Back to chuckpugs's Profile chuckpugs's Profile

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

There are two types of absurd but well-told storytelling. You get anime such as Gurren Lagann or Redline where the interest is piqued because of its spectacle and over-the-top visuals and characters. Or you get anything made by Masaaki Yuasa where the presentation is wacky and strange but underneath the surface, there lies a lot of character analysis, social critique, and philosophy that a majority of his audience can find relatable.

Dorohedoro had the potential to be a well-thought out mystery containing dark humor and sick action. But unfortunately it built-up something so huge that the climax was below underwhelming. ... Don't get me wrong. I'm fine with the story being absurd and weird since it was not very aspiring to be something more or grand like what Masaaki Yuasa makes. But it brings upon so many subplots and crucial details in the middle that the audience will begin to lose track of coherence and what is even supposed to matter.

Story: There is only one word that can fully described the plot of Dorohedoro: CONVOLUTED! While the setting and premise I do say is quite fascinating, it takes a more mysterious turn in the middle and the amount of mysteries keep piling up and will leave you lost. The world of the humans and sorcerers was interesting and the history behind some of the past events does make you invested. But it will more depend on what you are looking for. If you don't care too much about the plot and just want to enjoy a silly story of sorcerers and humans murdering the shit out of one another, then don't let my criticisms stop you from checking it out. But if you are looking for (at the very least) some sense for the amount of plot points it tries to put together, then you are going to be disappointed. I stopped caring around the final 3rd of the series but was still curious enough to see it all the way through.

In short, vol. 1-4 = slow / vol. 5-13 = very interesting / vol. 14-23 = I'm lost.

Characters: If I'm completely honest, the story would not have had a huge impact on my distaste for this series had the characters held the story well. And for the first half of it, they did and they were pretty tremendous. Caiman and Nikaidou were very likeable characters and their friendship was very believable. My personal favorites were the villains: En, Shin, and Noi. They were hilarious and they give the audience a perfect reason to not take Dorohedoro all too seriously. When comparing the humans (and Caiman), En's family, and the Cross Eyes, En's family had the most consistent character state and their relationship expressed their truest characters best out of all of the main groups in the story.

Unfortunately, where things went wrong was that at the half way point, some crucial characters are not able to fulfill all of their potential and move away from the story (I will not spoil, just figure out why yourself). And some characters (Nikaidou and Ebisu), while still likeable (more in the first half than the second), change for very annoying reasons and the plot ruined them when I previously loved them.

There also isn't much character development. Some characters never needed it because they were great the way they were and were even fleshed out further into the plot. But I feel the only characters that change from beginning to end are Fujita and Risu. Everybody else either never changes and feels like their character is just being dragged by the complicated plot and not entirely being themselves or they go through realizations which have a minor impact on their final character change.

Art: It is different in a good way and it suits the atmosphere it is trying to present. It fits the gritty violence and over-the-top designs of the characters. While some of the backgrounds did lack a little too much detail for me, I'd say the art is the best part of the series.

Final Thoughts: In the beginning, this manga had practically everything to be something awesome. But with poor plot decisions, the story just drags and will leave you lost on what the point of really anything is. You can enjoy the absurd humor and the gritty action but nothing makes sense. If it was all absurd humor and gritty action, it would come across more consistent than when it builds up something so crucial for the overall story just to forget about what to do with it and make an underwhelming conclusion. It's still worth the check out if it really interests you.

I give Dorohedoro a not bad, but disappointing 5/10.

You don't need to die once just to throw everything down the drain despite your previous convictions. If you still have others by your side, the opportunity is still in front of you or coming another day, or you're on the floor breathing and losing consciousness, until you decide to walk away from the ring, you are NOT DEAD YET.

