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Feb 19, 2020
Oh lord, I'm only writing this review because I think it deserves an analysis from someone who has actually SEEN the Pretty Rhythm series from start to finish. If you're going to start this anime on its own, just know it means you're practically watching the 2nd half of a finale and have no business doing a review based on that alone.
So where do you start? Tl;dr 1) watch two movies: 'King of Prism by Pretty Rhythm' and 'King of Prism: Pride the Hero' first THEN this one.
2) For best experience, watch Pretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live first, it has a female cast but
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serves as the prequel to King of Prism
3) Technically the King of Prism series are solely for Pretty Rhythm fans so you should in fact just start all the way back from Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream (not that there's any important plot points but there are maaaany jokes/references that you will only get by watching that), though its optional esp if you've outgrown children's anime
Here's the long explanation:
One of the great things about Pretty Rhythm stories (Aurora Dream, Dear My Future, Rainbow Live, King of Prism) is that unlike other shoujo/magical girl franchises it NEVER repeats itself, instead it grows up with you. While I was watching it throughout my teenage years I'm always surprised with a "there's no way that they did that"; anyway I'm going to explain this in a way that people that have never seen Pretty Rhythm can understand where I am coming from.
Imagine starting off with a completely innocent coming-of-age idol anime touching some heavy topics such as friendship/loneliness, sabotage, child abandonment -> that is Aurora Dream. Next we are presented with a more worldly, competitive, shounen-like story, with a new cast of characters including Korean idols. A world where "winning isn't important as long as your audience is happy" cliche DOESN'T EXIST anymore \o/ and being no. 1 is everything -> that is Dear My Future, the sequel to Aurora Dream which cleverly completes the story of the first season and its literal hype.
Now if it wasn't amazing enough that we've got an idol anime with an actual villain (well... I mean one that is actually a threat), how about we diversify the music, improve the CG art by leaps and bounds, have no filler episodes and add instruments to the performances? Okay now we've got Rainbow Live. While set in a completely different world, it's still the same universe with a new cast of characters. The story goes more in depth about the idol system that was in the first two seasons. What's great about Rainbow Live is that plot armor doesn't exist - there are 7 "heroes" so it's not always the main protagonist that shines. Now this season is from 6 years ago (as of writing) so it might not be a surprise now but watching this anime was like the start of a revolution. Never have I seen an idol anime where the songs aren't always the happy generic pop type but now we've gotten straight up rock, jazz and some classical elements in these girl's performances to showcase their individual characteristics. The story is full of mystery, the romance is unpredictable, there are some happy moments but its ~80% complications and angst. Some characters have happy families, others have issues of their own resulting in a lot more conflict initially. We've still got a villain in the show and long and behold, they've finally introduced male idols!
And that's when we get to King of Prism. Granted you need to watch the first two movies: King of Prism by Pretty Rhythm and King of Prism: Pride the Hero. They focus on the main male love interests of Rainbow Live: Kouji, Hiro and Kazuki who are the main heroes but also act as mentors to the new cast of 7 male characters in the final installment of the Pretty Rhythm series - Shiny Seven Stars. It essentially brings light to the dark/corrupt side of the idol system that they are using and concludes the end of the main villain. Funny enough, if you told middle school aged me about King of Prism I would've gone "ew nah, male idols? not interested". Unfortunately, I've grown an interest in BL along my anime journey, then King of Prism came out; so with each season being targeted by a higher-aged audience it certainly feels like I've grown with the series.
Now here are some FAQs (haha I wish as if anyone's ever asked me questions about Pretty Rhythm TT^TT)
Do I need to watch Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live/King of Prism by Pretty Rhythm/Pride the Hero?
You do not need to watch Rainbow Live esp if you're not interested in female idols, but I highly recommend you do since some characters in King of Prism had their journey start from Rainbow Live, notably the main love interests and Yu Suzuno who is the younger brother of one of the main characters. Also starting with King of Prism may be overwhelming since all the characters are technically "good" already. Some of the stuff they do (like four-chained jumps) may seem normal but were originally impossible feats in Rainbow Live. Though, if you do not want to watch it, scroll down to Rainbow Live spoilers to see what you need to know anyway.
