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Sep 20, 2016
Re:Zero is not for the faint-hearted. This is a warning. The show is incredible, one of the best I have come across. But it is deceptively grim and dark. Despair is not a foreign concept here. Re zero seemingly promised a light-hearted adventure anime that bore a striking resemblance to Konosuba but then it did something I have never seen an anime do before. It took firm hold of my heartstrings and yanked them in opposite directions. It effectively ripped apart my expectations, and my heart along with them.
Story:
The story starts off with a similar note to Konosuba, a NEET that gets thrown into a
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medieval-based RPG world. His expectations of grandeur and power belonging to the typical protagonist gets dashed and by chance, he finds a companion. Then the time travel aspect gets introduced and the story starts to spiral down into the darkness. Yes, a major point of the show is that Subaru can die and can return to a certain point in time, sort of like a save point. This travel premise allows Subaru to try over and over again if he fails and this might seem like a ridiculously great advantage. It isn’t as great as it seems. The ordeals that Subaru goes through are shockingly dark. Depressingly dark. We get to see Subaru fight and struggle over and over again until your heart breaks for the poor guy. There were times that I had wondered why Subaru didn’t just break down right there and then. When Subaru finally triumphs over the depressing dead ends, there is the feeling of relief and satisfaction. The hero finally gets what he deserves. And then suddenly, you realized that you are emotionally attached to the characters.
Characters:
Re zero has an interesting cast with their own engaging back stories and character. But to avoid spoilers, I will just be focusing on the mc.
Subaru is one of the most realistic characters I have ever seen. Just like in reality, this character has his strengths as well as his weaknesses, successes as well as failures. And his flaws are portrayed exceptionally well. You can admire that kindness, determination and courage in him. But the show also ensures awareness of the stubbornness, arrogance and neediness in him. We get to see the ugly side of Subaru, his desperate need to feel needed, that undeserved pride and an irritating sense of pettiness among other things. His cringe-worthy flaws disgusted me at times but I stuck around. It was worth it. This character is worth the watch. He fights, gets the world pulled from under his feet and then he struggles again, all the time harboring thoughts and emotions that were relatable to, especially the negative ones. Subaru isn’t a perfect character and neither is he a strong one, but his life-like human qualities make him a character that you will remember whether you like him or not.
Animation and sound:
The animation is worthy of a 2016 anime and is aesthetically pleasing. But the soundtrack is the more noteworthy aspect of the show. The thing that I noticed was that it was extremely suitable. At the times when you were supposed to feel the character's joy or dejection, the soundtrack created the perfect atmosphere for that particular emotion. With impressive visuals, background music that is pleasing to the ears and a complementing atmosphere, what is not to like?
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed the experience, even if it wasn’t exactly a pleasant one throughout. It is an emotional rollercoaster and should be taken as such. The story takes the characters that you feel for then wrenches your heart as they suffer horribly. But it also takes the characters that you feel for and gives them their happiest moments as you watch with satisfaction from afar. It has highs and lows. Extreme ones. That is what makes the ride engaging and enjoyable.
Overall:
Re zero has definitely earned a place on my favorites list, the list of anime that I will never forget amongst the easily forgettable sea of generic shows. If you are looking for a masterpiece of a ride then congratulations, you have found one. But it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, despair and gore come along as a package. If you can get around that point, then you have found yourself a rare gem. To be honest, the show was something like a guilty pleasure for me. I had told myself to exercise a bit of discipline and wait for the entire series to be out before watching. But I couldn’t deny my curiosity and binged watched an entire 22 episodes in a day. That is just how captivating and alluring the series is. Don’t just take my word for it, give it a shot. (At least until episode 15. By that point, you’d probably get a gist of what the show is like.) I hope that watching Re zero will be as great an experience for you as it was for me. I was knocked off my feet.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Sep 11, 2016
I can’t believe that I actually regret this. I actually regret scoring some anime I had watched a perfect 10. Because that would mean kimi no na wa would deserve at least an 11… I was intrigued by the fact that this new release shot up to MAL's top ranking in a mere span of several days. So I gave it a go and it left me speechless moments just after the end. If you too are curious, indulge your curiosity, you won’t regret it.
