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Jul 23, 2018
This is not the original FLCL. That seems like an obvious statement, does it not? Yet it would seem that many viewers were expecting a complete imitation of FLCL in FLCL: Progressive. So the fact that Progressive is tonally distinct from the original FLCL has been viewed as a failure to imitate the original. What this viewpoint fails to realize is that Progressive is a vastly different show than FLCL for a reason. Why bother merely imitating one of the best OVAs in anime history when you can work with the established world to create a new kind of show?
Story: 6
That said, the story is
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structurally similar to FLCL if not thematically. Haruko is wreaking havoc again on Earth, but this time we know her end-goal early on due to the context of FLCL, to capture the power of Atomsk. Hidomi and Ide are her new targets as their adolescent heads are ripe for producing N.O. channels.
It's surprising how consistent the universe of FLCL has remained. Many devices and mechanics introduced in the original (that may have seemed like nonsense) are touched on or expanded upon in Progressive. This includes: N.O., Medical Mechanica, the Bureau of Interstellar Immigration, the Fraternity, Atomsk, and Haruko's motivations. To juggle these concepts established in FLCL, sometimes in little more than one line of dialogue, is impressive. Because of this however, Progressive feels much more straight-forward than FLCL, which is one of the main reasons some fans of the original are disappointed. Since the writers are working with an established universe, they take less time indulging in the fast-paced zaniness that made up FLCL's interpretation of a plot. The show still leaves plenty of dangling threads that it doesn't bother to explain though.
Yet the show works on its own merits. Progressive is definitely a much more "modern" anime, but what makes it intriguing is that it's a modern anime framed through the bizarre world of FLCL. Whereas in another context Progressive could be an average shoujo/coming-of-age story, the fact that it is in FLCL's world enhances and elevates it in new ways. For example, when the female protagonist finds her main love-interest in a compromising position with another woman, she doesn't just break down crying and run away like one might see in a typical shoujo. No, instead the N.O. channel in her head reacts and turns her love-interest into an inflatable skin-suit that floats off into space. A tropey story has no time to be tropey in this universe.
Art: 8
The character designs are great if not as instantly memorable as some of FLCL's designs. Hidomi and Jinyu are the new stand-outs with cute and cool designs respectively. Hidomi's robot design seen at multiple points in the anime looks awesome. Haruko's new outfit also suits her well.
The animation, like the story, is less kinetic this time around. This is a major point of contention for fans of the original and though I understand why, this show is not an imitation of FLCL. I love the fact that Progressive involved younger animators and gave them a chance to leave their mark. Hidomi's dream sequences are highly memorable and unique. The dream at the start of episode 5 is striking and episode 5's visual style is really excellent on the whole.
In defense of some vocal critics, I don't think the color palette of Progressive is as consistently aesthetic as FLCL. Progressive uses much brighter, sometimes pastel colors, but it looks much more standard than FLCL's more washed-out, austere appearance.
Sound: 9
The Pillows are back and just as good, if not better than ever. Watching anime with The Pillows' music accompanying it just feels inherently cool. The opening dream sequence in the first episode featuring the chiptune/alt-rock "Thank you, My Twilight" while Hidomi's robot battles a legion of Medical Mechanica irons is an incredibly compelling hook for the show. The ending song, and consequently the main theme of Progressive, "Spiky Seeds," is a great song and its opening guitar solo coupled with images of apocalyptic destruction as Haruko reaches for Atomsk is wonderfully indicative of FLCL's now overarching plot.
That said, the music was not always implemented so effectively. I thought that the rerecorded music that was used in the original FLCL was a nice touch, but the use of these songs seemed unnecessary at times. While I loved the use of "Little Busters," and "I Think I Can," I was less enthusiastic about the usage of "Last Dinosaur" in both episodes 5 and 6. Having been used in FLClimax, the final episode of the original FLCL, this song clearly invokes feelings of those climactic moments in the original, so to use it twice in consequent episodes seems like overkill.
In terms of voice-acting I watched the dubbed version. The original FLCL is one of my favorite dubs of any anime. Kari Wahlgren's performance as Haruko defined her career in anime for good reason. In Progressive, Haruko's character is more straight-forward and so is Wahlgren's performance. That said, she retains Haruko's zany chops well and gives the character exactly what she needs vocally. The rest of the voice-cast gives perfectly acceptable performances as well, especially Allegra Clark who gives a stern yet adorable performance as Jinyu.
