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Wistoria: A Slow Start with Promising Potential

I began watching Wistoria with very low expectations, initially writing it off as a repetitive and uninspired anime. The only reason I gave it a chance was because the original work was written by the same author behind DanMachi, an anime adaptation I’ve been avidly following. That connection was enough to make me curious about another one of their works.

The premise is straightforward and, admittedly, overused in the genre: a weak student tries to compensate for his lack of magical talent by excelling in academics. While he consistently scores high on written tests, he fails miserably in practical exercises, ... which require an innate ability for magic—something he simply doesn’t possess.

The setting is also a classic trope: a magical academy. While this isn’t inherently a flaw, it becomes problematic when the protagonist stands out not because of any unique abilities but because he relies solely on a sword. He uses this singular weapon for both defense against spells and offense against monsters in a dungeon—another trope that feels overplayed unless explored with greater depth. Unfortunately, Wistoria treats these elements rather superficially.

The supporting cast and side characters are similarly stereotypical. There’s the snobbish classmate, the girl with a crush on the protagonist, the strongest student in the class, and the rival with whom the protagonist often clashes in magical battles. Even the professors feel derivative, such as Professor Edward, who seems to be a nod to Severus Snape from Harry Potter. However, despite these clichés, the characters are decently written and gradually fleshed out—something not to be taken for granted given the anime's overall standard.

The series does have its highlights, especially during moments where the protagonist, Will, shines through sheer determination and dedication. Unfortunately, these moments are few and far between, and their placement throughout the series feels uneven. The climax, which arrives far too late, barely saves the anime by providing a satisfying, albeit overdue, turning point.

The uneven pacing is one of the show’s major flaws. Action sequences that showcase Will’s resolve and growth are poorly distributed, making the story feel heavy at times. This lack of consistency diminishes the anticipation for what’s next; some episodes feel predictable, while others fail to leave the viewer intrigued or curious about future developments.

This inconsistency is unfortunate because, for those who persevere through the slower parts, the final episodes reveal several intriguing hints of potential for future seasons. These late developments suggest that Wistoria could evolve into something much stronger if the series capitalizes on its newfound momentum.

While Wistoria struggles with overused tropes and pacing issues, it’s not entirely without merit. The protagonist's moments of brilliance and the groundwork laid for future plotlines hint at a more engaging story down the road. However, it’s a tough sell for those unwilling to push through its rocky start. For now, Wistoria remains a middling addition to the magical academy genre, with the hope that future installments can fully realize its potential.

A Manhwa Adaptation that Exceeded My Expectations

Starting with high hopes after reading the original manhwa, I had set my expectations for this anime adaptation extremely high, even while remaining cautious. The original conveyed such dynamic energy and motion in its battle scenes that I hadn’t encountered in other series.

The world-building itself is unique, almost like a reverse Isekai: instead of a character being transported to another world, other worlds connect to ours through "Gates." These portals allow monsters to invade Earth unless they’re defeated in time within the gate by Hunters.

Hunters are humans who have undergone an awakening, granting them extraordinary powers, with their strength ... ranked accordingly. As often happens in these stories, our protagonist starts as the weakest human, facing a journey to become ever stronger to overcome each challenge.

However, it’s not the premise that sets this story apart, despite its unique twist compared to similar series. It’s the protagonist's development that truly shines. His journey from a childlike, unprepared state in a world teeming with monsters and morally ambiguous humans to becoming an adult who understands not only the world around him but also his own strengths is powerful. He’s driven by an ambition to grow stronger to protect what he loves against any threat.

While the supporting characters have limited screen time, they are precisely introduced, leaving plenty of room for development in future seasons. If these seasons follow the source material as faithfully as this first one has, they’re bound to succeed.

Throughout, there’s a constant tension as the characters balance on the brink of life and death, fueling curiosity and pulling you toward the next episode to find out what happens next.

