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Dec 25, 2016
I went into this expecting a show about music. Instead, what I got was some high school drama. While this adds realism to the experiences of the characters, I didn't feel that we had learned enough about the drive (or lack thereof) of the characters themselves -- aside from Kumiko - to care. I was longing for a reason each character we focused on was there, to learn more about them. While this does portray a high school band, and generally speaking a lot of band members in high school who don't find that passion or drive end up dropping out of it, the annoying
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(or downright bullshit) drama outweighed the actual character development.
That said, however, I don't agree with some people's ideas that Kyoto Animation did a "wash-rinse-repeat" of "K-On!;" the story here seems more grounded, and focuses different thematic elements than just a few club members bonding and how those relationships change them over time. Instead, this group of bandmates are working towards the goal of nationals -- something that "brings them all under one roof" in a different way and dynamic.
The animation was stunning, as to be expected. It highlighted all the right contrasts, especially when it came to the instruments, without being too flashy or oversaturating.
For me, the music was somewhat forgettable. This is one of the big mistakes that reflects the show's attitude towards music. I want to be engulfed in the score and have the characters do the same; instead I got repetitive instances of one selection, and the OST didn't help to alleviate that. I felt both the OP and ED were good.
Ultimately, though I understand the paralleling motivations behind certain thematic decisions, I believe the show would have been much stronger focusing more on the characters, rather than the general ripple of drama around them. I can only hope for a change in this for Season 2.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Oct 27, 2016
This is one of the few anime I've watched where I've been forced to give serious thought and reflection on it for days after I'd seen it. In fact, I'm writing this three days after I finished the movie.
I believe that "Kimi no Na wa" is the height of Shinkai's storytelling. Almost immediately, we are engrossed and deeply care about our two protagonists, and what they do. He takes these interactions to make something meaningful out of the story. While the first of the three sections (if you will) is definitely the lightest in tone, the over-arcing wastes no time in plunging you head-long into
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the full story. Instead of just playing it for laughs, the story makes an interesting scenario that pays off in spades later, as well as developing that characters and the world around them. This is something I strongly commend, as a problem I had with "5 Centimeters per Second" was that I was never really able to connect with or care about the characters (in part due to a lack of backstory and development), and thus never deeply care about the events they got into. No matter where you are in this film, there is always something to keep your attention on, always something to make you smile. There's less of a drive for "thematic consistency," and more of an engaging experience for the audience.
The art is gorgeous and breathtaking. Sadly, I only got to watch it in 720p -- something I will definitely rectify once it's been officially released in the states.
RADWIMPS brings an electrically exciting musical atmosphere to the table, and it certainly delivers. As opposed to the soft-spoken and gentle tracks composed by Tenmon for previous Shinkai films, the music helps to shift the gears and mindset of the viewer, while still being balanced and soft-spoken where necessary.
The only main complaint I may have with this film is the minor spattering of plot holes or "conveniences" that show up as a result of making a romance sci-fi. This by no means takes away from the overall experience, rather, just makes some elements of the film harder to suspend disbelief of than others.
Ultimately, "your name." is an exemplary example of change for the better. Shinkai left everything alone that worked, and changed things that benefited the work in the long run. It’s funny, entertaining, gripping, engaging, moving, and romantic, all while having a pretty solid base story line. I'm looking forward to re-watching this in the near future, and crying all over again.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Sep 27, 2015
"Food Wars" is a very enjoyable and hilarious series, built on a somewhat standard idea of battles. The food is well-described and thought-out, and actually makes you hungry.
I felt that the characters, while fun to watch, seemed lacking in impact (aside from Souma, who I might argue isn't as OP as people make him out to be). The development of Megumi was very slow, and then made somewhat of a jump. While that lasted to the finale, it felt a tad rushed. Other supporting characters are fun to look at, but eventually forgettable. The only characters I can really remember details of are Souma, Megumi,
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and Erina. While the supporting characters are there to help things along (in each one's own way), they did feel throw-away by the end of the season. If there is a Season 2, I hope the focus is better distributed.
