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This series was are fairly omnipresent during the Summer 2017 season as the notable romance anime of that season. In that, I would also find it very dividing, depending on what you expect out of a romance anime. I'll get more into that as I talk.
Plot: 5/10
The story is fairly generic at best. The plot focuses primarily as Yukari as tries to figure out where his affections truly lie (pun intended), either with his long time crush or his newly assigned wife. The show is heavily character driven, and flops a lot before of that, but more on that later. Pacing is slow, and some ... scenes are just agonizing to watch. Several of the subplots have weak conclusions or flat out lack a conclusion overall. The overall conclusion flies in the face of how a romance story should be told, with the implications and hints built through the story being tossed out in favor of a very predictable ending (for those familiar with harem romantic trends) that ultimately does not satisfy. Finally, in my opinion, much of the backstory to explain the love triangle is really awkward, and unbelievable.
Characters: 5/10
This is being a bit generous giving it a 5 out of 10. The main character, Yukari, is general laughable and boring, the kind of "every man" that we are suppose to project ourselves on, save for a weird obsession with burial mounds (which admittedly are interesting, but do nothing to redeem his character). The two heroines are actually rather distinct from one another, which is good. Only one of the heroines, the assigned wife Ririna shows any character growth beyond her initial introduction. The other significant character is Nisaka, who is often forgotten about anyways. The character interactions are weak and often unbelievable, which doesn't help the character driven plot. Most characters have some kind of subplot which are hinted at but never properly explored.
Animation: 7/10
While stylistically this anime stands out since it employs a less standard style of depiction, the character designs are ugly and/or awkward to look at. Personally, the eyes seem too big for me and result in some awkward camera angles.
Soundtrack: 7/10
Nothing particularly standout about it. The openning is pretty catchy though.
Themes: 5/10
The anime actually had some interesting themes in contrasting love verses lust. Tied into this was the idea of asking what love is. Unfortunately, the exploration of the themes was basically undone with the final conclusions and leaves the viewer ultimately confused. I honestly really like the themes, and the plot did a good job in building the themes up until the last few episodes.
Overall, the anime had plenty of potential but flops on all levels to make it a mediocre watch for future anime fans. This anime will likely fade into obscurity fast. Hope this review helped!

Easily one of my favorite anime, Binchou-tan is an immensely relaxing and adorable slice of life anime. It definitely falls along the same lines as Aria and Tanaka-kun in presenting the viewer with a relaxing and sometimes comical atmosphere.

Plot: 8/10

This anime is the purest essence of slice of life as it can get. Bincho-tan is extremely episodic in episode layout, with only minor plot points interspersed throughout its showing. There is however a surprising depth in the plot found in the titular character Bincho-tan’s backstory. Nonetheless, this presents a relaxing atmosphere for the show and makes it very easy to watch. The very slow pacing ... of the show may be a turn off to some viewers.

Characters: 7/10

The characters of Bincho-tan are all pretty different from one another and round out the cast well. Despite this, all of them aside from Bincho-tan are fairly one dimensional and express little to no development. As a result, they tend to dull as characters once the series continues beyond their initial introduction. On an interesting side note, several of the characters are based on different types of charcoal, as seen by their designs.

Animation: 8/10

The biggest draw to Bincho-tan for me was the animation. The backgrounds are rendered absolutely beautifully. The characters are primarily drawn in a chibi style, and while they are not the best designed, they are extremely cute. The chibi characters may feel childish or just completely off putting to some.

Soundtrack: 10/10

The soundtrack for this anime is extremely well done, setting the relaxing mood of the show perfectly. It is primarily orchestral in composition and easy to enjoy for most viewers.

Themes: 10/10

Bincho-tan is primarily meant to just be an easy show to watch and enjoy, it does have some surprisingly deeper themes. While on the surface it focuses on friendship and helping one another, and does a good job at this, it also shows determination and self-sufficiency as commendable attributes. These are best highlighted in Bincho-tan herself as she goes about daily life almost completely by herself, despite her apparent young age. There are some sadder themes also hinted at, such as the general struggles and loneliness people under tough circumstances undergo, again seen in Bincho-tan.

