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I came for the soundtrack, animation, and awesome character designs. I stayed for the hilarious hijinks, witty banter, and delectable sexual tension. Bisexual anime fans, rejoice!

It's funny that a show about vampires, the most vampire-like character is the human. Vanitas, the human protagonist, is a perfect balance of smarmy, mysterious, creepy, enchanting, and intriguing. He reminds me a little bit of Captain Jack Sparrow- his motives are difficult to determine, and he's a magnificent bastard who manipulates everyone around him. Though he masquerades as a heartless jerk at times, it's clear that he has a moral code and wants to protect the people he cares ... about.

On the other hand, his vampire counterpart Noe is a wholesome cinnamon roll too pure for this world. He's excellent in a fight, but he's introspective and always tries to take the non-violent path out. He's drawn to Vanitas mostly due to curiosity, and, like the audience, he wants to understand what happened in the past that turned Vanitas into the conniving charlatan he is today.

I'm a sucker for good direction, and this show has nailed the 'show, don't tell' rule. Visuals and music are used to build tension, suck you in, and leave you burning with curiosity, anticipation, and intrigue. Some scenes are literally stressful to watch because of how claustrophobic the close-ups are. I found myself going back to re-watch specific scenes twice or three times in a row, just because I loved the unique visual style and the way the editing and art intensified every emotion. The fight scenes are badass, all the jokes hit, and to top it off, the romantic scenes are so damn steamy I thought my screen was going to fog up.

Vampire stories have been done before. Thanks to the cultural shift towards sexy teenage vampires initiated by the Twilight series' popularity, sexy vampires in media dominated TV, film, and anime in the 2010s. We've seen all the tropes before - the glowing red eyes, the religious metaphors, and of course the classic bloodsucking foreplay. Vanitas doesn't necessarily shy away from these tropes. In fact, it's got them all. But the way the writing, animation, and characters execute these cliches are fresh and fun and framed in an excellent story.

Before I watched this show, I had no idea what the heck a shamisen was. Now, my top played Spotify playlist is all Shamisen music.

Mashiro no Oto revealed a world of amazing music to me, and while it might not have stood out this season, it stands out as possibly my favorite music-focused anime of all time.

While the plot is rather simple and only a few main characters really shine or have any depth, the story itself is mostly just the background for some of the most gorgeous, heart-pounding music I've ever heard. Almost every single episode features one or more unique jam ... sessions. I knew every single time I turned on an episode that I'd get to hear something amazing, and I was never disappointed.

Even if you're bored of the cliche high school music competition plot. Even if you're sick of a protagonist whose primary struggle is 'finding himself' or learning how to express his true feelings. Even if you wish this story could have been something more. The music is worth it. The sound is worth it. Give it a listen.

Twittering Birds Never Fly is a character drama that primarily focuses on the dynamic between the two leads. Yashiro is a promiscuous masochist who constantly has sex without emotional attachment. Doumeki can't feel sexual arousal, but develops romantic feelings for Yashiro. The juxtaposition between them is what makes the story compelling.

Sex is a main theme of this story, so yes, there are sex scenes. (That's probably what you came here for, right?) Compared to other shows/movies within this genre, I think this film handles sex as a theme with a little more maturity and finesse. If you're here for some hot and steamy action, ... yeah, there's a little, but that's not the point here. Sex is used more as a narrative device to tell us about characters and their internal conflicts.

I liked that this film doesn't fall into the typical stereotypes when it comes to the 'top/bottom' roles. Despite Yashiro's reputation within the yakuza as a masochist, he still commands authority. Even when he's mocked by others, Yashiro isn't ashamed. He's unapologetic about his desires. Despite being the 'bottom', he's more confident and assertive than his counterpart. He has agency and personality. On the other hand, Doumeki, the 'top,' is soft-spoken and a little more sentimental. The relationship between the two of them feels more authentic because they aren't cookie-cutter clichés.

As the first installment in a series, this film sets a solid groundwork for the relationship between the two leads and leaves you wanting more, which is exactly what a good movie should do.

What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your dreams? Love? Your identity? Your safety?
Nonomiya Nono is willing to give it all up in order to win gold at the Olympics.

Story- 8

There are hundreds of stories out there featuring girls who disguise themselves as boys to achieve a goal, but this is one of my all-time favorites. The story is engaging. I really was rooting for Nono to achieve her dreams throughout the story, and I found myself staying up late, reading chapter after chapter because I was so excited to see what would happen next.

Although Nono cries (a lot,) this manga avoids ... many other annoying tropes that I dislike that are commonly found in the gender-bender genre. Nono is depicted as strong and successful. She's not a weakling, and she doesn't back down from a challenge. She's not overly modest about her abilities as a ski-jumper. She knows her worth.

