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Jan 3, 2017
Ever wanted to have a harem of thick popular girls, lolis, and geniuses after being a social outcast? Well, I got an anime for you: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai. This anime is quite the wish fulfillment to be honest, but it manages to become a good anime from some decent fundamentals, like characters and comedy.
Story (6/10):
Slice of life, school anime are normally pretty weak in terms of story content. Haganai is no exception. We have a male protagonist with no friends, joining a club where its members just do whatever they want. This sparse outline gives the creators plenty
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of leeway to take the plot in a variety of directions. The cast can pretty much go anywhere with this narrative baseline. There is not that much to talk about for Haganai’s story. The premise of a male high schooler attending daily/weekly club meetings and simply hang out with friends is a pretty standard anime storyline.
Other than its solid humor, Haganai offers some light themes about friends and social interactions in high school. This is lightly touched upon by the main characters in one on one conversations. The life circumstances that lead up to why each individual is a loner are quite intriguing to perhaps apply to my own sad life. :(
Art (6/10):
Prior to watching this anime, I did not even recognize the name of the studio even though I have watched an anime of theirs. AIC Build made this anime and Oreimo, which both have pretty average to above average animation. I don’t remember any moment of horrible artwork throughout any of this anime’s episodes. Haganai has super consistent animation that doesn’t really stick out from the rest of the anime industry, but it doesn’t have to. Being a mainly comedic anime, superb animation isn’t even a requirement.
Sound (5/10):
This is one of the few anime, where I haven’t downloaded a single full version of an opening or ending song. The OP and ED are both pretty unremarkable and I skipped them most of the time. The signature first few notes of the ED may stick in your head for a bit, but the rest of the song does not hold much interest. The soundtrack is not very noticeable as well, but Haganai’s sound does not manage to go any lower because there are not any moments of badly timed or horrible songs played during the anime.
Characters (7/10):
The main character, Kodaka Hasegawa, is a mediocre character. He doesn’t have a lot of strong traits in his design. His type of character can be seen in plenty of other anime, but Haganai gives him a bit of social awareness to differentiate him. Kodaka is nice, has housework skills, and has a sense of justice for those he cares about. This set of qualities is present in plenty of male protagonists in anime. This male teenager is the weakest part of the cast because there is not a lot of likeability about him other than his social status of being a loner. He is quite generic and the goofy gimmicks with his brute appearance get old.
The supporting cast is where Haganai’s comedic strength comes from. I have a huge bias towards characters who tend to banter or insult others. Yozora Mikazuki is one of those characters. She’s also a loner because of her introverted nature and how harsh she can be towards others. She isn’t very well-regarded in the anime community, but she is probably my favourite girl in Haganai. Her character development is explored briefly, but even more time directed towards her past would greatly benefit the enjoyment of Yozora.
Sena Kashiwazaki is the other main girl and although everyone seems to like her, I found her character mildly annoying due to how she is literally perfect and she shoves it down everyone’s throat. That abrasive aspect of her personality rubs me in the wrong way.
Another two characters that I find enjoyable are Kodaka’s little sister, Kobato Hasegawa, and the genius girl, Rika Shiguma. Both of these characters provide a plethora of comedic value with Kobato being a cute chuuni and Rika saying perverted jokes. Overall, the cast is pretty good in Haganai. The 3 main characters have room to grow and the supporting cast are very humorous.
Enjoyment (8/10):
So far, this review has been quite negative. I have been constantly claiming Haganai as having average production value and story, but for an anime like Haganai, all it needs is fun comedy that works with the viewer to be worthwhile. This is where Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai excels. Throughout each episode, there are times where I chuckle or laugh pretty hard at the comedy. The humor is not anything new, but Haganai executes it in a very enjoyable fashion that does not become too stale throughout its runtime. Because of its solid humor, Haganai can accomplish its goal of being a fun, slice of life, school anime without many complaints.
Overall (7/10):
Haganai is not that unique of an anime, but it manages to be a pretty funny slice of life anime that one can enjoy after a hard day at work/school for a few laughs. This show also has a few light themes about friends that can appeal to introverted viewers or people without many friends such as myself. I would recommend to watch this anime for at least 2-3 episodes to figure out if the humor appeals to you because that is the main selling point of Haganai. You will certainly not enjoy this anime if you do not like the humor. Regardless, Haganai can be a very fun anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 24, 2016
As the release of Oregairu’s Volume 12 light novel is nowhere in sight, fans of this amazing series by Watari Wataru continue to thirst for any anime adaptation of what source material remains. Luckily, for us, there’s volume 10.5 and this OVA covers this part of the light novels. The wait has been gruelling, but as I burned through these 22 minutes, time passed awfully fast. Does this short piece deliver on the heavy expectations of long-time fans?
