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Nov 21, 2010
Sequels. They really are a world on their own. A few maintain the success from the first series and are able to carry it onwards. Others attempt the same, but cannot compare, yet still provide an enjoyable ride. And then there are cases like Motto To Love-Ru, where you watch the same thing yet it feels like something completely different.
Before anything else, I have watched the first season and really enjoyed it. Then came the OVA, also enjoyable. Then came the sequel. And for some reason, within a few episodes the feeling the first series gave me completely left me. Now I find myself recognizing
...
the characters and seiyuu but nothing else from the first season. Where has it gone? Let's take a bite at figuring that out.
To Love-Ru is known as a romantic comedy. Our harem lead is Mr.Nice guy, caught up in a love triangle between A) a cute and shy girl he's had a crush on for a while and B) a busty / childish alien that fell from space and makes him go through alot of adventures. The first season portrayed this well; between the laughs was also room for plot development and romance. A nice mix along with a good production value that made for an enjoyable ride.
In the second season however, I can only see a ton of fanservice and a story that is (at the moment I write this) not progressing anywhere. The charm of season I is a relic of the past, replacing it is a display of how magical the sun rays are once again, conveniently censoring everything that comes into the screen. And in a series that is mainly about fanservice..it tends to beat the point.
In a nutshell, Motto To Love-Ru supports the notion a recent article on Sankaku made about the anime industry becoming a porn industry. You want fanservice? Watch it. You want anything else? Do not watch it. A simple logic that should save both you and me quite some time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Oct 2, 2010
If something came to me after watching Setokai Yakuindomo (SYD) it was that I never figured out if the male lead is gay or not. That, and the fact society sure is changing fast these days. Maybe GoHands was better off restoring their mistake and making Princess Lover into a H series again.
Summarizing this series, let's take B Gata H Kei as example. Remove the shyness about adult subjects and instead make it the most common subject to talk about in the world. Replace the cast, add in a very mediocre soundtrack, reduce the art a bit and you're done. Welcome to SYD.
The plot.
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Pure and innocent guy Tsuda transfers to an all-girl school to find out sex jokes do not get a 'what are you talking about o0..' reaction but rather 'I think it feels better there while doing ***' with serious face-- you get the idea. During the 13 episodes this series spans you will get coverage of all possible adult jokes you're going to hear on the short term. If you hear them that is, between all censoring and *bleep* words. And no, there will be no pantsu on the DVD either according to the anime.
The only thing I remembered about art and soundtrack is that some scenes were straight default H game rips, with the classroom at sunset with dramatic music to the school grounds and everything.
Characters are there, but predictable. After two eps you can already tell in what state of mind corruption everyone is, not a bad thing since that's all what matters here.
In a nutshell, watch SYD for the following reasons:
1.) Test if your mindset is past the point of no return yet.
You pass when you can guess how a joke is going to play out with a small hint.
You fail when..well, you actually can't fail. 13 eps full of dirty jokes boast a pretty high success rate. If you are among the group that still has a pure mind after watching this, drop a line on my profile. I'll be waiting for you, my Savior.
2.) You have spare time and need a good laugh. With BSDM Teddybears, no pantsu and vibrators from Santa pretty much everything passes by.
P.S. I took a long break from writing reviews. Does it show?
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 13, 2010
There are probably a ton of things that could be said about Needless, but in the spirit of this series we will just narrow it down to something simple. Needless! is a show you will either like for what it is, or hate it for the very same reasons.
Needless is a pretty simple show with an equally simple concept. Have a mix of characters with noticeable personalities brawl it out in a span of 24 episodes, accompanied by some great art, fanservice, GAR, gore, comedy and a fast phased metal soundtrack that won't fail to get your blood pumping.
In a future where Tokyo has
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been bombed and 'black spots', areas in which people with mysterious abilities roam, exist there is an evil company surrounded with secrets that has settled in the center of the Black Spot and eliminates all opposition. However, a small group of people decide to stand up against this company. Now the plot is in place we are only missing the 'Fight' and 'Finish him!' lines and the person they belong to. Ah well.
