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May 22, 2023
I never expected this anime to have been this great! I remember hearing that it was an underrated masterpiece, but I never truly understood what that meant until now.
It has a compelling cast, an engaging story, great visuals, exciting music, and a plethora of other elements that make it an ideal anime. And, there is a particular narrator that is present in every episode, and for those that have watched the show, episode 12 was...a quintessential masterpiece: the staging, the narration, the action, and everything else was perfect.
Obviously, I recommend this show. It deals with serious themes, is quite inspiring (and philosophical) at
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times, and has a timeless quality. If you are undecided, I implore you to enter the "stage of destiny" and watch it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Apr 2, 2023
As a fan of the game Cyberpunk 2077, I heard a lot about the immense popularity of this anime. I was initially a bit skeptical, but after finishing the show, I understand the hype surrounding it.
Without spoiling anything, I can confidently attest to the fact that this anime enhances the game in a very positive way. It depicts the rise of a mercenary in a way that resembles the game protagonist, but the story nonetheless is compelling and unique. The anime illustrates the highs and lows of Night City, showcasing the luxuries and carnage that arise from being a mercenary.
And, the cast of
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characters is very loveable, and even the antagonists, while cartoonish, are compelling and convincing. Coupled with the characters, the animation, music, and overall atmosphere are done very well.
Now, with all this praise, I want to emphasize that I did not give this anime a 10/10 because the story is paced in a bit wonky way. A little nitpick, but it nonetheless impacted my enjoyment, but only slightly.
As a whole, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a fun show.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 10, 2023
I may be a bit late to the party watching and reviewing this anime more than a decade after it originally aired, but I found it incredibly thought-provoking, tension-filled, and an overall well-crafted show. It is arguably one of the best futuristic dystopian shows that I have watched. And, this is because it excels and distinguishes itself within this genre primarily because of how the show feeds information, and the characters, like the audience, are being clued into the fact that some practices in this ideal society are a bit odd. There are unexplainable disappearances, strange creatures, and an underlying sense of dread that begins
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to manifest beginning in the early episodes. And, as someone that pays attention to these subtle details, I became really engaged in figuring out what is actually going on, with this show's pacing helping to keep my attention.
Obviously, for those who have already watched the show, it is not perfect. I would argue that the latter half of the show was slightly weaker, but the ending and the surprising revelation provided the perfect closure. I would say that the ending revelation still makes me shudder to this day. And, for newer viewers, I would say that while this show is long, if you accept the premise, then you will utterly enjoy this show and/or appreciate it.
All in all, it is a great show, which is why I gave it a 9. I think it does the futuristic dystopian genre well, and I appreciate it for being one of the better shows I have watched in my life.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 12, 2022
It is a manga that showcases the budding journey of a ballet dancer named Subaru. Subaru is not simply a run-of-the-mill protagonist, but instead possesses a heartbreaking backstory that forms the basis of her essence throughout this story and the sequel Moon. Along the way, she of course wins a prestigious competition, but acclaim from a competition does not quell the feelings within her heart. She instead wants to seek a new adventure in America, where she ends up with a dance troupe that seemingly is teetering near bankruptcy. We witness Subaru perform in prisons, showcasing a new side in her ability as a dancer
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as someone being able to enthrall an entire audience of prisoners to riot for freedom. We also see Subaru meet new mentors (Priscilla), who all drive her to her current pinnacle. As a whole, I found the entire experience of reading the manga Subaru to be akin to a blur. An intimate but also exciting manga that I instantly enjoyed, even though I myself am not affiliated with any dance movements. I do understand that some may be turned off by the comments relating to the ending, which is certainly controversial among the fans of this manga. I would simply say that as a person who has read Subaru then the sequel Moon, the ending of Subaru has a minute or more so irrelevant presence in the sequel. Subaru is in a different country, and she is pursuing a different path that really never intersects with the final arc of this manga. If readers simply skipped the ending, then it would not effect the reading experience of Moon. But, for readers that know the ending, Moon does make a brief humorous reference to the ending of Subaru that is quite light-hearted in nature. But, for those that know the ending and are planning on downgrading their rating of this work, I would only simply say this. The ending of Subaru, while starkly different in tone compared to the previous hundred of chapters, was promptly necessary in hindsight relating to the sequel. The author never intended for Subaru to settle down in America and continue to interact with the dance troupe. In all honesty, the final arcs where Subaru showcases the Bolero with the American dance troupe was the pinnacle of what she could have achieved there. In the end, her Bolero performance won her immense notoriety, which the author cleverly uses to try to integrate an abrupt ending arc that led to the controversial ending. Again, it wasn't really a good ending, but I'm sure that the author constructed the ending in that manner to indicate that a sequel was most definitely in the works. And in the end, with how the sequel turned out, I applaud the author for taking a risk, that while garnered criticism, paved the way for a sequel that allows for Subaru to showcase further character progression while also allowing her to face and conquer her demons. To those that are wary of this work, do not fear. It is a mature work for sure, but other than that concern, it is a work that will surely resonate with many people.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Aug 12, 2022