In my view, the hardest part of adapting the manhwa was capturing the fluidity of its animations. By blending various animation styles with careful attention to detail, this adaptation didn’t fully match the source's kinetic energy, but it came impressively close, making it an enjoyable experience in its own right.

In conclusion, I believe this anime faithfully adapts the original work, setting up numerous possibilities for future installments. It leaves viewers wanting more of Jin-Woo’s journey and personal growth.

Can He Really Parry Everything... But Can He Parry a Serious Review? I Doubt It!

The story follows a classic adventure setting, situated in a fantasy world filled with monsters and magic. The main character has lofty ambitions, but they are quickly dashed due to his lack of, if not complete absence of, talent in various combat skills.

These skills are essential for him to achieve his dream of becoming an adventurer. However, through time, hard work, and sheer determination, he manages to reach heights never before seen in this world.

The protagonist is well-developed, both in terms of personal growth and how he evolves over the years. ... His motivations and inner reflections are also carefully explored.

However, the main issue lies with his intellect. Sure, there are plenty of protagonists who are naive or not particularly smart, but this one aims to be an adventurer! He should at least have a basic understanding of how the world works—the guilds, the politics, or at the very least, the kingdom he lives in. Yet, he's depicted as a strong-hearted character with no real deductive skills. He constantly falls into clichés, with misunderstandings and missed cues leading to lucky resolutions.

The supporting characters, surprisingly, are well-developed and quite well-characterized, which isn't always a given in a mid-tier anime. Each has their own motivations and backstory, revealed through various flashbacks that help explain their choices and why they follow the protagonist. This is a positive aspect of the show. Overall, these characters are reasonably intelligent or at least average, which only makes the protagonist appear even more foolish and unprepared.

The narrative itself feels flat and lacks dynamism. It's obvious when something important is about to happen or when a high-stakes moment is approaching. This gives each episode the feeling of a standalone short story rather than a continuous narrative, which significantly diminishes the viewer's desire to keep watching.

Furthermore, the approach to combat, which should be the highlight of any adventure story, is a repeated series of tired and overused scenes. There's no innovation or alteration in the fight patterns, and even though the animations are fluid and the action sequences well-constructed, they eventually grow tiresome. The combat system is practically non-existent. The protagonist easily deflects attacks from basic weapons one moment and then effortlessly blocks magical strikes from heavy weapons the next, with no real explanation or context. The only reasoning seems to be: "because he's the protagonist, and he can."

Because of these significant issues with the storytelling, by the middle of each episode (if not earlier), it's already clear what will happen next, completely eliminating the curiosity that should be at the heart of an adventure series like this.

In conclusion, I wouldn't recommend this anime—not because it's a terrible product. It clearly has a well-constructed world and solid supporting characters worthy of a sequel. But unfortunately, the protagonist, who should be the cornerstone of the narrative, falls short, as do the battles and their execution. For these reasons, I consider it a time-passer rather than a must-watch, given the sheer number of flaws. It's a mid-to-low-tier seasonal anime.

This atypical *Isekai* offers a unique start and development that, despite some technical shortcomings and genre clichés, proves to be an unpredictable and engaging series worth checking out this season.

The premise of the anime is quite unusual, incorporating familiar elements of recent *Isekai*, especially those from the past few years, before taking on a much darker and deeper tone once the characters arrive in the new world.

The protagonist begins as a typical genre stereotype—the "background character" of the class, someone who, by all appearances, would remain in the periphery of the story. However, he undergoes significant change, revealing a hidden side of himself, explored ... partially through flashbacks and partially through the challenges he faces in the new world.

As the protagonist evolves, so does his ability, which initially seems useless and weak but, when used cleverly, becomes a sharp weapon he can rely on in the tough trials that await him. These drastic and sudden transformations, combined with the protagonist's adaptability and cunning, create the perfect mix to keep the viewer hooked, eager to see how the story will continue to unfold—an essential feature for this kind of series.

