by now, it totally is. You may think I'm just oversensitive here, when I'm in fact all for anime showing and exploring sexuality more (and better) than it has until now, really. But guys... When an anime that's partially ABOUT physical intimacy makes me cringe whenever there's physical intimacy...it's doing something terribly wrong. I came here to watch characters cope with all the struggles and emotions that may come with screwing around- NOT to actually watch the characters screw around all the time.
Maybe anime's just really bad with sex scenes in general. Still, this one would definitely be a lot better if it reduced its amount of sex ever so slightly and would use that extra time to...idk, maybe handle its core themes a little better instead. For example by exploring the characters' complex emotions a little more deeply/detailed, but whatever.

CHARACTERS (5/10):
They're scum, hence the title LOL- No I'm not even kidding, they're all kinda slutty and really unlikable most of the time (especially the main girl and the “antagonist“), - Which isn't automatically a bad thing, I even think it's one of the show's strengths.
When a character isn't just unlikable though, but also starts making fucking dumb or utterly selfish decisions...then I don't want to root for them anymore, I'm sorry. For god's sake, I can't even empathize with the redhead anymore, they managed to ruin the one gay character within just 1-2 episodes. Basically just shortly after I'd even figured out she's gay, so at least I didn't have enough time to hope for a proper character arc in the first place. Joke's on you!
Anyway, onwards to the other (attention-) whores: … Do I even care enough at this point? Dear Kuzu no Honkai, if you want to make me care, you have to show me something more than characters being hopelessly infatuated with one another like, 24/7. Don't they like, do or think about anything else? If so, then show me. If not, they're the most unrealistic and unlikable bunch of twats I've seen in anime :'D I guess we'll just have to wait and see. And hope for lots, LOTS of character-development.

ART (8/10):
I like it, very much so. I think it's pulling off that novel-y style with the written words and floating images really well. Then there's this lack of outlines, which may look a little weird at first, but I find it very pretty and refreshing :) So luckily, however dumb the story might still get, the art is and will always be beautiful.

SOUND (7/10):
It's funny how the opening's the one thing that made me come back after I had initially dropped the show. That's how insanely good it is...!!! I love that song, I love the visuals … so pretty. Why can't the show be more like its OP :') The background music and sound in general are alright as well. Oh, except the kissing sounds. They're horrible.

ENJOYMENT (4/10) ---> OVERALL (5,8/10):
I want to enjoy this show, I really do. Not least because its themes are so relatable and common (to a certain extent). But instead of teaching me stuff, I feel like Kuzu no Honkai is doing NOT A THING the way I'd EVER do it.
So no, I can't get anything from this show (yet), wake me up when I care. Though I can't bring myself to rate it too low either, it's not that bad... Let's just hope it gets more...insightful, meaningful, deeper, whatever. Just make it better! And let's hope the plot isn't actually that predictable as it seems (cos it seems awfully predictable).

RE-POSTING this review since it got deleted (b/c Flip Flappers finished airing or whatever), but I´m just gonna leave eveything as it is, inculding my update after completion c:

I'm gonna be straight with you, there's about a 50/50 chance that you will either absolutely LOVE this anime, or it simply just isn't for you and you'll find it “meh” at best. I, for my part, happen to be one of those people who've been waiting YEARS for something like this. Fair enough, this has its very own reasons. So let me tell you about Flip Flappers:

In its core I'd say this anime is about PERCEPTION ... and furthermore, PERSPECTIVE. We follow the main characters, Cocona and Papika (I honestly love almost every character in it, the twins for example are fucking priceless), and they go on adventures together in a world they call “Pure Illusion”. Said Pure Illusion is meant to serve as “visualization of the mind” ...although it's not always so clear, whose mind it may be (this time).

This is the basic idea behind it. I'm not going into detail here for fear of giving anything away, so let me do this review differently by starting with some “negative” aspects:

- ART: I get that a lot of people are probably thrown off by its look. This is exactly what happened to Madoka Magica. But while Madoka Magica did this to fool the audience in order to shock 'em later on, Flip Flappers looks like this because it needs to. If it weren't all girly, colorful and over-the-top, it wouldn't quite get its messages and its actual meaning across. Or at least not in the way it should be done. Which is why I think this style suits the anime perfectly, not least because it IS in fact a fantasy/sci-fi show, though, if you look closely, a coming of age story: very largely about self-discovery through overcoming fear, doubt and other obstacles. But before we're getting into spoiler territory I'm just gonna stop here~

- “FANSERVICE”: There's seemingly random bits of fanservice here and there. Or really just some weird scenes in general :'D For example episode 8, which suddenly increases in ridiculousness and made even me cringe a little - not because of the fanservice per se, rather because it's paired with such a cutesy look. But here's the thing! The reason why Flip Flappers gets away with it is because it's all within the context of 1. the respective world they're in and 2. the anime's true intentions. Meaning that, if you cringe, then that's because it WANTS you to. The show's aware of how you perceive it and might or might not do something to oppose that (for example when Hidaka takes off his glasses in ep 12!!! GOLD), and that's genius if you ask me.