Story (8/10): The events in Oregairu Zoku OVA happen in the midst of the second season. As a summary, our amazing protagonist, Hachiman Hikigaya,
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goes on a date with his kouhai, Isshiki Iroha, as she has requested weeks before, long forgotten in the main character’s memories. The entire date is very enjoyable and is well adapted from the source material. This enigmatic pairing has perhaps the best chemistry between Hachiman and a girl in the series because of the difference in behaviour that Iroha displays to him in contrast to her regular public image. Their intriguing conversations have so many jabs and so much snarky wit embedded within them. Hachiman and Iroha’s interactions carry the plotline for this OVA and make time pass incredibly quickly, a sign of an entertaining anime.
A portion of this episode is also taken by a hangout segment with the other two main girls, Yukino and Yui, and the cynical male. This part lacks focus, as the evident lack of time can be seen by not adapting a different arc in volume 10.5. They have replaced that slightly unnecessary section with an albeit filler 6 to 7 minutes, which brings down the story points marginally. The ending photo is very satisfying however.
Art (8/10): Studio Feel does an amazing job with the art. The visual quality in this OVA is comparable with the TV series or even better. The style is very bright and polished. Iroha looks amazing in this art style because of how bright her brown hair appears. The backgrounds mainly comprise of standard urban scenes. The main standouts are how beautiful the characters look.
Sound (8/10): The opening of this anime is my favourite of all time. Yanagi Nagi is an amazing singer and the instrumentals are both uplifting and dramatic. The chorus is incredibly catchy and the beginning hooks the viewer easily. The buildup is effective in hyping up the viewer to the main portion with a fun drum roll. Every part of the song is nearly perfect and even the lyrics relate very well to the anime’s overall message and theme (that of chasing one’s paths and ideals, pursuit of genuine relationships). The soundtrack is the same as the TV anime, where some tracks may go unnoticed. It has a few tracks that may stick out like the piano version of the opening, but the soundtrack itself is not spectacular.
Characters (10/10): The main character is my favourite character of any medium of all time. Hachiman Hikigaya portrays the loner in such a way that it doesn’t alienate the viewer from his extreme viewpoint, yet easily relates his situations to the viewer. Through the past two seasons, his deep character development and backstory along with the other main characters, Yui and Yukino, provide profound reasoning for how they act in the OVA. Each character’s way of living makes sense through context, which makes each of these characters very likeable. They all have individual, human flaws that make them endearing and a breath of fresh air from the standard anime cast.
From a superficial view, these characters look like cardboard cut-outs (Hachiman is an edgy self-insert harem lead, Yui is hot airhead, Yukino is generic kuudere jk), but they are given complex personalities that put them above the rest. Iroha is also very interesting as a character. She provides an interesting contrast between Komachi and her, where Hachiman’s little sister has a very cute and genuine personality and this other kouhai replicates the same personality type in a fake way. The characters are all great.
Enjoyment (9/10): The date is remarkably enjoyable because of the shenanigans provided by it and the exceptional character interactions. The OVA is mainly comedic or just slice of life because that is mainly the purpose of OVA type anime. As explained by the story, this OVA episode definitely supplies any Oregairu fan with plenty of entertainment because anything of this amazing series is to be enjoyed. When is volume 12?
Overall (8/10): The Oregairu Zoku OVA is everything that the Oregairu fan wanted and possibly more. After an unsatisfactory to the second season of the TV anime, anything decent involving more of Hachiman and co. is greatly appreciated. Having a bit of source material left gives this OVA a good story and backbone for additional content and it delivers. Although no OVA is spectacular or ground breaking, this one is still very enjoyable.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 6, 2016
Gurren Lagann is one of my favourite anime of all time. It's so over the top and crazy that it manages to work and become a masterpiece for the ages. Kill la Kill is often compared to the former due to its similarities in style and execution, as some of the people who have worked at Gainax for Gurren Lagann created Studio Trigger, who have made the show about to be reviewed. Is Kill la Kill as amazing as Gurren Lagann? To me, not entirely, but it manages to be a great anime in its own right.
Story: (8/10)
The story
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of Kill la Kill is both refreshing and downright bizarre. Are there many anime out or even stories about a girl fighting to find her father's killer using the power of skimpy clothes and a half of a giant pair of scissors? Kill la Kill's premise is very unique and its first episode quickly hooks in the viewer with how crazy the show is even at its beginning. Given how dumb the anime can be, the story of Kill la Kill is not its entire focus. The plot is scattered everywhere and uneven throughout its progression. There are many episodes that almost feel like filler due to how off-track they are compared to its overarching goal. Nevertheless, this anime by Trigger manages to piece together a very original plot that is hectic, crazy, and all over the place.
Many critique Kill la Kill's excessive usage of fanservice and many cannot take how grotesque it can seem. This part of the anime does not feel too out of place here because sexuality and fanservice is one of Kill la Kill's main themes. A huge portion of Kill la Kill's character development comes from the main character's, Ryuko Matoi, growing self-confidence. In early episodes, she is often incredibly embarrassed by how the wearing of her power-bestowing uniform, Senketsu, sexualizes her. It is shortly revealed later that this would hinder her potential in combat and her goals. Therefore, she is forced to become more comfortable in revealing herself in such manners. This has a purpose to a central theme of self-confidence and the insecurities of modern society that plagues nearly all of us. We all feel this prickling sense of insecurity towards our appearances, but Kill la Kill challenges us to ignore it all and be who we truly are. It's a common theme in any medium that is portrayed quite differently to good effect in this anime.
