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I'm honestly not sure how this show received a go for production but I'm guessing some cheating was involved. Apparently, there's a country in which success in life is solely based on an exam. Students attempt to pass this exam using various techniques, including cheating. The show follows cheating expert and inheritor of the paper/wind/fire-controlling Shokatsu technique, Mumei Shokatsu and his actually test-literate partner in crime, Koui Ou. This is one of the worst mockeries/parodies that I've seen in ages and it really was neither funny nor cohesive. Do yourself a favor and save yourself a few brain cells by watching something else.

[b]Animation:[/b]
The show has ... a fairly good animation package overall. Expect a bright, colorful landscape with decent CGI backgrounds and a rather wild assortment of different settings for the tests. Yes, tests plural. The characters are distinct enough though the show decides to draw most of the unimportant characters as grey blobs in the background. Expect rather basic character expressions as this is a rather light show. There is a fair amount of action in the show, as the cheaters (known as C-type) basically treat tests like fights where they must "defeat" all the other test takers and then quickly copy answers before time expires. Battles are usually rather short and are usually resolved by an assortment of ultimate attacks, these are preceded by the protagonist calling his attack followed by each kanji character flashing across the screen. After the carnage is complete, some random announcer repetitively comments on how awesome the attack was and how only one who has mastered the style could use the attack blah blah. There are some brief fan-service moments thrown in including the obligatory bathing suit scene. Honestly though, neither the action nor the ecchi will satisfy viewers in their respective categories.

[b]Sound:[/b]
The show opens with a decently-paced melody that if anything is a bit generic. The ED is a short and playful tune that serves its purpose well. The BGM only consists of a few tunes, the positive of which is that certain tunes will become somewhat familiar by the end of the show. The VA cast is rather surprising as you get huge veterans in many of the roles. I haven't seen the likes of Rie Kugimiya in a main role in ages and likewise haven't heard from Kotono Mitsuishi in a while too. On top of that, we have prolific Youko Hisaka and rising talent Reina Ueda. Unfortunately, I feel the talent is somewhat wasted as the characters here are as cookie cutter as they come.

[b]Story:[/b]
Thank goodness these are half-length episodes as I found it difficult to even make it through that length. Each episode basically shows the class taking tests in various ridiculous settings, like on top of a waterfall or on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Each "stage" has a boss (i.e. test proctor) who likewise gives an incredulous feeling to the show; these include a drunken master and a shark with an augmented brain. After half a season's worth of random and seemingly pointless tests, the show decides to do some random parodies of other shows/concepts. In the last episode, it builds towards a climax of sorts, which is an unnecessarily artificial escalation. The best words I can think of to describe the story are contrived and idiotic.

[b]Character:[/b]
If you are looking for a prime example of what a cookie cutter character is, you've found it. The characters here have literally no depth nor exposition. They are given gimmicky frosting in the form of flashy poses and moves, but otherwise their personalities and behaviors are rigid and simplistic. No one is at all relatable and there are no real relationships in the show. They supposedly try to create a bit of a rivalry in the middle of the season but it feels both out of place and ill executed.

[b]Value:[/b]
Again, I have no idea how this show launched, but it is a disservice to anime as a whole. The characters are a mess and the story is poorly executed and in bad taste. I'm happy the wonderful VAs got a paycheck but it's a shame to have such a poor work associated with their names. Cheating Craft is neither comical nor enjoyable. It may take the simple concept of test taking and attempt to make it exciting, but in the end, it just makes a mockery of what should honestly be a pretty serious matter.

Well... if you happened to have an urgent need for some topless ecchi and don't mind one of the most ridiculous situations yet to come out of the DxD franchise, then by all means check out this OVA. This special focuses on capturing a lingerie thief who happens to be experimenting with forbidden rituals hilariously linked to the philosopher's stone. It's pretty much entirely ecchi with maybe 1% of action thrown in as well.

Animation:
The animation quality is on par with DxD New, which is to say it's already slightly dated. Lines are a bit blurry and everything is more or less drawn rather than generated. ... The characters are drawn identically to the parent show and, really, the only difference is the amount of fan-service based ecchi. This pretty much borders on suggestive hentai.

Sound:
The OVA uses the 2nd OP and ED from DxD New and the BGM, like the parent show, is completely forgettable. They pack a lot of characters into this OVA so expect a majority of the main VA cast to be present in this episode.

Story:
I pretty much summed it up in the introduction. The story isn't particularly great nor does it add anything to the franchise. The plot here is self-contained with fair rising action, climax, and resolution; but honestly, it's not to be taken seriously as the main focus is to shove breasts in your face.

Character:
Though we got many cameos here, there isn't any particular development per say, just a lot of different characters screaming as they are fondled, unclothed, or otherwise molested. I had forgotten how much of an open pervert Issei is.

Value:
Honestly speaking, this OVA perhaps has some entertainment value but otherwise adds very little to the franchise. Unless you find yourself in a desperate need of either DxD or something extremely ecchi yet not hentai, this is probably skippable.

As a working adult (this probably doesn't apply to some of you), do you ever regret how you spent your adolescent years? Kaizaki is twenty-seven years old yet has low self-esteem and literally no future after his parents decide to cut chipping in for his rent. Luckily, he is chosen as a human experiment for Relife, a one-year long second chance at adolescence (and which will cover his living costs).

I absolutely love shows where people are introduced into new situations (Kuromukuro, and FMP being strong examples) and this fits the bill quite well. In this case, Kaizaki has a ton more life experience than his ... peers and so he is able to help others around him while simultaneously healing some of his own personal anguish. It's a very well thought out concept and likewise well executed. For those looking for a slightly more mature taste in their anime (no I don't mean hentai), look no further.