It's obvious from the very beginning that Nono has a 'tragic backstory,' but the manga doesn't force this down our throats. It leaves you guessing just what happened to her family, and provides details scarcely. Yes, this is a bit cliche, but it's executed pretty well.

Sometimes, this manga is a little obsessed with giving people tragic backstories. Many of the athletes competing have a dark past that motivates them to succeed, and this past is not often a happy one. Some of the side characters have absolutely ridiculous backstories, but they don't have a big impact on the overall story.

The most significant flaw I noticed was that this story deals with some themes that I found to be uncomfortable. Specifically, I'm talking about sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault. This is never played for laughs or used as comedy, and the victim is never drawn to seem seductive or 'sexy' during the event. This isn't some rape fantasy. It's always very serious, and it's always depicted as being wrong, regardless of the situation or perpetrator. My problem with this was that there is too much of it in the story. One occasion might have been fine, but it's used as a plot device multiple times in the story. While it serves to show how people can be affected by trauma, it also was hard to read at times. Some of the male characters are constantly saying perverted things (once again, this isn't played for laughs, it's done to establish character.) Some of the male characters, even ones who seem like good guys, take advantage of girls. Once again, the manga doesn't disguise their actions, it clearly establishes that they're wrong.

Art- 6

This manga is a little bit older, and to be honest, the art isn't particularly special. I'm pretty sure it was serialized weekly, so the artist likely didn't have a lot of time for intricate details. It's by no means ugly, but I also wouldn't describe it as 'beautiful.' It's not particularly stylistic, but it gets the job done.

The characters have good designs, and it's easy to distinguish them from one another.

The composition of the frames is well done. During scenes where characters are ski-jumping, it's clear what's going on, and it's engaging and interesting. You can clearly picture the sport happening.

Character- 8

What makes a good character? Authenticity. I really believe that someone like Nono could exist, and I understand why she makes the choices she makes. She has clear motivations. She has a personality that's easy to root for. She's kind, but she isn't a blank slate self-insert like many female protagonists can be.

The main cast are also genuine, authentic characters. They all have personalities and silly traits, and they all have an established backstory and a goal in mind. Some of them are more interesting then others, but they are all distinct from each other.


Enjoyment- 7

I really loved rooting for Nono and her friends to succeed. This story was a wild ride, and I was always waiting to see what would happen next. Although cliche, I thought this story was an engaging read, and I really like the genre. It's not for everyone, but if you're a fan of a gender-bender with a determined female protagonist, you should give this one a try.

ACCA is a show about political scheming. Deception. Assassination attempts. Spies. Royal corruption. State secrets.

ACCA is also a show about a cute girl eating delicious sandwich bread. Sweets. Pastries. Immersive world building. Beautiful, stylistic characters. Culture and tradition. But mostly, delicious sandwich bread.

So, does ACCA truly manage to marry these two polar opposites into a cohesive, engaging story? I think they did a passable job, although there was room for a little improvement. Read on for my full review. (No major spoilers ahead.)

Plot- 8/10

Jean Otus is an ordinary man with a job no one wants. He works for ACCA, a branch ... of the government. His job is to audit the activities of the 13 districts that make up the kingdom of Dowa. We follow Jean, a deadpan, cigarette-smoking, laid back guy, as he visits each district. The districts themselves are one of my favorite parts of the show. They truly feel like vastly different places. The show really explores the culture of many of the districts Jean visits. The people in each district dress differently. They look differently. They have vastly different values and treasure different things.

Jean lives with his younger sister Lotta, and often brings back treats from each district to share with her and his best friend, a photographer named Niino, who somehow always seems to be around. Scenes including Lotta tend to feel more like they're comedy or slice-of-life than they do political intrigue. However, it never feels jarring transitioning from these scenes to more serious, plot-centered ones. Instead, Lotta's scenes tend to feel like a breath of fresh air that let the audience relax before diving headfirst back into the plot, which can be a little confusing at times.

As Jean audits each district, it becomes increasingly clear that rumors about a mysterious coup are spreading, and Jean is at the center of it. As far as we, the audience can tell, Jean has no idea why he is entangled in these rumors. The more districts Jean visits, the deeper he becomes entangled in these rumors. Some of his superiors suspect him. Others ask him to secretly report what he hears. Who can Jean trust? Who can we, the audience trust? And what's really best for the kingdom of Dowa?

