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Apr 4, 2017
*This review covers both seasons, and is spoiler-free.
Oh, Ashita no Joe, where do I even start... how about the beginning?
I only watched this after reading online that a lot of people enjoyed it, and that there were some extremely good anime that were created long ago (1970!). So, why not, I started up the first episode. Man, was the art bad. The sound caught me off guard too. Everything just struck me as bad. And yet, I kept watching, giving it some leeway while taking into account its age.
And so I watched another episode. And another. And another. And 2 months later, I finished it.
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Man, was it a wild ride. But I don't regret any of it.
The essence of the story follows Joe Yabuki, a juvenile delinquent of sorts, orphaned at birth, who travels across Japan and ends up becoming a professional boxer after overcoming a myriad of obstacles, including his own reluctance. All throughout, there are tinges of comedy, romance, and slice of life, but the overarching message is one that teaches determination, dedication, and passion: a wild internal flame. Joe as a character is possibly one of the most developed ones I have ever encountered. The transformation between his initial first episode appearance and his last is astounding, but completely plausible. The adult themes are strongly relatable, and they are contained within all characters, not just Joe himself. Danpei, his fatherly boxing instructor; Shiraki, the devoted woman who pulls the strings from the background; Nishi, his faithful friend and loyal second; something can be learned from each character. And these give only a preemptive taste of the whole picture.
A diamond in the rough. Though its initial appearance may be filthy and unappealing, a little time and patience gives way to something truly remarkable.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 6, 2017
"Vatican Carrots!"
Look at all of the bad reviews. How many episodes have they seen? 1 or 2 episodes is undoubtedly not enough to give this anime a holistic and comprehensive review.
Don't let this anime's synopsis fool you. If you take this anime seriously, then its score of 3.91 will be no shock to you. But this anime is not meant to be taken seriously. Its story is actually just a background for the refreshingly candid and original humor. The animation and voice acting are deliberately this way to perfectly fit the anime's theme. It's just satirically hilarious.
Granted, its humor is not for everyone. Mahou Shoujo
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Naria Girls' humor is very particular, and it expects the audience to have some kind of prior understanding/experience with its type of humor. It's not at all a generic comedy, and it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea.
Each episode is kind of structured in a certain way. The three Naria girls start out in some situation, to which there is often some impromptu comedic conversation. They then encounter a monster, and this monster leads them to enact a scenario impromptu, and as a result of the spontaneity, hilarity ensues. I really cannot praise the voice actors enough. From what I saw, each of their comedic skits was almost totally impromptu, with maybe some minimal guide-lining to make sure that they at least advance the plot a little bit. To be able to come up with this kind of humor on the spot is pretty impressive.
There is also the "main" story, in which the Naria girls need to fill up their Naria power to defeat the evil Ice Queen. The story itself has its moments, and if the comedy was not included, then it might have had the potential to become a compelling short story. It truly wasn't a terrible story. Cliche, but decently interesting.
I think the main thing that is very off-putting at first is the art, animation, and conversational style. To me, it seemed like the voice actors were actually video-recorded, and then they were reskinned in production to become the anime characters. So as a result, the animation seems strange and it doesn't seem well-planned. Most of the time there isn't really animation at all, it's just a still picture with sound effects and a narrative voice-over. And at first, the unfamiliar comedy is a bit jarring because the girls tend to all talk at once with seemingly no direction and no script. But all of these things actually are what contribute so much to the humor: all of the comedy seems impromptu and very candid. The bad animation style, the random conversations; each piece deliberately emphasizes this anime's satirical nature.
Don't take this anime seriously. Don't watch it expecting an emotional, inspiring story. Don't watch it expecting the battle scenes to blow you away with beautiful animation. Don't watch it expecting to learn a deeper moral lesson than its surface implies.
If you want a laugh, and if you want some quality, refreshing, candid humor, this is the anime to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 21, 2016
"These types of wounds will heal with a little spit."
This review is for the entire series.