The first two movies is a must though. While the seven main characters play a minor role in them as it is Kouji/Hiro/Kazuki focused, it sets up the conflict leading up to the main seven competing against the main villain. How it goes is that all 12 episodes takes place in a single tournament day, focusing on one character each episode and their background story leading up to their final performance. Why would you start a story at its conclusion? Start with the movies.
In fact, you should just start from Aurora Dream if you can since that story itself far surpasses other popular idol anime I've seen such as Aikatsu, Love Live, PriPara... I won't say AKB0048 since that was just as emotional. (sorry no hate, don't get me wrong some of those anime do things much better than Aurora Dream but in terms of story they always had the most impact for me) Not to mention that there are a sht ton of easter eggs that reference all the way back to the first seasons of Pretty Rhythm ever.
Is it gay?
Yes. But don't come here if you're looking for a proper BL story because the representation is kind of bad. While Kouji, Hiro and Kazuki have gay elements in their performances (for fan-service's sake) it is already established in Rainbow Live that they are straight. Nevertheless, it's presented as a running gag that some male characters, with absolutely no shame, act "flirty" while others refuse to do so. The "friendships" between the male characters are abused so bad it's so good, but thankfully only where appropriate. As an example, Leo Saionji (a girly-guy) acts like a possessive girlfriend to the MC but oh thank god they never fetishise Yu Suzuno, the younger brother, as that would've been concerning. Because Shin x Louis exists, there is actual canonical romance but you shouldn't count on them since it's sorta... ya know... toxic... unless you enjoy tragic love I guess. (should also note that Rainbow Live itself had subtle lesbian bait so LGBT elements isn't exactly a new thing in Pretty Rhythm)
Can I ignore the gay?
No. This anime is packed with wayyyy more fanservice than Yuri on Ice. Some of the idols are extremely flirty inside (and outside) of their performance - sometimes intentional, sometimes as a joke, sometimes due to influence/peer pressure AND sometimes they don't. As I mentioned, it's only there when appropriate so for some characters whose identity isn't romantic/flirty they won't incorporate that into their performance. For the most part, it is very gay. Most (not all) characters are gay in their own unique way. The main character is gay, the villains are very gay I have no other word to describe it and you will understand if you watch it.
Is King of Prism solely for fanservice?
Considering that this is a sequel to Rainbow Live they both made this anime fujoshi-bait while managing to complete the story as a whole so as a Rainbow Live fan, watching this is a must. In fact, they pretty much completed the mysteries of Pretty Rhythm's world-building since it started back from Aurora Dream episode 1. Shiny Seven Stars is an episodic anime and the contents of the story highly depend on the focus characters in that episode. We've got the MC involved in a romantic relationship, we've got some characters looking up to their mentors like they're in love, we've got characters who enjoy dressing flamboyant and some of them are totally normal. Regarding the themes of the show, I'd say it's prominently about self-identity. What is their purpose? What are their motives/resolves? What can they offer to the team? Surprisingly all these characters have depth for an episode worth of screentime. You learn about their backgrounds, experiences, and when you see these characters learn something about themselves, you might learn something about yourself. If you dislike shallow characters, honestly you don't have to worry with this anime because character development is one of the best. Even the villains aren't just "bad guys" but they're treated as humans too.
[RAINBOW LIVE SPOILERS]
What do I need to know if I don't want to watch Rainbow Live?
Basic terminology relating to the idol system of their world explained in Rainbow Live -> Prism Shows are the main entertainment system which combines ice-skating, singing, dancing and appeals (which come off kinda as super powers). Should note that this anime is based on a children's arcade game. The main appeal is called a Prism Jump - basically the performer does a figure skating jump, they can create illusions and points are earned based on the quality of the jump. The main way (initially) to gather points in tournaments was doing multiple jumps in a row. The struggle in Rainbow Live was being able to do four consecutive jumps which only non-humans were able to achieve at first.
Another appeal is called Prism Live which was introduced in Rainbow Live and allows the performer to play with instruments, which only the 7 MCs could do but now just about anyone can do them. At the end of Rainbow Live, a bunch of appeals that weren't jumps/lives were introduced which is why the King of Prism series is much crazier than Rainbow Live with everyone doing all sorts of unique tricks of their own.
