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Jan 20, 2022
Belle (Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime) is an example of director Mamoru Hosoda perhaps thematically biting a bit more than he can chew. Utilizing the tale of Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve's Beauty and the Beast to tell a technological tale of internet stardom and human connection and empathy sounds like a film right up the alley for Hosoda and his storytelling sensibilities and directorial techniques. And it does succeed. But does falter in lieu of itself.
On the positive side of things, the film is gorgeous from a production angle. The utility of the animation tech and rigs used in films like Into the Spider-Verse and The
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Mitchells VS The Machines are used here and it allows the world of U (the in-movie social network site where much of the film's story and conflict takes place in) giving it a nicer, new age take on Hosoda's previous run ins with the internet like in Digimon: Our War Game and Summer Wars. With very uniquely designed avatars that feel fleshed out and give U a sense of diversity befitting an internet type world.
It also helps that Mamoru Hosoda's love of empathetic storytelling here is present. The emotional beats are all in place and do succeed in their delivery.
And Hosoda's signature style and aesthetic is pleasing to look at as always. With his greatly designed characters and artwork with animation giving his characters an exaggerated but human feel.
I also really dig using Beauty and the Beast's material to not do another love story. But use it as a tale of connection, friendship, platonic love and empathy. It's a more unique take on a well know romantic classic.
And those songs and music? Gorgeous to listen to.
It's also bolstered by a great cast of seiyuus.
On the negatives, the story and themes are understood. But very muddled. The delivery of the emotion is there but doesn't sing through as nicely as Hosoda's previous works. Themes of personas people can have on social media VS their true selves, how engaging in social media has it's pros and cons within the interactivity of the real world, connectivity overall. It's all there. But comes off as a bit half-baked. Allot that's already been said by many other features and stories and even better.
It also has a cast of likeable albeit underdeveloped and kind of bland characters. Each one handled with Hosoda's humanistic and likebale traits and feel. But with not much in terms of arc or growth. And any of that feels poorly handled and often underdeveloped.
It also doesn't help that the story is a bit confused and all over the place. Often not having a connection to the real world plot and drama and the U world plot and drama until the end. So what you get are two different plots that unravel and try to connect so badly. And it really comes off as narratively clumsy.
If Belle is anything, it is still entertaining. Held up well by Mamoru Hosoda's direction and pathos within his story. It feels lesser compared to his other films. But it is thankfully pretty to look at and has great production elements that keep it from being terrible or unengaging.
All in all: One of Hosoda's lesser works that still manages to entertain and prove why he's one of the better anime directors working today.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 25, 2021
It's interesting. Sometimes when you watch a long running series, in many cases, after so many season and entries in, cracks begin to show. In terms of direction, narrative, design, etc. Shows can often have it's creative staff seemingly coast in terms of creation, wither due to creative wear down of prioritizing one project, or prioritizing another leaving other works under directed. This new season into the studio Bones adaptation of My Hero Academia with it's newest season, while not awful, is one I feel befits this description in allot of ways.
While it may follow the respective arcs of the manga it is adapting, there
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becomes missing a certain brand of directorial adaptation flourish and personality that kept other seasons afloat. Even if a previous season had it's down moments (looking at you, 2nd half of Season 3) you could always tell that in terms of direction the staff were all in for it. Execution is what kept the lesser moments of MHA's narrative further engaging and still made it a great watch and a good adaptation of Horikoshi's popular superhero shounen manga. But with season 5, everything here feels like it's just kind of coasting.
Allot of the emotional sweeping arcs, grandiose moments of animation, and booming visual directing seem very downplayed this time around. Taking a larger than life manga's material and turning it into exactly what you'd expect but in a smaller scope. A shame too since many of the moments from the source material could've been elevated further like it has in previous seasons. But here, all the best moments of these arcs feel under delivered making it at best, decent watching. And at worst, a mediocre bore to sit through relegating it to background noise viewings. Insulting the source material in many ways.
And for a series as successful and popular as this one, that's not a good thing at all. Viewers (especially devoted fans of MHA) should honestly expect better than this. It's hasn't been an abhorrent watch by any means. (Some moments were directed better than others) But it wasn't that great. And for a show that's had some phenomenally directed moments, having a dip in quality like this isn't good. It could loose viewership and lead to unsuccess of the future of animators, and visionaries and other mangaka.
