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Jun 14, 2016
Ano Hi Mita Hana No Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai, shortened to Anohana, takes place a long time after the dissolution of the Super Peace Busters, a group of six children who made memories in their secret base atop a forested hill. The reasons for the dissolution were the events surrounding the death of one of their members: Meiko Honma, also known as Menma. Ten years later, the Super Peace Busters reunite in order to overcome their trauma and regrets.
Though the progression of the plot can be illogical at times, Anohana packs an intriguing story and an emotional punch. Unlike a majority of other
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tragic stories, death is not he climax of the story. Rather, it is the catalyst for the events that occur in the story. Menma "lives" with Jinta, whom is her only connection to the rest of the cast. Her existence and actions add a supernatural aspect to the show; other people cannot see or hear her, but she can manipulate the environment to interact with them. The properties of her spirit form are never properly explained. For example, when she hugs people, Jinta has to relate what is going on, even though the person clearly feels the contact. She picks things up and moves them around, but it is not known if the objects simply float through the air. It is not confirmed whether or not someone can touch her: What would happen if someone walks through the spot where she is standing? The main issue with the story is how contrived and situational Menma is. She seems less like a ghost and more like an invisible girl. Typically, things like her tears or presence are excused and ignored. Nobody freaks out like they legitimately should be.
Visuals are vital in both animations and still pictures, and there are no problems with the visuals of this show. Expert analyses can be found elsewhere, but the animation is solid and does not seem unrealistic like certain other anime. Small details in the scenery and in a character's body language adds immersion and subtlety to the show. The world is beautifully drawn, especially at night time. The opening and ending animations look amazing. During certain moments, the scenes may seem to have different lighting and filtering. This is to be taken as one wills.
Music and voices are an integral part of any film, and Anohana utilizes them just fine. Voices fit the characters as far as this unversed casual is concerned, and the music is just splendid. Both the opening and ending have happy tones, though the opening is more upbeat than the ending. The latter is not necessarily sad or sentimental, but it is quieter and can be interpreted as more emotional in that way.
An abundance of dynamic characters makes for an interesting show. Anohana has no shortage of character development, as the entire show is about moving on. Every individual that was close to Menma has something weighing on their mind, and it holds them down as they struggle to come to amends with themselves and their new lives. Even among the group of friends, personalities clash and lead to interesting developments. Relationships amongst each other leads certain members of the group to bear animosity toward certain others. Any melodrama aside, watching the characters interact and grow was a wonder.
Being a consumer with arguably low standards, it was difficult to hold back tears during tender moments in the anime. It is easy to form emotional bonds with characters that are relatable, memorable, or simply human. With a cohesive and interesting plot, Anohana was a pleasure to watch.
Certain parts of the show could have been done better, but there were no outstanding issues with this anime in general. For the most part, the story and characters were good. Sound, voices, and music enhanced the experience, and it was colorful and easy on the eyes.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 29, 2016
I wasn't completely sure of what my expectations were for Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, but this show met and exceeded all of them. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is the anime adaptation of the novel, which is ongoing at this point in time.
Spoiler level: Very low, most of it is in the synopsis anyways. First episode at most.
Fantasy, action, and imagination come together to create a sense of depth and realism that is very uncommon to see in anime and even other platforms. The story takes place shortly after several people teleported into a different dimension, recruited into a militia force, and split up
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into two groups: the front liners and the newbies. The entire situation is very similar to that of <every MMO ever>, including the way the initial mysterious event that started the show quickly becomes irrelevant. What's unique about Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is that the story is focused on the latter and not the former, and it is focused around adjusting to life in the world rather than why or how they got there. In short, it is an uncommon take on fantasy and video game–inspired worlds, and the concept is not left without a follow through.