The most top-tier tournament is the Prism Queen/King Cup separated by gender. Edel Rose which is the Prism Show specialty school the MC enrolls in were originally the antagonists in Rainbow Live, until the principal (main villain) was kicked out.
Also Kouji has a girlfriend, Hiro was originally the bad guy, Jin is Hijiri's half-brother and has an inferiority complex which is why he's evil. The different worlds in Pretty Rhythm is connected by a magical realm called Prism World which is the power source for Prism Shows (its how people can dance on ice and create illusions like its normal) and they are delivered by messengers called Rinne who are all identical but can take a different appearance to pose as human beings. At any point, the staff in Prism World can essentially cut off the power source and end Prism Show entertainment in any human world. June (the nun; supporting character) was one of the villains in Rainbow Live and a Rinne, but became human and lost her memories.
How is King of Prism different to Rainbow Live? Is it better?
Songs are more individualistic (we've got straight up a street dancer wearing a fundoshi, Kabuki dancer, and cross-dressing) so yeah it is very, very wild. You know how at the end of Pretty Rhythm superpowers other than Prism Lives are introduced? Yeah that happens and the diversification is crazy. Sadly there is less focus on chained jumps though. Personally, I liked Rainbow Live more but I think the performances in Shiny Seven Stars are better in terms of uniqueness, originality, and overall aesthetic.
Do Naru and the others come back?
They come back as cameos, some of them have speaking lines but they don't play a role in King of Prism sadly.
[RAINBOW LIVE SPOILERS END]
Finally, will I enjoy King of Prism if I don't watch Rainbow Live?
Honestly I don't think you'll receive the same enjoyment as someone who has seen Rainbow Live; in fact, some people say you do need to watch Rainbow Live. It depends though. Do you like idol anime? Do you appreciate CG? (I once showed the CG to a friend saying how good it is and they complained it looks "too obvious", so if you're that person then you probably don't like CG). Are you a mature audience? Do you not mind gay tropes/mild nudity? If yes to both then there is a high chance you'll like this anime.
On the other hand, if you're a Pretty Rhythm fan, this would probably be the best thing you've ever seen just for the sake of seeing a children's anime targeted for adults combined with satisfying top-tier performance - the creators literally decided to do whatever the hell they wanted with it without caring about public opinion, only for it to actually be well received. It's definitely not childish but it doesn't try to be emo/edgy either. You can complain about the yaoi-bait but Pretty Rhythm IS a female-targeted anime and holy it's actually fluffin nostalgic with all the references they put that you can only understand by watching the very start AND Pretty Rhythm's successor PriPara. Funny enough the quality of Pretty Rhythm peaks in this season; in fact, it's because the creators put so much effort into making King of Prism so over the top that it's one hell of a masterpiece.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Feb 1, 2020
Hoshiai no Sora starts off seemingly as a light sports anime focused on soft tennis with the generic "save our club from disbanding" trope and the one MC who becomes the key to saving the club. It is exactly that, but the sports part of the story acts as a complement to the unique family problems that ALL the members of the club face at home which is obviously unrealistic (abuse is real, but happy parents are too), but since that's literally the theme of the anime so you just have to roll with it.
While the main theme are the social issues underlying each
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member in the soft tennis club, they don't gloss over the sport itself with more emphasis on strategy and tactics, instead of brute force (think One Outs). Taking a look at the main character, Katsuragi, he reveals to be talented at soft tennis despite never playing before and is an incredibly perceptive person. Not to mention he can cook, do chores (because his mum has to work) and is very close to being a Gary Stu EXCEPT that he knows this and isn't modest about his skills at all. Contrary to most sport MCs he is clever, manipulative, has a terrible personality, but is also a great leader. He uses this to his advantage throughout the anime to get his way partly for comedic purposes and mainly as the key strengthen the club effectively through planning and strategy. What I love most about him is how by using his brain a little more than others, he can identify the strengths and weaknesses of his team, his opponents and most importantly himself. He takes action on his own instead of waiting for a sign from God/before its too late, and is the main instigator for moving the story forward. Now he isn't omnipotent with this wisdom (its mostly that the people around him are kinda dumb), and it is very clear that he lacks experience in soft tennis; nevertheless, sports isn't about winning or losing for them and I loved watching the matches because it was very clear that each of the four pairs of characters had their own distinct style of play.
