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Apr 22, 2022
Ever Green (Manga) add
Mixed Feelings
I've struggled with how to evaluate and rate Evergreen. I'm a fan of Yuyuko Takemiya's writing, and we see elements of her skill in this story, but there are several flaws that drag down the quality of the experience. That being said, there is one component of this manga which I think is largely above reproach: the artwork. Akira Kasukabe did a great job, especially with character design.

I think the main problem from which most others stem in this story is the character writing. Most of the characters were given reasonable attention. On and Shunsuke are amusing and surprisingly deep (given the relatively short length ...
Apr 27, 2021
I was initially skeptical that Plastic Memories would be any good, but after finishing it I can say I enjoyed it. The bittersweet ending was satisfying. It has some notable flaws, but it is a decent romance.

Plastic Memories has some serious world-building problems early on. Some of the elements presented exist only to force the desired narrative. I'll leave out specifics in order to avoid spoiling, but suffice it to say that many of the details presented early on have little-to-no impact on the later parts of the story. (The story is primarily a romance, so keep that in mind when setting expectations.) Fortunately, the ...
Jan 19, 2021
Preliminary (48/? chp)
While I'm not overly familiar with the slice-of-life genre, Konohana Kitan is a bit different from the stories I've encountered in this genre. It can be dramatic at times, tackling topics such as death and the grief of loss. However, it doesn't get too heavy and is generally a lighthearted story. It strikes a good balance between light and dark. The story also regularly touches on philosophical topics, such as how we should interact with other people, finding meaning in life, coming to terms with our circumstances, and more. It does this in a simple and beautiful manner and avoids sounding pretentious.

The cast contains many ...
Aug 1, 2020
Toradora! (Anime) add
This anime resonated with me more than probably any other I've watched up to this point. I absolutely loved Toradora!, each and every moment of it. Even independent of my enthusiasm, which I'm sure not everyone will share, I think the show is of an appreciably high quality.

The art and character design are good. I think the animation quality is above average, but not amazing. The voice acting (Japanese) is exceptionally good. The actors for the main cast really nailed their parts. They did a good job making the characters memorable and voicing the wide range of emotions expressed in the series.

It's difficult to talk ...
Apr 1, 2020
Mixed Feelings
I don't typically watch or enjoy this type of show. I find episodic comedies too often end up being monotonous and formulaic. However, Seton Academy did a good job with the episodic architecture of the show. Rather than being formulaic, each episode tends to do something new as compared to previous ones. New, significant characters are introduced, a recurring story line might be advanced, or a different character steps into the limelight. While I did think some of the episodes were boring, I generally thought the show did a good job keeping things fresh and interesting.

The animal theme was well done, and I enjoyed the ...
Mar 5, 2020
After Hours (Manga) add
Mixed Feelings
After Hours was a decent yuri story, although I thought the writing was immature (i.e., poorly architected and constructed), at least in regard to the romantic pieces. I liked the club/nightlife theme and the level of detail afforded to it by the author (although I'm unable to verify the accuracy, not being familiar with this topic myself). The art was fine, but nothing exceptional. While I doubt this will be a memorable story for most, I think it's worth a read if you have an interest in the genre.

The story revolves entirely around the activities of the two main characters, Emi and Kei. The personalities ...
Feb 20, 2020
I wasn't certain what to expect going into this story, but I absolutely loved what I found. Imperfect Girl is a short and sweet psychological thriller with some interesting underlying themes. While the core narrative may not be particularly original, it's conception and execution are excellent. The art and panel design are great; they really enhance the presentation of the story and help create an intense, captivating atmosphere. This is one of the few manga I've read to date whose ability to tell a story with illustration left a notable impression on me.

The story is more character driven than narrative driven, concentrating on the protagonist's ...
Feb 17, 2020
Toaru Kagaku no Railgun season two takes the series a significant step in the right direction. While season one wasn't bad, I thought it had some architectural problems that detracted from the potential of the show. It has room to grow, but I can confidently say I enjoyed season two and am excited to see what the future holds for Toaru Kagaku no Railgun. (For brevity's sake I will avoid rehashing basic elements of the series in this review, as this is not the first season.)

Season one was primarily episodic with a few short narrative arcs spread throughout. Season two reverses the proportionality and is ...
Jan 21, 2020
Tenki no Ko (Anime) add
This movie does not live up to the hype surrounding it, although it certainly isn't bad. While the production value was great and the story premise was initially promising, it ended up being somewhat shallow and boring. It may be that Weathering With You is better viewed as social commentary, but even then, I don't know if it deserves too much leniency for its failures. Despite my misgivings, I still think viewers should keep an open mind when watching this movie.

Despite its slow pacing, the story that unfolds in the opening sequence(s) has promise. Young runaways trying to make their way in Tokyo (and finding ...
Jan 13, 2020
Happiness (Manga) add
Mixed Feelings
I found the initial premise for Happiness intriguing. It starts out exploring how the humans-turned-vampires cope with their new lives. How they handle this new state (e.g., the thirst for blood), how it affects their relationships with others, and the struggle they face to remain "normal." I was pleasantly surprised to find an absence of overt revenge or power fantasy elements. While this type of story isn't anything novel, I liked the dark, gritty take on the underground lives of vampires.

Approximately halfway through the story takes a turn for the worse. It starts to branch out into different arcs, some of which take the story ...


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