- Last OnlineOct 21, 2024 9:59 PM
- JoinedJan 18, 2017
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Jan 30, 2024
I almost missed this gem because the art and promotional images on anime sites made this look rather meh. I was very happy to be wrong about it. It's a very well-handled romance, and in particular it doesn't fall into the trap of being ambiguous about the main character's sexuality. Rae is gay and she knows it. The show handles this with remarkable accuracy and sensitivity, touching upon what a person in her situation might actually feel. The fact that it is also an otome isekai with a secret villainess route feels like an afterthought. The MC feels that
...
it is, since she's after one thing and one thing only: Claire's (the aforementioned villainess') heart. So if you are mainly looking for action, OP MC power fantasy, or detailed other-world-building, this won't be your cup of tea. If you're looking for a romance, read on.
Rae is an overworked cog in Japan's "black company" wheel, and her main solace and means of escape is playing otome games. However, since Rae is a lesbian she fancies the villainess of the story, Claire. She admires Claire's beauty, yes, but also her honesty, her sense of pride, and her self-awareness. Suddenly Rae magically appears in this new world of her otome game, complete with the same scenarios and romance flags with the male leads that she is familiar with. But Rae rejects each of the game's "main routes" who come in the form of your stereotypical dashing princes. Instead, Rae wants to cozy up with the beautiful but haughty Claire, who is the daughter of the nation's finance advisor.
Rae is a bit awkward, because she knows that she is the story's protagonist (she explains this by saying she has the same last name as the protagonist but the name Rae is what she entered as her first name in the game she was playing.) This awkwardness takes the form of her being too forward way too fast with Claire, sometimes even being touchy-feely when Claire doesn't welcome that kind of contact. Adding to Claire's discomfort is the fact the she is a highly ranked noble while Rae is your everyday commoner. But Rae's enthusiasm and goodness are infectious, and the people around her at the school academy they all attend begin to gravitate towards her upbeat attitude and natural talents. Even Claire, despite herself, begins to appreciate Rae for who she is, even if she's not quite sure about her own feelings towards our bubbly protagonist.
And here in the feels department is where this anime shines. This is probably the most accurate depiction of girl likes girl that I've ever seen in an anime. It was so much so that I got a bit emotional watching it. I should clarify. I am a man, and I'm happily married to a woman, but it's not hard for me to imagine being a woman (I'm pretty sure I was in a recent lifetime, and have dreams sometimes about it.). So while watching WataOshi (this anime), I felt like I was remembering what it was like: you have a crush on someone, but you don't really have much hope that person will ever reciprocate. And you can't help but wonder: is it that she just doesn't like me, or is it that my own gender is getting in the way? Is there some parallel universe where, had circumstances been different, we could have been perfect for each other? Rae asks these very questions, and there is even a scene early on (ep 3?) when Rae's friends ask her bluntly about her sexual orientation. Rae responds that she's never been attracted to men and makes it clear she likes Claire and yes, it matters that she is a woman. I feel like there are still parts of our society that are not ready for this level of honest discussion about sexuality.
There a good amount of lovely character development, and I was surprised to see Rae realize that her relentless pursuit of Claire might not actually be welcome. The anime addresses issues like personal space and even shows Claire sometimes considering Rae as a potential friend despite their difference in social class. We can almost hear Claire thinking, as Rae demonstrates unusual loyalty and unwavering affection towards her. Rae makes it clear she's not just after Claire's pretty face, but rather loves everything about her, from her habits to her flaws and her aspirations, everything.
I won't spoil the outcome, but I myself didn't feel disappointed at the end of 12 episodes. The fact that Rae is a talented magician with 2 elemental attributes felt like some kind of checkbox they were obligated to tick. So, too, were the standard events like flags with the princes being triggered, a school cultural festival, etc. It felt like merely backdrop for the writers, and I am glad for it. This story is about Rae and Claire and whether the love between them has a chance even when the circumstances are stacked against them.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Apr 22, 2023
This is the first anime I have ever assigned a 1. Why would I give it a 1? Was poorly animated? Did it have excessive fan service? Was the writing really dumb?
Well, actually, I gave it a 1 because my opinion of humanity actually dropped significantly after watching it. SIGNIFICANTLY.
This anime is not BAD in the sense that it has any particular aspect that makes it bad. The problem with it is that it simply fails as entertainment on so many levels. But it's worse than that. It has zero respect for the audience. It expects
...
us to simply accept ever increasing levels of improbable events. Let's look at an example. Potential spoilers ahead.
