- Supporter
- Last Online3 hours ago
- GenderMale
- BirthdayOct 16, 1997
- LocationFukuoka
- JoinedFeb 18, 2019
Fantasy Anime League Fantasy Anime League Also Available at
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Mar 25, 2025
From the master of yuri-bait herself, Takeda Ayano, comes another series that’s sure to leave us fuming at the end after teasing a lesbian ship for years. In all seriousness, Hanashura might be a different type of series than Hibike Euphonium, but Takeda-sensei brings the same sort of energy that made her famous Kyoani project so beloved. A school club setting, loveable characters, an MC that’s lost in life and trying to find her place and finding solace in a new hobby club, cute girls making lifelong bonds that totally aren’t lesbian coded, etc., but Hanashura also manages to forge its own path
...
as something unique. The focus on broadcasting and bringing literature to life is truly one of the coolest things I’ve seen. This show takes the meaning of the phrase “a good book is a portal that can take you anywhere in the world” to new heights. If you are at all interested in literature and the impact that spoken word can have on people, please give this a chance. It’s a different sort of anime, but retains many familiar things that’ll make it a very enjoyable watch for most CDCT fans!
Coming into this show, I had no idea how much went into broadcasting. I mean, as a content creator myself, I knew the importance of enunciation and some basic things, but the intricacies of the craft were fully revealed to me in this show and blew me away. The way the characters in this show use recitation to express their emotions, to change how others see the world and as an art form is just.. beautiful. The studio captured the emotion of broadcast readings very well through the use of these really powerful transformation sequences where the characters and world are turned into things that reflect the book or poem’s subject matter. It’s really cool because it shows us how the listener feels and how they’re transported(not literally) into another world as the reader is reciting. I know it seems a bit nerdy and might not seem very interesting at first, but if you watch the first episode, you’ll see what I mean. It’s a really different type of sports anime which I appreciated because I learnt a lot watching this. Always a plus when you have fun and get educated when watching something.
Given that it is a sports anime, you have a lot of the same tropes you’d expect. Rivalries, MC being really talented, but lacking refinement, standoffish tsundere on the team who ends up becoming besties with the MC, the senpai that the MC strives to be like, inter-school competitions, it’s actually crazy how much overlap exists with sports anime and how much of that is present in Hanashura, but the execution was great and it’s thanks in large part to the cast. This cast is amazing, it’s a big and diverse lineup from a variety of schools, just like Hibike and while admittedly not all of them got fleshed out in the first 12 episodes, most of Hana’s team did. There’s this really wholesome family dynamic going on at the school where everyone looks out for one another. I loved it! If anything, these first 12 episodes really felt like a teaser for what’s to come in this story. There’s a ton of different characters and they all have their own unique personalities which impacts the sort of recitation style they have and the proverbial image they paint to listeners. There’s this key theme of the story that there’s no right or wrong way to appreciate recitation. It’s all about the picture you want to paint for your audience and that drives our MC forward as she learns to embrace her own unique style.
I really could ramble on and on about this show forever because I loved Hana, I loved the supporting cast and I found the art of recitation so novel and interesting. It’s something that might seem minor until you see all the work and effort that goes into it and the impact it can have on people. Once you do, you’ll see it’s just as real as any other sport and this series will leave a mark on you. Handshura gets 9 out of 10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Mar 25, 2025
I came into Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi with pretty low expectations. Totally thought this would be another generic wish-fulfilment harem where a loser MC shows up at a temple, the girls fall in love, fanservice, screaming and yelling, rinse and repeat. *cough cough tenpuru* Years of seasonal anime consumption have made me jaded. This show caught me by surprise with how well written it is, how interesting the characters are and how the MC actually acts like a normal dude who deserves a harem. Yea, it’s still got its goonbait moments, but the focus of Amagami is the growth of the girls, MC
...
and unraveling the supernatural mystery in the background. It’s one of the best harem anime I’ve ever seen frankly and manages to balance fanservice with genuinely emotional and gut wrenching story beats, romance, comedy and wholesome vibes. One of the best shows of the year in my opinion and it was a pleasure to watch for the last 6 months. I became so attached to this cast and I’ll miss them!