Major, to me, is arguably one of the best anime ever created. Its story is truly paralleled by no other. Watching Major is like being gently yet purposefully guided along a path filled with twists, bends, steep inclines, and difficult obstacles, but the experiences along the way will be remembered for the rest of your life. I have a special place in my heart for Honda Gorou, the main character throughout this series. After watching all there is to watch, all 6 seasons, both OVAs, and the movie, I'm left
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with an empty, resounding ache that never wants to let Gorou go.
The story follows the life of Honda Gorou, from his nursery school days in the first season all the way up to his mid-thirties in the final OVA (Major: Message). This first season, from the very first episode, paints a perfect picture to give you a sense of what the entire anime is like. Baseball is the main theme, yes-- but Major transcends far beyond just an anime about sports. Even as a newbie to baseball, and even though I was unfamiliar with a lot of the baseball terms and game rules, it didn't hinder my understanding at all. Beyond just baseball, there are several impactfully developed themes that recur throughout the story, the most notable two of which are the values of family and teamwork. Yeah, it sounds so cliche and overdone-- but Major is special in its bitterly honest and emotionally personal portrayal of these values. In the end, it really feels like you yourself have struggled alongside Gorou, and through his experiences, you genuinely become closer to him as you may even learn a thing or two about life.
The art only gets better with each season, which also has something to do with their air dates. It's clear, smooth, and well-animated consistently throughout the series. You can get a bit picky with how the direction adult Gorou's hair is sweeped doesn't seem to move consistently with his head, but it's really quite trivial. It's also notable that most of the female characters look really similar, and some background male characters have poor facial designs, but it didn't detract too much from the story, personally. The sound is great too: I love all the OSTs and most of the OPs and EDs with the exception of the Season 4 OP. In Major, art and sound are both considered more than just a way to portray the story. They are treated as key components crucial to the story, intertwined in such a way that emotions become heightened and enjoyment is at its maximum potential.
In the end, I really enjoyed the story of Major, and the tremendous character growth of not only Gorou, but all of those around him who all face their own issues. They manage to overcome them with help from their own strength, but ultimately and mainly with inspiration from Gorou's warrior spirit. I honestly feel personally connected with Gorou. Throughout all 6 seasons, 2 OVAs, and the movie, I found myself cheering for him in times of adversity, crying with him in times of despair, and laughing with him in times of joy. He's become like a genuine friend who I truly care for. His charismatic passion for not just baseball, but also towards family, purposeful teamwork, and many other life values have marked a special spot in my heart that I will never forget.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 26, 2016
I stumbled upon this randomly, and since it was only 7 minutes long, I decided "What the heck, I'll watch this."
It's basically just a bunch of lines and abstract art across a wall next to a window. Honestly, it was pretty mesmerizing. The 7 minutes didn't feel that long, and the art and music combined was actually soothing in a way.
There wasn't really a story (unless you want to get really deep and philosophical with art) and no characters. It's just art and music.
Give this a watch if you have 7 minutes to spare. It's definitely not a waste of time, but it's also
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not something I would commend greatly.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 14, 2016
When I first began watching Whistle!, there were many things that could classify it as a bad anime. Granted, it is old, but the animation was very choppy and uncoordinated. The main character's voice actor was not the best either, and a lot of the lines were delivered without clear articulation and emotion. However, despite these, there was something about it that drew me in. Next thing I knew, I had finished the last episode and was craving more.
The story for Whistle! revolves around Kazamatsuri Shou, a 2nd-year junior high school student who has an unquenchable passion for soccer. Throughout the anime, most of these
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developments include him in some way, and it showcases his overall improvement in each part. Each soccer match and emotional bump all somehow work to bring him closer to maturity.
Unfortunately, the art was pretty bad. Yeah, it's a pretty old anime, and the animation should not be held to today's standards. But putting that aside, a lot of the animation was not smooth at all, and it seemed like it lacked in-betweens. Furthermore, some body proportions were off and physics seemed weird. Also, because it's old, the quality wasn't all that good, and backgrounds lacked detail. It didn't detract too much from my total enjoyment of the anime though, once I got used to it.