[b]Animation:[/b]
The animation in Relife isn't anything particularly special, if anything I'm actually surprised that a fair number of school backgrounds are drawn rather than generated. The show has a light atmosphere overall with bright, fairly saturated coloring. The characters have an average level of detail though they do a pretty good job of aging Kaizaki and Yoake. The characters are fairly standard overall though there are many scenes where characters are drawn as humorous and occasionally cute chibi caricatures. Hishiro's smile is definitely one thing that never gets old. There isn't any action and this is isn't an ecchi-based show.

[b]Sound:[/b]
The show opens with a decent piece with a good main melody but more interestingly, ends with a different ED in every episode. These EDs are all hits in Japan from the late 90s or early 2000s; fittingly, these pieces should resonate with Japanese viewers in Kaizaki's age range. For us culturally deprived foreigners, Natsumatsuri in episode 12 will probably be the most recognizable tune as the ED from Watamote. The BGM in the show is very minimalist, most of which is just a sole piano; though simple, some of the melodies will become familiar by the end of the show.

The show has a lot of star VA power. Our protagonist is supported by Ai Kayano playing a extremely smart yet socially awkward Hishiro, Haruka Tomatsu playing a humorously tsundere Kariu and up and coming Reina Ueda as the supportive fellow transfer student Onoya. This show is mostly dialogue driven and they do a great job keeping things interesting.

[b]Story:[/b]
Kaizaki takes a magic pill to enter the Matrix er... to make him look like a teenager and re-enrolls in high school. There he befriends those sitting around him and eventually helps them resolve interpersonal issues. The story is a mix of hilarious comedy and really good character development. It flows like a slice of life and is pretty light most of the time. There's one central plot line following Kaizaki's new daily life, there isn't any particular rising action or climax though for me the last few episodes were particularly enjoyable.

Though this sounds really light and fluffy, underneath the hood it's a human experiment to try to rehabilitate NEETs. And though I won't spoil exactly what it is, there's a pretty good twist at the very end of the show. It's a great watch overall, especially for us older viewers, and ends on a pretty positive note.

[b]Character:[/b]
If you like exploratory character relations, this show is gold. Placing someone who's mentally older than their teacher is hilarious, and seeing how he has to readjust to cultural norms for those a decade younger are likewise comically explored. There are a lot of interpersonal issues between characters in the show, many of them surrounding Hishiro, who initially doesn't get along with anyone despite being the smartest brain in the cast, and Kariu, whose tsundere shield ends up offending and hurting multiple people. There is a lot of growth in the characters throughout the show, and the last few episodes are particularly exciting for those who like reliving the hatsukoi experience. The cast is relatively small, and just enough exposition is given to supporting characters to keep the focus on the central protagonists.

[b]Value:[/b]
Though the story isn't as engaging as ReZero, this show has a vibrant, playful personality and makes up the difference through outstanding characters. I found myself rooting for the protagonist at one moment only to start laughing uncontrollably the very next scene as a result of Hishiro's innocent antics. This was an absolute pleasure to watch and, due to the late plot twist, definitely has re-watch value. If you're tired of the fantasy genre and or overly moe characters, this show has a compelling package.

The weather sucks, life is miserable, and there's nothing to do. Oh, why can't someone just transport me to another dimension, maybe somewhere interesting? The dropping of a NEET into a fantasy world setting is an already successfully tested premise. However, unlike Konosuba, ReZero spices it up with a bit of Edge of Tomorrow. Our protagonist, Natsuki Subaru, is a worthless good for nothing drain on the economy in modern Tokyo. However, being a NEET, he has significant experience with fantasy adventure games and thus adapts quite well to being dropped into one. However, shockingly, we learn that he has no abilities, no level up ... card, and virtually no "gear". Unsurprisingly, he is fodder and soon killed. However, he is cursed to repeat his last few days upon death, based on some auto save point that he cannot control.

ReZero is a surprisingly enjoyable ride and, albeit a bit long and with a bit too much angst in some sections, honestly one of the best shows of the season. Though it doesn't have the production quality of Zestiria, it makes up for it with a rock-solid story and likable characters. If you are at all interested in the fantasy genre and can deal with some scenes that border on being morbid, this is a show you should not miss.

Animation:
The animation in ReZero is very good overall. The show has a nice level of detail along with superb lighting and shading; it really helps in this show that goes from happy to dire within a few frames. What was particularly interesting here was the huge number of non-human creatures early on in the show. It's interesting because the ratio of human to non-humans wildly swings towards the former as the show progresses. I'm not a huge fan of the 3D CGI animal/carriages but it's not too distracting. Though the characters aren't particularly detailed, the show does give you a plethora of cute girls. Even a lot of the minor supporting cast gets a moe treatment; and that's not even including the ultra-furry cat guardian Pack. Perhaps it's the half-elf nature but our heroine definitely stands out from the crowd. The only oddity that bothered me in terms of animation was the resilience of our protagonist's tracksuit.

Don't think this show is all about cute girls acting moe though, there's a very sizable amount of action here along with a surprising amount of blood and death. If you don't like seeking cute heroine girls get butchered, you might want to shy away from this one. The show has a good mix of melee/ranged/magic attacks, but what's most interesting is that our protagonist fights with virtually no fighting experience and no skills- he's literally your run of the mill NEET; his only weapon is his ability to try again, albeit only after suffering a painful, agonizing death. Interestingly enough, this show is not ecchi at all; yes there are lolis and yes our protagonist occasionally earns a lap pillow but you won't find mischievous or accidental exposure scenes.

Sound:
The show spans two seasons so has two OP and EDs. The first OP is a rock-based piece that's a bit strong in my opinion given the atmosphere of the show. The second OP is more melodic but still has a bit of randomness in it. The first ED is nice, melodic piece that fits well. The second ED is super slow, but is a nice, gentle cool down piece with a matching nice melody. In numerous episodes, the show fades in to the ED, which is a nice touch. The BGM is fitting but not particularly special, there are a few tracks or melodies that are repeated, such as when our protagonist is reset to a previous time after death.