Story-wise, as I said before, things are generally standard. The use of "food gasms" demonstrates the appeal of the dishes served, and always manages to make me hungry. Despite the fan-service being over-the-top, at least it was mixed-gender. The entire season somewhat felt like an appetizer, and I hope the next one (be it existing or not) will fill my stomach more.
The animation is top-notch, giving everything (and everyone) vibrant and distinct identifiers. It's clear, direct, and beautiful. Since the show is comedic in nature, there are nice changes in the animation to lighten the tone of the show, and keep things lighthearted (and not just battle-oriented). Character designs are nice. The music for the series is VERY clever. It blends distinct sounds from different cultures depending on the theme of the dish that is currently being shown. It helps with the immersion of the viewer, bringing forth epic tracks when called for, and a lighter tone otherwise. ED 1 and OP 2 are definitely favorites. I have no real complaints about the voice acting; each character is portrayed true to their traits.
Every week, I loved sitting down and watching this show. It would leave me hanging, wanting the next episode to come out already. The comedy balanced the drama, the characterization was well done, the atmosphere was cute, and in the end, it just made me HUNGRY. On that note, if you watch this show while rather hungry... good luck.
"Food Wars" is a highly-enjoyable and delicious (hah) experience. Despite some lacking character development, it leaves you wanting more.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 29, 2015
Working!! is a fun, mindless slice-of-life show that revolves around the characters and their relationships while working in a family diner. While it's not the "greatest" show out there, it still pleases.
The story itself is... well, there is no real story to the show. It's more like a compilation of moments and interactions. There is some driving force behind character motives, but everything seems to be more or less melodrama. Plot devices are used freely, but not creatively -- the main character joins the store because... the girl asking him is cute?
Animation is very solid. It gets the job done, and is fluid at times,
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but nothing great or eye-catching. Backgrounds are detailed enough to portray depth, but nothing more.
In terms of music, the opening is very catchy, which might be a nuisance for some. I, however, enjoyed it. It embodies the show rather well. Soundtrack isn't anything spectacular, but acts as decent background music to portray tone. I didn't particularly take note of any stand-out tracks. The ending is solid. The show is (currently) only offered in Japanese dub; the voice acting performances were solid.
Again, the characters are really what drive the show. Now, I'd be hard-pressed to say that most of these characters are really good on their own, the show relies on them interacting with the rest of the staff to provide comedy and "plot." Takanashi is your generic, clueless main character. Just forget about him. Taneshima is cute, and energetic. Inami is the main source of "driven plot" for the show, with her attempting to overcome her "androphobia". I personally found her cute and entertaining, though the show's constant use of her as a vessel to try and make things interesting got tiring after a while. Todoroki is interesting, though I don't think we get enough of her background that's hung in front of us for several episodes... Yamada is hilarious. Besides them, I couldn't really care about the other characters. Souma is just a pain in the side; I dislike his character "development". And, on that topic, we do actually see some development in these characters. Not so much their traits, but there relationships. I'm glad the show was able to at least pull that off.
I have to admit, for a slice-of-life show about more or less "nothing specific", I more or less enjoyed Working!!. It made me laugh out loud at times, and was just clever enough to scrape by. I think I'll watch the second season to see how things pan out... eventually.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jul 9, 2015
After reading around 100 chapters of the manga and then not touching it for a few months, seeing Bakuman in anime form was rather refreshing.
The first season covers their beginnings and startup and progresses to a (spoiler?) major achievement. Within that span, a main driving force of the show (and characters) that bothered me was the "promise" made between Mashiro and Asuki. It seems cute and acts as a good progression device, but was so over-used I felt that I was just getting beat over the head with it. I get it, move on. Following the team's ups and downs was certainly enjoyable, and the
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timing was good. However, the pacing, especially during the "summer of assisting", seemed very slow. Also, can we get Miyoshi to do something OTHER THAN cook? Thanks.
Animation has a classic style and feel to it, and is solidly done.
Watched in sub, and I enjoyed the voice acting. OP is alright, found myself skipping it right away, though. ED 1 was great, but ED 2 took some getting used to.