It took a skilled hand and a brilliant mind to create the fantasy world of Grimgar. At first glance, the art looked messy and strange—very different from most other anime. The world is drawn in the same style as one would think a light novel or manga. There's something unique about the lines and colors that make up the characters and environment; it really drives home the contrasting themes of fantasy and reality. The visuals are pleasing to the eye, and they were created with a keen sense for detail. Some notable details are the parallax effect in certain scenes, the night sky effects(by the gods, look at the sky when you get the chance!), and finally the particle and animation quality. Watch the entire opening at least once to get an idea of how good the animation is; watch it again every now and then, and notice how it changes with how many people are currently in the party. On top of that, the characters are unique and well drawn, and it won't take long before identifying who's who is instinctive.
When music and sound are done well, the atmosphere and theme for the entire show can be set just like that—a snap of the fingers. The only thing I need to say is that this is one amazing sounding anime. The soundtrack is great and theme appropriate, with a good variety in music for different scene types. For the opening, there's hope; for the ending, there's serenity. Battles are made many times more enjoyable with the epic music. I could go on, but even if you don't plan to watch the show, at least give the soundtrack a try.
A (literally) colorful cast, each with a personality and role in the party, all told from the perspective of the thief, a withdrawn type who is thrust into the leader position without warning. None of the characters seem static or uninteresting. There is at least some characteristics that change over time, even if they are slight. The aforementioned thief, Haruhiro, tells the story from his point of view; as a result, there is no reading the minds of others, nor can we see things that they cannot. The effect this has on the show is to put all importance on their party, rather than the rest of the seemingly vast world. While the anime could have become something about Grimgar on a global scale, or the power players whose appearances are close to zero, the studio chose to keep it down to earth, and the closest to the ground happen to be this party of six.
In two words (not counting the conjunction): captivating and suspenseful. Personally, I found Grimgar to be extremely enjoyable. I myself am knowledgable in the field of video games, and I can say that watching this anime was a welcomed step in the other direction of competitive or professional gameplay. Watching these characters grow from the first episode to the twelfth helped strengthen an emotional bond, and although they started out giving me facepalms (come on, use some strategy! it's a goblin, for cryin' out loud!) I eventually came to like their synergy both in battle and out. Also, I loved listening to the music and gawking at the visuals.
This show is a worthwhile watch for both gamers and non-gamers. Overall, this show does not disappoint in any field, and I am legitimately glad that it gave me all the reasons to argue that Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is a masterpiece. Of course, enjoyment and opinion vary from person to person, so by no means am I trying to force my own thoughts upon anyone else. However, I truthfully believe that this was one of the best anime of the season, if not one of the best I've ever watched, and I want to share my reasoning in the hopes that I could convince some other people of the beauty packed in these twelve episodes of twenty-or-so minutes.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Mar 10, 2016
Gakkougurashi! (School-Live!) shifts perspectives and situations at will, making for a unique experience that has the ability to leave viewers unsure of whether or not to smile or hold their breath.
"A line drawn in blood, separating reality from fantasy."
Here are the show's genre tags: horror, mystery, psychological, school, and slice of life. This is easily one of the most contradictory, creative anime I've watched in a while, but it blends all these genres together into a shocking combination. Many people, myself included, have seen better fight scenes, better jokes, better story lines. To say that Gakkougurashi does any of these with an expert's precision would
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be false, but I found none of the story elements to be unbearable or cringeworthy. While some of the action or chase scenes seemed to be plot convenient or unrealistic, nothing seemed out of place. The story seems solid, and it definitely foreshadows future events well and forces the watcher to make connections.
"Two palettes—light in one hand, and dark in the other."
After a while, it becomes easy to discern between "Yuki vision" and normal vision. I found myself unsure of which version of the world I was seeing: something imagined, or something real. Bright colors and cute characters are in stark contrast with the shadows, gore, and quote-unquote citizens lurking around every corner. Character designs are pleasant and memorable (Kurumi is my personal favorite), and fine details hint at plot elements and whatnot. One thing to watch out for is the opening and ending sequences. As the story progresses, so do they.
"From cheerful to grim, and some dark foreshadowing."
