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Feb 16, 2025
Aquarion: Myth of Emotion brings us a new entry to the Aquarion franchise, and with another shakeup from Logos. Two words: Smaller Scale. The character design(it's funny that the acronym for this series spells out MOE), the cast, the conflict, even the lore, as of writing this 6 eps in. Reincarnation is back on the menu and so is that opening, and thank god for it.
Aquarion as a series has always had a hand in being a bit esoteric while communicating a theme about connection and Myth of Emotions is especially so.
This time around, since the original, our main character Sakko is just
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"that guy" again, and this time with no reincarnation baggage of whats pushed on Apollo because people knew Apollonius. MOE isnt that show about destiny quite yet, but it is interesting what happens when the topic of reincarnation is explored among the cast that awaken to it. In fact I do like how the whole cast seem to be the main character at the moment. Aquarion by its nature is an ensemble cast, but usually its specifically 1 persons story from the get go. Not here, its just one big mystery. My favorite ep so far was between Rimiya and Momohime.
The gimmick for this series of Elements is interesting for not what they have, but what they lack. They each lack an emotion. And MOE does some neat things with that with character exploration, and also just dropping bits of the world 12000 years ago with it. In fact, if you're expecting the sex metaphor during Gattai, it is not here, and honestly maybe for the better. Not because of the artstyle, its not on my mind, I just think the "filling each others missing emotions" being emphasized sells this series concept better than if they went full naked mode, at least not YET. It's a different type of collaboration that makes MOE stand on its own just as much as Genesis/Evol and Logos iterations of Gattai.
Now lets talk art. I love it. More things should look like Panty and Stocking. If you don't like it, you're weak. MOE is so deliberately going for cute but weird and it works. Cute, but also the world isnt cute itself, it makes me think of SSSS Gridman. And of course certain scenes make on think of Evangelion. There's just something off about this world theyre in. The cg used is pretty great too. The fights with Aquarion are awesome, especially the use of Pop Art in certain attacks. And the new moves used against the Mythical Beasts are all a Fudo thumbs up. VERY stylish.
Anyways, I like what I've seen of MOE so far. Lots to unravel still, but overall this is certainly a bonafide Aquarion experience. I am curious if this is really gonna just be 12 ep though, maybe as part of a cope because I want more Aquarion in general. Of course I am a mecha fan, more episodes the better.
I think it's kind of funny for people, like what happened to Logos, just being negative because of change in a series that's so loudly Buddhist at its core though. Ten thousand years and two thousand more, things are bound to change.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 3, 2025
So DivineZ season 2 failed.........at telling us a good high stakes story but thank god that wasn't most of the season nor its initial appeal. You could in the first half just choose an ep with your favorite DivineZ character, watch them fight and leave the rest of the show honestly. Because the best bit was Fated Ones vs Destined Ones. Once they start trying to do plot well............unless you're G or V series, it's a Vanguard high stakes plot at its worst.
Anyways, the gang is back, Gabwellius's ritual gets hacked and a new plushie comes to play with 6 more people who
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want to fight for a wish, but this time its 6 v 6. Its Gabs fatal enemy, Sybilt. What is Sybilts plan at the end of this Fated Clash, NO, Destined Showdown!
The first half of season 2 is a fascinating game of foils, and the appeal of the DivineZ cast grows for the most part because of it. Which is great for the DivineZ newbies, however the people from Overdress or Willdress, it just gets even better. Taizo just leaps higher into popularity every time it feels like. And the new characters are all mostly great with their interactions with their chosen opposite.
This is the case for most characters, all except for one character, ms popular and expensive merch, Inabe Nao, its rather disappointing how much she doesn't get despite being the second character we get to know at the start of DivineZ, and this extends to her Destined one opponent too, even though she seemed interesting when we saw her last season. Easily the driest ep of the whole season.
Once the "real plot" starts kicking in, DivineZ season 2 for the most part nosedives. There is almost nothing appealing about Sybilt's reveals because they did not spend any time actually setting it up. And so then the final battle, which would make sense as a sendoff to the plot of DivineZ just feels out of nowhere and unfulfilling. On paper I should be excited, but im not at all interested instead.
