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Let's get this out of the way: Yes, the whole series is butt ugly. But, I happen to have a very high tolerance for lousy animation so long as the underlying narrative is any good, and boy, on that front, KamiErabi certainly delivers, and then some.

What I enjoyed most was the show's unpredictability. The premise of it being a death game might as well be a lie, as that notion is pretty much abandoned halfway through the first cour. And yet crucially, the show manages to resolve all of its loose ends very satisfyingly. It's also possibly one of the few cases of a Deus ... Ex Machina being used well. YokoTaro has a knack for combining cringy lighthearted moments and a dark narrative and somehow making those two elements work.

While the show may take some time to get used to, especially if you don't have a high tolerance for shitty animation as I do, it is well worth it in the end. Rarely do you see an anime original fully commit to its themes and resolves itself so satisfyingly in the end with no sequel bait or any baggage. It's not easy to sell the show without spoiling anything, but the show does shake off the "Death Game" aspect relatively early to reveal itself for what it really is, and if you're any familiar with YokoTaro's other works, you'll feel right at home.

8/10

You know what we need more of? Violent, mean girls with an awful personality as the main protagonists. The moment Mayonaka Punch opened with Masakichi socking a girl right in the jaw, I know I was in love.

Mayonaka Punch is about the business of YouTubing and dealing with being cancelled. Shockingly, despite how wrote this premise is by now, the show manages to keep fresh and doesn't treat its audience like brainless numbskulls in need of simulation every two minutes (coughVtubercough). Even more surprising is how it manages to pull off some pretty good character drama and have it stick without taking away from ... the overall core of the show. It even pulls off the "Antagonist joins the protagonist's group briefly for the finale" much better than Na Nare ever did by writing in actual foreshadowing and having said antagonist not be a no name character out of nowhere.

The real star of the show really is Masakichi. You don't know how tiring it is to go through so many shows where the MC's personality is either "Bored, too good for the world" or "Naive and dumb but kind hearted". No, fuck that, Violent bitches with anger issues are what makes shows like these interesting. Even after being cancelled, she still punches people every now and then with actual consequences to her actions. But, it is fascinating and surprisingly heartwarming to see her interactions with the rest of the cast, her former fans, how she treats her family, and her character growth from "Reimu but less mean" to "Almost a decent person".

And again, despite its premise, the show does showcase a lot of creativity with regards to its scenarios. Most of them hilarious, with that one Fuu episode just making me feel miserable inside. Somehow, whenever comedies do one-off sudden drama episodes, they usually stick with you more than usual.

Even the occasional weird Youtube short videos are fun to watch and are pretty much essential viewing, though personally its where I think they dump some of the more boring ideas (ie the actual video parts from the show) to keep the actual show's pacing tight. The director's own bizarre videos on the other hand, now those are absolutely essential.

Mayonaka Punch is that rare anime original (and rare as in not associated with some multi-media project, or some tourism ad for a prefecture no one visits) that punches above its weight (and punches a lot of other things too). A tightly paced show with great comedy, some decent character drama, and tons of unpredictable moments.

Oh and there are Vampires too. Thought I should mention that.

8/10

When the Summer Season was announced, two Anime Originals were announced for PA Works, Na Nare and Mayonaka Punch. I initially thought, that given that this show is largely made by a lot of the same people behind MyGo, I had assumed that this show would be the better of the two with a focus on character drama. Oh how wrong I was.

While ostensibly about using cheerleading to bring cheer to others, the show actually has very little cheerleading in it. In fact, most of my gripes with the show is how it seemingly doesn't know what it is about. Several plot points and character ... traits are brought about, but virtually none of them have been followed through or received any meaningful development of the sort. Things are bad when the main antagonist is abruptly introduced in the second last episode, promptly goes through a redemption arc, then goes missing and the show expects the audience to sympathize with her? I mean, huh? Throughout the whole ordeal I was questioning who this character was when everyone was treating her as if she had been part of the main cast since the start. (she had very minor appearances and maybe 2 spoken lines up to that point too).

It's apparent that the character Mari (ie the no name last minute antagonist) and Megu were likely initially conceived as the same character, but, either because someone in the team or higher up didn't want to have a crippled wheelchair user as the main antagonist, decided to drop her and what we're left is an absolute mess of a plot.

Not to say that the other episodes were any better. With the exception of the Ouendan episode, every other episode is either pointless or boring. Again, for a character-driven show that is mainly drama focused, it is not a good look to establish some personality traits for a character only to not follow up on how that affects the character at all. Take a look at Megu for instance, she's crippled and Kanata blames herself for it. That's interesting. What's disappointing is that, despite the novelty of having a crippled cheerleader whose backstory is pivotal to the formation of the group in the first place, she does almost nothing and fades out into the background. Apart from one really cringe worthy scene that I'm trying my hardest to forget.

