- Last OnlineOct 26, 2021 10:32 PM
- JoinedJul 6, 2016
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Dec 28, 2018
It goes without saying that the Second World War had an immense impact on Japanese culture and society. Depictions of the conflict in anime and manga have typically shown the nation’s part in the global event in a sympathetic light, which is in contrast to Western media. The pacifistic attitudes of the new generation of Japanese people comes is justifiable, given the country’s status as the only country to have been attacked with nuclear weapons. Regardless of one’s opinions towards the controversial nature of Japanese involvement in the Second World War, it is hard to deny the horrific nature of these weapons.
Following in the the
...
same vein as “Grave of the Fireflies,” “In This Corner of the World” is a manga written and illustrated by Fumiyo Kouno that primarily focuses on the everyday life of civilian and Hiroshima resident Suzu Hojo during the final years of the war. Throughout these years,, a myriad of issues occur, ranging from maintaining relationships with her new family to surviving American bombing raids. It’s a tale that’s rife with conflicts small and large. Suzu is a captivating heroine because of how relatable she is. In spite of the global scale of the war, the manga’s focus on her life creates a sense of intimacy that is oftentimes lost when it comes to depictions of the Second World War. War is never glorified in this story, and aside from inherent pacificistic undertones, there is no political message. This is not a story meant to serve as propaganda or attempt to victimize the Japanese; rather, it is a story about just surviving and living.
There is a sense of ongoing tension in the story. Hiroshima’s status as one of the two cities that the nuclear bombs were used on is a fact that is almost universally known. As such, readers are constantly aware that the story will involve this major event in some shape or form. As the story progresses, it is hard to not feel anxious for the diverse cast of characters present. Kouno effectively uses history as a way of driving reader engagement, rather than using it as just an excuse to artificially draw sympathy and empathy from its readers.
The story isn’t all doom and gloom, however, as there are light-hearted moments spread throughout. Even amidst the tragedies and obstacles that frequent her life as a result of the war, Suzu and the other characters find moments to smile as well. There are ups and downs in life, and “In This Corner of the World” shows us the human side of a war that is so often glamorized in media.
I will mention that there isn’t a particularly strong narrative thread connecting the events in the story. The story is arguably disjointed at points, but it is my opinion that this was intentional on the mangaka’s part. While this style of storytelling is effective at points, there is a lack of closure for some plot elements that are to the manga’s detriment. However, as a whole, Suzu’s tale is cohesive and wraps up well for the most part, although there will be some points that will require reader speculation.
Kouno’s art is a strong point in this manga. The art is aesthetically pleasing, although not overly complicated. There is an underappreciated simplicity in her drawing. There are occasional coloured inserts which look like watercolour, which carries on her minimalistic theme. Backgrounds are drawn in a very unique manner, with a mixture of styles that varies depending on context. Even if one did not find the story particularly engaging, it is hard to deny the appeal of Kouno’s illustrations.
To conclude, “In This Corner of the World” is a look into the lives of ordinary people who just happen to be caught up in a war. I highly recommend everyone to at least give this manga a shot.
I would also like to take the time to say that the anime adaptation of the source material is also absolutely fantastic as well. It is a highly faithful rendition of the story that is on par with the manga.
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
![]()
Aug 25, 2018
Isekai is an oversaturated light novel genre. They are, in my opinion, the light novel equivalents of Hollywood blockbuster action flicks.
With oversaturation comes a dramatic decline in quality, as authors write highly derivative works that do nothing to enhance the genre as a whole. Enjoyable as they may be, the recent upsurge in these novels have resulted in a sense of complacency both for authors and readers alike. Gems like “Grimgar” and “Re:Zero” are hard to come across, which is why for the longest time, I have avoided premises revolving around being lost in another world.
However, one day, as I was browsing the web
...
for more light novels to read, I came across a series by the name of “How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom.” Tagged as being isekai, I nearly brushed it off completely. It had an unremarkable cover, with its only selling point being its rather interesting title.