The VA talent on this show is superb. Rie Takahashi has come a long way from her days in Sore ga Seiyuu! She lands a superb performance here, as does Inori Minase as Rem. The surprising thing is that a super-famous veteran voices every single relatively important supporting female role. You get Kana Ueda with a Kansai accent, Satomi Arai in her default loli role, and even the likes of Yui Horie as a trap, Mamiko Noto as a sexy assassin, and Yukari Tamura in all her pompous grandeur; all of them live up to their reputations.

Story:
Whereas some shows grow on you with time, ReZero excites from the very first episode and doesn't let go until you're through with two seasons. Our protagonist is thrown into a world where death seems to lurk around every corner. Since he is unable to die in that he just is reset again, the only way to avoid an endless loop of mind-numbing death is to try to "advance" the plot. It's funny because the plot moves very fast in many episodes only to end up making no progress at all, as Natsuki finds himself once again at death's doorstep. However, there are numerous variations as a result of Natsuki's differing actions so it's nothing as horrific as endless eight.

The show has arcs in the sense that once Natsuki makes enough progress his "save point" is moved up. However, many a gamer has encountered the save point right before death, and our protagonist is no exception. I can't say much about the actual plot without spoiling events, but I can honestly say that this show has some really good plot twists; this is the kind that is foreshadowed but you don't it until the twist occurs, brilliantly done. Through a rather jagged progression of battles, conversations, and deaths, the story builds to a final climax that makes wonderful use of many of the characters introduced throughout the show. This is followed by a fitting conclusion and a light tease at the very end. It is a wonderful journey overall that, despite a bit too much angst in certain parts, keeps the viewer engaged throughout. You'll have a good mix of comedy, adventure, light romance, action, and tragedy.

Character:
Natsuki Subaru is by no means perfect, but his faults make him relatable and likable. He is a determined, loyal, and well-meaning protagonist who just happens to be no match for anyone else in this alternate universe. Despite having not been alone with a girl since elementary school, he has a surprising flirtatious personality. That said, he is the type to brute force his way through conversations, and you'll see some of this more unsightly and outright desperate side in the angst-heavy center portion of the show. There are specific episodes where he is just outright completely lost, understandable given the mental scarring of having to remember countless deaths. However, what brings life to this show is the ability of those around him to rally him back to his senses, wonderful character dynamism. Seriously, this is like the most I've written about a male protagonist in years.

As for heroines, this show really centers around two of them. It feels kind of like Steins;Gate where the central heroine shifts a bit between the two. The obvious initial heroine, Emilia, is a gentle beauty who happens to be a half elf. Apparently, in this world, it's like Inuyasha so they are looked down upon. Natsuki instantly falls for her and does everything in his power (and beyond) to make things right for her. In the middle of the show, we're introduced to two maids, Ram and Rem who confusingly dress similarly and refer to each other way too often to be able to distinguish them. However, later on Rem plays a much more major role and grows significantly on the viewer. Both heroines are very well rounded despite the story never revealing Emilia's history.

Antagonists here are mysterious and well thought out. I particularly liked the dynamism where some characters start out as antagonists but later on are seen as allies. Despite there being a lot of supporting characters, I felt that the story utilized everyone well.

Value:
I still have the third "Re" show to watch from this season (rewrite), but so far this is the most interesting watch of the season by far. It's a tad on the long side but the two seasons are definitely worth it. The show combines a very interesting storyline with likeable characters and a good dosage of action. Given the many plot twists and foreshadows, there is definitely re-watch value as well. Give the first episode a shot and you'll most likely be hooked!

The world is in chaos; malevolence seeps out of the Earth itself and engulfs all in despair. But fear not, for you, who can see and speak with the Seraphim deity shall herald a new era as the legendary shepherd. The decisions you make and the relationships you forge shall shape the future of humanity. Tales of Zestiria the X is the anime adaption of the successful RPG franchise, and ufotable sure did a great job retaining the RPG-like feel.

If you're like me and have never set foot in Zestiria land, fear not for the story gently eases you into this deep and rich world ... full of elemental magic and unspoken horrors. If you like good stories in the medieval-based fantasy genre, this should be right up your alley. Though I had my doubts coming in, ufotable has given us a great addition to the medieval fantasy genre.

[b]Animation:[/b]
Though the animation isn't exactly always up to my expectations for ufotable, the overall quality is still many levels above your average show. Expect lots of lush scenery with great detailing along with superb lighting and shading. Whether in Tomb Raider like crypts or bustling street markets, the atmosphere is well presented. Some of the overlook vistas are particularly impressive with rich backgrounds and detailed clouds. I'm a bit more mixed from the 3D CGI perspective. Mob villagers and carriages are fairly drawn overall but you can still tell that they move differently than the protagonists in the foreground. Water and fire effects are brilliantly done, literally approaching realistic levels. Monsters... not so much. The dragons and other creatures look fake and have unnatural movements. The characters are well drawn in a unique style; the coloring is rather flat with minimal shading. This style contrasts sharply with the highly detailed, variably lit backgrounds; it takes a bit to get used to but isn't particularly distracting or annoying. I will say that one aspect I wasn't particularly sold on is character expressions; the still sprites in the post credit previews are about as exciting expression-wise as you're going to see in the show. Sorey's shepherd outfit, along with those ear clips, also gives him a bit of a Native American flair.

Expect a good deal of action in this show along with a fair amount of blood and occasional death. The action is high intensity and the show is blessed with very good choreography and excellent effects. Though "purifications" aren't as special as say the equivalent in God Eater, there are plenty of varied fights. Velvet Crowe is rather scantily clad I guess but otherwise this isn't an ecchi-based work.