To stay interesting as a harem anime you need variety and progression. It can’t just be the usual confession bait, panty shots and other cringe repetitive tropes. The best way to keep me engaged is with an interesting story, characters that don’t feel like cardboard cutouts and actually service a purpose, have motivations and personality etc., and an MC that you can support. Amagami’s author got that assignment and has excelled at it. All of the girls get multiple character arcs allowing them to feel fleshed out and the audience to connect with them. Uryu’s motivations and development feel believable and the guy is so intelligent, compassionate and reliable that him having all these girls fall in love with him makes sense. Even with that though, he grows substantially over the course of the show going from someone who’s skeptical of the supernatural and of opening up to others because of past trauma, to someone who’s accepts the things he doesn’t understand and is at peace with the more mysterious aspects of the world. Everything in the story is earned and the progression is very satisfying to watch thanks to the well written story arcs.
For me personally, I only see 2 of the 3 amagami sisters as actual real romance options for Uryu because of the age gap with the third and her being in middle school. BUT, all 3 girls are sweet, loveable and I can understand why people would like any one of them. They might seem like just easygoing girls on the outside, but all of their backstory arcs left me emotional and made me appreciate the smiles they have in present day that much more. Every character in this show is dealing with some sort of past trauma and that makes this shared living situation equal parts fun as it is therapeutic. The sisters help Uryu grow and overcome the pain of losing his mother and he helps them move forward from their respective tragedies and the collective grief of losing their adoptive mother. When you see Uryu do that, you come to understand why the girls fell for him.
The seiyuu line up in this show is immense and they all put in amazing jobs, every character feels so alive and it’s thanks in large part of the voice acting staff! I was left emotional during the climax of basically every arc in the show because of a great performance whether it was from Sumipe or one of the other seiyuu, they were great. The show looks really good, the animation is very solid. It’s a well put together production all around.
I could drone on forever about Amagami, but I think I got the gist of what makes it special across in this review. The girls are great, the MC is smart, reliable and you can see why he’s attractive, the story is well written with a nice mix of character development and supernatural Japanese mythological mystery and it looks great. If you like harems, romcoms or just want a wholesome and rewarding story, this is a watch you won’t regret. It was one of my favourite shows of the year and I will definitely be reading the manga to see where it goes from here.
Amagami-san chi no Enmusubi gets 9 out of 10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 24, 2025
Romance anime can be a mixed bag. On one hand you’ve got the nearly incessant barrage of seasonal high school romance wherein teenagers experience their first love and spend an entire season building up to a confession, on the other you’ve got the occasional adult romance where the only difference between the cast and the teenage romance I just mentioned is that they’re physically adults. However, they don’t actually do anything to set themselves apart as adults. They just feel like physically older teenagers doing the same stupid stuff, not communicating, running from their feelings and acting like losers whenever they’re around the opposite sex.
...
Enter Konosuki, I have a crush at work. It blows my mind how this didn’t get licensed by the major streamers because I can confidently say this is one of the best romance anime in this medium. No BS, no buildup to confession or couples being overly nervous with each other, we start the series with our main couple together and get 12 amazing episodes of them growing closer, strengthening their bond all while balancing their workplace commitments. If you’re tired of the usual anime romance and want to see actual adults acting like adults while dating and dealing with the same things you deal with on a daily basis, look no further. This is a must watch.
The very first episode of this show had me hooked. When I saw our main couple get together so soon, I knew this was going to be special and it didn’t disappoint. Yui and Masugu are absolutely adorable and one of the best ships I’ve ever seen in anime and it’s not like they’re some unrealistic idealised couple. They’re two very normal down to earth people that most of us will be able to relate to. They’re a great couple, but they’re also much more than that. I like how the series goes out of its way to show us that Masugu and Yui are their own individuals with their own interests and goals. Yes, they love being around each other, but they’re also focused on improving themselves and doing what they want to in life. It’s such a healthy dynamic and combined with the pleasant work environment where their creative interests are encouraged and fostered, I had a smile on my face every week. We see so many horror stories in anime and in real life with Japanese companies abusing their employees, so to see one where the employees are not just respected, but really treated like individuals and listened to and pushed to pursue the things they want, resonated with me.