I'm sorry, no matter how arrogant having super powers make you, I believe they would also make you a bit paranoid. Some of your classmates can throw fire, freeze inanimate objects, or even travel back in time! And of course there is the girl with the self-proclaimed ability to read minds. If ever an ability would inspire paranoia, it should be that one. And yet no one is suspicious, people are fine traveling around alone, even though they have accepted that there are "enemies of humanity" who may be lurking, and that they look just like you or me. Somehow, people are not sufficiently suspicious of the newcomers, even given that "talentless" people should be suspected first. Without spoiling anything, I knew the plot of the first episode as soon as they introduced the new students to the class.
In order for the main conceit of this specific anime to work, the audience must do more than simply suspend disbelief. They must be stupid beyond belief. Worse, someone watched this and gave it a green light for production. That means there are entire TEAMS of people out there who think the writing is clever or well done. This is simply unacceptable. There are limits to this. This anime is so blatantly disrespectful that it deserves a negative score.
I did the best I could. I gave it a 1. It deserves less. And everybody involved with this project should be deeply ashamed of themselves. They should apologize to the audience, they should apologize to their parents, and they should immediately refund the time I spent watching this. Feel free to waste your time watching this, but it won't be a good experience. Who knows, maybe you'll think it's good too. I guess that's the real reason I'm feeling depressed right now. There just aren't enough real human beings who can recognize this for the steaming pile of crap it really is.
Reviewer’s Rating: 1
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jun 26, 2022
Enough is enough. I'm reading all the 3 and 4 rating reviews here about this anime, and each of these reviews in my opinion reveals more about the reviewer than it does about the show. They all use terms like "waifu bait" "incel", "simp" and other unflattering terms that reveal exactly how much the reviewer is obsessed with evaluating other human beings based on their APPEARANCE and NOT their personality or character.
Don't be that person.
So what if the female lead is beautiful? So what if the male lead appears plain or uninteresting to you? Did you happen to notice that the male
...
lead has something he is passionate about, and he has taken great pains to develop a skill to the point where he could be compared to professionals? Wakana can sew and make clothes like he's a contestant on Project Runway, can you? When was the last time you dedicated yourself to something, not missing a day of practice, and was able to make others happy by demonstrating your skill?
Has the quality and character of human beings in our time degraded to the point where the main themes just go woosh over your heads? Maybe you're not into cosplay; as it happens, I'm not either. Does that give you the right to look down on others because of their hobby? Obviously, there are people in the world who take this very seriously.
I think it just goes to show how little life experience these reviewers have that they are letting their glaring insecurity warp their experience and so they seek to ruin the experience for others. From my point of view, I have seen many, many beautiful women choose a man to be with not because they were handsome, cool, or rich. No, they might choose a man because he's funny, because he's caring, because he UNDERSTANDS her, or because they just click. Just because you haven't experienced this *your* life, doesn't mean this should apply to everyone. Maybe girls don't like you because you are a superficial prick.
We could reverse the genders and say the same thing. Stop judging people just by the cover. It really is what's inside that matters, and I know it's a cliché to write that, but if you were to actually GROW UP you would realize how true this is. A relationship based purely on physical attraction won't go the distance.
If you are willing to treat women with respect and dignity, you are not a "simp."
A man who doesn't work out constantly or have a beautiful face is not automatically an "incel." Maybe he just can't be bothered because he is working towards a serious long term goal, and not obsessed with what his peers think about him at school.
A women is not a fantasy just because she happens to be beautiful. My wife is very beautiful woman but she's also talented, has a career, is a great mom, and her character is outstanding. Certainly, she is not consumed by her insecurity to such a degree she has to let physical attractiveness guide all her decisions.
So after all my ranting, what is Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru really about? I believe it's about defying stereotypes and tropes to reveal what we SHOULD be concerned about in a romance. Does the other person understand what we're into? Even if they don't like exactly the same things, do they at least show interest in us a HUMAN BEING, and not just our body or what we can do for them? Wakana wants to paint these very stylized traditional Japanese dolls. Marin wants to be an amazing cosplayer because she loves anime. May I ask, what is so unrealistic about Marin? I've seen pictures of talented cosplayers on the internet, and many of them happen to be beautiful women. Why is there all this hate for Marin? Maybe you, dear reviewer, just need to get laid so you can relax about it.