Animation/Art: (7/10)
Kill la Kill has very inconsistent animation. Sometimes, it is fluid and dynamic. With characters whizzing across the screen at breakneck speeds and weapons clashing with stylistic visual effects, it is very easy to be consumed by its enthralling action scenes. Other times, it's apparent lack of detail is appalling. This could be due to a lack of budget or simply a harsher cut on certain scenes, elevating its best. In general, the art is above average. The characters look great, but the backgrounds and set pieces are lacking. They normally compromise of a singular colour meant to shift focus to the main stage with its characters.
In a way, the backgrounds do their job as supplementing Kill la Kill's characters on center stage, but a slight change to landscape could greatly help in providing a more stark contrast between every scene and frame. Having a similar looking anime throughout its entirety detracts its art, as everything looks more similar to itself. With a bit of change in scenery, this can be relieved and Kill la Kill's most important scenes can be seen in an even more positive light.
Another interesting feature about the anime's looks is its usage of big bold lettering. It is used in opening scenes and they are splattered throughout the anime. There is not much significance in them, but there is a definite tone that they bring to each scene: over the top, crazy, in your face.
The art style of the characters consists of a rough style that looks both polished and extraordinary. This sort of art style unlocks Kill la Kill's potential of being even more over the top. It creates more abstract scenes that allows the anime to flourish and prosper in its glory. The art is great.
Music: (9/10)
The soundtrack for the anime is spectacular. Composed by Hiroyuki Sawano, many songs have so much raw power and hype embedded into its chords and instrumental arsenal that puts Kill la Kill up with the very best in terms of anime soundtracks. Its main theme of "Don't lose your way" is used very often to great effect and even comedic at certain points. The instrumental bassline synergizing with its powerful vocals morphs into an explosive morale boost of a chorus that can instantly motivate someone at the mere listen for a few seconds. The soundtrack is not just one track though. Several character themes are given to each of the main and side characters. All of them are fantastic. The personality of each character can be heard in each character with their specialties sprinkled throughout the songs.
The openings and endings are both pretty good as well. The clear stand out is the second opening: Ambiguous by Garnidelia. It's simply great. The timing of the drum and guitar preluding the chorus are used perfectly to build up hype for its amazing chorus. Garnidelia is a good duo with a special sincerity in its vocals and a distinct electronical vibe in its instrumentals. Their work perfectly fits in with Kill la Kill.
Characters: (9/10)
The main character of Kill la Kill is great. Ryuko Matoi is an awesome protagonist with a ton of flair and personality. She's rude and rebellious straight from the beginning. She does not care about anything and will fight her way out of anything. She's brash and straightforward similar to a male shounen protagonist. Throughout the anime, the viewer is given insight on why she acts in certain ways and how the events of Kill la Kill impact her. Her character development is plentiful and a center piece of the anime. Her design is also one of the best in anime. It's so unique and out there that it is instantly recognizable for any anime fan.
Ryuko Matoi is backed up by a great side character, Mako Mankanshoku. She is used primarily for comic relief and is used in clutch situations when our protagonist is backed into a corner. Her comedy is actually pretty funny. She acts with hugely exaggerated movements and her serious tone in voice complemented by her serious look adds to the hilarity. Mako has an awesome moment in the early episodes that is completely unexpected and epic beyond belief. She's a really fun character that is very likeable.
Another standout character is Satsuki Kiryuin. She's a respectable leader that commands her subordinates with effortless finesse. Her fairness in battle and ethics make her a compelling character that is further developped throughout the story. Her subordinates being more minor characters are equally likeable to round out a very likeable cast in general.
Enjoyment: (9/10)
Kill la Kill is a very enjoyable anime. I enjoyed it to great degree to its combination of epic action scenes and hilarious comedy to create a lighthearted thrill ride of an anime. It never takes itself too seriously and that's okay. The tone is almost always fun and it never gets too dark or depressing. There are moments when I am laughing hard and also when I'm glued to the screen due to blades clashing in an epic flurry of swift movements and fierce strikes or an incredible plot twist out of left field. I enjoy this anime a lot.
Overall: (8/10)
I really like Kill la Kill. It's unique and a lot of fun to watch. This anime is very entertaining with a surprisingly deep plot, good art, amazing music, and solid characters. I would definitely recommend this anime to anyone liking a good action show with ecchi and anyone who loves Gurren Lagann.
I rate Kill la Kill 8.25/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 24, 2016
Mayoiga shows a minor problem within the anime community: all of the expectations from previous anime and other mediums of entertainment, in general, have piled up and destroyed the enjoyment of many.
I'm sure many of us were expecting Mayoiga to be similar to a show such as Battle Royale. It's setting is creepy and mysterious. A group of people are being sent there to survive. This sounds like a solid premise for some epic bloody violence, but entertainment has conditioned us to think and expect in that certain manner. Is that an issue on our part or theirs? Is it
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their fault for setting up the story in such a way that we tunnel our vision into a certain plot? Either way, Mayoiga surprised me for how it turned out, especially near its end.