Story: 7/10
Megalo Box is a basic underdog tale following a nobody who carries on as a piece of dirt only to survive in the underground. But the execution portraying a man who decides to choose a different path despite all the winds blowing against ... him all for the reason of just trying to be something that he has no idea he could be capable of is inspiring. Following in the footsteps of other previous works such as Ashita no Joe and Hajime no Ippo (both highly recommend), Megalo Box approaches a similar journey but has less of a complex pathway for the series only lasts 1 tournament. But the complexity of the sport itself is still existent for Joe, the main character, not only discovers his true potential and the pain that is gone through to reach the top. He also encounters his opponent's different ideals for fighting, what keeps them going after a harsh past, the people in their world who they claim to fight for, and the luxury they give up once they realize that victory itself is not the treasure a true athelete fights for. The conflict of also fighting against the corrupt industry that tries to control Joe and his coach and child sidekick also displays that continues to grow throughout the series and how much development they go through to chase after dream of climbing to the top even if they they started lower than the bottom.
My only complaint for the story would be that the final episode was rushed despite a satisfying ending fight and that some episodes that weren't focused on a match were dragged because it was following a formulaic pattern. The episodes outside the ring were effective ways to build and flesh out the characters (which also occurs in the ring as well) but some scenes felt a bit pointless just for the purpose of keeping the match in one episode and the time inbetween exclusively in the following episode.

Characters: 7/10
The cast was good but I would not go all the way to strong. Nanbu, the coach, was my favorite character about how he begins the series being content with just throwing fights for money to money has not power over my player and we will fight our way to the top, or die trying. From a con-man to almost like a father, Nanbu had the most dynamic conviction as is a viable candidate for best male supporting character of 2018. Sachio also has a growing sense of development from being someone who hated the concept of Megalo boxing and not having faith in Joe into someone who, like Nanbu, won't figure out the answer until they become the champions or fail. All of Joe's opponents also had splendid more motivations for fighting whether it was following the dream of someone you looked up to, fighting against post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or believing that victory never was the dream because the underdog is gaining more just from being a first-timer. They are all very well fleshed out and while not memorable, they make their mark on the series and the Team Nowhere would not be who they are if it wasn't for any of them.
If you noticed that I haven't praised the main character, Joe, then you may be disappointed to hear that he was the weakest aspect in the whole show. I can respect the heart he has, his drive for being somebody else, and his determination to keep getting up and leaving behind the past of needing gear. What makes him the least dynamic character was that he is the only character that seems to have remained the same from beginning to end. His main conflict was taking down one fighter so he can meet the next but I didn't feel any growth from him personally and because he is the titular character of the series, it felt as if he put in the least amount of work when carrying the series unlike all of those around him. He still has his honor when learning about his troubles and how Nanbu gets in his way every now and then but I felt as if this show lost some potential just for having a lead character who was not generic but too basic.

Animation/Art: 8/10
The art may turn off those who are used to the colorful and vibrant animation that is now modern anime. But its retro art compliments the gritty vibe of living in a society where one fights for his life. One loss and its all over. The pixelated aspects give a more nostalgic feel even when introducing a futuristic society where technology has advanced even farther for human capability yet there still exists slums and dangerous neighborhoods where people partake in illegal activity just to live another day. But lets talk about the fights. The animation is sold for the most part but the fights are where the animation truly shines, correct? I'd say yes and no. The fights were well-animated but do lack the epicness and extra push that were given to series such as Hajime no Ippo. But does that make the fight more realistic? Yes, in fact. The dull (to an extent) action of continuous punches or straight blocking the face makes the fight realistic in a sense that every second matters in a match and boxers have to be quick on their feet and fists to lock even just one hit to put themselves ahead of their opponent. I was more expecting dynamic fights in the beginning but the uneventful spiting of multiple punches and little time for strategizing makes the atmosphere gritty the way it should be.

Sound: 9/10
I'm not going to praise the opening for I think it's lackluster even without the visuals. But the sound of every punch hit, every swing, every footstep, every grunt of pain keeps the audience absorbed into the show. The sounds are also well put together which makes every action feel well-choreographed and planned out.
Oh and did I ever mention Sachio's rap skills. That kid sure spits fire and the resolve excites the audience to an appealing and lit degree.

TLDR
Pros +
- All opponents and Nanbu were dynamic and had engrossing pasts that built believable motivations
- Fights were dully animated (for the better) and brought upon the grittyness of a real boxing match even with aiding attachments
- Retro art gives a nostalgic feel even when taking place in the future

Cons -
- Joe was a little too two-dimensional for the lead character
- The pacing is too patterned prioritizing one episode to fight and one episode exactly to build character
- The final episode was rushed

With all that said and done, the series did have more potential, but you'd be wrong to say there was nothing the audience could gain from the experience of watching Megalo Box and is still more than worth your while watching. I give Megalo Box a 7/10.