Score: 8.6/10

Grade: B

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Plot: 7/10

Sankarea carries with it a rather unique plot, tackling the classic zombie genre and turning into a charming yet dramatic romance story. The story does a lot of things right, moving the plot along at an even speed while maintaining tension common for a horror story with various plot developments. The plot deals with very real conflicts, preserving Rea’s body and dealing with her father’s obsession, and do not feel forced at any point. However, the story does take a lot of time to provide backstory for many of the characters, and while this is good for character development, it does steal a ... lot of momentum from the story that is taking place in the present. By spacing out the story via backstories, some of the tension from scenes is lost. The other biggest flaw is the cliffhanger ending, which is only further exasperated by the introduction of another conflict/unexplained phenomena very last minute in the final scenes, leaving the viewer unsatisfied.

Characters: 9/10

The characters for Sankarea are well developed, maybe overdeveloped in some cases (not in a bad way), and have well defined personalities. The main protagonists, Rea and Furuya, are both strong leads with clearly developed personalities. However, some characters feel a bit unoriginal save for a few characteristics. For example, Wanko is the stereotypical childhood, being both a rival and foil for Rea. She is highly aggressive, which helps offset the stereotypical feel she carries. The challenges of the characters, while the details are unique, the general gist of the problem is not surprising. Nonetheless, the character make a strong presence in the anime.

Animation: 10/10

The show has pretty good animation style, that is pretty clean and easy to follow. I find the depictions of the hydrangeas quite beautiful. It offers a lot of surprising visuals that help portray the mood and tension in the series, too.

Soundtrack: 9/10

The soundtrack is not overly impressive, though the closing is among my favorites across all anime. A fair chunk of the soundtrack is acoustic, which is pretty cool. I find the opening kind of annoying, but it is enjoyable to some people.

Themes: 9/10

This series is loaded with themes, both directly addressed and present in symbolic ways. The most prominent symbol is found in the hydrangea, specifically the species Hydrangea macrophylla. This species is native to Japan and is toxic due to a chemical compound in them known as a cyanogenic glycosides. In the language of flowers, this species of flower carries two meanings typically: gratitude and boastfulness. The gratitude relates directly to Rea, who is quick to thank people throughout the series, especially Furuya. The boastfulness relates to Rea’s father, the main antagonist. He is boastful of his daughter and how in the right he is. This boastfulness carries over to another theme: obsession. Both the Furuya and Rea’s father have an obsession that inhibits their character, though to vastly different degrees. Themes relating to life are also present, unsurprisingly, within the series. Sankarea also effectively combines several genres, including romance, horror, and drama to create a unique experience for the viewer. However, saying this genre combination is completely successful would be too far. The anime is plenty appealing on its own, but the inclusion of ecchi elements frequently enough detract from the mood of many scenes, as they feel rather out of place with the rest of the series.

Final Score: 44/50

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Review of Charlotte!

Plot: 7/10

Charlotte offers a slightly atypical look at the common superpower and high school combination genre of anime. Instead of focusing on how these superpowers are harnessed or other common themes, it instead focuses more on the people themselves and how the superpowers afflict multiple aspects of their lives. The plot, however, suffers from poor pacing and disjointed development, all of which can be summed up as convenient. The story moves fairly well for the first couple episodes, but starts getting off mid-series. A major plot point is undone at this point, which just ruins the plot for the rest of show. The ... ending is rushed at best and leaves the viewer with minimal satisfaction, even if all loose ends were tied up. Several plot points are also inconsistent throughout the series, such as the power supposedly being all imperfect but these imperfections only seem to inflict main characters and even then this ends up not being the truth, and things of significance are glanced over, with incomplete or unsatisfying answers to the anime’s biggest questions.

Characters: 7/10

The characters of Charlotte were generally well developed, with their relationships, past, and feelings being covered extensively. They were all also generally likable, and easy enough to relate to. However, unless you got attached to Yu the most, a lot of the characters end up feeling tossed by the wayside, as they were merely filler or had served their purpose and were no longer needed. This to me was extremely frustrating, as the viewer is almost tricked in a way into thinking characters in the beginning with so much build up will have a dominant presence until the end, but this is not so. The main character Yu is also overpowered in a way, but going into that would cause major spoilers. The undoing of one of the plot points also ruins a lot of development, as it is essentially erased. This leaves some later character interactions feeling forced or artificial, stealing emotion from what are suppose to be tender moments.

Animation: 10/10

As to be expected from Key, the animation in Charlotte is absolutely stunning. With well done character designs and beautiful backdrops, the series definitely keeps things afloat with the gorgeous artwork.