Story:
The story revolves around a teenage city boy and country girl switching bodies within their dreams. They dream of living each
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other's lives and they physically do so, much to the comical dismay of each other. This might seem like a cliché plot to some but it didn’t bother me since the execution was fascinating to watch. I enjoyed their adolescent antics in each other's lives and the show left me with a pleasant heart-warming glow. I actually caught myself grinning pleasantly (unknowingly) countless times as the vibrant sense of youth was simply refreshing and cheerful, especially at times when their actions scream of adolescence, like when Taki begins to uh…explore his newfound form. Their struggle to adjust was amusing to watch and the playful banter between them that accompanied left a smile on my face. Of course the show was not without its downs, but even then the shock of the revelation was executed well enough to truly capture the viewer in the scenario. Basically, the story was depicted well enough to successfully tug on the viewer’s heart strings in all the right directions at all the right times.
Characters:
The characters Mitsuha and Taki were explored well enough for me to develop emotional attachments to them such that when disaster struck, I felt loss and when they were joyful, I could feel a warm smile spreading across my face. However, perhaps an issue that comes to mind would be the lack of screen time on their school lives (since as students, that’s where a good portion of their daily lives is spent) that could really solidify the attachments viewers have towards the characters such that when the emotional bomb goes off, it hits really, really hard. As far as I know, Taki seems like the typical boisterous teenager while Mitsuha comes across as a well mannered schoolgirl from an important family. The characters are simply not depicted as well as I'd like.
Animation and sound:
The soundtrack was astounding. The emotions that the music triggers are exactly the ones that you are supposed to experience at a particular scene or setting. The music provided the atmosphere and the viewing experience was simply beautiful. The heart warming moments were hence well expressed and I enjoyed every single moment listening to the background music. Even the abrupt stop of the pleasant soundtrack had its desired affect of sadness in one vital moment of the film. As for the animation, I am sure that it was breath-taking. Sadly, I didn’t get to see it. I had watched the show in low quality and even in the blurred screen I saw a plethora of colors, lens flare and amazing backgrounds with bright shades and hues that were beautiful and pleasing to the eye. It is definitely a major plus point of the show and I find it a pity that I didn’t get to enjoy the entire wholesome experience.
Enjoyment:
I truly enjoyed the film. It was certainly an emotional experience, that much is certain. Beautiful, heart-warming and emotional are words that come to mind while describing the show. I have never come across a film that could elicit so many pleasant feelings in such a short period of time. The only show that comes close is Usagi Drop with all its fluffy cuteness. If you enjoy an emotional rollercoaster, hop on, I think you found the best the anime world has to offer.
Overall:
This piece of art truly deserves the title of a masterpiece, no exaggeration at all. Kimi no na wa has left me wanting for more of Makoto Shinkai's work when previously, I wasn’t even aware of him. This anime currently takes the top spot on my favorites list and it is probably there to stay for quite a while as I am sure that kimi no na wa is the best that anime has to offer. You cannot doubt the fact that it has risen to MAL's top spot in a matter of days or that reviews are being written by users in tandem. I, myself, am writing this at 4 in the morning because I was afraid that I might lose my train of thoughts if I were to write a review at another time. Kimi no na wa is amazing and my words hardly do it justice. You are going to have to see for yourself. After all, hearing about what a rainbow looks like is a far cry from personally seeing its vibrant hues streak across the clear sky.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 7, 2016
気になります(kininarimasu)! If you intend to watch hyouka, be prepared to watch a series littered with its favorite catchphrase: kininarimasu! Every single episode has it at least once, such that it has begun to irk me as much as it irks the mc, Oreki. Are you curious about what the phrase means? Hints to the answer can be found written twice in this review. Once in the sentence before the previous and the other in the third paragraph… Let’s see if you can deduce the answer!
Story:
Hyouka is about a classics club consisting of 4 friends who don’t partake in club activities (what does a classic club
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do anyway?) but solve mysteries. And by mysteries, I don’t really mean crime-related issues but the mysteries you can find as a typical high school student. That is not to say the plot isn’t interesting, but I can relate to those who drop the series out of boredom. Hyouka doesn’t engage the viewer much (at least not for me), the viewer is going to have to engage himself/herself. Confused? By engaging yourself, I mean trying to solve the mystery presented before the answer is shown at the end. Each mystery will present you all the necessary jigsaw pieces and in a test of your logical reasoning, challenge yourself to see if you can complete the puzzle before the solution is given. It’s quite fun. There is a certain feeling of satisfaction when you deduce the correct answer, especially when you are ahead of Oreki. Give it a try!