I have mixed feelings toward the sound. On the one hand, the voice acting was sub-par, and some sound effects were a little strange. Especially for the main character, a lot of words were slurred and emotion was definitely lacking. However, the actual music (opening, background music, and ending) was pretty good. The timing for background music was also solid, in that it enhanced each scene depending on the mood.
Character development is definitely one of Whistle!'s fortes. Other than the growth of the protagonist, all of those around him also mature in some way, shape, or form. Rather than solely focusing on Shou, every character, even the minor ones, receive a little treatment as well. That being said, these weren't executed to their full potentials, but the overall feeling was there.
I wholly enjoyed this anime. I don't know what made me enjoy it so much, given the average ratings I've given each aspect of the show, but I did. And I would be hard-pressed to put it in to words. Just watching Shou grow, and observing each step of the way, kind of made me feel like I was there with him, and relating to each of his struggles. The fact that he is such an altruistic, dedicated, and self-sufficient kid is just so heartwarming somehow. It really is difficult to describe.
Overall, the anime receives a 9. While poorly executed, the story and character development set a tone that evoked feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment. I hope that you will give this anime a chance, and perhaps, you can experience some of the mysterious enjoyment I felt.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 21, 2014
Hopefully this review can convince you to give this anime a chance, despite its low rating.
Natsuiro Kiseki is a combination of my favorite genres: slice of life and supernatural. It deals with a story of friendship, and this circle of four girls experiences a tremendous amount of growth and maturation throughout their summer adventures.
The story is amazing. I would even dare to say that it parallels that of Anohana. These four girls all start their journey as a circle of friends, but really not more than that. They have fun together, but they also argue and disagree on many things. Throughout the course of their
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last summer vacation together, they experience a wide variety of supernatural occurrences that causes them to become even closer friends. They grow up from acting like children and transition into adulthood, with a mindset of understanding and acceptance.
Some may argue that the story isn't well written, due to the second half of episode two (you'll know it when you get there), and several other awkward developments. However, I believe that the values of friendship that this anime teaches far overrides those scenes. I am judging the anime holistically, so I can only speak for the overall effect of the story, which was amazing. These scenes were not bad either; they added weight to the importance of friendship, and increased the connection between the watcher and these four girls. As a whole, this anime taught a profound lesson about friendship and selflessness that is far greater than a few weird scenes.
The art for this anime is absolutely stunning. I mean, completely brilliant. Every little detail in the art is picked up and magnified even further. The dancing scenes, the flowing hair, the magic-- it all just works beautifully and harmoniously. Everything is smooth, and the art style is great; everyone and everything is properly proportioned, and looks normal.
The sound is just as incredible as the art. Just search up the OP or ED! The soundtracks are all beautiful, and the amount of background music in this anime is appropriate. It always matches the mood, and serves to intensify the situation, and not distract from it. I am especially obsessed with the OP because it is just amazing. The ED is just as breathtaking, if not more.
The character development is definitely where this anime shines. Each girl is unique, so much so that they don't really fit into a category at all. They each have their own special quirks and personalities. It just goes to show that best friends don't have to all be the same. As the story progresses, they all become closer, but at the same time, their characters become more and more different. They mature in their own directions.
I thoroughly enjoyed this anime. It dealt with issues in friendship that I'm sure a majority of us can relate to. From a few naive girls in the beginning to a close-knit group of best friends in the end, the characters completely transform.
This anime truly was a Summer-Colored Miracle.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Feb 7, 2014
Steins;Gate. Where do I begin this (very) belated review?
Steins;Gate was undoubtedly the best anime I have ever seen. It is a heart-wrenching suspenseful anime, with comedy, mystery, and romance. The story is a very unique one, basically dealing with time travel and the butterfly effect. From the moment I met Okabe Rintarou, the protagonist of this utterly phenomenal anime, I knew that I would not be able to leave my computer for a while. The art is fairly well done, as is the sound. The character development was absolutely amazing and captivated me for the entire duration of the anime. Finally, I completely enjoyed this
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anime to the fullest. The overall score for Steins;Gate is a 10.