If anything, everything I had wanted from Na Nare, I got it from Mayonaka Punch instead. Everything from character drama to plot structure to even the idea of having a last minute antagonist join the protagonist group, all of these were executed incredibly well in Mayonaka Punch. Even the very idea of setting up a Youtube channel and getting flamed online is only done well in one show. Na Nare even fails at being a Gunma shilling show.

As Kanata would have said, cheer is like cabbage. It's course and rough, and it gets everywhere.

4/10

Have you ever got the feeling that a show was only "just good", even though you've had unreasonably high expectations for it to be an all-time classic? Shikanokonokonokokoshitantan was the show for me, and the part that scares me is how my negativity may be a reflection of the existential reality that I'm getting older and am slowly losing interest in shows like these.

Let me explain. When I was younger, I've held Oota's shows (mostly from Doga Kobo, sometimes other studios) in high regard as some of the best examples of comedy: Yuru Yuri, Gabriel Dropout, Umaru, the first season of Minami-ke, hell even Uzamaid ... were all classics in my book, being exceptionally well directed comedies that are just the right amount of wacky while having memorable characters and scenarios. And there is Sabagebu which is arguably the greatest show of all time. So, after a lull in the 20s with a fairly mediocre Onipan, which I then chalked up to being a kid's show, him and his team are coming back with a new proper full length show in the form of a funny deer show. The OP came out and became a huge meme on YouTube, I don't know why, but that just hyped me up even further. I was ecstatic, finally I could relieve all those carefree days where I didn't have to worry much and could enjoy anime all day.

Then I watched the show. And then I finished it. I enjoyed it. I even thought it was fine, with a handful of exceptional, really funny moments. But that's the thing, maybe it's an age thing, but something felt missing from the show. Something that would have taken this show to all new heights and become an all time classic, but as it stands it's mostly just fine. Not that the show was lacking in wacky and unpredictable moments, it has that in spades. But honestly this time round I'm more attuned to the show's negatives than I am to simply accept the show on its own. The show's humor can honestly feel overly referential (haha the artstyle changed isn't that hilarious), or overly random but without an actual meaningful point being made. Then the more I thought, the more I am aware that the shows I mentioned earlier, back in the second paragraph... don't those shows have the same issues as well?

I can't go back and take an objective look at the shows I once enjoyed. If I were to rewatch those older shows, I will most likely ignore the same flaws I can't help but notice in Shikanoko. But the thing is, I'm afraid to even go back to those shows, and that terrifies me. There is a part of me that seemingly realizes that maybe my tastes have changed over the years, I've gotten older, and I have way more occupying my life than anime. And so, this brings me back to the show itself. Is it good? Yeah, I think it's fine. It's funny in a lot of places. But for all its worth, it just didn't fully click with me the way other similar shows have.

But crucially, is it all that different from the shows I have mentioned earlier? The sad truth to this is that, it really isn't. It's at its core, a wacky comedy that is very similar to shows like Yuru Yuri or Umaru, and the fact that I can't bring myself to enjoy this show as much as those shows shakes me to my very core.

Much like the two main characters, the experience of watching Shoushimin has been uncanny to say the least. From the direction to the writing, every aspect of the show feels unnatural and strange, as if an alien without an understanding of how humans work but has read countless LNs decided to write and direct an LN of their own. It's weird, but not in a good way.

Let me elaborate further. Making hot cocoa in the least amount of steps and a kidnapping should not be treated as dramatic equals, yet the show depicts the two events with equal gravitas with similar inner monologues and ... strange inhuman dialogue sequences that feel like it was strung together by two chatbots. Compounding this is how our perspective character, Warm Wat- I mean- Kobato-kun is innately interested even in mundane, who cares-type mysteries (a trait it shares with Hyouka I suppose). Kobato is like if one of those detective books for children came to life and manifested as a high school boy. He may be interested in these things, but I sure wasn't. I almost dozed off watching this show, and no, I don't care how one of the Berliners should have had mustard in them.

Then there is Osanai. I get the novel's original intent was to portray her as this eccentric psychopath trying to become ordinary, but in the show itself she just comes across as stupid with no sense of self-preservation. If this hadn't taken place in fantasy Gifu where nothing bad really happens, Osanai would've ended up in a ditch before the kidnapping arc. Her one-track obsession with creating mysteries for Kobato to solve comes across as annoying and frustrating rather than endearing, and there is no reason why Kobato should put up with her antics beyond Kobato himself being a lost cause.

But the real issue with the show is how shockingly boring it is. While Lapin Track did a decent job animating Shoushimin, it really does nothing to help its watchability. Some shots do look nice, but the material just doesn't deserve this kind of presentation. The problems with Shoushimin are with its writing and characters, and no amount of letterboxing can fix that.

