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Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Vento Aureo is a good adaptation, David Productions outdid themselves and went beyond what they were given to create the perfect recreation of what the manga has been praised for. My only problem with this adaptation is that it is not on the same level as the previous four parts of JoJo, and beyond its flashy presentation and adrenaline-filled battles is an obscuration of the unremarkable potential of the part's plot and characters.

Plot:
Giorno Giovanna, the son of DIO and Jonathan, is receding in a crime-infested Italy. He wants to be a gangstar to get drugs off the street. He meets ... with Bruno, who sympathies with Giorno's desires and eventually has him join his mafia gang called Passione, where we meets the rest of the supporting cast. The mob boss wants them to protect his daughter from the Squadra Esecuzione, a rouge mafia team that wants to dethrone the mob boss. The show then becomes your usual fight of the week format with each member of Passione going against one member of Squadra Esecuzione as they travel around Italy while also escorting the mob boss' daughter.

My main problem of the plot's structure is that its kinda badly put together. What I mean by that is that there's absolutely no breathing room between the fights and it's feels that the battles are simply inconsequential from one another, eventually becoming a blur of whatever fight comes next. At least in "Diamond is Unbreakable", Josuke spends his times screwing around in Morioh, whether that be committing fraud with lottery tickets or burning down houses, at least the show reminds you that even with all the tension that has been building up, the plot doesn't have to follow that sentiment with more fights.

I know that the way that the plot is structured, there is no room for breaks, but that doesn't excuse David Productions from not changing some of the arc's structure to remedy the pacing like they did with Part 4 (in the episode, July 15th, notably). The anime does change some things around, but the changes were either insignificant or detrimental to the show itself; the changes included switching the placement of the backstories of the supporting cast and the Squadra Esecuzione amidst the middle of their respective fights. This decision bogs down the flow of the fights when its shoved in the middle when it still would've been fine without it. This appears evident in the Narancia's and Little Feet's fight, which by the way does not have to be three-and-a-half episodes long.

Characters:
I don't have a problem with the members of Passione (besides that I find half of them boring, but I also think the half of the Stardust Crusaders are also boring, so who am I to say so) and the Squadra Esecuzione. In fact, I do like that they delve into the Squadra Esecuzione a bit deeper than what Araki did in the manga. However, I do have a problem with our protagonist, Giorno Giovanna. Giorno doesn't have a personality besides for being stoic and dedicated to whatever he wants to pursue. The show doesn't really give me a good reason to care for Giorno or his cause and he's surely one of the least interesting protagonist the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has to offer. He doesn't have the charisma or charm as Joseph or Josuke nor does he have the heroic maturity as Jonathan or Jotaro. And with the fact that Giorno is supposed to be DIO's son, it's so disappointing that Giorno doesn't carry over any qualities the makes DIO so iconic and cool. His stand, Gold Experience, is unspectacular with its weak power that gains and loses its abilities like the wind. Araki wrote a dud with this one, and David Production unfortunately couldn't save it.

I think the bigger problem with Part 5 is that this doesn't feel like a JoJo part. It feels like it was made by somebody trying to imitate JoJo without knowing the nuances of what made JoJo unique. The protagonist is static and boring, the fights are too long, and the cast of characters are underdeveloped, even with their backstories shown during their respective fights. This part overall doesn't hold a candle to the previous 4 parts and it feels like a black sheep in the JoJo canon. Still, I did like what David Production have done so far, despite me thinking that they didn't do enough. They took the time in crafting how the fights are presented and how the characters interact with each other; their attention-to-detail is impressive to admire and to sit through. David Productions didn't fix any of the problems that came with the manga, but they tried their hardest in making one of the most aesthetically distinct anime airing this year.

So in all honesty, if you love the past seasons of JoJo, you'll probably end up enjoying this one too.

When I first watched Cosprayers, I hated it. The characters were vapid, the plot was incoherent, and above all, it was remarkably uninteresting. It's no wonder why this show has such a low score.

Then, I watched Love Love and Smash Hit, and everything made sense. I no longer hate Cosprayers, but instead, respect it with what it had to offer.

Cosprayers is one-third of the m.o.e. trilogy, along with the aforementioned Love Love and Smash Hit. These three shows aim to tell a coherent story about an animation studio creating a mahou shoujo anime against all odds, with Love Love and Smash Hit following the show's ... writer and producer, respectively. Cosprayers, in this case, is the titular mahou shoujo anime and follows several cute heroines as they try to free the sun goddess Amaterasu by taking down black towers that keep her from being free. I recommend watching all of these shows together, one episode from each show to the next, in order to get the full experience.

