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Sep 30, 2021
This show is the epitome of boring slop. I really tried to push all the way through this anime but I found myself putting the dub on for the last two episodes I watched and barely paying attention. This show would be much better off if it didn't contain the absolute horrendous love plot that it does. The characters aren't memorable at all. The music is average. The visuals for TRIGGER are beyond sub par to me. Genuinely disappointed I did not like this series at all because I was excited to start it. Don't watch this.
I wanted to end my review here but MAL
...
requires that reviews be a certain length. Well I'm not sure what else to write other than visceral comments. This show sucks ass. Like serious ass.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Sep 27, 2021
Wow. I can't believe I've had this series in my PTW for so long and just now managed to watch it. I don't really want to get too technical so I will just list the things I like and then hit my minor "grievances".
The sound is amazing. The eurobeats of this series are incredible. I dare say Initial D is my favorite soundtrack of all time. I can't help but bop my head when the races kick off. It's like I enter a trance! Superb.
The characters are all goofy in their own way. I absolutely love Takumi as an MC. Seeing someone go from feeling
...
mundane about something to passionate really hits home bc of the time in my life I am in - grasping for motivation. It makes me want to rev my engine, shift my gears, and get in the race. Itsuki is pretty comical and I absolutely LOVED the "girl drama" this show added. Sure... it a was a little much and over the top at points (looking at you Mako)... but i feel like the aspects really helped the series feel fun.
The story is fun and energetic. Kid gradually learns he's good at racing and enjoys it, then he smokes the pants off of every established street racer in the area. Not a complex plot at all but damn fun to partake in.
The show also has spurred my interest in racing, and I plan on downloading Forza again to tear of some asphalt lol.
The only negatives of this show are its art/animation. The races are 99% CGI. The crowds don't move at all. There are a TON of still frames. So this series looks pretty bad on a surface level. That being said... it didn't hamper my enjoyment of the series at all. Substance over style I suppose (even though this show has tons of spunk).
So should you watch Initial D first stage? Hell yeah. Do you like sports anime? Hard to imagine you won't like the atmosphere the show sets. Do you appreciate the soundtrack in different anime? This show will stick out like a sore thumb in the most amazing way imaginable.
I'm excited to watch the rest of this series as I know there are many more installments. Season one has already cemented itself in my top ten. I hope that Initial D gives you the same impression it did to me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 3, 2021
This is an interesting review to write. I remember when this anime was airing weekly and scoffing at how horrendous it looked. I only watched this because my friend was on some kind of weird bend and wanted to specifically watch this show. We started it... and I HATED the first four episodes. This show was going to receive a steady 4/10 for how shitty it started out. However, upon completion, this series actually had some promise.
---Story---
The story follows Caiman who has lost his humanity I guess? Anyway he has no memory and is looking for who killed him. We get to know his friends
...
and all and they go off to the wizarding world of harry potter. Honestly.... we don't really learn much in this single cour of anime. We learn the back stories of a few characters and reasons for their aims... but thats about it. Sadly the relationship between the hole and wizard world isn't fleshed out and we are left in a rather weird spot plot wise. I just wish more would have occurred. For a 12 episode season though it wasn't bad. I am SO RELIEVED that this story got better as time progressed. It honestly just felt like a good guy vs bad guy thing from the beginning. The magic looked kinda dumb and the characters were just lame. The show fixed many of those things and I will give credit where it is due. The story is definitely above average but it is hard to decide how far above average it really is. The show roped me in with the last 4 episodes and I will definitely be finishing this story... most likely with manga.
Story Score: 7 (Good)
---Art---
There are some scenes that look like flat out garbage (the first half of this cour) and then other scenes that look much better. The show really did turn me off in the beginning. The CGI was wackkkkk. Luckily the show also increased in quality in this realm as well. Not sure if more attention to detail and budget were poured into the latter half but i'm not complaining. Glad the whole ride wasn't a shit show. It's definitely not an average looking show. It sometimes even used CGI to its advantage.
Art Score: 6 (Fine)
---Sound---
Sound was kind cool. I feel like I don't really watch too many anime with soundtracks like this one. Very original and I think it thematically fits perfectly. I honestly don't have much to say on this one.