Little did I know that that very night, I would be using my precious sleeping time to binge on the adventures of an economics student and his quest to reform a declining kingdom. It’s a tale that, while not necessarily outstanding, has enough of a spin on the genre that makes it fresh and fun to read.
“Realist Hero” focuses on protagonist Kazuya Souma, who finds himself summoned to another world and promptly crowned the king of the land. It is there he finds that he is essentially a chosen one whose destiny is to bring change to the era. What distinguishes this from other isekai is that his way of bringing change is not through some mystical power (which he does possess), but through the laborious task of reforming the entire country’s infrastructure. His first task is not defeating some demon lord, but cross-checking the nation’s finances to see if additional funds and resources can be scrounged to pay off a neighboring country.
Using his knowledge of economics and social engineering, Souma leads a gang of motley characters on a quest to bring societal change one paperwork at a time. Never had I expected to be given a review on national fiscal policy from a light novel, but “Realist Hero” manages to make such boring topics not only interesting, but a focal point of the entire story.
Although “Realist Hero” does fall under common isekai tropes, it does so in a way that fits within the context of the story. Examples include how the plain-looking Souma becomes the centre of attention of a harem. Its standard isekai fare in a sense, but “Realist Hero” explains a lot of these logically within the context of its setting. In the aforementioned example for instance, a character explains that given the high mortality rates, having multiple spouses was not only acceptable, but recommended. Some may look as this as a way to simply justify the novel having a harem, but I appreciate the effort made by the author to at least make it realistic in a sense (even if I personally don’t condone harems and polygamy).
Of course, the story isn’t perfect by any means. Aside from Souma and his (arranged) fiance Liscia, the primary cast of characters have very little meaningful depth to them. They are enjoyable to read about, but very few characters outside of the main duo really stand out aside from being there to support the two. With the high amount of side stories present in each volume, I found myself skimming over chapters in hopes of getting back to Souma’s point of view.
For a light novel, the art is (extremely) reminiscent of Type-Moon. It does the job in my opinion, although I do find that the character designs leave much to be desired. They come across as being extremely generic, although these did not detract strongly from the experience, given that light novels, in my opinion, should be judged primarily from its writing.
All in all, aside from some weak characterization at times, “Realist Hero” is an enjoyable isekai series that stands above its competitors thanks to its interesting take on what it means to be a hero in another world.
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
![]()
Aug 4, 2018
(I have just finished the fourth volume of the series, which at the time of this review, is also the latest one published in both Japan and abroad.)
Reki Kawahara, the writer of the (in)famous “Sword Art Online” light novel series, has been a polarizing figure in the minds of many anime and light novel fans alike. While he undoubtedly has very good premises, they are often marred by poor execution and writing, which has made Kawahara notorious.
But nowadays, more and more people are beginning to see that Kawahara has begun to show great improvement in his more recent works. For instance, his reboot of
...
the original “Sword Art Online” series, under the name “Sword Art Online Progressive” has been lauded as not only redeeming the flawed SAO series, but also acclaimed for being a well-written light novel in general. The new Alicization arc of the mainline “Sword Art Online” light novel series has received similar acclaim, with a heavily anticipated anime adaptation on the way.
But of course, it would not be proper to judge the quality of his latest series, “The Isolator,” by just taking a look at his other series. I only spend so much time talking about Kawahara’s improvements in his writing because I firmly believe that “The Isolator” is potentially the most cohesive and well-written stories he has created.
Plot-wise, “The Isolator” focuses on the struggles of troubled and angsty teen Minoru Utsugi, who has been left emotionally and mentally scarred by the traumatic loss of his family at a young age. As a result, Minoru spends his time closing himself off from the outside world. But this all changes when he is given powers from a mysterious orb that falls from the sky, known as the Third Eye. And thus begins the action-packed adventures of Minoru Utsugi, who finds himself involved in a conflict between superpowered heroes and villains.