I respect Mayoiga for what it did. The anime dared to be different and I think it's great that we continue to have risky projects such as Mayoiga. They tend to be a lot more compelling and intriguing to add to every season, which has given this show plenty of hype coming into the season. The only problem with this pre-airing hype is its execution and this is where Mayoiga falls off.
Although Mayoiga is very entertaining, something just feels off. The characters are sometimes so stupid that it hurts and there are so many WTF moments that are taken the wrong way. Good shows create moments of "WOW I didn't expect that!", while Mayoiga has reactions of "I don't even know what's happening, this is some acid trip level train wreckage". Mayoiga has plot twists that feel so out of place and out of proportion that it just seems really messy and distorted. They also feel out of place because especially near the end, this anime just lacks an identity. The viewer anticipates plenty of buildup near its beginning episodes for an epic finale. However, its last 3-4 episodes take a completely different path to break the cohesion and the flow of its premise and foundation. This creates the huge trainwreck that Mayoiga becomes. It was like a high school student taking 5 AP classes and joining 5 sport teams. With the extensive workload on either side, the schedule is too difficult to balance accordingly.
On a positive note, Mayoiga's art generally looks kinda good? The characters are very pretty and stand out easily from the plain backgrounds. After the characters, everything else looks mediocre. Some of the enemies look atrocious and out of place because of the contrasting visual style. This is only an issue near the end, where a certain obstacle appears that is so ugly and gross in the wrong ways.
Sound was alright. I really like the opening. It is one of the top 3 this season and brings a lot of hype into the episode. The ending is decent, but there are better out there. When it comes to the actual soundtrack, I didn't really notice anything, so I guess the OST is mediocre.
The characters were very mixed. The cast is huge, so at the beginning, the viewer won't know the names of anyone except maybe five characters? Even near the end, I barely know half of the cast's names. The half I do notice receive some very interesting backstories. They were actually very entertaining to my surprise. Even though the backstories were very compelling, the actual characters were so annoying for a majority of the anime. I can see why they act in certain ways, but their reasoning does not impact the likability of a character. The protagonist is a huge wuss. Some side characters end up being alright, such as Speedstar and Jack. Overall, the characters are annoying, but decently written.
Mayoiga's main selling point is its enjoyment factor which was pretty high for me. I did find a few episodes boring, but the abnormal pace didn't stop me from continually watching episodes. The character interactions are both mindnumbingly stupid and entertaining. Also, the way the drama unfolds is such a gorgeous trainwreck that you just want to keep watching.
In conclusion, even with all of the problems like the unlikable characters, inconsistent art, and god awful story, I would still recommend Mayoiga. It's so good at getting out weird reactions at its awfulness and there are even some comedic moments where you may not expect it. There is also an ending that really sums up this anime very well.
It's garbage.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 21, 2016
Nisekoi is like playing a game of League of Legends. You don't know why you enjoy it. It's super addicting and although it isn't the best anime around, you enjoy it way too much. Nisekoi should be garbage. I shouldn't like a rom com harem, but it just is. It definitely is hard to describe. What makes Nisekoi work so well? We'll find out in this terrible review.
Presentation (Art, Sound):
Shaft does well with its presentation in general. The art is very colourful with beautiful character designs and just Shaft backgrounds. Without previous exposure to Shaft works
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(man that sounds dirty af LMAO), the backdrops will probably not feel as nostalgic and memorable than someone who has watched for example: the Monogatari series.
Sound is pretty good. The openings are alright from what I have heard, but I didn't really pay attention to any of the EDs. Soundtrack is standard slice of life with one certain good theme that occurs repeatedly a few times.
Story:
The story is pretty generic. I can't tell if Nisekoi is based around Romeo and Juliet because the stories are pretty similar. It's decent I guess. The plot is what you would expect from any romantic comedy.
Characters:
The girls are what carry this show. Almost every girl in the MC's harem is best girl material. (Chitoge best girl, Marika worst sorry). Raku himself is kinda bland, but his seiyuu does a good job of making his reactions funny.
Enjoyment:
I don't think I've ever joined a rom com so much. In Nisekoi, so little happens, but I still loved it! Whenever there was a cute blush by Chitoge, I was like DAMN, nosebleed starts. The banter and conversations are done very well. The comedy is freaking TOP NOTCH. I was laughing super hard at many moments. Sure, some situations are cliche and full of tropes, but to me, they didn't get too bland and generic. There is also so much frustration while watching this anime. The awkwardness and hesitation in this anime boggles my mindShaft had their over the top visuals to completely persuade me to love Nisekoi.