Wotakoi is a series that will more hit home for viewers who have experience having very close friends or romantic partners who share interests in anything anime, manga, cosplaying, or video games.

Story: 6/10
I came in with minimum expectations because romantic comedy is a bit iffy in my department and I am not the biggest fan of works by A-1 Pictures. But for the first half, I found myself amused and laughing genuinely by the hilariously relatable situations of hiding your passions and interests from a society who wholeheartedly tends to think little of those involved in such activities. It's not unusual for otakus ... to initially be ashamed to share their love for anime and manga openly or sometimes becoming socially awkward because it is not a common topic with other people around you. But it pushes the message that you should never feel ashamed of them and just find people who will accept you for who you are whether you have common interests or not.
It's a romantic comedy so there is not necessarily a need for a plot but it felt as it they developed the relationship between Narumi and Hirotaka nicely for 5 episodes in the beginning and then nothing much happens from then. The comedy became more hit and miss and I wasn't enjoying the episode stories afterwards. I also am not personally appealed by video game concept episodes so I wasn't intrigued by the RPG portions of the episodes and there were only 2 more episodes after episode 5 where they kept on further developing Narumi and Hirotaka's relationship. So the story felt very lackluster in the 2nd half. Not to mention the final episode did not feel like a finale and did not make for a fitting farewell unless they plan a 2nd season.

Characters: 7/10
Talk about a diverse cast! A yaoi fangirl, a gamer, a cross-dressing cosplayer, and a moe-loving manga reader. The characters were very well portrayed in the funny yet serious hardships people can have when they are interested in different subtopics of the otaku industry. They have their favorites but become very accepting of each others' hobbies which makes for a genuine group of friends that is very enjoyable to witness. They have their moments when they argue and fight about their differences but they are aware that they all share the struggle of being in the minority in their work industry so they are practically all they have in terms of sharing interests. The Hirotaka and Narumi relationship was more for starting and developing since they started uncomfortable for being childhood friends and then decided to date. But their relationship felt real since they slowly became more comfortable with each other and slowly began to learn something new from each other every episode. Hanako and Tarou's relationship was more real because they have personalities that clash much more volatilely and their devotion to one another despite the constant arguments was cuter and brought upon the most comedy for the time that this anime was good.
The story began to take a turn for the worse when Hirotaka's brother was introduced. Some can defend this saying that there are those who feel left out when their friends or siblings have a hobby they are dedicated to while they have nothing special about them. I personally could not stand his presence. The comedy was falling apart when he got introduced and I felt he was more of a nuisance towards the antics of the main cast. I can see how this could have worked but I was not able to accept him as a useful character and found him more annoying and given more screentime than deserved.

Art/Animation: 7/10
I don't pay attention to art or animation unless it's grand or horrible so both sections were solid. But the colors were bright and nice so it was able to stand out and look cute in its own way.

Sound: 7/10
Nothing that stands out other than those 20 seconds of the opening that is just so adorable!!! You know what I'm talking about. :)

Enjoyment: 5/10
This is not a series that will appeal to everyone. As much as I loved the characters in this series, it felt as if the anime did enough for them to bring me anywhere. The characters just went on with their lives as soon as Hirotaka and Narumi were settled but I was bored after Hirotaka's brother made his debut. If a 2nd season ever gets announced, I don't see myself watching it. The comedy was not strong enough to push the series without a story and that's a problem when the comedy is the center of said series such as this. The comedy failed and the romance, the stronger the portion, could have been giving more (or better) attention.

There are anime in this world that bring upon the community entertainment or a meaning in life beyond what our personal experiences could hope of comprehending before encountering such masterpieces. And then you get those series which exist to only advertise their source materials.