They have a lovely relationship which actually develops, they show interest in each others lives, they slowly open up about things they've been through. These are exactly the things I look for in a good romance. I don't know what show these other reviewers were watching, but Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru is great. I recommend it, it's not awesome in a life-altering way, but it's entertaining, heartwarming, and is NOT ecchi for ecchi's sake as some other reviewers have claimed. In fact, I would go so far to say that it nails that awkward sexual tension you feel around someone you share mutual attraction with when you first start seeing each other. Wakana measuring Marin for a fitting is an excellent example. But I suppose if you're a virgin locked up in your parent's basement, maybe this show would just make you angry or depressed. But must you come broadcast your frustration for everyone to see? Let's be happy for people who are happy instead.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Oct 16, 2021
I'm not going to lie: I struggled mightily to get through the first several episodes of Kanojo, Okarishimasu. But then I realized something. I was looking at this all wrong. Instead of viewing Rental Girlfriend as a typical anime, I should have been looking at it as an interactive experience. Indeed, that's what it is. The writers of this anime wanted it to be a game-like experience, testing the viewer's willpower to keep going despite desperately wanting to drop the series forever (something I've never done, no matter how crappy an anime was).
Can you, dear viewer, keep watching
...
despite a cringe-to-enjoyment ratio well over 9000? Can you keep from breaking down and rolling on the floor in agony as you beg Kazuya to stop being a prick? Can you keep your sanity despite every fiber of your rational mind screaming out that none of these ridiculously improbable events could actually transpire in real life? That's just it. It would would take a truly insane writer not to understand how ironically bad their work was. The writer cannot possibly be ignorant of the harmful effects their work could have on the human brain. So it must be on purpose. Kanojo, Okarishimasu is therefore nothing short of the work of a genius, a work of profound depth written with the express purpose of forcing me to finally capitulate and think, "OK, you got me. I am forced to give up. This is, indeed, unwatchable."
So naturally, I watched the whole thing.
And you know what? After I stopped judging Rental Girlfriend by ordinary standards and common sense, I started enjoying it. Yeah, all I had to do was pretend that women were mindless creatures completely incapable of thinking for themselves and suddenly Mizuhara's inexplicable behavior made sense. This is pure escapist fantasy, where the viewer is intended to insert themselves fully into the role of this protagonist Kazuya and conveniently find themselves in a consequence-free zone, where all of the main character's scummy behavior would be interpreted in the most favorable light possible and not one but SEVERAL attractive women would throw themselves at said protagonist.
Ironically, I think most of the target audience will miss the irony. That would explain the many 1 and 2 point reviews on MAL. I'm not going to try and argue that Kanojo, Okarishimasu is a GOOD show. That would be disingenuous. Say rather that it's a "unique" experience. Maybe it could be a drinking game, where every time you found yourself forced to look away from the screen you'd have to take a drink. I wouldn't recommend actually playing this game, though, because with this anime you'd surely die of alcohol poisoning long before you reached the end of episode 1.
Wait, you want details about the anime so you can judge for yourself? Well, OK, but don't blame me for rotting your brain. This anime is ostensibly about a scumbag who gets dumped by his evil, manipulative ex girlfriend, then rents a "pretend" girlfriend because he's distraught. But somehow, this girl goes to his college and lives next door. Genius! There's no way the author wouldn't realize that the probability here is lower than being struck by lightning or being struck by a golf ball in your own living room.
OK, you know what? I am going to give up. I am going to give up on writing this review right now. If you are a masochist, and take great pleasure in watching the most awkward, embarrassing, and humiliating situations you can imagine, then this is the show for you. Wait, I thought of a positive thing to say about Rental Girlfriend. It's like a nightmare, but in a good way. When you wake up from a nightmare, you realize it's not your real life and you breathe a sigh of relief. Similarly, the best thing about watching Rental Girlfriend the anime is that you can stop.
Whew! You are not Kazuya. At least there's one person who is a worse person than you can possibly be, even if he's only fictional.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 6, 2021
The name Horimiya obviously comes from combining the names of the main protagonists, namely Hori-san and Miyamura-kun. You'd be forgiven for thinking the romance anime named such would be just as ordinary and cringe-inducing as hearing about some celebrity couple who had their names smushed together, like Tom-Kat or Brangelina. But I find it strange when other reviewers approach a romance anime like they would a shonen anime: they base their reviews on fancy gimmicks, level of action, and originality.
My dear friends, that is NOT how one should approach a romance anime. Maybe the problem is you have never felt this way
...
about that special someone. There comes a moment during a very special lifetime when you are fortunate enough to experience this. You come to admire a person so much that you start thinking there is no one else in the world quite like her (or him). Not only do you admire her, you start imagining doing all sorts of wonderful things together: exploring the world, sharing ideas, supporting one other through difficult times, maybe even growing old together. During the day, as you go about completing mundane tasks, you find your thoughts inevitably drawn towards this person. Maybe you'll take a different way home today, and just *happen* to walk by her home. And should you catch a glimpse of her, surely that would just be a fortunate accident, yes?
