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Jul 6, 2024
Houseki no Kuni, or Land of the Lusties as my friend once called it, starts off amazing and devolves into chaos. What was once a loveable cast of rocks fighting against an external enemy morphs into a C-tier RomCom with space Bachelor and reverse Michael Jackson. Suffice it to say, I started off loving the series. But three big events made me drop it...
1. The yass-ification of Ghost.
2. The lack of progress on Cinnebar X Phos
3. Bortz' haricut. How could you get rid of my favorite girl...
This mangaka has a lot of explaining to do. I don't like what he is doing to my
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favorite characters. The story has lost its footing and we spend half the chapters trying on clothes. What happened to a story that was grounded in mystique and intrigue, like 20th Century Boys? Or Monster? Or Pluto? Or 21st Century Boys??? Notice the trend here? These stories are about BOYS. Not FEMALE ROCKS!
If I read a story about cute rocks having a good time while the tall man corrals them in his house, I expect the story to give the reader some things. I do not get these things here. I instead get an identity crisis and some talcum powder. This leaves the readers, who are likely young and impressionable Steven Universe fans, with a bad taste in their mouth.
In summary, Houseki no Kuni has turned into a geological soap opera that turns my face the color of Bortz. Unless you’re here for avant-garde fashion tips or gemstone gossip, steer clear of this train wreck. I recommend checking out the genius work of Naoki Urasawa, who has pushed the boundaries of mystery and jam production.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Aug 1, 2021
In the group of novels, manga, and movies meant to convey a deep message or theme to the audience, I'd argue 3 days of happiness is the best. Perhaps even "epic" as the kids say.
Story (9/10)
Several stories revolve around a bored or struggling character meeting a love interest, learning to enjoy life to the fullest, and said love interest inevitably dying or leaving by the end. What sets 3 days of happiness apart is the MC willfully starts the scenario, never regrets his decision, and the events feel natural given the premise and how one would expect it to play out given the MC.
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Character (9/10)
The two leads are great and their dynamic, time spent together, and eventual decisions all felt in character and believable. Kusunoki develops very well and it's part of what makes the payoff so satisfying. Great all around.
Pacing (8/10)
The pacing of the novel was at times too fast. During the period before Kusunoki's decision to sell all but three days of his life, more time spent exploring the relationship between the two leads would have heightened the eventual payoff of the story's ending. The events with Kusunoki's childhood friend also felt a bit rushed and the eventual resolution and rebound felt abrupt.
Enjoyment (10/10)
The characters, message, and story were all executed as well as one could hope for. Whatever complaints I had with the novel amount to nitpicks. The writing was fantastic, the story was easy to follow, and the resolution felt truly bittersweet- unlike the standard fairy tale or emotionally manipulative ending most similar stories have. I loved it from start to end.
Overall- 9/10 One of the best.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 15, 2021
Four season and five years ago, studio Bones brought forth on this world a new anime, My Hero Academia, conceived with good animation, fun fights, and an enjoyable premise. Unfortunately, the intrigue has worn thin with the arrival of MHA season 5.
For my reviews, I will dissect my opinion into 5 crucial sections, henceforth known as napkins.
Napkin #1
Story (2/10)
Sadly, the internet has made the story and first third of the season not necessary. The training arc beginning the season and running nearly 10 episodes can best be described by the word pointless. We will see where the season goes from here,
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but the goal of over a third of the season can better be achieved by a text card advising viewers to go to the wiki and search the names of the characters and their abilities.
Napkin #2
Art (5/10)
The animation quality is average in terms of battle centered anime but mainly does its job in making fights appear coherent. Although nothing special, it’s as serviceable and acceptable as any piece from Studio Bones is as a minimum. However, it seems Bones was saving budget in the first few episodes for animating the posteriors of Asui and Uraraka.
Napkin #3
Sound (5/10)
Much like the animation, the sound is serviceable and does its part. The opening and endings are acceptable, definitely not my personal taste. Had the opening instead been, just off the top of my head, Kyouran Hey Kids!!, I would have given the sound a 9.
Napkin #4
The characters (2/10)
My biggest issue with the season and show overall is the cast, exasperated by the fact that the initial training arc spends time re-introducing characters in the most bland and unimaginative way possible. There is no need for the narrator to yell the quirks of the cast and remind the viewer of their names, this is the FIFTH season after all. The fact that I need to be reminded of the uncreative quirks and the names of the students is less a testament to the expansive cast and more a point on how bland and forgettable the supporting cast are. Aside from Momo, Jiro, Todoroki, Bakugo, and Deku the Hallmark greeting card, I could not remember or care less about any other character. Shinso presented the most intrigue in his character conflict, but will likely be discarded for the remainder of the season as he is not hot enough for the fandom to ship.
Napkin #5
Enjoyment (3/10)
I did not.