It’s admittedly a fairly generic plot. But while “The Isolator” lacks the creative premises that Kawahara’s other works possess, it makes up for it in its execution.
In all of the volumes so far, Kawahara writes from the perspectives of both the protagonists and antagonists equally. Readers are given the opportunity to experience the story from two different points of view, which is effective in not only revealing more context to character actions and motivations, but also heightens the stakes. Kawahara writes villains with the complexity and depth afforded to the heroes.
When it comes to fights, Kawahara excels with his vivid but concise descriptions of combat. Many light novels fail to make combat exciting to read, but the author manages to make it as exciting as seeing it on a shounen anime series.
The novels’ good writing is also complimented by illustrations which show up every few dozen pages. Light novel enthusiasts like me will undoubtedly appreciate the high-quality pictures of key moments in “The Isolator.”
But of course, this series is far from perfect.
Oftentimes, Kawahara’s in-novel explanations can also feel stilted and drawn out. Sometimes I can't help but skim over his page long explanations of scientific concepts present in the novel. There are times when it feels like I’m not reading a light novel, but rather a science textbook.
The villains, while engaging, can also feel cartoonish at times, which can feel at odds with the darker tone of the novel. Sometimes villain backstories seem rather strange, although this is less of a quality issue as much as it is an oddity that may or may not affect your opinion of the novel as a whole.
In addition, some characters get shoved to the sidelines and don’t feel like they serve any purpose thematically. Some of Minoru’s new colleagues are introduced, then quickly forgotten about. Thankfully, the characters that do receive attention are written well and are generally engaging and likeable.
The novels also feel highly formulaic. There is a “monster-of-the-week” style with each novel, which may or may not appeal to readers. “The Isolator” has its own fair share of tropes and cliches that it employs, many of which should be familiar to avid light novel readers.
But nonetheless it still trumps Kawahara’s other works. Minoru Utsugi is a well-written character with genuine character development. In fact, the entire cast has undeniable chemistry, which makes them feel real and relatable. No relationship or dialogue feels tacked on.
If you’re looking for a well-written superhero(?) light novel series, you can’t go wrong with Kawahara’s latest work. It may not be his most unique, but it might be his most engaging one yet.
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
![]()
Aug 3, 2018
(While I have tried my best to avoid spoilers pertaining to the source material and this novel, I believe that any person reading this review will benefit most if they have already seen or read the original series.)
Poignant and inspiring, “Your Lie in April” was a story that truly captured the hearts of those who have either read the manga or seen its anime adaptation. Even today, I find myself thinking constantly about it. It is undoubtedly one of the most memorable tales in any form of media to this day.
So when I heard that “Your Lie in April: A Six-Person Etude,” which serves as
...
a companion novel to the original series, had been translated into English, I was excited to have the opportunity to revisit some of my favorite characters and gain further insight into the plot as a whole.
But while I did somewhat enjoy the novel, there were several noticeable flaws which prevent it from detracted from the experience.
“Etude” is not as much one story as much as it is a series of interconnected tales written from the perspectives of several key figures from the source material. These stories help paint a detailed picture of what Kousei’s life was like prior to and during some of the events of the manga.
Unfortunately, in its six chapter span, “Etude” suffers from a feeling of drawn-out repetition that plagues the novel. This is especially obvious in the first half of the book.
Takeshi Aiza and Emi Igawa, each of whom are given their own chapters, tell a nearly identical story to one another AND the source material, which makes their inclusion into the novel feel unnecessary. The fact that their chapters make up a large portion of “Etude” feels like wasted potential (and space). Their stories are simply rehashes of their original arcs in the manga and anime. Nothing is gained from reading their chapters.
The rest of the chapters are decent, with the standout chapter being Ryota Watari’s, which really goes in-depth about the relationship between Ryota and Kaori. One of my complaints about the original was that Ryota felt sidelined in terms of the plot. Thankfully, the author adds some much-needed insight into Ryota’s thoughts.
