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Makoto Shinkai is currently one of the fan-favorite directors in the world of Japanese animation, arguably second to Hayao Miyazaki. His previous work, Your Name, is considered as the best of all his works. Inevitably, this creates an unintended expectation over his next work, which turns out to be Weathering With You. The first time I heard about Shinkai’s next project, I was thrilled. Subjectively speaking, one of his movie, 5 Centimeters Per Second, is my one of my favorite animated movie of all time, so I’m damn excited for this one. Considering the big amount of expectations, plus seeing the trailer so masterfully composed, ... I believe this movie would be an enjoyable ride.

I watched this movie on a screening yesterday, the first to be held in my country. I believed the studio is full, so I’m pretty glad to see the enthusiasm of the audience. I have to say that Weathering With You is not the second Your Name, or the conclusion of all Shinkai’s works, or even the mixed of Shinkai’s films. Weathering With You is a movie with its own identity, so I’m trying my best not to compare it to the other movies.

First, I’d like to talk about things that aren’t suited to my preferences, which is mainly the characters. The characters are mostly bland, and this later resulted in my view of the romance story. Hodaka and Hina aren’t very memorable, I almost forgot their names on my way home. For me, the movie failed to make me attached to the characters, especially when the movie itself teases so much of the side characters that it seems the plot somewhat focuses more on them. I would like to see more of Hodoka and Hina moments tho, especially the cute and adorable moments. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t exactly do that. Moreover, the romance itself isn’t the type that I prefer, so that will be a bigger subjective case. From my point of view, the sudden romance’s emphasis felt really unnatural. The pace is somewhat slow and steady on the first 2/3 part of the film, and suddenly it throttles itself into an engaging ‘what should I do’ situation in the last 1/3 part. There’s one sequence which includes action, but it’s kind of predictable so it’s not as tense as it meant to be. It tries to be climatic but failed shortly.

With all of these negatives, I would also state some of the cool aspects that Weathering With You has, especially the visuals and the sound factor. Whilst the characters are not suitable for me, the visuals surely are, as always from a Makoto Shinkai movie. The little details were carefully crafted, and the animations were fluid. The only minor downside is the CGI part (appeared in the action sequence) that could be polished more, but else than that, it was marvelous. For the sound part, I’m extremely satisfied with the comeback of RADWIMPS in Weathering With You, especially the song “Is There Still Anything That Love Can Do?”. I was awestruck when the scene played the song, that magical feeling still exists on this one. The rain sound effect is also great, sometimes you get the feeling of being there and splashed by some of the incredible rain graphics. While Your Name sounds are structured in a more orchestra-ish and grandiose way, Weathering With You takes on a more personal level. For another comparison, The Garden of Words sounds are structured poetically. Else than visuals, the cameo from Kimi no Na Wa characters are shockingly enjoyable and somewhat fresh, and it opens new possibilities of creating Shinkai's own universe.

In addition, there’s an unpredictable ‘twist’ (Due to the result of something) that exists towards the end of the movie. But rather than awestruck by it, you’ll likely to say ‘what the hell’. I have two viewpoints regarding this twist, one, it might wreck the future potentials on expanding the universe, and two, it actually adds some uniqueness potential (it would create a fresh new plotline). Weathering With You also feels like an allegory, a beautiful one to be exact. I personally love how Shinkai described the current real life situation on the movie. It's bold, fresh, and realistic.

Extra note: I think Shinkai is currently experimenting on his film’s formula. His previous works always use non-living objects as the main villain such as distance and time (5 cm per second), age and alienation (Garden of Words), attachment and memories (Your Name). In Weathering With You, such matter is less to be seen, instead, the villain is rather emphasized on some people. This is a fresh way of Shinkai to expand his formula on other sectors, but unfortunately, I have to say that his way to capture the ‘the inevitable challenge’ atmosphere in Weathering With You is weaker than his previous works. But still, it's just my personal preferences, and I have to give him credits for exploring new territories.

A little girly step of her, slowly heard by the motion of the wind. A man cautiously stepping his face out of the window, expecting bad things to come. Yet, he was welcomed with a glorious warmth.