I am also a massive fan of how all the characters in the story actually voice whatever’s bothering them. If Yui is upset about something, Masugu won’t let it go and will get her to actually spill the issue, allowing them to compromise or work through it by the end of the episode. It’s one of those things that might seem mundane to some, but for me it takes a series from good to great because the characters behave in a realistic manner allowing me to become more immersed in and attached to the story and characters.
This is probably the first anime I have ever seen where sex is handled so casually and maturely too. Look, people have sex, especially when they’re in a relationship. Anime has a tendency to hyper fixate on it and make it such a big deal. That intimacy of sharing your body with someone is certainly important, but it doesn’t need to be made into a spectacle either. Masugu and Yui have casual sex at least 4-5 times in here and the show doesn’t make it out to be a fanservice moment or use any perverted camera angles, it’s literally just a natural progression of their dates and it feels real as hell. I really don’t think an anime has ever done it this well, hats off the author and the staff for showcasing sexual intimacy in such a mature way.
Masugu and Yui are the main draw, but there’s a supporting couple that starts getting going at the end that I honestly kind of liked more than our main ship. Both are very realistic and well written, but Hayakawa’s little arc resonated with me even more because of the opposites attract situation. The author really knows how to write compelling couples and they seem to have a great understanding of human psychology. I just love when anime feels real. Yea, fantasy and over the top stuff is cool and all, but sometimes I want to watch something that could happen in real life!
My one complaint with the story is that the whole hiding the relationship from everyone at work gimmick doesn’t make too much sense after a while, especially when it’s clear that the workplace would have no issue with it given there’s no power dynamic imbalance and everyone at work is chill as hell. The show largely acts realistic and the two leads talk through their problems, they say what bothers them and don’t let things snowball, other than this.. but it’s sort of a minor thing. It is a fictional story and you’ve got to have some sort of gimmick to keep things engaging, I get it.
The show looks great, love the character designs for Yui and Hayakawa especially, seiyuus are amazing and really do a good job of not sounding over the top. They go with the more natural lower tone voices and it only makes things more immersive! I have zero complaints with this show really. Knew it was going to be one of the best shows of the season from the start and it ended that way.
Konosuki gets a very easy 10 out of 10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 23, 2025
Simply put, this was the worst show of Winter 2025. I don’t know who this series was made for, but it certainly wasn’t for me. An emotionally abusive story where no one respects the main character’s autonomy or allows her to make any choices, a weirdo prince who stalks her and a brother who enables the abuse. This is bad. The only reason it’s not getting a lower score is because Lettie was pretty, I found myself laughing at a few of her escape attempts and the art style was nice, but it’s one of the few shows where there’s nothing redeemable about it.
...
Arranged marriage series are usually ass, but at least they tend to have some redeemable qualities. Maybe some nice world building, character development, wholesome, SOMETHING where you could be like “yea, this wasn’t great, but it’s ok” Kisaki is actually impressive in that it has NOTHING good going for it besides the main character design. This show accomplishes nothing in 12 episodes other than making it seem like the way to get the girl of your dreams is to stalk her, lock her in a castle and force your way on her. Yes, I get the twist that happened 8 episodes in is supposed to make all of this go away and make me feel sympathetic for the prince and Lettie, it didn’t. If anything it made me angrier and resent the author more for not just starting the series with that instead of subjecting us to two months of what amounted to emotional and mental abuse. Like seriously, the “I’m going to marry you no matter what and you’ll want it too” gimmick is so uncomfortable and borderline rapey that each week this tested my no drop rule. I ended up sticking this out which is probably one of the greatest accomplishments in my seasonal anime watching career, up there with finishing Gibiate, but this is bad, and not in a generic tropey way. As a shoujosei fan I know a lot of authors like taboo stuff or “toxic” relationships but this was just horrible and not even cute or sexy in a forbidden sort of way.
As I said, the art style and character designs were the best part of the show. They look bright and aesthetically pleasing. Animation is horrible for most of the show, but there’s two episodes or so where it looks solid. Lettie’s seiyuu was great.
