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Apr 20, 2024
Studio Ufotable’s finale to the last Fate/stay night arc is a mind-meltingly impressive piece of animation. The last couple of scenes don’t feel completely earned, and there are one or two other story beats that are a tad rushed or aren’t fleshed out enough, but I had a hard time being bothered by any of that because I was so utterly enraptured by how incredible it all looked. Ufotable’s movies and shows have always looked stunning, particularly their work with the Fate franchise, and that trend doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. I was constantly wowed by Spring Song’s extraordinary imagery, and Saber’s big
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Apr 20, 2024
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Yuukaku-hen
(Anime)
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The back half of Demon Slayer‘s second season is yet another stellar outing for Tanjiro and his friends. The heart, humor, and characters that fans love shine almost as brightly as they did previously, with my only real issue being that Nezuko still isn’t given much to do. Partially outweighing that is the fact that studio Ufotable’s animation has reached an almost unbelievable level of quality. Aside from the finale of the Fate/stay Night Heaven’s Feel films (also a Ufotable production, one I’d wager had a much higher budget), I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more visually entrancing battle in animation than the one
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Apr 20, 2024
Fate/Zero 2nd Season
(Anime)
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Not only does this prequel anime serve as an equally solid starting point in the overall Fate series (in which mages battle each other to the death while teaming up with spirits of legendary heroes in order to win a wish), it actually surpasses the original show, Fate/Stay Night, in almost every respect. Studio Ufotable (the same animation studio behind Demon Slayer, whuch I still won’t shut up about) delivers some of their best work with stunning action choreography and jaw-droppingly gorgeous animation in each mind-blowing battle. The story is far darker than the original’s too: along with the villains, most of the “good” guys
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Apr 6, 2024
Sousou no Frieren
(Anime)
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Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End stands out from other fantasy adventures by beginning where most would end. Instead of retelling a story we’ve already heard before, this Madhouse anime adaptation focuses on the elven mage of the party of heroes who defeated the demon king, decades after the battle. As a nearly immortal elf, Frieren’s perception of time makes it harder for her to understand the feelings and desires of the humans, dwarves and other people she meets. Near the end of the first episode, Frieren realizes her desire to understand those feelings, and appreciate the short time they’ve been given. Shortly after gaining a disciple,
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Dec 27, 2022
Chainsaw Man
(Anime)
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Number 4: Chainsaw Man (Season 1)
Chainsaw Man is absurdly gory, and has zero restraint when it comes to putting its main characters through horrifying circumstances. The main protagonist, Denji is unlike anything I've seen in years; often crude, gross, and would probably unsettle most other anime heroes. However, Denji is a product of the world he was born in. Devils, the living embodiment of fears roam throughout it, and Chainsaw Man is keen on reminding you how screwed up its universe is by throwing monstrous abominations - human and inhuman - or devastating deaths at you. That's what makes each semi-sweet moment the main cast ... 
Sep 17, 2022
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
(Anime)
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CD Projekt Red's massively hyped video game, Cyberpunk 2077 may have been an unpolished, buggy disappointment, but the anime spin-off from Studio Trigger lived up to my expectations and then some. Edgerunners is set in Night City, just like the game, but tells a different story that explores similar themes regarding humanity and society, albeit far more memorably. It's the tale of David, a resourceful, intelligent teen who finds himself joining a group of Edgerunners - individuals who have modified themselves with cybernetic enhancements to assist them in their often less-than-legal activities - after an extremely powerful piece of cyberware finds itself in his possession.
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Jul 15, 2022
Komi-san wa, Comyushou desu.
(Anime)
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I rarely watch slice of life anime, but every once in a while I hear about one with a premise interesting enough that I give it a try, and Komi Can’t Communicate is the most recent one to do so. Shoko Komi is the most popular girl in her school, yet suffers from extreme social anxiety, to the point she doesn’t speak with others despite wanting to. A classmate, Hitohito Tadano picks up on this, and decides to help her attain her goal of making 100 friends. What follows is a sweet, wholesome series that gradually introduces new, mostly-lovable characters, all with their own quirks,
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Jul 12, 2022
When I started getting into anime and looking for recommendations, this space western was one that most of my friends said I needed to see. Trigun is a classic, and for good reason; pretty much every part of it can contend with almost anything that's come out since. The story follows Vash the Stampede, a legendary gunslinger, outlaw, and chaos magnet with a mysterious past. Trigun starts out light, almost like a slapstick comedy with shockingly great action, but as details of Vash's (and others) past are revealed the show takes a more mature tone, yet keeps the heart and builds up the gunfights to
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Jun 20, 2022
The film is set between the outstanding first season and second seasons of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and while it doesn’t hit the same heights as the previous 26 episode run, I’d still say it’s a must-see for any and all fans of the show. The lovable, quirky main cast still pulls on your heartstrings, hits your funny bone, and the overwhelming majority of its action is as awesome as you’d expect from Demon Slayer. However, my pick for Mugen Train’s most notable aspect is the fiery Rengoku. He’s a powerhouse combatant that helps further establish the potential of Tanjiro’s crew, and is one
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Jun 20, 2022
Despite the unanimous praise it was getting from the beginning, I didn’t give ODDTAXI a go until it had finished airing. The anthropomorphic animal character designs felt like too bizarre of a choice for a straight-faced crime-thriller focused on a mystery surrounding a missing young woman and other equally dark storylines. However, once I accepted said character designs – which happened faster than I had anticipated – I was able to experience a twisting, turning narrative that made every interaction and character part of an intricate puzzle, and I was blown away when the pieces started falling into place. Virtually every scene and sequence in
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