Conclusion:
Nisekoi is a generic rom com harem that CAN come off as likable due to its intensely beautiful art and fun characters. If you don't mind any plot progression and just want an anime with a ton of comedy and cute beginnings of romance, Nisekoi will be perfect for you! Also it's great to just insert yourself into Raku's place and think about how epic your life would be with a beautiful harem like his. Have fun picking your best girl! :D
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 29, 2016
A mere 12 minute per episode series? Yep, that's exactly what Koyomimonogatari is. Every episode is a short story with Araragi and friends, which allows it to resonate very well for Monogatari fans. Right off the bat, this anime series is not welcoming to newcomers. So, if you are looking around for seasonal anime and happen to find this, well, you unfortunately came to the wrong place. I mean it's still watchable, but without a premature exposure to the Monogatari style and presentation, Koyomimonogatari would be a weird experience indeed. Bakemonogatari would be a much better place to start
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as the first part of the series.
What about for people having watched Monogatari before? I honestly felt like Koyomimonogatari was just small side stories to enjoy with no real plot progression. However, certain events happen later to offer a nice transition to the next arc possibly. Don't worry, Koyomimonogatari is definitely better than the negative vibes coming from this review.
Art, Sound, and Characters (8/10 each) :
All Monogatari standards are hit. Shaft is very consistent with the Monogatari series in general and Koyomimonogatari is no exception. Transitions, characters, and backgrounds are still great.
The sound is a cool revisit from all the past Monogatari OPs for the real nostalgia. The ED is just decent. All of the Monogatari OST tracks ingrained in the heads of Monogatari fans are still present as well representing one of the most unique and memorable soundtracks personally. They fit the anime so well because of how well it matches the atmosphere. It slightly eggs the reader to think about what the characters are saying. It could mean something. THe soundtrack makes things feel so pensive; even the most trivial things can appear more important than they actually are.
Characters are still interesting being a part of this series. Araragi is a great protagonist with a well developed and balanced cast to back him up.
Story (6/10) and Enjoyment (7/10):
A majority of Koyomimonogatari's side stories are simple puzzles or mysteries. Since episodes are a mere twelve minutes, things have to be relatively simple to flesh out all the details. In this anime, mysteries have a widely fluctating quality. Some episodes are great; others, not so much. I could solve a few of the problems right away and it leaves the viewer with an unsatisfied feeling. Later though, the story evolves from daily occurrences to significant events. This is where Koyomimonogatari hits a peak and it becomes extremely enjoyable. Regardless, the good mysteries are still fun to attempt to solve as well. It's hard to expect extremely deep plot for a shorter view time in general.
Overall (7/10):
Koyomimonogatari is similar to its series. It will probably end up as a less extreme version of the love or hate scenario to people. This can definitely range from a 3/10 to a 10/10 depending on how interesting dialogue appears to be to the subjective viewer. As an avid Monogatari fan, I definitely like this anime. I love the series and how unique its style and presentation is. Koyomimonogatari is a decent anime to eat up, when I want some more of the series, although it would be nice if a small portion of the mysteries could be a bit more complex.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 25, 2016
Now with the rapid emergence of Erased being the most popular anime this winter season, there is massive hype and anti-hype surrounding it. I'm really sad to see many people hate on it. As someone who was not expecting much in the first episode that Thursday afternoon, I was blown away by the visual effects and the thrills I received from just the first episode. It was breathtaking and refreshing how so much happened in one episode while not feeling rushed. Now, here we are 11 episodes after that first take. How did it end up?
Story: 8/10
The story itself is
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great. A manga artist struggling through life has this inexplicable power called Revival where he can go back in time to save others. This power and a few tragic events trigger the story's unraveling and it gets epic really fast. What puts Erased's story to a near 9 is its pacing and how compacted yet fleshed out it feels. The anime manages to put a lot of information and crucial events in a mere 12 episodes. Contrary to many series, the rushed segments feel less blatant and gross. However, things like convenient powers and questions never explained become apparent that hurt the story's intriguing plot.
Art: 10/10
The art features some of the best directing I've ever seen in anime. The visual effects are another level of well done style. Effects like the film reel are used very well and often. There is also interesting transitions from 2D to 3D landscapes to make some beautiful shots. Characters look solid as well.
Sound: 9/10
Great OP and ED to accompany a godlike soundtrack. There is this one track that is charged with emotion. It is so powerful to make bittersweet moments even more tear-jerking. Simply great music.
Voice acting is also top notch with some interesting usage in plot. When the adult Satoru and kid version both talk at the same time, it's honestly pretty mesmerizing. It has a lasting effect on atmosphere and freezes the anime for just a few seconds. Very unique I must say.
Characters: 8/10
Characters are where there is some room for improvement. The protagonist, Satoru, is solid, but it is hard to find his definitive personality traits. His thought process is decent and his actions are reasonable to an extent. His personality is somewhat relatable as well. Having a public mask for others is a common trait in our world. Other than the main, the supporting cast is unexplored but good enough. His group of friends is similar to Satoru without the inner thoughts of him. What remains are masks. We never really get the inner thoughts of them, but their characters eventually become more fleshed out near the end to remedy this. A strong part about the characters is Kayo, a main female lead for a majority of the show. Her story is depressing and her growth carries a large part of the show. There is another female character, Airi, who has so much untapped potential. She should have had a more important role in the scene.