Character: 7
Hidomi and Ide are a fun pair of main characters. Their budding feelings for each other coupled with their opposite personalities and social differences lead to an interesting dynamic between the two. Haruko plays a more antagonistic role in this story than in FLCL. Hidomi and Ide are both more aware of and discontented with the fact that Haruko is taking advantage of them than Naota was in FLCL. Because of this they are more directly confrontational toward her which is a nice change of pace. Jinyu plays a fun counter to Haruko and her backstory which is implied near the end has interesting implications on her and Haruko's relationship with Atomsk. There is a moment in the last episode where Haruko finally breaks from her sadistically irreverent personality and it is satisfying to see that she not only still has real human emotions (as indicated near the end of FLCL), but also that her destructive tendencies tend to get the better of her and that she is aware of this fact. Whether or not she feels like addressing her shortcomings is a different matter.
The side characters are all fun and have moments where their distinct personalities get to shine. Though they have almost no bearing on the plot, they provide some interesting commentary and diversions from the main story while sometimes expanding upon plotlines from FLCL. That said, none of them are as memorable as characters like Mamimi, Ninamori, Amarao, or Naota's father from FLCL, and for the most part none of their actions directly or significantly affect the main characters.
I really enjoyed watching this show. I have probably seen FLCL more times than any other anime I've ever seen. Its many runs on Adult Swim had me baffled and enthralled as an elementary/middle schooler in the mid 2000s and it has only improved upon each viewing. While Progressive doesn't have a nostalgic hold on my heart like FLCL does, and its slower-paced more direct story is not as bewildering as its (nearly 2 decades old) predecessor, it provides another unique, poppy, and (most importantly) FUN dive back into a borderline nonsensical universe that I and many others have come to love. I'm happy to see this passion project between Toonami, Production I.G., and The Pillows finally take flight and I'm excited to see what comes next in FLCL: Alternative!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 27, 2016
This show is an absolute treat. As many already know, Mob Psycho 100, based on the web manga by ONE, shares many aspects with his One Punch Man series and the subsequent adaptation. However, while OPM is immensely entertaining due to the overwhelming strength of its protagonist, Mob Psycho 100 takes a more refined look at its characters and produces a show that not only reaches but surpasses the heights of its sister series.
Story: 6
Mob's story is nothing too special, and luckily it doesn't need to be. Mob is an awkward, dull, incredibly overpowered esper struggling his way through the social nightmare that is middle
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school. In the meantime, he works for fraud exorcist-for-hire Reigen (a phenomenal character, but I'll get to that). The story ends up boiling down to Mob demolishing tougher and tougher opponents by becoming uncontrollably powerful any time he gets worked up. It works on a quickly paced arc-based structure that succeeds most of the time and feels a bit rushed at others like the arc that follows Mob's brother Ritsu. The final few episodes hit a great stride and are impeccably paced.
Art: 9
This show looks absolutely stunning most of the time. Adapting from material as crudely drawn as ONE's works would take a massive amount of talent. BONES has just that talent. The art style hits a perfect sweet spot by utilizing rough looking character designs with rugged lines and a GOD-TIER level of polish in action sequences that makes for some of the most kinetic fights I've witnessed in animation. Seriously, some of the scenes in this show are jaw-droppingly awesome. The crew at BONES also isn't afraid to used mixed animation styles to convey a visual message. Some segments utilize a paint-on-glass style that looks amazing and unique. The entire ending animation is done in this style and is one of the most impressive ED's I've ever seen for that very reason.
Sound: 9
Speaking of the ED, the music associated with this show is just too badass not to commend. The opening theme credited to a band simply named "MOB CHOIR" is a catchy driving techno rock track that hooked me instantly. The ED by "ALL OFF" is similarly great and sends off every episode perfectly. I have a feeling it will be a very nostalgic ED for me very soon.
