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When you begin Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress it quickly becomes evident that a lot of ideas were borrowed from Attack of Titan. The best form of flattery is imitation, no? Look at how many series in the late 90s and early 2000s borrowed from Neon Genesis Evangelion (i.e. Rahxephon, Fafner, or Bokurano).
The above being said, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is a competent anime. I don't think the story is nearly as developed as say Attack on Titan, but remember Attack on Titan has a manga to pull source material from and Kabaneri is an original anime series. Also in the twelve episodes Kabaneri ... was given there was only so much time to tell a full story. I do hope that the second season announced will do more to develop an intriguing plot.
As for the show's design though, wow. The details in the scenery and backgrounds are way impressive, and as a personal preference I really dig the mashup of steampunk, post-apocalyptic, and traditional Japanese aesthetic. I just find it cool. The character design and animation by Wit Studio are very pleasing to the eye. The characters are just interesting enough to keep watching from episode to episode, but I'd really like to see more development of them in the future season. I love good character development and I don't think we were really able to see substantial growth and change in our characters.
All my criticisms aside, I watched through the twelve episodes quickly because this show was very entertaining. Great animation, world design, and action kept me engaged. Personally I think a good analogy for this series is that it's like a popcorn action flick. It's just fun entertainment and nothing too serious. That being said, I think the premise that has been established has a lot of potential and I am excited to see what happens with the second season.

When I started watching "Your Lie in April" I thought I was in for a cute, fluffy slice-of-life story. This series ended up far surpassing my expectations, although it takes a few episodes to establish itself for the emotional roller coaster ahead, which is what a good drama should be.

The majority of this series is portrayed through the eyes of Kousei Arima, an introspective and emotional teenage boy. Throughout the course of the series you watch his recovery and work towards the best version of his own self. The manner in which this series portrays the after affects of childhood abuse, anxiety, depression, self-doubt, strength, ... loss, the joy and pain of falling in love, and self discovery is stunning. The way this is portrayed in character behaviors, dialogue and self-reflection, imagery, and music really adds to the material's impact. Other characters also get a good share of their own development, which lends to other fascinating points of view on these same subjects. The relationships Kousei has with numerous other people is multi-faceted, making these characters feel more real.

In short, this is a touching, emotional series that can really be a cathartic viewing experience for some. The overall tone is very melancholic yet beautiful. This bittersweetness makes it not a particularly uplifting experience, but considering the subject matter that is absolutely how it should be. Highly recommended; may require a box of tissues in the second half.

One Week Friends, while a short series, really does an excellent job in what it sets out to do: show how meaningful good friendships are to people, and how much an amazing friend can absolutely change your life for the better. The execution of this message is done very well, and is evident in the little, ordinary moments of our characters' lives. I especially loved how the show did not omit the growing romantic feelings of some characters, but still held the main focus to be about strong friendship and support. This show really connected with me and touched me in a genuine way; as ... a personal aside I owe so much of the person I became today to a group of real true friends and will be forever grateful to them. The fact that this show is able to express this feeling so eloquently really makes it a recommended watch for those who enjoy slice-of-life or character centric stories.

As far as the production values, I really enjoyed the light, airy, and unique art style, which I felt lent itself well to the general overall feeling of the show. The colors and character designs were very appealing to the eye. The opening and ending themes are nice but not exceptionally memorable. The soundtrack to the show isn't particularly memorable either. However, when I want a quality anime I want a show with engaging characters and a real, relatable quality to connect to. I think this show delivers that experience.

The concept of this show is that it is a parody of the magical girl genre. To anime fans familiar with all of the common tropes found in the genre, this show really did an excellent job with its outlandish, wonderfully wacky and accurate satire. It proved to be very entertaining in a silly way, and the hilarious comedic delivery was great. If you aren't familiar with the tropes of magical girl shows I would skip this one, as the jokes and over-the-top occurrences may fall flat for some viewers. I think this show very successfully did what it set out to do- and that ... is to lovingly (yes, that's a pun there) make fun of magical girl shows… with guys! If you're expecting anything more from this show you'll be disappointed, but taking it for what it is is the best way to enjoy it! While viewing the show it is also quite apparent that it was written to cater to the fangirls who wish to pair friends in the show together as potential romantic couples… so a little fanservicey too as a FYI if you don't care for that (even though that can be fun sometimes lol). I really enjoyed the wackiness of this series, it was a lot of fun!