Sound Score: 7 (Good)
---Character---
Characters are a little bland and the CGI doesn't makes me want to love them any more than what they offer to begin with. Like I have said... the beginning of this show is a train wreck and many of the characters just feel weird, inconsequential, annoying, and real oddballs. The story did develop some characters a little further which was nice. I also like the added strife between the MC and he bih even though it was sorted out pretty easily.
Character Score: Fine (6)
---Enjoyment--- (I weigh enjoyment more than other categories)
This was going to be scathing but the latter half of this show really impressed given the total garbage it served in the first half.
Enjoyment score: 6 (Fine)
---Final remarks and score---
Do I recommend watching this anime? No I don't. The only thing it did for me is supply me with a set of manga to purchase. I can see the story really going places. I just don't think this adaptation was very good. It started off very slow and on the wrong foot for me. It will never get a rewatch and as far as i'm concerned I never watched it in the first place lmao. It's surprising to give a show this good a rating when I don't have the nicest things to say about it. I think the end just really pulled me into the narrative.
Dorohedoro Score: 6 (Fine)
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Feb 3, 2021
Instead of the underlying theme behind romance being memories, ef: A Tale of Melodies is true to its name. It the romance of this season is bolstered by the musical score or melodies. In this review I'll give my impression of this season as a serrate entity and end with commentary on how I think it stacks up as a sequel to ef: memories.
---Story---
I believe that this is where my opinion will dissent from most viewers. I have never watched a more manufactured and contrived story in my life (other than WW1984). The way in which this show utilizes the topics of love, heartbreak, forgiveness,
...
lies, and overall pain aren't impactful in any sort of way. It feels like characters suffer for the sole point of pushing a narrative forward when it should be the other way around; narrative should make events feel natural and not forced. This season felt like a hodgepodge of different ideas all strung into one tapestry. I don't think it worked for the better. Characters just happen to know each other, we have a young girl that for some reason is in love with an older man (wtf), a dead girl that somehow appears to our characters (plot convenience), an evil dude that does nasty shit and gets away with it, people forcing blame on others when it their misfortune has nothing to do with them... etc. The story was very average. The only reason the score is higher than average is because the visuals carried it on its back.
Story Score: 6 (Fine)
---Art---
Shaft never really disappoints: they excel at creating visual masterpieces. As states above I believe the visuals were the only thing that made the story above average. There were some REALLY cool shots in this anime. Symbolism was awesome. Example: the metronome as the heart beat. There were a few scenes where I think shadows were used a bit too heavily but nothing to gripe about by far. The characters do have a very unique style with their large eyes and wide angular faces. It honestly makes all the characters look analogous in some shots. I don't love the character designs but they aren't bad. Compared to other shaft works this one holds up...it's no monogatari or madoka but it still looks pretty cool.
Art Score: 8 (Very Good)
---Sound---
I do not listen to classical music. Definitely not the violin. That being said I think the musical score in this anime is great. I feel like songs were placed very strategically within the narrative; there wasn't a single time I felt like music was misplaced. The OP was fantastic. ED was mid. Props to the team who worked on sound . The only reason this is not going to get full marks from me is that there wasn't a song present that I'll remember into the distant future.
Sound Score: 9 (Great)
---Character---
This show, along with its narrative, was the most average when it came to characters. I only liked the silver haired guy and black haired friend of his. Everyone else is strikingly annoying lol. Not to be harsh but I really can't find a reason to like these characters. Most of them say stupid things to make the audience feel sympathy or guilt, others do despicable acts and are put in place for narrative purpose. The reactions of characters often felt childish and devoid of wisdom/logic. The only characters with a shred of logic were the two I mentioned I liked as well as Renji's older sister. Oh yeah... I also didn't memorize any of the names of characters except for Renji because they were bland AF.
Character Score: 5 (Mediocre/Average)
---Enjoyment---
Despite the major flaws I found in this series the art and sound pulled it all together for me. Without those two working in tandem I would have given this show a scorching review. Shaft saved this narrative for sure. I finished this series in a single days time over the course of two days. If you value the speed at which you can watch an anime then I suppose that's a positive I got through it that quickly.