Music and sound effects are a vital part of any film. Even the absence of sound can be meaningful, and it's typically very difficult to mess up the sound aspect of an anime. However, Gakkougurashi has the same problem as another very popular title: "Clannad: Afterstory". If you've seen it, think back to that episode, where they insensitively played the cheerful ending song right after a major turning point in the story? If you don't know what I'm thinking about, imagine someone cracking jokes and singing happily during a funeral progression where everyone else is mourning. If that metaphor doesn't do it, then I'll say it bluntly; it's normally a good idea to change the music to fit the current point in the story. The cheerfulness of the ending and next-episode preview break tension in the story, but bring the show full circle from slice of life to slice of life. Make it what you would, but be ready for drama and trauma. Don't be mad if the show adds insult to injury through song.
"Yuki, Kurumi, Yuuri, Miki, Megumi, and Taroumaru."
The characters are what I consider the most important part of this anime, much like all others. It's not unusual to have a cast of four girls, usually filling out the main categories. Fortunately, none of the characters overdo clichéd stereotypes or archetypes. Four high-school girls, a teacher, and a dog are stuck in a post-apocalyptic world. None have any particular survival skills: Yuki is eternally cheerful and Kurumi can swing a shovel, but they're all "mostly average". What I find interesting, and the most rewarding aspect of the show, is the psychological interaction that goes on between the characters, their environment, and themselves. Escaping a harsh reality, making difficult decisions, being forced to make and break bonds... They're all common themes of a post-apocalyptic horror show. While the characters' personalities aren't explored in depth, what redeems them is their relationships and emotions with the others. You can see the reasons behind their behavior, the things that are holding them back. An individual's logic and common sense say one thing, but their experiences and feelings may say another.
"To enjoy, even while knowing the truth."
Whether or not this show is enjoyable is a moot point. Sure, it's a slice of life about school and cute girls and fun. It's also a horrifying story with extremely dark events. I found it hard to enjoy the casual and relaxed parts of the episode because of the previous' events being on my mind. It definitely isn't a bad show, or one that isn't entertaining or gripping, because trust me—I found Gakkougurashi very, very interesting. The only thing is, all the slice of life starts to feel like a falsehood in comparison to the psychological horror.
"My recommendation."
I had no idea what to expect of this show before I watched it, and it was still completely unexpected. Gakkougurashi was definitely not a disappointment, and while it isn't a drop-dead masterpiece, I would say it was a good usage of my time.
General things? Opening and ending are very nice, they change with the show. Pay attention during them, I do suggest that you watch them, at least every couple of episodes. Be prepared for plot twists and "oh sh*t" moments. Some of the foreshadowing and such was very well done, particularly a scene in the last three episodes.
"A TL;DR summary."
Story: 8. Room for improvement, but is not lacking. Feels a bit disjointed or illogical at times, but it's not incomprehensible or nonsensical.
Art: 8. Constantly switches between happy time and not-happy time. Depicts world in different ways, rather intriguing and works well with the theme.
Sound: 7. Does its job, but breaks the tension after climactic episodes. Sort of annoying.
Character: 9. Some characters lack personality or background, but all interact very well together and the psychological part makes them a whole lot more interesting.
Enjoyment: 6. Slice-of-life elements feel like filler because of the other aspects of the show.
Overall: 8. Recommended for fans of psychological fiction, but not very much for fans of slice of life.
... I'm sort of annoyed with how this review turned out, but it's something. Watch this show, it's always better to see for yourself than to hear it from another.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 5, 2016
I think this review is completely biased by my opinion. Blast it, who cares? I love this show, and if you don't agree then that's perfectly okay. But this show really stands out as the best of Yuru Yuri so far, and if you're watching this show because you enjoyed the last two seasons, then I hope you can see what I mean.
Story: 10
The story STILL hasn't changed. In fact, it has changed so little from the first season, the synopsis of Yuru Yuri San☆Hai! is LITERALLY "Third season of Yuru Yuri." So, what makes this story outstanding in my eyes?