Art- 9/10

This is a very stylistic show, and the character designs and backgrounds really set the mood. Everyone and everywhere looks slick and gorgeous. There aren't flashy action scenes or special effects, but there are a LOT of delicious looking desserts to drool over, and every character design is unique. Just by looking at someone, you can tell something about how they are as a person. For example, fro character design alone you can tell that Grossular is serious and severe, Lotta is cheerful and upbeat, the prince is selfish and arrogant.

Sound- 7/10

I watched the dub of ACCA, and it was excellent. I recognized many well-known voice actors, and they did a great job.

As far as the opening theme, I thought it didn't fit with ACCA's themes or subject matter very well. It's a very poppy, upbeat song, and I think something slower and more dramatic would be a little more appropriate.

As far as the background music, I found it unremarkable. I didn't really notice it at all, which could be a good thing.

Character- 9/10

This is where ACCA really shines.

Jean is an exceptionally well-done character. Although he is the protagonist, it's usually up to the audience to guess what he is thinking. Often times, I found myself wondering how much Jean really knew, or what 'side' he was on. I thought that aspect of mystery made the show much more enjoyable.

This show has a number of important characters, and yet I never felt overwhelmed by the large cast. Their personalities were clearly thought out well, and it was believable that these were real people, not cardboard cutouts copied and pasted from previous shows. Each one has different motivations, and although you might not know what it is that each character wants, you're always guessing (which I think is actually better.)

Enjoyment- 7-10

This is a slow-paced show that builds in intensity. If you're looking for action and fights, this isn't the show for you. If you're looking for a Game of Thrones clone, this isn't for you. This show never raises the stakes quite high enough to feel truly like a 'thriller,' but there is certainly suspense, and as you grow to care about the characters, even low stakes feel important.

There's nothing scarier than someone who isn't afraid to die.

The protagonist of Drifters, Shimazu Toyohisa, is one of the most badass characters I've ever seen. He's unique in that he has no qualms giving up his own life as long as he can take his enemies' head in the end. He'll die with a smile on his face and his foe's blood on his sword.

Story: 7/10

In the midst of battle, Toyo is mortally wounded and suddenly finds himself in a completely foreign world occupied by elves, dwarves, and monsters. He discovers that he is a Drifter, and other notable warriors, gunslingers, ... generals, and fighters like him from different eras have been brought to this place to fight in a war against the Ends- other famous historical figures brought to this world with the intent of destroying it.

This isn't the most original story, but it's executed well. This show keeps up a quick, exciting pace with great action, and humor and drama is sprinkled in here and there.

Art: 10/10

Drifters has a gorgeous, gritty art style. The characters all look absolutely amazing and the fights are really cool to watch. No complaints here.

Sound: 8/10

The OP is especially good. It fits the theme really well and it's just catchy as hell. The soundtrack is good, but nothing extra special. It fits the story perfectly, but I wouldn't bother to listen to it outside of the show.

Character: 10/10

Pretty much every character in this show is interesting. There are quite a few characters, but all of them are well-designed and not one of them is boring. The protagonist Toyo and his two main companions, Nobunaga and Yoichi, are really fun to watch and they balance each other very well.

Enjoyment: 10/10

I couldn't wait for a new episode to come out every week. This show gave me exactly what I wanted: thrilling fights, lots of blood, and a story I haven't heard before.

“You have to do the opposite of what people expect. How else will you surprise them? That’s my motto.” - Victor Nikiforov, Yuri on ICE!!!

If there is one thing this show did well, it was surprise me. I came into this show expecting to see a cool sports anime about figure skating. I got so much more out of it than that.


Story: 8/10

This story starts out simply: a Japanese figure skater, Yuri, screws up big time at the most important competition of his life. He feels like a total loser. And cries in a bathroom stall. Which is something we’ve all ... done, just admit it. He goes home, defeated, and wonders if he should retire from skating.
But everything changes when his idol, the Russian skating genius/handsome bachelor shows announced in his family hot spring, and announces that he is going to take the season off just to coach Yuri. (He makes this shocking announcement butt-ass naked, by the way. Never change, anime.)
From there, the show progresses quickly. Yuri trains and goes to competition. He slowly gains self- confidence. And the relationship between Yuri and Victor grows.

**MINOR SPOILER***

Yep. They’re gay.

This might come as a turn-off to you. I didn’t start this show to watch a gay relationship. But I wanted to see the skating, so I kept watching. And I ended up really liking their relationship, even more than I liked the skating. This show treats their romance like most other shows treat heterosexual romances: completely normally. They don’t make it into a big deal. Yuri and Victor aren’t an obnoxious couple. Many tropes shown in other shounen-ai anime, like very explicit scenes and borderline abuse, are not present in Yuri on Ice. This show depicts the healthiest, most accurate depiction of a gay relationship I’ve ever seen in anime. And by the end, I was cheering their relationship on 1000%.

