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Jan 30, 2025
I don't think the reviews fully do this anime justice, nor do they point out the immense faults this anime has.
Basically, this has a really good romance, and an amazing ending, with everything else just being solidly mediocre, or just plain stupid.
I will go down lists of positives and negatives (with thoughts mediocre parts included in the negatives).
Positives-
Grade A romance between Ikki & Stella:
This is probably the biggest draw to this entire anime. With each character actually gaining a decently well written romantic arc that concludes perfectly. I don't want to spoil it for you so I will be vague on their development. They are
...
a bit of a cliché of the "opposites attract" stereotype, but their growth throughout the anime is well done, and the ecchi scenes actually help to give them character development in a somewhat sensible manner, that doesn't feel forced.
Fun to watch fight scenes:
The fight scenes are really a big staple for this anime, and really give the MCs a lot of character. The combat really is exciting, and is worth watching every fight scene, since they are done really well.
Amazing ending:
If I had to put a rating based on endings, then this would probably be in my top 10 anime favorites. Definitely something many other animes really should strive to do better, and take notes from this. Again, I don't want to spoil the ending for you since its one of the main things to go watch this anime for, so I will not go any further, just know that it is really good.
Negatives-
Solidly mediocre outside of my listed positives:
Everything else is standard generic "zero-to-hero" sorta storyline with an MC that is somewhat looked down on due to their ability and not their capability in combat and a bunch of ladies who really like him. Same old school setting, and dumb melodrama that happens occasionally. Literally everything not in my positives is flat mediocre, or boring, case closed.
7/10, I don't dislike it, and I do enjoy the positive points massively, but obviously you should think about if the positives outweigh it's mediocrity if you are planning on watching this.
Hope this helps you decide whether to watch or not. Thanks for reading!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 29, 2025
is "The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World" Unique? Yes.
Fun? Most the time.
Bad? Not really.
A masterpiece? Lets not go that far.
Here’s a breakdown of my thoughts: the good, the bad, the mediocre, and what you should know before diving into this anime.
The Good:
Premise & Characters;
The premise is refreshingly unique, offering a concept I’ve never seen in another anime. It kicks off with a solid start and introduces a hilariously clueless main character nicknamed “Red.” His entire charm lies in his being a complete bonehead, paired with his ability to transform into a Power Ranger-style mecha.
Red crosses paths with a mage named
...
“Yihdra,” whom he befriends (somewhat forcefully). Yihdra serves as the voice of reason in their party, creating a dynamic driven by their contrasting personalities. Most of the humor stems from their antics, with Red playing the dumb, oblivious protagonist and Yihdra taking on the role of the smartass sidekick. It’s a classic “idiot MC and intelligent partner” trope, but their chemistry works well. Together, they drive a lighthearted story that balances comedy with some decent action sequences.
The Bad:
Basic Clichés & Tropes;
A large amount of the story elements are similar to many basic fantasy animes that release every year. Such as meeting royalty and becoming their protector, or the obvious trope testing the hero’s abilities to prove their worth. Adding onto the fact of this anime having a common "oops, I suggestively fell onto you in a almost sexual manner and everyone is now looking at us" or "I said a somewhat easy to misunderstand statement, so people believe we are in a relationship now" sorta clichés. While these tropes don’t ruin the story, they make parts of the anime feel predictable and overly familiar.
The Mediocre:
Comedy;
The comedy is hit or miss—there’s no middle ground. When it works, it’s genuinely funny. When it doesn’t, it falls flat and can feel forced.
What to know before starting:
This anime is primarily a comedy with fantasy action elements. The humor takes center stage, while the action and Isekai themes are secondary. If you’re expecting a serious action-packed series, you might want to adjust your expectations. Think of it as a comedy with Power Rangers-inspired action sprinkled into an Isekai world.
6.75/10 – Pretty decent so far, but it could be much better if the comedy were more consistent.
Thanks for reading!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 26, 2025
Not bad, and not amazing, and doesn't necessarily stand out.
"I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths!", is just another generic anime this season, but it is a good generic anime with less faults than a lot of other anime that get shoveled out every season. This is without a doubt a very watchable anime that you will probably think is generic, but a decent generic anime with some charm.