I admit, I was only able to define the character by their type of abuse at home. Aside from the 8 club members, there is also the male manager and a girl who hangs around for no reason at all (recurring joke) with their own problems. In regards to these domestic issues, there are several problems with the way they were presented because it seems like they attempt to have you sympathise with them even though the person themselves aren't great to begin with and pretty much get away with almost anything just because they're abused (like the girl who started a fight then got comforted for being "bullied"). That's only the worst problem and there were very little instances worth complaining about but I'll list the good things that came out of it:
- when friends in each pair help each other with personal problems it strengthens their teamwork, and highlights the importance of being partners/working together
- gives you a realistic insight on several kinds of domestic abuse, each of them are unique situations with some more severe than others
- how the characters DON'T deal with this problem. You might relate to the characters a whole lot, but that's why you don't feel sorry for them because each conflict only furthers the impact on the characters negatively and promotes their bad points/ugly side (feelings of helplessness, mental issues etc.).
I'm sure there are correct ways of resolving these issues but in reality, people don't (notice I mentioned realistic insight). Of course the characters don't do nothing at all, but sometimes certain problems have no (ideal) resolutions and you endure them until you become an adult which leaves one question:
Is there a resolution?
No. Not at all. The sports aspect finishes nicely but no one's personal problems reaches a 'real' ending. Some characters have their own inner resolves though. Personally I don't like anime without resolutions and I especially don't like anime which end on a cliffhanger but it really works with this one (in fact it was a very satisfying cliffhanger). Now I don't mind a 2nd season but I am already quite content with what I've seen so far. We've seen several instances of complications and I would be surprised if any of them got resolved in 12 episodes. But like I said, sometimes there are problems with no resolutions and there are people that will never change. Rather than a romanticised ending where family talks and then make up (obviously talking about the less severe cases), Hoshiai no Sora only demonstrates the reality and difficulty of feeling "out of place", how you should act in these situations, (there is one scene in episode 8 which describes perfectly what I'm talking about) and it applies to just about all the characters.
About the art and sound, both are great. I love the animation, especially together with the ending song which is the main reason why I started the anime. Its not groundbreaking music but decent enough. The art style is also very light and fluffy in a calming way.
The best part about Hoshiai no Sora is the unpredictability. I binged watched this anime and was kept at the edge of my seat the entire time. Despite each character having unfortunate backgrounds, it is for the most part a happy anime that involves themes relating to friendship, teamwork etc. and the synergy between the members of the club who share similar concerns and accept each other may be of inspiration.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 2, 2019
Is this movie good? Yeah probably... but did I enjoy it? Not at all. Honestly I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. About halfway through I just wanted it to end.
Story 6/10
To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of tragedy but from an objective point of view, most of the plot feels like it was written as a poor attempt to make me pity the characters or something... I guess. We're presented with the point of view of MC who lives much longer than the rest of the cast and also some other challenges people with longevity face which obviously will have its
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cons... except that there were so many it was pretty much a two-hour trainwreck and there was no time to breathe. Though I have to give credit to how the story was presented. As from the point of view of the MC, it was purposely fast-paced to imply how time that seems very long to us passes by her in a flash.
While finishing the movie did leave a bitter taste in my mouth, I eventually realised that some plot elements which I thought didn't make sense or were downright stupid turned out to actually be really clever. I agree with the reviews that say we don't see enough of Maquia and Ariel's relationship, the main focus of the movie, in fact it was hardly there... after a certain point... while other characters I had no interest in got the spotlight.
Art 10/10
I'm no art expert, like at all. But in my opinion it was beautiful, consistent, and the CG Renato was pretty awesome. If something is worth sitting this movie for, its to admire the art and animation and you can just turn the subs and sound off. (just joking but saying this in case)
Sound 8/10
To be honest this might not be a fair review as I didn't even pay attention to the sound, I only noticed the ending song which is quite pleasant to listen to.