I literally had no other words to describe this movie better than those words. Sayonara no Asa ni (in this case, Maquia) have one of my highest expectations in the circle of an anime movie. No shit, this was written by Anohana’s Mari Okada, making it the first movie debut based on her original work. At the time this was promoted, I raised two important questions, “Is this going ... to be as good (or even more) than her previous project, let’s say, Anohana?”, and “If Mari Okada is given freedom to construct her original work, it’s definitely gonna affect much, but what if it doesn’t?”. Because personally as an audience, Anohana isn’t labelled in my favourite list and I’m sure that (emphasize this: ‘maybe’) this movie isn’t going to punch me that hard. Turns out, Maquia has distinct interesting stuff in it that approaches the audience in a unique way.

Maquia is like when you’re emotionally being caressed away towards the warmth of loneliness until you find a new light. Especially if you’re close to your mother, or even you’re a mother yourself. The movie connects us with the real world on how motherhood can change the whole course of your life and exquisitely explained how is it to be lonely. Some might find the characters are boring and lame, and I agree on a few parts. The movie itself isn’t packed with interesting and memorable characters, but the message and a plot that’s close for resembling people’s life by emphasizing on humane is a wonderful thing. It’s a simple story that will leave you with a little smile.

Overall, in my opinion, Maquia isn’t a masterpiece or even the best anime movie out there. But to be honest, I find it rather hard to hate this movie because it’s somewhat trying to give out messages to the audiences that their life is worthy and individually meaningful.

The Hype, the Syndrome, and the Disappointments

<contains major spoilers!>

There was a time that when certain anime went really popular and bombastic, eventually they’ll be overrated with such inevitable and silly excuses. But beyond this stage of people 'overrating' a series, lies the last layer of what anime watchers will do to these so-called ‘popular’ shows. It’s a layer that I, myself would call it ‘meme layer’ because to be frank, this is the right place to disclosure a condition where there is no point of turning back. The place that you can joke (more like, roast) about the characters, the rotation of the plot, the ... graphics, literally anything. With no exceptions and no prohibition, you can send your best meme to the highest bidder (or should I say shitpost accounts) about some character’s thigh and laughed until you’re dying from it. Amongst those pile of memes and trashy community jokes, Darling in the Franxx (DiTF) exists not as a temporary guest, but more of a contracted host. I mean, when we look back at whatever series that exist in 2018, which one of these words are the quickest to ring your bell?

Hinamatsuri, Violet, Zero Two, Rikka, Yuru Camp, Bunny Girl

I have to say if you didn’t pick Zero Two it’s either you literally new to anime world or you just had a head cancer with 120 pounds of hypocrisy on it. Even one of my friend (who isn’t too eager to enjoy anime) knows about the existence of Zero Two. When I asked where did he learn this ‘02’ girl, he said to me, “from those shitpost accounts, her memes are great. You should check it out, man”. These things were happening like crazy, and such popularity isn’t easy to achieve. The word ‘Zero Two’ would probably go out from your mouth first before ‘Darling in the Franxx’ when promoting this series to a newbie like that 15 years-old little John sitting beside you right now. In the end, came an understanding that we can’t talk about Darling in the Franxx without mentioning Zero Two. She’s the literal wheelhouse of the whole series, without her this anime probably went so bad that studio Trigger considering themselves they won’t make another anime, ever. And that’s what makes this series very interesting and intriguing, at least before certain episodes when they ‘flex-taped’ those ugly plot holes with aliens.

I’m starting to watch this series when it already aired between episode 16 or 17. Either way, I had pretty decent expectations considering many are talking about its contents, especially that girl ‘Zero Two’ that I haven’t really got my hands on. Starting from episode 1, I had so many questions left unanswered and quickly attached this ‘curiosity string’ to me. Following the ten or eleven episodes after that, I believe that my questions are beginning to pile up as if nothing were left unanswered by the series. Speaking of which, between these episodes, I realized that there’re big, unlimited possibilities and potential of what this series to become. I proceed myself and finally reached episode 13, which blew me out of the water. Clearly, they have structured a strong development and connection between Zero Two and Hiro -the main protagonists, emphasized it on the shockingly twist at the end of this episode. Moreover, it was more than just a beautiful scene and I adore it so much that I believe this series is going to be awesome.