Conclusion
With the napkins on the table set, we see another table in the distance, filled with amazing animation, good characters, and a far superior power system. MHA season 5 unfortunately had the honor of following a season led by Jujutsu Kaisen, likely leading to why I failed to enjoy this season to such a degree. Regardless, watch JJK instead.
Score: 4/10 Passable but has problems
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Jun 14, 2021
While Charles Darwin long ago described his theory of evolution, I dare say he never envisioned humans enjoying a “rom-com" anime that would bend the definition of “entertainment” and leave a viewer’s imagination and love of anime Isekaid into a world where all that plays is Monochrome City.
For you newcomers to my reviews, I will dissect my opinion into 5 crucial sections, henceforth known as napkins.
Napkin #1
Story (1/10)
To say the story is nothing original is an understatement. We begin our journey with our heroine “saving the life” of our tragic hero, thus earning his undying affection and love. Interestingly, this very situation could
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be playing out with Studio Nomad, the “brains” behind Koikimo. Perhaps this hastily put together narrative reflects the fact that much like Ichika saved Ryo, Nomad hopes that Koikimo will save the studio. Sadly, life is not an anime.
Napkin #2
Art (2/10)
The animation (or lack of) in Koikimo can best be observed by taking a manga volume or a weekly coupon book that arrives in the mail and rapidly turning the page to create the illusion of movement. Character movement is kept to a minimum, with unexpressive faces and numerous still shots attempting to mask the lack of effort or budget.
Napkin #3
Sound (3/10)
The OP, Monochrome City, might just be the best music piece put to an entertainment medium since John Williams composed the score for Star Wars. Not only is it dynamic, upbeat, and catchy, it masks the poor animation in the OP! Unfortunately the OP appears to be the only piece of music that can be defined as a song throughout this anime, as I can not remember any background tracks or the ending. My only wish was that as Suspect #1 confessed his feelings to Victim #1, Romansu Nante, performed by a gospel choir, was played in the background.
Napkin #4
The characters (1/10)
There are three crucial characters to analyze if one is to understand the work of fiction that is Koikimo. First, Suspect #1, Ryo. Ryo is a boring office worker who apparently was never taught the word “no”. Instead, Ryo makes continuous advances until the miraculous revelation occurs that due to the 12-episode nature of the series, Victim #1, Ichika, must now appreciate his advances and fall for him. But wait… the non-existent character development doesn’t stop there. Meet Ryo’s sister, the Boogeyman, whose sole defining characteristic is her desire to set up her best friend with her brother. Just like the Boogeyman, Rio has a tendency to appear when Victim #1 is at her most emotionally confused, always steering her towards her brother. I suspect Rio’s motive is a desire to set her brother up with the underage Ichika, have him arrested, then steal the assets from her and Ryo’s parents before their untimely death. As a side note, could these dubious parents not choose a better name that merely taking Ryo’s name and changing the “y” to an “i”. Needless to say, I am not awaiting the spinoff series with Roo or Rao. The character designs are uninteresting, with Ichika and Ryo appearing bland and forgettable, much like the ED.
Napkin #5
Enjoyment (2/10)
Entertainment is supposed to entertain, but watching Koikimo evolved into a form of mental labor as I dragged myself to my computer, pried open my eyes, and danced to Monochrome city as Big Brother looked on, eager to call an exorcist. The shallow characters, ridiculous pacing, poor animation, and stupid premise fail to make this show enjoyable, leaving Koikimo reminiscent of prune juice for the soul.
Conclusion
Now looking at our five napkins on our table, we are left with a predicament. There is no food to enjoy. Setting aside the questionable nature of the relationship between Ichika and Ryo, the show fails for the simple reason that it is not entertaining. In the rom-com genre, better shows and manga, whether Rent A Girlfriend, Kaguya-Sama, or Komi Can’t Communicate, all exist and have more redeeming features than this anime.
Score: 1/10 Koikimo
Reviewer’s Rating: 1
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Jun 14, 2021
I entered the theater expecting to go Plus Ultra, become the 4th Hokage, and maybe even find the mythical One Piece. I left questioning my existence and how cinema has deteriorated. Martin Scorsese was right, My Hero Academia is a disgrace to the cinema. I would much have preferred a Mushishi live action.
For you newcomers to my reviews, I will dissect my opinion into 5 crucial sections, henceforth known as napkins.
Napkin #1
Story (3/10)
I'd like to take you back to a date in time when the great Kublai Khan approached the Japanese with the demands for a peaceful surrender. However, the Japanese refused to and
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managed to stave off the Mongol invasion due to several Typhoons wrecking attempts at a naval landing. According to the film, the Mongols should have met Deku, who could have shared his quirk with everyone in the army through unexplained means, never to be touched on again. I once attempted to share my passport, but was apprehended for apparently not yelling loud enough, having a flashback, and yelling PLUS ULTRA. Life is cruel.