Disappointingly, however, Kaori Miyazono’s two chapters add little to the series. While they do start and close the novel with some well-placed emotion, I really wished they did something more with her character in the novel, given that she is arguably the driving force behind the entire series.
To conclude, “Etude” is a flawed entry in the series. Aside from that one great chapter, the novel suffers from a great deal of wasted potential. I don’t regret reading the novel, as it was definitely nice returning to “Your Lie in April” just one more time, but I really wish there was more to this novel.
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
![]()
May 17, 2018
Minor spoiler or two, but nothing major.
I’ve gotten halfway into the series at the time of this review, and the only thing I can really say about “Caligula” is that it’s a fun mess.
Character development is rushed, the story is all over the place, and the show’s tone seems to fluctuate from minute to minute. There were times where I had to pause an episode and try to rack my brains around why a certain character would do something. While some of these questions become answered as the episodes go on, some were left unanswered, leaving some lingering questions that may never be answered
...
in a satisfying matter. One of the worst examples of this would potentially be the third episode, in which the show has one of its characters deliver straight exposition to explain to the audience the circumstances under which our protagonists fine themselves in.
“Caligula” is, in my opinion, a show that would be far better if it showed its audiences, rather than telling them. Sometimes protagonists blurt out obvious things to tell the audience what’s going on, as if we were not intelligent enough to catch on. I understand that there are many anime series that do this, but “Caligula” is a show that would have benefited greatly from not doing so.
But that isn’t too say it’s a terrible show. In fact, I am genuinely surprised by the low rating of the show, which at the moment is at a 6.38. As flawed as the show can be, “Caligula” has so much going for it as well. It succeeds in building excitement through some stunning visuals and storytelling. There is a clear sense of style that the show is going for, comparable to that of the Persona 3 movie adaptations (which shouldn’t be surprising, given the obvious Persona influences). Not to mention, the music does a great job of setting the tone (especially the first song you hear coming into the show).
I’m enjoying “Caligula,” but I also recognize that if it were perhaps more consistent with its tone and better planned thematically, it would have been definitely something that could have been bigger in the anime community.
If you’re looking for a series that’s stylish, well-animated, and exciting, “Caligula” is definitely something you should take a look at. It’s not the best out there, but it is worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the next six episodes will go.
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
![]()
Jan 20, 2018
There’s something absolutely mystifying about the Phantasy Star Online 2 anime.
While it is objectively bad, with poor animation and cliched storytelling (which seems to be the norm with anime tie-ins with video game franchises), the show has managed to become something that I have found myself rewatching over and over and over and over.
Before I elaborate, I’d like to first mention that I’d like to imagine that I have fairly decent taste in anime, but of course, some may also question why I decided to give the universally panned “Guilty Crown” a rather flattering score of 8. In other words, take my opinion with a
...
grain of salt.
Anyways, the thing about the PSO2 anime is that while it is not a good show by any means, it is a rather enjoyable watch because of how it manages to strictly follow the formula of a generic adventure / SOL anime. It is terribly consistent, but it’s its consistency that makes PSO2 such a enjoyable show.
You are introduced to a Itsuki, who is a generic but likable anime protagonist. You are then introduced to a cast of characters that are equally generic but likable. And finally, you are given a plot that is generic enough to be uninteresting, but well-executed enough to somehow keep you watching until the end.
What I am trying to say is that PSO2 is so damn generic and predictable that it manages to be engaging.
I am assigning this show a score of 5, because while I have probably rewatched the show at least three times while taking a break from other shows, it is still objectively bad. The animation and CG is poor, and the plot is still generic as hell.
But if you’ve got time to kill, and you’re looking for a generic show to just relax and turn your brain off, then you could do a whole lot worse than watch this one.
The general consensus from the reviews I’ve read appear to suggest that this show is okay. They’re right.
It’s okay.
The best “okay” show.
I guess?