My Hero Academia is a series that's exploded over time reaching out to viewers in Japan and all over the world. Getting to levels of popularity and love not seen since the Big 3 and even Dragon Ball. And I think its a disappointment to see a season which has been pushing it's envelope so far (maybe not perfectly all the time) deliver such a letdown of a series entry is a shame. And fans should expect a little more.
All in all, not aweful. But should've been far better.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Aug 17, 2021
So a bit of a rant before I get into things: I am not a big fan of the Evangelion Rebuild films. I feel there exists a certain novelty to them which clearly has connected to many others. I'm not one of them. Hideaki Anno was able to create a true and honest trailblazer of art and entertainment when he created the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series and it's concluding motion picture End of Evangelion. Especially in the scope of Japanese animation and animation in general. The original NGE was created in a time where the animation industry of Japan was heavily stifled under an
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economic rescission, a series of diseases plaguing Japan at the time of NGE's production, terrorist attacks, and Hideaki Anno's own collapsing mental health (much to blame on Gainax producers and their own heavy restrictions of his previous works on top of prior mental health issues he suffered). All of which presented even more difficulty for his vision to be brought forth. And when he did, we were gifted a very special series. A science fiction action epic that crossed into elements of religion, philosophy, and the human condition in regards to grief, trauma, loss, depression, and other elements. All told with a slight of hand and gravitas Anno brought inspite of production difficulty. An all timer for me and others.
The Rebuilds (at least from my perspective) feel like much of the deeper core elements that made NGE work are made shallow in the face of spectacle. With the first film (1.0) being a re-visitation of NGE's first 6 episodes condensed into motion picture format (complete with mid-credit tease. You know the one), it's sequel (2.0) being a first half another re-visitation of following episodes then turning into basic Super Robot tropes and story beats (ones the original series and movie End of Evangelion were able to implement in a unique way that didn't feel basic) creating a clumsy off-putting take upon itself, and the third film (3.0) being a time-skip continuation that boarders on terrible storytelling, no iota of thematic ideals, set ups or pay offs. Creating a thus far disappointing series of films.
So where does that leave 3.0+1.0? A film which spent much time in years of production hell? Well... The short answer is... Somewhere in the middle.
To give some positives: Anno and company worked really hard on the animation, music and artwork. And it is reflected here. There's clearly animators and others putting there best feet forward. And to they, I must give full gusto to them. I also kind of dug the way certain characters (namely Gendo) were handled here.
But on the negatives: 3.0+1.0 has it's predecessor series' thematic ideas and metafictionlism, escapism and the dangers of overindulging into it, and growing up. But delivers all of it (and then some) with a true sense of clumsy emotional and story beats, off-putting spectacle. many character developments feel sudden, rushed, stifled or annoying. Much of which the original (sorry to compare so much) did brilliantly and effectively decades ago. And while I do love the art and animation in spots, there exists dodgy CGI implemented so much here. And for a film with such long production cycle, I'd expect a bit of fine tuning on that part.
It's as if story wise, this film wants to synergize and recreate the lightning in a bottle that the original and EoE were. But can only give us sparks in a solo cup.
All of it coming together to create a letdown. The Rebuilds didn't go out with a bang. Not a whimper. But, in my mind, a "meh."
I love Hideaki Anno and am looking forward to his future works. But this one, I won't be revisiting myself.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jul 31, 2021
Out of all the Japanese anime I have watched in my life and manga I have read, none have ever in my life quite been the holder of all time favorite (and for me, best of all time) quite as solidly as Gintama. The comedy-drama combining shounen action, science fiction meets chanbara hybrid satirizing anime and manga storytelling is all encompassing of it's genre types to create a story that's hilarious, heartfelt, engaging and exciting through and through on all aspects. And it ends here on an absolute brilliant note, in adapting the final arc and chapters to this well directed, superbly animated, funny, gripping,
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emotionally investing, and exciting final chapter.
I'm going to miss the Odd Jobs Trio and the whole ensemble so much. This movie adaptation of the final chapters hit me just as hard as reading the final chapters.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 29, 2021
"I Can't Believe It's Not Wall-E"
Truly another in a line of disappointing Netflix anime acquisitions.