A little recap, I think developments on the characters and the world are great and definitely stayed to entertain myself from more extraordinary adventures to come. It becomes even better when Zero Two is detained, Hiro simply wants to meet her but his friend doesn’t allow him. This creates a well-balanced conflict that was both lovely and intriguing. There is one episode when Hiro finally met Zero Two again and they had this quick debate but it ended up with a profoundly, exaggerated, over-the-top couple scene. Although it’s kind of cliché, you certainly will feel the blast and spirit coming out of your soul. Sadly, after that, the series went a little bit slow and differ from what I expected, and it really becomes worse after the episode which alien figures are presented. It was honestly a very dishonourable moment for wasting such good material at the beginning. Like, they already construct something that’s mysteriously going to be an awesome shit, but now they seem a little (if not, very) reckless about the continuity of the story and have chosen an atrocious plotline instead. The series ended in a poetic way that expressed the deepest love between Hiro and Zero Two, but with no doubt, I came in a plain conclusion that the alien parts have no matter and use whatsoever regarding of driving the main premise. I can’t assure you that DiTF was made to express a romance story that is covered by dystopian-mecha plot, but taking a closer look at what the series trying to achieve, it’s very possible.

Some viewers are so disappointed that they immediately hate this series. I think this series deserves some credits for its high considerations for the characters, and how the world was unravelled little by little. The series failed to cope with what the audiences have perceived and expected, but that happened after the first cour, which is a little bit understatement at most. Overall, DiTF has pros and cons that some people might find it a little hard to be tolerated, but it surely brings care and attention from the community to another level for serving them a delightful annual waifu war.

Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai (I want to eat your pancreas) is a movie that excites people in a different way whenever they first heard the title. It’s sort of a dual-clutch clickbait for the uninformed, where it may be a let down to some but a relief to others. It revolves a story about a young guy who met a girl that has a pancreatic sickness and only had a few years left to live. Sounds like your pretty average romcom movie right?

At the first glance, the plot might sound like Your Lie in April’s, but let’s face it there are tons of romance ... anime out there which have a similar plot. Some people are complaining that movies involving school romance are stuck in the same premise all over again, but I think that’s just fine as long as it doesn’t feel like a copy from another. If you don’t like it, maybe it’s because you’re not into the genre.

For my own experience, I think Pancreas deserves good credit for executing its materials from the original manga. Few have overcome the challenging task for bringing manga ingredients as intact as it can get, and Pancreas did a great job. The story itself is not too great, there’s nothing special to it but the characters -especially Sakura- are very relatable to me and few of my friends. There was a time while watching the movie, I got snatched away by this Sakura girl and she eventually reminded me of my school days.

The animation is good though, no complaints required. It was a bit strange because it was produced by studio VOLN, which is not so popular amongst anime community (I believe many will not recognize this studio). The OP and ED of this movie are handled by Sumika, and what an excellent song. Atmospheric and moody, he expressed those unbalanced feelings right in time when we need it the most.

The last few scenes were heart-wrenching, although it wasn’t as sad as I expected it would be. A bit disappointed from my side, because I think they could’ve pushed it even sadder than it was, creating a full climax of emotions in audiences’ heart.

Overall, is it a bad movie? No, of course not. I want to eat your pancreas is a decent romance movie, with a little tricky twist to it. Along the way, you might flow together with the characters and the story, experiencing the warmth of those bygone school days, but that doesn’t mean some parts are easily acceptable while knowing that it’s a bit (or more) disappointing.

Rascal, Bunny Girl, and the Misinterpretation

<Contains Mild Spoilers>

2018 is indeed, a strange year for anime. Stretching from the melodramatic effect from Violet Evergarden, high tension of Megalobox, and goofy comedic aspect from Hinamatsuri, it sure is a bizarre phenomenon that captures most of our heart. While entering the last 3 months of its legacy, a wild, eye-catching, and fluffy (if you want to call it so) Bunny Girl appeared with a solid promise of 13 episodes. Hyped by some but unknown by the other, Rascal Does not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (or I’ll just call it ‘Bunny Girl Senpai’) seems like your typical high ... school romance anime that repeats every year with the same plot all over again. Fortunately for Bunny Girl Senpai, that was not the case.