I don't recommend this show unless you have insomnia, but the hot cocoa episode was kinda funny and pretty emblematic of the show's overall problems. So watch that episode only if you must.

5/10

We're two for two for the unusually specific genre of "Disgraced former idol finds new life through a bunch of amateurs looking to make a name for themselves complete with a twintailed antagonist who is the vocalist of the former idol's group" in this season. Although, despite its superficial similarities, Girls Band Cry and Yorukura have different focuses and priorities, with GBC more focused on Nina's personal drama, and her outlook on her choices that took her there.

You follow through Nina's journey with TogeToge all the way through the finale, whilst unravelling Nina's backstory on why she became a victim of bullying, and how she ... came to love the original iteration of Diamond Dust. It's a simple story told exceptionally well with masterful directing. The drama doesn't become too overbearing, and the characters have a rawness to them that is refreshing coming from the past decade or so of idol/band anime. All this is accentuated by the exceptional animation quality.

I wasn't initially onboard this after looking at the trailers, as years of mediocre anime has made me biased against all 3D animation. It does take several weeks to get used to, but I can honestly say that GBC has some of the best animation I have ever seen this whole year, 3D or otherwise. One of the reasons why is that it's not trying to emulate the look of a 2D anime, but rather it's trying to do it's own thing. The animations are expressive and the frame-rate is higher than your typical anime, allowing for very smooth motion that you just don't see in a typical 2D show. Combined with great direction and pacing, the show looks natural and is a league above most other attempts at a 3D anime.

If there is one nitpick, it's that the ending does feel rushed, and it's one of those shows that really needs an OVA epilogue to really wrap things up nicely. I also do wish Tomo and Rupa had more screentime, though them having any screentime at all is appreciated given that the crux of the show is Nina and Momoka.

Girls Band Cry is a pleasant surprise. One that I did not see coming from the director + writer combo from Love Live Sunshine. But maybe, when given room to experiment and do something risky, some creators do excel in providing an unforgettable experience.

8/10

Last year, for reasons beyond my control, I was subjected to Liar Liar, a thoroughly awful show on games that wastes half an episode explaining some asinine rule, only for the MC to pull off an asspull to win whatever impossible game he's faced with. Now, faced with a similar predicament, I once again find myself in a similar situation watching a very similar show... only, maybe this time... could it actually be kinda decent?

The answer is no. As novel as the premise is (thank God too), a combination of bland characters and bad writing kills any potential this show may have. Any moment you ... think the show could pull off a decent gag, it ruins it by LOUDLY EXPLAINING THE JOKE or LOUDLY EXPOSITING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO WIN THE GAME. I'll give the show some credit, the MC in this one actually uses a combination of his brain and our good friend Deus Ex Machina to win the games. At some points I'm convinced the MC actually owns a copy of the script to the show, and is merely going through the motions.

But, and maybe this is the Stockholm Syndrome kicking in, I actually found myself enjoying the final arc in the show. At least a little. Trapped in a kusoge where every hit kills the whole party, Pearl acting cute, an actual good joke, and best of all, an actual reference to I Wanna Be The Guy (it's definitely a reference, no one else is stupid enough to confuse Killer Apples for Cherries), the last arc goes some ways into making the show somewhat interesting.

A shame that it's completely bogged down by the first two thirds or so. I guess if you want to know why the Battle Harem genre died out, you can check this show to find out.

3.5/10
(rounded down to 3/10)
+Pearl is cute
+Better than Liar Liar by virtue of not having 15 minute exposition dumps
+I have a soft spot for dark hair ponytail token Japanese maiden de gozaru-type characters (even if the one here isn't a perfect fit)
+.5 APPLES DO NOT FALL UP

After Tanks (Girls Und Panzer), Ships (Girls Und Panzer again), and Planes (Kouya no Kotobuki Hikoutai), Director Mizushima et co have graced us with another Girls Und Transport anime original, this time being Trains (or Train). Not knowing what to expect, the first episode has got to be the biggest surprise this year, maybe only rivaled by Bravern's own madness. If you have even the slightest interest in trains, episodic comedies, or wireless mobile communication, stop reading this now, and go watch the show. You won't be disappointed in the slightest unless you have a grudge against the Seibu-Ikebukuro line for some reason.

Mizushima's penchant for ... to-the-point dialogue combined with his frenetic shows itself gloriously here, albeit slower paced than Kotobuki (think 1.2x instead of the usual 1.4x speed). There is the occasional downtime (notably in the middle of the series), but otherwise, the pace is snappy, and a lot more is done in the 12 episodes of this show compared to most other shows. It's brilliant and there is almost never a point where the show gets boring or predictable. Shuumatsu Train keeps you guessing and its surprises are pleasant as they are wacky.