Now truth be told, if you only watch Cosprayers without watching the other two shows, you will hate it. The shows makes no attempt making sense and the characters in the show, from Koto Hoshino to the rest of the colored Rayers, are not particularly fleshed out in the slightest. It's only when you know the whole meta-story is when you can appreciate the ambitions of Cosprayers. As the other two shows flesh out the actresses by letting us see how they act on-screen as well as off-screen, Cosprayers will show you all of the shortcomings of the finished product. From the sloppy acting, the messy story, and the unnecessary ecchi scenes, it's a one-of-a-kind case to watch something intentionally made to be bad. Furthermore, it also shows the struggles of making an anime and the drama that might occur during production.

What I like about the m.o.e. trilogy is how determined and experimental the actual studio is willing to take. The whole premise of making three completely different shows that's somehow connected is exceptionally unique and not done often as it should be. Think of it like this, as Shirobako gets released every week, we also get Exodus as its own show, how cool would that have been? While it's nowhere near Shirobako's level of meta or profoundness, the entire trilogy is still enjoyable to watch knowing that one show is merely a small part of the whole picture.

As I said before, there are a lot of issues with Cosprayers and if you watch this show alone, you'll probably won't like it. But if you're really into shows with an unconventional premise and concept, then Cosprayers, as well as the rest of the m.o.e. trilogy, might be for you.

After the success of Jewelpet in the mid 2000s to the 2010s, it looks like Saniro has another trick up its sleeve for another mahou shoujo spectacle. Sanrio's newest project, Mewkledreamy, is a wonderful phantasm filled to the brim with cute characters with an incredible sense of adventure that will leave no mahou shoujo fan unsatisfied.

Unfortunately, not many people are watching Mewkledreamy, leaving this show to its fate of obscurity. Not only is it because no legal streaming services are broadcasting this show to the general public, but also that magical girls are too niched for the common anime fan to enjoy. Perhaps it's ... telling of the current state of the contemporary mahou shoujo genre. From the veteran franchise PreCure to lesser known titles like Pri☆chan, these shows remain underwatched and underrated in the flood of seasonal anime. It's easy to dismiss Mewkledreamy for being a typical mahou shoujo show, but it's exuberance in style and aesthetics makes it a unique experience for nonfans of the genre and does a lot more than what people let on.

Additionally, the show is being directed by a fairly well known director, Hiroaki Sakurai. Hiroaki Sakurai has a knack for cute girls shows, doesn't he? From last year's sleeper hit, Machikado Mazoku to his 2000s otaku classic, Di Gi Charat, Sakurai seems to know how to make a show pop out in both presentation and structure. Mewkledreamy is no exception. With J.C. Staff as the production studio and Sanrio manning the character design, this anime will definitely be a fan favourite among the mahou shoujo community.

So what even is Mewkledreamy?

Mewkledreamy follows Yume Hinata, a cute and bubbly middleschooler who stumbles upon Mew, a stuffed kitten who can enter people's dreams. They soon meet the Queen of the Miracle Dreamy Kingdom, who tells them that collecting "Dreamy Stones" from people's dreams can grant them one wish (think of it like the seven Dragon Balls). Along the way, Yume meets various lively and vivacious classmates, from the aspiring comedian Maira Tsukishima (whose puns and exaggerated reactions are adorable to watch) to Asahi Minamikawa, the boy next door who has a heart throbbing infatuation with the beloved Yume.

However, in most mahou shojo fashion, there are villains who sought to disrupt the hero's journey and the dream world. In this case, the villain is a black stuffed kitten and his two cohorts who I swear to god are the cutest trio of villains I've ever encountered in anime. Despite having villains, the show never becomes a full-on battle mahou shojo like PreCure, and the fact that only Yume can enter dreams (and thus the only one capable of battle) is a neat idea that deviates from the formulaic structure in most shows of the genre.

Mewkledreamy is a very chill and relaxing show to watch. There are no urgent matters at hand, and most of the episodes are slice-of-life rather than magical battles. The show is more concerned with the girls' day to day life at school than any looming danger from their newfound powers, managing to showcase the grandiose personalities of Yume, Maira, Kotoko and all of their pet partners in a fun and natural manner. The dialog and character interaction are comedic, witty, and wholesome to the point where you cannot fall in love with the cast. Mewkledreamy pops off in its' bright and creative aesthetics. The show's flashy animation and art design is immaculate; whether that be in the characters' expressive reactions or the flashy transformation scenes, the show never falters in its animation or artistic vision.