And then, one day, you find out that person feels exactly that way about YOU.
It is at this moment that the best romance anime distinguishes itself. Of course we all KNOW what is going to happen. Of course we all know who gets together with whom. That is completely besides the point. How did we get there? Do we like the people involved? Do these people deserve such happiness? How did they come to meet? Are they even suited for one another? Is the situation believable from an EMOTIONAL viewpoint? See, it's about immersion. It's about letting yourself fall in love. Right, falling in love isn't something you go about constructing. It's something you ALLOW yourself to do.
It is from this alternate set of criteria that Horimiya really shines. There is a moment, and I won't spoil it for you, but you'll recognize it when you see it. At that point watching the show I thought to myself, "Ah, I remember, that's exactly how it felt. That's exactly how it should be." You'll smile, you'll feel warm inside, and if you are fortunate enough to be able to do so, you'll want to find your significant other person and tell them how much you appreciate that she is in your life.
At such a moment, you will be glad that you worked hard, you refused to go down darker paths full of lies and under-handed choices, and you strove to win admiration in your own eyes. After all, that's the only way you come to be worth loving: if you somehow find a way to love yourself. I enjoyed watching Horimiya because the protagonists aren't perfect people. They have worries, they have doubts, but they come to understand that there are precious things in life, and it would be a real shame to ruin them by embracing prejudice or a lack of courage. Horimiya whispers to its viewers: "When your chance comes by, don't be afraid to act."
I'm sorry some of you didn't think this anime was that great. You might just not have experienced those very special moments in your life yet. You have to be open to them. You have to believe they can exist. Don't be too cool to see the value in others. Don't be too insecure to see the value in yourself. Do your best, work at being just a little better version of yourself each day, and maybe, maybe life will reward you with a little solace in this sea of darkness. At such a point in time, you'll think you can face just about anything if it means you can go home and say "hello" again to your one special person.
Please give Horimiya a chance, and don't worry about what you used to like in other romance shows. Pretend you're young again, and imagine what it would be like to suddenly find yourself being just a little curious about this girl (or boy) who was nice to you at school today for no apparent reason that you could see...
EDIT: If you still can't bring yourself to like this anime, at least check out the fantastic OP song. It's amazing, catchy, and definitely worth the "loop" feature on your player of choice.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 1, 2021
Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu is outstanding. It is easily the best anime of the season, and is among the best isekai I have ever watched. I find myself eagerly awaiting the new episode each week, something I haven't done in 4 anime seasons.
The production values are all superlative. I applaud the art style and the animation is smooth and fluid. Combat scenes are nicely choreographed and several levels of quality above average anime. Even the dialogue is noteworthy. Often the cheesy and predictable lines in typical isekai are tough to sit through, but here it seems real
...
thought was given to what characters should say. I'm especially surprised because first person narration is provided by the main protagonist (and sometimes others), which is a risky stylistic choice that often backfires if the writing is poor. But there simply isn't anything to complain about how this anime was made, and it baffles me how the effort that goes into one show can be so dramatically different from another. While I enjoyed reading the manga, Mushoku Tensei the anime has totally exceeded every expectation I might have had.
Rudeus, the main character, follows the cliched isekai route after an unfortunate encounter with truck-kun. He is assigned some trauma in the form of being an overweight, bullied otaku in his previous life, and after translating into his new life he finds himself as the newborn son of a local knight. His mother is a beautiful blonde with a vibrant personality, but gets very little characterization or even screen time. Meanwhile, his womanizing father gets the thankless role of demonstrating how flaws in parenting are passed down from one generation to the next.
Again, following the typical isekai formula, Rudeus remembers his previous life and is assigned overpowered magical talent in his new reincarnation. But his efforts in training hard are significant. Instead of simply reaching godlike heights of power right away, we see that despite early promise even Rudeus requires additional training to progress in his magical career, which his parents provide in the form of a tutor named Roxy. Rudeus' interactions with Roxy provide some of the most enjoyable early moments so far, and give us a glimpse into what the larger world might be like. Their relationship also provides significant character development, with Roxy helping Rudeus to make progress towards overcoming trauma from his previous life.
While I have eagerly awaited each new episode, the show is not without flaws. Critics are of course going to point to the formulaic plot, the overpowered talent of the protagonist, and the less than admirable qualities in some of the characters. However, sometimes I feel that the scathing criticism leveled at a show reveals more about the critic than the show. Several viewers have pointed out that Rudeus is a creepy 40 year old in the body of a small child. It offends them that a man would find women attractive and makes little effort to hide it.