First of all, it's simple.
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Even for slice-of-life genres, it is simple. Four girls who use an abandoned club room to hang out. It's totally against the rules, but the student council has a peace treaty with them.
What else? Obviously it would be unfair to argue using phrases such as "lacking originality" or "not exciting" since the show wasn't written to have a moving plot. So, how does it stay refreshing? Well, each season is roughly a year in the girls' timeline. The same year. That in itself is an interesting thing, not just because of it being somewhat novelty, but because there's some strangeness going on with the fourth wall. The characters themselves nearly caught on during the second season, that there was some sort of time loop going on, yet it sort of remains as an unmentioned thing. Sure, they are repeating the same year of middle school for the third time, but there are new events and nobody actually realizes it. Unlike Non Non Biyori Repeat where it actually rewinds to show more moments from the same year, Yuru Yuri continues moving forward.. without moving forward.
I probably just complicated the whole thing, but I just love the idea of it all.
Art: 9
The art is still amazing and cute, and there are some disturbingly graphic scenes involving blood and tears. I didn't notice any changes from the last season or the OVA, so I honestly don't know what else to say here. The animation in the opening and ending seem like a lot more effort was put into them, although the 3-D effects in the former make the actual characters seem sort of edited in. It could do with a bit more work there. The characters' expressions follow the same style, and I feel like the art fits the show. For the most part, Chitose probably causes the most controversy with her nosebleeds.
The half-time intermissions are, if you ask me, much better than before. I like the still scene that has a different style than the rest of the show MUCH better than the character page thing. Not saying that was bad, but this is much more.. intimate, you could say.
Sound: 8
The sound of this show has no issues. While I definitely think the music was a lot better in the second season, it still does the job well. I can never find a problem with sound effects, and while there was one specific episode where it sounded like it was a sample from a horror film, that didn't bother me. Not really. It might be scary, a little bit, but hey.
Character: 10
And I thought that the previous seasons had it perfect, this show made me want to lower the ratings on the other shows just because the characters were so much more realistic in San☆Hai!.
First of all, every character who doesn't show up in the ending is a side character to me. So, the eight girls from the Amusement Club and the student council are the main characters.
The reason I think this is that each character got the time they deserved. We saw a lot more of Mari-chan, Kaede-chan, and I won't list everybody. But what's most important, MOST important, is that there was a lot of character development. This season felt a lot more personal, a lot more intimate, a lot closer to the characters. There are plenty of scenes where one of the girls grows in one way or another, or where something special happens that surprises everybody. Yuru Yuri San☆Hai! is full of those moments.
Enjoyment: 10
I would watch this entire series from the start. That's how much I enjoyed it. Not necessarily saying that everybody else has to enjoy it that much, but that's how I feel. I love this show, and this season has to be the best of Yuru Yuri so far.
Overall: 10
For my standards, this is a masterpiece. A masterpiece doesn't have to be the best, nor does it have to be unique. It just has to be something that was excellent in enough ways to make it deserving of the praise it receives. In Yuru Yuri's case: a simple story that still stays in motion, cute art and good illustration, lovable characters that have distinct traits and quirks, and thirty-eight episodes plus one movie to enjoy.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jan 4, 2016
This.. is beautiful in its own way..
Story: 6
Remember that one episode where the Amusement Club learned about Chinatsu's artistic flair through her illustrated fanfiction? Yeah. Here's the extended version. Nothing to it really, not exciting or funny (in a traditional sense). I mean, if you like Chinatsu's fantasies, then by all means.
Art:
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Sound: 7
The voice was steady, not aggravating, and the acapella sound effects were funny. The music is the same one that seems overused in the original show. Nothing special at all.
