Back to Nutmeg_Juice's Profile Nutmeg_Juice's Profile

This movie is what you would expect from a MHA movie. It centers around the lovable and diverse cast of characters, all in a self-contained arc of heroism and villainy. I walked into this movie expecting well animated action scenes mixed in with fun character interactions and dynamics. The movie did indeed match my expectations in that regard.

Story: 7
Not the strongest aspect of this movie, as it was pretty predictable and cookie-cutter for a movie about heroes. The plot can be basically boiled down into good guys hitting bad guys - which pretty much completely sums up the content of this show. Not all ... is as mundane as I am making it sound though, as the movie also contains some narrative points involving All Might that I'm certain many would find interesting. Additionally, there were some genuinely thoughtful and cute scenes scattered throughout which stands out amidst the simple (but by no means bad) storyline.

Art: 9
Yet again, this is the same art style we are used to seeing with the TV series. It doesn't seem like any extra effort or time was put into the drawing and framing of each shot. The art was great to begin with, so no complaints here. We got more of what we already love. Oh, and I can't talk about art without mentioning the fight scenes. I'm not going to spoil anything - but trust me they seem to have went the extra mile with those.

Sound: 9
The classic MHA soundtrack. I think most, if not all of the OST is used somewhere in this movie. Once again, the OST is great. So no complaints here either.

Character: 8
Not all the characters from Class 1-A is focused on in this movie, which is reasonable considering that it may turn out to be an animation and narrative nightmare for the staff over at BONES to include and do justice to so many of the characters we know and have grown attached to over time. The movie still faces this problem of no real 'character development' and I use this term loosely because it can be argued that there is. However, the point I'm trying to convey is that nothing much in this movie is consequential in affecting the wider narrative. The movie chooses to base the character's conversations on pre-established character dynamics instead. With a weaker cast of characters, this may prove to be a problem. But due to the sheer charisma and good pre-established relationships, this doesn't serve to be much of a problem in this film.

Enjoyment: 9
I got to watch this movie in a Japanese cinema, which definitely played a part in affecting my enjoyment of it. The characters were fun to watch, the fight scenes were exciting and clever, and the fan-service uh... was there (it honestly got to the point where it was straight out cringy at times for me, but I'm sure people would enjoy it nonetheless) - what more could you ask for.

TL;DR
My Hero Academia The Movie, is by no means groundbreaking or remotely close to it. It is pure fun. If you like the series already; watch this movie. And if you don't; you shouldn't go into this one expecting it to be any different.

Beautifully melancholic, and deeply thought-provoking.

Kuzu no Honkai – most people will either love it or hate it, since it’s definitely a polarizing anime to say the least. Personally, I’m in love. Here’s why:

(Please note that this review only reflects my opinions of the show up till episode 4, as it is when I am writing it.)

Story – (10)
If you’re going into this anime expecting a straight-forward, innocent romance – don’t. The premise is nothing special and is well summed by a few lines in the synopsis. However, the execution is what makes it really shine through amongst other “romance” anime’s. Most of ... the story is told through memories and thoughts of characters, and is specially written to invoke thought into the viewer. The story focuses heavily on the physical side of love rather than the emotional side which other anime’s tend to do. Recurring themes throughout the anime are loneliness, emptiness and guilt, which are are used to contrast the story’s dark portrayals of desires and lust to great effect. With that said, I really appreciate the more “intimate” scenes in this anime as they are not there just for the sake of being there . They effectively serve as a storytelling tool to provide us with more insight in the minds of the characters, and the unsettling side of human desires.

At this point, if you have not interested in the story whatsoever – I can confidently say you will not enjoy this series. But if you find this take on romance interesting, please read on.


Art – (9)
Graciously monotone. In general, the animation and style throughout is very consistent and always enhances the feelings the particular scene is trying to create. The heavy use of imagery and shifts in tones are also things that really stand out to me. Another noteworthy feature is how the different types of framing (literally the diameter of the screen) and the use of comic panels, oddly enough; add to the dramatic effect of the scenes in a way that is elegantly done.


Sound – (8)
What can I say? I am absolutely in love with the opening and closing of this anime – it sets the mood just right, before, and even after the anime. The repetitive use of silence is a clever move, as it helps to bring out the sense of loneliness and emptiness which greatly contrast the story. Due to this, when it needs to, even the slightest dramatic sound effect is amplified significantly due to the silence that trails it. However, the sound in some scenes are too typical and don’t really add much to the scene. But in general, it was handled pretty well.


Characters – (7)
I’m certain that this score will increase as the series goes on. We as the viewer gradually learn more about each character with every passing episode when their layers start to peel off. I hope the characters will be fully developed by the time this series comes to a close. But for now, most of the characters are decently well developed, and we more or less have acquired a glimpse of their past through through each one of their eyes by the end of Episode 4. The majority of the characters are interesting in their own way, and really have to be experienced rather than described by me. With that said, this series has solid characters, although some require more development to work.


Enjoyment – (10)
Coming someone who appreciates darker themes in anime, I can say that this series really executes it to my liking; I enjoyed every second of this series so far and certainly hope it continues down this path. Although, I can see why others might not enjoy this anime too. For one, the characters aren’t really the best people – sure they might be compelling, but they are far from innocent. Secondly, the dark themes of this anime might leave certain viewers in an uneasy state which would make it far from enjoyable if they were looking for a typical high school romance. Nonetheless, this is my type of anime.


Overall – (9)
It is a great pleasure watching a series that is so self-aware of its core message – and has proven to what extent it will go to convey it. Kuzu no Honkai is not a perfect anime, but is certainly worth taking a look at.

I am patiently waiting for the next episode… :)