Personally, I think it's ridiculous how modern society has gone to great lengths to try to make men feel ashamed for their very natural sexual urges. Obviously, I don't condone abuse (verbal or physical), and once a woman rejects a man he should back off. However, to claim a person is reprehensible simply because he has a libido in an ISEKAI ANIME shows just how much the SJW politics are getting out of hand. I am not even sure who these ideas are supposed to protect. There is a HUGE difference between openly expressing appreciation for a woman and actual sexual harassment, but as usual it seems half the population is unable to tell the difference. Look, Rudeus is supposed to remember his previous lifetime. It makes sense he would still have his disgusting otaku (virgin) attitude towards the fairer sex. To expect otherwise is simply unreasonable. But Rudeus does NOTHING he should be ashamed of in his new life. Yes, there are shenanigans typical of anime, like stealing panties and leering, but Rudeus is not assaulting anyone, not making lewd remarks, and not taking advantage of his station in life. Instead, he demonstrates courage in the face of adversity and is able to actually ACT on his compassion (by defending others) instead of standing around and offering unwanted opinions about it.
So, that's the only caution tag I would assign to Jobless Reincarnation. If you are into SJW politics, then Rudeus' behavior and personality might offend you. Everyone else is going to absolutely love this adaptation. The story is going somewhere, the dialogue is amusing and mature, and despite what some reviewers have complained about, the main protagonist is showing signs of mercy, compassion, insight, and above average maturity (for a person of ANY age). I think the problem might be this: if a person himself lacks maturity, he will be unable to appreciate admirable qualities in others. For my part, I am most fond of shows where the hero is able to eventually demonstrate exceptional virtue and actual heroism DESPITE his character flaws. I do not read literature or watch art to project my insecurities onto the subject matter.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Dec 7, 2020
Boku dake ga Inai Machi (hereafter "Erased") is simply one of the best anime I have ever watched. It is exceptional not for its premise and main plot conceit, but rather for the feeling it evokes while watching it. Before I get into it, I want to acknowledge that there will be a variety of different reactions to this show. Although the MAL score is quite high, judging by the reviews there will be those who are simply not able to appreciate why this anime is so profoundly moving. Possibly this is because Erased is ostensibly a murder mystery / suspense.
...
In western filmmaking, this genre usually demands a certain logical consistency in both its plot and characterization, particularly as it relates to the motives of those involved. Personally, I think it is a mistake to try to shove Erased into this pigeon hole. Instead, it should be viewed as a supernatural drama that focuses on the human condition, particularly themes revolving around regret, redemption, and ultimately, the value of wanting to see the best in other people.
By now, everyone should know the general plot, either from the MAL summary or from reading the other reviews. I would rather focus on the reasons I feel this work is amazing and why people trying to view it from primarily an intellectual and logical angle are largely missing the point.
In order to better explain what I mean, I am going to use life itself as an analogy. Do you live life to make money? Isn't the money really just a means to an end? Do you live life to be acknowledged by others? Isn't your own feeling of self-worth more important? Do you live life to accomplish things? If this last one applies to you, isn't it really the FEELING of accomplishment that matters? Is it not the experience of moving towards something, improving yourself constantly, more important than the destination? If you live life only trying to reach the destination and not appreciating the struggle itself, succeeding will feel very, very hollow. If you do not resonate with anything I've written in this paragraph, or if you do not understand what I'm getting at, then you probably won't appreciate Erased, either.
Erased understands the kinds of things that move us the most. It expects a certain emotional maturity from us, and assumes that we have experienced life to a certain extent. (I would even go so far as to say it assumes a certain spiritual maturity, which implies having lived enough lifetimes. But that is beyond the scope of this review, and might even offend some readers to suggest this.) Without this level of maturity, a person simply won't be able to appreciate the insight from this show's creators. The author / director understand how it feels to lose someone. They understand how it feels to regret not doing something when something intangible inside was screaming for them to act on that critical certain day, and yet they did nothing. Erased uses a supernatural plot device to explore the idea, "What if you could go back and try again?" The plot device IS NOT THE POINT, and people who are going out of their way to point out time travel paradoxes, logical inconsistencies, or errors in characterization are really, really missing the point.
Having written this, I can already guess the counter arguments of the opposing group. They will assume that I don't understand WHY the plot has holes in it or WHY the anime fails as a murder mystery. But, it's not a murder mystery. Just because something bears a superficial resemblance to something else, that does not mean that is ALL that it is. Your wife may LOOK something like another woman, but if you are a mature individual you will appreciate her for WHO she is, and all the profound connections you have with her. It is the same with this anime. If you have truly been around the block and experienced life's hardships and tragedies OVER and OVER again, lifetime after lifetime as I have, and you actually REMEMBER these experiences, you will be able to fully appreciate what Erased is saying about redemption.