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
![]()
Nov 8, 2017
“Wake Up, Girls!” (WUG) came out in 2014 without much fanfare. While it wasn’t completely unknown to viewers at the time, it was definitely not a show that many paid attention to. Marred by poor production values and a plot that failed to really shine against its competitors, WUG never really managed to be a major player in the idol anime genre.
But nonetheless, it was a remarkable series in its own right. While more popular idol series like “The Idolm@ster” and “Love Live!” gave an idealized version of life as an idol, WUG always had a grounded approach in regards to how it represented
...
its young idols. Life as a young star was not as glamourous as it seemed. It was a life filled with competition, stress, and bottom lines. Producers were not there to help their girls achieve their dreams. They were, for the most part, there to ensure that their stars were profitable and marketable. WUG’s willingness to show this side of the business stood out to me, which is why I have always been on the lookout for WUG-related media.
So how does the “Wake Up, Girls! Shin Shou” (WUGSS) fare?
Not too well.
Firstly, I will admit that I didn’t head into this new season with very high expectations. People who have read my review on the last entry of the series, “Beyond the Bottom,” will note that I had a rather low opinion of the movie. In my opinion, none of the entries that followed the original series were able to capture the feeling that WUG had. And unfortunately, it appears that this series is no different.
I have a fair share of issues with this season, which is why I am not surprised to see that the show has had such low scores on MyAnimeList.
Firstly, I thought it was impossible for the animation for the WUG series to get any worse. As I mentioned before, WUG had a rather poor production values, which I was hoping would be fixed when WUGSS came around. For whatever reason, the new animation team has not only failed to improve the animation quality, but has managed to make the art shoddier than before. One prime example would be the dance and singing sequences which, unsurprisingly, are the crux of any musical idol series.
Rather than utilizing traditional animation for these sequences, we have been given CGI sequences that are ugly as hell. For those of you that have played mobile idol games like “Idolm@ster: Theater Days,” I am about to tell you that your mobile game boasts far better animation than this animation series. I understand that this may seem like I’m exaggerating, but the animation is so damn choppy for the CGI that I was beginning to worry that my monitor was beginning to lag.
When you finally get to the fifth episode (assuming you last that long), you will begin to realize that the animation has devolved to the point that you are literally watching a glorified powerpoint. WUG has taken animation shortcuts before, but never on the scale of WUGSS, which has led me to believe that either the animation team was completely absent that day, or that they somehow ran out of budget and decided to take an Evangelion-esque approach to animation.
If I had to sum up the story, I would say that it is just alright. There are glimpses of the harsh idol industry that was so well-captured in WUG, but those moments are few and far inbetween. Perhaps there’s more to the story, but at the time of this review, I have decided to drop this season at episode 5. I don’t expect the show to get any better in its remaining episodes. I would love to be proven wrong, but as of now, the show is not very good. If anyone reading this review would like to let me know if this show has gotten any better near the end, I would appreciate it if they send me a message sometime. I don’t expect much in any case.
The only real positive thing I have to say would be in regards to the music and voice-acting. As always, the musical talents from the real-life Wake Up, Girls! Have come to bless us again with their catchy and phenomenal tunes. Although not as great as WUG’s opening “7 Girls War,” “7 Senses” is a decent opening song that lives up to its predecessors. It’s a shame that the opening animation is absolutely terrible.
All in all, “Wake Up, Girls! Shin Shou” is an example of sequel that fails to improve upon itself. Its poor animation makes the original look like a masterpiece, while its mediocre and forgettable story prevents it from being anything but missed potential.
I can’t even recommend this to the most dedicated of WUG fans.
I’d stick with the real-life Wake Up, Girls! if I were you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Sep 4, 2017
(This review may contain several spoilers up to volume 10, which is a little bit over what the anime series covers. I don’t believe that my review will ruin your experience, but if you’re coming in new, I recommend you AT LEAST have either read up to volume 9, or have seen the anime series in its entirety.)
I’m absolutely surprised nobody’s written a review for this series yet, so here I go.
