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Aug 29, 2023
Oshi no Ko shined in terms of how deeply the doubts and innermost fears of the two main girls other than Ruby and Ai resonated with me. Every character has a relatively compelling reason behind why they behave the way they do, and the world and its consequences felt slightly idealistic for sure (it's an anime) but surprisingly grounded and realistic.
Oshi no Ko is extremely character driven, and the art, cinematography, and music direction all act perfectly in unison to really highlight when a character has a moment in which they shine; both other characters and I had our breath taken away, and the anime
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does a great job portraying and delivering that sort of feeling.
It may be a bit pointed of me to mention this, but for those calling the anime pretentious and/or overblown, sometimes popular things are popular for a reason. The anime never pretends to be anything it isn't. Don't confuse a premise with a genre, and don't project your desire to be refined onto something just because it's mainstream.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 13, 2019
Something of a short and sweet review. Disclaimer: apparently this whole transported-to-another-world archetype story is an entire genre? Not too familiar with it, so your mileage may vary.
Story: 5
Art: 8
Sound: 6
Character: 6
Enjoyment: 7
Overall: 7
Overall (7):
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Perhaps a bit of a generous score to give, but I'll stand by it.
Story (5):
This anime has an extremely OP MC, making fights and even the story feel extremely predictable. That being said, if you like the characters even a bit like I did, it is nice to see the characters' motivations advance as part of the plot. It's almost like watching a favorite Youtuber play Civ VI or something.
In my opinion, there is one major flaw. In the first few episodes, what seems to be a compelling side character and motivation for the main character are established. At first, certain events occur that I interpreted as detours that merely ended up impeding the MC's original goal, but it soon turns out that the MC's motivation is thrown away almost as if it were a whim. This original motivation for the MC is never mentioned again in any significant detail. This felt quite annoying.
Art (8):
I'll admit I have a huge bias for bright, vibrant color palettes. I don't have too much of a trained eye, but for the most part, backgrounds were bright, with good use of color, and CG wasn't particularly an eyesore. The backgrounds are much better than those of say, Testament of Sister New Devil, an anime that stands as an example of really bad background art in my opinion. Character designs are obvious figurine sales pandering; cute and likable.
Sound (6):
Fit the theme of fantasy, I guess. Nothing particularly good or bad about it. Anime OPs/ED felt pretty par for the course.
Character (6):
Definitely somewhat lazy characterization in my opinion. Perhaps this is lazy writing on my part, but in general, characters feel very one-dimensional and tied closely to their tropes. I'd presume that fantasy as a genre relies more on tropes given that games and fiction have established certain long-running conventions, but the lack of deviation from common fantasy archetypes coupled with the stereotypical anime character tropes made characters feel stale. That being said, I didn't hate the character designs, and there's certainly plenty of potential husbandos and waifus to choose from if that's your thing. I'm not a particular fan of fan service and believe that fan service in and of itself can't make an anime great (e.g. Rosario Vampire garbage ecchi desu the dumpster fire of an anime) but I'd say the characters were likable enough where the use of common, "likable" tropes was acceptable; in other words, fan service here was somewhat appreciated.
Enjoyment (7):
I started seeing more and more flaws as the series continued, and the MC's motivation became less and less compelling as his OPness became more and more apparent, so my enjoyment diminished over time. Action sequences were sparse and ended quickly. That being said, I didn't hate the anime enough to binge most of it in one day, finishing the rest over the next two days. Definitely a very generous score on my part, though.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Oct 25, 2018
To those looking to view Lucky Star solely for its commedy: don't.
Lucky Star is pretty much 480 minutes of "Ayy, same lol". The series simultaneously makes fun of but undeniably loves the inspiration for its material, Japanese otaku culture. Anyone who's watched a decent amount of anime will often relate to the main character, Konata, and the other main characters, particularly Kagami, will remind you of any conversations you might have had with a friend who doesn't have the same interests you have. This relatability is the series' strong point.
Pacing is certainly very, very slow, given the absence of a plot. I'm not
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too familiar with the whole source material behind the anime, but I believe it's structured as a four-panel strip. Similarly, Lucky Star's structure primarily depends on a series of chronological skits. The overarching plot is simply there to provide a general backbone for the story.