Story: 10/10
There aren't many stories, let alone anime, that deal with time travel. Steins;Gate tackled that daunting topic and even managed to develop an interesting story line. Don't get me wrong: there were flaws here and there. However, eventually the good outweighed the few negatives. The episodes were all completely essential and included for a reason. Everything that happened was of significance. The first few episodes were a bit confusing to me, personally, but I stuck with it and I do not regret a single moment.
Art: 9/10
I'm not really in a position to criticize art (I'm a terrible artist), but if I really had to think about it, a 9 is the score I would give it. The characters were well-drawn, and really none of them looked crazy or un-human as in most other animes. Each one of them looked like they could have been a real person that existed. The art for nonliving objects was also very well-drawn. For example, the numerous machinery that is encountered contains a lot of detail. However, nothing really stood out to me as being absolutely stunning, resulting in this score of 9.
Sound: 9/10
The music in this anime was very fitting for each scene. If the moment was a heart-wrenching one, the right music would be playing. If the moment was a comedic one, the right music would be playing. Sound effects such as chirping cicadas or crashing sounds were all on point. Even so, there were several flaws, such as too much chirping or not enough music. In the end, however, the sound was very-well produced.
Character: 10/10
If I could have given the characters a score higher than 10, I definitely would have. The character development is what truly makes this anime such a masterpiece. Each character is important. There are absolutely no irrelevant characters. Each one is also unique, with their own quirks, flaws, and habits. Throughout the anime, each of them grows significantly, contributing to the development of such a great anime. They are all so different, yet all together as friends, mingling and letting their personalities clash in a way that makes them fit together. I could not imagine this anime with the loss of a single character. The character work was absolutely superb.
Enjoyment: 10/10
The plot of Steins;Gate and the storyline are incredibly well-written. My heart was extremely confused throughout this anime. At some points, it would be pumping with laughter, and others, weak and heavy with misery. I never knew what would happen next, and each moment was a new twist for me. The thought that was put into this anime is very admirable and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Steins;Gate is an absolutely amazing anime. If you do watch it, be prepared for a wild, emotional roller coaster. When you get off, though, you will regret nothing.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 29, 2012
Konjiki no Gash Bell was a very interesting anime in its own ways. There are many times of extreme laughter, as well as times when tears will fall. The storyline was pretty well-written and the characters were unique. Overall, I could only give it a 9/10 because many episodes were boring fillers (don't get me wrong, some fillers were actually pretty funny).
Story: 9/10
The story is a 9 because I've never seen one like it before. There are some pretty sudden twists in the story that kept it exciting and fun to watch. The fillers could be funny, but they were mostly pretty boring. Also, the
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ending was a bit obvious, so that's why I gave it only a 9.
Art: 9/10
I don't usually criticize art, but if I had to score it, it would definitely be 9. The reason being that for most of the characters, you definitely tell them apart. However, some characters are drawn poorly or they look unnatural so the final score is a 9.
Sound: 9/10
The sound for this anime was great. There was pretty good music overall and the character's voices matched the character's personality. The quality was not bad and the music was all very original, however the music could get a little repetitive at times.
Character: 9/10
As stated before, all the characters are unique and have special personalities. I think that they are all funny and a key part to the anime. There was definitely a lot of thought put into each individual character. Some are a little annoying or unnecessary, though.
Enjoyment: 8/10
Unfortunately, I could only give an 8 for my overall enjoyment because the fillers became very boring and tiring to watch. They were unnecessary sometimes and very repetitive. The action-packed episodes were great though, and some fillers were making me laugh out loud, literally.
Overall: 9/10
For the above reasons, I gave this anime an overall rating of 9/10. It was a very special anime to me and the ending was pretty exciting. The only part I really don't like is the ending that just leaves you hanging. Even so, I enjoyed this very much and I'm glad I decided to watch it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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