[b]Sound:[/b]
Though appropriate for the genre, I wouldn't consider the sound package anything special. The OP is a rather refreshing light rock piece with a good melody and unique wind instrumentation. The ED is a slow piece with some nice instrumentation but could use a more definitive melody. The BGM is pretty airy with some uplifting, exploration/adventure themed choral tracks. The other pieces are more ordinary and rather forgettable.

The VA cast for this series is incredible; listing the notable, veteran VAs from here would literally take a paragraph. Let's just say the main cast is all pretty strong, though I particularly liked Mikako Komatsu, Noriko Shitaya, and Ai Kayano's performance. For the Berseria arc, Rina Satou shines in the main role and we also get to hear Satomi Arai voice a non-loli for once. This is definitely one show that's not short on talent.

[b]Story:[/b]
Zestiria starts off with a very bleak and saddening starting chapter; this truly is a very unforgiving world. However, from then on, it plays out literally like an RPG in video form; i.e. you meet the protagonist, learn whom the final boss is, and start hacking away at quests, and meeting important NPCs er... supporting characters along the way. I wouldn't call the setting particularly original, obviously it borrows the sword in the stone concept from King Arthur and fusion abilities from numerous other anime shows, but the seraphim were a pretty interesting touch, and the norin (though still partially a mystery) are rather cute.

The actual story consists of one single central plot with various character introductions along the way, each of which has subplots (i.e. quests). There are a few cliffhangers, one of which is oddly prolonged by a random two-episode introduction to Tales of Berseria. The story builds to an eventual climax where Sorey gets his chance at being Kira Yamato. This climax and the resolution are pretty good but also rather predictable. This really is just one arc in one giant story, and they sure go out of their way to announce that a sequel is already in the works.

The show has a decent mix of comedy, adventurous exploration, and battle. There's a fair amount of talk time and a decent amount of political dealings in the background, especially around our princess. There isn't a consistent mood in this show however; it ranges wildly from utterly hopeless to jubilant celebration. In general, despite some bleak scenes, I'd say the show is rather optimistic.

[b]Character:[/b]
Surprisingly, there's a lot of characters that I don't particularly like in this show. Our protagonist Sorey is painfully naive. This enables him to have rather grand goals in life but also makes him ridiculously defenseless against guile and women. Though quite powerful as a warrior, he just isn't relatable at all. Sorey is almost always shadowed by his Seraphim friend, Mikleo, who I have no doubt is the target of multiple yaoi doujinshi. We also have a princess in this show, who reminds me of her counterpart in Aldnoah Zero; she does a lot of grunt work on the front lines but never seems to be taken seriously by the politicians. Her selflessness is admirable though, combined with her personality, makes her feel reserved and distant. Honestly, Lailah and Rose are really the only redeeming feature in terms of personality for this show, and even they are rather static characters.

There is a huge secondary cast with numerous names, allegiances, and abilities to keep track of. What really got me confused was how so many of the characters seemed to already know each other (protagonist not included). Really, many of the characters were just barebones, just enough to further the plot. Honestly, this is not the strongest section for this show.

[b]Value:[/b]
This is a rich world full of creatures, abilities, and yet to be solved mysteries. It is a bleak world, but one that has one hope, and that is our protagonist Sorey; how he has not amassed a harem of followers yet I do not know. Zestiria's story is deep and involved, and full of elements still to be explained. It's an interesting, and engaging watch, though unfortunately the characters aren't as deep as I had hoped. Nevertheless, with ufotable's production and a huge cast of VA veterans on board, this is still a show you shouldn't miss.

Having just finished half a dozen or so light-themed shows, Alderamin was a great palette cleanser. This show is a military-based, strategy-focused action show featuring an early rising general, Ikuta, and a merciless melee swordsman (what is it with swords and redheaded gals these days). It takes place in an alternate world where cavalry is still in use and rifles are considered the bleeding edge of technology. The show reminded me strongly of Valkyria Chronicles in many ways- primary protagonist, early plot progression, and the technological state of the world.

Though not a complete masterpiece, the show tells a contiguous story and is led by a ... protagonist who for once is not an all-powerful Kira Yamato like figure. Unfortunately, the story isn't really complete; it only tells the first chapter of Ikuta's rise. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable ride and leagues ahead of other recent shows like Qualidea Code.

Animation:
Alderamin has a rather bright, saturated color palette, giving the show a bit of a happy mood despite the brutal reality of war. Shading is actually pretty good and you get a lot of pretty colorization effects in the background. Some of the battles feature a bit too much 3D CGI for my taste but I guess this is becoming the norm these days. I'm also not a particular fan of the character styling, honestly I almost skipped out on this show because of the facial drawing style. Emotions are fair overall but occasionally characters feel a bit stiff, especially the heroine Igsem and our princess. The show also feature miniature fairy-like spirit beings that specialize in generating light, fire, etc. They kind of look like less-cute, emotionless versions of Normins found in the Zestiria world.

There is a large amount of action in this show though the choreography isn't anything special. Expect a great deal of blood in this show, especially whenever sword master Igsem shows up. There's a large amount of suffering and death in the show but they almost always spare you from the more grueling parts. This isn't a show about a particular character's invincibility in battle, the excitement comes instead from the protagonist's ability to tactically outsmart his opponent. Though there are a few suggestive scenes and Ikuta is a bit of a player, this isn't an ecchi-focused show.

Sound:
The sound package was a bit underwhelming overall. The show opens with a rock-based OP that badly needs a more focused melody and ends with an ever-so-slightly slower ED that likewise isn't particularly memorable. The BGM is mostly orchestral, supportive but nothing special.

The show has a fairly good VA cast led by the commanding performance of Risa Taneda. We also have rising stars Haruka Chisuga and Inori Minase in important roles. That said, there are tons of guys in this show; expect a large amount of screen time to be taken by stereotypical military/politically-inclined male voices.

