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Oct 9, 2024
Dandadan started off as a tremendous amalgamation of creativity and a don't give-a-fuck-fun-loving attitude that takes you for a ride. It's probably one of the strongest first chapters I have ever read with a cool supernatural plot and budding romance. The comedy is quirky and dirty and so much fun compared to other Shounen (looking at you JJK). Ken and Momo have one of the most authentic romantic relationships that I have seen in a manga where the feelings develop naturally for each other; it's sweet and it's real and it grounds the story throughout its surrealism. Their romance is the anchor for the spaceship
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narrative that pings around just about everywhere.
And unfortunately, this is where Dandadan loses traction. We jump from one supernatural endeavor to another as the cast grows ever larger with Jiji, Aira, and a whole host of other characters you could care less about. It's all about the next big bad boss fight and not about the characters. Unfortunately, over time, they become flat and uninteresting, even Momo and Ken. There are no stakes to the story because nothing about it is real. There's no charm to the romance of Momo and Ken because their romantic progression has remained the same for 130 chapters. There's no exploration of feelings and all the side characters become cliche tropes. Even the randomness of the fights versus the aliens and yokai takes on a formulaic progression. Take on boss, win, have some comic relief chapters and add some tension to the romance (which has all but dissipated), and repeat. I so badly want to learn more about the characters that I started scrolling through the later chapters that had gone from chaotic fun to aimless.
My biggest frustration is that the story has lost it's sparkle, like the author himself is just going through the motions. The inventiveness has disappeared and so has the promise of a well-developed romance and an ethos of taking on the mystery of the world. It's not mysterious; it's just another run of the mill shounen that could have been. I hope Yukinobu can turn it around. Because there's not many authors who can make a boy meets girl and takes on the world anime feel one of a kind.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Feb 12, 2023
How do you feel when a story, whether it be manga, anime, book, movie, etc., captures you long after the story is done? There is a thrumming in the head and a recall of how those simple scenes grab you in the most profound ways; it's a... sensory experience. Netsutai no Citron is one of those tales, a page-turner that starts free-flowing, promising a world of sex and discombobulating psychedelics called "soda pop." Soma jumps from scene to scene, searching for purpose in the jungles of Vietnam while trying to escape the town that keeps him in place.
The plot thickens as the haze of dreams
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and drugs takes shape and the story becomes something: not just a boy searching for his "next" trip but a coming-of-age story. He navigates magic, gods, witches, destiny, freedom, and individual vs. collective identity to defeat the rabbit and save March Town. Ironically, Soma discovers that Mako, the witch, is not controlling his actions through magic or drugs and that he is free to make his own choices. Choices and actions that he can make in March Town, the original town he was stuck in, Vietnam, or anywhere. That is the true magic of this work, Soma is free no matter where he goes, wherever he can share his talents with the world. To fight the rabbit, practice his art, and live his own way, in the face of death, is what makes his character arc so satisfying. He doesn't owe march town anything, but this is where he makes his stand. This is where he chooses to fight.
This is what makes this manga so great. It's not afraid to jump into divisive or contentious topics as the author is unapologetic in telling the story. And the narrative takes a deeper step into the idea of freedom with feelings. The feeling of cool water streaming past your hands, the taste of your favorite home-cooked meal that you haven't had in so long, or the heat of the citron tree in the tropics. The sensations and the experiences of life are the ultimate freedom. And as Soma was able to live a full life in such a short time, I believe Jiro Matsumoto wishes the same of us, wherever our circumstances take us.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 14, 2020
The show that ended with a therapy session receives yet another dosage of armchair psychology on whether Shinji/aka the director is a shitty person. Does he deserves to live? Should he die? What is the meaning of existing in the first place? The move starts with Shinji jerking off to a comatose Asuka. In some ways, I understand it. Shinji is so depressed that any modicum of pleasure is relief from his troubled life. I even understood the constant berating of himself for the first half of the movie. However, every other character arc makes no fucking sense. Misato, character
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1, character 2, and character 3 have now turned into voices inside of Shinji/Anno's head. They all reflect the despair and loneliness of existing in different ways yet are all jarringly similar. Misato is now the moral compass inside of Shinji's brain: the words that demand, but often paralyze. And then let's just throw in a makeout session that totally jells with the character arcs.
I just love all the random flip-flops of the character personalities. Asuka turns into a badass after she realizes her mother has always been with her. Depression of that level is something you can usually shrug off after waking up from a coma. Gendo Ikari self reflects on why he is a shitty father and realizes the error of his ways. At least we have the ever-so-consistent Shinji running away from his problems.
As if episodes 25 and 26 wasn't enough, we get to see Shinji work through his problems for a second time. What a joy it is to hear and see the symbols that mean "so much" and so little at the same time. The inner monologue/dreamlike state of Shinji choking Asuka when he got rejected was a great scene... until we got to the ending. It showed the anger and hurt he felt after putting all his hopes in her to save him. Shinji was working through his feelings, trying to figure out how to exist in this world.
When Shinji finally decides that he wants to live with his own ego boundaries, I was like cool, that was way too long and boring but at least he is finding his own path in life to coexist with others. Never mind the shit camcorder part that took wayyyy too long to show the quiet beauty of humans. At the end, after the third impact, only Shinji and Asuka are left on the planet. I can only thing of two reasons why Shinji proceeds to choke Asuka to death. 1. He can't get over the idea of being rejected. 2. He wants to be alone and reaffirm his identity of being a shit person. Instead of challenging his feelings of rejection and isolation, which the show and movie often depict him attempting to do, he stays in his emotionally dishonest shell. A coward to the end. "You're disgusting," a great final line that reflects a shitty end to what could of have been a great movie/series. When Asuka died, so did the human race.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Mar 29, 2019
Boogiepop is truly an anime unlike any other. It takes a look at the psychology of humans and incorporates these themes into a supernatural thriller. The show examines the supposed "inadequacies" of people and displays how they are an important part of how the world exists. For example, in the second arc, the Imaginator tries to create a perfect world and remove the imperfections in our hearts. But Boogiepop, the main hero/heroine, protects humankind. These imperfections make humans what they are. So she fights these oddities and people to save the world.
This show helps one reflect deeply
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about society as a whole and themselves. It is not easy to follow. The show does not believe in time as a fluid concept as evidenced by the show frequently fragmenting to different points of the plot. Also, get ready for a shit-ton of references to split personalities (a major talking point of the show). The whimsical and thought-provoking nature of the show makes you want to watch more. Curiosity of the author and the show became my own. What happens next? What is right? What is wrong? Who gets to decide anything? Ambiguity is something that the show definitely thrives on. Boogiepop is a dialogue driven show that does have some action. The action is subpar and the animation for some of the show leave much to be desired. But the fighting is made up for with the god-tier plot.
The opening is a fucking banger. I listened to that shit wayyy too many times. And if you're a sucker for character development, this show has more than your daily amount of Vitamin C. It's fun, it's thought provoking, and it rarely gets boring. You may think the show is good or bad, just like my review, but in the end, "There's nothing in the world that is ever truly decided." ;).
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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