Enjoyment Score: 7 (Good)
---Ending remarks and score---
This series is the sequel to memories. Memories did not really leave much room for a sequel as I thought everything was wrapped up. Thus, everything that happens in this season doesn't really feel like a proper season 2. I honestly don't think this needed to be made at all. That being said: it was made. And thankfully it was made by shaft. If you were a fan of the original series then you will love this sequel. I give them both the same score.
Final Score: 7 (Good)
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 27, 2021
If this anime was a woman i'd marry it and call it Suzy. <- you'll have to watch to understand
I learned about Golden Boy from Kanye West; he cites it as one of his favorite anime. Honestly I didn't give his favoritism towards this anime since I know for a matter of fact my weeb ass has seen more anime than Kanye.
Let me tell you why my preconceptions of this anime were 1000% wrong.
---Story---
We find ourselves following the personal journey of Kintarou: mainly his entries and exits from various odd jobs (think the Yorozura from Gintama). The only into we get on this guy is
...
that he dropped out of law school right before graduation... haven completely ALL his requirements. At first this can seem like a pretty trivial plot point. I'd like to argue that it isn't. As a student at University myself (currently a 5th year senior) I can understand what Kintarou may have faced. At points in academia what you're learning and how you're learning it can feel pointless. Many people don't even use their degrees after college how they are "intended" to be used. I think Kintarou got fed up with the system of learning in law school. With his looming graduation he left the scene he no longer felt drawn to for a different experience. The experience he longed for was that of the real world and thus he takes up whatever job he can find to learn experience in many aspects of life, while also meeting new people along his journey - leading to lasting relationships that all bloom in the final episode. We can verify this because he is addicted to studying. He can bee seen writing things down (and drawing lewd images) for nearly a quarter of the show - he never parts with that little brown book of his. His book contains life skills he learned, friends, mistakes, and ultimately: his form of education. I can connect to this story because the University life is not one that generally garners skills for the real world. At least I don't think so revolving around the topics of learning "street smarts" or speaking to people genuinely. The show also pushes a narrative that no job is too small to be unimportant - given the strenuous time we are in right now politically surrounding the minimum wage and paying people livable salaries.
On a less serious note, this show is full of comedy achieved through both Kintarou being an idiot and sexual means. I could understand some kind of weak minded SJW finding offense in this show because of how sexualized many of the women are. Personally I don't think anything was offensive in this show. Maybe not necessary at some moments, but definitely not useless. In fact, our main character treats these women with respect (even though he does get raging boners). Look man, we cant control the flow of blood in our bodies.
For an episodic short series this is the creme de la creme. It would have benefitted more it it was longer though. For that reason I will have to knock it down a tad.
Story score: 9 (Great)
---Art---
Gosh I love true 90's style animation this show holds. Not only do some scenes look incredible (episode 5), but facial expressions are spot on in this anime. Lines are super crisp. The colors are fun and make the world look lively. I have absolutely nothing to complain about here other than maybe wanting a tad bit more Sakuga. Nevertheless I think the art and animation was used near to perfection here.
Art score: 9 (Great)
---Sound---
The sound in this anime compliment its happy go lucky nature to a T. There were really any standout tracks or something that really differentiated a scene from the entire series, but it was all top notch usage of a good OST.
Sound score: 9 (Great)
---Characters---
Golden boy. Thats all that needs to be said. That's my Goat.
Character score: 10 (Outstanding )
---Enjoyment---
Well I watched this in one fell swoop so it's safe to say I enjoy it. In fact I even loved it. I feel like thee central themes of this story were deep and introspective; being covered by beautiful anime girls and slapstick humor (that actually was funny) was a plus. It's not very often that I watch an anime that actually makes me laugh with disbelief at what idiocy is on my screen. I will recommend Golden Boy to anyone and everyone because it truly sits upon my favorites list and will never be dethroned.
Enjoyment score: 10 (Outstanding)
---Final remarks and score---
Watch this anime. You'll be glad you did.