If you’re in a rush, skip to the TL;DR at the end for a quick summary of my thoughts. If you’ve got the time, let’s dig into the details.
Characters:
The characters
...
are predictable and mostly fall into the usual fantasy genre stereotypes, but they’re not bad. Their personalities are likable, though far from unique—they’re essentially class-based caricatures (healer, tank, DPS, etc.). This is especially true for the antagonists, aka the party the MC left (or more accurately, got kicked out of). They embody the overused trope of blaming the support class for everything:
"Why is the party struggling with health and mana issues? Must be the support class MC’s fault for not attacking enough!"
"Let’s replace him and hope that fixes everything—oh wait, it didn’t."
While these stereotypes make the characters predictable, they don’t ruin the show. They generally work well enough here to keep things entertaining.
Story:
The story so far is episodic, with each episode focusing on dungeon dives, monster hunts, or various quests. Occasionally, the show slows down to give us more backstory through casual team conversations during rest periods, almost like a slice-of-life anime moment. It’s reasonably enjoyable, with fun team dynamics and antics keeping things interesting.
That said, nothing so far really differentiates this anime from the sea of other fantasy-action series. It’s a solid but standard setup—three episodes in, there’s nothing truly unique or surprising. With 24 episodes planned, there’s still room for the story to grow into something more compelling, but for now, it’s just fine.
Art:
The art and animation are pretty underwhelming. Battle scenes often lack proper animation, with things like a static white sword swipe used to show an enemy being defeated, rather than animating the actual sword swing. The character designs are similarly basic—serviceable, but not at all unique or eye-catching. It’s fine for what it is, but don’t expect anything visually impressive.
TL;DR & Final Thoughts:
This anime isn’t bad, but it’s not amazing or unique either. It’s a decent, watchable show that might be worth a binge once all 24 episodes are out. For now, though, there are better options airing this season if you’re looking for something truly engaging or exciting.
If you’re short on time, I’d recommend watching something more unique, like Solo Leveling, or catching up on older anime you’ve been meaning to watch. While this isn’t a bad anime, there are simply better choices out there.
Anyways, it's a solid 6.75/10 for me, and is a decent anime.
Hope this review helps you decide whether it’s worth checking out. Thanks for reading!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 21, 2025
TLDR: This is "Slop", and that's pretty much the nicest thing I can say about it. Watch something better like Frieren, or something critically acclaimed, or something that actually feels good to watch, and is not something you have to force yourself to watch to get to the fourth episode.
Now to be more elaborate on that point.
1. This is generic, cliché riddled, brain-melting slop of an anime:
You watch this if you want to fry your dopamine receptors in your brain, or if your brain is already deep fried and can withstand the generic time wasting anime that comes on every season.
2. Waste of time:
I kid
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you not, please watch something that isn't generic, and has memorable characters, like Violet Evergarden, or Frieren. There is just a wide influx of animes that you could watch over this and get far more enjoyment for your time spent. This anime isn't even horrible, it's just dumb cliche slop to watch this season.
3. Generic:
The characters are like every single generic "WOW, I HAVE A GODLIKE SKILL AND I AM OVERPOWERED" type of MAL rated ~6.0 or lower rated anime that comes out every season. Characters are feel like cardboard cutouts, and that is an insult to cardboard, like every encounter feels like dumb melodrama in a system of even dumber drama and forced plot.
Good:
1. First two episodes were alright.
2. battles are somewhat interesting.
4/10, It is not unwatchable, but this is slop. So, yeah, I am urging you to not watch this, since there's so many better animes to watch instead.
(Thanks for reading, hope this makes you choose something fun to watch [unlike this anime])
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Dec 26, 2024
"You are Ms. Servant" is an amazing anime, but it has some problems holding it down.
By no means is this a bad anime, but these problems may stop some viewers from wanting to get into this anime
Firstly I will lay out the positives, then I will go to the negatives.