Unlike Overdress, the appeal of this series is actually our mc Akina himself and the lore he carries, and so the best parts of the finale has to do with things associated with him. But not the fight, just bog standard stereotypical what you expect when you think Vanguard final fight at its most boring and also just plain disrespectful to a character that's involved in it this time. Like yeah sure why not, watch the Destined Showdown, see the big reveals, and then watch the middle of 13, unless you really wanna see those decks. Character interactions is DivineZ strong point so just see the good stuff. Id rather just think of everything after the Destined Showdown as extra because man, things couldnt last long after a no strings attached good first season of Vanguard huh
And shoutout to the OP and ED of this season, easily some of the best, DivineZ has more bangers than Overdress already even though its only been 2 seasons
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Feb 3, 2025
After the hell that was Will+Dress, I had much apprehension to the next stage in Vanguard. However, quickly, Cardfight Vanguard DivineZ proved itself to be a competent show from the get go. Humor on point, and while advertising dodgy starter product(you should just buy Overdress decks 1-6, Stardust Blade, or anything that actually treats you like an intelligent human being), the character writing was great too.
Vanguard/Stay Night, a battle royale for a wish. What a novel concept.
Akina Myodo, a boy with a simple wish to cure his little sisters sickness, enters the world of Vanguard after a card falls from the sky, Vanguard is
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sisters favorite game after all. And the little plush guy Gabwellius says so, the Fated Clash begins!
While Overdress began with a world of varied walks of life in its setting. DivineZ instead builds that up through its Fated Clash competitors, after all, it may be a fight for a wish, but no one is at risk..........right?
And the first reason I ask that is because unfortunately it seems like the writers weren't sure at first either, as they just write out Akina's first opponent for a couple eps after his victory even though that makes no sense from a character dynamic standpoint, and so Akina basically "starts fresh" when he meets his second opponent.
However the second reason is indeed because someone doesn't want him to fight, a strange masked entity.
But regardless, second opponent onwards its community building with all the wish seekers, as the card that collects each cards power triggers the wish, and its very fun to see this makeshift group form. After all, its just a game.
Another great surprise of DivineZ is the salvaging of Willdress characters. It was a genuine surprise to see Taizo come back as a main cast member, what a promotion from side character. Though deserved considering his voice actor was a former protagonist.
Animation wise the battle sakuga is kind of toned down, I cannot tell you any memorable cuts from the top of my head. I guess the main attraction is the Divine skill pose the players do to activate their Noble Phan-Divine Skill. Once per game moves are always cool.
Of course I wouldn't spoil how DivineZ's Fated Clash ends, its worth experiencing the miracle with your own eyes. It feels crazy to finally get a no strings attached good season that also the FIRST season to a new era. Surely DivineZ 2 won't fail us
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 3, 2025
So Willdress Season 3, are we sure Kinema Citrus wasn't paid to write propaganda for AI?
Genuinely as a piece of art, forget about as card game anime alone, this was a god awful show. Paper thin plot with no redeeming qualities.
So the enemy is an AI cult, they got Jinki doing some freaky stuff with Gui at the start of the season with body possession, but you want me to sit here and go "Oh yeah, we can be friends". Yeah just forget all direction the last 2 seasons thats just the blaring red light of "villain" "villain"
The only original and GOOD ideas
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here is the ep where Mirei acts more like a protagonist than anyone in the show and just storms into Uniformers headquarters to get her brainwashed aide, and Tohyas ep about kicking his long time friends ass.
Sophie Belle? Hardly know her.
Urara had a rival? Coulda fooled me.
Megumi finally being something besides Danji admirer? Nope. It's crazy the panned and supposedly "bad" Shadowverse anime did that plot point better and with such gravitas.
Were you expecting a Tomari and Zakusa moment? Sorry you ever expected anything from this franchise.
The final battle? You already watched Overdress season 2 I hope, its just that. Copy paste with worst characters. The deck design of Willdress is just "we'll print the good stuff at the end of this season that will make everything we introduced 3 seasons ago suddenly good".
Don't even get me started on the theme of Uniform vs Dress. Dress, you know the symbol of the MC they havent used since Overdress season 2 for a gag in an ep. Again, since anime production is like done in advance and these 3 things are supposed to be one whole by the end of it on top of succeedng the previous series, why the fluctuation and overall suckiness.
