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Jun 2, 2024
This is a review of the anime as a production; not the actual show. Its sad that this is a common issue.
The show was fine. A solid 6/10 cutesy yuri. You can bump the score up because it wasnt yuri baiting; its explicitly about girls dating. You can bump the score up even more if you want because there didnt seem to be any fan service. It respected the characters and the audience by not having perverted shots or compromising positions for comedy.
By all means, i think i would have enjoyed this show.
But there was an issue with the production thats common these days. They
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animated (competently, but nothing special) the first few episodes. This gave enough material to make a trailer and an air date that was entirely too soon. Eventually, the airing of the show caught up with the production, and they were "finishing" an episode just hours before it aired.
Make no mistake, they didn't "finish" the episode. They hit the deadline and had to submit the incomplete product as is. The episode featured important objects that were left out of a shot (notably, a microphone on stage), facial features that werent lined up and falling out of proportion or perspective. The animation was just straight up not acceptable.
This was followed by an announcement that after only 8 episodes, we are to receive two recap episodes. You read that right: TWO recap episodes.
I feel like my time was wasted, and i just dont understand why they would ruin a show like this.
Of course, no blame can be put on the animators or the rest of the creative team. This is purely from the show airing too soon and then impossible deadlines are placed. Why not just wait till its done? This show could have been bumped off 1 season and end up being a great production that will be loved for years to come. People fondly remember lesser stories from 20 years ago simply because they had solid productions.
This was a story that deserved better. The characters were fun, the interactions were cute, and it was a rare thing for a respectful yuri to even exist. It was refreshing how the characters just talked about their feelings and resolved things instead of meandering about it till the finale.
Its a shame, but I'm not sticking around for two recaps and then more janky production. I feel bad for the animators and VAs; they got thrown under the bus for a dumb decision. I'll label this as "mixed feelings" because the material is good despite the production issues.
Edit: While looking into the behind-the-scenes issues, I'm reading about some of the most deplorable working conditions.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Aug 20, 2023
Small spoilers
I dropped this on the first episode, but then watched the rest of it because people kept hyping it up. The very first minute of the show has the protagonist plunge his face into a woman's large breasts. Within 2 minutes later, we get a slow motion panty shot of his underage little sister (whom we later find out is in love with him, and we also get more panty shots of her. It even becomes a slight plot point).
There's another sister that the protagonist is actually in love with, and so much more fan service of children's bodies. They pose, they present to
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the camera, there naked, there's step-sibling love, and they're underage. The one person who isnt underage has G cup boobs that they bring up often and yes, you get to re-live that face plunging scene quite a few times.
Now, after reading all that, this sounds like a typical anime that is marred with gross tropes. The problem is that everything outside of all of that is kind of interesting. Its a bit of a Groundhogs Day scenario where the main character has to relive the same two days over and over until he can defeat the villain. There are a few rules to this that would keep it interesting. Unfortunately there are many times where the characters make giant leaps of logic to figure out what the rules actually are, and they just happen to be correct each time. It can get frustrating because the sequence of events would be interesting if they were done better.
The action is equally frustrating. Unlike a chess-battle of wits, or actual choreography action, you just get a lot of semi-still images that have things continuously whipping around (goo, weaponized hair, light glinting off of metal that is being swung around quickly) and whoever wins the fight feels undeserved.
Honestly, the issues with the action or plot issues are trivial. There are worse shows out there and this one had a great concept. My real problem was that the creepy fan service was all over it. Even if it stuck to the adult character, it would've been unnecessary, but it extended to the young children and had the usual pseudo incest.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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May 28, 2023
The first 5 eps made me drop the show.
Spoiler opinions:
First, I am not a Shonen fan. I don't like constant yelling, inconsistency during fights, meaningless fights, so on. Despite this, I enjoyed Demon Slayer so far. It wasn't overly convoluted, the imagery and animation was often very pretty, and the Entertainment District Arc felt like the beginning of great things to come. I came into this season expecting it to continue up in quality.
However, this season has removed all the good aspects. They got rid of the one annoying character (zenitsu) but replaced him with an entire town filled with equally annoying characters. Every
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side character is whining in a loud, similar fashion to Zenitsu and theres an annoying child as well. Tanjiro is notably more dense than he was before and its frustrating. There is something painfully obvious to the audience that Tanjiro just doesnt notice so that they can make it an emotional reveal later. The tone of the show is generally goofier and its coming across like a lighthearted comedy, so the emotional bits feel very melodramatic and forced.
But lets talk about the most unfortunate part. The Animation was the best aspect of the show thus far, but its completely gone this season. Most of what people are referring to when they talk about Demon Slayer is the sakuga; the pretty, slow-motion high-detail segments that happen at critical moments. Those are basically gone from here, so we are just left with the normal animation which is also far worse than prior seasons. Everyone looks like paper dolls on popsicle sticks where they are neatly lined up and dont move. Movements are poorly done and they reuse scenes/animations enough to notice.