Character 4/10
4 for decent because honestly the only decent development was Maquia, but only her. Learning to not fear love and all, not bad. It really makes her the only likeable character in the movie and literally everyone else just gave me a headache right until the end. Did their actions make sense? I mean they were realistic, but on an enjoyment level I couldn't bring myself to like any of them.
Enjoyment 1/10
If Satan made a cinematic masterpiece it would be this. It was like... one fluff up after another. There could've been a better way to portray the concept of the story in less time (less pain), more enjoyment, more love, while still evoking the same emotion at that final ending scene but nah. I'm okay with unnecessary suffering (not a compliment, this is complete criticism like how Jack died in Titanic to save Violet when there were obviously ways for both of them to survive). For one thing I'm glad I didn't attach myself to any of the characters.
Overall 6/10
Yeah I really didn't like this movie to the point I had to make a review about it. I read a similar manga where there were many time skips in 6 chapters (from birth to death and to heaven and then the afterlife) and I loved and cried 10x more for that manga than this movie so just being honest, they probably did something wrong.
I didn't like Your Lie in April either (which is hugely popular and many people can safely call a masterpiece) so I think as a rule of thumb - if you liked Your Lie in April then you should watch this and if you didn't then don't.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 6, 2018
I think the reviews here that are mostly 1-2/10 are certainly on to something. This pathetic piece of work is disappointing and I'd be surprised to find someone who thinks it's at least good from an objective point of view; the concept of a survival game will always demand high expectations from viewers.
To be honest, I'm not one to judge harshly on an anime, but at the very least there is a storyline I can follow, characters whose actions I can judge logically, a soundtrack that isn't disturbing enough for me to want to turn it off, and visuals that are still properly animated
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albeit not the best. So I think it's fair to say that each of those factors in Ousama Game deserve approximately a 4 for decency.
Even with such mediocre scores, I managed to enjoy Ousama Game to the end by simply changing my thinking. While I don't think it's a must-watch, I think it's possible to enjoy it if you don't analyse it too much
Story
The story follows the MC (whose name I forgot, I'm writing this review weeks after finishing it actually), who won a previous King's Game and lost all of his former classmates and inevitably enters a new game with his new classmates. All while referring back to the former game when necessary and revealing all the important aspects of the previous games which will benefit the current one: which, to be honest, I thought they structured quite well.
The King's Game has rules. And like all survival games, breaking such rules leads to death. How they made this concept a disappointment is that the King's Game is not designed to be won, which was made obvious from the very start. People are forced to undertake almost or even straight-up impossible orders. Most of which are sexual or gory which drops most of the plot. And oh... I have to mention that the orders can be ambiguous on purpose.
Overall, it's pretty much a fun way to see how different types of characters react in absurd situations. While there is some story progression, more characters are killed off quickly than there is time to unravel the mystery. This means most of the focus is to indulge in each character's horrific and tragic situation.
There's nothing to say about the art and sound because it's not really important. (And also I don't remember, but the fact that it's not bad enough for me to remember means something right?) So I'm gonna head straight to...
Character
OK So I'm gonna say straight off the bat that the current classmates were not the right cast for the anime they were thrown into. While some made attempts to trace back to the true antagonist, they fail to make any changes to the direction of the plot.
Basically, there are 3 types of characters. 1. they go insane 2. they go along with the game and hope for the best, and 3. the select few that would rather die than kill other people.
Overall
I managed to finish all 12 episodes without dropping it for a reason. It's not scary, thrilling, or a good mystery. It just barely makes it as a comedy series (because of how bad it is); though I can somewhat indulge in the helplessness of the cast's situation. I honestly don't think it's meant to be a good show at all and I can't believe the people who made this would think that either. However, I can still sort of make out the basic premise of the show which a lot of anime (even popular ones) actually fail to do sometimes. For Ousama Game, it's the portrayal of different types of people when met with adversity. Would they throw their heart away and kill to survive? Try their best to help everyone overcome the situation? Throw their life away for the people they love?