Don’t be like me and waste time watching this. There’s many better shows to watch from this past season and coming up next season, no need to burden yourself with this.
I want to escape Princess lessons gets 2, out of 10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 23, 2025
We all know the success MAPPA have had with adapting beloved shonen jump titles in recent years. From CSM, to JJK and even Vinland Saga on the seinen side of things, they’ve been on an insane run. Their anime originals on the other hand have been a bit.. well bad. Zenshu breaks the mould and is in my opinion, not just one of their best originals, but one of their best ever projects in general. They might have misled us initially into thinking this was going to be a show about making anime, but I fell in love with this fantasy world, the characters, the
...
romance, the production values, it was all perfect and Luke and Natsuko quickly became one of the best parts of this season to me. Their haters to lovers relationship was so satisfying to watch play out, they felt like soulmates and completed each other so much. I think for many of us, their relationship and Natsuko’s personal development were the best parts of the show and just made this an incredible watch. If you like girl bosses, romance and self improvement stories, Zenshu’s a must watch. One of the best shows of winter 2025.
The funny thing about it is that Zenshu was very much one of those shows that everything came down to the finale for me. It was either going to be a 10 or a 7 depending on how MAPPA wrapped things up with Luke and Natsuko and the big battle and I am very glad to report they did an excellent job. There’s a few minor things I’d have tweaked in the finale, but other than that this was an extremely solid anime original story that was consistent in its messages and themes, stayed on track, had great character development, awesome fights, a unique fighting mechanic and a loveable main character. Total contrast to some of their other anime original works, especially the disaster that was Bucchigiri. I loved this series though, we all expected this to be a shirobako style anime where we followed an anime director throughout the process of creating an anime, but instead we followed an anime director INSIDE an anime and got to see her grow and open up to others and the world.
Natsuko’s character development is very satisfying. She starts off as a really aloof and frankly rude and disrespectful person who looks down on others. Thanks to being in her favourite anime and going on adventures to save the world she realizes the importance of teamwork and relying on others, something she really lacked back on earth. She’s someone who never viewed others as actual people, just tools to get the job done. The near death experiences she has in the anime’s world really help shape her into a better person and it’s so satisfying . It doesn’t happen overnight, but each episode we see bits and pieces coming together and that’s all you can ask for!
The cast were amazing in this. They’re the main reason the show is as good as it is. MAPPA, in 12 short episodes, manage to create this family dynamic that makes this such a cozy watch. Every single member of the cast is lovable and you just want to see them succeed. It almost feels like this was a long running adventure shonen series with how attached to the cast I got. The banter, the disagreements and the makeups were all so endearing. Natsuko and the nine soldiers might have bickered a lot, but they always made up and pushed forward at the end of the day like a family. Further to that, the relationship between Natsuko and Luke was my favourite part of the show and it was so well done. I’m a massive haters to lovers romance trope fan and this was one of the best ones. The two of them slowly realizing how they feel culminating in those last few episodes was amazing. They both ended up being exactly what the other was missing in their life. Natsuko couldn’t take her work to the next level because she’d never known a first love and Luke couldn’t move forward because he was caught up on the pain of his fallen comrades and didn’t really have anyone who he could truly share that burden with. The term soulmates gets thrown around a lot, but Luke and Natsuko truly were soulmates!
Now it’s MAPPA so you know we have to discuss the production quality. The show looked amazing. Designs, the fights, Natsuko’s drawing animation(even if it was reused) were all amazing. It seems like MAPPA made it a point of emphasis to put their A-team on this and it worked out very well. The final few episodes had some gorgeous animation and combined with the simple, but well written story made for an amazing experience.
I had Zenshu as one of the best anime of the season ever since the first episode and it not only stayed that way, but only got better as I learned more about Natsuko and the other characters and as the romance developed. Things ended up being a little predictable in terms of the ending, but that’s not a bad thing because it’s exactly the sort of story I hoped for. If you like boss girlies, romance and some really unique action, Zenshu is a no brainer. One of the best shows of the year so far and I’m going to miss it so much. Luke and Natsuko, we will never forget you.