The premise of Eden is a familiar one. Which isn't bad. The idea of a future where humans become extinct due to greed and environmental collapse causing the last to have robots try to rebuild it is good to farm for a good sci-fi tale. One that clearly lives in the shadows of it's predecessors, due to it's bland direction, pretty poor CGI animation, and really lacking characters and tale.
It all creates 4 episodes of a short series that will be forgotten for doing nothing truly great. But sitting
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in a malaise of bland story beats and bland production. With bland characters. A boring 2 hour sit that never narratively takes off or has any highlights. It's not the worst by any degree. But it's such a nothing series.
Atleast the Kevin Penkin score is good.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Jul 10, 2020
Tokyo Sinks 2020 is another outing from one of my favorite working directors in anime Masaaki Yuasa. Airing on Netflix, I went into this with pretty high expectations. Yuasa began 2020 with a bang with Keep Your Hands of Eizouken! Which I really loved. And everything from him before heightened said expectations. And when it all finished... MY standards weren't quite meet.
There's greatness to be found in Japan Sinks 2020. The animation and art is grade A per most Yuasa and Saru projects. Utilizing the sketchy experimental style of Yuasa's direction and aesthetic to add a gritty expressiveness to it's human story. Something I'd like
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to see more from Yuasa and Saru. And the soundtrack and sound design is stellar and fitting the series.
But it's biggest flaws are in it's other elements. The characters are really weak, flat and poorly developed. The story infuriating and convoluted and takes far too many steps for a 10 episode series. And often feels manipulative in it's attempt at pathos and emotion. And while I do like the ending and feel it's fitting for the narrative, and feels like a good ending overall, the journey to get there on all fronts was a dud.
This is honestly the first time a work of Masaaki Yuasa has let me down. But... It could have been worse.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Feb 29, 2020
Let's see:
* Bigger budget animation that fits the aesthetic of its source material well-being bigger and scale for motion picture Style? Bringing out it's art and animation to a better scale?
Fuckin mint~!
* A narrative which works both well as a stand-alone piece and as a possible continuation of the source material? Making it both digestible for fans and quite possibly not fans?
Fuckin' mint~!
* Succeeding where the first movie failed in giving all of its major players a big part and their own highlights making every member of the ensemble memorable from heroes to villains to supporting characters memorable in action scenes and charter driven scenes
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comedic and dramatic?
Fuckin mint~!
* A stellar musical score that really brings it all to gather with some great sound mixing to bring out the action and comedy of the tail?
Fuckin mint~!
* A climax that had me openly say in the theater "shut the front door!"?
Fuckin mint~!
Seriously alongside Promare and Dragon Ball Super Broly, anime films in bigger releases in theaters have been getting better and better. And this is another entry into that.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 18, 2019
As a long time fan of the Dragon Ball series, first getting into it via Toonami in the 90s, I'd say it safe to say that the movies of Dragon Ball have been a bit more hit or miss. Many of them having no cannon connection to any part of the series made them seem superfluous and more interesting "what if" scenarios. And many of them lacking quality and good writing when it comes to the memorability of the villains our iconic Z warriors would fight. Every now and again you'd get something in the vain of great TV movies like "History of Trunks" or
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"Bardock: Father of Goku" or even some good movies like "Fusion Reborn" or "Wrath of the Dragon". But one that most kids in our youth do remember, and often find has not aged entirely well but still withholds much nostalgia and popularity, is the 3 Broly Movies from years ago (Broly- The Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly- Second Coming, Bio-Broly) do not hold up well due to the writing of it's popular but honestly badly written villain Broly. In those films, Broly was wanting to kill Goku due to their time on Planet Vegeta as babies and Goku's crying upsetting Broly. It made him a neanderthall who's motivation for wanting to fight Goku needless and bad.
Now in recent years, we've gotten movies related to the Dragon Ball Series thanks to the popularity of Dragon Ball Super and the two films before this one "Battle of Gods" and "Resurrection F". Both turning out to be cannon to the source material and actually kept the series going. And they were good. So after Super finished airing, and the announced the next one would star Broly as the antagonist, I got worried. But then I heard this movie would be cannon (Taking place not to long after Super's "Tournament of Power Saga") and that Broly would be re-written, I got hopeful. And after seeing the movie last night, I can honestly say they did an amazing job and it's become one of my favorite entries in the Dragon Ball franchise.