Now the soundtrack. It's by Kenji Kawai. Kenji Kawai is an absolute boss. I needn't say anything else, but the man is a fantastic OST composer. His use of a variety of traditional instruments, electronics, a multitude of percussion instruments, and electronic instruments is always effective. The battle music is intense and kicks ass. The sullen moments are beautiful and emotionally written. Tracks can be used repetitively, but that is a common occurrence in anime. He's awesome. Quick plug for the Seirei no Moribito OST, another great score he wrote for another great show. Alright. Enough rambling.
Character: 9
Man, the characters in this show are so fun. I think the biggest takeaway I had from these characters was just how good-spirited they all were. Any character you thought could be written off as "just some jerk" ended up being really pleasant and like-able. The members of the Body Improvement Club could have been rude and unaccepting of someone as out of shape and traditionally "uncool" as Mob, but instead they openly welcome him and treat him with care and respect. Teru could have remained an uncompromisingly pompous prick, but instead turns into an honestly good guy who is willing to help Mob. Dimple, though seemingly bent on world domination, helps Mob and offers him advice after Mob defeats him.
And then there's Reigen. A fraud, con-artist, and outright liar who tricks people into paying for his services is virtually the coolest most genuinely good-hearted character in the whole show. He takes Mob, an insecure middle schooler struggling with his powers, under his wing and provides him with advice that inadvertently affects his entire world-view for the better. Reigen alone makes this show worth watching, and if you've read what I've written above, then you know there are MANY things that make this show worth watching.
Enjoyment: 9
As I've already said, this show is a treat. Studio BONES has crafted an exceptional adaptation of a story that may have flown well under the radar otherwise.
Overall: 8
As exciting as One Punch Man and packed with fun and interesting characters, Mob Psycho 100 is the best show I watched this season. With only 12 episodes (but hopefully more to come), this fun ride is well worth your time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 17, 2016
It isn't often that I watch an anime with mixed or average reception as I don't want to gamble wasting time on a dull series. However, it is only then that I find shows as woefully underrated as So Ra No Wo To. As others have pointed out, I think perception of this show has suffered due to unfair associations with K-ON!, as if K-ON! single-handedly invented both the moe art-style and the slice of life genre. But, I digress.
Story: 7
So Ra No Wo To plays out in pretty typical episodic fashion until the final few episodes. Those looking for an epic military drama should
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look elsewhere as this show is more akin to a light deconstruction of the "cute girls do cute things" genre that has become prevalent in the past decade.
The greatness of the story comes from the incredibly interesting setting that the writers and art directors have crafted. The world is multi-faceted with plenty of attention to detail. I find it fascinating that the world is so well designed that almost any gripe can be explained away with logic. Why would the military accept such young girls? Because the military will take any able body. Why would these girls all end up at the same outpost? Because they are in a low risk area that borders a no-mans-land and are therefore seen as non-essential. Why would Kanata join the military just to learn how to play the trumpet? Because it is the only feasible means of musical education in a world ravaged by war.
The writers also do a great job of sprinkling in plot details along the way that are subtle and don't feel hamfisted in the slice-of-life episode format.
One complaint I do have is that some supernatural elements introduced at the beginning and reiterated near the end of the series go unexplained, though I'm sure it would have been difficult to explain them given the show's format.
Art: 9
The art in this show is held to a very high standard and is some of the best I've seen from shows produced by A-1. The backgrounds are breathtaking at times. The old cobbled streets of the town, Seize, the dilapidated warehouse in Clocktower Fortress, and the lush mountains with scattered ruins of a bygone age really give the viewer an excellent grasp of the setting and its unique past. I felt at home in Seize by the end of the series and that really shows a great deal of care was put into the art.
The animation is of a similar high quality and those who write it off as "another moe blob show" should really pull the stick out of their arse. The characters are visually well designed and distinct and their mannerisms represent their personalities splendidly.
CG is used to animate the mech-like battle tanks and this works just fine for the majority of the show since there is only a single tank. However, towards the end when there are many tanks on screen, the CG can be visually jarring. Really though, I've seen far worse.
Sound: 10
As is typical, the Japanese dub was superb. Rio's gruff voice was an excellent contrast to Kanata's peppy, adorable voice. Each seiyū filled their respective trope with each character and made them each as lovable as they were adorable.