I want to like it, but its a slog to get through. Even if it gets better later, im not down for grinding through this season and am dropping it 5 episodes in. If you plan to keep watching, i hope things pay off enough to make it worth it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Apr 2, 2023
Semi-spoiler review.
First, regarding the original series: I have never watched it. I am coming into this show basing it on its own merits without using nostalgia, expectations, or unfair comparisons. I am also not into shonen, and this show normally would be something I'd skip. I really do not know why I saw it, but I am glad that I did.
Non-spoiler points:
The story has a perfect Beginning/Middle/End format. Its a singular arc that spends the first few eps world building and foreshadowing, developing, and finishing. I can't stand when plots just evolve into the next plot in an endless, exhausting cycle, or when
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stories finish with some kind of status-quo reset as if they never happened. This show avoids those shonen tropes and gives us a single movie-like experience.
Visually, each shot could be a poster. Gorgeous. Action scenes are pure sakuga but the fact that i cared about the outcome and stakes of those scenes showed that there was an equal amount of care in their setup.
Audio is great; music and JP voice cast was perfect.
The Characters were fun, and Vash was a wonderful hero. Aloof but not stupid; a cinnamon roll that you can't fault for over-empathizing.
Semi-spoiler:
The villain of this played into the quote: "A good villain believes they are doing the right thing; the best ones are."
When the main villain's motivation is revealed, I actually rooted for him a bit. The effort he was putting in to make his dreams manifest felt believable and I understand why he would consider himself the hero doing the Right thing. He was a great foil for Vash and a well written villain.
Overall, I recommend this. Watch at least 6 eps before judging, but i only gets better each episode and the ending is superb.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 17, 2023
I saw the movie once a few years ago and forgot every detail about it. Last night I watched it with a friend.
Pros: Very pretty animation. For the year it came out, it was probably the prettiest anime anyone had seen. Lots of added glare effects and detail elevated every background to poster-quality, although characters looked pretty roughly drawn and designed.
Cons: Everything else. There are three segments with a thin story to tie them together. I'm fine with slow-burn movies but this was a slog to get through. The first story was cute and structured the best, the second story had a neat
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angle but not much else, and the third story was pointless. I can see what it was going for, but have seen it done better elsewhere.
Then you have the ending. My lord, what a terrible ending. If the movie ended a few minutes earlier, just at the end of the dry third act, it wouldve been a fine, forgettable, but inoffensive film showcasing fine animation and a director's attempt at telling a slowburn story. Unfortunately this movie ends with a weird trailer-like music video. Visually we are given a montage that adds nothing, and a terrible song plays over it that is notably faster in tempo than any of the scenes were in the rest of the film. Its a tonal shift and it was so comically bad that my friend and i were laughing and ranting about it. Even worse, we had a full discussion about it and realized the song was still going on. It was such a bad decision.
Forget about this movie. Shinkai was hailed as a great director because of Your Name, but all his movies have the same Shinkai tropes... Metaphors for long distance relationships, a cute first half and terrible second half, and Raining while the Sun Is Out. He was a 1-trick pony and I never want to see his work again.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Feb 14, 2023
I will try to review this with no more spoilers than what is in the trailer.
Ride Your Wave is a very good movie about grieving. The first act is a cute, mushy, super wholesome Girl Meets Boy section. The actors (Japanese) have amazing chemistry and it was really fun to see. The movie takes a sad turn, and then a rather whimsical one shortly in. Don't be turned off if the trailer looked too silly; the whimsey is easily just the main character trying to cope. This movie hit the heart strings hard, but was still light enough to be fun to watch. I haven't
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heard anyone mention this film, so it might be an underrated hidden gem. Watch it together with a date.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 11, 2023
If you like k-on, Nichijou, or any "cute girls do cute things," this is a good show for you.
The most notable thing is the animation. Its nearly a slice-of-life, but has as many visual gags that are based on the animation going wild. Very often, the main character devolves into actual scribbles; becoming simplified or having her colors leave the outlines. This is all in service to how the character feels as her anxiety increases in social situations. You are basically watching this show through her emotional perspective. Its rare to see a show utilize the medium in such creative ways, and even outside of
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these gags, the show has nice animation all around. It doesnt rely on many still-images during dialog, nor does it use too many cheap lighting/bloom effects to make simple scenes look pretty. The characters often have subtle movements and its nice to watch.
Other things of note: The show is about a girl joining a band, and you are treated to a few full songs that get performed by them. The main character specifically plays guitar, and theres neat guitar work in these songs too. Some of the moments will be very familiar to anyone who grew up playing an instrument and playing a show.
As far as the shows plot, theres a small arc of the girl coming out of her shell just a bit. She goes from being a loner to playing a concert over 12 episodes, and each episode develops that arc just the right amount. Fun characters are introduced, and the main character's anxious thoughts might sound familiar to some viewers.