The art is absolutely gorgeous. CG was almost nonexistent as far as I could tell. Backgrounds had a hand-drawn aesthetic, and I felt that there was a lot of love put into the art for Lucky Star. Although background characters often just end up as blurry gray silhouettes, I loved the refusal to compromise and utilize more CG. I've noticed that there's a lot of criticism surrounding the "lolicon" character design to pander to otakus, and while that's somewhat true, the overall consistent aesthetic and the almost chibi-like proportions made the anime feel like it had its own unique art style rather than pandering with heavy amounts of moe (i.e. Gakkou Gurashi). Character designs were very cute and did not ring my bullshit alarm like other shows.
Regarding characters, characters were admittedly one-dimensional. I felt like stereotypes were heavily used (Konata the otaku, Patty the foreign otaku, lecherous father, clumsy moe Miyuki, etc.) but given the nature of the anime and the good execution of each character, I felt that each character was extremely likable. Nearing the end of the anime, I truly felt regret that it was coming to an end; there's also some surprisingly tender moments assuming that you're at least somewhat invested in the characters.
Although I did end up taking four months to finally finish the damn anime, it was genuinely enjoyable while it lasted. The endings were all unique, and the sketches before each ending all added another layer of self-aware humor.
Honestly, Lucky Star is a SoL through and through. If you like slice of life, Lucky Star serves as an excellent SoL and comedy. If you can't stand the genre however, Lucky Star will likely have poor pacing and lack of humor for you. That being said, I can wholeheartedly recommend Lucky Star as a must-see for anyone who enjoys watching anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jan 9, 2018
Perhaps it's a bit of a dick move for me to say this, but my initial impression of the reviews with slightly lower scores is that they feel a bit pretentious. Classical formulas are classics because they work. Sure, some spins are always nice, but at the core, classics appeal to the masses because they're well structured.
This describes Boku no Hero Academia. I won't lie, I'm perhaps a bit snobbish myself, granted I've poured a fair amount of abuse in blasting shows like Infinite Stratos or Highschool Dxd--different genres aside--, but I've noticed a common criticism in many of the most highly rated lower-scoring reviews
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is an expressed frustration at the work's failure to challenge the storytelling norms of its genre. To me, as said previously, this feels misguided.
I hate to admit it, but I held off on watching this anime for two reasons. One is that I tend to hate going through damn good animes because then I feel sad after, thinking I won't feel that rush of adrenaline and that feeling of "Damn. What a ride!", and the cycle repeats itself over and over. But the second, slightly more problematic issue I tend to suffer from is that I distrust hype. I honestly didn't trust the hype surrounding Boku no Hero Academia. Maybe it's vestiges of my disappointment surrounding major franchises like Sword Art Online. Maybe I'm just overly cynical. Regardless, I absolutely feel compelled to write a positive review for this anime. It absolutely deserves the hype it gets. It had me on a rollercoaster of emotions and pining for Deku's victories. The world within this anime is definitely very fleshed out. The battles feel so well thought out that they bring you in. The experience watching Boku no Hero Academia is definitely immersive.
It's been a while since I've felt compelled to bingewatch an anime, or even watch anime in general. That's how damn good it was.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jul 2, 2017
0/10 almost cried on a Japan Airlines flight
No, but in all seriousness, I found myself literally wracked with anxiety pulling for the characters, hoping with all my heart for the desired ending. It ends up being contrived, but that's OK; I don't think my heart could have taken it any other way.
The OST fits the movie beautifully, and the landscapes and animation are top notch. Haven't seen an anime that looks this good in a while.
Character development isn't the strongest in existence as it felt like it was based on some certain tropes, but the experiences feel genuine and the body switching was a delightful
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choice that added a new layer of depth to the story.
I haven't had an anime that's gotten me this close to tears in a while, and that's a damn good indicator of how good this movie is.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Sep 28, 2016
Story - 7
Art - 10
Sound - 10
Character - 10
Enjoyment - 10
Overall - 10
As a high school senior whose high school life is coming to an end ever more imminently, I particularly relished this show because it celebrates what normal life is and how enjoyable life can end up being if you have close friends to spend time with.
Friendship is definitely a major driving factor in the series. Everyone seems to deeply care about their friends, with one friend's concern becoming everyone's concern, and the way people bond doesn't seem overly contrived, although admittedly, perhaps one particular character does seem to have that kind of aspect.