Positives:
1. Yuki:
Amazing characterization and personality, she is entirely what holds this anime up. All other characters have almost no elaborate personality compared to her, with the closest ones being other assassins. This is both a bad and good thing, since it means that this anime has an amazing character, with the negative that no other
...
comes close to Yuki's charm and likability (I'll get back to this later).
2. Slow Passionate Romance:
When there's really good romance, it's almost perfect. The slow and mellow mood in some of these romance scenes make this anime an absolute treat to watch. This is a romance done right, well somewhat (I'll get to that later as-well).
Negatives:
1. Male MC "Hitoyoshi", is a very mediocre male lead:
This isn't to do with much besides that he is a very blank slate character. Most of his personality is just a copy paste of most other generic romance MCs with a slightly tragic backstory. He doesn't gain much in terms of personality as the season progresses, which is a very large shame, since he could've been improved upon as the season has gone by to show character development. He seems to be a character meant to be a blank slate so that he could be a self insert character for which the viewer could sorta push themselves in the shoes of that character. There is a problem with that, and it is the fact that it makes romantic development feel obnoxiously slow and inorganic sometimes. Not only that but the male MC is very immature and childish, even at the age of 16, where people tend to start acting more mature. This is where the main problem is with the entire anime, the male MC is immature, which makes the development between him and Yuki feel off, which is a shame since all it needed to do is tone down the immaturity, and this anime could be a masterpiece. But when you even compare the amount of characterization between Yuki and Hitoyoshi, you will realize that they have much less effort put into everyone else besides Yuki, which is also a small issue in it's own way.
2. Distance between romance:
This is a somewhat big annoyance. This anime's strong suit is the very happy romantic scenes revolving around Yuki and Hitoyoshi, the problem is that this isn't displayed enough. This is the anime's bread and butter, it's weird how it doesn't actually use it's best content to the capabilities that it could. Most of the other content here is very much uninteresting in comparison to the romance, which is also probably a fault of the anime in some regards.
3. The Ending:
The ending is one of the most mediocre and unsatisfying conclusions for an anime, I think I've ever watched. It really is an unsatisfactory ending, that really doesn't even try to conclude anything decently, it just feels like a cut off ending. I really hope there's a season two, since this ending is very poor, and I am hoping to believe that this was just meant to put off this anime for a second season.
4. The Animation:
This anime has some very inconsistent artwork across the entire season. Some scenes are immaculate, and look amazing, others look very low budget and cheap. This anime really deserved better artwork than this, and this is a big shame.
7.5/10, I think it's pretty good, but obviously, its up to you to make the choice to watch this or not, and I hope my review can help you decide that.
{Thanks for reading!}
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 22, 2024
Is MF Ghost Season 2 Better Than Season 1? Sure.
Is it better than Initial D? Not even close.
Is it bad? Not in my opinion, but I feel I should lay out the problems and let you be the judge.
Since MF Ghost is the successor to Initial D, it makes sense to compare the two. Initial D is one of my all-time favorite anime, and it sets a high bar.
Let’s break this down, starting with the negatives before moving to the positives.
(Note: It’s far easier to explain this anime’s faults than its strengths, so expect more detail in the negatives.)
The Negatives:
...
Where’s the Maturity?:
One thing that made Initial D stand out was its raw, mature vibe, even as a PG-13 show. It didn’t shy away from edgy humor, innuendos, or showing characters doing things like smoking or cracking jokes about relationships. This gritty realism made the world feel grounded. You believed these were real teens and adults living their lives, making dumb decisions, and thriving in a world of street racing.
MF Ghost? It feels like it’s aimed at 8-year-olds who just watched Skibidi Toilet. Its attempts at “mature” humor are embarrassing. You have the MFG girls parading in tight outfits, which feels more stupid than an actual addition to the story since they are only there for fan service. Then there’s a driver whose entire personality revolves around dating minors—yes, you read that right. It’s creepy, unnecessary, and gross. Instead of enhancing the story, these moments derail it and distract from the racing, which should be the focus of this anime.