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Character: 5
I was expecting a reaction out of Retorting Dwarf- I mean, tsukkomi- I mean, Yui. Or at least, a reaction from someone. Turns out it's literally just Chinatsu's story, uninterrupted and without commentary. Doesn't say much about characters, except it unnecessarily stresses the delusions of Chinatsu's "senpai" obsession.
Enjoyment: 4
It was.. okay.. I guess it was worth 3 minutes..
Overall: 5
With most specials, you get funny scenes or downright out-of-character characters, but this was just an unabridged version of a moment in the original episode. Just add a couple more horrific drawings and that's Yuru Yuri's special.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jan 3, 2016
These two episodes are sequentially after Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi (no plus). Consider them part of the same arc, since they all follow the same theme.
Story: 7
To say that these two episodes topped the first would be disagreeing with my opinion. Not saying that's wrong, but I believed the first was much better in the fact that it was well executed and somewhat of a new idea. While these two episodes ride the wake of Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi, the only real connection is the theme about pictures of the camping trip. While they weren't a bad watch, I can't say I enjoyed them more than the
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movie. It was fun watching all the connections and the character interaction, but they simply aren't as powerful as the movie was.
Art: 9
What can I say? I don't find anything wrong with the art. It's cute, simple, and consistent. Personally, I find the art to fit perfectly with the show. The only reason it isn't rated higher is because it doesn't stand out to me. Sure it's great and cute and all, but there's nothing incredible about it.
Sound: 8
Same as above. New opening and ending music if I recall correctly, no problems here but it didn't improve nor decrease in quality.
Character: 9
I like the character interaction of this show, and on a whim I'll say that the switching between different groups was a good idea because it helps break the tension and keep things from getting stale. Even though I could never get enough of Kyouko.
Enjoyment: 9
Not as great as the movie, but not bad either. I'll take it, because I don't find anything wrong with this show except the fact that it didn't blow me away like the movie did!
Overall: 9
All in all, it's worth watching if you liked the camping trip arc. If not, this show has a little bit of content you might enjoy, but it's going to be connecting back to the camping trip and if you don't like that, you probably won't enjoy it. Otherwise, there's never enough Yuru Yuri, right?
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 3, 2016
To be honest, I struggle with the idea of reviewing second seasons, especially for slice of life. I'm gonna try to keep this brief.
Story: 9
The story hasn't changed. Four girls who take over the abandoned Tea Club for their own amusement. They're still in middle school- more importantly, they're still in the same year of middle school. This isn't addressed until late in the series. While this anime is literally just more of the first season, around the end of the series things start to get strange. The second-year students still seem to be second years, there are some odd moments of deja vu, and
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for some reason they bring back a wooden sword.. even though they already brought back a wooden sword? This show pulls something similar to Non Non Biyori Repeat, in the way that it just shows different moments from the same time period, yet it's different because it's not a rewind, but somewhat of a time loop. Even the characters notice something is odd!
What really makes this season so much better is a particular episode that really tossed my feelings around. It was good because it was parallel with some of the small details of the first season, and it happened in a way that really could be seen as possible. Then there's a bunch of emotions and long-awaited, much-deserved attention for a certain girl, then there's the "Psyche!" that just blocks everything out. I've been emotionally abused, but it was still hilarious.
This show has several moments that really kept me guessing until the punchline hit, and I found everything to be positively cute, stunning, and simply amusing.
Art: 9
I can't really tell with the art. I didn't notice any differences between the first and second season, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. There don't need to be drastic changes, or even changes at all. This goes for Yuru Yuri especially since the setting or time didn't really move either.
Everything is still well-drawn and everyone is cute as ever.
Sound: 9
New music, great voices, and sound effects that fit with the action and add to the moments. Not much else to say, I'm not a sound critic.
Character: 10
The characters didn't change either. Same people, except we're introduced to a couple new characters: the older sisters. They aren't completely explained all in one go, but there have been enough cameo appearances beforehand to at least understand a bit about them. The older sisters simply add to the comedy, outlining the personality traits of the main characters pretty well.