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Overall, though, any issues that are present aren't bothersome, and thus, the anime does deliver a mostly genuine feeling.
The art was absofuckinglutely gorgeous. I haven't seen backgrounds this good in a while. There are definitely good backgrounds, yeah, but this particular anime seemed to blow me away every time, which has extremely rarely happened (only other time art blew me away was Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso).
The OP is excellent and meshes well with the overall vibe of the anime. ED is OK. I've seen better, but it somehow does work.
Like I said, for me, the anime feels 70% relatable which jacked up my enjoyment a lot since I felt so emotionally connected to it. Daily life and hanging out with friends is definitely something to be cherished, and this anime celebrates that, which I love.
I'm feeling a bit listless just like Tanaka-kun, so I guess I'll end my review here.
Did I mention the art is outstanding though? Like seriously. It's insane.
tl;dr vibe and art are godly, friendship/daily life are prevalent themes, sound is excellent
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jul 27, 2016
A stylish anime with great art and sound, held back by its mediocre and pretentious execution (review based off current progress, 13/24 episodes)
First of all, let's go over the pros:
+ Stylish, well-made OP1 with great visuals that pump up the viewers
+ Decent musical score, especially the OP1
+ Some interesting plot twists
+ Some interesting information that totally changes the direction of the plot
+ Koyama Rikiya's sexy voice (I'm totally gay for his voice acting skills)
Here's a huge list of cons, however:
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- NPCs treated beyond expendable (implications of certain events not further explored; sorry if vague, trying not to spoil anything)
- Empty-feeling settings (even factoring in a certain "syndrome", settings feel noticeably empty)
- Shakespeare inspiration ends up being random Hamlet quotes that seem pretentious
- ED1, OP2, and ED2 are all crap that seem ill-fitted to the show
- Totally ruin a character by turning her from leader into tsundere (part of the reason why I put the show "on hold"; more like pseudo-dropping it)
- Poor transition from first arc to second arc
- Some admittedly horrible character designs (like the blonde dude in OP1)
- Possibly because I haven't watched far enough, but flashbacks involving a certain dead person don't seem relevant and feel like filler
- Plot moves at an intensely erratic pace (super slow plot movement when exploring the past, but insanely quick plot movements in present time)
- Anime has a decent atmosphere in first arc but feels cringy second arc
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Feb 28, 2016
This is an anime I feel compelled to write a review for, which is quite rare.
Refer to @mugiwara's review for a far more detailed, and my opinion, overwhelmingly precise review for Your Lie in April.
Story: 5
Your Lie in April has a rather predictable plotline which is summarized quite well by the synopsis. Unfortunately, this means that the story ends up being a skeleton; a skeleton needs muscles to move, and without them, the skeleton is powerless. Nevertheless, a skeleton and muscles are mutually reliant towards each other, and Your Lie in April does provide a solid framework on which the characters can interact and
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weave an overarching idea.
Art: 10
By the first episode, I had already been blown away by the art. Your Lie in April utilizes a massive color palette, and I felt that the art was nuanced so well that it boosted the tone of the story in the moment. In fact, color itself becomes a meaningful metaphor that adds depth to the anime.
Sound: 10
Now, I don't mean to portray myself as an expert, but I did play piano for nine years before getting to my goal and quitting (incidentally, this anime does tempt me to pick it up again). During the various classical pieces that were presented, characters often analyze and comment on the emotional nuances of a piece, the color the musician portrays in his music. Their analyses were illustrated perfectly by whoever was playing the classical pieces. The music itself seemed to come alive. It was color and life portrayed by sound. Your Lie in April has succeeded in opening my ears further to the subtleties of a piece of music.
Character: 10
Let me get off my chest right away that the side characters are relatively static. It is the development of Arima Kousei that provided the greatest entertainment to me. His evolution is breathtaking. Furthermore, the relationship between Kaori and Kousei was very organic in a sort of way. Unfortunately, I don't feel confident enough to feel that I can explain the depth of Kousei's development, but know that his is masterfully executed.
Enjoyment: 9
The very fact that I feel compelled to write a review for this piece is a testament to how much I enjoyed this anime. The subtleties of the anime, from its use of color and strikingly well written character development serve to make this anime a good look into the depths of the anime's being, almost. I did feel a pressure behind my eyes occasionally, so the anime conveys feels excellently as well.