Story:
From the very beginning of the show, we hear the princess narrate that this tale is about the early career of Ikuta, who will eventually be revered as a genius general. Despite this giveaway plot shield, the show still manages to draw the user in through rather clever tactical troop strategies - it's like mystery but you're guessing how he'll overcome the next obstacle. Despite being a war-themed show, the mood is surprisingly light for a good portion of the time- whether it is the playful, relaxed nature of our protagonist or just inappropriate atmosphere is up to the viewer. There is a bit of political maneuverings and some hints at racial divides, but compared to A/Z or Schwarzesmarken I would say it's on the light side.

The story can be roughly divided into four main story arcs, each with its own rising action and climax. There aren't too many cliffhangers per say but there are a multitude of nicely placed plot twists. Though we have a military genius in our protagonist, there are some pretty interesting curveballs thrown his way. The show ends on a ridiculously large cliffhanger that begs for more episodes, this feels like but chapter one of a long and interesting novel. One drawback is the huge number of unanswered setting questions, the largest of which is what the heck Alderamin and the unexpressive spirits that accompany everyone are. Thank goodness, the main plot is exciting enough that you won't have too much time to dwell on such questions.

Character:
If you're tired of the typical male protagonist, then Alderamin sure has a treat for you. Ikta may be a smart, cunning military officer, but he is also lazy, outspoken, and a flirt. He is as commandeering with the ladies as he is on the battlefield, though this is by no means an action based harem. He reminds me a lot of Welkin Gunther from Valkyria for obvious reasons, but is much more unpredictable in general, and thus much more interesting. Rarely in this genre do we see a leading figure so blatantly heedless of rank.

The other characters are more average in general. Supposedly, the first arc introduces Ikta's friends, but honestly other than our redhead heroine, the others don't really get that much serious interaction or exposition. Even the princess is still quite the mystery at the end of the show. The antagonists are likewise fairly generic and some verge on downright inept.

Though there are some character interactions and light development, don't expect any particularly deep relations to form; just look at how small a part Daru Nanaku and Suya end up playing. Honestly, if you're going to like the characters, you'd better like Ikta.

Value:
Alderamin is an above average show that does a good job of differentiating itself. Though production values are not particularly strong, Ikta and his interestingly unpredictability give the plot a strong boost. It is a bit annoying that the show leaves such a huge portion of Ikta's back-story unexplained, but there's enough of it to whet one's appetite. This is an entertaining watch, and I hope we'll see more of it.

A few seasons back I watched a rather subpar show about a group of high schoolers making a game. So I guess someone decided it was about time to do another such show, but utilizing pros this time. What results is propaganda so ridiculously fake that you might as well be convincing someone that cheesecake is in fact ice cream cake. New Game! depicts the not-so-realistic game studio Eagle Jump, which apparently has a reverse-discriminatory hiring practice as not a single guy shows up in the entire show. It follows recent high school graduate Aoba as she learns about office life from her sempai. It ... feels very much along the same vein as shows such as Working! and Sore ga Seiyuu! Know that despite the 4-koma tag, these episodes are actually full length.

If you want to laugh at a show as it attempts to sell you on the fun of staying up all night doing work, dig in. Likewise, those who enjoyed girls' club shows such as K-On, Tari Tari, or the like may also enjoy this. If you're like me and tired of the same moe format being applied to every conceivable setting, then you'll probably want to skip this one.

Animation:
The animation is standard fare moe material, most of which takes place in a relatively bright and happy office. Expect pretty good detailing in the studio, the narrow building entrance and certain details definitely feel fitting based on my time in Tokyo. I mentioned Shokomeza earlier, and honestly, despite the characters here being supposedly older these characters act and behave even more childish. There you have it, a show with middle-school aged characters working in a supposedly professional gaming studio. The animation highlights of this show for me include the cute yet obviously uninterested hedgehog Sojiro and Hifumi's true smile - about as moe as you can get, ok fine they got me on that one.

Sound:
The show opens with a playful song by the VAs that somehow reminds me of Working!, and no it's not because of the exclamation point. The ED is a likewise cheerful piece though it isn't as catchy, and the first part is pretty low in pitch (sounds like it's out of the comfort zone for some of the VAs). The BGM is mostly unobtrusive though also rather fittingly upbeat.

Aoba and her cubicle mates are all voiced by relatively junior VAs. Their performance is fine though Megumi Yamaguchi stands out more because of her character than her performance. However, the managerial level is full of veterans including Eri Kitamura, Ai Kayano, and Youko Hikasa; the latter two deliver very strong performances. Overall, expect a very light and cute sound package throughout.

Story:
The show follows Aoba as she learns how to design and create 3D models for a game, which happens to be a sequel to the game that she first fell in love with as a child. The plot is pretty simple and follows the company as the workers seek to master up. In addition to getting us closer to the looming deadline, each episode has a particular focus, be it Aoba's first nomikai (drinking party), or her first paycheck. It's trivially easy to figure out what the episode is going to be about, just check the episode title. The show builds to a natural and predictable climax and resolution. There is a tiny bit of tension right at the climax but really, this isn't a particularly exciting show. Overall, I got a handful of laughs along the way, but honestly speaking this is not a show that you'll want to chain.

Character:
If all you need from a show are cute girls interacting, then this is pure bliss. If you're more interested in dynamic characters reacting to changing situations or romance, then this is probably going to be a waste of your time. My main complaint here is, again, how immature everyone acts. I get that things are typically overstated in anime, but seriously, these characters are in the wrong setting; the management are more like babysitters than company leaders. That said the character chemistry isn't bad. Aoba is an inexperienced but hard-working newbie. Hajime is your brash, playful otaku who spends all her money on figurines. Yun is your Kansai-accented, goth loli who is uber-sensitive about having flabby arms. And Hifumi is, ironically, a shy, secret cosplayer. They really put thought into giving the characters a bit of depth and not spamming the viewer with a ton of supporting characters, both points that are greatly appreciated. The show really could do without Nene though, maybe I'm still recovering from Flora from Asterisk but loud, childishly-whiny kids really rub me the wrong way.