Story: 6/10
The story begins with a unique setting of the early 1900s after the Russo-Japanese War. It has a conflict that is already set up with a Japanese soldier, Sugimoto, and an Ainu hunter, Asirpa, who search for prisoners tattoos which connect to make a map leading to a treasure of Ainu gold. The conflict is set up and ... the viewers know what the end goal is so we sit back and enjoy the journey. Unfortunately, the execution is what corrupts the experience of those who enjoy adventure and action. I would blame this on Gene Studio, a new upcoming animation group, who just took on a project that was too great to be handled amateurishly and while they did the best they could, it led to a disappointing struggle. The story also does follow the cliche pattern of centering the focus on one villain every 2 episodes which made the experience monotonous and irritating. Their lack of experience made the story feel uninvesting, the atmosphere wasn't as movinig as the synopsis is read to be, and viewers are just left with the feeling like their could be something more.
I will give it props that it was able to maintain itself in the 1st half where it focused on Asirpa teaching Sugimoto about Ainu culture, which in my opinion was the most interesting part. The 2nd half was where it tried to get back on track with its plot but it was not exciting for me to feel connected to what was going on. And if anything the action was pretty gritty at a basic level, which gets a pass if you don't mind CGI bears and wolves.

Characters: 7/10
The characters have their own unique personality with Sugimoto being a ruthless killer in action or a laid-back man when he's just chilling. He has a believable goal and he is a fitting main character for this series. Asirpa is the heart of this series as her personality is strong, determined, cute, sarcastic, and expressive with the meme faces that she makes throughout the series. She also is introduced with a compelling reason to be a part of the story and immediately has you routing for her. They both share a good chemistry as fighting partners and their relationship feels very real and well-developed as they teach each other about their own cultures and fighting strategies.
The villains on the other hand are either too strange and took up more screen time than they deserved or they were menacing as hell but the series did not last long enough for them to fulfill their highest potential. We can fault the unfinished manga for that but the number of villains and how memorable they were are at a disappointing level and could not carry this anime the way Sugimoto and Asirpa were able to.

Art/Animation: 5/10
I'm someone who doesn't try to let art/animation derive my overall experience because I prefer to judge more on story and characters. The art is pretty average since some character facials become inconsisten every now and then and the animation can either be breathtaking to look at, very below average, or a CG bear or wolf. In this case, the animation was a major factor as to why this series had a lesser chance of standing out to shows that premiered during the same season or share the same genre as other anime before it.

Sound: 6/10
The soundtrack isn't anything worth mentioning but I have to admit the opening is unskippable. It is very badass and provides the atmosphere of a struggling adventure that this show needed more of.

Enjoyment: 4/10
I just could not find it in me to care after the 2nd half. And I was very disappointed considering that reviews for the manga of Golden Kamuy are stellar. If a studio such as Bones, Madhouse, or White Fox could take this on, this could have been bigger and would have appealed to me better personally. But it relied on the fanbase of its original source material to get the viewership it received. Let's hope that Gene Studio will improve with time.

Well, I've said enough. I've got a manga to catch up on.

Meshii...(feed me) -_-

Story: Hinamatsuri does not offer a plot but more introduces and hints the setting of girls with psychokinetic powers who transfer to Earth coming from some other dimension, planet, secret base...us anime-only viewers don't really know or find out. The comedic aspects are timed very well (which gives an atmosphere similar to Gintama) and the comedy comes from the character interactions and reactions which makes the cast more genuine when you watch them. There are a few over the top moments that will also having you laughing until you hurt. The biggest strength in Hinamatsuri is combining and brillliantly transitioning ... both hilarious, over-the-top comedy and sentimental moments about life, family, and one's future goals and dreams. At one point in the episode, you are either laughing your guts out or feeling a character's struggle. Whether it is displayed comically or seriously, the messages and social commentary are very real and relatable. Whether that connects or not is up to the viewer because comedy is subjective and I myself am not normally the biggest fan of anime comedies. So this one gets a pass for me.
My main gripe is that the source material obviously holds more fulfilling details about the backgrounds of the characters and the final episode was not a satisfying finale. It just ends. It does not build up a 2nd season or anything.