Enter Adam Blade, our very manly main lead. Accompanying him are his sexy sidekick Eve, a kid with no combat abilities, an old geezer, a cool Shinigami girl with a giant sword, a loli half human-half cyborg and a girl with a split personality. On the evil company side we have the usual ultimate evil in human form, Adam Arclight, a mysterious guy warped in bandages, a magician kid and an evil queen type woman with a huge rack. Crew set? Let's Brawl.
Quiz time. The question is: "What makes a show with such a simple concept so popular?" Maybe it are the characters. After all, who expects a priest that turns out to be an insane 12 pack abs devil priest with a lolicon fetish that prefers storing grenades over holy texts in his bible and has some wisdom like this: "If someone hits you on the left cheek...DO A PILE DRIVER WITH YOUR OTHER!!" ? Or a sexy girl that can transform any part of her body and comes up with the most unique nicknames since she cannot remember people's real names? Or a crazy maid that takes the meaning of split personality to a brand new level?
It could as well be the art. It is good to great to stunning at times. Animation is smooth, characters look realistic enough. For Needless, that is. The creators probably also knew they did a nice job with the art, as they even included two moments in the series where the art is a..different kind of stunning. The soundtrack could be the secret behind the series' success as well. It always seems to come with the right tune at the right moment, something that makes the fights so much more epic and enjoyable to watch. If not that then it probably is the comedy. It is well done and fits the tone of the show, yet does not fail to give you a good laugh every now and then.
Needless is a show that may prove either enjoyable or not for the reasons above, but especially on the person watching it. Simple as that. If you are still not sure on what to expect, watch the first opening/ending or simply lock the door to your room, dig up your headphones and marathon the thing. Although the title may be misleading, this show could very well be something that makes a nice addition to your list.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 9, 2009
Space-themed anime series are a rare occurrence these days, so when one does show up on the radar you have plenty of reason to look forward to if you're a fan of the genre. Being a loyal space RTS player myself, the news of Tytania was indeed was something great. Although this series is not an infinite showcase of epic battles as you may remember them from Homeworld, Sins, or EVE, instead opting for a more emphasized focus on the political side that comes along with running a galactic empire, Tytania is unique in its own way -- enough so to provide an enjoyable show.
[Story/Character]
The
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premise of Tytania is what you might expect from any story set in space. The gigantic and dominant galactic empire that has been prevailing over countless star systems and their inhabitants alike for times immemorial has become weakened, and rebellion is inbound. Indeed, at the start of the series we are introduced to the ruling empire, the aristocratic Tytania clan, and the carefree 'protagonist', coming in the form of Admiral Fan Hyulick. During a mock battle staged by an insignificant planet to get on Tytania's good side, Fan Hyulick fights and accidentally wipes out the much larger Tytania fleet, handing them their first loss in hundreds of years. Now branded public enemy #1, Fan Hyulick has to flee from planet to planet, meeting many different people on his journey that will aid him in his escape.
While the premise is pretty basic, what is interesting is that the story is told equally from two perspectives without interrupting the flow of the story itself. Both the leading figures in Tytania and Fan Hyulick's own group serve as two fully operational 'character groups', each with their own actions, thoughts and ambitions. You learn who fights for what, and as the series progresses you learn that Tytania is not just there to fill the 'bad guy' slot. There is no 'real' or default protagonist, and thus you are not forced to see things from his or her perspective only.
[Art]
Considering the budget and studio, as well as the time in which this series was produced, it was quite decent. Yes, there will be a lot of CG. Yes, there will be obviously poor quality scenes. But it doesn't affect the story _that_ much. The space battles had rather nice animation that made them great to watch. The ships had a solid design, and the characters looked good enough for the major part.
[Sound]
The soundtrack has a few things worth mentioning. Instead of opting for JPoP or similar genres like many other shows, Tytania opted for opera. Space opera, to be more precise. And boy, did they make a good choice. It worked out surprisingly well for the battles and other tension moments. They were played just when you think they should be, making for a more enjoyable viewing experience.