Soundtrack: 10/10

Similar to animation, the soundtrack is well done. It helps make up for some of the lost tense or tenderness, due to flaws in plot or characters, in some scenes. The soundtrack makes an excellent effort, and it definitely pays off.

Themes: 9/10

Salvation and redemption are two of the most major themes within Charlotte, and both manifest themselves through Yu. The beginning of the series shows that redemption is being sought from the powers by some people, but this becomes more explicit how much of a burden the powers are. The redemption is not just from the powers, but also from emotional turmoil, which happens at a couple points in the series in a variety of ways. Yu is the primary receiver of the emotional redemption. Salvation also comes due to Yu, who saves a lot of power users, though other character offer a role as savior, though more subtly, such as Nao and Shun. Other good themes are present, such as family relations and dealing with a burden. However, the show loses the impact of these themes to a high degree through primarily the plot reversal and the rushed ending, and this is another momentum killer for the anime.

Final Score: 43/50

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Plot: 6/10

Rozen Maiden: Zuruckspulen has a plot that is a bit more complicated than the previous Rozen Maiden anime. While this definitely makes the plot line more interesting, dealing with multiple worlds, as well as providing a bit more backstory about the nature of the dolls’ existence, it does not handle these concepts as elegantly as one might expected. There is a very rushed introduction episode, which unfortunately assumes some prior knowledge of the manga, and the first few episodes have slowed down, but still very fast. There is also considerable time lapse numerous times in the early episodes, which can feel like chunks of ... the story were missing (granted the time lapse skips over some parts that would’ve been very slow to watch). The pace evens out about midway, and from this point the series is significantly easier to watch and enjoy. However, the starting episodes can be a huge turn off to some. The show is also slow to explain some concepts, and fails to explain some points brought up. The most plot takes place later in the series, like the other seasons. Finally, while the initial conflict is resolved, there is a cliffhanger ending that introduces a whole new conflict, causing the viewer to feel confused and dissatisfied. All this being said, the series does a good job with the actual story telling (pace aside), and is quick to captivate with the complexities and mysteries surrounding the Rozen Maidens. The mood of the entire plot is very serious and suspenseful, filled with a sense of urgency, and even with comedy bits, it never strays from that mood.

Characters: 9/10

One very strong point is that all the characters of Rozen Maiden: Zuruckspulen are developed, to at least to some degree. Most even manage to escape the trap of being static from their introduction onward. The cast is as diverse as ever, with all the dolls, and frequently motivations for the characters is very clear. This allows the viewer to easily connect with one or more character, and enjoy their growth and development. The main character adult Jun is the most flawed character depiction wise, however, as he is somewhat nonreactive early on in the story, even to some things that would scare a normal person, or at least make that person doubt their sanity. His lack of emotion is fixed as the anime continues, turning him into a much more human and relatable character. While this may be the writers hinting at Jun’s depression, it is hard to be definite at this. While the influx of so many characters late in the series can bother some people, these characters still receive strong development.

Animation: 9/10

The biggest problem it seems for old Rozen Maiden fans to reconcile is the differing animation styles between the old Rozen Maiden and Rozen Maiden: Zuruckspulen. While the style is simpler and more reminiscent of the manga style than the original Rozen Maiden anime, I believe it suits the purposes of Rozen Maiden: Zuruckspulen. It leaves the scenes significantly less crowded, and being less stylized, it does not distract the viewer from the story, which is something that cannot be afforded. This aside, the animation is pretty good, and comes with some incredible visuals.

Soundtrack: 9/10

The soundtrack for Rozen Maiden: Zuruckspulen matches the animation style very well, and the opening and ending set the mood and tone of the anime very well. While the uniqueness of some of the soundtrack present in the original Rozen Maiden anime is lost, it is nonetheless quite beautiful.

Themes: 10/10

This anime plays with a variety of themes already present in the old Rozen Maiden, such as identity. However, the themes are expressed throughout and worked upon so as to develop alongside the characters and plot. Primarily, Rozen Maiden: Zuruckspulen toys with the contrasts of regret and redemption. This not only applies to adult Jun, but to many other characters. This creates some interesting comparisons to as to each of them earns their redemption from regrets. The series also deals with accepting fate, something everybody has to deal with at some point in their life. The show makes these themes obvious to the viewer, and expresses them in many ways.