Enjoyment: 10
I still like this show. The second season doesn't stand out as new or exciting, but it's still lovable and funny and cute like the first.
Overall: 9
Definitely not a masterpiece, but as a successor to its first season, Yuru Yuri ♪♪ does not disappoint. If you enjoyed the manga or the first season, you have absolutely no reason for not wanting to watch this one.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 31, 2015
Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi! is an hour-long OVA featuring the girls during their summer vacation. It's a great watch, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the show.
Story: 8
As with most slice-of-life shows, the story isn't intense. Everything is relaxation, cutesy, and comedy. The plot of this movie-length episode is a camping trip the girls go to, courtesy of Kyouko (who seems to have everything planned out). It's nothing special, but I liked the way that the plot moved smoothly and slowly.
Art: 9
The art hasn't changed a lot from the original series, although I've heard that the quality seems to have improved a lot
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more. For sure, the animation has smoothed edges and the quality is definitely solid. The characters are consistently drawn and still cute, and the environments are beautiful and stuff.
Sound: 8
A nice thing about Yuru Yuri is the variety of music. Each character has a different half-time track, there's music during the episodes, and the opening and ending music may be odd but it's still nice. There's unique music for this OVA, and it's pretty good, so no complaints here.
Character: 9
The characters in the OVA are the same cast from the show. They still have their characteristics and personalities and traits, but everybody seems much more laid back. What I mean by that is during main season, all the comedy includes laughing at someone: i.e. Akari's not being there, Kyouko's randomness, Chinatsu's fawning over her "senpai".. But for the length of this OVA, while there are still the typical comedy moments, there aren't as many. It's more calm, people actually notice Akari, and Kyouko doesn't come off as excessively random. This movie captures the true essence of life without constant comedy. In short, it's relaxing but not boring.
Enjoyment: 10
I liked this a lot. An hour well spent: The show itself looks great and sounds great, the characters are adorable and all that. Not a lot else to say, this is definitely worth a watch if you're a fan of Yuru Yuri and slice of life in general.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 30, 2015
Slice of life is one of my favorite genres, and if you're reading this review then I assume you at least have some interest in the genre. If not, then I have to ask you: Why are you reading reviews for slice-of-life anime if you dislike slice of life?
But anyways, moving on.
Story: 8
Slice-of-life stories have to be rated on a completely different scale than most other ones. It's unfair to complain about lack of depth or the plot being boring and nonexistent when the whole purpose of a slice of life is to have no plot. In shows like this, all focus is on the
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characters, not the story.
With that, I think this show's story is a bit better than most. There's not a lot to go off of, but I personally like the idea of seizing an abandoned club room to form a fake club so the girls can hang out. Otherwise, the story is nothing special, even for the genre; the scene changes usually between the club room, the school, and every now and then someone's house. There are episodes where it'll change to a beach or Okinawa or something, but that's about it. Typical genre locations.
If you want a somewhat absurd but still more dynamic story, there is a doujin crossover of Yuru Yuri and Fate/Zero. Yeah, don't ask. Do go read it though, it's surprisingly not bad.
Art: 9
Cute girls doing cute things with cute expressions and cute school uniforms. Really, that's all there is to be said. No flashy special effects or cool looking designs, just cute. Everywhere.
If I'm not wrong, Doga Kobo is the studio behind Yuru Yuri. They aren't as well known as studios such as Madhouse or KyoAni, but their animation style is solid. I, for one, love the cutesy character design and the simplicity of it. The color palette isn't being abused to create girls with vibrant and strangely odd hair colors, everybody is normal. Just normal.
In short, there's nothing wrong with it. Points because it's cute, not a masterpiece because there's nothing special about it.
Sound: 8
While I'm not a huge fan of the opening and ending music, that can be foregone. With most shows, music is used during episodes to set the atmosphere and played during action scenes or montages or whatever, and with slice-of-life anime, it's generally just used to build up to a punch line. It isn't really something to be harped on, I found myself enjoyed most of the music from the show, and I especially liked the short music clips during the half-time.