With at least a general focal point of the show being music, the soundtrack should be held to a rather high standard. Once again, Michiru Ōshima shows why she is one of the greatest anime composers in the world. The soundtrack beautifully understates the setting with soaring orchestral moments, contemplative mandolin, and a track sung in French that stirs just the right emotions when it needs to. Being a citizen of the United States, I am easily bored to tears listening to Amazing Grace, but Ōshima's arrangement for So Ra No Wo To actually brought me to (non-boredom) tears because it worked so well within the context of the show. Somewhere between her work on ICO and the original Fullmetal Alchemist, this soundtrack captures the essence of the show perfectly.
Character: 8
Being a slice of life show at its core, So Ra No Wo To relies on its characters rather than a succinctly presented story. Though the members of the 1121st Platoon do tend to fit neatly into the mold of slice of life tropes, they also offer unique and varied backstories that help define their personalities. In a world of near constant warfare, some of these characters have had incredibly traumatic pasts and it is interesting to see in what ways they have grown to overcome the bleak realities they've faced. I also love how each character is revealed to have a specific reason for being in the military and at Clocktower Fortress. The citizens of Seize are also great characters that show how life has been for those outside of the wide-reaching military.
Kanata is the perfect character to offset the more depressing aspects of the other characters and the setting with her unending hopefulness. This leads to some charming dialogue as she interacts with the members of the 1121st.
The special episodes from the OVA are a must watch as they help round out the characters and likewise the show as a whole.
While many of the characters had wonderful scenes dedicated to exploring their past, I was surprised at how little was actually displayed about Kanata's past. Aside from a recurring flashback, it is unclear where and how she grew up. I also would have enjoyed seeing more of Noël's backstory, though what was shown was enough to understand her actions in the show. The "villain" who appears towards the end was very one-dimensional and was used more as a plot device than a character, but it works just fine within the context of the final episodes.
Enjoyment: 9
I enjoyed this show much more than I thought I would. Through a mix of low expectations and high reward, So Ra No Wo To really surprised me and offered a wonderful experience in a short 14 episodes.
Overall: 9
The definition of a hidden gem.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 7, 2016
Hosoda continues to make films that are incredibly enjoyable to watch. Bakemono no Ko (The Boy and the Beast), his first film produced under the banner of Studio Chizu, is another great addition to his directorial repertoire. I was lucky to catch this film in theaters and my impression is better for it.
Story: 7
The story in Bakemono no Ko is relatively standard, but with some creative decisions that boost its impact. There is a world of anthropomorphic beasts living parallel to the human world. The laws of the beast world vary from that of the human world to create a
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beautiful fantasy setting. However, the climax of the film would have benefited greatly from deeper exploration of the dark, psychological aspect of the human characters and a more developed explanation of the laws in the beast world.
Art: 8
This film looks fantastic most of the time. Hosoda's style is always apparent and I really love it. The simple but expressive characters against the painstakingly detailed backgrounds always makes for beautiful and dynamic shot composition. CG is used throughout to enhance visuals and looks gorgeous when used sparingly. The CG is also where the visuals fall short. I couldn't help but notice that every scene with more than a couple background characters used entirely CG models. Sometimes they just look BAD, but then again, the viewer's focus is supposed to be drawn elsewhere. Either way this film looked outstanding most of the time, especially on the big screen.
Sound: 9
Everything from the dub to the musical score sounded great the whole way through. I watched the English dub by Funimation, so my comments will specifically reference this dub. Luci Christian and Eric Vale do an awesome job as the protagonist, Kyuta. Whereas voice actresses sometimes sound unnatural as young boys, Christian has one of the best voices for this sort of role and manages to make young Kyuta endearing and realistic. Eric Vale then follows suit with a fitting performance as teenage Kyuta. The trio of beasts that Kyuta hangs around with are charmingly voice acted and likable. Bryn Apprill's performance as Kaede is also worthy of praise.
The soundtrack fits the movie incredibly well. Though not as instantly memorable as the soundtracks for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars, I believe Masakatsu Takagi did an excellent job of writing music that fit the world. The beast world has a very eastern flair and the music improves the aesthetic.