Unfortunately, the show's conclusion was rushed, which was why I ended up rating Story an 8/10.

Art: 7/10

For the most part, the art is good. The characters are designed really well. My biggest issue with the art is that it is very inconsistent during the most important parts of the show: the skating competitions. One episode might show Yuri skating his short program with beautiful art. Another might show the same program with choppy, art that is clearly not as good. It didn’t hinder the show as a whole, but it would have been nice to see some consistent high quality art.


Sound: 10/10

The OP and ED are amazing. This show relies heavily upon music, since the skaters compete with songs. This is very well done. The lyrics are spot-on, and the music sounds great. I especially loved the music for Yuri’s short program and his free skate. They sum up the feeling of the show very well, and I never once got tired of hearing them. Yes. I downloaded them.


Characters: 10/10

Yuri, the main character, is someone I could easily relate to. He has a clear goal, but he lacks self-confidence. When he failed, he felt like he let down everyone who supported him or cheered him on. He’s the best skater in Japan, and he still feels inadequate. Despite his low self-esteem, Yuri isn’t whiny and annoying. He doesn’t blame others for his problems, and he works hard to achieve his goal. He isn’t perfect. He’s believable, and that what makes a show like this good. His relationship with Victor really changes him for the better, which is really great to see.

Yuri’s rival, a younger Russian skater (who is coincidentally also named Yuri) is also a really interesting character. He’s practically the opposite of Yuri: brimming with confidence, conceited, and rude. Despite having much less screen time, his character develops almost as much as the other Yuri, and the differences between these two characters make their individual traits shine.

The side characters in this show are what make it so special. From the Canadian skater JJ, who is the most confident, (dare I say arrogant?) skater, who literally calls himself King JJ, to the adorable, hamster-loving Thai skater Pichit, who is a pure little cinnamon roll, this show makes its supporting cast shine. There’s a skater who can’t get over his ex-girlfriend, a veteran skater who has competed alongside Victor for years, and a strong-and-silent type skater with a soft side. They aren’t cardboard cutouts. These characters all have realistic ambitions and mannerisms, and that makes them really fun to watch.

Enjoyment: 10/10

This show absolutely exceeded my expectations. If, like Victor, this show’s goal was to surprise the audience, then it absolutely succeeded.

There came a time when humanity had to ask itself an important question: Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon?

Maybe what humanity should have asked was "Is it *possible* to pick up girls in a dungeon?" For the protagonist, it might just be the other way around.

Story: 7/10
Unfortunately, this is one of those action/adventure/romance shows that scrapes the surface of action, adventure, and romance, but doesn't really go all the way in any of these categories. Though I must admit I found myself wrapped up in the plot and interested in the storyline and potential romances, I always ... ended up wanting just a bit more of everything.

What bothered me the most was the harem going on, because even though there was clearly a girl Bell liked and wanted to end up with, things kind of just... fizzled out and every single chick in the series ended up falling madly in love with him. While this tends to be the case with a lot of romance/action shows, it is frustrating to have zero romantic closure in a show.

Art: 9/10
Let's talk about character design. Because it was good. All the characters were attractively drawn, the backgrounds looked awesome, and the art matched. It was some good art. Not particularly unique, but I have zero complaints.

Sound:6/10
The opening for the show was fine. The music was fine. Nothing really struck me as memorable, and I never found myself saying "wow I like this music! It really fits!" But all in all, it was okay.

Character: 7/10
Our protagonist, Bell, begins the series as a weak hero who often times has to be rescued by the very girls he wishes to protect. I know this turns a lot of watchers off, because frankly, watching someone try and fail to be awesome is kind of disappointing. But fear not, potential watchers! Actual character development occurs, and Bell's determination ends up paying off in a very satisfying way. To be honest, Bell is a bit of a bland character in that he has very strict morals and seemingly no flaws other than that he's 'too nice,' which is sort of a running trend with noble heroes these days. That beings said, Bell is still a very likeable and interesting character (he's just a bit predictable.)

The other characters (AKA all the girls in love with Bell) don't seem to be very developed. Honestly, while they are all interesting and they help add to the story, there is only one female character I can think of who actually had a decent back story (and she was probably the only one who wasn't head over heels for the protagonist.) The rest of them were really all there just to 'like Bell.' I was most disappointed with the girl that Bell likes the most, because she seemed to be the flattest and most two-dimensional of all.

Enjoyment: 7/10
I did not enjoy the romantic part of the show. But I enjoyed every other part. The action was interesting, the adventure had me hooked, and I laughed a few times at the comedy.