I've never and will never be picky about sound. The only exception to this rule is when there's something definitely off about them.
Character: 9
"What makes a character interesting is their personality. What makes them unique is the way they interact with the people around them." It's probably been said before, but those are my own words. I believe it's true because if you go by personality alone, there will *never* be a character that is completely unique. There will always be many other "tsundere" characters, or many other airhead characters, or many other stoic characters, and it's no easy feat to design a character that is wholly unparalleled.
With that being said, the characters are cute. None of them really seem boring, although they aren't exactly in-depth. There's little quirks and traits that make them who they are, and if not then there's a relationship with someone else that makes them stand out. For Akari, her lack of presence. For Kyouko, her relationship with Yui. For Chitose, her OTP shipping (that causes nosebleeds) of Kyouko x Ayano. Yui is usually the "tsukkomi," but there's more to her than just reacting to the punchline.
All in all, I loved the characters. There's no need to have truly unique characters to have a good cast. As long as they all interact together and have at least some sort of defining trait, that's good enough for me.
Enjoyment: 10
Hey, I love slice-of-life shows, and this isn't an exception. When you need a break from all the dramatic action and supernatural, just pick up a show like this and relax. It works for me!
This show in particular wasn't anything new or amazing, but the characters are cute and it doesn't get boring (first episode of Lucky Star, anyone?). I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to watching the next seasons and OVAs and specials and whatnot.
Overall: 9
It's nothing special, as I've said many times, but this show is worth a watch if you're a fan of slice of life. I found it cute, funny, relaxing, and surprisingly dark at times (episode 4, for example). Still, it was a good watch and I'm glad that someone recommended this to me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 28, 2015
Be careful what you wish for. It could come true in the worst possible way.
Mekakucity Actors' plot is intertwined with that of Kagerou Project, and there are a bunch of other light novels and manga and songs that I haven't really paid attention to but apparently they're helpful in understanding what's going on in this psychological supernatural anime. Let's get started.
Story: 7
Throughout the 12 episodes of Mekakucity Actors, the story is introduced to watchers in a very freeform method. This, I've heard and decided for myself, is very innovative.
The episodes contain overwhelming amounts of flashback and events that are all linked to each other. One
...
episode may focus on a single event that happens in the world. The next could be wholly within a flashback of a different character. The story and perspective jumps back and forth, from one character to the next, from one world to the next. It's difficult to follow, although for the most part it all comes together in the end- if you can piece together everything. Trust me, it is worth it. The satisfaction at putting two things together to find out what one character's motives are, or how this is relevant to this. This plot has so many twists and turns, it WILL keep you guessing! At the beginning of the episode, there is plot. During the episode, there is plot. At the end of the episode, there is plot.
While watching this show, I highly suggest that you PAY ATTENTION and WATCH THE ENTIRE DURATION of the episode, for you might miss crucial details that can help explain the motives behind one character's actions, or the reason behind something.
This extreme interconnection between even the smallest of details is a double-edged sword. With the point of view jumping between so many characters, it's easy to get lost or forget what was going on. That's the only thing I dislike about the show- it's hard to follow what's going on at times. Is it the location? The time? Are we in someone's memories, is this the past or the future or the present? I don't know how, but clarification during some of the flashbacks is important to help viewers know what's going on.
Also, some people think the ending was rushed. It didn't seem that way to me, although now that I think about it, it's never a bad idea to have more episodes to wrap everything up.
Art: 7
I'm not usually picky about the art, and this is no exception. If you were to ask me, I would state that I love the art of this show. Love it. Mekakucity Actors seems to take place in a very illogical world- perfectly fitting for the story and the atmosphere of the show. The environment is mysterious and may seem disturbing or odd, even. It only adds to the story.