Character: 8
Almost every character in Bakemono no Ko is lovable. Aside from a single character, everyone seems to be looking out for one another, regardless of their affiliation. Kyuta and Kumatetsu's hot-headed interactions are adorable and really make the viewer care for them. Kyuta and Kaede's interactions are similarly satisfying and meaningful. Even the side characters like Tatara the monkey and Hyakushubou the pig have an endearing moment. Also Soushi the bunny had some great comedic moments
The antagonist could have used much more screen-time to better flesh out their motives and abilities. Kyuta's father also deserved more screen time and I would have enjoyed seeing them interact more.
Enjoyment: 9
This film is very fun to watch, and I found watching it in a theater really improved the experience. Either way, I greatly enjoyed watching Bakemono no Ko and will certainly buy it when it releases on dvd/blu-ray.
Overall: 8
Bakemono no Ko is a fun, beautiful movie. I can't wait to see what Hosoda and Studio Chizu create next.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 28, 2015
After the first season of FSN:UBW I had high hopes that the second season would make up for at least some of the issues I had with season 1. It turns out it did not in almost any way. I am not a reader of the VN, but that doesn't change the fact that a series needs to work as a standalone piece without the aid of extra information provided by the source material to completely enjoy it.
Story: 6
The story continues directly after season 1 (as one might assume) and the pace picks up considerably since season 1 had so much Shirou cooking
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and Rin whining to get through that it was like the Holy Grail War just hit the freakin' pause button for the majority of the season. However, the quicker pace is not necessarily a good thing. In fact, after the first couple of episodes there were so many character farewells that it was almost like, "I can't WAIT to see what this character has in store for the series-... oh... they're dead now... after being in 2 episodes... hmm..." The pacing of this season was odd, to say the least, with important events being hurled at you one after another in one episode, then in the next episode nothing happens at all. Some plot elements were left dreadfully vague as well, most often dealing with Archer's backstory and Shirou suddenly obtaining OP Servant-level abilities. Because of this, the climax was poorly executed.
Art: 8
The art is still top-notch for the most part, but with some flaws mostly dealing with mediocre CG integration for some backgrounds. Fight scenes still look awesome (even if the outcomes of some fights make no sense). The Opening theme in particular is more entertaining to watch than season 1.
Sound: 5
I may never hear an anime score as bland as this one ever again. The only salvageable track is EMIYA which comes from the VN anyways, but the original tracks are disappointingly dull. Fight scenes sound like something that was rejected from Hans Zimmer's studio with enough fast percussion and BWAHs to make me feel like I was being incepted. The insert song by Aimer was similarly bland and actually made me laugh when it showed up in an integral scene as it sucked out any of the drama or impact the scene possessed. Besides that, the Japanese VAs do their job well. I particularly like Archer's voice since it really suits him. In regards to SFX, hearing the same sword clash sound for the thousandth time got a bit annoying.
Character: 4
I had hoped the second season would make up some lost ground on this front, but it failed to in quite a few ways. First of all, many characters who deserved further development were killed off so quickly and pointlessly, that by the end, I forgot they were even a part of the show. Some characters don't show up for 10-15 episodes just to be killed in a single episode as if they never mattered. Shirou remains one of my least favorite anime protagonists. The show does a poor job of explaining anything about his trace ability making it seem like he gains random powers out of nowhere that he can use to beat anyone/thing. Not only that, but the big power-up he receives from Rin is one of the biggest Deus Ex Machina I've seen since he's pretty much unstoppable afterwards. Shirou's personality is fittingly terrible as well since he wants to save everyone so much that he lacks any form of common sense. While I get that that's kind of the point of his character, it doesn't make it any less frustrating when he somehow succeeds at everything. Can he just die? Seriously. How is he not dead? Why did Gilgamesh go from being the strongest servant to being a complete joke of a character? I think Lancer is the only character that I came out liking enough to consider my favorite. He had admirable screen time and was a total badass. I attribute the lack of good characters both to potentially poor adaption as well as flawed source material.
Enjoyment: 5
There were some episodes of FSN:UBW that I thought worked well and enjoyed watching while others were flat-out frustrating and left me weary of watching the next episode.
Overall: 6
I can only hope that the Heaven's Feel movie will provide a more interesting story with more interesting characters, a more interesting soundtrack, and a less buffoonish MC.