Napkin #2
Art (7/10)
The animation is good, however I'd advise Bones to stick to what they are good at and make Noragami S3. The end fight is animated well, with Tokoyami’s fight really putting in work. I used to think crows were just scavengers, but I have now adopted one from the local cemetery.
Napkin #3
Sound (6/10)
The sound is solid, but the standard MHA uplifting and inspirational. Nothing is especially new or noteworthy, just good. Now I hate to sound like a broken record, but the music and OPs of Noragami were fare superior. Get back to work please Bones.
Napkin #4
The characters (2/10)
Class 1-A, or as I call them, forgettable ding dongs, is filled with side characters who lack any development, emotion, cool powers, or ideology. Can eating sugar to enhance energy really be called quirky. My grandma does that with her sweets and insulin, but she does not go Plus Ultra. Nonetheless, the main cast of: Todoroki, who is hot, Bakugo, who is angry, and Deku, who is green, leave much to be desired. My favorite character, All for None is not even present for the majority of the film. The power system is lacking and Todoroki can be replaced with a flamethrower welded to a refrigerator, voiced by Yuki Kaji. The only quirky part about this movie is that it made nearly $30 million dollars at the box office.
Napkin #5
Enjoyment (5/10)
When the climax of the moment arrived, I did not "Pog out of my mind" as my young son often says. Instead, I found myself bewildered as to what string of coincidences, plot armor, and poor writing left me here. I did not receive any fanservice (Momo x Jiro appreciated), nor was I given a satisfying villain death or final battle. I received a trope sandwich with two mediocre main characters sealing the deal. I am saddened by the state of the Shounen industry and am currently seeking investors to attempt to buy Shounen jump and demand only Jujutsu Kaisen be printed. Thank you.
Conclusion
Now that all napkins have been set at the table, we must choose to take the one on the right or on the left. On the right we have a solid film with a great power system and dynamic characters pushed to their limits by a compelling villain. On the left, we have a well-constructed and enjoyable Shounen that doesn't do anything special but checks all the boxes. However, at the table across, a child throws up their food while their older sibling looks on in dismay, disappointed in how the nice food and presentation was ruined by the child’s poor manners and digestion. My Hero Academia Heroes: Rising is that child that chose a new course, throwing up in the restaurant and leaving before paying the bill. Simply put, this is middling Shounen akin to Dragon Ball and Osayumi Punpun. Omedeto Heroes: Rising, you bored me!
Score: 5/10 Average
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jun 14, 2021
I'm something of a fruit myself. What the community sadly fails to grasp with Fruits Basket is that while the animation and sound are pristine, the story falls flat. The main character unfortunately lacks great charisma. Tohru is sadly solely defined by her one character trait of "being nice" (allegedly). For you newcomers to my reviews, I will dissect my opinion into 5 crucial sections, henceforth known as napkins.
Napkin #1
The characters (3/10)
Yuki and Kyou as main characters are simply a poor choice on the part of the mangaka. While Yuki shows milligrams of promise, the protracted pacing of the product pulls down what otherwise
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presents the palatable opportunity for solid protagonist development. On every boundary of progress, we are dragged back to the 7th circle of hell, as Dante would say. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't expect One Piece level pacing, but the story needs to, as the kids say, pick up.
Napkin #2
Art (5/10)
Middling art. The characters are not attractive enough for my personal taste. Each to their own.
Napkin #3
Story (1/10)
As Sun Tzu said, story is what makes or breaks a battle. Without a compelling narrative, even Mulan would not have been able to defeat the Mongols. Now that being said, I left the story confused and in a daze. I wish someone would make a story out of you, Fruits Basket. Now while the Yuki Kyou dynamic could certainly prove promising at first, the plot in the final season revolves around a "curse" and abrupt introduction to the Tohru x Kyou ship, which sets most events in motion. What made the original season promising, in my unclouded eyes, was the clear goal or escaping the curse presented a linear narrative.
Napkin #4
Sound (10/10)
I won't lie to you. The beeps and the bop known as "Pleasure" by Warps up is a certified addition to my Spotify playlist, alongside Gas Gas Gas and the Joe Rogan experience. I have only praise for the music selection. Props to you Vegetable Basket!
Napkin #5
Enjoyment (2/10)
Now that we approach the head of the table, we approach the culmination of our review. As Alton Brown would say, the desert. I did not enjoy this show. The pacing felt abysmally slow and the shift in narrative from drama to romance and away from mystery left me disappointed. I had hoped for a more robust exploration of the power system behind the zodiacs or at least what could be described as "world building". Instead, we receive a romance comedy that fails to be comedic. Hence, I award Meat Carton the prestigious Koikimo participation award. Omedeto!
Reviewer’s Rating: 1
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