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If you take out the Aphrodisiac scenes, this anime is pretty much like a kid's show. One dimensional characters, simple themes and morals, bright setting, upbeat cast... there's nothing super special about it, but nothing terrible either. If it were a little more child friendly, I'd show it to my kids.

Story: 6/10
Very simple setting, which is great - but nothing is really done with it. It gives context to the protagonist's drugstore and their adventures, but it doesn't go any deeper than that. What makes it better than other high fantasy isekai/adventure series is that there's no huge, boring exposition dump at the beginning. It's ... an open ended setting that allows for things to be done, and focuses on the drugstore's episodic adventures and requests.

Art: 7//10
Cute pastel colours, characters look nice but are nothing special. Minimal lighting and shading, which works in this case, because the vibe of the show is light hearted. Animations are occasionally awkward, but it's not like much is happening anyways.

Sound: 6/10
The medicine-making song is catchy, but the rest of the music isn't too memorable. OP and EDs are okay, sometimes I don't skip the ED.

Enjoyment: 4/10
I feel like I was watching this every week, just for the sake of watching it. Now that I've finished, I honestly wonder: was it worth the time? I dunno. I played every episode on 2x speed, got through the story, and don't feel like I got much from it - but I can definitely see why some people might enjoy this anime. It's slow, cute, and peaceful - a great escape from a hectic daily life.

Overall: 6/10
Its current MAL score of 6.5 is rather low, actually. I think the anime does what the story's intended to do perfectly: which is to depict a meaningless SoL where you can turn your brain off and enjoy in peace. I am generally biased against moe blob shows and just need something to waste my time on this season, hence my 6/10 - but most people who start this series should know what to expect from a SoL comedy isekai harem, and this show should, for the most part, fulfill those expectations.

I got into Dragon Maid recently, expecting a blob of moe trash. I'm not too hot on series like K-On or Love Live, and at first, I thought Dragon Maid was just a fantasy version of CGDCT minus any music or sport/activity to draw me in. Boy, was I wrong.

Story: 8/10
Underneath the vibrant comedy and titty jokes, there's a heavy subplot. The cast is bright and quirky on the surface, but we see glimpses into each of their backstories, which are darker in contrast to the genre itself. Everytime it gets too serious, we're given a punchline - this is actually perfect, as it creates ... subversive jokes, brings us back to the bright and comedic surface, and shows us how the characters cope with some of their heavier emotions. Additionally, the world building is amazing because of how little we know - there's an air of fantasy and mystery, simply because we don't see much of Tohru's fantasy dimension. Dragon powers are never thoroughly explained, and neither is the world they came from. This is what brilliant writing looks like - we gradually learn that the world has layers and depth, without any exposition dumps - and all this for a comedic setup that doesn't require any of that! Writers definitely went above and beyond in telling Dragon Maid's story, and I appreciate it.

Art: 7.5/10
The art gave an appropriate vibe for the series. It was cutesy and cartoonish, with greatly exaggerated proportions fitting for comedy series. It reminded me of Nichijou, but with prettier lighting. I'm personally not a fan of this type of art, and the oversized boobs are off-putting at times - however, it's pretty and serves its purpose. But there is one thing I want to emphasize:
THE BEST PART about these character designs is definitely THE EYES. They're incredibly detailed, and scream "dragon". Lucuoa's eyes make her feel mysterious, like there's hidden wisdom and power beneath her quirky demeanor. Fafnir's eyes are aggressive. Tohru and Elma's are bright and still reptilian. In their dragon forms, you also see the reptilian second eyelid... it's these kinds of details that bring so much life into this Slice of Life, despite the outrageous and fantastical setting. As expected from KyoAni.

Sound: 7/10
The OPs and EDs are a bop - 10/10, only skipped them once or twice. They're fun, upbeat, and perfectly capture what the series is about. However, the OST we hear during the anime could be improved on - the main sad/serious theme that plays during the heavier themes isn't very subtle, and kind of takes away from the feel of the series. That being said, it's not bad either, and does what it needs to do. Nothing special, but I can confidently say that it's fine.