Zenshu gets 10 drawing pencils out of 10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 22, 2025
Okitsura is perhaps the most innovative travel ad of all time. Why make YouTube videos or commercials promoting your island when you can make an anime with cute girls and romance? The island of Okinawa is one of the most interesting places on earth, but I knew relatively little about it coming into this other than the US military presence on the island. For 3 months this show served as a crash course in Okinawan culture and history and I can honestly say the propaganda worked on me, I want to visit! But equally impressive is how good the show is. It started out pretty
...
slow to me, I didn’t really connect with the characters, but after 3-4 episodes and weekly doses of Kana I was hooked. It’s educational, wholesome and a genuinely fun time. It’s a bit frustrating to watch at times because the main girl is NOT the best girl, but even with that it’s a very enjoyable experience and I highly recommend it to anyone curious about Okinawa travel lovers.
This show’s pretty simple. Every week we learn 3-4 things about Okinawan culture and language and then there’s a romantic subplot with the MC having a crush on a local Okinawan girl. Now I love the educational stuff, there’s so much packed into this show and it does a great job of highlighting the differences between Okinawa and mainland Japan which I think many foreigners won’t have known about! Where it loses me is with the romance, at least as it relates to the main ship here. The MC is from mainland Japan and can’t understand the local Okinawan girl which is sort of the plot device used to teach the audience about Okinawan culture. For me, I hated their dynamic because it makes zero sense for the MC to be head over heels for a girl he can’t even have a proper convo with! It reminded me of Doug Censor Martin dating the Mexican weather lady back in the day. Like there’s only so much that you can actually learn about a person when y’all can’t communicate intimately and natively. The side character, Kana, ended up being the best girl in this series. She and the MC have the best chemistry, she speaks standard Japanese fluently and serves as his translator to Kyan(main girl) and Okinawan culture instructor. It’s just hard to really get behind a romcom plotline like this when the main girl is so obviously worst girl.
Romance aside, the main trio are fun to watch. The comedy landed for me in the show and seeing them get up to local Okinawan activities every week was cool. Their relationship almost felt like watching a travel vlog or something. For such a small place, there’s so much to do on Okinawa and the show gives you a nice idea of the variety of activities. The MC definitely acts like a dense idiot, but Kana is so good that I sort of overlooked it.
Projection wise, nothing to write home about. Show looks solid, the voice acting is top notch especially with how they showcase the dialectal/linguistic differences between Okinawan and standard Japanese.
This isn’t the best show in the world, but there’s just something about it that drew me in and kept me hooked. After a while I really enjoyed every episode and it seemed like they went by so quickly. It’s certainly informative and even with the MC being annoying as hell at times, the cast are fun to watch. I feel confident recommending this to anyone interested in learning about Japan/Okinawa or looking for a light hearted romcom!
Okitsura gets 7/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 21, 2025
Birdie wing ending left a deep hole in my heart that Sorairo utility has done a surprisingly good job of filling. Whereas Birdie wing was more story based and focused on the absurdities of super powered golf, Sorairo utility is a much more grounded and realistic story about a regular girl finding herself with the sport! It’s the sort of story that everyone can relate to as Minami is not some prodigy nor does she even ever become great at golf. She’s new to the sport and sucks, but that’s ok because she’s having fun and I think there’s a very powerful message in that
...
that you don’t see in anime often. You’re not always going to be the best or even good at something, that doesn’t mean you have to give up and can’t enjoy what you do. It’s all about appreciating the journey and who you experience it with. That alone makes this one of the best sports anime I’ve seen.
Sorairo and birdie wing will inevitably be compared because they’re two recent golf anime with female casts. As I said in the opening, though, they’re drastically different. I love both, but there’s something about the more realistic story and setting of Sorairo that struck a chord for me. As someone who has always wanted to get into golf, but hasn’t had the chance to, I really saw myself in Minami. I know for a fact that when I start out I’m going to suck, but this show encouraged me to stick it out and keep going despite the initial struggles. I may never reach the level I want to be at, but that’s ok as long as I make long lasting relationships, learn more about myself and grow as a person. Minami does just that in this show and joined by a stellar supporting cast in Haruka and Ayako. These three girlies were so much fun to watch every week. Every episode went by so quick, whether it was them actually golfing or hanging out and just teaching Minami about life, golf, etc., it felt like we were watching 3 friends every week and that’s this show’s other big strength, the chemistry. This group flow together so well, you can’t help but smile, laugh and cry right along with them.
