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Eizouken is a pretty unique slice of life series. While most of this genre is "cute girls doing things", I've not yet seen the niche of animation explored. Additionally, the characters feel less like they were going for "cute" and more realistic and relatable. One detail I adored about this series is how it managed to show us every characters' history in detail, what their craft means to them. For Asakusa and Mizusaki, it's shown how they became interested in animation. For Kanamori, it shows why she's so business-minded in the first place.

However, while Eizouken went for this more down to earth approach to the ... characters, it indulges in high fantasy at times. Characters getting lost in their own imagination and we the audience getting to see what it looks like from their point of view, that process of bringing idea to paper. The world the characters inhabit is very fantastical as well - Asakusa has a particular fixation on architecture and it's not hard to see why with how creative the city of Shibahama is constructed. Even the vast array of clubs the school offers dips into the fantastical, such as a "security club" appearing as an excuse for a tense confrontation.

All in all, Eizouken is a great show and is sure to resonate with you if you're artistically inclined at all. I am quite surprised we haven't gotten any sort of follow up to it's short 12 episode run, as I remember it being quite popular when it first debuted.

Fluffy Paradise seems to be an anime that suffers from it's own marketing and viewers' first impressions. If you know about this anime but haven't seen it for yourself, you have most likely encountered a clip from an anime fanpage or even crunchyroll themselves showcasing one of the cuter moments of the show. However, while it's not short on these cute moments with animals, the show itself is not exactly a "cozy" anime, and even it's opening establishes the conflicts to come.

This is an isekai in the "completely OP child protagonist with an adult's soul" subgenre. After living through a rough existence, an office ... lady dies and is reincarnated as a small child with the ability to tame beasts. God informs her that in her new life, she'll have to stop a war, and gives her the power to befriend animals when she mentions she wants to pet everything. Being a Lord's daughter, Neema finds ways to use her privileges for the greater good and learns about leadership and what it means to fight her own battles. Even with a dragon on her side, the solution to everything isn't to just summon him to torch the problem. I like that despite the relative OP-ness of the main character on paper, it isn't used as a deus ex machina in most plots and we can see that even powerful people like a Prince can be confronted with situations they are helpless to stop.

I actually didn't mind the conflict. It made sense on some level to me: juxtaposing the innocence of a child like Neema and the beauty of nature with the horrors of war and the consequences of disrupting ecosystems. I found these aspects to make the series more compelling than if every episode was just 20 minutes of petting cute creatures, however it also leads to a big issue with pacing. Several episodes are just characters strategizing and while I get the purpose of such scenes, I think the series would flow together much better if it had sprinkled the exposition out a bit or found ways to cut back on it, so every episode of it's short run could have a bigger impact.

I see potential in a season 2, but as it stands, I think Fluffy Paradise is an OK isekai fantasy series. You'll get more enjoyment out of it if you go in expecting the war and combat aspects of the show rather than a cozy snuggle-fest. I just hope that if this series continues, they find a way to remedy the issue of exposition.

My Clueless First Friend is the story of what would happen if a new student became super attached to the friendless kid in the class, and was completely oblivious towards the situation. Taiyou almost immediately imprints on Nishimura like a puppy due to his chuuni tendencies, and an unbreakable bond is formed. While a lot of this anime is variations of this scenario, as the series goes on we see Nishimura-san become more confident and win more people over. There's Also a form of the "will they won't they" dynamic between the two main characters that isn't really resolved here, but could be further explored ... in a subsequent season.

The animation probably won't blow you away, but this is a very simple slice of life show where over the top animation isn't really needed. It feels like the team behind the show was aware of this, and opted instead to save the budget of animation for the opening and ending sequences. They feel very symbolic of Nishimura being lonely and "lost" before finding friendship with the ray of sunshine that is Taiyou, and thus they tend to deviate from the typical reality and logic of the show in a sense. The music feels kind of somber, with occasional pop of energy to it, which in itself is reminiscent of Nishimura and Taiyou's dynamic.

The side characters, aside from most of the bullies who stay relatively one note, were also interesting in their own right. Hino-Kun was hilarious, Adachi-San was super sweet, and it really tugged on my heartstrings when Nishimura's dad explained how much he cared for his daughter even if he could only help her "behind the scenes" and not follow her to school. But what really shines about this show is how hopeful it is. If you've ever been the "weird kid" or are even an outsider of sorts in your daily life, this anime will make you believe that the right people are out there, waiting to be found. Even if it's not completely realistic, it gives us something to strive for. If the Nishimuras of the world can find love and acceptance even after years of being misunderstood, then surely our world can be a better place.

Another really cute show by Dwarf in the same vein as Rilakkuma and Kaoru, however rather than being about the struggles a working woman faces, this show is more about relaxation and nurturing. This show is one part viewer wish fulfillment, one part reminding us to take things easy once in a while, and enjoyable throughout.