Flat Characters, Flat Story:
Let’s talk about Kanata. He’s supposed to be the next Takumi Fujiwara, but he’s boring. Unlike Takumi, who started as an uninterested delivery boy and grew through grit and unexpected challenges, Kanata starts off as a pro. Why? Because Takumi trained him off-screen. That’s it. He’s overpowered from the start, and the only thing holding him back is his car. The writers skipped character development entirely, slapping on a generic “driving school backstory” instead of giving him a meaningful arc to gain his own experiences.
Takumi was compelling because he was human. He didn’t care about racing initially—it was something he got dragged into. Watching him grow as a driver and person was half the fun. Kanata, on the other hand, feels like he’s just there to win races, making his journey feel empty.
The supporting cast doesn’t fare any better. Most of the characters are bland cardboard cutouts without unique personalities or motivations. Initial D’s rivals stood out—Ryosuke was the calm tactician, Keisuke had fiery determination, and even side characters brought unique energy to their races. In MF Ghost, rival drivers barely register; they’re just there to lose to Kanata in increasingly predictable ways.
And the supporting cast? The girls exist solely to cheer Kanata on or serve as eye candy. They have no depth, no personality, and no real purpose. You realize quickly that most of these characters are boring, shallow, and forgettable.
Racing Is Heavily Drawn Out:
I touched on this in my Season 1 review, but it bears repeating. Each race in MF Ghost drags on endlessly. Whether it’s a qualification lap, a test lap, or a full race, you’re looking at anywhere from 2 to 6 episodes per race. Compare that to Initial D, where most races wrapped up in 1–3 episodes. The pacing in MF Ghost is atrocious. Scenes are bloated with filler, stretching races unnecessarily. While some argue the different style of racing justifies this, I think it’s more about producers milking the source material. More episodes = more seasons = more money.
Here’s how episodes break down:
40%: Filler racing where nothing happens.
20%: Meaningful racing where a racer’s position changes.
40%: Announcers providing pointless commentary or MFG Girls updating the leaderboard while tossing out random, unneeded facts about themselves (usually sexual or date-related).
The focus on fan service over racing is frustrating for a car racing anime.
The Racing Is Super Unrealistic:
Kanata’s Toyota GR86 is supposedly “modified” to make it competitive, but the anime doesn’t bother explaining these modifications in detail. There’s vague talk about “suspension changes,” but no real details. Later (tiny spoiler), a turbo upgrade gives it 100 extra horsepower, but even then, it’s absurd to believe this car can keep up with Ferraris or Lamborghinis, which have far superior horsepower, advanced ABS systems, and expert drivers.
In Initial D, when Bunta upgraded Takumi’s AE86, he explained the changes (such as changing the engine in the AE86), grounding the story in a sense of realism. MF Ghost skips all of that and asks us to believe a GR86 with minimal horsepower can magically compete with modern supercars.
Adding to this is the unrealistic depiction of the cars. Tight corners at ~60mph (~90kph) in the rain without sliding? Even with good tires, that’s impossible.
Lastly, the Romance:
The romance is awful. Ren, the supposed love interest, is a bland, basic tsundere stereotype. Her entire personality revolves around being jealous while secretly wanting Kanata. Every scene with her feels like filler, especially when her inner monologues interrupt the races.
Even Initial D handled romance better. Mogi and Takumi’s relationship took a backseat to the racing, which was the right call. Nobody watches these shows for romance, so why waste time on half-baked love stories?
The Positives:
Better Than Season 1:
This season is a significant improvement over the first. The races in the latter half of the season are much better and feel closer to the latter seasons of Initial D (Stage 5 and Final Stage). While I still dislike the announcers, romance, and Ogata's worries, these issues are less frequent in the latter half of the season.
Eurobeat:
The Eurobeat is solid—nothing more, nothing less. Some tracks are from Initial D, while others are new. The older tracks are still fantastic, and the newer ones, though less memorable, are decent.
Character Improvements:
The characters have improved somewhat since Season 1. Kanata feels more notable and realistic, particularly in the latter portion of Season 2, where his aggressive driving contrasts nicely with his kind demeanor outside of races. Even Ogata is more tolerable this season, showing some character growth and understanding of the GR86’s faults and has a desire to actually rectify them.
7/10 – Definitely watchable, but you’re better off re-watching Initial D, at-least in my opinion.
