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I’ve had a love-hate relationship with My Hero Academia. The first few seasons felt fresh, with a simple narrative and well-directed fights that made it stand out in the anime sphere at the time. However, by the middle of season four, I lost interest and struggled to finish it. After a few years away from the series, I saw the movie playing at my local theater and, with nothing better to do, decided to give it a chance.

To my surprise, I was pleasantly impressed. Maybe it was because I went in with no expectations, but the movie turned out to be thoroughly enjoyable. The plot ... wasn’t anything revolutionary—it had the usual clichés and anime tropes we’re used to—but it was simple and engaging, which I appreciated.

What really stood out was the production value and fight direction. Studio Bones put their foot on the gas, and it shows. The first and final fights were especially well-crafted and directed, with the soundtrack further elevating the intensity. The new characters, while not deeply developed, had a nice dynamic with the usual crew, and the villain, though not groundbreaking, had believable motivations that made him a decent antagonist.

Overall, I’m happy to say it was a solid presentation for what it aimed to be. It delivered in the key areas of a battle shounen, and those strong elements carried the rest of the film to a respectable 7/10.

"Yagate Kimi ni Naru" is the first proper Yuri show I have watched, and I must say it blew me away. Maybe it's the fact that I'm new to this genre, but the story was fresh and on point. It was simple, yet engaging, easy enough to follow, and unfolded naturally. I didn't expect to like the characters as much as I did. Unlike some other anime, they acted somewhat close to how an actual human being would.

The main character, Yuu, is likable, cheeky, and interestingly somewhat relatable. Yuu is an avid shoujo manga reader, which is full of artificial and idealized love that is ... by no shape, or form attainable in real life. She is desperately chasing that alluring feeling of "shoujo love", but to no avail, making her believe she is different.

Yuu's senpai, Touko, is perfect... a perfect mess. She is a beautiful, flawless genius and everyone's love interest. She rejected multiple people who confessed to her without a second thought. There is only one problem, Touko puts on a facade. This perfect image she portrays is not truly who she is, but her deceased older sister, whom she idolized and adored. She hates her true self and takes it as her life mission to BECOME her older sister and would rather die than break this character (she even states that).

When Touko finds out that Yuu has never been able to feel love and is not attracted to her, she is mesmerized. She is tired of putting on an act, but with Yuu, there is no pressure, and she can be her "flawed" self. The dynamic between them is intriguing, and their interactions feel genuine. Yuu gradually breaks Tokuo's shell and exposes her for who she truly is. The depiction of their relationship was believable and nuanced, and it was fun being a fly on the wall watching it unfold. Alas, it can't be a perfect love story without a love triangle, right? Cue, Sayaka! Touko's friend, classmate, and doppelganger. They look and act alike. Sayaka has no problems serving as the second fiddle to Touko, as long as she is close to her. She is also secretly in love with her. Anyway, there is not much more to add besides the fact she adds some needed tension and makes things more exciting.

The side characters were primarily sitting on the sidelines. It is not a bad thing, though. It means more screen time for Yuu and Touka, and ultimately, they are the show's main draw. There is the sensei and her girlfriend. They serve as a tool for plot progression and a venting outlet for other characters. Maki takes the role of the quiet observer, who indulges in watching other people's romance, as he is not yet or maybe will ever be capable of experiencing it himself. The theater scene depicted his persona masterfully. It was memorable and well-executed. The rest of the ensemble consists of the obligatory comic relief guy and generic school friends.

The art is delightful. The models of the characters are consistent and fit the shoujo vibe the show is aiming at. The backgrounds are breathtaking and detailed, even reaching the ones of a decently budgeted movie. The overall animation is fluid and clean. I have not noticed any discrepancies. That said, there was nothing to write home about as far as sound was concerned. The opening and ending are okay, but nothing I would listen to more than once. The OST fits nicely and is not overwhelming, even though, at times, it was overused (like the one after the mid-episode break).

Admittedly, the show has exceeded my expectations. The execution was splendid. I liked that the topics explored not only revolved around mere romance but also things like self-discovery and identity, which added needed depth. The show gets extra points for getting me invested and touching my heartstrings without being a cheap melodrama or an obnoxious tear-jerker.

After watching Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, I can confidently say that while it starts with a lot of promise, it ultimately fails to deliver, leaving a bitter aftertaste.

The anime had a strong start, and by the time I reached the third episode, I was already hooked. The world-building was well-detailed and felt authentic. The unique art style and animation by Trigger added to the overall experience, with the dazzling color palette, refined background art, and fluid animation being particularly impressive. The main character, David, stood out among other anime protagonists, as he didn't complain about his miserable life but rather took action and worked with what he ... had. His dynamic with Lucy, the deuteragonist, was natural and believable. The introduction of the other cyberpunk members was also well-executed, as they blended into the story and helped set the stage for what was to come.

The first half of the show was great, but unfortunately, the second half was a disappointment. It felt like they were in a hurry to finish the story, resulting in a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. The character interactions that had been built up well in the first half of the show felt forced and insincere as if they were only there to move the plot forward. Instead of the charming and unique story, we had been enjoying, the second half was filled with cliches and predictable anime tropes that we had seen many times before. The time skip was especially poorly done and felt out of place. The story was predictable, which isn't always a bad thing, but in this case, it made the show boring. Despite being invested in the characters and their relationships, the story's climax didn't evoke any emotional response from me. As a result, I feel that the narrative lacked the necessary depth to fully engage the viewer.

Although I was initially interested in this show, I was ultimately disappointed and can only give it a 5 out of 10. Poor pacing was an issue that impacted every aspect of the show, and despite having the potential to be great, it ultimately fell short and ended up being mediocre.