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Dec 25, 2023
A Gintama arc or movie is never really about having a traditional plot. That said, the events in this movie capture the essence of the series in a way that's almost formulaic, yet unique enough to keep you engaged for every second. The movie lays bare the emotional weight that the Yorozuya trio carry in the hearts of Gintama fans once again while providing a spectacle for the eyes as well.
This isn't the first time the series has explored the themes of loss and separation among Gintoki, Shinpachi and Kagura (see Kintoki arc). Gin-chan is the parental figure who has nurtured a Samurai's spirit in
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his proteges/kids strong enough for them to become the badasses they are destined to be. Yet without him around, there is always a painful hole in their very souls. And it's not just them, the specter of Gintoki surrounds all of his friends in Kabukichou. No matter how much of a sleazy, lazy and debt-ridden bastard he becomes after his Joui days, he manages to live his life beautifully in a world where so many in his shoes would have given themselves up to hate and death.
Gintoki's past had been scarcely brought up in the story until the Courtesan of a Nation arc, so having it be such an essential part of the movie's story, even if it is self-contained in the context of the series, is a welcome development. The movie does a great job of bridging the disconnect between Gintoki's past and present in a matter of just a few panels. Also, you really can't spell Gintama without Tama.
Every character in this movie was characterized exactly how we know and love them, no matter how small of a role they had. The flow from comedy to tragedy to the absurd is presented in typically Gintama fashion, something that sets this series apart from most Anime. The insert track Genjyou destruction from SPYAIR is one helluva earworm and really brought the hype to the climactic battle. Bringing back the first OP, Pray, for the credits was also a great touch. Excellent movie for Gintama fans, but it probably won't hit the same without having watched everything before. But from the point-of-view of those who have been watching it, a 10/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Apr 22, 2023
While Makoto Shinkai, admittedly in his own words, has been using Japan's natural disasters in the subtext of his films since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, this is his most direct confrontation with the event that affected the country both materially and emotionally. A heart-wrenching depiction of the effects of that tragedy coated with Miyazaki-esque fantasy made this one of Shinkai's most visually and thematically rich films. The result is a film that is both fantastical and intimate allowing us to trace Suzume's growth and healing from her trauma as well as that of the people and the setting around her as a whole. Shinkai
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brings Japan to life in a different dimension, this time in more sombre but just as beautiful tones in Suzume, as he has done in much of his past work (also featuring his signature timelapse shots, more trains and a panoramic view of Tokyo again). The plot itself isn't focused on a single goal and it's as meandering and evolving as the journey the characters go on. While this made me a little impatient around halfway through the film, as i tried to juggle the various tonal shifts and changing setting while trying to find what was set up at the beginning, the second half delivered a complete package, enhanced by the wonderful animation and soundtrack we have come to expect from these movies.
This is an excellent film, with the emotional highs and the excellent production quality washing away any minor gripes I had, mainly from the first half. I'm glad I got to experience this in theatres and I look forward to Shinkai's next, and hopefully even more evolved, film. 10/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Dec 25, 2022
Very interesting concept of having a Slice-of-Life in a fictionalized East Germany during the Cold War. Spy x Family - as the title suggests - is at it's strongest when it deals with familial bonds, both blood and found. The story centers around a conveniently forged family as part of a Spy mission handled by the West's best spy, Twilight. His mission is to get close to top ranking officials in the Eastern - called Ostania - government in order to stop an all out war from breaking out. The family he assembles, consisting of daughter Anya and wife Yor, over the course of the
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series find ways to wriggle their way into his heart despite Twilight's (alias Loid Forger) commitment to just use them for his mission. Despite just playing a role, he also absorbs the hurricane of emotions that come with becoming a father and husband, not only dealing with Anya's antics, but also helping with Yor's own insecurities. Unbeknownst to him, both wife and daughter and also playing roles in order stay within the family for their own reasons.
It's really fun to watch this family go through not only big events while trying to keep their thoughts from each other, but also the mundane daily life of working professionals and grade school students. The slice-of-life can be heartwarming as well as incredibly funny, with a very entertaining cast of side characters who aid or interrupt the secret mission Twilight is on, much to his chagrin. The show's biggest star and mascot is Anya Forger, an unusual girl with strange powers, but also a yearning for parental love, who has to navigate a school environment not quite like the usual staple in High School Anime. Aside from Twilight and Anya, Yor also has some great moments in the series, but is so far the most underutilized out of the main characters, though she has a lot of potential, both dramatic and comedic. While the show's pacing is not very fast (not uncommon in a SoL), you can still feel every emotion these characters go through and every new bond they form. The show has a lot of relatability for audiences of all ages despite the fantastical circumstances our protagonists have to live with.