Overall: 7/10
Just a fun show to watch to pass the time. I thought it was good, but it didn't change my life or anything. A little cliche can't hurt you, and all in all, it was a good ride.

When I went into watching this show, was I looking for deep, powerful, and moving character relationships and development? No. I was expecting some badass sexy vampires fighting ridiculously young teenage soldiers in swanky uniforms. And I was not disappointed.

Story:5/10
The best way to describe the story is to say it's Attack on Titan with vampires. Basically, vampires are enormous assholes that are ridiculously stronger than humans and treat them like livestock. But just because it's an unoriginal story doesn't mean it's not fun to watch.

Art:6/10
The character designs are good. The backgrounds are good. Do they look good together? Eh, not really.

Sound: 8/10
I personally ... liked the OP and the soundtrack itself was pretty good. Not a big fan of the ED, but overall, the sound fit the rest of the show pretty well.

Character:5/10
Okay. So here the cliches start to kick in, especially when it comes to the protagonist, who is basically drooling with the desire to get revenge and murder every last vampire (twice, if possible.) The only character I thought was pretty unique was Kimizuki, whose laid-back attitude was pretty interesting as opposed to all the other girls, who did nothing but yell at the protaganist.

Enjoyment: 7/10
This show is by no means a masterpiece, but it was fun to watch! I wouldn't necessarily call it a guilty pleasure, but it does seem like it's getting a lot of hate from other viewers.

Overall: 7/10
If you're looking for a mind blowing, life changing anime, go somewhere else. But if you wanna lay back and watch some teenagers and vampires blow shit up and try and kill each other, you're gonna have a great ride.

My expectations for Strike the Blood were simple: I wanted lots of action with some romance thrown in. Instead, I feel like I got the opposite. Overall, I was disappointed in some areas and pleasantly surprised in others. Though I don't regret watching it, I wish the show had only 12 episodes instead of 24.

Story: 6

To put it simply, the story for this show is mediocre. It isn't outstanding, but nor is it bad. It simply fulfills its duty to carry along the main premise of the show, which focuses more on the relationships between characters (primarily, of course, between the leading hero Koujo and ... the ladies). The show is divided into several arcs, which range from 2-5 episodes long. After the first few arcs, a general pattern of events begins to emerge and repeat itself. Though this has no real severe implication on the show, it does make it a bit predictable.

The only significant issue I have with the plot is that it never addresses the circumstances in which Kojou becomes the Fourth Progenitor. Though it is mentioned several times in the show and there are a few short flashbacks, the questions surrounding Kojou's mysterious transformation are left unanswered--though I suppose that if there's a possibility for a second season they could be answered then.

Art: 10

By far the best thing about this show was the art. Very crisp, exciting animation, with exciting colors and fantastic fight choreography totally fulfilled my expectations. Character designs were spectacular, the magic was interesting, and the scenery was beautiful.

Sound: 7

The sound was not particularly memorable. It, like the plot, fulfilled its purpose, though unless you're paying attention, it's not very noticeable. The OPs and endings were fine, but not anything out of the ordinary.

Character: 5

The characters in a romantic show, especially a harem, are its driving force, and I feel like this is where Strike The Blood's mediocrity prevails.

I found the main character, Kojou a bit two-dimensional and simplistic. He was likeable, handsome, decent, heroic, and pretty much everything a good (but not particularly interesting) protagonist should be. He had only a few minor flaws, leaving little room for character development or improvement.

The girls in the show, however, are a different story. Their personalities are more clearly defined and more developed than Kojou's, and they don't really follow archetypes, so they're certainly more interesting. Himeragi, the female lead, is the most developed, and she undergoes the most noticeable character development in the whole show.

The one thing that bugged me most about the girls, however, is that no matter how smitten they were with the main character, they constantly berated him, calling him an indecent pervert even in situations that are totally out of his control (this is especially true of the main female character, Himeragi.) Though I can understand that this was meant to be comedic relief, hearing "HENTAI" screamed in various high pitched girly voices episode after episode starts to grate on one's nerves.

Supporting/side characters were incredibly bland. For example, Kojou's male friend with headphones was so underdeveloped that those are the only two things I can remember about him. A few side characters, like the First Progenitor, could have been really interesting, but they were sort of put on the back burner to all of the romance going on.

Enjoyment: 6

This is the sort of show I'd recommend to someone who wanted to shut off their brain for a while, watch some cool magic, and see a couple panty shots. It certainly wasn't bad, and I can't say I disliked it, but overall, it fell straight into the mediocre category.