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Dec 9, 2024
Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi is full of shonen tropes you have seen "a million times over." Shoichi Usui was once an assistant for Eiichiro Oda--the creator of One Piece--and with that comes many similarities with its contemporary. It's easy to find every reason in the book to drop this series. Yet, Kiyoshi has a lot of heart underneath. Usui has taken a lot of inspiration from Oda's writing style--many moments in the series feel very much like something out of One Piece. This is also due to Kiyoshi's story beats reminiscent of manga from the late '90s to the early '00s. It's still very early in
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the story's development, but Usui is finding his rhythm and bringing a story worth attention.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 4, 2024
Whenever a new manga appears, it can be hard to pick it up for several reasons. For most people, time is the main factor. Whether it's school, work, or some other daily life stressor, some things keep us occupied long enough to go days, weeks, months, and sometimes years without reading. Another reason is that nothing is original. Everything has been done before. Why read something you've read tens, maybe even hundreds, of times before?
When opening Galaxias, you'd probably ask that question. I did. I was looking for THAT moment. The moment that any reader of a new series experiences that makes them say,
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"Yeah, I think I'm going to like this." For me, it took five chapters. Not to say that the first four were boring. Quite the contrary. It takes a little bit to hook me in, is all.
I got into the series after I watched a YouTube video comparing it to One Piece "but with dragons." Outside of being an adventure story, I don't see the One Piece influence. Instead, Fairy Tail came to my mind. However, it does give you the same feeling that One Piece does--that sense of warmth, comfort, and thrill from the characters and the world.
Funny enough, Galaxias's first chapter asks the same question about originality. In this story, a famous adventurer named Yuri Holst has done more or less everything imaginable. Jio, a young woman from a small island, dreams of going on a worldwide adventure. She meets a young man with a tail who has lost his memories. The two have one thing in common--they have a connection to Yuri Holst. Jio names the young man Neraid, and the two journey to find Yuri Holst.
What is unique about Galaxias is that it can go anywhere story-wise. It's an action, adventure, mystery with a fantasy backdrop. Currently, the power system lies in individuals known as "Dragon Folk." They are humans(?) with cool-looking tails and special abilities such as combustion creation, shapeshifting, and stone manipulation, to name a few. The fight scenes are well-choreographed; the comedy is solid. There's room for some great worldbuilding as well. As for the story's pace, Ao Hatesaka quickly found a sweet spot. There are already payoffs from previous chapter setups while forming new questions. It's a fun series with a lot of potential, and it is worth your time and attention.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 2, 2024
Read Gachiakuta. That's my review.
Okay, MAL won't allow me to leave it at that because of the "character limit," so I will say this: Gachiakuta is one of the best new-gen manga out right now. If you're a fan of Soul Eater and Fire Force, Kei Urana was an assistant for Atsushi Ohkubo and has brought a fresh take to the shonen genre.
Without giving too much away, Gachiakuta tells the story of Rudo, a kid from the slums of the Sphere with a penchant for trash collecting. When his adoptive father is murdered, Rudo is accused and sentenced to the "pit," a deep
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hole where all of the city's garbage is thrown into. Upon falling, it's revealed that the Sphere is a city in the sky, meaning all the trash had to go somewhere. The ground is nothing like the Sphere. It's desolate. Dry. Arid. And it's here that Rudo's journey begins.
Oh, and he also learns that he is a "Giver," a person who puts soul energy into inanimate objects, turning them into weapons.
As a weekly reader, I am amazed at how layered this series is. "A little goes a long way" must be Kei Urana's motto because she has subtly built an interesting world filled with interesting characters by slowly feeding us readers with tidbits of lore, character development, and a lot of action. She is not heavy-handed in her messages and manages to subvert expectations with each chapter. To this day, I have yet to correctly theorize about what will happen next.
The art is incredible and extremely expressive to the point that it can be a bit jarring sometimes. The characters feel real, and the ground feels lived in. The pacing and comedy of the series is spot on.
I don't have any technical critiques of the series, but I have feelings about the social side. It's a bit difficult to explain, but Gachiakuta has this weird air around it regarding its potential. It has all the makings of being a bigger-than-life shonen but could also play to its strengths and stay relatively grounded (pun not intended). The power system has been one of my favorites in recent years. There are many creative fights and opportunities to flesh the power system out. However, I could see Gachiakuta ending without exploring the true power of jinkis/vital instruments. The same goes for the lore. The story is a page-turner, but in the same breath, it could end before we see certain things fleshed out. I'm sure people feel differently. That's just my gripe.
Bones is a great pic for the anime adaptation. If they can knock it out of the park, Gachiakuta will be a sleeper hit for that anime season and a standout for the year. That's how much I believe in this series. With all that being said, go check out Gachiakuta. You won't be disappointed.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 8, 2023
The World Ends With You: The Animation is based on the 2007 Square Enix cult classic RPG, The World Ends With You. This came 14 years after the original and seemed to be released in tandem with the sequel game, NEO: The World Ends With You. As someone who played the original game and has it as one of their favorite games of all time, I was utterly excited for an animated take. That being said, I was ultimately disappointed with what was given to us. It would be unfair if this review were based on my feelings toward the game, so I will do
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my best to steer clear of low-hanging comparisons.