It's truly a shame, that a show of this calibre had gone unnoticed from the average anime watcher. If you like mahou shoujo shows or just like cute girls doing cute things, you can't go wrong with Mewkledreamy. Fun things are fun.

It's been over a year since I watched Saint Luminous Jogakuin and while I thought it was fine the first time around, I still can't stop thinking about it for some absurd reason. Saint Luminous Jogakuin sits in a strange place for me. On the one hand, the show contains an utterly weak and forgettable mystery that barely get resolved in the last episode. The story is mediocre at best, and the art isn't pleasant to look at from time to time. Yet, even with its numerous flaws, I find it difficult to dismiss this as a bad show.

Saint Luminous Jogakuin revolves around the disappearance ... of a student attending an all-girl high school, Saint Luminous. Our main character, Kaihei Kajimi gets the news that he is going to inherit the school from his late grandfather. As a result of this inheritance, Kajimi has to act as the school chairman unless he wants the school to shut down. He accepts the role and thus begins the fun harem/slice of life anime that this show was destined to be.

It's not that fun, actually.

Soon after, Kajimi finds himself playing detective, attempting to find the missing student only to discover that more girls are disappearing by the minute. Along the way, he meets with the girls that reside in the school, whether that be an artist or a radio jockey, he makes sure that they find comfort in these dire times. What makes Saint Luminous Jogakuin so special to me is that, while the show's premise is set up to be some kind of harem anime, it manages to be mature in its tone and atmosphere. There's a hidden sadness that lies within this show. The fact that Kajimi continually fails to find answers to the mystery is frustrating to watch, but maybe that's the point. The lack of progression that lies in the mystery adds to the burden of the main character. As the show progresses and the school's morale starts to diminish, I feel more sympathetic to Kajimi as he is unable to resolve the case. Watching his relationships with the students becomes more and more distant as weeks go by is unbearable, and the mind-boggling mystery that barely moves isn't much help.

The plot moves at a standstill, yet the situation worsens each passing week. Kajimi is completely incapable of solving this mystery. Not because he's an inept detective, but because the disappearances are caused by an unexplained force that he doesn't have the power to comprehend. This leads me to believe that the mystery isn't the main focal point of the anime. It plays a considerable role, don't get me wrong, but I think the strongest parts of the anime lies in the interactions between Kajimi and the girls that he interacts with. As the show progresses, we are introduced to a motley crew of schoolgirls. Each of the girls tend to have a distinct personality and some with a personal arc that gets resolved thanks to Kajimi's help. The girls don't act like characters from a haram, but they act more realistically and have their desires separate from the male lead.

With all of that said, is Saint Luminous Jogakuin a good show? Maybe. If you're looking for a good mystery, stay away from this show. If you want a "character study" (which is a term I use very loosely) then perhaps give this show a shot. Just don't expect the resolution to be more satisfying than the buildup.

"Chiisana Eiyuu: Kani to Tamago to Toumei Ningen (Modest Heroes)" is Studio Ponac's second movie project after their debut film, "Mary to Majo no Hana (Mary and the Witch's Flower)". The film is a collection of three non sequential shorts that each tell a unique story about a heroic character and his or her respective journey. "Modest Heroes" is obviously not going to beat "Mary and the Witch's Flower", but it's still an enjoyable watch and it did certainly kept me interested the whole way through.

Short One: "Kanini & Kanino"
"Kanini & Kanino" surrounds the tale of two crab siblings whose life of living underwater becomes ... drastically different when their pregnant mother goes to the surface to give birth, leaving only their father to protect them from the dangers of the river. One night, one of the siblings attempts to travel to the surface, only for something dramatic to occur, ultimately leaving the two siblings to fend for themselves in the vast river environment. I can't really say much about the short. I enjoyed the visuals way more than the characters or the plot, with its fantastic blend of 2D animation with splashes of CGI for the river environment that is eye-catchingly beautiful to say the least (despite the CGI fish, but whatever). I'm not really invested in Kanini or Kanino, as forgettable as they are, and the fact that the short doesn't have any dialog hurts their dynamics as a whole. For the story and characters to be lacking in depth, the visual did make up for it to be considered for an enjoyable one-time watch.