Enjoyment: 10/10
Enjoyment is where Erased shines. Almost every episode has a massive cliffhanger and I've never felt so glued to a show. Erased is a roller coaster of tearful emotion and unparalleled moments of super hype. The presentation effects used to heighten the moments allows the show to be even better than it already manages to. I felt so engrossed in the mystery and trying to figure out who the criminal would be. In contrast to what others felt about the culprit, the anime played me. I was somewhat surprised about how he was revealed. Am I stupid regarding mystery? Maybe. However, regardless of how you find the reveal, Erased is a much bigger show than just who did the crime. The anime's themes of domestic violence, regret, social personalities, etc. are very well done to deepen the experience.
What I also enjoyed was the lack of fanservice. Anime these days can sometimes be plagued with fanservice to ruin its serious mood, but Erased di not have any.
Comedy was done well in my opinion. I was laughing even between serious moments. For some reason, this did not feel out of place like it normally would.
Problems with Erased:
The main problem is the convenience of the power Revival. There are some things unexplained that leave plotholes always found in time travel stories. This then leads to the meh ending. The ending doesn't end up as bad as some people and it definitely provides a sense of closure. However, something feels like it's missing still.
This does not hinder the anime too much and I would still highly recommend this anime to anyone liking time travel, amazing art direction, and sound. Erased is a thrilling series packed with heartfelt emotion to make any viewer feel intense hype and genuine feels.
9.4./10 it almost feels like a 10 tbh
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 24, 2016
Who would watch an anime about sports, when you can go outside and play sports? I hear that lame reasoning all the time and after witnessing my first sports anime, I have to politely disagree with that statement. Simply put, Kuroko no Basket is the pure embodiment of hype. The buzzer beater moments are in another world and abilities are so crazily awesome that they come off as likable and awe-inspiring.
Kuroko no Basket gives me such a passion for basketball, that it almost makes me want to play the game IRL. I know that sounds crazy. An anime fan wanting
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to play basketball? However, all it takes to put down that dream and to shoot it back down into the depths of my teenage mind is to recall how hard I got destroyed in a 1v1 of basketball with my friend. I mean he just threw the ball between my legs and went behind me. It felt like a Generation of Miracles player wrecking an average player. My friend does not even play basketball sigh.
Anyway, Kuroko no Basket's story is pretty good. It seems what anime would produce out of a sports series. We have these chosen gods of basketball and yet there's this one underdog among them. He will be our protagonist. In season 1, a large portion of the story is this summer tournament. The team of Seirin featuring our protagonist, Kuroko, and a super tall red-haired center, Kagami, must attempt to surpass regionals and enter the Inter-High, where they will face teams all over Japan. This sounds like standard affair, yet, the storylines of the characters and their ambitions enrich the storyline.
The story itself is not the best, but the characters definitely push it up there.
The character cast is flourishing with a variety of bizarre characters. Kuroko is an interesting protagonist that is very likable and charismatic. His quiet tendencies and surprising shenanigans appearing out of nowhere never seem to get old. Kagami as another main character proves to be weaker than Kuroko. A problem with his character is that we never know his backstory or history. The viewer only knows that he played basketball in America. What else about him can make him a more compelling character?
The supporting cast is flourishing with likeable characters as well. The Generation of Miracles players are super badass and you want to see every single one of them completely destroy people. The team that the main characters are on has some nice personalities too. The captain is decent. Overall, solid characters that could use some backstory. I mean a supporting character (a Generation of Miracles member) has more description and childhood knowledge than our main characters! What's up with that?!
I'll put Art and Sound together because they are both around the same: very good. The art is generally solid. In and out of games characters look good, but not exceptional. I wouldn't say that they just "get the job done" with animation. It's definitely a level higher than that because they are no remarkable errors within it. There is never a moment of inconsistency. Sound is also great. Granrodeo makes some amazing OPs and the EDs are better than expected. The OPs help cement pure hype in the viewers with its electrifying guitar rifts and passionate vocals.
Enjoyment is where Kuroko no Basket shines. The heat of the games and the stakes of them increase tenfold every time. Each match becomes more exciting as both sides break out new aces and new tricks up their sleeves. The swift passes of Kuroko and the epic skills of Aomine (character later in the second half) make for some exhilarating moments. I mean if you really get into it, you might have some basketball tendencies. I joke with my friends when we throw an object and it lands unexpectedly in the right place. We then say "Anywhere in the court man!" a reference to Kuroko no Basket.
Problems I have with Kuroko no Basket are as follows:
-Weak first half, Kuroko no Basket takes a while to get going to its fullest potential. There is also not enough exposition for the training for their first tournament. Without all of the practice montages, the games at the beginning felt less impactful than they could have been. Once it gets going, the anime improves drastically, but I can't ignore that fault.
-Main characters needing more backstory, I'm really curious on how Kuroko enters the basketball scene or how Kagami is treated in America as a Japanese player. How did their experiences shape who they are? (lame ass high school topic right there)
-SOMETIMES too much talking in between hype moments, look. I'm watching anime and I can handle some surrealism. However, sometimes Kuroko no Basket takes it a bit too far. I kinda facepalm when a ten second conversation passes over one single jump battle. I mean just slam it or defend it already! I like knowing the thoughts of the characters in the heat of the moment, but it can drag on and on, detracting from the hype.