Final score: 9 (Great)
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 26, 2021
The finale to the OG UC timeline: Char's Counterattack. Not only should this movie have been an OVA in my opinion... it also doesn't really serve as any sort of proper conclusion.
---Story---
I watched this movie after watching ZZ (not necessary but the direct predecessor to Zeta so I figured I would watch it anyhow). Man... I thought the transition from Zeta to ZZ was rough. I was wrong. This movie dumps you right into the fray with Char indeed counterattacking. The movie does't care to explain where Char has been, what kind of affiliations he has, how he dealt with the whole Haman situation, or
...
why the hell the man is now so hell bent on dropping not only an asteroid but AXIS ITSELF on Earth. The first 20 minutes of the movie are pretty jarring just because you're trying to figure out all the moving pieces. Furthermore, the romance in this show (or search for parenthood...wtf Gundam) is a nut hair away from being the worst shit iv'e ever seen. Characters literally, AND I MEAN LITERALLY, fall in love after meeting ONCE. And they are willing to bet and risk their lives over this. Man get the fuck out of here. Gundam has some cool writing but this just aint it. I'm sadly very disappointed.
Story score: 4 (Bad)
---Art---
Wow did this movie deliver on the visuals. Over and over I found myself in awe. If just a tiny but of the animation budget was moved over to story this movie wouldn't be the mediocre movie that it is lol. Anyway: the lines are so crisp, colors are amazing, battle sequences are better than they have ever been. There is NOTHING bad to say about this art nor animation. If you don't like the specific style that is fine - it does not make it bad by any means. I am very glad I watched this movie purely for how damnn good it looks tbh.
Art score: 10 (Outstanding)
---Sound---
Its good for Gundam. Really enjoyed the orchestral parts. No music was overused and I felt that everything was situation in a proper sequence. Bravo.
Sound score: 8 (Very Good)
---Characters---
Fuck dude the characters in this movie are so ass. The ONLY good characters are Char, Amuro, and fucking HARO. Everyone else is garbage. Well I guess Bright is good too. Astionage is always popping and he's got a girl now so thats fun. But I swear the half baked romance between Quess, Char, and whatever the hell that one kids name was... horrible character writing. Cmon guys. The score here literally only gets semi salvaged bc Amuro and Char.
Character score: 4 (Bad)
---Enjoyment---
I honestly only really enjoyed this movie for the VA's and visuals. The music was a nice slight departure from UC Gundam series while still feeling right at home. Overall experience was positive. Just wish they poured a little more time and effort into doing things correctly.
Enjoyment score: 7 (Good)
---Final remarks and evaluation---
You like Gundam? You'll like this movie regardless of all its flaws (it has many). Nu Gundam and Sazabi are badass though ;) I would watch again.
Overall score: 6 (Fine)
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 25, 2021
Oh boy. Mobile Suit Gundam Double Zeta is the title hot off the press after the acclaimed Zeta Gundam. I already knew that people had a large disdain for this series. Now I LOVE Gundam... but I'm going to make the case here that unless you strive to be a completionist like myself you should not waste your time watching a series this abysmal.
---Story---
This is by far the weakest link within ZZ. If you didn't know, the first half of this show doesn't mean anything important in the UC timeline. You could skip it if you really wanted to. Now of course you wouldn't get
...
the into to the characters which I will say is needed... but you could even watch the first 5 episodes and get the impression of who everyone is. Half of this show is comedy, most of which falls completely short and is a pain to watch. The 2nd half of ZZ barely makes up for the first half... but it's still a giant mess. Everything that happens in the series just feels inconsequential. The only enjoyable arc was on earth when the colony thing happened (no spoilers for you). This entry in the Gundam franchise really feels like it never knew what it was supposed to be. I dare say that it never should have been created in the first place. I can honestly say I actually enjoyed about 10 episodes from this 47 episode long anime. Not good.
Story score: 1 (Appalling)
---Art---
The art is extremely sub par. I'm not sure what happened but I think Zeta just looked better. It wasn't a big step back by any means... it just didn't feel as like there was any effort put into ZZ. Now that is to say, there were some scenes that were oddly animated for no real reason at all. An example would be thrusters on one of the ships. It looked amazing. But then the things that actually mattered were done seemingly as quickly and easily as they could be. Just very average across the board.