Compared to the prequel Dance Subaru!, I would say that this sequel Moon strives to take Subaru's story in a different direction. Dance Subaru! was essentially about the blossoming of Subaru as a dancer, where she cultivates her genius-level abilities relating to ballet. It starts off with her winning a prestigious competition, but that's only where her journey started. Subaru then takes off for America, where she meets a new cast of characters in the form of a dance troupe. It serves to integrate the presence of Priscilla (world renowned dancer in this manga) and also show some character progression within Subaru. It is important
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to note that the ending of Dancing Subaru! is very contentious among fans, with the vast majority arguing that it was simply a bad one. I will not spoil the ending, but I also found the last arc to be quite starkly different in tone compared to the previous hundred of chapters. However, I do understand the decision behind the ending to a certain degree because the author of Dance Subaru! probably did not plan for Subaru's arc in America to be the end of the story, either because they ran out of ideas or because they wanted to take her story in a different direction. In the end, while the ending of Dance Subaru! was quite controversial, the sequel Moon seemingly brushes this all aside. It did certainly happen and there are references to Subaru being banned from America, but these references are quite sparse and are not elaborated upon. In essence, if you literally skipped the final arc of Dance! Subaru, it would not genuinely hamper the reading experience of Moon. Now, with all this background, let's get on with the review of Moon.
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In comparison to Dance Subaru!, I would say that Moon was a little worse compared to Dance Subaru! It's more of a subjective observation on my part, but I personally enjoy stories where the protagonists are able to utterly dominate the field and showcase their abilities throughout the story. Dance Subaru! had a lot of arcs where Subaru was able to grow and cultivate her dancing abilities to new heights, which made them fun and exhilarating reads. Now, I enjoyed Moon as well, with many arcs also including dance showcases from Subaru. But Moon focused more on Subaru trying to cope with the events of Dance Subaru!, in relation to her brother's death and reconciliation with family. In many cases, the dance performances from Subaru in Moon integrate her past experiences, which seem like a full-circle moment that comes off as powerful for readers. As a whole, we see a lot more mature Subaru take the helm of this story, and while childish at times, she has grown as a person with the ability to reflect and grow. I was unfortunately unable to find any translated chapters for the final volume (volume 9), but I was able to find the raws for volume 9. From my understanding, the ending is definitely a happy one for Subaru and her new dancing partner. There's a reference to Paris, which I'm a bit uncertain about but I assume that it's there next starting point for dance. In the end, Moon was a journey akin to Dance Subaru! in the sense that I witnessed a person's life progress in a microcosm (in the form of manga). To anyone wanting a happy story, you probably won't find it here. But if you want a mature story dealing with real emotions, trials and tribulations, but ultimately well-earned triumphs, this is the story of ballet genius Subaru in her conquest to not only dominate her art form but deal with her past demons. I would wholeheartedly recommend this work for others.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 9, 2022
Act-age genuinely was an engaging work that made me excited to see the new arcs and character development of the mc. With the end of chapter 123, I was excited to see that she was about to another extraordinary leap into her career while also helping to enlighten and witness other characters blossom. Yet, it pains me to say that this work will probably never be finished, which is a shame but ultimately the right choice. The writer, for whatever praise and acclaim he received, is not a respectable person in the slightest. It sucks that the illustrator associated with this work may get undeserved
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blowback for the selfish actions from the writer, so extend to them as much good will as possible. As a whole, I respect Act-age a lot for being a great example of the coming-of-age genre, but I cannot say likewise for the writer. I will not recommend nor condemn Act-age, so others can freely choose whether to read it or not. It may be a matter of separating a piece of work from its creator, but again I won't delve much into this aspect.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Apr 8, 2022
I will keep this review very short. I genuinely believe that every element of this manga was profoundly great, and I just had a blast reading it. At times, the time-skip and story were a bit hard to follow, but I was able to maintain a baseline understanding that still allowed me to enjoy Claymore. In the end, Clare found peace with Raki, which was an awesome ending to see. I have not seen the anime adaptation of Claymore, but I genuinely believe that this is the best form for which Clare's story could have been told.