-Weak comedy first half, for some reason, the comedy was pretty mediocre at the beginning. As the characters grew on me and I knew about them a bit better, the comedy was a lot better and worked on me.
-Sometimes a bit predictable, don't want to spoil what happens, but how games turn out can grow stale and repetitive.
A nitpick that others have, that doesn't apply here:
It's too fake! The powers are too broken, BOOHOO! Anime can be a great place for imagination to go wild. It's great that the creators are letting their brains rack up these crazy ideas to entertain the viewer. Anime is where anything can be put to life. Unlike real life videos, they do not have the boundaries created by equipment, physics laws, etc. Let Kuroko no Basket blow you away. If you accept how crazy it can become, how overpowered some characters appear to be, how over the top, a high school basketball game can be, watch it! You will definitely be pumping your hands in the air at a three pointer or a crazy play!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Feb 29, 2016
Our lives can get pretty busy these days. With all of our activities, academic studies, and work going along, sometimes an intense anime that keeps you on your toes and forces you to binge watch due to its addictive nature might not the best choice for a healthy balance in life. Samurai Champloo could be what you might be looking for. In a nutshell, this anime is very relaxing for the most part with amazing music and epic fight scenes for raw, pleasant entertainment.
Story (8/10):
Although this sounds like an excuse, Samurai Champloo does not need a deeply enthralling plot of epic proportions
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to be good. Samurai Champloo is episodic. This means that each episode or two will have a subplot with a major goal on the side for the entire anime. Most of the subplots are fair enough. The shenanigans of Jin and Mugen, two main male characters, are very fun. The plot, overall, is simple and straightforward. 2 samurais and a random girl go on a journey to find a samurai that smells of sunflowers. What I enjoy of the story is the era in which it takes place. There are a few samurai, here and there, but in Samurai Champloo, their time is coming to a close. Conflicts are sometimes different from the straightforward samurai approach to things. When people want power, they will not just kill people, they will keep them alive and exploit them instead. Being thrust in the middle of these two things, this new era and tradition, is a major foundation for Samurai Champloo.
Art (8/10):
Honestly, I don't know how to grade older art. Samurai Champloo certainly looks solid, but compared to the newer, more colourful art styles I've seen before , the visuals are hard to rate. In general, Samurai Champloo is less colourful than other animes. It is more grounded and persay, a more realistic style? What is amazing about the art is the fight scenes. The directors know how to make good action scenes. Samurai Champloo has some amazing fight choreography with how fast, energetic and crazy Mugen slashes and how precise Jin strikes. These moments are engaging and hard to look away from. If you want swift katana fights with plenty of noob (random people who are a lot weaker than main characters) stomping, Samurai Champloo should fit the bill just right. The fights are definitely some of the high points of this anime.
Sound (10/10):
This has one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard. Background songs are chill af and have this hip-hop vibe that is addictive as eating a whole bag of Lays chips on a Monday afternoon. The music heavily complements how the anime feels and plays out to the viewer. It heavily relieves tension and is great for not just watching the anime, but outside standalone as well. The soundtrack is great for studying and background music in your own life! However, in order to truly appreciate the soundtrack, you have to fill your own memories with this anime, so that every track receives additional significance from its original prupose. Other than the OST, the OP, I would say, is different? I mean it is rap, which is incredibly unique for an anime opening. Although the song is a bit prickly at first, it should warm up on you in time. The ED is great. It sounds and feels like a true classic.
Characters (8/10):
What I like about Samurai Champloo is the lack of tropes in an anime. I have watched a decent amount of anime where you kinda expect stupid events to happen such as a girl randomly falling for the male protagonist, etc. The characters in Samurai Champloo feature none of that and WILL have decently fleshed out backstories as they progress on their journey. The cast, in general, is very likeable, although I'm sure many will find Mugen as the favourite. His fighting style and "I don't care about anything" attitude come off as charismatic. I am also glad that the female lead, Fuu, is not annoying. That's a relief!
Enjoyment (9/10):
The change in pace from heavily tense anime to something more relaxing is something I found incredibly enjoyable. The comedy in this anime is crazy good and there is one episode near the end that made me laugh really hard. Once you couple great comedy with awesome action, you have a great enjoyment factor in an anime.
Overall (9/10):
It is hard to go wrong with Samurai Champloo. From the art, the soundtrack, and the comedy, it is a very well-rounded anime. There are few to none cons unless you care about deep plot, romance, deeper characters, or a more anime-esque colour palette for the art. I found none of these aspects to be a big deal and found myself smiling at how chill Samurai Champloo can be. Anime is a medium of entertainment and Samurai Champloo is just solid fun that you can enjoy at your own pace, on your lunch breaks, after a hard day at work, or a crazy university test. It can be there waiting for you and ready to give you a smile.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 20, 2016
Love can be quite the illogical emotion. Charlotte has made me feel that non explainable phenomenon. There's so much to love about this anime, but there is also a fair bit to hate. To me, watching Charlotte was like eating a huge bag of Doritos. It felt great throughout its running, but at the end, there is no real satisfaction gained from finishing the anime's journey. However, that's not to say that Charlotte cannot be something great.