Equally as impressive is the show’s emphasis on different golfing approaches. Golf, like anything else in life doesn’t just have one way of going about it. Minami for example plays golf to learn the basics and improve. She knows she’s not gonna be winning a green jacket or any big competition anytime soon, but that doesn’t matter. The only competition is herself. Ayaka got into golf because of her social media presence and need for validation before eventually realizing she loved the sport and wanted to grow at it, but also promoting sustainability in the sport. Haruka is more of your traditional golfer who has had success at the amateur level. Golf, like any other sport, can be whatever you make of it. It doesn’t have to be a life or death ordeal! I just found that sort of approach to the game very refreshing and it only enhanced my viewing experience. All the relationships and ways of doing things in this show are so healthy and wholesome!
From a technical standpoint, the show looks great. The golfing matches are well animated, the background art is gorgeous as are the character designs. It’s a very pretty show with a great cast. What else can you ask for?
It sucks that this show ended because I was empty over Birdie wing, this came and filled the gap and now I’m empty over this. Luckily it seems like the studio are not done with this series and it’ll be continuing in one format or another so there’s that to look forward to. I fell in love with the cast and with the game of golf even more after this. One of the best shows of the season no doubt. Sorairo Utility gets a very easy 10 out of 10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 21, 2025
At a glance it might not seem like Kurakon is special. We’ve certainly had plenty of arranged marriage and haters to lovers trope shows over the past few years, but trust me when I say the execution is what counts and this show pulls it off very well thanks in large part to the chemistry between the two leads and the MC, Saito, being an actual normal human being who’s not afraid of girls and isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. Almost every story in human history is derivative so it’s all about how you write the characters, the interactions, the story etc.,
...
and this show just works for me. I instantly knew from episode 1 that Akane and Saito would be one of my fave ships of the season and 12 weeks later they’ve remained that way. If you enjoy MCs who don’t let themselves get pushed around and actually handle situations like a normal human being, I got news for you, this’ll be fun. It’s not without its flaws, but it’s a very enjoyable romcom with a nice tsundere, Chad MC and some great comedy.
Parents/grandparents living vicariously through their kids in anime is nothing new, but there is something very funny about how Akane and Saito’s arranged marriage starts in this. Imagine your grandfather/mother not being able to marry the person they loved due to family reasons so they make you marry the grandchild of their star crossed lover? If that sounds absolutely ridiculous well this must be your first anime. BUT trust me when I say the ridiculous premise leads to an absolutely adorable and wholesome relationship. I had so much fun seeing Akane gradually warm and open up to Saito, revealing her insecurities and deepest wishes. It’s done at the perfect pace and it feels earned. Saito isn’t just some loser, he’s a “chad”. He’s smart, he’s charismatic, he’s reliable, I mean he might be inexperienced with romance, but he’s not cringe with it. The guy’s an all around solid fella who you want to root for and see succeed. He’s the big X factor that helps this show be so enjoyable. I think I speak for most of us when I say we’re tired of anime leads who are indecisive, afraid of girls and just totally, frankly losers. Yea, not every high school guy is a Romeo, but I mean come on there’s a certain way you’d expect a teenager to interact with girls their age and this author nailed it. He might be a bookworm, but Saito isn’t afraid to return Akane’s tsundere jabs with equally painful(and hilarious) jokes of his own. Their petty arguments were so fun to watch.
Speaking of Akane, she’s one of the rare tsunderes I like. She’s not annoying with it, if anything her struggles to express herself really endeared her to me. There’s just something really adorable about her wanting to connect with Saito and let him know how much she looks up to him, but struggling to do so, that I found really cute. It’s probably because she acts more like a standard teenager who picks on the person they like rather than some obnoxious and physically abusive psychopath. Her tsundere behavior also gets explained and she does grow over the course of the season, gradually warming up and being able to communicate better.
