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If you ask a AI "please make a romcom anime with sports setting", don't be surprised if the result is Blue Box. If you are a sports anime fan, forget about it, because it's almost non-existent here. Instead, we got a generic romantic comedy, that just follow the genre most popular tropes instead of doing something barely inspired or original. I am not joking, because I already predicted the plot of the first few episodes by just taking a look at episode 1. That is how cliche it is.

About the positive sides, Blue Box at least has a great animation, but it doesn't matter, because ... you can give a poop a top-tier animation and by the end of the day, it will still be poop. That is what Blue Box is, a great animation with no substance at all.

Old WEEBs, your time has come. TenPuru (or Temple) is pretty much one of those old school harem/ecchi anime from those distant 2010's.

The plot follows Akemitsu, a college student trying to stay away of his father (and grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather...) womanizer lifestyle by joining a monastery, but for harem reasons, he ends in a nunnery full of high school girls, where he must pay his father's astronomical debt (not just a womanizer) with his body... working, of course.

The plot is actually pretty funny, almost stupid, but just almost, so it keeps really funny (this manga is from Grand Blue illustrator). The first episode is really ... crazy, but the following ones are just the anime introducing us to the main characters, with some really funny jokes and gags. Thanks God there is a three episodes rule.

The 5 main girls, by the way, are actually very likable. We got the airhead trying to be serious (and failing) Yuzuki; her tsundere, and also not very intelligent, li'l sister Tsukuyo; the youngest sibling Kurage, not just a pure soul, but who might already attained enlightenment in a bit dirty way; the foreign female version of MC, Mia, so also stupid and trying not to be lewd (and failing); and the last but not least, Kagura, Mia's bestie who just want to film the world burns.

The voice acting isn't consistent: some voices, especially the MC's one, are weird, but luckily the acting compensates it. The animation is also good. The staff knows watch people wants and they are giving it to us.

So if you enjoy those harem that don't take themselves seriously, good quality ecchi, and crazy comedy about dumb and pervert people, just give it a try. I'm sure you won't regret it.

Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World is proof that old proverb is true: art is an explosion.

This KonoSuba spin-off (not season 3) is a prequel of the main series that, as stated in the very first scene, shows Megumin's (the most beloved character in this series) origin story, from the moment she fell in love with Explosion Magic until she finally meet a certain shut-in NEET and an useless self-proclaimed goddess.

Story: 7,5/10

Not gonna lie: it is slow in the first 3 episodes, I'm genuinely surprised episode 3 content was adapted. It still has some really funny moments, but this series just starts ... getting better (and better each episode) starting from episode 4 (so, please, make an exception on the 3 Episodes rule in this case).

The story, like Konosuba in general, is almost a slice of life, just showing the everyday life of those quirky characters. I don't think most people actually watch KonoSuba to see an action plot, full of thrills and twists, at this point. But I can't keep talking about the plot without talking about the main attraction in KonoSuba: their...

Characters: 10,0/10 (Can I raise it to an eleven?)

The thing about spin-offs is they usually aren't like the main series. Their proposal is to pick those side characters and give them a proper development, and maybe create something unique and entertaining in its own way, and that is what this series does. So, instead of that chaotic quartet, this series main focus is Megumin, the arch wizard with a goofy obsession with a useless spell (that isn't actually that goofy at all), and her bestie... I mean, rival, Yunyun. Because of this MCs' change, instead of a chaotic comedy, we get a cute (and in the final, kinda touching) comedy about a couple of friends' journey on this wonderful world blessed by God (although Konosuba trademark humor is still very present).

The cast was always Konosuba strength, and in this spin-off we get a chance to know them better. We learn more about Megumin, her trash personality (almost Kazuma's soul mate) and her background (not just her Explosion obsession, but even her outfit gets a deeper meaning in this series), and that Yunyun is not just a precious friend to Megumin (it is a shame she is too tsundere to admit it), but a precious human being that must be protected by all cost (usually by Megumin).

But it is not this main duo that gets a amazing development. Even those minor characters from the main series get a good development, which results in a great world-building, showing how lively that world is when Kazuma and his gang aren't around. From the chuuniNEET Crimson Demons, the worthless adventurers of Axel, to even the Axis Order lunatic followers (with 2 new and really funny characters I hope we met in the main series in the future), everybody gets a proper screentime to show more about themselves and even the reason why some of them are the way they are in the main series.

This series was actually written by the main series author, so it gets a lot of fun connections with the main series, including some long-awaited cameos.