Short Two: "Life Ain't Gonna Lose"
"Life Ain't Gonna Lose" is about the relationship between a mother and her son, Shun, who has a severe egg allergy that in-contact, could cause a life-threatening case in which Shun only has minutes to live. The short is based off a true story (claimed by the director) and it does a pretty good job keeping me interested in the characters and how they deal with Shun's condition. The mother is overly protected of Shun and tries her hardest to protect him from any harm, just to amend for all the times that she isn't there for him. Shun himself quickly learns to stay strong and formidable despite his unfortunate state and is eager to overcome any obstacles in his life to prove that he isn't frail and weak. The characters in this short are way more realistic and the hand-drawn artstyle complements it by having a sort of nostalgic feel, reminiscent of a children's storybook. The animation is fluid and the movements are more expressive that doesn't distract you from the overall atmosphere of the short. The intriguing aesthetic and the lovable character makes this short exceedingly enjoyable for anybody to enjoy, and this, along with the next short, produces a well crafted compilation if it weren't for the first short.

Short Three: "Invisible"
"Invisible" contains an interesting and ingenious concept that is explored in a very creative way. The short follows an invisible man, whom others cannot see. The man is required to carry a heavy object since he could easily be carried by a gust of wind without it. The short basically surrounds a day of his life, in which he ponders about his identity in life and his struggle of loneliness. What makes the short especially unique is through several brilliant action-packed moments that is exemplified by the gripping animation and the spectacular choreographer of the whole segment. Aesthetically, the short is bleak and almost depressing with its dimmed colors and almost dreary tone that sets it apart from the bright and colorful visuals of the previous two shorts. The Invisible-Man himself carries a dispirited mood that I can't help but feel sympathetic for. These design choices overall make the conclusion of the short extremely satisfying and makes the whole experience well-worth the watch.

So what can I say? Studio Ponac did a fine job producing these shorts and I highly recommend this to those who are fans of their previous film. Creatively impressive and tremendously entertaining, "Modest Heroes" is huge step for Studio Ponac to work with other directors and their consistency in quality has me anxiously waiting for their next project.

Sakura Diaries, created by the prolific adult-manga artist, U-Jin, surpassed every one of my expectations and delivered one of the most heartfelt themes about independence, pride, and responsibility.

Sakura Diaries focuses on our protagonist, Touma Inaba, a slacker whose ambitions are those of a selfish nature and whose desires are those of a lustful encounter. Touma isn't interested in going to one of the top colleges in Japan, Keio University, and merely wants to take the entrance exam as a souvenir token. His intentions is suddenly turned on its head when he bumps into Meiko Yotsuba, a remarkably attractive woman that Touma quickly develops feelings for ... soon after their brief confrontation. Along the way, Touma meets up with his cousin, Urara Kasuga, who is deeply in love with Touma and tries to reconcile with him after years of separation. Touma, however, wants to steal Meiko's heart and enrolls in a cram school, hoping that he will make it to Keio University. This love triangle between Touma, Urara, and Meiko is the main focus that drives the plot throughout the show.

Touma is the worst romantic protagonist, but for all the right reasons. Throughout the show, he is always making mistakes and finds himself constantly lying. Whether it's to get closer to Meiko, or to protect Urara's feelings, it becomes apparent that he is the only character in this show that is emotionally hurting other characters. Touma is, by definition, his own antagonist and it is his selfish endeavors that keep him from making any progress in the relationships between his friends and lovers. Adding in the fact that he wants to lose his virginity and his disinterest in his studies are also vices that plague Touma's life. What makes Touma stand out is his countless efforts of self-reflection. He is aware of the dire consequences of his actions and tries to remedy it, only to find out that he doesn't the skills or courage enough to set everything straight. When Touma learns that he is being deceived, he doesn't curse at the deception but instead promises himself to improve himself by becoming a better person. This level of introspection and self-improvement is what Touma brings to the show, that he's able to grow and mature even if it hurts him the most.

Urara, Touma's cousin, wants nothing more than to be by Touma's side and desperately wants to get his attention, despite how much he dislikes the idea. Urara's character might sound simple, and the fact that she never changes as much as Touma perhaps proves that point. Perhaps it isn't too silly for me to say that she represents the rom-com character as the ditzy but supportive (and sexually promiscuous) female lead. It wouldn't come off as a big surprise when I also think that Urara is a product of society. Her only friend wants to have sex, and her naughty and crude discussion only fuels her loose behavior around Touma. She is also surrounded by popular culture (television, magazines, etc.) that promotes sex positivity and beautification. Urara doesn't change, but she allows others like Touma and Meiko to change themselves for the better.