Bunny Girl Senpai is one of the most, let’s say ‘influential’, anime of 2018. From the poster itself, resembles an ambiguous and obscure description of the series’ entirety. One would probably judge the anime by its poster, and reach a conclusion that this is a harem anime. Let me convinced you that it wasn’t like that, in fact, Bunny Girl Senpai doesn’t even bring that subject at all. It was a bouncy ride at first, but if we zoom out our vision and understand it from a bigger scope, I believe that Bunny Girl Senpai can deliver us to a satisfying journey.

There are some arcs in this anime that really caught my attention, one of which is the Koga’s Arc (the part that Koga and Sakuta tried to solve a problem together). From my understanding and point of view, Koga’s Arc resembles problems and delusions that teenagers are facing nowadays, and they use a very good interpretation to express the following case. I was completely flattered and it reminds me of my days in high school when I did something similar to the main protagonist’s doing. It was a sad moment.

Another example of Bunny Girl’s advantages is that it stays on the structure of puberty and adolescent problems. Other anime may differ to a different angle of the story after a few or more episodes, creating unbalanced and undecided move to direct the story afterwards. Although it combined supernatural (some will call this science fiction?) elements to it, I think Bunny Girl’s story is still acceptable and pretty enjoyable at its core.

Moving on to my next point, some people are complaining that some arcs are not that great. For me, it was Nodoka-Mai’s Arc that bored me the most. I mean, it’s not a bad arc, it was decent with some pretty shaky and surprisingly good ending to it, but I think the placement of that arc is a bit misconducted. Bunny Girl only had 13 episodes and I just can’t find a good excuse to put that arc in a -near end- tight spot. I understand the possibilities for season 2 and the movie in the future, but I consider that a bleak direction to make.

After finishing the whole series, I sat on my couch for a moment and then reflected of what just happened in the series. Like, it explicitly mentions some great issues, such as puberty or adolescent syndrome (not the real name, but you get the point) and how the people around us still haven’t realized how bad it is. I don’t know about you, but this series touched me in a different way from the other series. Overall, I will say that Bunny Girl a binge-worthy anime with some slight issues that are probably overlooked by its deep and emotional adventure.

I hate Violet Evergarden. It feels so cartoonish and lazy. - Me, 2018
Okay I was wrong. I was so damn WRONG! - Also me, 2019

My story of Violet Evergarden

This is one of those moments that can be described as a ‘turn upside-down’ situation for me. To be honest with you, I don’t like Violet Evergarden at the first place (at least after watching the first episode). My friend first introduced me by giving one of its trailer, and holy what a beautiful and exquisite animation. I think it was somewhere between 3 or 4 months before the series got aired, and I’m so mad hype ... about this ‘Violet Evergarden’ thing. Back then I was clearly thinking that this anime, this whatever so-called typewriter anime, could win the best anime of the year. I got chills, the trailer made me had some incredible goosebumps. Looking back at what KyoAni has achieved in the past years, I certainly believe that Violet Evergarden could be the next CLANNAD.

After the first episode aired, I’m one of the first person amongst my -fellow anime watchers- friend to watch it. I gotta say, I'm terribly disappointed with it, to the part than I bashed this anime so hard by saying things like; “Excuse me wtf?”, “What the hell is this?”, “KyoAni are you serious?”, “Where is the characterization?”. After sometime, few episodes have already available in the stream but I left this series unchecked, slowly forgotten by time. A good friend of mine confront me to give it another shot, he was convinced when he said “ Yeah, the series is getting better and better” (at that time, it was episode 5). I objected his argument by saying that “Watching this series is no more than a waste of time”. And so on, he never tried to convince me again.