Now the side characters are sort of where this show lost me. At least after Himari. Akane’s best friend Himari was a great addition to the story and her love triangle with Akane and Saito spiced things up. She comes off like your standard airheaded gyaru, but she’s actually very intelligent and has quite a bit of character depth. Essential part of the story that made it better for me. But when they introduced Akane’s little sister who’s annoying and gets in all this relationship drama with Saito it was.. meh. Really could’ve done without it. The brocon incest bait with Shise also could’ve been skipped for me. I’ll never understand how people like that stuff, but alas, Japan will be Japan. I will praise shise for helping advance the story and push Akane and Saito closer together, though. She essentially acts as a stand in for the audience, telling the characters things they’re too dense to pick up on so that was welcome! But this show shines best when it’s just focusing on Akane and Saito becoming a real marriage and breaking down each other’s emotional barriers!
Production wise, nothing too crazy here, but I do love Akane’s design! Her seiyuu also really took all her scenes to another level.
The verdict? This is a must watch if you like romance. It’s one of the best ones this season and when it focuses on the two leads, it’s special. Yes, the side characters can be annoying at times, but Saito and Akane are that damn good. You really have to check this one out!
Kurakon gets 9 out of 10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 20, 2025
Ruroken Kyoto Disturbance arc was amazing. To me it was a significant upgrade production and writing-wise over the first season. The stakes, drama, fights, Kenshin’s development as a swordsman and of course the threat of the incredibly menacing Shishio, made this season a joy to watch. It is an absolute shame that Ruroken has to have the author it does, because in any other circumstance this remake would be a lot more popular. It’s got the classic charm of the 90s series with modern production values and a really cool cast of characters who you can’t help but love. If you’re even considering watching this,
...
it’s likely because you saw the original or the first season of the remake, so it goes without saying you need to check this out!
This season of Ruroken really resonated with me because of the focus on side characters and how much Kenshin had to develop as swordsman. The new additions to the story like Misao were great and the build up to and gradual unraveling of the Kyoto fire conspiracy was awesome. My one big complaint with this season is how we had so much build up to the Kyoto fire and then it ended up being like 3 episodes and we didn’t even get a real big fight out of it other than Aoshi being in his edgy depressed e boy arc. This season sort of functions as a proper introduction to Shishio and the ten swords and as a segue to a new portion of the story. BUT, the build up was so good that I can’t complain. Particularly enjoyed how we got to see Kenshin evolve as a fighter. Shishio is the most difficult opponent he has had to fight yet and it became clear early on that there’s no way Kenshin at his current level could beat him. So we see a sort of return to the basics/mini training arc with Kenshin and his former master and those 2-3 episodes were some of the best storytelling in the show thus far. For as bad ass as Kenshin is, he was to that point, still a boy in many ways. Seeing him unlock his full potential and master his sword fighting school’s ultimate technique was great.
As I said before, the side characters really got to shine this season. Whether it was my goat Sano, Saitou, Misao or even Kaoru and the usual gang, everyone had a role to play in stopping Shishio from destroying Kyoto and it was dope seeing everyone come together to do so. The 10 swords were a bit underwhelming for me. They were really hyped up, but other than the one that Kenshin fought earlier in the season, they looked pretty mediocre. I do think they’ll have some cool moments next season, but they were more of a background threat in this one. Conversely, the Oniwabanshu group had a lot of focus in this arc and got fleshed out a lot more than their brief introduction in the first season which was cool. I felt like before they were just sort of this interesting group of mercs who happened to take on the wrong job. But I came out of this season with a deep appreciation for them and their ethos. It will be really interesting to see how they factor into the next season.
The few big fights we had this season looked really good. I have high hopes for the real big fights sure to come later in the season if this is how they handled these. The art has always been solid in the remake and this is no different, PLUS we have the best OP of the remake so far with Yama’s Burn.