The stop motion animation is gorgeous here. The human characters have that same sort of look as the previously mentioned Rilakkuma and Kaoru, but the real highlight was how the Pokemon themselves were adapted into this style. I love the use of textures on the models, which can differ from ... fluffy and plush-like to sleek and clay-like, depending on the species. There was so much attention to detail on all these models, and each Pokemon looked perfectly like their in-game counterparts. The music is was also lovely and perfectly captured the vacation vibe they were going for. They got Mariya Takeuchi of Plastic Love fame to record the main theme for this series, and all these years later she's still got the voice of an angel.

I also really like the handling of Psyduck, it feels like we finally got some form of Pokemon media where it gets to be a main star in a way that's not backhanded. Plenty of migraine sufferers tend to find Psyduck's headaches relatable, so it was pleasant to see the human characters treat it kindly and find ways to help it with the problem it faces. The episodes sort of face on helping Pokemon with their problems and what lessons Haru can learn from the situation rather than the battles of most typical Pokemon series media, so it's definitely something different and a show I could see parents enjoying with their kids.

My only issue with this series is that it's a tad too short. I mean, right as I was getting into it, it ended. Here's hoping we can see more from it soon.

While I've not finished this season at the time of writing this review, I think I've seen enough of it as well as the previous material to have an opinion on season 3. Plenty of people in the fandom I've talked to have stated they "can't even finish season 3", and while I wouldn't be that harsh, I get where they're coming from. After season 1, it seems like Osomatsu-San has added some sort of gimmick each season that made some viewers drop the series, I suspect due to watching the series weekly rather than binging it like I have been. Season 2 had these ... ongoing skits, some of which were seen as terrible (Cavematsu my beloathed!), and season 3 introduces a set of new characters who feel forced on us. I am of course, talking about the riceballs. I don't think experimenting with these gimmicks is bad, after all they need to find a way to keep the show fresh as the fandom for the Matsu bros keeps growing and growing, but in this case I don't think said experimentation worked.

Now let's address the elephant in the room: the addition of two new characters, a pair of robots called the riceballs. I do not hate the concept, as I could have seen something interesting being done with the idea of the NEETs having to care for robots as if they are younger siblings, however I absolutely HATE the execution here. A lot of the comedy in this show involves awful things happening to awful people, it's been this way since the "Kun" era. Yet, the riceballs never grow or change as characters and the sextuplets take all the fall for their actions even when they're trying to do something genuinely good for a change. Seeing the Matsunos get slapped around for no apparent reason is unfunny, and the riceballs feeling all but exempt from this when nobody in the cast has been spared makes it all the more frustrating. The riceballs even found a way to make a recap episode worse by replacing the Matsuno bros and informing the audience that they're so "awful" anyways. They may be trashy in their own way, but they're certainly a lot more likable and compelling than 2 stagnant plot devices with no personality to speak of. The more cynical side of me thinks they were solely made as cutesy "mascots" to sell toys...but the Matsunos already do that in droves so I don't see the point of that.

However, when these two nuisances aren't around, a lot of the skits are still funny or charming. Side characters get more to do, Nyaa-Chan Totoko, and even Iyami get subtle character development. Dobusu is officially retired from being nothing more than a joke at the expense of her appearance, to actually becoming one of the cast and being used as a character in skits. Even the Matsunos themselves get interesting character moments, such as a skit that followed them walking home from a wedding and thinking about how they feel about the potential of marriage in their future. If you liked the first 2 seasons, it's still worth checking out for the typical bizarre humor you can expect from the series. I liked how the series premiere episode involved the Matsunos fighting against an ultra-sanitized and inoffensive reboot of their own show, and topping the segment off with them transforming into what I can only describe as a poop kaiju. Indeed, this show will still find new ways to keep you surprised...even if that involves experimental new forms of toilet humor.

Similarly, the animation and music are still phenomenal. In particular I adore the stop-motion cat from the ending sequence, and the way it's used to signify the development between Totoko and Nyaa-chan's character arcs. The opening was also pretty eye-popping as usual, in particular I liked the style replication of the Take On Me music video, and I even found it a little clever how the riceballs were censored in the opening before they were properly introduced to the show.

Basically, I would recommend watching this if you like what you've seen of Osomatsu-San and want to watch more, but can sit through one very annoying setback to see the gems this season has to offer. and here's hoping that season 4 greatly reduces the roles the riceballs play, if not axes them entirely and sends them off to be melted down into paperclips.

Kemono to Chat is a 30 minute OVA that's a series of skits surrounding a high school student who can talk to cats. Most of the skits can be sorted into one of three categories: the cats being crass or perverted, someone else thinks the ability to talk to cats is super cool when the protagonist knows it's actually not, or the school president is tsundere.

This OVA managed to get an occasional laugh out of me, and I think the school president really stole the show in a lot of cases. I loved the voice acting, wacky animation style that makes great use of ... limited movements, and the character designs. However, the skits were pretty repetitive all things considered and rarely strayed away from the 3 jokes I mentioned above. It's revealed at one point that Chacha can talk to big cats, not just house cats, and wish that was utilized more.