A good step up from MF Ghost Season 1, but still not beating any of the Initial D Stages.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 19, 2024
Good, but Quite Disappointing
I wouldn’t say “don’t watch this,” but I do believe “365 Days to the Wedding” sets up expectations it doesn’t fully meet. The initial episodes suggest the characters will be unique and decently well-developed. And while I wouldn’t call them generic, the anime has its fair share of flaws. To help you decide if this is worth your time, I’ll break down the issues before delving into its strengths.
Here’s the main list of problems:
• Melodrama
• Slow Pacing & Lack of Character Development
• A Weird and Goofy Premise
Here’s the main list
...
of what's good:
• The Characters
• The Romance
• Great Ending
Let’s start with the issues:
1. Melodrama:
One of the most glaring issues is the overuse of melodrama. While some tension is expected given the story’s setup—two introverts faking a relationship to avoid being transferred abroad—it quickly becomes overwhelming. Rika and Takuya, as quiet, introspective characters, naturally lend themselves to moments of internal and external conflict. However, the drama is so exaggerated that it feels relentless. Nearly every episode features anxiety-driven misunderstandings or situations that threaten to break them up, over and over again.
This constant cycle of “Will they split up?” becomes tiresome, especially since the anime is not marketed as a full-blown drama. The original manga handled these themes with more subtlety, and the heightened dramatics here seem more like a ploy to keep viewers hooked rather than an organic extension of the story. The result? A show that’s often more exhausting than engaging.
2. Slow Pacing & Lack of Character Development:
The pacing compounds the problem. Too much time is spent on the repetitive “should they break up?” drama, leaving little room for meaningful character development. Episodes are bogged down with internal monologues and melodramatic moments, which limits opportunities for Rika and Takuya to grow as individuals or as a couple.
By the end of the series, it’s hard not to feel like their relationship lacks substance. The anime rarely delves into their personal thoughts or shared experiences that could help viewers understand their bond. What could have been a heartfelt exploration of two introverts finding comfort and connection in one another instead feels superficial. The show desperately needed more moments of genuine interaction and mutual growth to strengthen the core relationship.
3. A Weird and Goofy Premise:
Finally, the premise itself is odd—almost laughable. The idea that a company would threaten employees with transfers to remote locations like Alaska unless they are married seems absurd. While this might reflect a heightened, more comical, version of corporate culture in Japan, it’s still hard to take seriously.
Moreover, the fact that no one at their company questions this setup or resigns en masse is equally ridiculous. It’s clear the premise exists as a plot device to kickstart the story, but it stretches believably to its breaking point. Instead of grounding the narrative, it undermines it, leaving the whole setup feeling contrived and somewhat lazy.
Onto the Good:
1. The Characters:
When the focus shifts from drama to characterization, the anime truly shines. These are the moments when Rika and Takuya come alive as characters. When their backstories, hobbies, and personalities are explored, the depth and charm of their relationship start to show.
Rika’s love of maps and Takuya’s collection of spices from around the world add layers to their personalities, making them somewhat relatable (In their odd way). These moments of personal expression are when the anime is at its best, offering glimpses of what could have been a much better narrative if the anime did this more often.
2. The Romance:
The romance, despite its uneven execution, is one of the stronger aspects. While I disliked the long stretches between romantic moments, the connection between Rika and Takuya feels authentic when the anime delves into their shared interests and quirks.
Their relationship showcases how people with unique and sometimes odd hobbies can bond, creating moments of genuine development. When they show each other how they have fun or share what they collect, it highlights their growth as a couple.
3. The Ending:
The ending is really good, and ends the anime perfectly. By far the best episode in the entire anime, and definitely showcases how good this anime can be when it has good pacing and great character development, which closes this anime out nicely.
365 Days to the Wedding is still a somewhat mixed bag. It has potential, but the overblown drama, slow pacing, and weak character development hold it back. If you’re willing to overlook its flaws for the unique premise and moments of charm, its still worth a watch.
7/10, I personally enjoyed it, even with the problems, but it really depends on if you would like to watch a lot of melodrama to get to a great closing episode.
[Thanks for reading!]