Overdress season 2 was a sequel to a show that didn't exist so Willdress season 3 could drop everything and just conclude with an undeserved bow and pat on the back. What an insulting show.
Cardfight Vanguard Will+Dress season 3: Centrism is cool!!!! WOW AI IS GREAT VANGUARD IS FUUUUUN!!!!!
Reviewer’s Rating: 1
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Feb 3, 2025
Willdress season 2 is just as bad as season 1, but for different reasons
So, America. That is the destination for Yu-yu, Tohya, and Raika who topped the Deluxe, they get invited to do exhibition matches in America. However, it's not in one location. Its New York to Texas to California, 1 match each. Yes. Thats half the seasons plot. But with them, is Danji once again, with a new character Sam, one half of the story begins.
The other half is back in Japan where Urara does Blackout things, however, a new group is on the rise, the Uniformers, who is associated with the Deluxe organiziner,
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Jinki, and mass disappearances of people. And in the Uniformers we get another Vanguard alum, with Sophie Belle voiced by og Vanguards Kourin, and she serves as Raika's rival.
And so theres suspense building and suspense building, AND more suspense building, as it becomes clear this America trip for some of the top Vanguard fighters was just a way to get them out of the picture as the Uniformers worm their way into the lives of people they care about. Uniformers, there is just something odd about how they play. The theme of cult collective vs individuality. However, one ep its halfbaked for a character after some setup, and another its like a legit big brained move right out of a thriller. Its so odd how the storytelling quality fluctuates.
And then the final fight of the season is such a good fight. I have no problems with the way D series does fights if every fight was like the final fight, just good storytelling. Like how could the real final fight match up to the character dynamics at play here, could it possibly
And in the end, while the stakes are raised that's genuinely good, the start of the season was nonsensical and of course, and the build up has to have catharsis next season else it was all for nothing,
So Willdress season 3..........
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Feb 3, 2025
After a great season like Overdress season 2, we get announced Willdress. And this was doubly impactful cause not only was the tournament happening in show, it was the brand name for a tournament series in real life too. Many star actors were announced to voice characters in the animes Deluxe. They get Chrono's VA to be a Brand Gate guy?? This is gonna be hype!!
And yet what we got was the most boring season yet. Obviously theres IS some good in this season. New character Urara acts in some way as an audience surrogate for new watchers and makes some good faces and seems
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fun as a new Blackout recruit. Mirei is in the tourney, so it will be at least 1 good fight.
However, thats about it.
While Yu-yu did good showing last season, frankly its unwarranted he became Blackout leader now with a bit more grown design. And on top of that the Deluxe makes up terms to split serious and casual players in Front Fighter and Counter Fighter, all to have a rather snooty "rival" in Raika who Yu-yu is supposed to overcome, and he's got a case of the Megumis in that he's an admirer of another cardfighter named Michiru. Oh and theres supposed to be this mystery plot in the background a la early GX season 3, with Danji out of the picture because he's doing a favor for Michiru, who is his friend.
And from the fact I score this lower than last season, you can tell they did not succeed at all. Yu-yu gets a new deck and it sounds cool at first because of how he obtains it, however in practice the writers themselves are confused. There are no developments in this season just a extremely simple tournament plot with some setup for the following two seasons, because we were already informed Willdress would be 3 seasons. And all I could hope there it payoff
and well.........
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Feb 3, 2025
Cardfight Vanguard Overdress Season 2 acts like its a sequel to a better show, it's insane.
Danjis barely alluded to backstory goes explored. Tohya is the leader. Yu-yu's deck backstory, and of course Yu-yu himself. And Megumi gets to be more than just wanting Danji's attention. And Zakusa and Tomari are just fun support characters as always.
I'm so thoroughly confused because this is supposed to be a second part to a whole story right? So why is the first half so bad?
Overdress Season 2 introduces Mirei Minae, the rival of the season and leader of Team Daybreak, and thus why this season ends
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up being a good sendoff for the Overdress part of the D series, but also one of the best Vanguard stories ever told to one of Vanguards best characters. Because Danji, the ever seemingly invincible Danji is now at a vulnerable spot. Taking care of her. And the conflict that arises isnt anyone' of thems fault.
