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Jun 12, 2024
Context/Intro:
This manga, which originated well before I was born in the 1990s, was published in Shounen Jump. It comes from a different time period and was intended for different audiences, so we should keep that in mind before diving into it. I had already watched the anime beforehand, so it wasn't all new to me, but it definitely helps in highlighting any differences. This review will be spoiler-free.
TL;DR:
Recommended with some caveats. It's a good supernatural comedy manga with shounen elements and lovable characters.
Plot: (Not Good)
The plot isn't great. Let's dive deeper into why. This is primarily a comedy manga. Yes, it has shounen elements like
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powerful villains and an evil mastermind, but it consistently gravitates towards comedy, even as the plot progresses. Therefore, if you compare the beginning and the end in terms of plot, not much really happens. While there is an overarching plot later in the manga, it is mostly episodic, with storylines rarely taking more than a few chapters before resetting. The plot's weakest aspect is its pacing, which is all over the place. The ending feels fitting for a comedy manga, though some serious aspects are left unanswered, which isn't a deal-breaker.
Characters:(Good)
Mikami, Okinu, and Yokoshima form the main trio. While they are not particularly complex, they are charming, and you start to like them more as the manga progresses. Character evolution is in line with the manga's comedic focus, meaning it's often played for laughs. Yes, all three characters evolve, with Yokoshima showing the most notable growth, but even by the end, their core behavior remains largely unchanged. Despite the focus on comedy, all characters get their serious moments, which leave an impact. The supporting cast is colorful, though not more complex than the main trio, often running the same gags and punchlines, but they are still appreciated. If you love Yokai folklore, you'll definitely appreciate the enemy one-shot characters. The relationships between characters are surprisingly natural, with a tight bond among the main trio and decent interactions with the supporting cast. As for romance, without getting into spoilers, it's childish and not taken beyond jokes. This subverts expectations, leaving something for the characters to find rather than giving the audience clear answers, which is good for mystery but not for the hearts of readers.
Overall, characters are the manga's strong point, and you really want to see what they do next.
Art:(Bad)
It's hard to say the whether style or art itself is any good, and it's not just because of the time it was released. Over time, it does improve, but only slightly. During emotional scenes, you can sometimes distinguish the expressions characters are trying to convey, but only after reading the text, making it inconsistent. Even during comedy scenes, the art isn't great. While you get the gist of it, most of the time you're just skimming through. However, in some important scenes, the art is probably the best in the entire manga, showing the author's effort.
The paneling is not good either; the flow is off and noticeable, but you get used to it. It looks generic, and the art style doesn't help. Backgrounds are not good either; there are no notable backgrounds, and some seem like straight-up photographs drawn over or edited in. The backgrounds probably make the characters and paneling much worse than they are.
Recommendation:
I definitely recommend reading the manga for its comedy and characters. While other aspects are weak, I still continued reading all 390 chapters because the characters really hooked me in.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 26, 2024
Title: Daily Normal Lives of Super Normal Hare and Guu
Intro:
A tale of a boy in a jungle who meets a mysterious girl, surrounded by a bunch of quirky characters, struggling to have a normal day while uncovering his shadowy past. Despite being a comedy, the anime starts with a mystery and definitely has many mysteries throughout, with some very serious tones.
TL;DR: Highly recommended! Really over-the-top comedy with a good mix of mystery and heavy themes.
Plot Summary:
It really starts off as a boy-meets-girl story but quickly picks up its identity. Hare goes through a roller coaster of experiences from start to finish, constantly surrounded
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by the over-the-top people around him while uncovering mysteries with Guu, the jungle, and even his origins. Most of the time, it's just about seeing that Guu is not a menace to society.
Characters:
While there are three main characters, Hare is really the narrator. He's a 10-year-old boy who is a pushover, to put it mildly. Then there is Guu, an orphaned girl? though her backstory is more complex and shady (without getting into spoilers). Finally, there's Weda, Hare's mother, a drunkard, lazy, irresponsible woman who is very young and dumb and flawed and.. getting too much spoilers. Being a comedy, their development is somewhat stunted but still noticeable. You see them grow as much as possible for a 10-year-old, a being whose existence is out of this world, and a very young mother. They face real struggles, not just comedic ones, which show their different sides. Even Guu, who initially feels like an alien (both literally and metaphorically), becomes more human.