But talking about true intentions, I'm actually done with everything remotely negative, so here's EVERYTHING I TOTALLY LIKED about Flip Flappers:

When I finished the first couple of episodes, I had literally no idea what I had just watched. I thought it was something like Adventure Time, only with cute girls giving off some innocent yuri vibes, or rather, another yuribait and nothing more- but hoo boy, did I underestimate this show...!

Really, it seemed so random at first, nonetheless so incredibly FUN. The show throws so many ideas at you, one after the other, similar to FLCL some would say. And for that alone it would've gotten 8/10 already. But then...you suddenly get it. That one thing the story itself may be truly about :-o And never ever in my life would I have dreamed of an ANIME whose story would actually, genuinely cover this exact issue, all the while doing such a great job at it. In fact, it's done so smoothly, I didn't realize it myself the first 4-5 episodes in, despite me relating quite well to it all.

This is a highly symbolic show with more than just one or two layers. It manages to criticize and “play” with genres and TV tropes, and it does this in such a charming way!!! It twists the tropes around, averts, subverts or underlines them. You've got your references to Alice in Wonderland, Sailor Moon, DBZ, Evangelion, Mad Max... Hell, even the KKK! Yes, the plot is certainly not flawless and it leaves some things unexplained.

But still, nothing this anime does is unintentional. *Except maybe Nyunyu's entire existence lol. However, if you're able to read between the lines/look past the screen, there's gonna be one or another aha-effect for sure.
-

UPDATE:
Okay so after having seen all 13 episodes, I think I'll have to lower the score to a 9, but hear me out! It's not like the ending was bad, I liked it. It's just that the last three episodes or so seemed terribly underwhelming compared to the sheer awesomeness that is ep 1-10.
There were some pacing problems, the animation worsened (b/c budget I guess) and it left some things unsaid which I feel should have been adressed very urgently. But you know what? I don't give a damn. Good show, adorable af ♥
The ending could've turned into complete shit and I'd still love, love, love this anime 'cause I already got everything I wanted from it prior episode 10 tbh :') Ep 10-13 may as well could've never happened. But overall it's extremely rewatchable. I feel like I've missed a LOT of hints that may make me see the big picture even better once I rewatch it, so I will.

This review is going to be relatively SPOILER FREE, don't you worry.
Also, you absolutely need to watch the original show or the first two movies before diving into this one, or else it'll lead to a constant questioning of "wtf kind of drugs did the creators take, what is this".

Alright...so, you've probably decided to read reviews about this movie because it gets really diverse critiques. It's precisely this movie (or rather the ending) that split the fan base of Madoka Magica in half, and I can completely understand why. But people need to understand that 1.) Madoka Magica is not about sunshine and rainbows. In ... case you still believed that; you've been trolled for nearly five years now, congratulations. The entire franchise was designed that way to make viewers believe it's exactly what it looks like, but it's not. Which brings me to 2.) Not all fiction is supposed to please the viewers and give them satisfactory conclusions. In fact, I think The Rebellion Story tried to make clear that even perfect imagination can't be forced to become real, because that still wouldn't mean for it to be >true< or for us to be >truly happy<. And that's what makes the movie so great: It's trying to teach this to us on a meta level by letting the movie play out rather light-heartedly (even parodically) in the beginning, only to shatter our hopes after the first half and again later in the movie. But that's what I came for, honestly. I love Madoka Magica because of the heartbreak, the depth of the portrayed feelings and the bittersweet sadness it leaves in me.

STORY & CHARACTER (9/10):
Without spoiling anything: It's called The Rebellion Story for a reason, or rather for more than one, because it applies to the movie in more than just one way. Either way it's clearly focusing on Homura (how could it not?). Gen Urobuchi, the writer who is known for his controversial endings, said that while the Madoka anime series covered everything there is to Madoka, Rebellion covers everything there is to Homura. I couldn't agree more. I can also see why many fans reconsidered their opinions about Homura or even started disliking her, but remember: A good character is supposed to be somewhat flawed and/or show strong character-development in any logical direction in order for them to appear authentic. I guess anything could've happened to Homura and there'd still be fans who'd be opposed to that development. But honestly, what happens in the movie seems quite logical to me and made me fully realize how scarred and almost traumatized this character really is. Homura is certainly not a knight in shiny armor. Yes, she'd always been trying to do the right thing, but what ultimately drives her (not losing Madoka) is what she'd do anything for, and that has been clear since the TV series tbh.
As for the other characters: I think they got their fair share of screen-time and badass sugoi-moments. I especially want to point out Sayaka, who shows a lot of positive development which I absolutely grant her. We all love our Holy Quintet, some characters more than others, but they were all made fairly good use of. I would love to see lots more of the gang as a whole, since the TV series had them separated most of the time.

ART (10/10):
The art style is pretty much the same as it was in the original series, only cleaner, even more beautiful and even more acid-trippin' than ever. There's so many colors without it being too flashy, and different styles clashing without it being too exaggerated. The atmosphere just seems so magical and mysterious while maintaining lots of threatening undertones, and the animation per se is fluent and entertaining. In conclusion: Pure eye-candy.