Value:
Honestly, this is a fair watch but probably the first show of the year that I will forget; there's just nothing significant that happens. On top of that, the plot isn't particularly exciting and the setting is even more far removed from the reality of the workplace than the Working! series. I really have no idea how this is considered seinin but regardless, there are other shows that are much more worthy of your time.

Post-apocalyptic worlds seem to be all the rage these days. In this take here, we find three schools apparently holding back a seemingly endless wave of alien invaders, who had previously already decimated the Tokyo bay area the past. These schools are all filled with unique specialists. Tokyo is filled with flying magicians that use staffs like witch brooms. Kanagawa are melee specialists and apparently utilize a giant aircraft carrier somehow. Finally, Chiba are ranged specialists, using everything from small arms to gigantic WW2-Germany inspired train-mounted mega turrets. With the combined efforts of these three combative schools be enough to hold back the alien invaders? ... Moreover, why does everyone have a chip stamped on the back of his or her neck?

This was one of my stretch watches this season, and indeed, it is a rough patch in many ways. The plot is jumpy, the characters are not relatable, and though there is a bit of excitement later on, the conclusion leaves quite a bit to be desired. Honestly, when the antagonists are referred to as "Unknowns", there's an upper limit to one's expectations. If you're looking for a worthy post-apocalyptic experience, there are other superior recent works in the genre like God Eater. If you're looking for a group coming together to overcome odds, there are much more natural progressions like Grimgar. If you're just looking for a lot of action, then this might be a fair show if you're out of other options.

Animation:
The animation quality is average for a current show, which means it's not bad. The show has a diverse amount of backgrounds all of which are pretty well drawn. Surprisingly, this "futuristic" world is relatively ordinary; there are some futuristic buildings alongside the ruins of present-day Tokyo (like the Metropolitan Government building) but for the most part, there's surprisingly little that is new. In addition, something about the atmosphere feels off; you don't get the vibe that this is humanity's last stand. Annoyingly, a lot of content is drawn in 3D CGI including the water (the battles almost always start over water), the enemy mobs that look like flying pink manta rays, and a good majority of the effects. The characters are average in design overall with a good variety of your typical archetypes. Expressions are average at best overall though there are a few worthy imouto moments from Asuha.

Expect a great deal of action in this show, I'd say there are at least ten thousand mob opponents defeated through the course of the show. Most of the battles aren't particularly engaging though as our main protagonists easily overpower the mobs, and many scenes take place zoomed out with the protagonist as a shiny dot carving a path of destruction in their wake. Some of the opponents also just cheaply disappear in a blinding flash when defeated. One good thing about the schools' varying specialties is a variance in action, there's a good mix of melee and ranged combat. Choreography is average overall though certain scenes late in the show are a bit better. Along with the action there's a bit of blood but nothing particularly gory. I will call out Hotaru's "Void Strike" animation sequence as being way too similar to Kira Yamato's Gundam Seed Strike Freedom Burst mode animation. There is a light amount of ecchi with shower/dressing room scenes, but this is not a particular focus of the show.

Sound:
Qualidea code has a surprising number of different OP and EDs. Both OPs are pretty fast-paced and rock-based, the second of which is superior in my opinion. Claris and Garnidelia sing the EDs; the two groups have a very different style, creating a rather disjoint feeling. The first ED by Claris is rather light in pacing and tonality, whereas the second ED by Garnidelia is much more definitive and aggressive in pacing and melody. The last ED is a collaboration by both bands, and in my opinion is the best song of the bunch with an especially catchy opening melody. Most surprisingly, the show has a pretty catchy BGM as well with a lot of drums and electric instrumentation during battles. There are some nice vocals mixed in as well, including Canaria's battle meditation song.

Of the main heroines, Aoi Yuuki is really the only one I'd consider a veteran; and fittingly her character has the most charisma of the group. You do get many strong supporting characters though with Sayaka Oohara, Mamiko Noto, Sora Amamiya, and Mai Nakahara all in the mix. Mai Nakahara gets the best supporting role award for her lively and surprisingly youthful support late in the show.

Story:
This is where this show starts to unravel a bit into sub-standard space. So supposedly there's an alien invasion and the best thing the adults can do is cryo-freeze their kids and then retreat. Apparently, the "dreams" the kids experience during cryo-freeze somehow ends up giving them X-Men-like superpowers when they are eventually awoken. Thus, humanity, which somehow fends off the aliens to get back to the kids (never explained) now rely on the kids to hold the aliens at bay (literally, like they always appear from the ocean). The kids are divided into three schools as mentioned in the introduction and are for some reason ranked. This creates a great deal of animosity within the greater organization despite the supposedly apocalyptic situation outside of their ridiculous infighting.

There is a single central plot that roughly divides the show into three arcs, relatively synchronized with the three EDs. Each of the arcs has its own rising action and climax. The show does a good job keeping the viewer on their toes with plenty of huge plot twists and a good portion of the episodes ending on cliffhangers. However, you can't help but feel that a lot of the plot twists feel planted; the progression in general doesn't feel very smooth.

Then there's the whole mess once you dig into this show's actual plot code (i.e. reach the conclusion) - you find quite a few bugs and a few infinite loops. Though I now get why the show is some sort of "code", it really opens a huge amount of plot holes and unanswered questions that completely ruin the entire show up to that point. Let's just say you'll probably by doing yourself a favor by not thinking about the implications of the conclusion on the rest of the show.