The magical high school genre isn’t particularly anything new in light novels, anime, and manga. If anything, I would daresay that it is perhaps one of the most overused ones across all three mediums.
...
As a result, people who watch or read these types of works will eventually find similarities and shared tropes that will actually prove detrimental to the experience as a whole.
But that’s not saying that everything that comes out of this genre is mediocre or bad. It just takes a whole lot more effort to make a series stand out, which is something that many writers who write magical high school stories struggle with. In my opinion, the genre itself isn’t chosen because it gives potential to in-depth characters that are intriguing and thought-provoking, but rather because it’s the one of the most marketable ones. Light novels are written to make money.
But sometimes there are magical high school light novels that try to change everything. They try to innovate and stand out.
“Tokyo Ravens” is definitely not one of those novels.
At least not until volume 10, which is far into the series.
You see, “Tokyo Ravens” initial few volumes doesn’t do much to distinguish itself as a unique entry in an already saturated market of magical high school stories. It was almost by chance that I decided to give this novel series a shot.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Story-wise, “Tokyo Ravens” tells the story of Harutora Tsuchimikado, an unremarkable high school student who belongs to the Tsuchimikado clan; a family renowned for their magical prowess. However, due to his inability to wield magic, he has long since been ignored and disregarded, living his days peacefully in the countryside with his friends. For all purposes intent, he is basically supposed to be the “stand-in” character for the readers.
His far more capable cousin, Natsume Tsuchimikado, is being groomed to be the heir of the family. Also, she is rumored to be the reincarnation of Yakou Tsuchimikado, whose actions resulted in a great magical disaster in Japan. Oh, and one more thing, she’s female. The reason why I point out that she’s female should be rather obvious to those who have read light novels similar to this. She is, unsurprisingly, the childhood friend / love interest character that we should all be quite familiar with.
After a series of exciting events happen, Harutora finds his peaceful ordinary life disrupted, resulting in him going to a magical high school in Tokyo. What follows is the typical magical high school story. You’ll have your fair share tsunderes, some intense fight sequences, and whatnot. Standard fare.
It wasn’t until the end of the ninth volume (which as mentioned before, is coincidentally the last volume the anime covers) that I felt really excited to see what was going to happen next.
This is because the story goes into overdrive at the beginning of volume 10. The series suddenly feels like it has shifted genres. We are thrown into an entirely new storyline that has a completely different character focus. “Tokyo Ravens” is no longer about a student entering a fairly generic magic high school, but rather an entire internal conflict between magical factions in Japan.
The arcs that go past the high school arc feel like a whole different beast in itself. Characters, although not necessarily entirely free of their stereotypes, begin to have a level of intrigue and mystery to them. It is not to say that character development has never existed, but the evolution of our two leads, Harutora and Natsume, exceeds anything I would have expected of a light novel series of this genre.
This is what I meant when I said that “Tokyo Ravens” doesn’t start to stand out until it’s past its tenth volume. The true story of “Tokyo Ravens” begins after nine volumes. In my opinion, the previous nine were merely there to provide the readers with enough background to fully dive into the story. Volume 10 onwards is simply something else. It is almost an entirely different series.
I am enjoying “Tokyo Ravens” so far. Despite its weaker start, this light novel series gets better with each coming volume. It’s not the greatest light novel I’ve read, but it’s definitely one of the stronger ones out there. If you’re into magical high school stories, you’ll probably like this one. If you don’t, then I’d still advise you to stick around, because the more recent volumes truly make grinding through the initial nine volume worth it.
It’s really a shame no Western publisher is picking this series up. The translations we have so far are top-notch, but it’s still a relatively obscure title even in the anime, manga, and light novel communities.
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
![]()
Jul 14, 2017
(This review contains minor spoilers for the second season, along with spoilers from the first. Spoilers from the second season are rather minor details, so they will not affect your viewing of the show.)