[Characters]
Since this series has seven 'main' characters, it is only to be expected there isn't as much room for development. Luckily, we get to see more of the personalities on the Tytania side through both the politics (council meetings, public relation mission to another planets, etc.) and other scenes, such as flashbacks. On the Hyulick side there isn't as much development, but I'll be frank and say that there isn't much that needs explanation on their side. Prior their meeting with each other they all pretty much led a normal life so I'm glad they instead focused on their characters from that onwards instead of going back in the past.
Overally Tytania was an enjoyable show for those that like space themed anime series and don't mind an interesting bit of politics mixed with an occasional space battle. Personally, it didn't get me bored for even one minute. But this may very for everyone based on their preferences. For me it was more than just enjoyable, but that is probably since I am a loyal fan of 3d space rts games like the Homeworld Series, Sins of a Solar Empire, Eve Online etc. Even if you are not like that, this show surely is interesting enough to at least give it a try.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Aug 19, 2009
Arad Senki is one of those series that are often overlooked because they do not appear interesting or already received a 'Deemed for Failure' stamp the moment the preview crawled its way to the wonderful i-net. Granted, the moment I found out Gonzo was behind this an alarm bell did ring in my head, but I still decided to have a go at this anime. This was not before recalling the wise lesson I have learned from watching Gonzo productions over the years:
Never put high expectations Gonzo, for it shall ruin your your expectations the most. Instead, expect the worst so it can only seem
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better.
After 18 episodes of Arad Senki I can tell you that wise lesson still applies. Want to discover how I came up with it? Watch Kaze no Stigma while expecting a good show. I'll be taking the time how long it takes for you to crawl back to me and admit you were naive. Anyways, review time.
[Story 6/10]
The plot in Arad Senki is kinda based on your default RPG story; grow strong and the defeat the ultimate evil to grow into a SAVIIIIIOOOOOR. In this case it is a demon that has cast a curse over the continent, awakening monsters and causing any people that have witnessed it to slowly turn into Demons. The story focuses on a young man named Baron, who also received the curse and looks for a way to undo this.
Nothing wrong with that. I have seen anime series with an overused or boring plot still pull off something interesting. The problem with Arad Senki though is that there are too few plot related episodes, and that there usually are ~5 useless or 'stand-in' episodes between them. At the moment I am writing this I have watched up until episode 18 haven't seen much plot development at all. Only something involving a huge flower. Well this may change later on, so I'll leave it at this.
[Art 5/10]
The art is, in my opinion, rather poor but somehow it fits the overall rpg-ish feeling of the series. Not to mention, Gonzo doesn't have a big budget so this may be the best they can pull off. If you have to decide between a good story with crappy art or good art with a crappy story I'd still go with the first option. The reason why the rating is 5 instead of 3 or 4 is not because I think that is where the art quality stands compared to other series, but because this is a Gonzo series. Their budget is low, they can't match the better anime companies anymore, they have a wife and kids at home...so lets show some sympathy. 'I am a compassionate person' as Hime from Princess Resurrection would call it while adjusting her hair.
I don't want to get started about the art used in the second OP for the series, so just drop that question.
[Sound 5/10]
Not much to see here. The soundtrack pretty much fits the overall show with a few RPG battle and 'route xxx' tunes, but its nothing too outstanding. However, it isn't bad either. The tunes go well with the battles and other scenes, so that's a plus that covers up for the lack of originality.
[Character 7/10]
A sword user, a melee user, a gunner, a mage and a priest. Now, where have I seen that before...
The characters individually are a bit boring, but in a group they're a fun bunch to watch. Baron is the lead guy on a mission that doesn't mind a fight, Ryunmei is your damage dealer and source of the little bit of fanservice that passes by sometimes, Cabensis is your ranged support that is at the center of pretty much all comical parts with his expressions, Ixia is your mage with a sometimes childish attitude and Jeda is your priest sidekick with the muscles.
What I also like is the fact the the 'bad guys' are not just your average bunch with some insane/evil masterplan that try to stop you. They also get some development which allows you to get a better view of what situation they are in, how they feel etc. Especially after one of the recent episodes that was focused on them (although the main part was comedy again) I really felt for them.