*avoiding spoilers*
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 2, 2015
Having watched The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars, it was a no-brainer that I'd check out Hosoda's next animated feature Wolf Children. It's great to see Hosoda's style developing through his works and Wolf Children does a great job of combining elements from his previous films.
Story: 8
The story is set up beautifully. It is told through Yuki (one of the children) as the narrator who has lived through the events of the story and has learned stories from her mother. The story has some minor pacing issues with a sudden time skip, but this doesn't throw off the experience
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in the long run. The concept is also well done considering the slightly ludicrous premise and doesn't stray into Twilight territory with the romance, instead focusing on the lives of the children.
Art: 9
Hosoda's style is still great to watch. Characters are drawn simplistically against gorgeous backgrounds. The character designs are great as well and watching Ame and Yuki transform from humans to wolves and vice-versa is both adorable and uniquely cool. The only slight detractor is the use of cg for background characters in the beginning as they look too fluid, but they are only present in the first 20 or so minutes and from then on everything is beautiful.
Sound: 9
I watched the English dub for this movie and it's one of the better dubs I've seen. Nothing is lost in translation and voice acting is spot on. I particularly liked Yuki's cute voice as a child and old man Nirasaki's gruff voice fits perfectly. The soundtrack fits the film well and has its moments to shine, but overall it's pretty average.
Characters: 10
The characters in this movie are all awesome. Hana is the best mom on the planet and an incredibly likable main character who develops as she learns how to raise her kids. Ame and Yuki are fun to watch at the beginning and become more complex as they decide who/what they want to be. Although mere side characters, all of the villagers are portrayed with heart and their warmness gives a positive human outlook to the story.
Enjoyment: 9
This movie is a treat to watch. It seems it was aimed at neither kids nor adults and it could easily please both. As my girlfriend and I felt, you'll likely feel as though you were watching it for hours as you are engrossed into the lives of this odd family, yet it will still leave you wanting more.
Overall: 9
With the combination of a supernatural love story and an endearing family drama, Hosoda combines elements from The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars to make a unique and wonderful film that is a must-watch for Hosoda fans and anime fans as a whole.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 27, 2014
As a note, I have not read/played any of the Type Moon visual novels from which this anime is based. I did however find Fate/Zero to be excellent. Coming off of Fate/Zero I was completely pumped to jump right back into the world in Fate/Stay Night. After watching the entire first season I have to say that I'm slightly disappointed.
Story: 6
The story itself is relatively generic as a battle-royale for the holy grail, but is made more complex by the interesting heroes that are summoned to fight and their interactions with their masters. This season however was quite boring. There
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were not nearly enough fights or interesting story elements to justify the amount of downright dull scenes of Shirou at school or at home.
Art: 9
Ufotable sure didn't skimp out on the animation for this show. Backgrounds are beautiful and character animations are solid. Fight scenes are magnificent, but too few and far between to completely showcase the animation at its finest.
Sound: 8
Sound effects are great and the Japanese voice-over is well done. Hideyuki Fukasawa's soundtrack is a bit lackluster in my opinion and lacks some of the impact that Yuki Kajiura's Fate/Zero soundtrack had, and while it certainly never detracts form the show, it isn't anything special.
Characters: 4
This is where I was truly disappointed. Shirou is one of the least interesting main characters that I've seen in an anime. While his back-story is interesting enough to make you slightly sympathetic, his idiotic ideals and brash ignorance make him incredibly boring. Equally disappointing is Saber's portrayal. While she was characterized as a complex and tragic king striving to attain the grail in F/Z, In F/SN she is now a straight-up robot with hardly any personality. Archer and Rin can be fun to watch in comparison, but neither accomplish anything in this season. The show really wants you to care about Rin and Shirou's alliance so it hardly focuses on anything else happening with the other servants. I understand that development of the other servants/masters will come with the 2nd season, but that doesn't excuse the fact that they were nearly non-existent this season.
Enjoyment: 7
My enjoyment of this show mostly came with it being a sequel to Fate/Zero and getting to see what happens after the events of F/Z. Though the characters are boring thus far, I do have hope that they will develop more throughout the 2nd season which I am greatly looking forward to. I just wasn't as attached to the show by the end of this season as I was at this point in F/Z.
Overall: 7
It's fine, but not spectacular. Can't wait for things to pick up in season 2.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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