In this film, Broly and Paragus are given an actual backstory and much better reason behind their choices, motivations and characters. They become more fleshed out and actually become interesting and very entertaining. Heck, there's even some re-writes to Goku's voyage to Earth, Bardock (Along with Goku's mother Gine), and the destruction to Planet Vegeta that works out really well too. None of the rewrites destroy or make less entertaining the Dragon Ball mythos and only improves it in my mind. And the story is very good here this time around. Well paced as well, it kept moving forward and did amazing at telling the story.
And the animation... Sweet Jesus the animation. The art aesthetic and overall animation is phenomenal. This looks more among the lines of Bones or MadHouse productions and that is to the movie's benefit. So many moments of Sakuga in an already well animated and gorgeous film, it's a real feast for the eyes. And even allot of the experimental moments and shots I wouldn't expect (Like a POV shot for a bit from Broly's perspective during a battle) is really well done as well. So much detail is here, that I feel if you went through this movie an slowed it down and go at it frame by frame, you'd find so much. The character's fight animations, expressions, are so well detailed. This isn't your old Dragon Ball of quick flashiness of dude's punching each other. There is that, but it also has many a moment of beautiful animation and details throughout. One of the best produced Dragon Ball films out there.
Honestly, if you're a fan of Dragon Ball, please watch this. It changes elements of the mythos and history might rub some people the wrong way, but in my mind, it honestly helps build up a great future for Dragon Ball and gives one of it's more popular villains a re-write redemption adding him to the list of good Dragon Ball villains. This is honestly one of my top favorite Dragon Ball films and quite possibly anime and animated films in general. It's a feast for the eyes and did so much for me as a fan of one of anime's biggest titles.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 8, 2018
When it comes to a person's favorite anything, they really need to sit back and think of why they consider it as their "favorite." Is it the feeling they get while watching it? The factors of how well it may or may not hold up as time goes on? Or could it be a matter of something coming out in the right place at the right time? And in comes to anime, I find that no different. And for me personally, (OVA wise) FLCL (Fooly Cooly or Furi Kuri) checks off all three boxes and then some.
I first saw the series when it was first
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airing on the [adult swim] block way back in the late Summer of 2003. And at the time, I didn't know what the heck I was watching, but it had me by the balls with just about everything it was doing. I was at the same age as the protagonist Naota and much like him through the story, I rode it out until the end and was rewarded. Fast-forward 15 years later, and I can still re-watch this series and consider it to be one of my absolute favorites. It genuinely still holds up after many a consecutive revisit. As it does so much in the span of it's short 6 episode run. And even today it's one of the most unique anime I've ever seen and have yet to find something close to it. So with all that gushing done and out of the way, let's get to the review.
So the story. If I could in a non-spoiler way describe it sans-summary, it's a coming of age story of puberty and youth uniquely disguised as a sci-fi action comedy with a bit of a serious tone and scope to it all. Through the narrative, we see all this fighting between robots, Rickenbacker Bass guitars, government agencies and intergalactic beings, all while still telling a tale of growing up. It's pretty odd. But with the use of symbolism, metaphors, and a unique narrative that still all loops together, it tells this story so damn well.
And a great story also has a cast greatly fleshed out cast of characters. And FLCL delivers on those as well. It's main cast is very diverse in personality, design, motivation, and character arcs. And each of them will have you remembering them from beginning to end. Every main member leaves an impression on you. And many of them grow through the narrative or become clear on who and what they are. Again, in the span of 6 episodes. Many anime can't even do that in 12 or 26+ episode series. But FLCL nails it very well.
So yeah. The story's great and so are it's characters. Allot of anime have cool stories and characters. So what makes it unique? Aside from telling it's narrative to the beat of it's own drum, it's also unique in it's technical.
One of the most outward being the animation, visual and art style. This series was made from the ground up to be different and unique and nowhere is that more present than in it's visuals. And to be experimental, The art style and animation can at times change on a dime, but thanks to the anime's pacing and execution, it sticks the landing every time. We see clean hand-drawn have moments of 3D camera-zooms, manga art style, sketchy art-style, dark and atmospheric and more crude style throughout. And it almost never feels too out of place. As each change fits the scene or shot it needs to portray. Many might find it jarring but it honestly works so well. And I also love how every major character, main and supporting, stands out from one another. Things from their hair, clothes and accessories, they all have something to help distinguish them from one another. And it all looks great and further helps the characters further stand out.