[Enjoyment 7/10]
Arad Senki isn't too popular, but it does have its own charm. And that is its comedy. It never fails to give me a good laugh every few episodes. The only problem I have with this series is the fact the emphasizes is a little bit too much on the comedy and useless stand-in episodes and too little on the plot. A 12-episode slot may have been better, but that means they had to go with either comedy or plot development. With 26 eps it is both, and although that isn't too bad here you can just tell that some episodes really have no real use other than stalling the excitement until the antagonists execute the next stage of their plan.
My recommendation: watch this show while not expecting anything too special and when you have nothing else to watch at the moment. If you take on Arad Senki with that attitude you'll be just fine. Even for a Gonzo production.
Final Rating: 6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Aug 19, 2009
Welcome to another example of a show that could have been great, should have been great and would have been great if not only for the fact that 95% of the stuff this show is made of completely ruins it.
Usually I leave the writing of reviews to others, but for some reason I really felt it as my personal duty to share my experience with Princess Resurrection; the story of a naive anime watcher that was lured in, saw his hopes scattered everywhere, and now stands guard to prevent other people from going through the same.
[Story 4/10]
The plot used in this series isn't something
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very unique or impressive, but it would have been bearable. Well, that is if the producers actually would have used it instead of recycling the 'Who is this monster? It is ....' formula for 23 out of the 25 episodes this show has. The plot is there in the background at the start of the series but isn't really used until the pre-final episode where the ultimate evil guy is introduced and defeated easily. Hopes scattered.
[Art 5/10]
The art wasn't really that great, but it was bearable. I have seen anime series that looked like they had backgrounds as if they were done in MSPaint. But art is a vital component of any anime. Of course, art takes up a bigger role when rewatching a series or when seriously paying attention to it compared to the first time where you get used to it. When I look back now I don't think I can rewatch this again without getting some serious disturbance from it.
[Sound 5/10]
The soundtrack maybe had one or two tunes that were fitting the show, or rather how the overall atmosphere of the show should have been. The 'spooky' or 'mystery' music (dunno the exact name, also plays when Dracul summons those lower-class vampires at his castle) really was a jewel in the rough there. But the rest wasn't really noticeable. If a soundtrack is noticeable it means it's either really good or really bad. I know that the soundtrack isn't usually one of the main reasons why you start on an anime, but its still one of those details that can either make it great or break it. The soundtrack in Princess Resurrection did neither of the two, so I guess it's somewhere in between them.
[Character 3/10]
One thing that -really- killed this show for me were the characters. The main guys are not interesting to watch at all; they have no significant treats and are rather annoying. The evil guys are all one-day flies; they appear once and disappear afterwards or fill in some cheap fodder role for a few minutes.
The male protagonist...I don't think I have ever watched a character that took the meaning of the word 'annoying' to such an extent. The only thing he can do is throw himself in front of his princess and die, try to fend off enemies with a broom or just yell and be afraid. Except for Hime all other characters is a total waste. No hard feelings, but if a show can make me facepalm, rage and skip over parts of an episode this much something has to be wrong.
[Enjoyment 4/10]
Hime, episode 13 and one tune of the soundtrack were the only things that were decent in this series. And that isn't enough for a show that had the potential to be much, much and much better. I don't really know what the producers had in mind when they made Princess Resurrection...it couldn't be entertainment. The show only has three things that belong under that category. Money making? I highly doubt if they made much from this show if anything at all. Maybe a mix of both. If you as producer don't feel like giving a series the best you have got then why bother publishing it? You only waste your own time, the time of the viewers, cause frustration and provide enough reasons to storm your house.
[Overall 4/10]
I started on this show with normal expectations. After 25 episodes, I'll be frank and say it has greatly disappointed me. Except for the three things stated above this anime has failed me greatly. I have been around in the world of anime long enough to tell when a show is good, and I can assure you that the overall show is Poor at its best. There are numerous shows out there that are better than this one, so do your daily schedule, eyes and me a favor: watch something else.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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