This was easily one of the better shows this season. To many, this will be 10/10 but if i can be honest, i probably wont remember it too well by next year. 7/10 but it really is a good show.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Oct 16, 2022
Mixed feelings. No real plot spoiler review
This anime does a lot with very little. If you play VRChat and like those quiet, calm, comfy lounges with lofi playing and the sound of rain outside the window, this anime is for you. If you like to think about plot elements or enjoy characters, this anime is not for you.
Neutral points: The animation is basic. Occassionally, and mostly in the earlier episodes, there are pretty moments where the Frames Per Second kick up, everything is slow motion but you see so much detail in every inch of the frame for a split second. Of course, most of
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the time its not like that, but the show makes use of a lot of tricks to keep it visually appealing. The streets and sky are super colorful, and its like they applied every AETHETIC filter they could while upping the Bloom effect. Even tho this show feels like its made of environment/establishing shots, it really is pretty to look at and hits the lofi "V I B E S" feel. If you like chill, lofi, and slice of life, you might appreciate this.
Pros: The show is carried by the mood it gives off. Everyone has experience that uncanny, yet comfy, feeling of being alone while outside at night. In a safe area, it seems kind of magical. This show captures that feel really well. The characters also get to meet some random people and you see why these folk enjoy the night.
Cons: The show doesnt have much else and ends without purpose. I was looking for the 14th episode only to discover that the season was 13 episodes long. The show introduces two flimsy overarching plots, but without really addressing them, it just ends randomly. Usually I am a fan of slice-of-life but this show seemed to have more potential than what it accomplished.
Also theres the age factor. The lead boy is 14, but the girl he is actively in a relationship with is several decades old... She was even so out-of-touch with technology that she hadnt used a phone since before this guy was born. This show would have been attacked on social media if the genders were swapped. At the very least, there werent any upskirt fan-service moments, but the premise is still over the line.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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May 8, 2022
No spoilers.
Many people say this is a must-see film, and that they cried during it. Personally, I did not consider this a "must-see" or tear-inducing. If you like wartime stuff, maybe you'll enjoy this. Unfortunately, I did not care for it.
Story:
It keeps the story to the very personal, small lives of two children during the war. The war is the setting, but not the plot.
Art:
Even by nowadays standards, this holds up very well. Each shot is well directed and there are genuinely haunting images all throughout the movie. While the movie never tries to WOW you with the art, it is all very effective
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for the story and distinct among other works.
Sound:
Some of the sound design from the air raids was chilling. The voice acting was good.
Character:
This is a mixed bag. We are shown how people are dealing with the situation, but the characters don't really flesh out or arc in any way. This is a movie about how people's lives were personally affected during a certain era, but it isn't a character-based movie.
Many say this movie is very sad. By the very nature of wartime eras, it certainly is depressing; you will see people starving, being subjected to horrid conditions, and losing everything. However, that's just the tone of the movie. When i think of a movie being *sad* I think of things that make me cry. For something to affect me personally, it would have to be more character-based sadness.
This isn't a fault of the movie, but I didn't personally connect to the type of sadness it was showcasing.
Enjoyment:
Normally, I hate wartime movies because they are just depressing. They sap my energy and I don't feel enjoyment after having watched one. I love a good sad movie but war eras just bring me down.
That said, this movie is fine. While I didn't personally enjoy it, it was well made on technical levels and could easily be enjoyed by people who like these period pieces. If I could review it "objectively" as much as possible, its a solid 7. Reviewing it based on my own subjective tastes would be a 5.
Overall, I can recognize whats good about it but it also has some faults with fleshing out characters enough to care about them. A depressing watch, but people bring it up so often that I felt obligated to see it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 7, 2022
Its very fun! The premise is original, and it doesn't use a bunch of tired tropes. The main character is not really a "fish out of water," but rather a fish that was placed in a better pond and is thriving. Watch this show if you like wholesome slice of life, but also if you want each episode and scene to progress the characters and story like a drama. Its fairly comedic and the humor comes from Jojo-esque moments where the main character reveals how he was 5-steps ahead of everyone else.
Story: Cute, small, personal, and very original. Its really about a wannabe
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pop star working her way up the fame ladder, so there is a competition aspect.
Art: This is a hot take, but its *perfectly fine* for what this show needs. Of course, the first episode has the best art, and then it gets simpler as time goes on. By mid-season, it begins to look like a powerpoint presentation of still-images. It becomes distracting at some point, but the animators did a lot to make these shots pretty. There is so much bloom and dynamic shading that each shot just looks beautiful and atmospheric. Is it a cheap cover up? Who cares. The show takes place in Shibuya so between the neon lights on the street or indoor concert lighting, you are treated to a very pretty anime with its own unique visual style. The show does pull some smooth movements often and the character design is nice.
Overall, this show is a lot of fun.
Edit: I only saw the first 10 episodes and dropped off. The show is actually very good, and really gets into the nuances of what its like for up-and-coming artists performing at small venues. If you want to see the small-artist premise explored, this show is for you. If you want a slice of life comedy, well, this show really isn't that but give it a shot anyways.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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