Side Characters:
This anime has some strong side characters from a comedic standpoint. While some are given more presence than others, there is definitely variety. My favorites are Marie, who is constantly in need of living an idealistic romantic life, and Bell, who is into yuri (enough said). Also, Clive is there; he probably is the only side character with some development. One blonde-dyed hair guy is named Gupta, which gave me a chuckle as an Indian.
Animation & Art Style:
Animation: Let's be real, I initially didn't want to watch this anime because its poster was very ugly. The animation is dated and hasn't aged well, but it adds to the comedic factor (i guess). However, sometimes it felt like laziness on the animators' part. While it never ruined my experience because of the comedy, it's something to note.
Art Style: I have to give credit for the unique art style. Because of their jungle setting, the characters stand out due to their skin tone, hair color, and clothes. You can tell some characters definitely moved into the jungle and are not native. Many are barefoot, which you rarely see, and their simple clothes stand out from modern anime characters.
Sound and Music:
Soundtrack: Guu! The opening is really catchy and i rarely skipped. However, it feels stereotypical in a way you'll understand once you listen. It's fun, energetic, and makes you want to dance, setting the tone for the series. The visuals are ugly, but the music is great.
BGM: The background music is serviceable but not memorable, except for emotional scenes.
Endings: I don't remember much, so they are definitely skippable.
Voice Acting: Guu had the toughest part, delivering punchlines and deadpan, mischievous remarks. Watanabe Naoko-san did an amazing job.
Hare, constantly complaining, was voiced well by Aikawa Rikako-san, who also did many original Pokémon voices.
Matsuoka Yuki-san, who voiced Mari, brought her ideal romantic fantasies to life excellently.
Some side characters were annoying, but they were meant to be, making the overall voice acting good.
Themes & Messages:
I don't think this anime is trying to deliver deep messages; it's more about having fun at Hare and Guu's expense. However, it does have heavy themes, both upfront like minor child neglect and darker subtexts like child grooming. These themes can make you question some characters' actions, potentially rendering them irredeemable. This shounen anime from 2001 hits hard when it addresses these themes.
Enjoyment:
I loved it! Any criticisms I had were minor setbacks. The experience was that good. I constantly felt the urge to binge-watch, enjoying the characters, comedy, plot progression, and mysteries. I will definitely re-watch this many times and plan to read the manga because it was that good!
Conclusion:
Why are you wasting time reading this? Just go watch it already! Definitely recommended.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 16, 2024
"Hoshi no Samidare" presents itself with a promising premise, but as one delves deeper into both its anime and manga adaptations, the allure starts to fade. Initially, the anime raises questions about its classification as seinen, as it fails to fully engage viewers with its intended demographic. This ambiguity leaves audiences questioning what exactly is missing from the narrative.
Transitioning to the manga, hopes of finding a more refined and compelling source material are dashed. Instead, the root issues persist, further highlighting the shortcomings of the story. By the time one reaches chapter 20, it becomes evident that the manga struggles with coherence and direction. It
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attempts to straddle the line between shounen and shoujo genres, resulting in a disjointed and often foolish narrative.
One of the main issues lies in the characterization. While there are potentially engaging characters like Hangetsu, their presence feels fleeting and underdeveloped (cus they dead). Instead, the focus often shifts back to the main character, Yuhi, who proves to be insufferable and lacking in depth. This imbalance detracts from the overall enjoyment of the story, leaving readers craving more substantial character arcs.
Furthermore, the plot progression feels contrived and implausible at times. Instead of organic development, character growth is often attributed to convenient plot devices, robbing the narrative of genuine depth and emotional resonance. This reliance on shallow storytelling undermines the potential impact of the narrative, ultimately leaving readers feeling unsatisfied.
In the end, "Hoshi no Samidare" fails to deliver the compelling experience it initially promises. Its shortcomings make it difficult to recommend to readers. Instead, exploring alternatives like "Rozen Maiden" may provide a more satisfying storytelling.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Apr 16, 2024
"GS Mikami" offers a delightful experience. Initially, I was unsure about its dated visuals, but they grew on me over time, adding a unique charm to the series. What immediately caught my attention was the comedy, which starts right from the first episode. The humor is slow-paced, in your face.
However, the show isn't without its flaws. While it delivers laughs, there are moments where the comedy falls flat, and the plot may feel a bit disjointed at times. Yet, despite these inconsistencies, I found myself thoroughly entertained throughout the series.
One of the highlights of "GS Mikami" is its characters. While they may not be the
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most complex or deeply developed, many of them are incredibly enjoyable to watch. From the pervy antics of Yokoshima, quirkiness of Okinu to the High-Mighty Mikami herself, there's always something entertaining happening on screen. Of course, there are a few characters that grated on my nerves, *cough Meiko *cough but they were outweighed by the overall charm of the cast.