Overall: 9
It would be very fair to give this anime an 8 overall. The utter inadequacy of its story brings down the stellar sound, art, and character development and it's lack of meaningful side characters does no good either. But life, as it has shown to Arima, is unfair, and I will give this anime an undeserved 9/10. The excellent art, sound, and development of Kousei drive me to give Your Lie in April that unfair extra point.
tl;dr Story is shit, but everything else is godtier, watch it. Has good feels.
P.S.: No matter how much anime I watch, none will make me truly spill tears like AnoHana. Saying this anime has more feels than that is unwarranted and unfair. Sorry, fans of Your Lie in April.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 23, 2015
Durarara!!!×2 Ten...
An interesting anime indeed. We watch Mikado join the "dark side" of Ikebukuro in order to do what he feels is right.
To be honest, the story is alright. But let me just say one thing. Something about the vibe of Ikebukuro and the anime itself feels utterly wrong. DRRR's ability to competently inspire such convincing auras is its strength, and it delivers as usual.
But honestly, this review wasn't really written to review the anime. It ended up doing so, but what I really, really, really wanted to say is...
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GOD DAMN, I WANT TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF RYUUGAMINE MIKADO.
tl;dr Anime delivers vibes well but induces rage
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 27, 2015
First of all, let me give my individual scores for the anime. Honestly, these will probably better describe the anime than a review that's probably going to be emotionally charged.
Story: 6
Art: 8
Sound: 10
Character: 6
Enjoyment: 6
Overall: 8
Obviously, there's a disparity in the scores, as the average probably approaches more of a 7 than an 8. In fact, the overall should be a 7 (rounded down from 36/5, the average of the first 5 individual scores, yielding a raw average overall score of 7.2).
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In retrospect, the story was rather disjointed. There wasn't a smooth transition, and stuff happened at a breakneck pace without good connections being made between major plot events. Guilty Crown eventually spirals into a Sword Art Online-esque shitfest. All things considered though, the plot is passable, and it kept me watching.
The art is well done. I'm not one to judge art critically, and for me, an 8 demonstrates a high level of artistic competence--which in all honesty, is the level of a good number of animes for me.
Guilty Crown's two OPs definitely shine. My Dearest did not appeal to me at first, but as time went along and the song sunk in to me, there was a beauty to the melody that I didn't see before. It's a song that has stayed with me even after listening to other excellent OPs from subsequent animes I watched. I find myself humming My Dearest incessantly. I would venture to say that My Dearest is likely one of the best OPs I have listened to.
The Everlasting Guilty Crown, OP2 of Guilty Crown, is also excellent. However, I find it to lack the depth of My Dearest. But as a whole, Guilty Crown gets a 10 in Sound solely from the sheer excellence of its OPs, especially My Dearest.
Guilty Crown unfortunately lacks in characterization. Gai is one character that could have been explored way further, especially his traumatic past, but unfortunately, we get a few flashbacks that are placed rather haphazardly during the narrative. Shu is a sissy during a good part of the first few episodes, something that pissed me off a lot during my time watching the anime. Inori is rather static as well.
When I first finished the anime, I was like, "What the fuck did I just watch?" at first. It felt like I had just seen Sword Art Online again. It's hard to describe, but there's just a certain vibe that surrounds this anime and SAO after finishing each anime. It's annoying to me that I can't place my finger on it, but something just feels... off. There's something lacking, and I can't say what. Anyway, this weird feeling rather soured my enjoyment of the anime, and thus, I feel that a 6 for Enjoyment is justified.
Now, the Overall score is a bit weird for me. I previously said Guilty Crown has an SAO-esque feel about it. Well, both SAO and Guilty Crown share a certain niche in my heart; both animes are disappointing in retrospect, but there's also an aura of greatness that surrounds it that few anime manage to match. Guilty Crown has left an inexplicable emotional mark, and this mark somehow manages to drive me into adding a point onto the overall.
To sum this review up, try watching Guilty Crown. The anime may frustrate you and even leave a slightly annoying taste in your mouth like it did for me, but somehow, when I look back, Guilty Crown... IS JUST SO DAMN GOOD. I really can't say why.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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