The first season of “Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt” is, in my opinion, the defining Gundam entry for this generation. Many Gundam series attempt to convey the message of the brutality of war to its viewers. For an entire franchise centred around the idea of gigantic robots fighting one another, the Gundam series has always had some anti-war undertones amongst its exciting stories. That being said, the first season of “Thunderbolt” was no
...
exception. It weaved a tale of pain, brutality, and tragedy unprecedented in any Gundam series before it. Not even the dark “Iron-Blooded Orphans,” a recent Gundam series about child soldiers, was close to demonstrating the dark nature of war and conflict like “Thunderbolt” was able to.
So how does the second season fare?
Thankfully, very well. “Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Season 2” (which I will call “Thunderbolt 2” for the duration of this review) is another look at the struggles of warfare.
Story:
In this season, both Io Flemming and Daryl Lorenz, the leads of their respective factions, are given further insight in regards to their lives after their fateful duel. Viewers are given a look as to the aftermath of the horrific events of the first season. Both of our heroes (or villains, depending on your outlook) have to come to terms with their losses incurred. For Io, it is the loss of Claudia, while for Daryl, it is the loss of Karla.
Of course, this season isn’t just about these two characters’ losses. Rather, it is the ongoing conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon. I have one complaint this season however, and that would be that there is an imbalance between the stories of both sides unlike the first season. To put it bluntly, the Earth Federation’s side of the story was far more interesting and exciting than that of Zeon. While this isn’t an issue in itself, I would have liked to have more of a balance between the two, as I felt at many times that the second season was more Earth Federation-centric than usual. The first season really gave us a chance to look at Zeon from a more human perspective, and while that still continues in the second season, I felt that it was rather dampened.
I won’t go into too much detail, but expect the show to begin introducing themes of religious extremism into the mix.
Yes, that’s right. While hints of a religious cult have always been in the shows, viewers are about to see their entry into the series.
Animation:
“Thunderbolt” has some great animation.
The art style has a rugged look to it that fits with the style of the series. In addition, the fight sequences are well-choreographed and look like legitimate fights. Many Gundam series venture into the fantastical when it comes to combat, but the combat in “Thunderbolt” is realistic, brutal, and well-thought out. By the way, if you like GMs and other grunt units, this is going to be like heaven.
I'd also like to add that there is a jaw-dropping amount of details in regards to the mechanical aspects of the mobile suits. Take some time to pause every once in a while. You'll notice some insane amounts of detail.
Sound:
Jazz has been a major component of the musical score in the first season of “Thunderbolt.” This continues in the second season as well. Some might disagree, but the dissonance between upbeat jazz music and the brutality of war depicted on screen is perhaps one of the best things to come out of this series.
The voice-acting is great. I’ve never been able to articulate my opinions adequately in regards to voice acting in general, but I will say that the voices behind Io and Bianca are outstanding.
Character:
For this section, I will be focusing only on Daryl (who I feel has had the worst characterization this season) and Bianca (a newcomer who I felt was a fantastic addition to the series).
Daryl Lorenz is my favorite character, but I felt that his story this season was severely underdeveloped. I am aware that strong character development should not be expected in a four episode net series, but this does not hide the fact that he had relatively little growth. Many may disagree, but it is my opinion that Daryl was somewhat inconsequential in this season, which is disappointing given his massive role in the first.
While there are many new characters in this entry, the most notable would be Bianca, who is a fellow Earth Federation pilot alongside Io Flemming. Her chemistry with Io Flemming is some of the best I’ve seen. Their combined love of jazz and their impressive piloting skills make them a fun pair to watch on and off the battlefield.
The rest of the characters are pretty great as well, but it was Daryl and Bianca that really shaped my score for this category.
Enjoyment:
This show is a blast to watch. There’s more intrigue and action than you can shake a manipulator at. The gritty and mature plot will certainly appeal to those looking for a darker version of this beloved franchise, while the excellent animation will definitely appeal to those simply wanting some mecha fighting action.