And we gotta talk about the sound. The other thing that, at the time and even nowadays, makes FLCL unique. Unlike other soundtracks before and in many cases after it, the soundtrack was fully composed of songs and music by Japanese rock-band the pillows. Allot of other series and productions more often then not have a score or an OST with more conventional instruments, but FLCL says, "Screw that! We got rock!" And again, it fits in so well. So many memorable tracks and songs are in this soundtrack. From the catchy lyrics, and great composition, it's one of those soundtracks that stands on it's own two feet. And it ties into the tone of the story it's presenting. It's honestly remarkable.
I could see allot of people not enjoying this as much due to it's more unconventional style. But in my mind, most can due to it. Heck. Some people have watched this on more than one occasion and it's worked out in dividends for them and they love it each time they visit it. I say if you're in the mood for something truly unique and enjoyable, I say give FLCL a chance. It's only 6 episodes long and is available on many legal streaming services. And if you're going to watch it, I say watch the English dub. Yeah I know allot may turn their noses at the site of a dub because "dubs are always bad" (Which isn't true in the slightest) but this dub is so fitting with it's performances and voices. There's no bad performances or reads from the actors. This series honestly fires on all cylinders and it's miraculous. So yeah, its pretty clear this is my favorite anime of all time. It was years ago and it still is now. And hey, if you get the time, I honestly say give it a watch. It's a must watch for any anime fan. This unique coming of age story is one of my all time favorites and isn't one to miss. If not for it to become one of your favorites, then at the least to experience a tried and true example of lighting in a bottle. It's a masterpiece.
FLCL is available for legal streaming on VRV, FunimationNow, The Adult Swim App, CrunchyRoll, and Hulu. And is available on DVD and Blu-Ray thanks to Funimation.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Apr 4, 2018
Every year or so, there come titles which seem to push the anime industry further and further to being more than what many perceive it to be.
2017's Made In Abyss (MIA as I will be abbreviating it through this review) seems to fit that mold and then some. With beautiful and expressive animation, gorgeous art, wonderful music, all within a world of characters and narrative which make it a true stand out among it's contemporaries. And the best part... There's only one season out at the time of this review with a second on the way. And if this first entry into the series
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is any indicator, it will continue to be great.
The best way I could fastball pitch MIA's to anyone is this: If HP Lovecraft, Don Bluth and Hayo Miyazaki were to given the task to craft a narrative production together, this would be the end result. And through it's 13 episode run, we get that just as you'd imagine it to be.
The story is built around the mystery of the eponymous setting of the Abyss and how our two main characters, Riko and Reg, discover it's many secrets and mysteries on the path to find Riko's mother said to be down in the Abyss. What the two face are wild dangers and many revelations that reveal much about the Abyss and the lives they grew up in. That's as much as I can go into without diving into spoiler territory. But through the narrative, there's a great utilization of show don't tell when it comes to the setting. A wondrous bit of mystery overtakes each scene. It always leaves you wanting to research and learn more. And every step it takes is so convicting.
The characters are all also wonderful. While some do remain a bit on the under-developed side (hopefully Season 2 will rectify that), you still feel their impact and remember their name and face. And the characters we do see develop and grow are some of the best written in anime or any form of fiction. The more we see them go through and learn, the more intriguing and likable they become. And boy do these characters go through ALLOT!
The art and animation in the series is also gorgeous. Nothing seems processed and instead painted on and pops. Lots of great lighting, color, and vibrant style to it all to help bring a sense of beauty and often times horror to the world. The animation is also nice with great, expressive characters, non-stotic animation and movement and a design choice that really helps to contrast to the tone of the series overall giving it that extra bit of uniqueness.
The music is one of the best soundtracks in anime. Kevin Pelkin (who previously did work for Under The Dog), really gets to shine here. Great choir work and wonderful instrumental all throughout. All with a great OP and ED. All his songs give me goosebumps and should prove to the same effect.
Overall, Made In Abyss may have some shortcomings due to it's 13 episode act, leaving some characters and plots left to dangle, but with the announcement of season 2, it should prove to expand upon those elements and the other narrative elements even more. I really enjoyed this series all in all and 100% recommend anyone check it out. (Warning: The series can get pitch-black dark and depressing much of it. So if you're not into that, either give it a pass or be warned)
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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