Characters: When there is no story or plot in a series, it is up to the characters to hold the show as it goes along. And they all do it well. Hitomi is the blend of comedy and feels for she has the most epic faces when things don't go her way but her situations slightly imply how damaging her life is on anybody that experiences what she does. It is not necessarily downplayed but it presents 2 different perspectives that one side could take her situation as hilarious that it is not happening to them or the other side can feel her pain for knowing what it is like to go through what she does (albeit very unrealistic...but it's a comedy so take it how you will). Hina is mainly on screen for comedy purposes and most of her antics are funny and cute. But she still gets a good amount of character development from being a selfish brat to (slightly) a citizen that can somewhat adapt to normal human life. Just slightly. Anzu is my personal favorite character for her dilemma was the realest and her growth in accepting all of the little things in life and not using her powers to benefit herself while hurting someone else makes her a very dynamic character. The side characters also do a great job of assisting the main cast in bringing out their characters and truest feelings when the situations called for it so the cast succeeded in major proportions.
Despite my praises that the characters carried this comedy so well, Hina is in fact the least interesting of the 3 which does irk me a little considering she is the most important character and her name is in the title. And do not get me started with Utako. Not a bad character...she's just a really horrible person.

Art, Animation, Sound: The art was bright and colorful which makes the viewers feel warm and the animation is very fluid especially during the small amount of action sequences. The soundtrack was pretty fitting and the opening song was good enough for me to watch it without skipping every time I tuned in for the weekly episodes.

The first episode might not be the most gripping for some fans that can get impatient with trying something new but the comedy is where it strives for so that is the key to finding out if you will like this. But the sentimental moments are what makes this series more special than when looked only on the surface.

Overall: Deftly blending ambitious adventure, beautiful cinematography & animation, and grotesque material, Made in Abyss is a not only a story intriguing to be told but an journey very longing to be experienced.

Adventure time, c'mon grab your friends. We're going down very deep deep lands. Riko the girl and Reg the robot. The fun will never end it's Made in Abyss!

Probably my most anticipated anime of the summer 2017 season, I was not disappointed one bit. Most adventure stories we see nowadays just do adventures for gags and prioritize the destination as the main goal. What Made in Abyss does differently is that our two ... main characters, Riko and Reg, take time to explore the beauty of a world unknown to them and learn about the animals that reside in these environments, basic to advanced survival skills whenever they face an emergency, and just building the relationship between the two as they continue on the journey day by day. The world building is nothing but spot on. The nature is beautiful, the creatures both friendly and dangerous are intriguing, and it keeps the audience curious as to what comes next and what lives within the current layer. By prioritizing the experience of the journey rather than the destination, it makes for a fulfilling watch and keeps the audience wanting to learn more from the abyss before heading to a more accomplishing finale.

Riko and Reg are two peas in a pod who do a swell job of carrying the show. They both learn about who the other is, what they want to accomplish, and most importantly they work together as a team with Riko using her studies to fight back against the abyss' animals and Reg being the weapon to fight back. But without a doubt, Nanachi and Mitty have the most interesting story in Made in Abyss. Nanachi comes off as an independent and somewhat willed character but begins to develop a vulnerable side when bonding with a stranger or letting go of something she treasures. Nanachi brought the show back up as the show when through a little of a down spiral during Ouzen's screentime which added more questions and less answers for the answers could only be found deeper within the abyss. Ouzen was an interesting character but she was portrayed as too mysterious for the audience to fully be invested in what she holds inside and express to the audience.

There are still many questions left unanswered. Is Riko's mother really at the bottom? What are the other motivations of Bondrewd? What else does Reg know about Lyza? This show desperate needs a second season but knowing Kinema Citrus and how they handled Barakamon, it's pretty unlikely. That being said, this anime did its part and while incomplete was splendid enough to stand on its own. Made in Abyss gets an 8/10 from me.

Flying Witch uses it's subtle setting, light comedy, and simple yet likeable cast to ease viewers with an unwinding aura that relaxes the soul.

Being the slice of life lover I am, I felt Flying Witch captures the theme of the genre well and just lets the characters be themselves without worrying about carrying a story. I am usually the kind of viewer that comes into most anime (hyped or sidelined) with minimal expectations and I was not disappointed at all with this one.

The story is nonexistent but it's mainly about a witch who moves in with her cousins and continues to live a normal ... life while studying magic. They go on small adventures (and get's lost in them sometimes) and approach the small things in life while laying in some comedic moments using the magical themes. Flying Witch does a very good job at keeping its composure and the atmosphere is constantly slow yet calming. Where the show excelled at was using the atmosphere it gave as some form of indentification like it knew what it wanted to be, what it wanted to achieve, and that the makers of the show will not be attempt to go further and will lose sight becoming something it's not. It remains simple throughout but manages to present it's moments of beauty very quietly with a sense of wonder. It also presented a proper balance between the average slice of life-life and the fantasy aspects of being a witch.