Blackout almost being headless like this in the end leads to some very fun episodes. And while Yu-yu never confronts his family about the crossdressing, when he ultimately pulls out the dress in a time of need, its a highlight of the season compared to last season.
And Tohya became higher as a fan favorite because of this season, because hes just a college dropout who would spend on a whole booster case, its really endearing the comedy that comes from the resolution from his internal clash last season.
The journey to Blackout vs Daybreak, is very gripping because its a great interpersonal conflict while the overall plot is about a bigger bang war going on, but that doesnt matter as much as the core of the story.
The character writing is just really good on all levels, the journey to see Danji again.
And when Overdress finally gets defined, I was able to forgive the sins of season 1, because what a message to give to the audience. What a wonderful mechanic. Granted, they did not do enough with Yu-yu to fully sell it, but yet it could also speak to the writing sins of the past season.
Nothing much to say about the cardfights other than the Sakuga segment is even better. Actually I think it peaked here. Theres just so many better written fights overall. It's fun watching.
I'm a Bavsargra main btw, so yeah. Great standout season.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 3, 2025
It is honestly baffling that Cardfight Vanguard returned seemingly as a "Vanguard for everyone" and generally audience appealing by being short 13 ep seasons. To shock the audience with a crossdressing main character voiced by a well love voice actor. A setting about outcasts, having fun at an abandoned amusement part playing card games.
And then proceed to be just not a good show at all.
Cardfight Vanguard Overdress season 1 does not know what it wants to be or what it wants to do. Its wants to put on a air of acceptance, yet mcs Yu-yu Kondo's crossdressing quirk is just a joke. Yu-yus crossdressing
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is a result of being his sisters doll for dressing because he simply can't refuse to help when asked, and yet we don't really have a moment with his family for him to assert his will by the end of this, or really much interaction with his family at all beyond the first ep, which is strange because Vanguard animes have some pretty nice family involvement in its history.
And then we come to the group he joins, Blackout, the cardfighting group who hang at the abandoned amusement park.
There's Megumi whos quirk is just being jealous of Yu-yu because she wants Danji's attention.
Zakusa and Tomari who seemed to be almost like a cool couple but then they just start doing odd behavior thats not endearing. Tomari has a cool announcer voice though.
The best characters in all this are Danji, who's just the aloof team leader of Blackout, and in some ways similar to Yu-yu because hes willing to do anything when asked, and Tohya, the med student who just wants to dedicate his life to card games. And yet, this is Yu-yu's story. Its cool and all he was attracted to one of Danjis cards, and the interactions fun with him learning from Danji. But the story, oh the story.............
The point of the story is that Yu-yu is supposed to get confidence from discovering and playing Vanguard form this community. Danji sees potential in him, maybe even take over his group because Danji is feeling like retiring. Blackout also has to protect their turf both from cardfighters and because theyre on abandoned property. Its such a simple and good story on paper.
However, the season spends time senselessly even though on paper it all sounds good. Misadventures with Blackout, theres some inkling from Danji he doesn't talk about, Yu-yu being under Danjis wing. Megumi being jealous of the newbie, and Tomari and Zakusa being voices of reason. And how Tohya works into that story being a rival.
However what actually happens is fluctuating quality slice of life eps until some conflict and then boom, wait for season 2.
And this is something I will say in all my D series reviews when needed. Complaints about eras seasons being a 13 eps are dumb, this stuff is preplanned for more than that so they have to be good by itself while wanting you to ask for more. If Kinema Citrus can't use their time wisely like every other anime that airs in a season, then the problem isn't the episode count. Yugioh despite being ongoing still, has been structuring arcs that last 12 eps each since the studio change and theyre all well structured and tell good stories.
At least Roselia does the OP, Zeal of the Proud is a banger.
Now for last, the cardfights, and honestly, theyre fine. I am not a worshipper of how Vanguard used to do fights, as cool as it was to see full fights play out. I mean, I guess its a double burn if the fights are shortened but also the writing outside of it fluctuates, but I'll take it over anything from Aichis first era past the first season. However, even though Vanguard is now nice clean CLAMP artstyle, its pretty clear the directions made for the fights are both to look fancy, but also cost cutting measures. The new sakuga bursts are cool, much better than Vanguard not being known for sakuga before outside of the OPs.