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 20, 2024
Not bad, not amazing, and kind of weird.
This is not a bad anime by any means, I have watched much worse than this, but there's also some much better anime then this too, and definitely ones that are less weird.
Let me elaborate on each point.
The Good:
1. Really good animation quality for such an obscure anime, it's animation is really crisp, and bold, if can understand that. I almost find it to be a waste being used on this anime since it's so good.
2. The story is somewhat bland & cliché and feels like a lot of this is a small harem, considering the few women
...
who like to follow the MC around. Now that isn't a forced plot point to this anime, more so it is a side detail, with the MC mainly just being another OP reincarnated MC who fights and protects his village. However, believe this; The MC actually has some values, and isn't a total sad loser or an awful douchebag?! Which is surprisingly rare with this type of anime for some reason. The story has a decent plot, which doesn't drag out, and the pacing is decent as well. The characters are a bit cliché, but they are good since they actually get a personality and are understandable in their actions and beliefs, with the MC having a good backstory to aid it all.
The Bad:
The positives, sometimes are the negatives. This is bland & cliché, so no matter the fact that I find this to be enjoyable, the story is something that could be put together by grabbing 6 reincarnation animes and shoving them into a blender, and filtering out the mediocre characterizations that you sometimes get. I wouldn't watch this if you have some other animes you have been looking at watching, since this is really just more of the same, with a little better animation and characters. That said, if you are bored, this is actually decent enough to keep you entertained, just keep in mind it isn't unique or magically special compared to anything else.
The Ugly (aka, Weird):
For some reason drinking in this anime revolves around milk. Now that wouldn't be anything I would care about, BUT for this anime it revolves around half human animals (see where I am going?), and the local drinking place is just a place where you drink a half cow/human's breast milk, which is also somebody's wife, and their daughter also gives out her milk too, see where I am going? This is kinda weird, and I agree with others that this seems like a disguised fetish of some kind. That said I don't think it ruins an entire anime over a 2 minute scene, but I wish that the producers would've just cut the scene entirely since it added almost nothing besides a moment to scratch your head and think "Why am I watching an anime where people drink a half human/cow's breast milk".
6.5/10, truly a milky experience.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Nov 10, 2024
Not horrible, but still not recommendable.
"Atri: My Dear Moments" is an anime that really could've been good, but always came across as being a somewhat poor adaptation, plus it misses a lot of the earlier episode charm that made the anime good in the first place.
Lets start off with the good.
1. Good animation:
Visually, this anime is a win. The animation is smooth and vibrant, with real attention to detail. Unlike many low-budget animes that cut corners on backgrounds and character movement, this one actually looks like some effort went into it. Props to the animators for making it look this good.
2. Great episodes (For the
...
most part):
The first six episodes are actually pretty strong. They’re well-paced, the characters feel fleshed out, and the story is cohesive. Plus, the romance isn’t overly forced, which is a nice change. These episodes really had me interested, and I thought the show was setting up something good.
Well that's it for positives from me... Onto the negatives
1. Missteps in Character and Romance, and a wish that it adapted a different route from the VN: (Here's a long one)
One of the major issues with Atri: My Dear Moments is its choice to make Atri the romantic lead despite her characterization being built around the “loli” trope—a divisive feature in anime. I don’t usually mind characters with a youthful appearance, as it’s a common anime style, and it can work when handled maturely. However, in this case, it’s hard to ignore how uncomfortable it feels. Atri doesn’t just look young; she’s written with the behavior and mannerisms of someone who’s basically a preteen, making it unsettling when the show pushes her as the protagonist’s love interest.
Compare this with Isla from "Plastic Memories." Isla has a similar appearance to Atri, but she’s portrayed with emotional depth and a mature outlook that makes her romance with the main character feel more genuine and less problematic. Atri, on the other hand, stays in this immature, comic-relief role throughout, which only highlights how strange it feels when the anime tries to build her up as a love interest. It’s a tough pill to swallow and is likely to turn off a lot of viewers who prefer their romance characters to feel age-appropriate and emotionally developed.