In terms of music, "GS Mikami" has its highs and lows. While not every track on the OST is memorable, there are a few standout pieces that I found myself really enjoying. Some of these tracks are so good that I could listen to them outside of the anime context and still enjoy them.The opening and ending themes are solid additions to the series. While I eventually skipped them for binge-watching, they're catchy and well-composed, capturing the essence of the show & it's era perfectly.
Despite its age and its target audience of children, "GS Mikami" manages to maintain a certain level of charm that makes it appealing to viewers. The inclusion of ecchi scenes may raise eyebrows, but they never felt out of place and added to the overall comedic tone of the series & it's time.
Before I knew it, 45 episodes had flown by, leaving me wanting more. I wholeheartedly recommend "GS Mikami" to anyone looking for a lighthearted and entertaining anime experience. And if you enjoy the anime, I highly suggest diving into the manga as well, as it offers even more fun and excitement.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 22, 2020
TLDR: Don't bother. Somewhat "original" reverse isekai comedy with really poor execution.
Story: I was really intrigued and interested by reading it's title and premise but it went downhill only after that. The story just dragged painfully after establishing itself. Chapters are short but felt so long and drawn to the point it's gets boring really quick. This type of stories live or die by their comedy and this one's just ain't gonna survive in my radar. Do you see that image on MAL? yes that's the whole story and joke. Let's just sexually objectify this Female Knight for shits and
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giggles. Don't get me wrong i like me some dirty adult humor but this one's really just childishly stupid.
Art: As goes with series like this Art is Mediocre but the only shinning part of this Manga. As long it's not unbearable i don't care if ain't 10/10 Masterpiece. While i can argue that Art should be or is the main factor contributing for the jokes and punchline in a Comedy Manga or Anime in general but i digress. so No complaints in Art but it doesn't help the mess this is.
Character: Setting is unique so for it to work Characters are just plain stupid and given not much forethought. Both Orc and Female Knight felt like filler side characters that are shove to main panels somehow but were not given instructions how to act like one. i couldn't care less whether they succeed or accomplish something nor do they look like care but wait Tiddies that should mean something. In short dreadful characters.
Enjoyment: Sigh.. The only redeeming factor for me which cancels out my other points in other departments is Enjoyment and It had NONE for me. sure watching someone getting suddenly naked might be some different kind of enjoyment but that's just you enjoying from your nether-realms and that's not why one should even pick-up a book, what are these the dark times. To say it bluntly didn't enjoyed it.
Overall: The Premise was really good which could honestly have gone many different routes given the genre it has but all is just for naught. The Execution just killed it for me. You'll have much better time playing with yourself than reading this tbh as it feels like a failed handjob that's just dragging on without reaching the climax.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Mar 22, 2020
TLDR: This is a very Degenerate Manga.
Story: Let's be honest there's no story here this is just an excuse to make the Guy(main?) character do "Ecchi" things with Henjo(Main Girl). I was confused to see no fantasy tag in genre given this is the exact pure fantasy of "99%" Guys(jk).Reading the 1st chapter didn't made sense but only gave me hint of degeneracy ahead.By 3rd Chapter it just went into full-on blatant Sexual harassment.
Art: It's nothing special but it's not completely pathetic if you know what i mean. In fact out of all the categories it's the Highest but it will not be it's saving
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grace. It's Decent and Bearable (given how long i even suffered it.)
Character: Well put it simply Characters are pathetic not in the scoring sense but literal sense. Only notable characters are Henjo(Main), Guy(main?) and his pal(support), acknowledging his pal even as a support is kinda stretch because he's there for filling the panel otherwise our Guy(main?) would look like a loner top of being pathetic. None of them even have shred of dignity or respect for themselves.
Enjoyment: I would've been more forgiving and would've looked past other aspects if i had enjoyed even little-bit more than just one casual chuckle. This is clearly not my cup of tea. Given the subject it's trying to portray (assuming if it's even capable of portraying anything. ) I feel kinda disgusted with myself to trying to find enjoyment in this.
Overall: . If you're into the whole Older mid-20s Guy X High-school girl even then i wouldn't recommend it because of the shear amount of disrespect it shows towards it's characters. Even the comedy in this is bad. Most punchlines aren't even there and then the setup towards it feels exactly like going limp just before the climax why even bother.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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