Beyond the Boundary was Kyoto Animation's offering for the fall/winter anime season. As expected by their reputation, they created a show with absolutely gorgeous animation. The use of colors and clear, vibrant visuals are a feast for the eyes. Sadly, I believe this is the only aspect of this show that deserves applause.

The story follows Mirai Kuriyama and Akihito Kanbara. Mirai is a spirit world warrior, the only one left of her cursed clan. Spirit world warriors earn a living by hunting youmu, which are other worldly beings (like demons) that are born of negative human emotions. Akihito is a half human, half youmu. The ... premise is far from original to those familiar with anime. Sadly, the plot going forward becomes more and more confusing, and by the very end of the series I did not understand the motivation of both the villain and Mirai. I was left questioning "Why the heck would this character do this?" I felt that the plot was poorly explained, and I truly didn't understand what the cast of characters were working towards for the second half of the series. I even attempted to look up an entire plot summary on Wikipedia to better understand the story, but to no avail. I feel as if there are plot holes left very exposed, on top of the story already presenting as generic. Now, I don't mind a generic story if it is grouped with other good elements, because I believe cliches are cliche for a reason- that those messages or concepts resonate with or interest people for whatever reason. However, I found the characters to all be very flat. The only exception I think is our two main leads... I felt for them in the bond and similarities they shared with one another. Aside from that though there really wasn't much to their characters either, and a character should not be defined by one single aspect. So in conclusion, none of the characters are three-dimensional whatsoever.

Also, I found the humor in the show very off-putting; the vast majority of the humor was very awkwardly, sexually based (characters referring to themselves as hentai, or "perverts", very very random displays of cosplay that did not fit into the story whatsoever, etc.). Yes, a lot of times anime has this type of humor and I have grown accustomed to it for the most part. However, in this series it felt like it was forced to fit into the show, as if it was desperately trying to get noticed *ahem fanservice*. I know Kyoto Animation does have a reputation for creating moe characters, but really these elements felt so unnatural and awkward in the show.

Despite all these criticisms I still found the show entertaining enough to complete the series. Why is this?? I think it's simply because I enjoyed the visuals and action scenes (which were nicely choreographed). The opening and ending credits were especially beautiful, and paired with some nice music tracks. In fact, my favorite part of the show may just be the opening and ending!! I think that's telling in itself.

If you're looking for a short (12 episode) series with action, beautiful animation, and moe/cute characters, check this out. If you're expecting more than that from this show be prepared to be disappointed.

Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have such a magnificent track record with their films, and in my opinion Porco Rosso is a fine example of Studio Ghibli's greatness. The story's central focus is on the characters, who are really well-written and fleshed out. The viewers are given backstories on quite a few of the characters, and watching the growth and development of the protagonist is lovely to see, and yet subtle. I believe that a subtlety is often present in Ghibli's films, which I can't help but find absolutely lovely and charming. While actions scenes are present and well-done, there is no over-the-top or insane ... action sequences that a lot of people would see in a Hollywood blockbuster. And the fact that a film can tell such a great, engaging, and emotional story that doesn't have to rely on such over used devices is so fantastic. This is just a great story that is well directed, well written, well animated (this was made in 1992!), with great voiceovers (I watched the English dub, and was very pleased with the voice performances).

You can read the synopsis about this movie already here on MyAnimeList... the film not only has great characters but a really unique setting. I would highly recommend this movie, and would encourage people to check out other works by Studio Ghibli because they are all great. Studio Ghibli always seems to blow my mind.

I remember when the internet was a-buzz about turning Kyoto Animation's little commercial into a full-fledged animation series. Eventually, fans got their "Swimming Anime": Free! And while some aspects of this show I liked, overall it lacks depth. Add on a heaping amount of difficult-to-believe melodrama to the shallowness, and well, it leads to some disappointment. Despite these criticisms though, the show still proved to entertain.

I really appreciated that the show catered to predominantly female-minded fanservice. It's about time that this happened! Anime has had a large abundance of predominantly male-minded fanservice, so this was exciting and refreshing. The animation is also for the most ... part very attractive and fluid.

When it comes to the plot and the characters that is where things start to become difficult to believe. I've been watching anime for years, so I understand that to enjoy a show sometimes you have to suspend disbelief. However, the characters and relationships presented for the most part feel so unplausible... after not hearing from or seeing a friend for years, most kids drift apart, and it's anything but uncommon. So seeing this unusual obsession that every single member of the swim club has with their rival and old friend Rin is confusing, especially since Rin does not treat them kindly in return. The melodrama present between the characters also felt unnecessarily over-the-top, adding to the unnatural interactions amongst themselves. I often found myself laughing during scenes that were intended to be serious and dramatic. It just does not feel real or make any significant emotional impact.