Sound: 8,5/10

The music seems fine. The main attraction here is the voice acting, excellent as always. Both the VAs from the main series as the new VAs did a wonderful job (I can't imagine those people not having such a good time dubbing it). About those new VAs, it is worth mentioning Fairouz Ai as the crazy Axis Order priest Cecily, and Sachiko Kojima as the villain Arnes, who... is actually a decent person who did anything wrong?! Are you sure KonoSuba MCs are the good guys?...

Animation: 9,0/10

Although we got a studio change (we know what this usually means), the animation actually got better with Drive. The staff is basically the same from the main series (that produced this spin-off alongside the actual season 3), but with a more polished feature, unlike the famous Studio Deen quality standard (but keeping the low-budget comic expressions we love).

Conclusion:

If you are a fan of Konosuba main series, and you want to know more about the world the main series takes place, and the people who live there, all your prayers (to Eris, I hope so...) have been answered. I even recommend to at least search about what happened in this spin-off, because it sounds like it will reflect in the main series in the near future, since unlike other spin-offs, this one sure isn't a filler one.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I can't finish this review without an 💥

Believe or not, we may have the K-On! of this generation in your hands with Bocchi the Rock.

Story:

Like any slice-of-life and CGDCT anime, this one has a simple plot, but very relatable one (it's basically about a introvert girl trying to climb out of the cocoon through Rock, and her daily struggle to slowly overcome her social phobia). There is less music than expected yet (just 3 episodes), but it is still present.

Characters:

Slice-of-life usually don't have complex plots, so the recipe of the success is their characters, and they are very compelling in this show. Hitori, or Bocchi (such a cruel nickname...), is the type ... of character that can get annoying with the author go too far with her social anxiety (just take a look at Komi-san's too long first season), but the author manage it pretty well and make fun of her situations without being cruel with those types (again, take a look at Komi-san) and people can actually relate themselves with her and her struggles.

Kita is another character type that can be really annoying too if her passion goes to far, but again the author manage it well. Ryou is the eccentric with some cool jokes and Nijika is nice too (she is the normal one in the band). They look average at first, but their chemistry and how each of them intact with the other (Bocchi in particular) is what sparkles.

Animation:

Slice-of-life doesn't require a great animation quality, but that didn't stop CloverWorks. The animation is clean and very well done, there is some good meme templates here, and the instrument animation faithful to reality, at least according to people who also play those instruments.

Sound:

It's a music show, so of course there is some cool songs here. Not just musical performances but also some impromptus.

Veredict:

With you have ever played any instrument, or have/had social anxiety, this is a show you can identify yourself with. The characters are sweet, watch how they interact will give you joy and you will cheer for Bocchi as she slowly give one step at time towards the extroversion.

There are relationships which two people are mean to be together, but something happens and they tragically break up... and there are relationships that the best thing is just break up and never meet the other person even again. This anime is about this second one.

First of all, those two MCs are a horrible couple. The fact they broke up was the natural development of their own mistakes, and it seems they didn't change at all after this, but they are siblings now, so they are forever stuck in this toxic relationshid which they can't just get along not even for a second. The male ... MC even had the opportunity of start a new and healthier relationship, but they couldn't because they can't forget that person that should be forgotten. In fact, they are dialogues that prove they shouldn't even start dating to begin with, they conclude they should have remain as friends.

About the script, it is a mess. They present characters and plots in the first episodes that they just pretend it never happened, so they are a couple of episodes we should just ship because they lead nowhere.

The animation isn't that good either. It isn't bad, but the characters are expressionless. There are moments they are just doing that annoying poker face.

Anything good about it? Maybe the voice actors, but they aren't that good either. This anime isn't a zero grade one because the animation isn't a disaster like the plot and because there is at least one good character (that one that got rejected by that guy who just can't move on).

After the success of the first season, Danmachi tried new things ... most of them went down in flames, so this season they decided to come back to basics: dungeon exploration and a lot of action, and, believe or not, it worked out!

Although the animation quality isn't consistent, it is still good. The action sequences are great. Danmachi big supporting cast, introduced through the previous seasons, are getting a little spotlight. The pacing (also unlike previous seasons) is very good and the voice actors are great as ever.

Also, believe or not, there was actual character development, as Bell is acting way more mature. There isn't ... that much comedy too, but comedy in Danmachi was never that good (or not good at all) in the first place, so that is a plus point.

Of course there were just 3 episodes, a lot can change. I will be back once this season is finished.