Probably one of my favorite isekais in recent memory that is NOT a guilty pleasure.
Pretty much all the characters in this are absurdly likeable, and the writing and VO across the board is quite solid. The main character's VO is so damn good especially. And the animation quality is more than enough to support the anime's silly hijinks and badass moments.
The story never got too cheesy or too serious, there's always a slight lighthearted element that makes the anime feel energetic, but it has a couple strong emotional punches too. The main gimmick of healing magic is a simple but very effective way
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Aug 22, 2023
The most impressive thing about Eminence is that it not only excels at the comedic angle of poking fun at all sorts fantasy anime tropes and wish fulfillment, but also does a pretty good job of building a competently written fantasy world with a good amount of depth and personality.
Cid's witty antics is very entertaining for the most part, although it is increasingly tempered by how oblivious he can be of how his actions affect others: it reminds me a bit of prototypical anime romance main characters being so dense, although its nowhere near as tiring. But its worth the hassle, the way Cid ... 
Aug 10, 2023
Well, this turned out to be quite the surprise. The thing that impressed me the most about this manga is how much emotional weight it has. The premise of a big monster girl dating a small "ordinary" boy is a pretty common trope that is mostly used for trashy ends, but this manga managed to weave many meaningful tales with it, in its relatively short lifespan. It's a story of outsiders trying to adapt, to be the thing that they always wanted to be, to coexist with their surroundings and make the most of it. And its also a story of what it means to
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Aug 9, 2023
Sakurai-san wa Kizuite Hoshii
(Manga)
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This is a pretty typical "sociable cute girl goes for the shy boy" story for the most part, and it's quite enjoyable. It definitely made an impression on me, more than I expected before reading it. It's a short, competently written love story that should give you a healthy dose of insulin for the week.
I like how well the manga sets up the main relationship, it's done in a snappy and effective manner pretty early on, which makes it easier to appreciate both of the main characters as, you know, actual characters. It's obviously hard to enjoy a romance story if you don't like the ... 
Aug 9, 2023
Osananajimi ni Najimitai
(Manga)
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"A cute quickie" is how I would describe this manga in the simplest terms. The set up of the romance is quick and snappy, and the main characters are fleshed out quite well considering the manga's length. Their dynamic is very fun to see, I especially enjoy the "rowdy-cutie" vibe of Matsuri. The third wheel character does a okay job of adding some spice and comedy to the story, and I like her first chapter a lot, although that's kinda it. The drawings are quite nice overall, I particularly enjoyed one comedic moment that featured a parody of a iconic classic painting. The ending feels
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Jul 23, 2023
Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia
(Anime)
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Insomniacs After School is almost as wonderful as the starry night skies its obsessed with. The way the anime steadily fleshes out its two main characters is very commendable, and its perfectly in sync with how they progress as lovers. Nakami's gloomy attitude is understandably unappealing at first, but Magari's bright and playful presence pushes him to come out of his shell and realize that there's a way to live a better life, and his interactions with the other characters only supports that. Meanwhile, Magari finds an outsider that she can truly rely on in Nakami, somebody that she can easily confide in. Its a
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Jul 13, 2023
Psycho Busters
(Manga)
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Psycho Busters is a pretty straightforward shonen manga that doesn't do anything special or outstanding, but there's enough enjoyment to be had in its entertaining cast of characters, and it serves quite well as a palate cleanser or a easygoing read. The action scenes are decent, its mostly fun to see how the main character reacts to whatever is happening. The story doesn't take itself too seriously, but many of its best moments are directly tied to how it shifts into a more serious tone. There's a solid love relationship between the main two characters that does it job as the heartwarming part of the
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Jun 22, 2023
Kubo-san wa Mob wo Yurusanai
(Anime)
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I've read all of the manga, and I'm happy to say that they nailed the adaptation! It's clear to me that the studio knew what made the manga as good as it is, and the choices they made in this adaptation reflects that.
First off, this anime just feels so dreamy and calming in its presentation. The generally cool color tone of the art, the dramatic but tasteful flourishes of the soundtrack, the relatively slow pace of each scene; all of it combines perfectly. It somehow feels relaxing and cheerful at the same time. I also enjoy the occasional cutesy and comedic stylistic changes just as ... 
Apr 12, 2023
Bruh, why the heck is this an extra episode?! The second half almost made me cry, easily my favorite part of the anime. It didn't really introduce new themes to the main story, but it does show a slightly new perspective to it that makes the whole thing much more impactful to me. I thought the main story is great but slightly undercooked in some areas, this episode made up for it with a very touching ending. I don't think I'll ever see zombies in the same way after this, it does make me feel slightly depressed just thinking about them.
Apr 6, 2023
Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate
(Anime)
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I don't really know what to feel about this one. It does try to differentiate itself from other romcoms through its premise and some out-of-left-field story arcs, but I think these attempts mostly distracts from its romcom roots, rather than accentuate or synergize with it, mostly because they feel too serious and dramatic in a nonsensical way. These elements would have a larger presence as the story goes on, and I can't help but be not as invested in the story when they take over almost completely.
I also found that the supposed main relationship (it's very obvious which one it is) is the ... |