While this was an entertaining and fun series to watch this past summer every week and it had some great new ideas, the execution was in my opinion was very flawed.

This show was such a wonderful and pleasant surprise this season! This is a great mecha show with a very human touch to it.

I really enjoyed the positive messages in this show, which really boils down to independence and enjoying life. Sure, these messages can be cliched, but I think cliches exist for a reason. The way these messages are presented (especially in the first half of the series) is very well-done, and I couldn't help but find this show to be quite touching. The later part of the series also gets really intense, and by the last episode I found myself so embroiled in ... the story that I was shouting at my TV set! The one complaint I have about the series is that the ending did seem a bit rushed, but I think that is just the nature of a 13-episode series. Overall, the show was just a joy to watch.

Also, the animation is freakin' gorgeous! I watched this streaming through Crunchyroll on my xbox, and the art looked so sharp, crisp, and vibrant. I love the use of the bright colors. Oh, and I found the ending theme to be particularly catchy too.

I'd like to note that the first half of the first episode presents itself as some pretty ordinary mecha. I urge you to complete the first episode before deciding to drop this series. This portion of the episode used a lot of nonsensical sci-fi jargon, and was pretty much just fancy explosions and mecha fighting. There is a purpose to why the series starts off this way, and it is to establish where our protagonist is coming from. Again, I strongly advise anyone giving this show a try to complete the first episode, and then decide whether or not to keep watching from there.

This show has become one of my favorites. Highly recommended!

Pandora Hearts was a very pleasant surprise; I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. This is shonen done right. I'd like to note that I haven't read the manga yet, but am eager to do so now.

In particular, I was impressed with the character development (especially with the protagonist Oz). While I believe many of the characters have some good development and backstory, Oz's character was a joy to watch. You'll see people acknowledging how he is able to "accept things as they are" during the first half of the series or so, meaning he is rather complacent. He also always ... acts so cheerful and relatively carefree that as a I didn't even realize how much pain and confusion he was harboring until later in the series (as a viewer that impresses me). To me this showed a realistic representation of a troubled, confused person. Many anime series tend to overdramatize characters' angst, and while it is apparent that Oz has some chips on his shoulders, I found myself really feeling for him. It is wonderful to see him grow and change during the series. He gains respect for himself, which was so fantastic to watch. I realize this description may sound rather confusing to someone who isn't familiar with the series, so I'll stop here. I think you just need to watch and see for yourself.

From what I've read online this anime follows the manga rather closely, which I can very much respect. Often times I find anime series catch up with the manga's story, and then the people behind the anime create some sort of plot to complete the show that often feels out of place (one of the exceptions to this that I can think of off the top of my head is Fullmetal Alchemist). So while I very much respect how they decided to end the anime, it also does leave a lot of loose ends both with the plot and some characters. To me, this just means that I want to pick up the manga to continue the story.

I'll also note that opening theme and a lot of the background music is very good and catchy. The animation is nice too, although it does use some sort of texture (I think??) or something to enhance the Victorian/artistocratic-like era of the story. I'm afraid I can't really describe it better than that, my apologies.

I would definitely recommend this series. Now I want to read the manga! (If only it was available for iPad... *grumble*)

I just finished watching the English dub of 5 Centimeters per Second, and wow, it really depicted just how painful love can be. Most people at some point or another have experienced the joys and pains of falling in love, which I think is why it was able to move me in a certain way. The characters and situations presented felt so real and relatable, which was wonderful.

In addition to such an honest depiction of how a first love may not work out, the animation was absolutely stunning. There is plenty of detail present, and the sceneries are gorgeous. Rich colors were utilized in the ... animation as well.

I was able to recognize Johnny Yong Bosch's voice very quickly, and I thought he did a very good job playing the main role. I was initially skeptical about 5 cm/sec since I had seen other films by Makoto Shinkai and thought they were just okay, but this really surprised me. Personally, the second portion/episode was what got to me the most emotionally, probably since I could emphasize with her.

This is a great anime, I highly recommend it. Just be prepared for some feelings when you watch this. Oh, and definitely don't watch this after a breakup! It's a tragic, beautiful, and realistic love story.