Speaking of Meiko, Meiko is a unique character that will only describe her as the most mature individual in the show. When we are first introduced to Meiko, she is remarkably beautiful and her friendly nature compels Touma to follow her in hopes of making her his wife. Her true intentions are never clear until she herself breaks the news to Touma. I can't give out much away about her character, but her revelations and her overall character arc does keep me interested without making me feel disgust or enraged.

So with all of that said, Sakura Diaries is a character-driven show, and with such realistic characters on its roster helps it to stand out from its predecessors of the genre and show that it can move on from its tropes and cliches without feeling compelled to satisfy those traditions of the past. Sakura Dairies, on the surface, seems to be just your average rom-com where everything done and said is insignificant, but within it lies the heart and spirit of what makes characters fill with passion and vigor.

Call me a Grinch, but even for a Christmas one-off episode, this thing is pretty underwhelming and really disappointing. I mean don't get me wrong, its still enjoyable, especially if you're a fan of the first season of Aggretsuko like me, but don't expect anything grand or hard-hitting. Otherwise said, let's delve into the holiday hellhole and rage against the tradition that is Christmas.

Plot:
This special has two convergent plotlines, one with Retsuko and her hyena coworker, Haida.

This special takes place after season one, where Retsuko meets Haida in the hospital where Haida confesses his love to her. Unfortunately, things doesn't go according to plan and ... Haida spends his days feeling unrequited and quite gloomy. This episode spends a lot of screentime on Haida, so if you love Haida, you're in for a treat. Anyway, Haida gets wind of Retsuko's ever-so-changing behaviour based solely on her Instagram posts, and in order to win her heart, decides to muster up the courage to ask her out for the holidays.

Now for the Retsuko plotline. As is the custom, Retsuko finds herself in a predicament. It's nearing the holiday season and Retsuko is once again lonely and in need of finding others to keep her company during the cold, winter nights. She asks everybody she knows but to no avail (which is odd since she later had no trouble finding company out of the blue, as oppose to the first half of the episode where she was completely struggling to get somebody to accompany her). She also spends more time on Instagram, inspired by her gazelle coworker Tsunoda, and tries to feign her way into popularity (this does add up to a really great comedic moment, I must add).

My main problem with this special was that it felt completely unnecessary and didn't really advance the plot, characters, or the themes of Aggretsuko that warranted a one-shot episode. Aggretsuko always centered on Retsuko's fits of rage against the social traditions, like in Aggretsuko (2016) where in each Christmas special she would screech about her lonesome and pitiful life drudging through the holidays when everybody she knows was having fun with their loved ones. She barely get those epiphanies, and when she does get one, it was the most unsatisfying fit of rage because of how anticlimactic it was. Her character development doesn't grow in any sort of way and overall felt that this was all a set-up for season 2 of Aggretsuko.

Even with all that said, I still enjoyed this special and there are some standout moments in this that I can say will please anyone who is a fan of Aggertsuko. If you're a sucker for a heartwarming and comfy comedy for the holiday season, then you can't go wrong with this.

[6/26/18 - After finishing the show, I am going to give it a 5/10. Overall, Cutie Honey Universe is disappointing as a modern reincarnation, though there are some aspects that I liked throughout the anime. For example, I really liked the shift in tone in the second half of the anime, in which it took a more grimmer and darker approach that was far more atmospheric than what I expected. I also liked Natsuko and Honey's relationship as it was more fleshed out and more convincing, outdoing what the original 1970s anime and Cutie Honey F had done.

My complaints that I wrote in my ... original review are still valid and in retrospect, the series is littered with mediocrity (especially in the first 5 episodes) in terms of plot, art, and animation. The final fight with Sister Jill is extremely lackluster despite having some cool moments, is juxtaposed with the most "silliest" (see also, "stupid") moments by the cast of characters of the show. The show left a sour taste in my mouth that I can't help but feel angry that the whole show could have been better in virtually every way.

My final takeaway from this, is to just watch Re: Cutie Honey if you want some magical girl action. If you happened to like Cutie Honey Universe, then I suggest you watch Shin Cutie Honey, the OVA sequel to the original Cutie Honey anime that will certainly entertain you more than whatever Cutie Honey Universe has ever done.]