Continuing on, Atri’s comic-relief personality and childlike innocence make her work well as a fun, side character, but when she’s placed in a romantic context, it clashes awkwardly. Usually, when a character like this transitions into a love interest, they gain a bit more emotional depth or maturity to make the relationship feel genuine, but here, Atri stays in the same immature, playful role. This lack of growth or adjustment only highlights the discomfort, as her behavior doesn’t align with the romantic angle the story tries to sell.
In contrast, Minamo—the protagonist’s childhood friend—would’ve made a much stronger romantic lead. She has a maturity and emotional depth that could have balanced the main character’s journey, making the romance feel more grounded and believable. Shifting the romance to Minamo would’ve let Atri shine in her role as comic relief without forcing her into an awkwardly mismatched romance.
5/10, While it’s not a bad anime, I can’t say it’s one I’d recommend. It has its good moments and some solid animation, but it ultimately doesn’t deliver on its potential that I once saw in it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Sep 30, 2024
I'm not the type to absolutely hate something very often, but when I do, it's overrated garbage-heap anime that are generic but try to be different, but then do the exact same formula as all other basic reversed roles action fantasy anime.
"Wistoria: Wand and Sword" is mainly bad since it had potential, some of the best anime are ruined by their unrealized potential by the original Manga/Light-Novel authors or by the main director of the anime adaptation. I'll be honest, I never read the manga for this anime, and I hope that the manga is different from this anime, since this has immense potential that
...
I never seen fully utilized.
I will start with the good:
1. Great Animation and Fight Scenes:
The animation is, without a doubt, superb. Whether it's the dynamic fight sequences or the meticulous detail of each setting, the art does an excellent job of setting the mood and immersing the viewer. I have to commend the team for this—it’s visually engaging and fluid, especially during the battles.
And... well, that’s where the praise ends.
1. Cliches, Tropes, and Generic Personalities:
Wistoria feels like a mishmash of every overused shounen fantasy trope thrown into a blender, and the result is something that’s both unoriginal and frustrating. This is like a smoothie, but you put in a bunch of weird ingredients to try and be different, and one of those ingredients spoils the entire drink and ruins the enjoyment from it's consumption. In essence, this means that this is just an MC that's just shoved into another environment to just be different, not to make an interesting story.
Lets think this over first eh? The MC is a sword-fighter who dreams of becoming a wizard, but he’s completely inept at magic. So why is he enrolled in a magic academy that emphasizes magical combat? It makes no sense. His teachers acknowledge that while he’s intelligent, he’s not suited for battle magic. They even suggest he’d excel as a theoretical mage, focusing on research or writing instead of combat.
To put it in simpler terms: it’s like a high school teacher who’s great at explaining physics but can’t conduct groundbreaking experiments themselves. They might be excellent at teaching concepts, but that doesn’t mean they should be competing with top-tier physicists on actual experiments.
The problem here is that the MC’s situation feels contrived and lazy. He doesn’t really evolve as a mage; he remains primarily a sword-fighter throughout. So why is he at a magic school rather than a school for swordsmanship?
2. Horribly Generic Characters:
The characters are just as lackluster. The protagonist, your typical “poor-but-kind” underdog, gets bullied because of his lack of magical prowess but somehow scrapes by due to his sword skills (plot armor, anyone?). He’s essentially a stock “different but special” character we've seen many times before. His struggles don’t add depth; they just feel like a rehash of familiar tropes.
Then we have the school’s antagonists, a parade of copy-paste arrogant mages who look down on non-magical people. Their disdain is so over-the-top that they feel less like characters and more like caricatures. It’s lazy writing that manufactures cheap melodrama instead of creating compelling conflict. These antagonists are insufferable not because of clever writing, but because they’re predictable and one-dimensional.
3. Could've Been Better:
This critique applies mostly to the characters. They all come off as one-dimensional and lack the depth needed to make them truly engaging. Are they the worst I’ve ever seen? No, not by a long shot. But the characters, much like the rest of the show, feel limited and underdeveloped. Because of this, I can’t recommend Wistoria to the average viewer—there are simply too many better shows out there that offer more in every category.
5/10, Wish it was better.
[Thanks for reading!]
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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