The characters are nothing complex or nothing the most fascinating. But that beats being annoying, loud, and having high-pitched voices forcing their cuteness on the viewers since they are unconfident on what the anime has to offer. The cast keeps things very simple and interacts with each other staying true to themselves like they are real people. The characters ranged from interesting, subtle, humorous, and just overall held up the happy mood.

I found the artstyle beautiful and the animation was solid throughout. The cinematography was also excellent making the most out of what it could display with its multiple scenes of nature and the countryside environment. The opening is nothing much but I didn't feel like skipping over that at all.

The show does not try to be flashy but it's just normal. Sometimes that's all an anime needs to be for somebody to enjoy it without having to watch through the parts of anime they hate such as troupes and cliches. If you like slow, nature-focused slice of life like Non Non Biyori, you should totally give this a checkout. Flying Witch gets a thumbs up and a 7/10.

How far are you willing to go just to be lazy? Would you write your name in braille just to avoid more pencil strokes? Are you willing to walk through the rain if it means not putting in the work to hold an umbrella? Or how about just skipping this anime and just read this review and make your opinion so that you don't have to keep your eyes open for another 4 hours?

Story: What story? It's only about a guy, Tanaka, who puts everything in his might just to do nothing. Absolutely nothing. He's lucky enough to have ... a friend, Outa, who likes him enough to carry him everywhere if it has a 0.0001% chance of doing something after. They live their lives facing 12 episodes of cliche settings and scenarios. The main thing that makes this anime more than worth a watch is the comedy for it is consistent, amusing, and some episodes are downright hilarious. Most of the comedy that I found funny were Tanaka's explanations on to how far he is willing to go if it just means doing nothing. The show was very relaxing and gave me a good laugh in the morning every weekend.
As for my complaints, I would say episodes 1-9 were consistently ROFL funny but 10-11 were actually not all that interesting. Tanaka began to be less funny because he was just being lazy instead of speaking his mind as to why he doesn't want to put in effort (which was where the comedy truly excelled in the show). This factor will be different for every viewer. Some might still like it all thorughout and some might get tired of it and feel that the comedy is waning earlier.

Characters: The characters are definitely the strong core that holds the show together. If you will be producing an episodic show, the characters matter much more than the scenario of each episode and Tanaka-kun wa Itsudemo Kedaruge without a doubt succeeded at that. Tanaka is the lazy boy in class who always makes the viewers laugh as much as he's trying not to be funny. Outa is the best friend who's amount of concern for people does not match his delinquent looks (seen it before but it still works). Shiraishi was a stand out character who had a lot of funny moments but also added some depth to a few episodes for how she transformed from a dorky girl to the most respected student in class. Echizen was a likeable tsundere who put on a tough girl act but had a soft spot for cute things such as another character Miyano. The last character I will mention is Rino, Tanaka's imouto (cuz otoutotachi are uncool). She is the kuudere of the series but she very cares for Tanaka and had a somewhat distant yet healthy relationship with him. Plus her hatred for Outa for always stealing her onii-chan away from her was also very comedic. There are some characters that were forgettable and less interesting but the interesting characters that I mentioned got more focus and carried the series well so I don't have any complaints.

Art/Animation: Animation and art were solid. But what caught my attention was the design of the high school. If was more wooden than plaster and it made for a unique-looking setting and was refreshing.

Sound: The score was not very apparent mainly because it was quiet all the times to fit the tone of the anime. But the opening was very calming and I never felt like skipping it.

Final Verdict: Tanaka-kun is one of those anime that didn't aspire to be a lot but it mainly succeeded in what it wanted to be so I give this anime a lot of respect. If you are down for slow and somewhat relaxing slice of life anime and you are in the mood for a laugh, then you should definitely give this a check-out. This was the hidden gem of the season and I'm relieved to have found an anime that shows people that slice of life is one of anime's strongest genres when you find the right one. I enjoyed this anime beginning to end and end was definitely satisfying. Tanaka for all the effort you did not put in, I humbly rate this a 7/10.