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Being a huge Cutey Honey fan, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Cutey Honey was getting another reboot 14 years after its previous rendition, Re: Cutey Honey. After its initial airing, Cutey Honey Universe has been getting mixed reception as it stand in the shadows of its predecessors.

So what in the world happened?

I have two ideas, both of which points to the theory that Cutey Honey Universe was destined for failure from the very start.
1. Cutey Honey Universe had to follow up the legendary director Hideaki Anno's rendition of Cutey Honey (Re: Cutey Honey) which has the highest score out of all the installments in the Cutey Honey franchise.
2. This show is being directed by Akitoshi Yokoyama, an animator (which is a shame since his staff credit ranges from Gundam to some of Masaaki Yuasa's works) who barely directed any shows in his career.

So does Cutey Honey Universe deserve to be at the bottom of Spring 2018? Short answer: not really.

Story:
Cutey Honey Universe follows the adventure of Honey Kisaragi, an android modeled after the late daughter of Dr. Kisaragi. Within her lies the "Airborne Element Fixing Device" that allows Cutey Honey to manipulate the molecules in the air to create objects and change her appearance. By shouting "Honey Flash!", she is able to transform into the sword wielding warrior-of-love, Cutey Honey. Sister Jill, long time antagonist, desperately wants the Element device to bring chaos to Japan. Honey goes after Sister Jill as an act of revenge for killing her father. Like the original Cutey Honey (1973) installment, Cutey Honey Universe closely adapts Go Nagai's manga with some creative changes added into the mix. For one, it introduce several new characters such as Inspector Genet, an "ally" of Cutey Honey who is actually Sister Jill in disguise.

Like with any other installment in the series, Cutey Honey Universe follows a "monster of the week" format, in which every episode has Honey having to outwit her opponent in a battle in order to foil Sister Jill's plans of retrieving the Element device. The show doesn't change the format like in Re: Cutey Honey (granted that show is 3 episode long) and the story is not all that spectacular, but it gives off the old-school schlock that I found endearing in the original 1973 series.

Characters:
The characters of the Cutey Honey series aren't that deep, though they are consistent to the other installments of the franchise.

Honey Kisaragi is sweet, charming, and ultimately the hottest character in the show. And I'm not saying that because she's in my top ten favorite anime characters, but because the show likes to flaunt her attractiveness whenever they can. The Cutey Honey series will always unashamedably have her sexualized and will show her being groped or whipped just so they can show some skin to the audience at home. However, I don't blame them, Go Nagai did the same exact thing in his manga and everybody was none the wiser. Besides her attractiveness, Honey Kisaragi is a bright light of positivity and fills the room with her optimism whenever she's on-screen.

Honey's companions aren't that different from their 1973 counterparts, Natsuko is an average school girl and dear friend of Honey, the school teachers and its pupils are still strange and bizarre, and the Hayami family are still annoying as ever. This is disappointing as the show barely tries to change up the personalities of the characters and it feels like a retread of what I already seen before in the original series. Though like I stated before, the show adds in new characters to the show such as Inspector Genet, the three detectives working for Seiji Hayami, and the new underlings of Sister Jill which can be pretty cool to see in battle from time to time.

Animation:
Now this is where I get really disappointed in this show. The animation work is spotty and is unappealing when compared to such shows such as Shin Cutey Honey or Re: Cutey Honey (granted those are OVAs). Now that's not to say that the show looks absolutely horrendous, in fact, the show looks decent and at most times harmless to the eye. The fight scenes in the show are sometimes thrilling to watch, though they are dreadfully short (and Honey having a limited armory doesn't help with the fact), and the blue-gravity-field environment that the fights are taken place in is just plain lazy. Credit where credit is due, at least the 1973 version has the characters to take advantage of their environment to fight against their opponent (they fought on a gondola lift at one point for christ sake). Overall, the animation isn't too fantastic and is a major detriment to the show's quality.

Conclusion:
Cutey Honey Universe is a decent reboot of the Cutey Honey series and while it may not be as exciting as Re: Cutie Honey, still provides a worthwhile experience for anybody who's into the old-school magical girl anime.

All of this got me thinking, perhaps the show has a low score due to Yokoyama not being able to use the iconic original theme song that they reused in all the installments of the franchise. Who knows?