I congratulate the author for writing Claymore, which
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was simply awesome to read and enjoy.
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Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 6, 2022
I remember watching Season 1 of Megalo Box. It depicted the trials and mountains climbed by "Gearless" Joe, a junk boxer that essentially started from the bottom. In essence, Season 1 depicted his journey to the top of the mountain, with his monumental fight against Yuri epitomizing the underdog winning out in the end. I came off with a great feeling, giving Season 1 an 8/10 and feeling that Joe's story was finished.
However, a few months ago, I noticed a trailer that showed Season 2 of Megalo Box. I was shocked, surprised, and genuinely interested at what the show-runners had to offer. I watched
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the trailer, which essentially highlighted Joe falling off the top of the mountain. I assumed that this would just be another underdog story, but it truly transcended my assumptions.
The Season 2 of Megalo Box is able to incorporate many important concepts. For example, "Gearless" Joe is a husk of himself in the beginning of the series. He is not succeeding in life, living a wandering existence with his support system essentially being non-existent. It hurt to see Joe in such a pitiful state, but as time progressed, we saw Joe meet Chief. From there, this story takes off in a magical way. I won't spoil the rest, but the upcoming fights, backstories, and narratives that occur help to shape Season 2 into such a pleasant surprise.
Megalo Box also adds some social commentary, which may be a detracting element for some. I would beg to differ, since it beautifully incorporates the struggles of immigrants. As a whole, I was pleasantly surprised by how the show-runners handled this issue.
In the end, Season 2 was simply better than Season 1. Granted, the ending of Season 2 may have been a bit underwhelming, but I think it fit with the theme of the entire season. "Gearless" Joe was essentially a nomad, wandering a pitiful existence, wishing to reverse his mistakes and end it all. Yet, a hummingbird came to him, which would represent the encounters of humanity that helped nurture Joe back to life. In the end, the final episode encompasses the essence of Joe's final story arc, which means that Joe can finally stop wandering. He made it back home, and Joe will be staying in his home. Joe built up his home and brought his home back from the ashes. This was a powerful ending....man....this show was just good....watch it
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 5, 2022
Man, this was just terrific. I am simply speechless by how good this was. It made me feel excited, sad, scared, happy, intrigued, and utterly entranced. I was glued to this story from the beginning to the end. It was not preachy, nor lacking in any manner. It was just sublime, focusing on the essence of boxing, building up the side characters, and laying out its narrative. It never dragged on one bit for too long, instead giving each arc its deserved attention. I genuinely enjoyed this Webtoon so much! I usually am geared toward the thriller genre, but this Webtoon exceeded all my expectations
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in general. This was incredible, and I may be biased from writing this review right after finishing Chapter 103, but these are my raw feelings. This was a fun ride, and I hope to reread this amazing work in the future again.
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Update - Finished Chapter 123
Same feelings as my preliminary review above. The ending of chapter 123 though was...utterly powerful and devastating to witness. I experienced profound sadness knowing that such a great work came to an end, but it was a triumphant ending that honored all characters with grace and respect. Respect to the author and illustrator for this work, and I eagerly wait to see what brilliant things they do next in this world.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Feb 3, 2022
I gave this anime an 8/10. It may not be a masterpiece, nor even an outstanding anime that transcends known tropes and barriers. However, it is an enjoyable show that makes use of its tools, producing an adventure that I was excited to watch. I enjoyed the cast of characters, with Fena being a fun MC that exudes optimism. I had fun watching this show. I am not calling this anything special, but it's a work that had love put into it. It's a show that anyone, whether it be an anime veteran or beginner, can enjoy and appreciate.
- Spoilers Alert:
- The last
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episode addressed the mystery surrounding Fena. It was a bit strange, but I was intrigued at the incorporation of certain theological references, lost treasures, and choices made. It was a bit confusing at times, but I understood the concept of Fena arriving at her fate. It was a choice that was explained by small scenes, which quite honestly explained a lot. A world where lives lost became reborn, or resurrected in some way. It was unexplainable, which kinda works well with this show. The beauty of the mystery should be left to the audience to fester, with the show allowing for an open-ending. It may have been a stylistic or convenient choice, but it fits the theme of this show. I enjoyed it, and I recommend this for others to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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