Final Score: 43/50

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Plot: 7/10

The plot of Fruits Basket, at least for the anime, can best be described as a “meet and greet” plot. Most of the series revolves around getting to know various members of the Souma family who are afflicted with the curse. While this is all good in fine, it does not do much to set up a conflict within the story, with the only other major plot point being Tooru’s dealing with living with the Souma family. The series also suffers from an uneven pacing with there being heavy development early and late in the show, while the middle sort of drags, due ... again to the “meet and greet” nature. Lastly, the anime ends leaving the viewer unsatisfied as no matters revolving around the curse have been closed and the ending is very much open ended. While these flaws are rather obvious when watching, they do not detract from the enjoyment of the series as the plot is rather unique, and quite fun.

Characters: 9/10

Fruits Basket best quality is its characters, without a doubt. Most characters receive a strong dose of development, and the Souma family characters are perhaps the most interesting. Their personalities are highly reflective of the Zodiac animal they stand for, and no two are alike. This creates an interesting duality to look at in these characters as most have their Zodiac personality but also how their curse has afflicted their pasts and presents. One flaw is the limited development of Tooru, who while she has plenty of backstory, does not grow nearly as significantly as many other characters in the story do. This weakness is not especially noticeable, however, but is a bit of a let down since she is the primary protagonist. The only other complaint is the lack of introduction to a couple of the Zodiac characters, notably the Horse and the Rooster.

Animation: 9/10

As the animation is a bit old, some viewers may find it off putting or strange. Otherwise, the animation is pretty decent and clear, and does not detract quality wise from the show.

Soundtrack: 9/10

The soundtrack does a good job of setting moods for each scene, and for the most part is enjoyable. However, the opening does a poor job early on of setting the mood, as the series is generally more lighthearted early on and becomes more serious as one moves along. As such, the opening seems a bit out of place.

Themes: 10/10

The themes in Fruits Basket revolve around family and acceptance most often, as much of what the plot deals with is Tooru accepting the Souma family’s secret. One major recurring element within the series is the seeming lightheartedness of the curse actually hides a lot of tragedy. The series deals a lot with how one’s past determines a character present day personality, and how people mask how they are feeling. Overall, the anime carries very powerful themes that everyone should consider. These themes are never lost either, as the series does a good job of not straining from its serious undertones even during the more comedy oriented moments. The tension of the series builds the whole way through, but is unresolved at the end, again due to the plot being cut short.

Final Score: 44/50

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This is ironically one of my favorite anime. I tried my best to be unbiased in the review though. I also reviewed as a short, not as a full anime

Plot: 7/10

Hakone-chan has a bit more plot than the typically short, with the conflict spanning over several episodes and the story moving forward. The first five episodes focus heavily on the initial problem of Hakone-chan getting her power back, but beyond this point, the story becomes more loose and less focused. A plot returns around the last few episodes, where the series tries to be more serious as opposed to the primary comedy aspect it carries. ... The conflict at the beginning of the series also seems to have faded in significance, and a new conflict had emerged, which something else I take trouble with. Granted, the whole purpose of the anime is serve for an advertisement for Hakone, and other hot spring regions in Japan, and it does a decent job at this. Most people agree that the series could have been into a full length anime, but I digress. Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan has an actual plot (to a degree), more than most shorts I have seen.

Characters: 7/10

Again, length prevents the series from developing characters too much, but the characters are all pretty good at sticking to their original characterization. It is a bit confusing at the beginning who the initial main character is, but it becomes easy to guess that it is the titular character Hakone-chan. There is not too much to put about the characters, other than they are pretty likeable and fit into the show well.

Animation: 6/10

The animation is the biggest suffering point for Hakone-chan. It seems rushed, and the backgrounds for scenes tend to be sort of poor. While it is by no means the worse animation out there, it is nothing stellar.

Soundtrack: 8/10

The soundtrack is pretty decent, and serves the purposes of the show. However, the opening song may come across as annoying to some people, though I personally like it. Overall, the soundtrack is pretty general.

Themes: 7/10

As both a short show and one that is meant to act as an advertisement, there aren’t any heavy themes being promoted. Beyond stuff like the “power” of the hot springs and the importance of tourism, the show offers subtle themes on the importance of serving others. Many of the characters are willing to help others out, though several are still motivated by selfish reasoning. The comedy in this show is nothing really original, but is still fairly entertaining and a quick laugh. The more serious parts of the show, which granted also ruin the comedy vibe, may prove difficult to muscle through.

Final Score: 35/50

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