Character:
The show doesn't start in a particularly convincing manner. It first introduces Ichiya as the protagonist. Though not your typical harem "nice guy", he is even worse as one of the most two-dimensional characters I've seen as a lead protagonist. His constant banter about heroes and being "enough" to save everyone is enough to make you sick. Though nicely drawn, Canaria isn't much better as your supportive yet clumsy sidekick and incestuous object of desire. Oh, it gets even better, and by better, I mean worse. From Kanazawa, you have Maihime, an inspirational girl who takes on too much responsibility herself and her katana-armed, ultra-short-miniskirt-clad assistant Hotaru, who for good measure has an unhealthy dedication to Maihime. And of course, from Chiba we have the Chigusa siblings who, by far, have the most interesting conversations of the bunch but yet also have oreimo vibes between them. Though Maihime is fun to watch and the Chigusa siblings have a fair amount of characterization, the rest of the them all are pretty much cookie-cutter junk.

Furthermore, the show tries to convince you that the characters are dynamic by a shift in behavior as the focus of the first arc. I'm sorry, but no way could they have survived this long with their behavior shown in the first episode. With a huge and relatively underwhelming main cast and an even larger and barely-introduced supporting cast, I can't justify giving this high marks.

Value:
Someone may be calling you from this show, but I think that this is one code you're best off avoiding. Though there are some decent action scenes and a fair level of intensity, the atmosphere just isn't right and the characters don't mesh (both with each other and with the viewer). I did like some of the sound production, but that alone can't justify watching a show, perhaps you should just pick up the OST instead.

Ever make a decision that you regret? What if you could send a letter to your past self to act otherwise? Orange is a slice of life following a teenage girl, Naho, and her group of friends that encounter this exact scenario. Orange is about as unexpected a title as you can get for a show with a coming of age twist to the whole time travel category. However, it is also one of the most predictable shows once you get past the first episode.
The show comes across as something between Anohana and Ao Haru Ride. Though I don't see it nearly as favorably as ... the aforementioned shows, it's a nice departure from the wild sci-fi and fantasy shows that seem to be dominant these seasons. If you're looking for a show that explores character relationships a bit more naturally than Kiznaiver and don't mind the predictability, then this is a pretty good candidate.

Animation:
The show is nicely drawn overall with reasonably detailed backgrounds and modern, crisp lines. The show has a slightly unsaturated color palette, which is fitting given the somewhat apprehensive mood for the majority of the show. There is some occasional 3D CGI but it isn't particularly distracting. Animation-wise, two things bothered me about the show. First, the show is about notes from the future. Expect these notes to flash quickly across the screen, so fast that unless you're extremely well versed in Japanese you'll probably need to pause to fully digest the contents of the letter. The second thing that bothered me was the drawing style. Something about the eyes just doesn't mesh well, especially on the girls. It feels like they have doll eyes at times, thus somewhat killing emotional scenes (especially Naho). Furthermore, Kakeru's smile just looks wrong; I can't quite pin down what it is but it's just off-putting. Characters do get emotional quite often in this show, even the guys; just don't expect the same detail and authenticity that you get with P.A. Works.

This isn't an action based show, unless you count athletic meets as "action." There also isn't any ecchi though you do get some light romance.

Sound:
The show opens with a warm, slow guitar piece. I'm not a huge fan of the singer but the melody is decent. The ED has sad overtones and is sung by another guy. The BGM is standard-fare material, supportive but not memorable.

Honestly speaking, other than Kanahana and Ayane Sakura, the cast is relatively junior. Kanahana shows her experience, giving Naho a very fittingly shy and reserved voice. On the other hand, I have yet to find a role voiced by Seiichirou Yamashita that I like, and this show doesn't change that. Though only voicing a minor role, Yuu Asakawa deserves super kudos for her outstanding role as the English teacher; her intonations are almost passable as a native!

Story:
I'll admit that the premise of this show was particularly intriguing to me - the idea that one can influence their past self rather than forcefully take their earlier version's place like in so many other time-travel shows. How differently would you behave if you knew that someone would soon become intimately close with you? Of if you knew they would soon die? Furthermore, they play with the idea of regret, and whether choosing a different path really would reduce your future regret (by making yourself happier, doesn't it rob someone else of a chance to be happy, such as during a competition?).

The show is at heart a modified slice of life so the majority of the scenes revolve around school life. The atmosphere here is a bit complicated as everyone is trying to strike a familiar, friendly mood while knowing that disaster is looming on the horizon. Still, they manage to have many good times with a fair amount of comical and romantic scenes. The majority of the apprehension comes from the future scenes, where more mature versions of the protagonists look back with regret on their past.

There is a single main plot line that, while slow, eventually builds to an incredibly predictable climax and resolution. This is honestly one of the most predictable shows I've seen in a while. The whole time traveling letters thing and the impossibly photographic memory of all the future protagonists are pretty much glossed over to my disgust. However, despite these shortcomings, it's still a reasonable storyline, especially from a thematic perspective.

Character:
Whether this show works or not for you will strongly depend on how you perceive the characters. These are not your standard, bombastic anime characters that don't actually do anything. Instead, these are more realistic teenagers that show lots of hesitation in relationships, and often are caught up in trivial misunderstandings. These characters eventually start developing innocent relationships that form the backbone for a majority of the tension in the show. From that regard, this show is pretty strong for me. You can expect all the main protagonists to be dynamic characters, albeit perhaps a bit forced given the future letters.

There are two major detractors from this category. First is Kakeru. He definitely is a bit of a nutcase, making me wonder why everyone is so fixated on him. Furthermore, the show purposely makes it hard to get inside his head; really, he's the only thing that is rather unpredictable in the show - you never know whether he's going to accept something or go crazy and run off. Though there's an entire episode later on dedicated to explaining his past and thoughts, it doesn't help his relatability for the many previous episodes. Perhaps I just can't like a dude that smiles in such a fake way all the time. Second, I understand that these are very young characters but their reluctance to act or their inability to see the pitfall in actions that they take is all rather irritating; this will continue to occur throughout the entire show.