Art score: 5 (Average)
---Sound---
The worst use of music I think I have heard in almost any anime. Some of the OST is phenomenal and if used correctly would be a fantastic portion of this show... too bad thats not the case. Music is rehashed too many times to count and placed in sequences where they do not complement what's on screen. It was charming in the original MSG. It doesn't work here and is yet another detriment to this already garbage installment.
Sound score: 3 (Very bad)
---Characters---
The one good quality I found in this anime were its characters. For the most part the cast is extremely like-able. It even has my favorite (for the most part) protagonist in Judau. Honestly not enough Qum and Shinta. Oh.... Puru is best girl.
Character score: 7 (Good)
---Enjoyment---
I only enjoyed a handful of scenes from this anime. I would not recommend anybody watch this installment unless they absolutely feel like they must. I happen to be addicted to Gundam so it was a no brainer for me. Happily I can say I will never have to watch an episode of this garbage show again. MSG and Zeta were leagues above this shit show. Still... I like Gundam... sigh.
Enjoyment score: 4 (Bad)
---Final score---
This anime is garbage. Please don't waste your time.
A FLOP. IT GETS A 4 (BAD)
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jan 22, 2021
Shigurui is dark, gritty, relentless, and communicates its story to the viewer fairly well. Midway through this series it was headed for my top ten. Upon completion it will not be. There are a ton of things this show gets right, most of them actually. But it has a fatal flaw and I hope to bring that flaw to light with this review.
---Story---
This story is not for the weak of heart. If you prefer dainty, lighthearted, adventure seeking, and unrealistic fights then this is not the anime for you. The story of shigurui tracks the downfall of the Kogan style of swordsmanship and intertwines a
...
story of competition between two protagonists. It does this quite masterfully and by episode 4 I was hooked to see what would happen next. The drama in this series is extremely believable: jealousy, sex scandals, betrayal, and the ensuing fights that occur. This anime is a little bit of a slow burner but this works to the advantage of the story perfectly. The juxtaposition between the pacing of the actual story and the frequent yet lasting mere seconds of fighting create a very tense and realistic atmosphere. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that ALL the fights in the show are realistic: they merely have a realistic grace about them. The downfall of this story is that it begins from a point that is never properly revisited or explained. The whole show is a flashback from the events of episode one. While I actually do like this kind of show (akin to Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinju), Shigurui butchers it. I'm talking it beats the meat more than an otaku who just found his new waifu. I felt that this series did not have a proper ending; I was drug along down this fabulous path only to have an unresolved conflict I was looking forward to the most. ALSO the fact Fujiki's injury isn't explained is rather sad and pulls this story down even further from its initial lofty heights. Despite my problems with the show's story resolution I quite enjoyed this tale. It doesn't give you room to breathe, and I liked that.
Story score: 8 (Very Good)
Art:
The art is this series is a toss up. Most of our time is spent in dark rooms lit by candle or outside in the evening/night. This makes some scenes extremely hard to analyze fully. Facial expressions and body movements are fairly realistic yet animation is sub par. Sometimes the characters have extremely realistic reactions to events yet other times they look like wax sculptures or figurines. This is most likely due to the attention and care that the faces received for this series. This resulted in some rather powerful moments with a few that fell flat or missed the mark. Overall it was a positive experience.
Art Score: 8 (Very Good)
---Sound---
The sound is another strong suit of Shigurui. It tosses the idea of normal OST's for something more edgy and yearning in a sense; it is one of the biggest reason the conversation between pacing and action in the series works. The drums, strings, chants, sung songs, cicadas, and moments of utter silence all exemplify the notion that these characters are on edge all of the time and are as sharp as the swords they carry. It is both breathtaking and simplistic. Bravo. This being said, the lack of a true OST isn't something I welcome with no setbacks. I find that music can take an average anime and turn it to an amazing one. The lack thereof is a *slight* detriment since I won't have a single track to remember this series by.