The supporting characters are varied and well-developed. Even though some of them may initially seem like familiar archetypes borrowed from other works, they are explored and fleshed out in ways that justify their actions and motivations—a crucial aspect often overlooked in *Isekai*. Overall, the characters are given enough depth in the limited number of episodes released so far, and most of them are convincing, making the viewer want to learn more about their backstories.

The detailed character writing, along with the unexpected plot twists and nuanced characterization, make the anime flow smoothly, never becoming dull. This is despite some setbacks in the technical department, which stands as the show's Achilles' heel.

While close-up shots are impressively detailed and the battle choreography is convincing, the animation of the fights—particularly fast movements or distant shots—feels clunky and slow. To compensate for these technical issues, some scenes are slightly blurred.

However, this flaw doesn't detract from the overall success of the series, which remains a solid first season. It’s worth noting this limitation in order to make a potential second season even more enjoyable and polished.

This anime is a perfect example of a shojo slice-of-life series that, starting from a simple misunderstanding, manages to turn an otherwise straightforward yet deeply engaging love story between two young teenagers into something captivating.

We all know the feeling of speaking our native language abroad or in a context where others don't understand it, as if we're speaking a secret code only we comprehend. It's an empowering sensation that gives us the freedom to express even our deepest thoughts out loud. But what if that sense of freedom lasted indefinitely? This is the simple yet intriguing premise of this anime: Alya, a girl of Russian ... origin, full name Alisa Mikailovna Kujo, who believes no one around her in Japan understands her when she speaks in her native tongue. But what if her deskmate, the boy she’s slowly falling for, had actually studied Russian when he was younger?

This small misunderstanding becomes the spark that ignites the heart of an otherwise ordinary boy who, up until that moment, had been playing the background role in his class. The male protagonist, Masachika Kuze, is portrayed as a laid-back student with little interest in studying and no particularly outstanding traits, except for his late-night gaming habits that leave him sleeping through lessons. Or at least, that’s how things seem at first glance.

The anime incorporates many typical shojo school-life clichés, such as the prestigious Japanese family, the "ice princess" trope, and others. Yet, what's fascinating is how it manages to take these seemingly recycled elements from other anime and turn them into something unexpectedly entertaining or even surprising. This fresh take on familiar conventions keeps the viewer engaged and eager to follow along with great enthusiasm. The central "misunderstanding" is the formula that really drives the series, as it continually finds ways to surprise and keep things interesting.

The animation and overall technical aspects of the anime are of high quality, and while the soundtrack is sparse, the music that is featured perfectly complements the tone and atmosphere.

In summary, this anime has proven to be an excellent seasonal hit, one for which I’ll certainly be tuning in for the already-announced sequel. In just a few episodes, with a simple yet heartwarming plot, it manages to make you care about the characters and want to know how their lives will unfold—a crucial trait for an anime of this genre.

This anime is a clear example of how a great opportunity for innovation in the genre can be wasted—not by revolutionizing it, but by settling into such a state of creative laziness that it ends up being boring.

The plot is overly simplistic and basic, and the supporting characters are more like puppets, unfortunately in a negative sense. They're used as mere props for the protagonist, with shallow, caricature-like traits that rely on repetitive and tired stereotypes.

The battles are almost nonexistent, with only a few rare exceptions. They unfold in one of two ways: either you're bored watching the protagonist lift a staff, or you're subjected ... to awkwardly animated monsters that move clumsily, though at least they follow some kind of logic.

One of the few strengths of this work, however, is the protagonist's intelligence and cunning in battle, which is highlighted through comparisons with other generals, both demonic and human. His intellect makes him far more interesting as a character than his embarrassingly underwhelming combat style, marred by poorly depicted and awkwardly executed magic.

In conclusion, while the protagonist's strategic mind offers some redeeming qualities, the anime falls flat due to weak storytelling, bland supporting characters, and uninspired battle sequences. It ultimately squanders what could have been a compelling narrative.