You cannot truly believe in yourself until you start believing that others can be good people. You can't really get out of the past until you realize: the past doesn't even really exist. There is only RIGHT NOW. The only moment you can make a change is RIGHT NOW. For anyone who has ever had the thought, "This is important, but I'll surely be able to do this tomorrow. I don't have the strength to do this today," you should know exactly what I'm talking about. But you can't do anything tomorrow. You can only make a decision right now. And you can't do anything about things that have already happened.
That's why the (only) logical-minded person won't like this show. They will think, "How naive. If only it were so simple to time travel and correct mistakes. That completely removes responsibility from our decisions. If we could just Revival, then what's the point of planning, judgment, and responsibility? We could just trial and error our way to optimal outcomes." No. If you think that you're missing the point again. That's not what Erased is saying. It is only using Revival to hammer home the exact opposite point. It makes more sense if you think of the anime as showing you events out of order. Imagine for a moment that there is no time travel, but rather the protagonist is having a dream about being 29 and seeing the future. Then the anime might suddenly make a lot more sense to those who lack imagination. It is not about the apparent unfairness of being able to try and try again until we get it right. It is more about having the courage to try again after failure. After making a major mistake, are you the kind of person who just curls into a ball and gives up? Or will you find the courage to get up again, analyze what went wrong, and give it another go?
I know this is too long. And I know that the kind of person who immediately "gets" Erased doesn't need me to write about why it is sublime. After all, it's mostly about things that have nothing to do with the above paragraphs. I wrote the above as an appeal to those who might possibly give Erased another chance after dismissing it for superficial reasons related to plot devices. Really, what I appreciate the realistic feeling it evokes with each situation. As I watched it, I thought over and over again, "Ah, this writer really gets it. They have lived multiple lifetimes as I have, or at least have sense impressions of having done so. They feel the weird sense of deja vu when encountering the same situations again and again. They understand the importance of each connection we make to another human being."
Some people blunder through life going after material things and accomplishments, not realizing that those moments where we intersect with other souls are the profound opportunities we have to experience the best things life has to offer. I'm hoping you'll give Erased another watch and focus on what is happening in the moment instead of projecting your own fears, insecurities, and regrets onto the screen. Maybe what I'm really saying is: give YOURSELF another chance. Give yourself another chance to believe in others again. Let go of cynicism, which is just a defense mechanism against getting hurt. Doing so will allow you to finally make forward progress again along the spiritual road of discovery. Then you will see that Erased is really a romance, a love letter from the writer to you about life, and actually allowing yourself to chase after fulfillment again.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Dec 10, 2019
Watari-kun no xx ga Houkai Sunzen is not a ground-breaking manga, sure. It rehashes a lot of the common themes you'll find in any harem romantic comedy. However, it is not nearly as silly or reprehensible as many of its fellow stories in the same genre. I only cringed a handful of times while reading it. This discomfort is easily outweighed by appealing leads and attractive character art.
Admittedly, like any reader I have my own tastes and this may be a case of this manga just happening to land in my "strike zone." I really like the Ishihara (Yukari) character,
...
both her appearance and personality. I also enjoy the fact that so far, the story hasn't taken the easy way out and completely run roughshod over the main character's genuine affection for her. A lot of harem romantic comedies like to make the MC into an indecisive prick who bounces around between the female leads. The MC is also a responsible young man who takes life very seriously and is very respectful towards both adults and women. He considers his precarious living situation carefully and is motivated by love and circumstance to think about his future. Just these traits alone place him WAY above the standard harem protagonist.
In both manga and anime, it seems customary to set up some kind of childhood trauma for the main characters and call that "character development" as bits and pieces of the past are revealed. Watari-kun doesn't stray from this formula, and indeed does a rather poor job of developing the backstory in a satisfying way. This is the main weakness of Watari-kun: the quality of the writing is only mediocre. Personally, since events unfolded more or less the way I wanted them to, I was willing to forgive the writer's obvious lack of writing skill and/or actual life experience.
The reviewer who didn't like NTR, I'm sorry, but in 48 chapters there isn't any. Yes, there was a conversation between some students where one asked the other about NTR, but the MC has yet to actually cheat on his one and only. I'm sorry if this is a spoiler but the NTR complaint just felt so unjust I had to address it. Seriously, there are so many misleading MAL reviews. The only reason why this manga is ostensibly harem is because more than one female character likes him and puts him in awkward situations. But this happens in real life; although it may seem being popular is a high-class problem to have, people do get jealous and do things they should not.