A strong main cast certainly helps too, combined with stellar performances throughout. Special shoutout to Kino Hina who really needs to be cast more as Akira-type characters instead of the usual characters she voices. I do like how each character has some depth to them, making them much more than the usual stock archetypes, and how shockingly violent these girls are.

Perhaps I would have liked to see how a hypothetical 24-episode version would fare where they actually visit all the stations on the Seibu-Ikebukuro line, but I'll happily take what we have. Shuumatsu Train has it all: Trains, Wacky comedy, Strong Cast, Truly bizarre scenarios, Fanservice, Sudden philosophical pondering, and even WWII trains. It's exceedingly rare for strange shows that don't make any business sense get made, and I'm happy some crazy person out there gave this show the green light.

I love my station.

9/10

It feels so rare to see an Original show these days that isn't tied to some mixed media property. These shows, when done well, often have a sense of unpredictability, and have an honesty to them you just can't find in other shows. YoruKura, from the moment the first episode aired, left me captivated from beginning to end.

The show is gorgeous. Masterfully directed without any scene ever feeling too boring or too overly stimulating, hitting that sweet spot where every frame captures the essence of the scene perfectly. Lots of creative shots too, taking into account the character's emotions at the time, or even just ... to set up a particular mood or feel. I particularly love how the show uses color. Beautiful without being overly vibrant, with a nice overcast in most scenes toning the intensity down. There's one particular scene I like so much I use it as a wallpaper for my iPad. There's just something hypnotic about some backgrounds in this.

At its core, YoruKura is a story about Adolescence and Acceptance. Being true to yourself and accepting who you really are inside. The show conveys its themes very well, and unravelling Kano's past as well as her expressing herself through JELEE. The plot does meander at times and the series as a whole really needed at least 3 more episodes, the finale did not feel rushed (though the preceding few episodes did). I felt that the main conflict resolved nicely, but Mei and Kiui especially could have benefited from more episodes. I do wish Mahiru and Kano's relationship got more focus, especially towards the end, but with the time skip in the middle of the series, and the lack of acknowledgment near the very end does disappoint.

Also, shoutout to Takahashi Rie's performance in episode 6 and 9. I never would have expected such an incredible performance out of her, but you can almost see Kano as a real person with all the subtleties and intricacies in her performance. Also another shoutout to Mei's scene in epiosde 10.

Funnily enough, this show and Girls Band Cry had a very similar episode 1, only to both veer into completely different trajectories with different focuses.

8/10

In my attempts to stave off sleep while watching the final episode to this wretched blandness Scamco calls an "anime", my attention is suddenly piqued by a strange man, who looks to be twice as old as the girls he is stalking. Who could this mysterious man be, and why is he eyeing our heroines with such interest? The idols are in danger! Someone call the police!
Oh...
...
It's some guy they call "Producer"...
..
Oh.......

Scamco has made Imas shows for over a decade now. They vary wildly in quality, but they were characters starring in an anime. I don't know what the fuck Shiny Colors was. Perhaps it's ... some borderline experimental approach to make a series of moving pictures with the blandest cardboard cutouts I've ever seen, and I've watched some shitty Isekai in my lifetime. Everyone is overly nice in the "corporate approved" sort of way. No one has any personality, any conflicts, any story, or any motivation to begin with. They are merely 3D models who exist, ostensibly part of the Idolmaster franchise, though frankly they could be some knock-off Best Value brand idols for all I care.

I can't tell you who's who at the very end of the show. Maybe Houkago School Girls has some semblance of a personality, but even then it's not much. There is a man they call "Producer" who creeps around like a stalker but does nothing at all. And after not being in the spotlight for however many episodes, Mana or Mano or whatever her name is, suddenly is the center of their idol production and everyone's going to the main stage and I stopped caring at this point. If Scamco isn't putting in any effort in making this entertaining, I'm not putting in any effort trying to piece whatever semblance of narrative is in this garbage. I'm not even watching this for any plot or arcs, I just want to see Cute Girls being Cute, and they can't even succeed at even that.

And the music? Imas' bread and butter? Shockingly generic and forgettable. Gone are the days of CG and even Milimas, Shinymas' songs are as boring as they come.It is what you'd get if you'd ask an AI to generate music. It is aggressively bland.

Normally I wouldn't have cared so much if this was any other show, or if this was Scamco's very first attempt. But it's 2024. Imas has been around for almost 20 years at this point. And it's not like there isn't any competition from this season. Girls Band Cry is doing a demonstrably better job at every single aspect. I can't even call Imas "One of the Anime of All Time", because it even fails at being an anime.

The biggest sin any piece of media can commit is to be bland. Bad shows have a good talking point, but blandness is a special kind of experience. It involves sucking out your soul until you could no longer feel anything. For all its faults, I'd rather see AIDORU YAMERU a million times over this.

The only good thing about this is that it is a cheaper alternative to Ambien.

3/10