Moriarty the Patriot is an anime that masterfully reinterprets the iconic figure of James Moriarty, famously known as Sherlock Holmes' archenemy. The series stands out for its ability to transform a character traditionally viewed as evil into a complex antihero with a clear mission: to overthrow a corrupt and unjust social system. Throughout the narrative, we are presented with the story from the perspective of this ultimate antihero, the one London doesn’t know it needs and, in many ways, doesn’t deserve.

At the heart of the story lies the theme of justice and revenge. James Moriarty, a brilliant mathematics professor, is not only a criminal mastermind ... but also a man with a clear vision: to destroy the British aristocracy, which has built its power and wealth on the oppression of the weak. The anime delves deeply into the moral complexities of right and wrong, showing how justice, in Moriarty's hands, becomes a double-edged sword, justifying extreme acts in the name of a greater good.

The characters in Moriarty the Patriot are deeply developed, each with personal motivations that make them memorable. Moriarty is not merely a criminal; he is a man driven by profound empathy for the oppressed, making him both a fascinating and tragic figure. His accomplices, including his brothers and various reimagined historical figures, add further depth to the plot, creating a web of alliances and conflicts that captivate the viewer.

Visually, the anime is a treat for the eyes, with a meticulously crafted Victorian setting that reflects the dark and oppressive atmosphere of an era dominated by social disparity. The animation in the action scenes is fluid and well-choreographed, maintaining the narrative tension at a high level.

A particularly notable aspect is how the anime balances the psychological introspection of the characters with the tension of their criminal endeavors. Their internal struggles and the difficult decisions they face make the story compelling, without ever becoming predictable. Each episode offers a continuous reflection on the themes of justice, morality, and sacrifice, prompting the viewer to question the true cost of vengeance.

In conclusion, Moriarty the Patriot is a work that not only reinvents an iconic character but does so with such depth and care that it becomes a must-watch for those who love intricate and morally ambiguous stories. It’s an experience that challenges expectations, offering a fresh perspective on what it truly means to be a "villain."

91 Days is an anime that grips you from the very first episode, drawing you into a world of revenge, betrayal, and shattered bonds. Set during the Prohibition era, the series follows the story of Angelo Lagusa, a man who has lost everything to the mafia and dedicates his life to one thing: vengeance.

The anime’s strength lies in its ability to paint a dark and ruthless picture of the world in which its characters live. Every interaction, every decision is steeped in a sense of inevitability and despair that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. The characters, driven by deep and often ... tragic personal motivations, display a growth and evolution that makes them incredibly realistic and complex.

Angelo, the protagonist, is not your typical hero; he is driven by a cold and calculated anger, an anger that consumes him but also defines him. His determination to carry out his revenge leads him to make morally ambiguous choices, forcing the viewer to reflect on the nature of justice and personal sacrifice.

The historical setting is magnificently portrayed, with meticulous attention to detail that brings the Prohibition era to life. The visual design enhances the sense of decay and corruption that permeates the society of the time. The soundtrack also plays a crucial role in creating the anime's dark and intense atmosphere, with melodies that heighten moments of tension and despair.

91 Days is not just an anime about revenge, but a profound exploration of human emotions and the choices that define our existence. It is a story of pain and loss, but also of resilience and determination, one that leaves a lasting impact and deserves to be experienced in its entirety.

Black Lagoon is a profound journey into the dark heart of humanity, where concepts of morality and justice are relentlessly tested in a world ruled by violence and crime. Set in the lawless and dangerous waters of Southeast Asia, the anime follows the adventures of Rokuro "Rock" Okajima, an ordinary man who suddenly finds himself thrust into a life of crime and chaos.