Overall, I would say that it was just ok. Cat lovers may find themselves disappointed if they are expecting a cute OVA, as it's mainly crude humour and chaos. However, if you want to check out more short-form anime and OVA, Kemono to Chat isn't a horrible option either.

People really aren't lying about how sad this anime is, but I also feel like it's full of hope that makes me feel joy through the pain. Let me explain...

Violet Evergarden is a story that follows the titular character, Violet, and her life after a war. She was a soldier from a very young age, and is emotionally stunted: not even being able to understand other peoples' feelings or how to be independent. As she travels the world with her new job as an auto memories doll, she wants to understand the words "I love you".

Through her travels, Violet makes connections and does good ... things with her work. However, further in the series she starts to understand things like the implications of the loss of life, and how it effects not just that individual but also everyone who's known and cared for them. Even as she's making positive changes in the world, she becomes unsure if she can ever atone for what she's done in combat.

Within this anime, you will see a lot of people die, or lose loved ones, or become disabled or have their way of life changed completely. But for me, the hopefulness comes in the way people learn to move on, honor those losses, and continue to feel the love long after they pass away. Violet Evergarden feels like both an examination of these themes of atonement, sin, love, and loss, as well as a character study of it's main protagonist.

The art and music are both really beautiful, and have that signature KyoAni quality, though it looks even more gorgeous than their usual offerings. Every surface looks like you can feel it, and every character emotes perfectly so you can understand at a glance what they are feeling.

If you ever wanted a short anime that will give you all of the feels, check out Violet Evergarden.

My first impressions from this movie is that it should have been split up into a short OVA miniseries rather than one 2-hour movie, as the pacing made it hard to hold my attention. However, Hells still had aspects about it that made it enjoyable.

The first thing you'll notice is the striking art style. I loved the gothic flair, sketchy outlines, and very over-the-top exaggerated animation. It captures the style of the manga well, and each colour choice is exceptional. Rinne's brighter palette really stood out against the dark, moody atmosphere and more muted tones on the other character designs. I appreciated the subtle ... visual cues, such as stitching appearing to be wherever Steela was.

Another aspect I enjoyed about this film was that it felt very hopeful. Rinne is a very likable protagonist, while also eventually learning to stand up for herself and what she believes in. Her friendship with Steela was so sweet, and the way she gradually won over the others was enjoyable. She very much is a "power of friendship" type protagonist and even reminds me a little of Suzuki Iruma, but that's exactly what I liked so much about her.

This film is free on retrocrush if you want to try and give it a chance.

If you're looking for more of that classic Studio Ghibli magic, well you won't find it here. I went in with an open mind, and admittedly the starting sequence was promising. Plus, it was a Ghibli take on another Diana Wynne Jones novel, so as a megafan of Howl's Moving Castle, how could I not be a little bit excited? Plus, the 3D animation style didn't bother me and I was interested in how Ghibli would tackle this new style.

But it really is just a generic kids' movie you've likely seen done before. Only, it's hard to find it very enjoyable. Earwig had a ... happy home at the orphanage, only to be taken in by a witch. Not a fun witch like Sophie Hatter claims to be, but the fairy tale kind. She doesn't ever show a side to her other than cruelty, and this lack of development with the characters makes it hard for us to want to see Earwig stick around this household.

The ending is so abrupt as well, so much was left unsolved that I was like "that's it?" All the stuff with the orphanage and Earwig's old life is not brought back, even if she ever got to see her old friends is left on a cliffhanger. It didn't feel like a good payoff for everything we sat through.

If I had to describe this anime in one word, it would be "boring". It was kind of funny at the start, and I liked the concepts on paper. Monsters being not so bad, telling the story from their perspective, and something like looking for a house in another world where fantastical locations could be explored! But it felt like after they went to the spooky mansion and the whale, they ran out of ideas. Then there's also the issue of a bunch of this anime being dedicated to stuff like paying taxes. If there's an audience for that, it certainly isn't me.

Sure, Letty is ... cute at times, but as the series goes on he doesn't develop at all. It becomes pretty frustrating. When he started protecting the egg I expected him to eventually improve himself to protect someone he cared about, but the egg ended up being nothing more than an excuse to add a cute mascot character to the cast. I wanted to see him learn the skills he never learned with his parents, such as fire or flight, but that never happens. It makes Letty seem really whiny when he doesn't have any growth, but the jokes at his expense also start to feel repetitive at this point. We get it, he's a dragon who's also a weakling.

In fact, the message of this anime falls flat in the end. "Every being has good and evil" and yet certain races such as the dwarves (and 99.9% of the time humans) are just pure evil and want nothing more than to butcher Letty for his valuable dragon parts. Everything about this anime unfortunately just started to repeat itself after about 5 episodes that it was very hard to watch through all of it. If you want to check it out, I recommend only the first few episodes as that's where it shines the most.