Knowing that this was released two months before the sequel game, TWEWY: The Animation at times felt like a mad dash of the first game's events in order to prep the viewer for what was to come next. People who never played the game probably would be unbothered by the show's pacing. If I had to guess, I'd say non-players of the game may take issue with the lack of character development from the Reapers who are the villains of the story, and other characters such as the main cast. To be fair, TWEWY didn't have the most compelling characters to begin with BUT they each had distinct personalities that made them likable or stand out from one another. The animation waters down a lot of the nuances of their personalities resulting in them feeling like archetypes ex: Neku, the edgy and moody teenager. Shiki, the bubbly girlie-girl. Beat, the hothead. Rhyme, the voice of reason. Joshua, the sly and cunning mastermind.
On the other hand, the animation is stylish and colorful which matches the aesthetic of the game really well. Many of the action scenes look good too. The soundtrack is much of the original game's OST with a more updated sound, so it's good to know that the music still holds up. First-time listeners are in for a treat. The character designs are faithful to the game's so there isn't much to say there.
I think my feelings are mixed because I know how much potential this had to be a really good adaptation. There were so many things that they could've expanded on or updated for the sake of the story. Instead, we got a 12-episode recap of the game. I can't completely throw it away because there are some good things about it and non-players may even fall in love with it. This is definitely a case of "If you know, you know" which separates the players of the game from first-time viewers.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jan 21, 2023
Trigun Stampede has been a series worth tuning into weekly. However, due to this being a reimagining of the original manga and anime, many people will have mixed emotions. As someone who watched the original, I appreciate what Studio Orange is doing with its take on the source material. Much of the fluff in the original is cut out here, immediately throwing the viewer right into the story. Whereas the original took a much slower pace toward revealing Vash's identity, much of that is told in the first episode. Based on how the plot is moving as of episode 3, Studio Orange's version is more
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plot-driven than character-focused. That's not to say that the characters aren't interesting. They are. My only gripe is with the supporting cast, Meryl, and a new face, Roberto DiNero. While it's good to see an old face and meet a new one, there's still a bit of mystery regarding their backgrounds outside of being reporters, so it's a bit harder to get invested in them as members of the supporting cast. Still, it's only the third episode, and there's much more to tell.
As of now, Stampede has shown a lot of promise. A great soundtrack, interesting characters, and BEAUTIFUL animation. This is something worth your time-old and new fans alike.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 12, 2022
"Blue Lock" has been a weekly treat that is often looked forward to, which is saying something because it premiered in arguably the most stacked anime season of 2022. Shows such as "Bleach" making its long-awaited comeback, "Chainsaw Man" and its goose-bumping hype, the excitement around "Mob Psycho 100" season 3, and the second half of "Spy x Family" season 1, to name a handful, are all staking claims as THE anime to keep your eyes on. Let's remember that other shows, such as "Gundam: The Witch From Mercury" and "My Hero Academia" season 6, also premiered this season. It can be overwhelming to
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sort through all the fall season's anime alone.
While it might look like a generic sports series at first glance, Blue Lock's core themes and format make it stand out and, at times, will subvert expectations. It is NOT for everyone, which is perfectly okay. Some sports animanga enthusiasts have found the theme of "every man for himself" a bit jarring since most sports animanga focuses on teamwork and unity from the jump. To give better context, Blue Lock introduces us to Yoichi Isagi, a high school forward soccer player who loses his chance to go to nationals. In the heat of the moment, Isagi decided to pass to his teammate instead of taking the potential winning shot, which his teammate ultimately could not follow through with, causing Isagi's team to lose the match. The regret of this one decision is the leaping point for our main protagonist and his journey to becoming Japan's best striker. Coincidently, Japan's Football Union is looking to form a team of the best players to compete in the World Cup.
The thing is, Japan has never won a World Cup due to its passive approach to soccer. This is where Blue Lock comes in-a facility tailor-made to produce high-quality players led by the madman, Jinpachi Ego. The catch: all of these players are strikers, just like Isagi. So what do you get when you mix your favorite survival game show with soccer? You get Blue Lock. Without spoiling any essential details, Blue Lock hosts the country's top high school strikers. Teams are formed, and they must compete against one another. The last team standing will represent Japan.
How is this possible if every player is a striker? How can everyone accomplish anything if everyone has the same approach to the game? That's the point.
The series explores the ego, what it takes to be a true striker, and what makes a great player. It is a sleeper for this season with an interesting premise, a solid cast of characters, great animation, and a banging soundtrack. Due to Isagi being a high-level athlete, the series does not waste much time watching the main character go from "no-skill to pro-level." He is challenged to grow in his skills, which is appreciated, especially by those who have played sports at a competitive level. Even if you don't play sports, there are some genuine moments riddled with raw emotions that, at the very least, would get your attention. (If you're like me, then you probably will scream at whichever device you use to stream out of excitement.)
Blue Lock has its fair share of tropes-this show's biggest offender would be over-explaining every detail during the soccer matches. However, there is a reason for this. Therefore, it can be overlooked. Something else to note is that sometimes CGI will be used during the matches. It can feel out of place at times. Still, it does not affect the experience overall. There are also the "Blue Lock, Additional Time" segments after every episode that looks closely at the characters and their day-to-day activities when they are not on the field, which you will most certainly enjoy if you're into the cast.
Choosing to watch weekly has benefited my experience, but you may find it easier to wait til after the season to binge in one go. Whatever you decide, know that Blue Lock is worth a watch whether you're into sports or not.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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