Character: 9/10
I came in with such low standards for the characters, expecting some shallow, one-dimensional CGDCT cast. And I was blown out of the water. However, this huge cast of ~4 major and ~6 supporting characters are each memorable, well-balanced, and unique when compared to each other. Each have their own backstory and motivations, so it's not like their personalities are unexplained. Each explore the morality and purpose of coexistence between Dragons and Humans, which creates a thick subtext where the characters are actually talking about their relationships with each other. This is what made me grow so attached to them - there's no way I would think an anime with a title like Dragon Maid would discuss deeper topics than "hurr durr life is fun", and I was pleasantly proven wrong.

Even the miniscule details in character development are cool to see - Shouta offers a small magic crystal for a favour, and later in the series receives a larger magic crystal for a favour. Kanna usually eats everything, but at the end you see her catching and releasing something. Saikawa slowly learns how to put a lid on her outbursts of excitement, etc. Everyone develops, and that's something I barely see in most anime today.

Enjoyment: 8.5/10
I started with a cynical attitude about the quality of this series, but quickly learned that there was so much more to this anime than meets the eye. This, my children, is how I was tricked into gushing over the cuteness of humanoid lesbian dragons, as a person who hates fanboying over 2D characters unironically. Also, I usually watch anime on 1.5 to 2x speed, since most anime aren't worth taking it slow. I just want to see the story and get it over with. Dragon Maid was different - I actually wanted to enjoy this series at a normal speed, which is kudos to KyoAni's rhythm and pacing. At worst, I'd watch some episodes on 1.5x.

Overall: 8.3/10. I'd say the current MAL score of 8.46 is pretty accurate. As a sequel, Dragon Maid S definitely added on to the first season and made it even better - which is actually uncommon for KyoAni works.

Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun explores self-improvement themes using an entertaining narrative that contains many gaming metaphors. While the anime fell short, the light novels feel refreshing, creative, and original - although the fanservice isn't done very well.

Story (9): The premise is okay. Interesting but not super special. It explains many social-science concepts in understandable ways through social events and everyday conversations. It really dives into the technicalities behind speaking better, carrying yourself better, and even dressing/styling yourself better - most of which are honestly helpful. This is done through the interactions between two polar opposites: Aoi Hinami, and our protagonist Tomozaki. We see the pros and cons ... of each side; you don't have to be the manipulative prick that Aoi is, and you also don't have to be the bitter loser/outcast that Tomozaki is. Through Aoi, we learn the value of putting effort into appearances and relationships, and through Tomozaki, we learn the value of being genuine with your desires.

The most interesting part of the story was how it explored the question: does changing yourself for the better mean you're being fake? The anime didn't do this very well. The light novel could've done this better, since the answer wasn't as clear as it should've been. But Tomozaki learns to find the balance between being himself and improving himself, which ultimately sets him on the path to authentic and positive change. The biggest suggestion I would make is to address this question earlier on, because leaving it unanswered seemed to turn a lot of people away from this series.

Only qualm I have is that the fanservice feels unnatural. In some stories, it can serve as a narrative device. Yes, high schoolers can be touchy and flirty with each other in a joking way, but the way its written here feels forced. It's like I hear the author's voice narrating, instead of Tomozaki. The latter half of Oregairu did a great job of avoiding unnecessary fanservice in the heavier scenes, while Tomozaki-kun's melodramatic fanservice often takes me out of the story's vibe.

Art (8): Covers are pretty and art is cute. Character designs aren't as boring and forgettable as some other series, and they're not too over-the-top either.

Character (8): The cast is diverse and characters mesh well. Both main leads have obvious flaws: for Tomozaki it is his lack of social competence, and for Hinami it is her fake and manipulative personality. However, the plot progresses in a way where their strengths make up for each other: Hinami helps Tomozaki improve socially, and Tomozaki's goal is to show Hinami that there is value in being genuine. Side character subplots also explore other important social themes too, like comparing yourself to others, stepping out of your comfort zone, and dealing with bullying. I am excited to see how the characters will continue to develop through the story.

The narrative style is pretty consistent; you see the world exactly how Tomozaki sees it - as a socially awkward nerd who wants to improve himself. It makes you cringe, which is EXACTLY how it feels to be a socially awkward person striving for improvement. That's what makes this story feel like an authentic self-improvement experience, which makes you appreciate Tomozaki's development so much more.

Enjoyment (10): Some of my favourite books are self-improvement books like 7 Habits and How to Make Friends&Influence People. Tomozaki explores these fundamental self-improvement concepts using a fun narrative, which makes this series stand out a lot more than other LNs, as well as more entertaining than other self-help books.