Some last words, I wouldn't say its worth watching at all, but its not impossible to enjoy either. You don't even have to force yourself into thinking it's a comedic series... most of the time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Oct 8, 2017
Ever since a young age, watching anime and doing related activities was already the norm for me. I have watched, read and experienced many different types of genres from mainstreams such as One Piece and Attack on Titan, Shoujo anime including idol and magical girl concepts, darker themes such as Death Note and many lesser known titles and classics such as Taishou Yakyuu Musume, and even both Yaoi and Yuri, including the good and terrible titles. Even so, I can confidently say that Silver Diamond is the most thought-provoking, tear-jerking, exhilarating roller-coaster ride and beautiful manga that I have ever read.
Story 10/10
Honestly, I went ahead
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and read Silver Diamond expecting a trashy, but lengthy BL because I ran out of stuff to read, but my expectations were blown out of the water by how amazing the story surpassed many adventure anime/manga I have read thus far.
Although the complexity of the story relies on heavy dialogue which was somewhat intimidating, it was necessary for the story that the author often had to recap the events that happened in the manga.
Art 9/10
No, I'm not being biased or lenient just because Silver Diamond was written around 14 years ago, even compared to today's standards it still deserves a high score for art. It's only natural it'd progressively get better as well since the manga ran for a long time. As an adventure story that focuses on a mystique and alluring fantasy-world, the backgrounds were so stunning and detailed that I often take a moment to pause and simply admire the art.
Character 10/10
There was a large cast of characters, even so, my favourite is still the main protagonist - Rakan Sawa. As a normal person born in a normal world such as ours, his views and morality often clash with those in the other world, especially when it comes to death and/or murder. It was nice to see the others change due to his influence, and his persistence for goodness and justice is something I will value for a long time.
Not to mention that each character was necessary and taking even one out would change the outcome of the story drastically. Also, Rakan's relationship with Chigusa whom he brings back to his world was written amazingly well. Although Silver Diamond is classified as Shounen Ai, it's actually somewhat misleading, especially how off-putting it is to most people when they see it. More often than not, most would believe the item they are viewing contains fan-service or the device is used as click-bait. The fact is that the relationship that occurs between Rakan and Chigusa which could be interpreted as romantic, but their bond extends much further that; it's actually somewhat difficult to explain with words.
Enjoyment 10/10
Honestly, I feel like I can connect to this author so much that I'm not even surprised we share the same birthday and was so happy with the way everything turned out, especially the author's philosophical view that is indicated in her work. The overflowing amount of love put into this manga, to bring this story to life, was almost palpable.
Overall 10/10
Thank you, Shiho Sugiura, for this beautifully written masterpiece.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Oct 8, 2017
Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live is one of my favorite anime. If you have seen Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream, or Pretty Rhythm Dear My Future, and you loved it, I definitely recommend this season! I don't mean to criticize, but I think their performances out-shined those in the first two Pretty Rhythm seasons.
Story- 8/10
The stories of Pretty Rhythm never fail to impress me. Often they start off light to allow viewers to explore the characters of the story, dropping hints of crucial incidents about to come and then delve into a formidable trial in the second half which portrays both physical and emotional challenges beautifully.
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As an anime intended to be enjoyed for all ages, the creators include friendship, familial relationships and romance that define the struggles for both middle school students to adults.
If you have never seen Pretty Rhythm and find Prism Shows- a new type of entertainment that combines singing, dancing, fashion and ice-skating, completely ridiculous, it's normal. It's one of the plot devices that can easily be overlooked.
Art- 9/10
The art style is colorful and not boring at all. They have pretty neat graphics and the shock faces are the best. The character designs allow us to easily remember them too. June's hair is already enough proof that they weren't lazy with the art.
Also hands down one of the best CG performances that I have and may will ever witness.
Sound- 10/10
Perfect score. Even as an idol anime, there are in fact a variety of different genres that portray the image of each character effectively. Also, when multiple characters come together to create a new show, it's interesting to see the representation of their combined image through their music. With a variety of different styles, it's likely that you would take an interest in at least one song; however I actually loved them all.