Story (7/10)
Charlotte's premise does not succeed at originality. It seems very Japan-esque. Combining a western idea (mutated humans being forced to hide,
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similar to X-Men) and a typical anime setting (high school) sounds like something that would come to fruition sooner or later. Regardless, I still enjoyed the story, especially in its first half. I thought the balance between comedy and drama was pretty serviceable. The slice of life components of the story were very enjoyable and I wished that this section could be extended just a bit. There were also some great twists in there that were quite mouth-opening.
What brought the story down quite a few pegs were two things: plotholes and pacing. The second half was a destructive mess. The plot was akin to a balloon releasing all of its air, the object flying in random directions. There was so much happening and it was very unsettling. Some events flat out made zero sense. It left me with a feeling of confusion: not the type where I was in wonder and awe, but more of a "what is this plot ugh ruined mess" reaction. When listing off strengths and weaknesses, Charlotte's plot definitely appears in the mind of the viewer in the latter. The second half is too rushed and too confusing for its own good.
Art (9/10)
Charlotte's art is AMAZING. The opening sequence is breathtaking with art-like scenery and beautiful character designs. When the camera scans over a girl's hair in the wind, the viewer can truly appreciate the high level of budget and effort taken to bring their creation into a intricate piece of art. I may dislike how PA Works structures and paces their stories, but Charlotte and their other anime that I have watched, Angel Beats, have both looked marvelous. I have no complaints with the art at all. Although there are scenes where the characters are far away from the camera, they are not horrible. There is no steep decline in animation quality in my perspective. This allows the highs and the right moments to stick out much more because the low moments where I should be disappointed do not exist. If you want an anime to look good, Charlotte would be a very respectable choice.
Sound (8/10)
I guess since the anime is very Angel Beats-esque, Charlotte cannot be without an opening song by Lia. Although this is not her best song, Bravely You is still a great song. The endings are also pretty decent, but they do not stick out in memory. I thought the OST was really good. There is a great mix of diverse music available for different situations. In retrospect, expect the music from Angel Beats, but rehashed and slightly changed. There is piano for the feel moments (there are some), rock and idol for music performances, and electronic kinda for other filler moments. The OST does a great job at solidifying a scene's atmosphere and providing background.
Characters (8/10)
I'm gonna have to keep comparing this anime to Angel Beats, just for reference. Watching that older anime gave me the assumption that the characters would be kinda weak because I did not really like the last set of characters of a Jun Maeda Anime that I have watched. I'm glad he made me change my perception of his characters. I was able to relate, be entertained , and feel emotions for the cast, as they struggled through the tasks and obstacles set before them.
First, we have our protagonist, Yuu. Upon my initial reaction, I thought he was this egocentric brat that was abusing his power for superficial desires. I was cringing at his actions. However, Yuu helped me realize how I would be with power? How would I be living if I had this gigantic edge over the rest of the people around me? The power to control their minds or another fantastic ability. Within the fragile stages of puberty, abusing this power is inevitable. Being seemingly ostracized from society can bubble up the insecurities inside us and cause us to perform unjust actions, which may look just in the eyes of the wrongdoer. Nevertheless, the wrongdoer is a person in the midst of change and they would not be able to regret until the deed is done. This process of thought helped me come to my senses involving our protagonist, as I watched him grow into a more responsible individual. His slow maturity made me smile and I really enjoyed his character.
The main girl Nao was also a breath of fresh air. She's smart, likable, and I could easily sympathize with her personality. What I really liked about her character design was that her core traits remained throughout the anime. That's not to say that character development is not bad. I just do not like when a character is completely unrecognizable at the end of an anime.
The supporting cast was a lot more better than I thought it would be. Unlike popular opinion, I was pleased by the otaku's humour and I thought the idol was pretty cute. Her power made her a solid character. I'm sure that the humour coming from the comic relief friend will be hit or miss. I personally found his humour whether it would be speed-related or fawning over the idol to be successfully comedic. It must be those nosebleeds. I get those a lot these days LOL (dry climate).
Enjoyment (9/10)
Charlotte was amazing at providing an entertaining anime. The drama was well done and it was very engaging. A decent story (in the first half) backed up by the great characters helped cement an enjoyable experience that I would not regret watching again. What separates Charlotte from many animes is the heartfelt passion of its creator, Jun Maeda. For some reason, the animes under his name feel more passionate, meant to create more emotions. He even lets his weaknesses occur again, as the mediocre pacing show up again in Charlotte. However, that did not detract too much from my overall enjoyment.
In a way, Jun Maeda's vision of love is represented by his animes: they are heartfelt, passionate, but a mess. Although he may continue to make the same mistakes, I guess that his viewers may have to accept this, to accept what his animes are like and appreciate his passion in this medium. A part of love is acceptance. I wouldn't know :( but maybe Jun Maeda can help guide me a bit on what that emotion could be like, what it could be in an ideal world.
Overall: 8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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