You know something? I love the josei genre. It's rare to find a lot of these these days but josei series always have a knack for having an original story and letting the characters do their own thing instead of relying on a formula for the upcoming consequences. I will come up and say this is the first 9/10 I have given an anime since Oregairu (which premiered 3 years ago) and the best anime since Hunter x Hunter 2011. Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is absolutely the best anime of the winter 2016 season and is a strong candidate for anime of ... the year 2016.

Story: The story takes place during the Shouwa Era in Japan which occurred from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989. It starts of a little closer to the end of the era in the beginning (which would be the present) but the story mostly takes place in the flashback during the times of World War II in the first season of the show. It tells the tale of Bon (an ex-geisha dancer who retired because of a crippled leg) and Shin (just some boy from the streets) as they are taken by their master Yuurakutei and learn the foundations of a Rakugo performer. Rakugo is a form of comedic storytelling in Japan that was popular in the older times but has been slowly dying out because of the country just moving on to what is modern and what they consider more popular. The directing is without a doubt the strongest part of this anime. It relies on the characters with however they express themselves and the story just naturally flows making things more realistic and believable. It provides development for the 2 main protagonists from children with ambition to grown ups with a certain vision of how they view things that was created by their experiences. While the show is dialogue heavy, the conversations between the characters and especially the rakugo performances bring out the best of them even though they may not be able to reveal it that easily during normal interactions.
My only complaint would have to be at the climax. NOT SPOILING. The climax was more unfitting than it was disappointing. It just did not feel right since maybe us viewers may have expected a lot after all of the greatness they offered from the first episode. People may take the climax if different ways but I see it as the anime's largest fault but thank God it does not detract from this wonderful experience.

Characters: The funny thing about this anime is that the character's aren't even human beings (they are moving drawings) but they are still portrayed with so much emotion and humanity to keep you invested in the historical setting they live in. Everything the characters do feel human and that's what helps the wonderful writing and directing of the series shine. You have goals when you are younger, some will excel using less effort than those who struggle, you give up on distractions when youre goal becomes a dream, you feel trapped when you are bombarded with expectations and are blinded to see only one direction, and sometimes when you fulfill your dream you can't help but feel this small bit of unsatisfaction like there is something missing or there is something else that you need to find that you were not seeking before. Shin and Bon go through all these trials with their heads held high and they carried the story with so much passion and held on to their true selves while developing as people. Even Miyokichi was a character that stood out and almost stole every scene she was in. She was a fascinating woman when she was introduced but viewers began to hate her for the bitch she becomes in later episodes. In my eyes, her development was negative but it was still understandable and made her change for the benefit of the story. Some anime fans seem to mistake the fact that good characters DO NOT ALWAYS EQUAL good people. I have no complaints with any of the characters.

Sound: The opening was very enticing but the score was phenominal. The sound of the koto and shamisen brings you into the setting of ancient Japan and you can feel the customs and old culture. This original score will also rival the upcoming anime this year.

Art/Animation: Animation was solid for the most part but the visuals not only look nice but it helps in expressing the characters feelings and thoughts when they are the ones struggling to express themselves.

Final Verdict: Studio Deen does not have the best track record and the last amazing anime I remember from them was Higurashi. But they totally stepped up their game and put so much heart into this anime. This anime just made my top 10 and I really hope for an anime with this level of depth, mature themes, and realism very soon. This anime gets a high, well deserved 9/10.

Anime Community: "It's only been 3 episodes and Erased is already the best anime of 2016. It is so well written and the mystery aspects are just fantastic!"
Me: "Baka na no?" (Are you stupid?)