If you're looking for a show that really explores and grows character relationships, this show is a pretty decent candidate. I won't say it's as fulfilling as Kokoro Connect or as relatable as the characters in Nagi no Asuakara, but nonetheless it's quite a few steps up from many other shows out there. Just expect there to be lots and lots of crying.

Value:
I'm not a regular consumer of the shoujo genre, but compared to previous offerings I'd have to say that this one just doesn't feel as complete. I can't quite pin down whether it's the lack of relatability to the unstable Kakeru or statistical improbability of their letter plan actually working. In any case, I find myself at the weird crossroad of liking the character development and relationships yet also constantly being infuriated at the characters' actions or lack thereof. I'll still give credit to the interesting premise and amazing English teacher, but overall this is isn't a particularly strong shoujo show. That said, it still was a welcome deviation in terms of characterization and had an interesting premise.

The second season of Asterisk is more like the second half of Asterisk as we finally see the Phoenix Festas come to a conclusion. It's a much more focused season with an emphasis on action and on introducing enough cute girls to match up to Kanojo ga Flag wo Oraretara. It also offers some more plot and character depth, helping to differentiate the series a bit from its many other sibling shows back in 2015. If you enjoy action-centric shows with a touch of harem, then this franchise has a decent offering.

Animation:
The show is unchanged in its drawing style from the first season. Expect the ... same clean, crisp look of the original with a futuristic touch. Detail and shading is average overall but is balanced out by occasionally exceptional effects. Some of the scenery specifically in the last few episodes is refreshing, but a good portion of the show takes place in the Festas arena, which gets a bit old after awhile. There is unfortunately a lot of unsightly CGI here in the form of cars, planes, and the android/mechs AR-D and RM-C; given how large a role the latter two play in this season, it really does become a distraction. The four heroines aside, there are literally over a dozen other supporting females to keep track of - and unfortunately it's getting to the point where I don't think I'm going to remember half of them by the time season 3 rolls by. Everyone is nicely drawn with many of the female characters getting a touch of moe. There's also an above average variation in wardrobes, in case you got tired of everyone wearing the same old uniform.

There is plenty of action in this show, and I particularly liked the variety between melee and ranged combat. Given the team-based nature of the fighting in this show, you get to see many neat combinations of attacks coupled with some nice choreography. There is a slight amount of blood in the show but more than anything I'm amazed at how little damage everyone takes- get thrown into a concrete wall and literally walk away with some dusty clothes and an unhappy expression. Expect a lot of nice effects given the various special abilities of the students. This isn't a particularly ecchi show, they even skipped out on obligatory onsen/bath scene in this season.

Sound:
The show opens with a focused, fast-paced, and electronic-infused song. The melody isn't anything special but the intensity is fitting given the action-centric nature of this season. The ED of the first season was a real surprise of a treat; this season's song is similarly calm, though it strikes a faster, airy club feel. Haruka Chisuga, in addition to the ED, also sings a few insert songs. The BGM in general still isn't any stronger than in the original, there are some nice tension pieces during battles but otherwise it's pretty forgettable.

You hear a lot of Ai Kakuma, Shiori Izawa, and Ari Ozawa in this season, and they all deliver superb performances. You still occasionally get the playful voice of Chinatsu Akasaki and *surprise* Maaya Sakamoto has a role in the show now, though sadly no longer in the ED. The only real annoyance is the introduction of Flora; her personality is pretty crappy as it is but they just had to add on an equally irritating voice. Her aside, expect a great performance overall from the many ladies in this show.

Story:
Let there be no doubt that there will be a third season, lest the world come to a premature end. This second season of Asterisk wraps up the latter half of an exciting Festas competition and really sets the stage for the next tournament, as well as answering some of the many lingering questions from the first season.

Much like Shakugan no Shana 2, this sequel is an action-packed barrage that, in the middle of it all, loses a bit of what makes it unique. Let's just say that certain assumptions were made in the first season that were trivially dismissed or resolved (in a very unnatural/forced way) in this season.

I definitely have issues with specific events in this season; certain events just feel excessively forced or illogical. However, overall the plot is fairly well executed. Expect plenty of cliffhangers and exciting battles once things get rolling. The season builds up to a very predictable climax with a few plot twists (also somewhat foreshadowed) along the way. What was surprising was that the resolution actually thickens the plot rather than resolves it, hence my insistence that this show isn't over yet.

Character:
I'm somewhat divided in this category. On the one hand, there are some really interesting characters. On the other hand, character relationships don't really feel convincing; you could go as far as to call it plain stagnant in this season.

Focusing on the main characters, there isn't much of a change from the last season. I'd say that Ayato and Julis are slightly dynamic, but just barely so. Honestly speaking, Saya and Kirin are more interesting in my opinion. The irony between Saya's emotionally-stunted character and her overwhelming battle firepower whenever she says "burst" is wonderful. As for Kirin, perhaps I'm just weak against this character type but her shy resilience is likewise enjoyable.

Perhaps there just wasn't time to further relationships as the show focused so heavily on action and introducing even more characters for you to try to remember. Let's just say that I feel that many of these often briefly-introduced characters will play a much larger role in the next season. There definitely is a bit of character bloat at this point, and some of the new characters are a tad on the annoying side (both on the protagonist's and antagonist's side).

Value:
Asterisk started as a plot clone of numerous other action-based harems. It has now evolved to focus more on the former for this second season. This installment was an enjoyable, action-packed sequel that builds on certain aspects of the original. While some of the plot was a bit canned and some of the characters detracted from the overall experience, the show in general was still more or less a positive experience. Action aside, it really isn't as strong as the first season, but still good enough. Fans of the original should enjoy this well-rounded sequel, and I eagerly await the next season.