SOUND (9000/10):
I can't with how fantastic Rebellion's soundtrack is...! If you thought the original Madoka Magica had unforgettable, beautiful tunes, the music of Rebellion is gonna sweep you off your feet. I normally don't care too much for anime soundtracks, but Yuki Kajiura, the music composer of both, the series and the movie, outdid herself this time. There are few leitmotifs, but composed variously to fit the different moods of the movie. For example one of the first tracks “Mada dame yo” (“Not yet”), which lightheartedly serves the prelude, turns into a more bitter version in the epilogue to fit a different mood.
My favorite tracks also include “Absolute Configuration”, which couldn't be more epic if it tried, “Hail The Nutcracker Queen”, which sounds completely new/different and has german lyrics - then there's “This Is My Despair”, which made me weep, and last but not least: “Doubt”, which underlays the scene it's played in so perfectly that it's become one of my favorite scenes even though nothing really happens in it. So you see, the Rebellion OST got me hooked like crazy!

ENJOYMENT (11/10):
If you're unable to enjoy movies that don't leave you satisfied or content, then Rebellion probably won't be to your liking. But I, personally, think that some of the best movies (or stories in general) have open and/or unsatisfactory endings. The stories that warm your heart but still leave you crying and screaming internally. Rebellion did that: It gave the fans what they wanted (which we should be thankful for, I mean let alone the subtext was highly increased to a point where it's basically canon), but at the same time, taught us to accept the truth in order to achieve true happiness. But. Sometimes you can't help how you feel or what you desire, which will lead to irrational actions and decisions. And this takes “love” to a much higher level beyond good and evil, reality and illusion or black and white - not even to a greyscale but to a spectrum that contains EVERY color (take this as symbolism for the last big plot twist of the movie ;)). I think this aspect justifies the ending, but I'm also a sucker for tragedy, madness and enjoying things to the point where they plague me, so~

OVERALL (10/10):
I'm really sorry if you feel differently, but I honestly think anyone can watch, enjoy and learn from the Madoka franchise, including Rebellion. One must simply be ready to not judge by the looks and be open for how things play out. There's so much meaning behind the stories about the Holy Quintet, the Magical Girls that fight to spread hope while running from their own despair. It's about balance, accepting your feelings, doing what YOU think is right and selfish vs. selfless love. It's not meant to be understood (because really now, who even fully understands the human mind? Kyubey sure doesn't) but to be deeply touched and inspired by. And that's what I am, I'm honestly feeling so inspired by this anime, and as long as it gives me this feeling, I'm looking forward to everything that's yet to come.

For some reason King of Thorn feels like a broken rollercoaster; At first you think it's gonna be the best thing ever, it takes you higher and higher - only to stop at the top and leave you somewhat disappointed. King of Thorn doesn't have the required and exciting downfall of a rollercoaster to be called a masterpiece.

STORY:
The most disappointing and yet most impressive thing about this movie is the story. It actually IS very, very good, but only in the beginning. Or, let's say, throughout the first half of the movie. Then it gets unnecessarily complicated - I still don't get everything. It would've ... been perfectly fine if they would've left out some of those many, too many twists. But there are also many enjoyable moments that caught me off guard. You know these moments when you think, okay, it cannot get any worse than this - and suddenly it gets MUCH worse? This movie is full of it, and THAT I liked.

ART:
The art is very fluent and enjoyable. It's a mix between rather unspectacularly animated characters/objects and some 3D elements.
It makes everything a lot more interesting for the eye to watch.

SOUND:
Throughout the whole movie there are parallels to Sleeping Beauty. Not only does a character from the movie serve them to you by narrating the fairy tale itself; The music actually makes you believe you're in a fairy tale. It wonderfully mixes with the dark setting, leaves a bittersweet taste. Simply beautiful.

CHARACTER:
The characters all have their own surprising little secrets, which sooner or later are revealed. But it feels like it's not enough. I wished for more background information to each character to be able to better understand them. Which sadly, I didn't all the time. As for the main character, Kasumi; Especially for her I hoped to get a little more information. There are some flashbacks, each time longer than before, and each time delivering you another piece of a puzzle to put together. But as I said; You don't really know enough about the characters to be able to do so. But, even if the characters won't make a lasting impression on you, they're not unlikeable.

ENJOYMENT:
I was plagued by lots of WTF - moments. But as I said, I enjoy those very much. :D There are also few but very well placed shock moments. And blood. ;)

OVERALL:
If you wanna watch a good, in its storyline very twisted movie, I would recommend it to you any time. But if you easily get confused by these kinds of movies, you should avoid this one. You might only be frustrated after watching it. As for my part, I admittedly WAS confused. But it left me thinking about it, about the possibility for something like this to actually happen someday. Scary and fascinating at the same time.

Also, I once had this strange thought, the exact same as it was mentioned in the movie but long before I watched it. SPOILER; What if we're all just a dream or imagination of only ONE living being? This thought still freaks me out and I love the movie for addressing it. :>