Story: The time travel would've suited me had I gotten an explanation. The show puts on a suspense atmosphere and attempts to fill your thoughts with just absolute mystery. I look at this series more as a drama than a mystery though. Satoru Fujinuma puts in his being to save Kayo Hinazuki and their developing friendship felt realistic starting as awkward strangers to buddies who look after each ... other. The themes of child abduction and abuse are present and are executed well and will bring out emotions of resistance against such horrible acts and the corrupted minds of the parents harming their own children. The story for a majority of it progressed well and I felt the resolution of the Kayo Hinazuki arc was satisfying. If you get hooked at the first episode, the suspense will keep you at the tip of your chair and will glue your eyes to the screen. And it doesn't stop there. The ending of every episode is a cliffhanger that will having you raging with anticipation for the upcoming events of the story.
As for my complaints, the pacing felt inconsistent then became way too rushed in the last few episodes. The fact that there was no explanation for revival and how it worked or came to be made me feel kind of betrayed in a way for giving a concept so much importance and finishing the series by just throwing it away like it meant nothing. Predictibility is not a problem to me as long as the way it all unfolds is executed properly and well. I don't mind that the reveal of the killer was obvious but I do mind that it was reveal in an underwhelming matter like we were supposed to be surprised. They put too much emphasis on the identity's killer that you can't really look at the situation seriously and feel the disbelief or fear for how Satoru would deal with it. The killer's motivations would have made a very good insight on the character but the explanation was vague and left a lot to be desired. (Also the shipping between Satoru and Kayo was irritating and I felt the length people took it to became disgusting) The conclusion was rushed and ended very underwhelmingly.

Characters: Satoru Fujinuma is the main protagonist with the power of revival. He starts off as a pointless human being just living his life as he struggles to become a thriving manga artist. After his revival to 15 years ago, he makes it his duty to save Kayo Hinazuki and his drive will bring out his true colors (caring, brave, cautious) and makes him a worthy protagonist. His relationships with Kayo, his mom, and his friends was genuine and you can feel the amount of concern that have for each other. Mainly his friends all felt like the usual buddies who like you but will find any opportunity to mess with you, which I found relatable and engaging. Kayo Hinazuki (my personal favorite character) was presented as an abused child with nobody she could count on or hold on to. She constantly hid her pain and accepted her life as it was which rightfully makes the audience care for her and support her through the story. But with the help of Satoru and his friends she finds a brighter side of life. Though she rejects it at first, she comes to play along with the boys until it hits her that a life filled with people who love you is the life that everyone strives for but are not always easily given and she will put in more effort to live that life. Sachiko Fujinuma, Satoru's mother, also was a fascinating asset of Erased. She acted like a strong mother who guides her son through the easy path, right path, and wrong paths. She is supportive of Satoru's goals and follows what she feels is best for him. She would always be right behind him during the moments of preparation and would stand beside during the moments of confrontation.
As for my complaints, as much as the relationships with Satoru felt real, some of those characters felt like they contributed nothing to the story and at times ended up as wasted potential. Kenya was the friend who first notices that Satoru had a sudden change at the time of his revival which made him an interesting character. All Kenya contributed was following Satoru around and agreeing with his points on how to determine the killer (which wasn't much at all). Airi is a girl who works with Satoru at his second job at a pizza store. She could have provided a good conscience for Satoru and would have been interesting character to help him solve the mysteries. But since the story took place more in the past than in the present, we barely get to see any of her and she contributes nothing to the story. Plus her backstory with the chocholate bar and her father was just unrealistic and downright pathetic. How could a moment like that bring so much distrust to destroy a family and emotionally scar her for years? It was stupid and you all know it. The killer (not gonna mention the name) would have provided a better look at the causes of the events that occur in the story but ended up being really vague and unclear that the motivations come off as unbelievable in a bad sense. A lot of his actions though menacing were taken as a sad joke due to incomprehensible after thoughts which contradicts the entire concept of an antagonist, especially as a murderer. Had his motivations made more sense we could've understood more of what made him who he is and why he does what he does. All the other characters (besides the other friends) had no purpose and should have had less time on screen so the show could focus on the more interesting characters and potentially interesting people mentioned earlier.

Art/Animation: Art is pretty above standard and makes for a nice looking settings and solid character designs. The animation is a piece of wonder and some of the better works of A-1 Pictures.

Sound: The soundtrack adds to the suspense of the series and I very much enjoyed the opening. The voice actors did a thorough job as usual.

Final Verdict: I was really enjoying Erased for a majority of the show but that was only for episodes 1 to the first half of 9. The reveal and beyond was what brought the show to nonsense instead of having a proper ending. It fell flat after losing track of how to conclude the series with only 4 episodes after finishing a strong arc. The bonding between Satoru and Kayo is what makes this OK anime memorable and it still held on to its strong side despite the degrading flaws that dragged the show down. A-1 Pictures, the manga was finished and you had only one job. I'm still not that suprised they fouled up another potentially great manga adaptation. I give Erased a 6/10.