Characters 8/10
The main character, Naru Ayase, is a ditz and the most asked question is whether she is portrayed as a typical shoujo main character. Not going to lie, yes she is, but there are still a few perks about her that is unique. Also, the other seven characters also end up getting a fair amount of screen time dedicated to their story, they are as much of a main character as Naru and there is something to gain from their point of view. All have flaws, but the point is that all the characters grow and soon learn to become better versions of themselves.
The only problem is that the role distribution is a little strange and makes one question whether the main trio are actually the main characters. Although Naru, Ito and Ann have a lot of focus in the beginning, more supporting roles end up being crucial to the story; as such it's not quite a character-driven anime as it is story-driven.
Enjoyment 10/10
Ever since I finished Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live, I never got over it for years. I may have now but sometimes I go back to it and remember how good the story and performances were.
Overall 8/10
Before I finished the anime, I actually gave this season a perfect score because you can sense the heavy workload the creators must have incorporated into this series and up until the final few episodes and there was a huge suspense building into the actual climax as more and more CG performances were incorporated into the anime.
However, upon actually reaching the last episode I ended up with mixed feelings. Many were unhappy with the outcome, while others thought it was more realistic and made sense. They didn't really follow the traditional conventions of a competition anime where the main character continually strives to be the best which wasn't desirable for most fans. Instead, they chose a more realistic outcome that focuses on each individual's priorities and intentions, and one that is free of plot armor which I believe will most likely trigger disappointment. There was nothing in particular that made the story worse, it was simply less enjoyable upon reaching the last couple of episodes.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 30, 2017
Jewelpet Twinkle, no kidding, is my favourite magical girl shoujo ever.
Story 8/10
Akari Sakura, the most adorable main character you'll ever meet, is a normal girl with no particular talents but many dreams. What makes it worse is that she is constantly compared to her older sister and fashionista, Monica Sakura, developing an inferiority complex.
On the other hand, Ruby is a rabbit and magician but isn't good at magic, so she goes to the human world to find a human partner which is said to help boost one's powers. With the two combined, Akari ends up becoming involved in a new world where she
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can use magic and attend an academy with new classmates and friends (humans and jewelpets alike) who all strongly wish to win the Jewel Star Grand Prix and achieve their own personal dreams. At the same time she must fight back with the magic she learns with Ruby against all the supernatural disasters that occur in that world.
I absolutely love this setting because the different trials that Akari must go through definitely sends out the most meaningful messages. It begins with a difficult start with a lot of comedic moments, but slowly delves into the deep side of the story and including moments that made me shed tears countless times. Although the ages of these characters make them barely 12, it makes a beautiful coming-of-age anime.
Art 7/10
There isn't anything bad to say about the art. It's simply adorable, consistent, and worth watching for.
Sound 4/10
So Jewelpet Twinkle is not that strong in terms of music. They have the same opening and ending through all 52 episodes but they are definitely catchy.
Character 10/10
For an anime where the main purpose is to show the difficulties of growing up and changing, this anime does a splendid job. I am not exaggerating, Akari's development is the best I have ever seen in any anime (actually it is one of two of my favourites, the other being Yona). Not only Akari, but the other children in her magic class also have their time to shine and the way that they help each other out is nice to watch.
But the true MVP of all the characters are definitely the jewelpets. Since they are the human's partner, they become the main guiding force that helps the characters become who they are in the end. Not that they know everything of course, but by simply being there as a friend and supporter, it made a pretty good difference. Its especially funny when the characters have to learn the hard way not to take the easy way out (Miria time travelling to prevent her mother from being famous or Akari trying to duplicate real life money using magic so she can get her mother a birthday present).
Not only does she end up having to solve problems from within the academy, but also outside of it.
Edit: I forgot to add in the most crucial point that makes the characters such an important element to the story. As seen in the anime description, there is romance in this story. Yes, romance. Despite it being a little kid's magical girl anime there is satisfying development towards this aspect of the story. And it doesn't stop there, Akari and the other girls who have their own problems dealing with family and people in general teaches a valuable lesson that starts off as a small problem, but soon becomes a real life challenge. Not to mention there is a satisfying lack of plot holes (or rather none that I can think of).