Characters:
The main characters of hyouka are pretty decently explored, save for Ibara. Her character isn’t really expressed as well as the others. After 22 episodes, all I remember of her is that she likes satoshi, kinda dislikes Oreki and reads manga. She just doesn’t really stand out among the others. Oreki is the lazy, unmotivated mc with the sharpest mind among the four. He is responsible for solving the mysteries. Basically, the brains of the group with an interesting motto: “If I don’t have to do it, I wont. If I have to, make it quick.” Satoshi is the walking database of trivia of the group. He knows a lot, but cant really put the knowledge to good use. There will be interesting drama between him and Oreki later on, with an inferiority complex involved. Chitanda is the well-mannered and bubbly girl whose motto is “I am curious!” She drags Oreki from his comfortable cave of reclusiveness to solve the mysteries that piques her interest. She is the driving force of character development of the show.
Animation and sound:
The visuals were pretty decent, especially the cherry blossom scene of the last episode. Simply stunning. As for sound, nothing really struck me as unique enough to latch itself in my memory, its decent but not anything special.
Enjoyment:
I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Solving mysteries is the very core of the series, so if you don’t enjoy wracking your brain for a solution to a question, then don’t bother with hyouka. You’d probably be bored with the slice-of-life premise. But if you are the kind that enjoys the occasional brain teaser, pick up hyouka. Its pretty decent. Flaws of the show would probably be its slow pace and some flaws in Oreki’s logic. Other than that, enjoy playing Sherlock Holmes!
Overall:
Hyouka is a pretty decent series for wannabe detectives. If you fancy yourself a sharp and rational thinker, test your claim against hyouka's mysteries. All the clues have already been found for you, all that’s left is to piece them together. If not, steer clear of this series. Without its mysteries, it’s utter boredom. Hyouka is not for the thrill-seekers and adventurers. Only enter is you believe yourself patient and rational. Adrenaline junkies you have been warned…
Note: Kininarimasu is the driving force of the plot. Without it, hyouka wouldn’t exist. The phrase literally means: I am curious! If you managed to deduce it, good job. Now try your hand at hyouka's mysteries. I promise you that they are much more interesting and challenging.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 4, 2016
Saitama looks retarded. His bald head, non-anime eyes, ridiculous costume and dumb expression further accentuates this impression. Saitama, the guy who plays hero for fun. I had started this anime hearing and reading things like “it’s a parody” or “it is comedy done right”. To be honest, it wasn’t as hilarious as I had hoped, but it was definitely a fun ride. Pick this series up if you are looking for a series that brings a few smiles and provides action-packed scenes.
Story:
The story revolves around a wannabe hero who trains so hard until his hair falls out in return for peerless strength. Sounds
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ridiculous? It definitely is. That’s what makes the show interesting. The episodes can be summarized as the overpowered Saitama finishing off enemies that other heroes cant with ease and boredom. So don’t expect much from the plot. It isn’t what makes the show worthwhile.
Characters:
The cast of characters, like everything else in the show, is ridiculous. There’s the mc who is basically a lazy, unemployed adult who is granted limitless power. There’s jack-o-lantern panic who gives this creepy, shudder-inducing grin when he fights a worthy opponent and then there’s Genos, the sidekick who takes his job seriously but always loses to Saitama. If rich characters with engaging backgrounds are what you are looking for, this isn’t the right anime. Ridiculous characters who fight and say ridiculous things for the viewer's entertainment are given instead. If you are fine with dumb humor, enjoy.
Animation:
As expected of a 2015 onwards anime, the visuals are pretty darn good. I like how the clear and crisp quality further emphasizes the shine of Saitama's bald head... :) That thing is like a mirror. I think some part of the OP had actually focused on his shiny head...
Sound:
I have absolutely nothing to say about the sound. I simply skipped the OP and ED because I wanted to see what ludicrous gimmick Saitama would attempt in the next episode.
Enjoyment:
My enjoyment of this show is maxed out. I mean, what’s not to like? You have got a bald jobless guy that obliterates evil with a single punch, other ridiculous characters to complement his lunacy and a setting that keeps placing the mc in retarded situations. As long as you aren’t expecting this anime to be anything other than what it is, a comedy, you probably will enjoy one punch man. Oh yeah, and the fight scenes are amazing! Like ‘the-best-I’ve-ever-seen’ kind of amazing. This is one of the killer appeals of the show to me. I had thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced and exciting fights, especially those fought by Genos. Wow, just wow. If anyone knows of anime with fight scenes like that, recommend it to me. These are the best.