Another complaint I saw from more than one reviewer is that main character's little sister keeps calling him "oni chan" and this was part of the reason why they found her annoying. This is just a lack of their understanding of Eastern culture. I don't know how it is in other countries but in both China and Japan you refer to your older siblings by title, NEVER EVER by name. To do otherwise is blatantly disrespectful. Also, while these reviewers found her personality annoying, they don't understand how realistic her character's depiction is. Watari and his sister lost their parents. The main character was forced to take care of her BY HIMSELF as they were passed from relative to relative. Even their aunt, whom they currently live with, is an obvious shut-in who doesn't exactly provide a lot of love and affection. In this situation, it would be strange if the little sister (Watari, Suzushiro) were NOT attached to her older brother. There is nothing inappropriate in their relationship. Suzu does not make sexual advances on her brother, and her attachment is obviously the attachment of a child towards the only stable emotional anchor in her life. Come on, use your common sense. There is no hint of incest or sis-con in this story. Suzu doesn't talk about marrying his brother and even comes to support his relationships as she herself tries to relieve some of the obvious immense pressure on him.
And for the reviewer who found Suzu's presence in the story to be pointless, let me explain it for you: she is mainly there to show us that the main character thinks about the feelings of someone other than himself. When I think back on my experiences in school here in the US, I now believe that many Americans are selfish and spoiled with a very unbecoming sense of entitlement. Perhaps this leads to a lack of understanding and admiration for those who are willing to put the needs of their loved ones before their own.
Watari-kun is definitely worth a read, and I actually think it is quite a bit more romance than harem or even comedy--which is exactly how I like it. How much you like it may depend upon your personal tastes and maybe even your open-mindedness towards the customs of cultures other than your own.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Dec 3, 2019
I feel oddly ambivalent towards Seishun Buta Yarou wa Yumemiru Shoujo no Yume wo Minai, which I'm going to abbreviate as the Pig and Bunny Movie. On the one hand, if you really liked the TV series then this makes a lot of sense as an OVA / movie add-on. It gives you a chance to have a last gathering with Mai, Sakuta and their friends to say farewell. Regarding production values, I would say the Pig and Bunny movie looks and sounds great. You can listen to the fabulous voice acting cast croon that marvelous song as the ending credits
...
roll. So what's not to like?
Well, I'm hard pressed to say the story is any good. I didn't enjoy the pseudo-science in the TV series and I thought it was even more disjointed and cringe-worthy in this movie. The plot seems designed to blatantly fish for an emotional reaction from the viewer. For example, I find Mai and Sakuta to be charming and I really enjoy their conversations. Pig and Bunny tries to leverage this good will and use it to beat you over the head with a melodramatic story arc. Rather than feel moved, I was annoyed. Was it a dream? An exploration of the theory of relativity? I understand modern physics pretty well and maybe that prevented me from enjoying Pig and Bunny more.
So I came out of the movie feeling odd. They got the feel of the various scenes spot-on. Meeting your first love on the beach, a last rendezvous on Christmas Eve, difficult decisions and feeling regret, it's all there. I loved the TV series because I enjoyed the FEEL of the various scenes, complete with the the people who resided therein. However, it's almost as if the writer had these (wonderful) visions in their head and did not know how to stitch it together into a gripping yarn. Instead, we get kind of a strange mish-mash that doesn't flow well and frankly felt like bits and pieces borrowed from better stories.
Should you watch it? if you really, really enjoyed the TV series and you want to have a final farewell party with them, go ahead. For everyone else, it's safe to skip this because it's essentially more of the same, including the same irritating parts.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Nov 29, 2019
Oresuki is an obvious deconstruction of the romance / harem anime genre. It expects that you have watched many romance anime already and know all the tropes present therein. Initially, everything is familiar: the bland MC, the childhood friend, the MC's athletic best friend, a beautiful love interest. However, Oresuki proceeds from there to try and defy your expectations while still playing it relatively straight. All is not as it seems, and there will be several developments coming up that reveal the writer isn't so much going after romantic drama; rather it's about the comedy, the situations, and a recognition of
...
how teenagers actually ARE rather than how they are portrayed in romcoms. Like one of the characters Sumireko, Oresuki the anime is a hidden gem that requires you to relax your skeptical self for a long enough to enjoy the HUMOR, the SATIRE, and the INSIGHT on display. I realize you've been trained in Pavlovian fashion to react a certain way to the archetypes common to romcoms, but just suspend that long enough to engage your brain, please.