Sound score: 9 (Great)
---Characters---
Few anime have made me hate a character with every fiber in my being. Irako is a little bitch. A talented swordsman none the less, but an utterly disgusting human. He reminds me of a snake: strong, powerful, and extremely deceptive. The narrative of his continued struggle with Fujiki and Kogan is powerful and is one of the highs of this series. The story fleshes out each character with stunning acuity, all except for Fujiki himself. That is a major disappointment given that he is by far my favorite character. I think the characters most well done in this series are Irako, Kogan, and Lady Iku. Gosh... especially Kogan. What an odd and demented man. The characters in this series are sure to impress Each person fulfills their role and truly feels alive in the harsh world of samurai.
Character score: 9 (Great)
---Enjoyment---
I have to say, given the flaws of this series it really brought down the enjoyment score. As I said earlier I did not feel satisfied with the ending of this show whatsoever. I practically enjoyed every other aspect of this show. It's a bummer.
Enjoyment Score: 9 (Great)
---Last impressions and final score---
This series is special amidst all of the anime that frankly isn't. The scene and tone are practically the grittiest I've seen in the medium . The action is to the point and battles are decided through cunning swordsmanship. Art and sound complement each other and characters seem to leap out of the screen at points. I full recommend this title to anyone who 1. Likes samurai, 2. Likes blood, 3. Enjoys diversity in the anime they watch.
Overall: 9 (Great)
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 21, 2021
Oh Erased... this title is known for its deep divide. Either you really enjoyed it or you thought it was a disappointment. From what i've seen these are to two standard routes. Hopefully by reading this review you can gain a little insight into my feelings for this show and decide if you want to watch this series.
---Story---
I had the hope that this series would contain an amazing heartfelt story. Looking at the structure of the actual story itself I have no complaints. However, the execution of the story is disastrous. The time travel quirk is never explained... I mean at all. It's merely a
...
plot device for an albeit good story. The problem is that I need to know more to actually be invested in the story that's being told. Why does this only happen to you? Why did it stop happening at the end of the story? What kind of power is causing this? Questions like this should have been answered throughout the series and I am disappointed that they weren't. Onto my next gripe: the protagonist didn't care about the other kids being killed until HALFWAY through the series... and one of them was one of the friends in his close circle. Would it not make sense that he would care about somebody he knows that was kidnapped and killed before somebody he only saw in passing? If you ask me it doesn't really make any sense from an emotional standpoint. The killer is basically known from episode 2 making the reveal extremely lackluster. I found the failed attempts at making him look innocent were all fun and games, and honestly I wish they weren't attempts but actual truths showing he was not the culprit. It should have been someone else. End of story. I wasn't a huge fan of the tie ins about believing in people and what not - none of those scenes struck a chord with me at all and it felt like wasted space/time in a series with so much potential. Sadly I cannot in good consciousness give this score what I initially though it would be (a 9 or 10).
Story score: 6 (Fine)
---Art---
This anime is a treat to look at. I mean this thing is gorgeous. From the colors to the scenery. Especially the episode early on when they go visit the "Christmas tree". Honestly this series looks more like a movie with the budget they spent on animating it. I genuinely have nothing derogatory to say here. Full marks across the board. Honestly the art was probably the only reason I was able to hammer this series out in a day.
Art score: 10 (Outstanding)
---Sound---
I found the sound to be fitting for what type of anime this was. Primarily mystery and some feels sprinkled in here and there. However, there is nothing extraordinary going on here it all. None of the tracks from the OST are memorable and I probably won't ever recount this anime if I hear them again.
Sound score: 7 (Good)
---Characters---
The characters were fine. Basically just used for plot. I didn't really find myself particularly caring for any of them outside of pushing the story along. Honestly imo the best character was the MC's mom because she stood up for her son, believed in him, and loved him with everything she had.
Character score: 5 (Average)
---Enjoyment---
This is a good anime to kick back and watch and not take too seriously. I think I am a little disappointed leaving this series because I wanted an actual air of mystery surrounding the plot. As explained above that was not the case. I was however able to binge this in one day so there are definitely positives in the show that are present. It was so easy to watch and the time melted right by. Even given my major gripes with the show the viewing experience was a pleasant one.