Overall:
One-punch man is no masterpiece, I don’t think it was ever meant to be one. It doesn’t provide a series that creates a connection to the viewer and tugs at his/her heartstrings masterfully. But it was never supposed to. It was supposed to bring smiles to the viewer's faces as they were entertained by this jester’s tale of heroism and power. So if you find yourself with some spare time on your hands, might as well indulge this bald jester in his whims and fancies as he gives you a tour into the mundane lunacy he calls his home.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 28, 2016
My expectations have been completely and utterly shattered. I was expecting a generic harem show with a slightly unusual setting (under the sea) that would serve as cheap entertainment until I came across a masterpiece that offered real enjoyment. This tale of relationships was one such show. If you are considering to take up the series, be prepared to be thrust straight into a drama-heavy, emotionally-intense and beautiful venture.
Story:
Take the red threads of fate of a handful of people, tangle them, tie dead knots and entangle them further. Only be satisfied once you get an excruciatingly messy ball of threads lumped together that is seemingly
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impossible to undo. There you have it: Nagi no asukara. The story depicts the lives of a group of friends who struggle with their relationships and resulting emotions. Love, jealousy, guilt and fear. They attempt to deal with these painful and conflicting emotions and the show captures their inner thoughts while they do so, making them all the more lifelike. While they do battle with their feelings, we get to see obstacles after obstacles thrown at them to further complicate matters, be it discrimination and conflict between the people of the sea and of the land, or an infuriating deity that appears to enjoy taking that which is most precious to our characters. I will reveal no spoilers about the plot, just be prepared for an emotionally-heavy ride throughout the ups and downs.
Characters:
The strongest selling point of the show; the characters are what makes Nagi no asukara come alive. They just seem so real, having thoughts and feelings that anyone would have if placed in that position, particularly the selfish and negative thoughts. Lets take the mc, Hikari Sakishima, for an example. I will be honest, I had considered dropping the show within the first few episodes when I saw the mc. He was rash, inconsiderate, he wasn’t exactly the sharpest and certainly wasn’t the most charming. His character irritated me. But, he grows. Throughout the show, Hikari actually develops and matures as a person. And watching that growth was oddly satisfying. He eventually matures to a person that is able to place the feelings of others before himself and control his emotions. How he interacts with the other characters was especially interesting to watch. I have a suggestion, knowing that this is a love drama, perhaps those intending to watch Nagi no asukara should decide on a pairing they like in the beginning and then watch to the end to see if that pairing comes to fruition. The character's relationships are exceedingly complicated and things might not just turn out they way that they appear to. The suspense and surprise is exciting, you should try it.
Animation:
I don’t have much to say about the visuals. Just know that the animation of this show is one of the best I have seen. The characters look splendid, especially the eyes that are unique to anime. The scenery was truly beautiful and fairytale-like. The art of the sea and the underwater village is particularly pleasing to look at.
Sound:
I am not much of a music person, I usually skip the OP and ED of shows to watch the content :p but the ending theme of the first half was soothing to listen to.
Enjoyment:
The show was definitely an enjoyable experience. I found myself enthralled by the dynamics of character relationships and development that I finished it within a short span of three days. The characters appeared so lifelike, the plot so compelling that I always had to know what happened next. And the intriguing previews didn’t hurt either. However, that is not to say the show did not have its flaws. I suppose a potential issue that viewers might have would be the airy fairy depiction of love. It would seem a bit ridiculous that a childhood crush could last for several years. Or that love was always merely described as only an emotion akin to a passing crush. Another flaw could perhaps be the repetitiveness near the end. I had binge watched the series so it had gotten slightly repetitive when the characters deal with the same emotions over and over again. But those who watch the episodes in moderation should be fine. Other than these, I don’t recall anything else that might ruin the enjoyment for viewers.
Overall:
Nagi no asukara has made in to my list of favorites and will be one of those shows that I will definitely remember after a while, unlike those that fade into the sea of generic anime. Those searching for something intriguing, something that evokes feelings of the viewer and a satisfying conclusion, you have found a potentially enjoyable experience. I know I have.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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