Since then, Violet Evergarden never came to my mind. I never heard spoilers of it, not even a single line from its delicious ‘quotes’. It came to my mind after another friend of mine (from another group) was talking about anime, and he mentioned Violet Evergarden as one of his favourites. Reason? “Tear jerking”, “Sad”, and he ended up by saying, “Just watch the damn show and you will understand”. Stubbornly, I still quite convinced that he’s just one of those weak personality who just can’t deny melodrama bullsh*t that happens to air rapidly on the internet.

It was 3 months after that, I was confronted again by another friend, and this time he’s damn sure I’m going to watch this Violet Evergarden sometime in the future. Nope, that didn’t happen. It was 2 months after that, I was convinced by another friend that just finished the series. He told me that the series was “FFS IT’S SO GOOD”, so I finally decided to let go my ego and ‘try’ not to be a dick on this series (although I am for like the past, what, 8 or 9 months?). I watched episode one again, still not interested but the feel of that ‘I’m disappointed’ is long gone. I remember watching the first four episodes on day 1, and I gotta say I got goosebumps. Pretty okay series for me, but this time it got my curiosity hard.

Day two, I proceed myself to watch episode 5, and what a lot of content did I miss. “Holy shit”. That’s what I said at the end of the episode. Say no more brother, I’m binging this to the end. And then, I watched it until episode 10, then I stopped. It’s not because I don’t have time to finish it, but I’m tired.

Why am I tired?

Let’s beat it. This series was so miserably, tearjerkingly sad, that I cried like almost every episodes after episode 5 and reach the climax of climax on the tenth episode. It is by far, the most beautiful and touching anime I’ve ever watched (to this day, I’ve watched more than 85 series). The combination of everything, the music, the art, the characterization (which I bashed earlier), the flow, the, like everything composed extremely exquisite to the point of “I don’t want this series to end, but it has to end because my feelings can’t take it anymore”. I finished the rest of the series on the next day, and I’m well fed with warmth and glorious unexplained feelings.

I gotta say, I have mistaken myself on the first place by saying that this series is a bullcrap, lazy anime for dragging mainstream audiences by using cheesy, melodramatic sequences. No, I love Violet Evergarden, every single part of it, but it doesn’t mean it’s flawless. It’s just I’m flattered and surprised by how good this anime is. I know that some people are saying Violet Evergarden as a whack overrated slice of life, but hey, people have their own opinions. For me, the experience was indescribable, I was immensely invested as the series unfolds chapters of chapters from a different kind of storytelling. In the end, it was a memorable show, one that will not ever be forgotten easily by time.

I’m sorry Violet, it was a let down at first. Rest assured, because now I’ve seen the truth of yours, masterfully painted on a dimension we entertained of.
I really wish an Auto Memoir Doll could write this review for me.

(May contain some minor spoiler)

Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 started approx. a year after the second season landed. With the increasing hype over time, fans are delighted to see and experience more about Eren and his team to fight against the Titans. What I like about this series is its grasp over the suspense (that other anime rarely have imo), but then again it's not flawless.

Story
For examining and adapting from the manga, it has some good aspects to it. Some changes happened, but nothing crucial or important. What I experienced is that the anime has accomplished to execute the fight scenes as good as the ... manga, but lacks the political issues that bring the most intense atmosphere to the table.

Art
I find it pretty good, the art is consistent and well-damn prepared at its best. Nothing to talk much about here.

Sound
The appearances of HYDE for the new opening shocked the entire world that time, but for me it's not a big deal. Both the opening and the ending are quite enjoyable, and the pretty soundtracks all along the series is again, made by Hiroyuki Sawano. What do u expect.

Character
This is when I see some minor problems. There are few aspects that SnK S3 failed to grasp, such as fulfilling certain character development. Maybe some of u will argue that it's more than enough to develop such character, but I believe the series can push it more. Not the best aspect of the series tho.

Enjoyment
It's Attack on Titan, and it's packed with a lot of surprise and fulfillment. I'm gonna give it a 8/10 for this category.

Overall
In conclusion, SnK S3 or Attack on Titan Season 3 is worth watching, IF, ONLY IF, you watch the first 2 seasons. Please, if you want to watch this series, go watch those two first. For u that haven't read the manga and haven't watch those 2, I suggest to not read the manga and watch them instead. You'll be hooked entirely by it.