Enjoyment 8/10
The part I love most about this series is the way Akari and the rest grow as people and eventually succeed at things they thought they would need magic to do. I finished the story thinking "it was so inspiring to see Akari do X and X despite how she was at the start" rather than the usual "they forgot to consider the X and X themes/plot elements which they started but never concluded... like always".
So yeah, there's no bait. That's mainly why its good.
Overall 9/10
An anime that starts off extremely childish eventually becomes the most mature magical girls I've come across. I actually think that with time, anyone of all ages could enjoy this.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 22, 2017
Better than season 1.
Story 8/10
So into their second year, the five teams of the Musical Department are battling it out for the training roles for the third years' graduation performance. Honestly, the whole story basically follows the characters trying to get their senpai to notice them. Not disappointed in the least.
Jokes aside, the story is really about Hoshitani at this point and shows the influence of his friends which leads to his success, despite being the least skilled candidate for the training roles. And of course, it shows how he is able to influence the rest of the cast in return. The story
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takes constant twists and turns that make it impossible to stop watching.
Art 4/10
The art was decent at best. The transitions to the musical are much smoother and I love the design of the new characters. Although not the anime's strong point, it doesn't really matter because the story is good enough for you to overlook it.
Sound 7/10
Compared to the first season, the songs in the second season were slightly better. It wouldn't be a 7 if it weren't for the final song which was a masterpiece I absolutely love.
Character 9/10
Since the beginning, I always believed the characters were Starmyu's strong point. I mentioned that it follows Hoshitani solely this season, but they still manage to treat the other characters appropriately such as Kuga and Nayuki despite the huge cast. Not only the main character, but everyone else's development was so impressive that when I rewatch the anime, I laugh. It wasn't exactly unnoticeable but definitely not unnatural either. They change according to the course of events that happen in the anime.
The best part that I didn't see coming was the discovery of new/hidden sides to certain characters, even the ones I thought were annoying. Along with new unexpected friendships, it made the anime so much more interesting to watch.
Enjoyment 10/10
Honestly, I thought it would be worst than the previous season. But in actuality, this completed the whole anime that when I go back to season one, I enjoy it more than the first time I watched it.
Overall 9/10
There wasn't anything wrong with the way the creators approached making this anime, but I know the first few episodes are difficult to adapt to; however, it does get better and it is definitely worth it. Those who were impatient or harsh towards their first couple episodes are missing out on a good story.This season definitely brought out the true potential of Starmyu which wasn't possible without the introduction in the first season. It was amazing, completely worth it. Recommended for those who enjoy cliche stories.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Nov 25, 2016
So I watched Pupa uncensored, and all the episodes 1-12 straight like a 38 minute movie. I noticed many reviews here on MAL with extremely low ratings and decided to watch it because I had 38 minutes to waste on a terrible full length story. Instead I actually enjoyed it.
Story 9/10
In my opinion the pacing was perfect. In fact there were times when I thought it was a little slow. Honestly if it was a 20 minute series I wouldn't have been able to sit the whole thing especially since I'm not fan of horror or gore as well.
Art 8/10
The watercolor background visuals were nicely
...
done and the highlight was probably the cute designs of the Hasegawa siblings. I only gave it an 8 because I have high standards, also there were times when the flow of animation was off.
Sound 10/10
It was a laugh the way they could make a scene that should be appalling seem very sweet with a playful soundtrack.
Characters 9/10
Nothing to do with complex character development, but at the same time I didn't expect any in the first place. I have to say that the way the author brings out their 'ugliness' is probably the reason why I rate this aspect so high.
Enjoyment 9/10
As someone who isn't a fan of gore, I couldn't give this a full 10 but it was definitely enjoyable. Wouldn't watch it again, although trying to figure out what happens next kept me going.
Overall 10/10
Its not for everyone, probably aimed at the minority of people who enjoy this kind of content and it does a great job for that minority.
EDIT: Just want to make a statement that before and while writing this review, I was clearly at my peak of boredom at that time; therefore my score is quite exaggerated. I don't particularly like the series and remain neutral to it even now, but there's nothing wrong to how twisted it is.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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