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
![]()
May 31, 2017
It’s been three years since the first season of “Aldnoah.Zero” aired. Having not been made aware of the series until several weeks ago, I decided to jump in with a fresh perspective, free from the hype that had surrounded it during its release.
I have given this show a score of 8, which to many people, may seem like a ridiculously high score for a show that is supposedly one of the greatest disappointments of the 2014 anime season.
The first season of “Aldnoah.Zero” is a standard mecha anime series that makes up for its lack of originality with its ability to make you want
...
to see more. Some reviewers have likened this show to trainwrecks like the infamous “Guilty Crown,” criticizing its poorly conceived characters and overall lack of depth. Others have mentioned that this show is another example of “style over substance,” claiming that the story was forsaken for the sake of grand nonsensical action sequences.
But here are my own thoughts, some of which don’t necessarily agree with the opinions held by many others.
Story:
“Aldnoah.Zero” tells the story of a war between Earth and Mars (known as Vers) after an assassination attempt is made on the Versian princess during her peaceful visit to Earth. It’s a setup that isn’t all that interesting or special, but enough to get the story going.
We are introduced to Inaho, who is a teenage tactical prodigy that manages to help fight the overwhelming Martian forces with his wit and talent. His sheer audacity and plans help turn the tide against the invaders. He and his friends must now escort the Martian princess to safety in hopes of ending the war between their planet and Mars.
It’s not that special of a story, but it’s not that bad of one either. If you like franchises like Gundam, you’ll probably find something to like in this series as well. It’s nowhere as good as Gundam, but it’s worth one’s watch.
Animation:
The animation is clean and flawless. Although I usually criticize shows for using too much CGI, “Aldnoah.Zero” uses the technology extremely well. Not once did I ever feel that its usage was out of place.
Fight scenes are choreographed extremely well, characters are consistently drawn in terms of quality, and the overall design is nothing short of amazing.
The show’s animation is where it shines.
Sound:
For sound, I want to focus on the music. Hiroyuki Sawano’s composing never fails to disappoint, so I am pleased to say that his music helps elevate the experience. Without him, the dramatic moments in the show would not have as great of an impact.
Some people may disagree, but I found that the opening song for the series, “heavenly blue,” may be one of the best opening songs. I have never skipped through it while I was watching the show. It is one of those songs that makes you feel excited. The entire song, if I have to summarize it in one word, would be “dramatic”.I’ve never been able to articulate my feelings in regards to music too well, so my own suggestion for you is to simply listen to it.
Character:
For the most part, the show manages to create likable characters. However, likable does not equate to good characters. For instance, we have our main protagonist, Inaho, who is so plain and lacks any recognizable characteristic other than his unusual talent for recognizing how to destroy supposedly unstoppable Martian machines. I like cool-headed protagonists as much as the next guy, but Inaho literally lacks any personality or emotion.
On the other hand, the second protagonist, Slaine, manages to steal the show. He may actually be one of the only characters in the show that develops in any way. Unlike most of the characters on the Earth side, Slaine is a compelling character who I was more excited to watch than anyone else on the show. It escapes me as to why Slaine was not the main focus of the series. He was perhaps the only character I truly felt for.
But as I mentioned before, the show has likable characters. And although they aren’t particularly strongly written ones, they were ones that I enjoyed watching whenever they came on the screen. I just wished that they were given more depth in order for viewers to truly come to emphasize with them.
Oh and I suppose some people might say that Lieutenant Marito is a character who is given a lot of depth, but to be honest, the series would have been more or less the same without him. It’s a shame that the work put into his story wasn’t put into another character’s instead.
Enjoyability:
I enjoyed it for what it was. It doesn't have the best characters or story, but it did have some genuinely exciting and dramatic moments. "Aldnoah.Zero" is probably not an anime that I will remember in the far future, but one that I will think fondly of if I ever come across it again in the future.
It gets a 8 from me because it was highly enjoyable. It's not the best mecha anime out there, but it is definitely one that I wouldn't mind seeing again.
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
|