And uh, what DOES Overdress mean? Well, onto season 2...........
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Feb 3, 2025
Shinkalion: Change the World is the third entry in the Shinkalion franchise, and boy is it a shake up. An artstyle change thats not as energetic as before. Not in the same universe as the previous two. And older looking characters. And now that its over, no crossover characters you can make go viral online (which to some is a good thing, I'm neutral). The hobby elements seemed like its not there anymore, no fear because this is still Shinkalion, and transforming trains that defend the world from weird entities are still here.
Following Taisei Onari, who is a train otaku, and his AI buddy
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Vina, with his missing sisters words "become a cool person with something to protect" eternalized in him, as he gets wrapped up in a new invasion of mysterious beings known as Unknown and joins a secret force known as ERDA who operate as the Railway Club at school to fight back as a Shinkalion pilot. Very classic plot that you expect from Shinkalion.
However, Change the World is a much much slower show initially with setting up its 3 main pilots, the supporting cast pilots, their internal dramas, and of course train tourism!!! It all feels a bit more serious as a whole, I personally like it. There's some cool stories that were told.
Another change is of course, the digital implementations, because it's the 2020s, and we got VR. So for Shinkalion, that means the ever trendy Metaverse, as is the hot word Japan likes calling it. The Unknowns are transported from the real world to a digital space where their asses get kicked by digital versions of Japans finest trains, with the pilots controlling the machines with their avatar selves via VR headset. A cool gimmick of every train having their assist vehicle that combines with them and makes up their main form. It makes for some very cool combiner sequences and designs.
The cast of characters we meet outside our main trio are all pretty cool, and seeing them get added to the op gradually is very nice. Of course maybe you'll get attached to one but they aren't a regular cast member and so you join the long legacy pain of this franchise. But hey, thats what the toys are for, repping your favorite character!
People do complain about the length of this series compared to Z or the original, the shortening of ep count, but honestly for this series in particular maybe this could have been shorter, not that I think the show does anything wrong, but rather maybe, they held onto their cards too long. Like I enjoy a majority of the episodes, however it is a balancing act of enjoying the new pilot character from a different branch and how they interact with Taisei and gang from the East Branch ERDA and also theres a villain looming in the back with many questions we still don't have answers for. I could see someone say "ok enough of this guy from whatever Branch, I want my answers questi-questions answered".
But of course this is a niche within a niche, so I believe most people who are watching Shinkalion in the are gonna stick with it completely because a kids show about mecha trains? You're too deep in the rabbit hole if you're watching this at all. Otherwise you'd be watching harem isekai #498738595394 right.
Anyways, once the late game reveals in the final stretch of the show drop, it's a wild ride. Somewhat a mood shift and once Taisei's journey is all done, I'm still kind of speechless with what they accomplished a day later.
Its great, I loved everything about it. I guess I'm buying this series Plarails now.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 30, 2025
Battle Spirits Double Drive is the last of the Battle Spirits tv anime, and on paper its the coolest thing ever. Its a like a bets of of all the cool stuff. Chosen heroes drawn to a fantastical world, Zodiacs, fantasy and sports, transformations and journeying the WORLD. We have two heroes that represent the down to earth and fantasy aspects of the series!!!
Unfortunately, the last Battle Spirits anime goes out on a whimper by being a poorer version of everything its trying to call back on. Like I cannot stress how boring the series is overall. It doesn't have much characters, yet also it
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doesn't do much interesting with them. The plot and the characters are really this that this could have been shorter honestly.
And even though the show presents two main characters, really this show just becomes about Shunta.
Yooo they got a purple dude voiced by Jun Fukuyam-yeah don't get your hopes up.
The art style is pretty nice, however, the animation directing just makes it look unflattering sometimes, specifically the battle armors. There was like at least a scene animated by the person who directed Battle Spirits Ultimate Zero and only for that battle was the battle armor design the best it ever looked. Otherwise, some cute animation bits stuff here and there.
The best character is probably the character they introduced midway through the show. And also where they start introducing Ultimates into the show, so hey, the mechanic from my favorite show got done justice, how about that.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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