Our protagonist Kisaragi looks like he's supposed to: he's drawn so we know he's not particularly handsome, athletic, or gifted academically. He's supposed to be plain and easy for a viewer experience vicariously through. And yet, if you're anything like me, we should hardly be pleased to relate to such a bland character. Zero personality? No traits that stand out? Who would want to hold such a person up as their ideal? If a woman did fall for us, we should be ashamed on her behalf or concerned for her sanity. But it's not very long into the first episode that it's revealed Kisaragi is actually quite conniving, fully aware of the situation he's in, and anything but the "dense" MC that so often appears in anime romcom. He knows full well that in this situation, the childhood friend and the student council president (two of three female leads in this show) SHOULD have feelings for him if they all lived in a harem romcom world and he need only play the nice guy before they reveal this.
At this point, it's no spoiler to tell you it doesn't go this way. And while some reviewers here on MAL are really unhappy with this apparently, it's actually more realistic the way it goes down. Think about it. When you were in high school, did the hot girls go after the dorks with zero personality, humor, charm, or intelligence? If they did at your school, then great, you lived in some strange Twilight Zone. At my school they either went for the athletic ones or the smart ones (or after people who were both). Suggesting otherwise is simply a denial of reality. It's hilarious how the protagonist starts to develop a trauma surrounding park benches because these two "confessions" don't play out the way he would like. Bad personality? I would say that Oresuki dares to say that other romcoms are the unrealistic ones, where a bland MC is able to take any level of abuse or mistreatment without resentment. I'm sorry, I LAUGHED when he called his childhood friend a bitch for USING him to get close to his childhood friend. She was a bitch, but you have to be patient and let HER character develop as well before passing judgment on either of them. Because character development is an important part of any story, don't you know?
Speaking of character development, it's interesting how angry some of these reviewers are about the best friend, Taiyou. He resents the protagonist because a girl in middle school liked Kisaragi instead of him. Hello?! That's about as realistic a plot development as it gets. I believe the emotion is called "jealousy". The thing is, Taiyou is not just about jealousy and crappy guy personality. He also has genuine feelings of friendship for Kiseragi. Why do you think he feels so strongly about things? In my experience, people feel hatred and jealousy most towards people they have some kind of feelings for, otherwise they wouldn't bother. And the show has a few things to say about forgiveness, redemption, and the nature of friendship. Keep watching, keep an open mind, and you might come to see Taiyou in a new light.
And then of course we have Sumireko. She's obviously a bishoujo in disguise. The thing is, we're SUPPOSED to recognize her trope immediately. The author is not thinking "Oh, this girl who is creepy and wears glasses is actually a beauty! Genius." No, clearly the author is relying on you to have seen plenty of other romcoms where this was part of the main plot. Instead, Sumireko is supposed turn this stereotype on its head. Sure, she's beautiful but the main point is that she represents perception and insight. Nearly everybody in high school is putting up some kind of front. They don't believe their true, essential self is worth loving so they do all sorts of things to compensate: put up walls, makup, do sports, put on false airs, adopt false bravado, pretend to like things they really don't, you name it. Sumireko is supposed to represent the ability to cut through all of that crap and see the essentials, see into what matters. You poor MAL reviewers who didn't like her, go back and examine why. Was it because you are afraid of someone seeing you for who YOU really are? Suggesting that she's unrealistic is just completely besides the point. Whether someone like Sumireko actually exists or not in reality (she does, by the way--I have met several people who have at least her level of insight) has no bearing on what the author is trying to say. Instead, the author is trying to ask questions about societal expectations, quality, and the nature of youthful love THROUGH Sumireko.
I can tell I'm getting long winded so I better get back to the point. While writing this I kept thinking, "Well, I don't have any right to tell anyone what they should like, right?" But then I considered, why are you reading reviews on MAL? It's because you want to know if anime like Oresuki is worth watching, right? It is. Don't let the score-of-one (1?!) reviews fool you. It's worth a watch not only because it's intelligent, but also because it's FUNNY. If you take yourself too seriously or are really, really insecure, you might not be amused. Why are some reviewers trying to talk about realism in a romantic comedy? So few of them depict realistic situations. Turn off your insecurity, turn off your desire to criticize, and you might be able to sit back and enjoy the brilliance of Oresuki.
OK, yeah, Oresuki does have some bad writing in it, but it's hard to find an anime without ANY bad ideas. For the most part, it's very funny and entertaining. I don't actually think it's worth a 9, I'm just trying to balance out the ridiculous one point scores assigned here.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