This was an improvement over season 1 because of how the character development was done, everyone got some time to shine, the higher stakes, Kenshin being pushed to the limits and frankly how cool and intimidating a villain Shishio is. Much better than the smaller arcs with weaker villains in season 1. It might not have as much action as I wanted, but the drama and tension were awesome and it sets up a highly anticipated showdown between Kenshin and shishio. Ruroken Kyoto Disturbance arc gets 9 out of 10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 20, 2025
Blue box is one of the best recent jump projects. Not only is it a brilliant romance story, but it’s a great sports animanga too. It perfectly balances romantic development with the characters’ personal and athletic growth while never going too far in either direction. It’s such a fun and realistic watch. The characters behave like normal people, they communicate, they work through problems and most importantly, it shows young people at a critical juncture in their lives, trying to find their way in an increasingly complicated world. It also has the distinction of being one of the few shows with two genuine best girls
...
who I could not fault you for falling in love with. Both choices are well written, have their own advantages and depending on the week, you’ll find yourself going back and forth on who you like more. If you’re a fan of romance, sports or just want a somewhat realistic manga where the leads act like normal people, this is a no brainer. The show looks gorgeous and has an awesome cast. It’ll make you laugh, smile and cry, but it’s a great journey.
What I love most about Blue Box is how it really strikes this great balance between showing Taiki chasing and achieving his athletic and personal goals. I have never seen an anime covering badminton before and my only exposure to the sport was through high school gym class. I found myself becoming very interested in the sport and I really like how the author breaks downs the rules, fundamentals and walks us through Taiki and the other characters’ approach to a match. Yea, you got that usual anime over dramatic inner monologue stuff, but for the most part it feels pretty realistic. Taiki doesn’t just instantly become the best badminton player around. He has raw talent, but it still needs refining and I found the way he bounced back from losses to be very motivating. All his wins feel earned because we see the hard work he puts in. I think with any sports anime, it’s very important to have the leads earn their way to the top, but also important to not drag things along too long. This author gets it and did a great job. On the Romantic front, this is exactly the sort of pace I like. Taiki likes Chinatsu from day 1, but it’s a combination of circumstances, his work ethic and his own courage that gradually brings them closer. I hate when characters get together too quickly so this sort of slow burn build up and the love triangle that develops just works for me. I am a sucker for tension and drama and this show has it in spades.
Further to the love triangle point, I think this is one of the best ones I’ve seen. Like I said, you can’t go wrong with Hina or Chinatsu. One is the childhood friend who Taiki can be himself around and has always supported him, world class gymnast and one of the prettiest girls in town. The other is a future WNBA star, first to the gym last to leave, beauty and athleticism AND perhaps most importantly, someone who gives Taiki an ideal to strive towards. It’s one of those situations where no matter who wins, you’re gonna be sad for the loser and feel bad, but that’s how life goes. You don’t always get what you want and everyone can’t be happy. The show doesn’t rely on fan service or the overly cliche love triangle moments, instead it shows a teenage boy who has genuine reasons to like both girls go back and forth and really struggle internally to choose what’s best for him. It’s done in a very believable manner too. As someone who’s been in that position before, I really empathised with Taiki and I fully support his choice at the end. I am just really glad they showed how you can like two people at once for different sort of reasons and depending on the time/day, you can lean more in one direction or the other. Humans are selfish and we naturally want everything, it would be so easy to keep stringing people along because of the validation it gives you, but It wouldn’t be fair to others. Respect to Taiki for the way he owned the situation and handled things.
The main trio are the big draw, but the side characters are great in this too. People like Kyo, Amane, Kengo etc., act as great mentors and guides for our leads, giving them encouragement and advice both as athletes and people. Often I find them saying the sort of things I would tell the leads if I were there next to them. It’s always good to have a voice of reason in the series and these characters help with that as well as being fun in their own right, especially Amane who came in the last few episodes and stole the show!
Telecom were in their bag production wise. The show looks amazing. I have not read the manga, but from what I’ve seen, the art actually looks better than the manga designs. The animation is very fluid, backgrounds are so lush and detailed and voice acting is great! One of the best productions of the last year for sure.
I could gush about this show all day. It was awful for my anxiety because I knew someone I cared about would end up getting hurt with a rejection at the end, but it’s just a testament to how well written the story is that I felt that attached to the characters. It’s one of the easiest and fastest 25 episode watches ever because of how well done each and every episode is. Do yourself a favour and watch it. Ao no Hako gets 10 out of 10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