Overall (10)

Nisio Isin is a master at subtly subverting popular takes on popular genres, and the Monogatari Series is a great example. This review is for the series as a whole.

Story (9): The series is achronological, which presents a lot of unanswered questions to the audience - many people are turned off by this since it can be incredibly confusing to follow the plot. While it's a great stylistic choice that adds a sense of mystery, it also makes the series incredibly niché and hard for a lot of people to follow. The themes are as abstract as the art is, and while that adds to ... the rewatch value, it makes me wrack my brain a lot more than I'd hope to while watching anime. Dialogue is witty, puns are abundant, and every spoken sentence covers layers of subtext. This is one of the few anime where I can listen to hours of dialogue and still be entertained. One of the biggest strengths is how Nisio Isin uses a soft-magic supernatural system to enhance the story with many mysterious yet meaningful metaphors.

Art (9): The directing is amazing, and the visuals tell as much about the characters and story as the dialogue does. The iconic Shaft-style that Bakemonogatari introduces is an abstract style that only animation can pull off, which makes it original, entertaining, and gives the series even more depth. You can tell that every scene in this series is imbued with intention and well-thought-out stylistic choices. Sexuality and fanservice is also presented meaningfully; while it can get pretty intense in this series, Nisio Isin's fanservice makes contextual sense and serves a purpose in conveying messages to the audience about its characters - this isn't seen very often in harem series. However, Bakemonogatari specifically is a 2009 anime, and the art is not as detailed as the following seasons.

Sound (10): The soundtrack adds considerably to the atmosphere, and the OPs and EDs reflect the vibes of each character and the general story. The first Bakemonogatari ED by yanagi nagi and Supercell is iconic, and possibly one of my personal favourite Jpop songs.

Character (9): Each character is a subversion of your typical harem tropes, and it only gets better throughout the series. Like Konosuba's main girls, typical cute and enjoyable harem character traits are presented as actual flaws, which is refreshing. The tsundere's borderline psychotic personality is contextually explained and creates conflict and tension. The eccentric, energetic characters actually cause problems when they overstep boundaries. The cute obsessive little sister characters are subtly batshit crazy. And most of all, the righteous, self-sacrificing morality of the protagonist is constantly challenged. The downside is that the development is slow and you won't see all of this happen in one season.

Enjoyment (10): I could rewatch this multiple times and find something new to appreciate every time - that's how much depth this series provides.

Overall (10)

Sakurasou is a drama-type rom com that explores the themes of youth, ambition, dreams, and talents.

STORY (10): The narrative is well done and discusses relevant themes. Many people have compared themselves to their more talented peers at some point in their lives. Many people aiming for higher education or their dream careers have experienced imposter syndrome, envy, and anger. Grappling with these issues is a life-long process, which has made this anime just as relatable to me now in university, as it was to me in junior high. The rewatch value on this series is high just because of the amazing way it explores ... these important themes. Pacing is good - not a lot of fillers and it doesn't feel rushed.

ART (7): JC Staff is okay. The art is pretty, there are many beautiful stills, and the animation is fluid. Nothing special, but gets the job done very well. Compared to a lot of their more recent works, however, I'd actually say that Sakurasou's art and animation is better.

SOUND (8): Openings and Endings are catchy and relatively original. Konomi Suzuki sounds amazing in ED 1. The OST isn't as forgettable as some other rom coms, but it doesn't stand out too much either.

CHARACTER (8): The one downside is that the humour relies on Sorata's over-the-top tsukkomis, which can get annoying. The current meta in anime is deadpan humour, which is generally more well received. Other than that, the characters are each unique and well-written; everyone in Sakurasou goes through some form of development over the series, and best of all: most of them ARE CONVENTIONALLY WEIRD without falling too perfectly into any major anime tropes. The cast feels personal, close, and comfortable the same way your closest friend group would act around you in real life. It's this weirdness that makes the characters feel real. The other major contributing point to the authenticity of Sakurasou's characters is that the character flaws here are believable, and written like actual flaws. Each of these flaws are addressed and overcome to some extent throughout the series, which makes for great development.

ENJOYMENT (10): The humour is something I am personally okay with, and the story hits home. Watching it 8 years ago and re-watching it now, it is still as applicable as ever. The anime felt conclusive and left me satisfied with the ending.

OVERALL (10)