For the most part, the world is rendered simply. The environment is basic- it lacks extreme detail, yet it is not just a void or hastily drawn rooms. It puts all focus on the characters, while still maintaining a subtle presence. And yet, there's so much visualization in the world itself. In some of the thoughtful and (relatively) peaceful moments, the world helps set the atmosphere and mood. The shadows will change, the colors, the camera angle. It all works together to create impact to important moments.
I can't find anywhere else in the above paragraph to fit this in, but only the important characters are given life. How is this done? Every generic person who isn't relevant to the story is a gray silhouette. They do not speak, they do not have faces. They are just there in the background, making it so that all focus is on the heroes and heroines. They aren't like the lifeless NPCs from Angel Beats though- they just don't stand out.
That being said, what's bad about the art? There were a couple moments when the color scheme could've used some work, but for the most part I was stunned at the vibrancy of colors and the conceptual world design. What I did not like about it was some of the character design. Shaft is apparently (in?)famous for their characteristic head tilts. I think it was a little bit overboard though. Some of the characters were in very unusual poses during some scenes. Why do you suddenly crouch down when talking to the person you just met? For what reason do you bend 90 degrees at the hip while talking to someone? Is there a reason that there are SO MANY HEAD TILTS? I mean, just turn around normally. Don't like, bend your neck so strangely.
Yeah, that's basically it. Cut down on the strange body positions, tone some of those colors, and this art would be nearing masterpiece level.
We do not mention the computer generated images that accompanied episode nine. That was terrible and mood-breaking and shouldn't exist.
Sound: 10
The sound effects are solid, I never found myself wondering if it really fit the action. The voice actors are great, no problems there. The music is what really tops it all off. Every character's miniature arc is accompanied by a unique song with its own animation, giving the watcher even MORE insight onto what's already happened, what's happening, or what's going to happen. Not to mention, the music itself is sung very nicely, if you ask me. The theme music at the opening and ending is great. I found myself loving it, a lot.
Character: 9
In a 12-episode show it always feels like there are too many characters and not enough time and this anime is no exception. There are more characters than episodes, and some of them feel a bit left out. I don't personally see it as a bad thing if important characters are covered near the end- and to be honest, there was enough subtle foreshadowing throughout the series to allow some people to figure it out beforehand anyways. As long as the character's backstory is explained at one point, it's perfectly fine by me. Each character is oh so mysterious right up until a certain moment, when everything about their actions and relationships and the people they know fall right into place along with everything else.
That being said, Seto never got his moment. He wasn't really that useful towards the end either, except we know his connection to Marry was important somehow. Hiyori, the spoiled girl from like episode four, never really got explained. It's so easy to forget about her, after Hibiya, the boy who pisses off Momo a lot, stops bitching about saving her. And Kido's backstory was rather brief, her personality is interesting and I would've liked more on that.
On top of that, some characters have an inverse- a them that isn't them, but is like the other them. You know? It throws so many wrenches into so many pipes.. Things get confusing, but it's not impossible to identify.
Enjoyment: 8
This anime kept me hooked. I watched all of it in a day, that's how good it was. I barely got to do anything productive, I just wanted to find out what happens next. That's how I suggest you watch it, also: with minimal distractions and time in between. It's no simple effort to keep the plot connected, with all of the things being thrown at you in such a short time. Skip an episode and you'll have no idea what's going on. Forget an episode, you should probably go and rewatch it or something.
I watched Black Rock Shooter before, and I liked that too. Both shows kept me on the edge about trying to unravel the plot- and I admire that.
Overall: 8
It's not perfect, oh hell it isn't, but it was a good show in the long run. It isn't deserving of flaming, nor is it worthy of worshiping. It should be enjoyed or disliked differently by every person. Sure, it's nowhere near the level that some of Shaft's previous series have reached. From all the comparisons to Bakemonogatari, I might as well go watch it right now. Yet, I loved this show while it lasted and I think with maybe a couple more episodes, slight revisions to the story and its storytelling, and maybe some fresh eyes to work on the art, Mekakucity Actors has potential.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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