What truly sets Black Lagoon apart is the depth with which it explores its characters and their complex motivations. Rock, who starts as just an ordinary Japanese office worker, undergoes a radical transformation as he is drawn deeper into the ruthless and anarchic ... world he's been dragged into. His evolution from a naïve businessman to a cynical and self-aware figure is both fascinating and unsettling, showing how the environment can shape and corrupt even the most innocent souls.

At the core of the anime is Revy, one of the series' most iconic and memorable characters. With her aggressive personality, sharp tongue, and lethal skills, Revy provides the perfect contrast to Rock’s more reflective nature. Their dynamic is one of the most compelling elements of the anime, as themes of trust, loyalty, and the fragile balance between humanity and brutality emerge through their interactions.

Black Lagoon also excels in its portrayal of its world—a lawless city called Roanapur, where life holds little value, and death is a constant companion. The antagonists who populate this city, from biker gangs to ruthless mercenaries, are as charismatic as they are formidable, each with a story that adds depth and realism to the world the anime builds. These characters are not just simple villains but representations of various aspects of human cruelty and despair, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer.

Visually, the anime does not shy away from depicting the brutality of Roanapur’s world. The animation is fluid and powerful, with excellently choreographed action scenes that capture the ferocity of the conflicts. The soundtrack, with its gritty and rocking tracks, perfectly complements the anime’s tone, amplifying the adrenaline and energy of the most intense moments.

However, Black Lagoon is not just an explosion of action and violence; it is also a reflection on what it means to lose one’s morality and adapt to a world where the old rules no longer apply. The anime challenges the viewer to consider where the line between good and evil is drawn—and whether that line even exists in a place where survival is the only law.

In conclusion, Black Lagoon is a visceral and unforgettable experience that goes beyond mere entertainment. It is a deep dive into the darker side of human nature, a work that, while offering unbridled action, does not shy away from exploring the more complex and disturbing facets of the human character. It is an anime that must be seen, especially for those seeking a story that pushes beyond the boundaries of conventional morality and leaves a lasting mark on the viewer’s mind.

Death Parade is an anime that stands out for its ability to explore human nature through a unique and unsettling lens. Set in a mysterious limbo, the anime presents a fascinating and surreal environment: a bar called Quindecim, where the souls of the deceased are judged through deadly games that reveal their true characters. Here, the fate of the souls is decided by Decim, an enigmatic bartender and arbiter, who must determine whether a soul deserves reincarnation or should be condemned to the eternal void.

One of the most captivating aspects of Death Parade is how it uses seemingly innocuous games, like darts or billiards, to ... unveil the darkest and most hidden parts of people. Each episode focuses on a new group of characters, each with their own stories and secrets, and through these challenges, the anime delves into deep themes such as remorse, guilt, love, and hate. The elegance of the anime lies in its ability to bring out the complexity of human emotions, showing how even the most seemingly pure souls can harbor profound darkness.

Decim, the protagonist, is a cold and enigmatic figure who initially appears devoid of emotion. However, his interaction with a mysterious unnamed woman, who becomes his assistant, forces him to confront ethical and moral dilemmas that challenge his very role as a judge. The dynamic between Decim and his assistant adds a layer of introspection to the anime, exploring what it truly means to judge a soul and whether it is possible to fully understand people only through their actions in extreme situations.

Visually, Death Parade is distinctive. The animation is elegant and refined, with a meticulous attention to detail that creates an atmosphere suspended between reality and dream. The design of Quindecim, with its sophisticated and slightly retro aesthetic, contributes to a sense of luxury and decadence, yet also unease and mystery. The soundtrack, with its blend of jazz and orchestral tones, perfectly complements the intense and often harrowing scenes that unfold in the bar.

In conclusion, Death Parade is not just a journey through the lives of the souls being judged, but a meditation on what it means to be human. With its compelling narrative, complex characters, and existential themes, the anime stands out as a profoundly moving and intellectually stimulating work. It’s an experience that goes beyond mere entertainment, inviting the viewer to look inward and reflect on their own choices, values, and the meaning of life and death.