WiT and Cloverworks have knocked this production out of the park with the direction and animation as well a great color palette that makes this grey Cold War feel lively. The musical compositions and leitmotifs perfectly suit the comedic timing of the jokes, also giving it the flavor of a Saturday morning serial cartoon at times. The Opening and Endings are also very heartwarming and unskippable. Highly recommend this series to all audiences, even to those new to Anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Nov 27, 2022
I found out about this series just as I finished the FB anime reboot. naturally, I was excited to consume more furuba content even though I hadn't read the original manga. This series serves as a small extension to the main series rather than as a sequel even though it features the next generation. With the way it starts off, it just seems to recycle old character dynamics without developing them on their own. But the content of the last 2 volumes really got me invested in this story as well, especially because of the new protagonist Sawa Mitoma and Shiki Souma. The other characters
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also become enjoyable and fun to read, but the series ends just as things start to get interesting. So while it is a worthwhile read for Fruits Basket fans, it doesn't really stand on its own.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Aug 13, 2022
Hataraku Maou-sama is mainly a show that entertains us with an absurd premise, tropey characters and entertaining situations. Although this is basically the recipe for a strange reverse Isekai, its presentation of classical church and hero against the devil dynamics in the context of working-class Japanese society makes the interactions of the characters in this show very striking and interesting. While Hatamaou may not be an uber serious drama like Attack on Titan or a straight up almost parodic Isekai like Konosuba, it has its own blend of flavors that is also well accompanied by a coherent narrative.
The show may be strong in its setting
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and comedy, but the characters aren't really explored beyond what the show defines as their surface-level characteristics. Very often, the characters are just thrown together to create an absurd situation that doesn't do anything in particular for these characters. There's also the underlying tones of an MC harem situation that feels all too familiar to weebs (who will probably get into or have to endure the ensuing ship wars. But these aren't necessarily pitfalls of this show as often, these light hearted situations make this show a thoroughly entertaining watch, though the show executes certain jokes with varying degrees of success.
In the end, there is set up for character development between our main characters and how this show will end up will almost entirely depend on how these developments play out. While the show doesn't seem to promise any sort of climactic battle between good and evil, we can probably still expect more intervention from the world of Ente Isla, which could potentially drive the characters further toward or away from each other. Does the devil truly have a noble heart or will his mythical sinful self finally be unveiled again on an unsuspecting Japan? I'm certainly interested in seeing what Maou-sama has planned after another promotion at MgRonald's.
TLDR; entertaining show, but hoping for some more dynamism from the characters. Looking forward to season 2. 8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 20, 2022
One of the most refreshing Anime thematically in some time now. This show's immense popularity is no surprise once you take a good look. Spy x Family tells the story of a fake family formed due to espionage akin to many Cold War-era dramas, but with a much deeper emphasis on what it means to be a family, whether in the lighter or heavier moments. Though the show does have aspects of a Slice-of-Life Anime, the intertwining of various plot threads involving each off the main characters both together and separately, keeps the show as of Part 1 engaging throughout its run. It also helps
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that bar a few slow moments, the pacing and direction are both a treat to new viewers eager to jump into a new seasonal TV Anime.
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
This cour's greatest strength is the way it built up its main cast; A legendary spy, Twilight, who goes by the not-so-subtle Loid Forger for his big operation in this series, his adopted daughter Anya Forger, this series' adorable mascot and the heart of the show, and finally, Yor, the mom-out-of-convenience of the household who marries Loid in order to protect her secret occupation as the deadly assassin, The Thorn Princess.
Clear directions have been laid out in the story - authored by Endo Tatsuya - for each of these characters and they are constantly put in situations that make them fight to protect what they have; their family. Each of our main characters have their reasons for wanting this family to work and as they constantly put their guards up, not only from outsiders, but from each other as well, they have to tackle the mundanities of daily life. This includes, running into several of the interesting and quirky side characters that serve as unwitting support or irritating foil to our family's goals, sometimes both simultaneously. Wit Studio and Cloverworks bring to life several great settings in this show from the Forgers' house, to the streets of Ostania that can be littered with secret agents and criminals, to the prestigious Eden Academy that Anya attends. All of these elements are bound together by what is the show's biggest strength, its heart. The forged family bonds feel genuine and heartwarming, giving the show a family aesthetic rarely seen in Anime beyond Japan's long running family-friendly classics such as Sazae-san and Crayon Shin-Chan<probably not as family-friendly>.
I rate this cour of Spy x Family a solid 9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 7, 2022
Dr. Stone tells the story of a young scientist who's entire world is shaken to its core when a mysterious beam of light petrifies all of humanity. When he awakens from stone 3700 years later, long after 21st century civilisation has collapsed, he has to find a way to restore scientific civilisation with the bare minimum. He eventually forms a small band of allies who live in a Stone Age and has to confront various forces of nature and some of his fellow 21st century humans. Despite all of the societal problems humanity has had to face, our scientist, Ishigami Senku, tries to lead humanity
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with the power of scientific thinking and endless optimism in finding solutions using just science. His unshakable confidence and reliability wins over his allies and enemies alike. However, a much greater threat, the mysterious person responsible for the petrification of humanity, still looms.
Dr. Stone has some very memorable characters and settings, driven by the writing of Inagaki Riichiro and some stellar and progressively more impressive art from Boichi. The series' greatest strengths lie in Senku's interactions with other characters, who can be really quirky on their own, or youthful, upstart and growing to absorb Senku's scientific temperament. The story is very straight with the realities that humanity has had to confront when inventing and assembling every nut and bolt of civilisation. The series also gradually expands to include all different kinds of people and raise the threat that humanity is facing down as the story approaches it's climax. While a very engaging and enjoyable read for most of it's run, several elements of the storytelling and plot resolutions are rushed by the ending and several side characters who we've grown to love aren't given enough of a spotlight in the final stretch.
8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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