Enjoyment score: 7 (Good)
---Final remarks and overall score---
This series is ambitious in its plot in that it wants the viewer to really fall in love with the story and characters. That much is heavily apparent given the time and care spent on making sure the characters fit the narrative being told perfectly. The first half of this title delivers while the latter half turns into a series I would not choose to watch. Lack of explanation of certain plot points and meaningless scenes take away from the beauty of this show. Nevertheless, you should definitely watch Erased; I believe it is an anime worth peoples time.
Overall score: 7 (Good)
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 20, 2021
I've finally managed to watch one of the proclaimed best anime films and it did not disappoint. Ghost in the shell is a rather intriguing piece of work. At the moment I am writing this review immediately after viewing the film for the first time. I will keep the review as succinct as possible.
---Story---
I like to conceptualize this movie as having two "stories". The first of of the two is quite simply the narrative we are presented with. The second is the philosophical inquiries this show glaringly presents. While the first is nothing incredible and serviceable at best, the latter is extremely interesting and thought
...
provoking. Philosophy at the University level is something I am quite familiar with; intersecting points of personal study and the agenda of the movie are (but are not limited to) what is life, how do we define humanity, what is the self, further evolution of the self, AI, and the future of humans alongside technology we create. I view this show akin to SEL which I also adore for its similar thematic elements.
Story score: 9 (Great)
---Art---
This show is absolutely stunning visually. The only other anime film I've seen on par would be Akira (the lesser of the two films ;) ). The CGI is incredibly well placed and done creating an air about the cyborgs that makes them look different yet still humanistic. I'm not the biggest CG fan but I find that it just fits. The style of art is very realistic at points with parts of the city looking almost lifelike. The rust and wear in certain parts of the city are quite beautiful. Visuals really meld with the theme of the movie in the latter half of evolution/growth of life: seeing the old parts of the city is a reminder of the past roots shaken off. I think the usage of nudity within the film was also extremely well utilized at reinforcing the theme of barebones humanity.
Art score: 10 (Outstanding)
---Sound---
This movie doesn't only support rock solid video! The sound design for this movie is pretty much on par with any big shot title you could name. From the unsettling yet intriguing choir singing, tribal drums and instruments, electronic synth waves, or moments of pure silence, this movie understands how and when to utilize music in the most effective sense. I loved the OST so much that I'm currently listening to it on youtube while writing this review! To best describe the mouth feel of the music, or I suppose it would be ear feel, would be to visualize an empty field brazen in the sunlight. No trees or structures in sight, yet there is a mysterious wind chime handing by what would seem an invisible thread. You can hear the chime of the metal but the sound appears to be coming from everywhere but the actual wind chime itself. Curiosity sinks in and your strapped in for the ride.
Sound score: an overwhelming 10 (Outstanding)
---Character---
I find that this is the only place where this movie falls short. Given the time constraints of anime films it becomes extremely hard for them to introduce characters I actually care about. While this entry didn't have any standout characters that will make it to the top of my list upon this first watch, they serve to function as the moving pieces that create the narrative Ghost in the Shell portrays. Usually this is a bad thing. I will argue here that it is not; characters in this sense are not just devices to move you from point a to point b (looking at you ninja scroll) but windows into the world setting we find in the movie. What better way to explain the relationship between humanity and machinery to have characters that embody this relationship with their mere existence? None if you ask me.
Character score: 7 (Good)
---Enjoyment---
I loved pretty much everything about this movie. I believe this is a work that people who adore anime can easily fall in love with as well as people who may not really watch the medium. I will definitely be rewatching this movie for it simply is too much of a pleasure to not watch. I also thing rewatches would add subsequent enjoyment as well. This is almost as good as it gets.
Enjoyment score: 9 (Great)
---Final verdict---
Score: 9 (Great)
This movie is not for people who don't like to think. This movie is a very nice departure from the landscape of anime movies. It sets itself so far apart (and ahead) from other movies that it necessitates a watch. I loved Ghost in The Shell and I think you will too. It's not easy to make it into my top ten but this movie did it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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