Again, the characters: My main gripe with this season. While some like Hatorri and Niizuma stand out as great, well-rounded developments, the "antagonists" of this season seem more like playful puppies. For 25 episodes, we really don't get a whole lot of back-story besides Takuro, and his main point is just how old he is. Hoping to see more development as the pace picks up in season 2.
Overall, I enjoyed seeing Bakuman in anime form. It's nice to get a flowing feel for the story, but I really hope things improve -- especially in the development department.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 3, 2015
WHY.
We were given such a nice conclusion (however melancholy it was) to the original series, and now have this to change things... for the worse. It's like ripping open a wound after having surgery. Rebellion could have been something great, but instead it falls flat due to rather horrible writing. (Spoilers roam free beyond this point.)
= Story =
Starting off with nearly the same exact premise as the original series, we're thrown for a loop when there are some changes made to what we're familiar with. However, Homura senses these changes and knows something's wrong; she eventually realizes what's going on, and that's when the shit
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hits the fan. Throughout her trying to "escape" the world that she's created where everything is perfect... and that's where it lost me. Everything feels way too rushed, and relies on dumping information again and again and again just to get by. We even have about 15 MINUTES of exposition by Kyubey who tries to explain what the hell is supposed to be happening in the film. This poor writing leads to a very muddled ending, which sadly overlays the despair that Homura is feeling. It's initially hard to pinpoint WHY she turned into a demon and absorbs Madoka's power. Even if you do go for the whole "Homura has been through so much" card, it still doesn't explain how she managed to absorb the powers of a despair-absorbing goddess. Inserting this 180-degree "twist" into her character is a corruption of the values Homura had from the original series, and furthermore discards her previous efforts to save Madoka just for some sudden and lack-luster attempt at blindsiding.
= Character =
The cast feels very two-dimensional. Everyone seems to exist only to serve Homura's story, and nothing more. Now, granted Homura herself is the main character of this piece, and it's (supposed to be) a commentary or study on how she would have felt once Madoka re-wrote the universe and disappeared. BUT, again, the writing totally inhibits this by dumping boatloads of information onto us and then giving us barely enough time to recover before revealing something else. The characters don't have FEELINGS; everything feels driven simply by trying to move the story along. There's nothing more to them, and they feel devoid of personality and development (besides Homura). They lack the depth and focus that the writing from the first series allowed them to have, and I think that's a total waste... and shame.
= Animation =
The level of detail put into the animation, unlike the writing, is stellar. Backgrounds and color shadings greatly reflect the tone that is attempted to be conveyed. It's very clear that the production of the movie wasn't rushed at all, unlike the original show -- there is meticulous and gorgeous animation.
My only complaint is the heavy-handed witch-themed imagery used. Now, granted, they are in a witch's labyrinth, but it felt forced and over-exposed at times. A lot of the symbolism used was never developed, and felt like it was just there to be there. Unlike in the show, where there were controlled scoops of witch-esk animation, it's ever-present in this movie, and I feel that it desensitizes the view to its meaning and absurdity.
= Sound =
The soundtrack, composed by the great Yuki Kajura, continues off of the style she utilized for the show. It fits very well, and she even explored some new avenues of utilization, breaking out of her comfort zone a few times, like the use of the electric guitar in a few tracks. However, I can't say that as a whole the soundtrack tops the original work she did. The opening song, "Colorful" by ClariS, is addicting as all hell. I love it -- something about it just screams "Madoka." The ending song, on the other hand ("Kimi no Gin no Niwa", performed by Kalafina) fell flat to really stand out on its own, and certainly didn't live up to "Magia" from the series.
The Japanese voice acting is good as a whole, but (as stated earlier,) somewhat muddled the already lacking writing for me as a native English speaker. The English dub made up for that in regards of comprehension, with also a strong cast voicing.
= Enjoyment =
I wish I could praise this so much more. Really, I do. The original Madoka Magica series is one of my top favorites to date, and having this slapped onto it makes things worse, rather than better. I've had to watch this three times to even start to comprehend what I watched. Watching in dub made things a little more understandable, being a native English speaker, but even at that it can't make up for the simply awkward and bad writing that makes up this movie. It's such a shame that it turned out this way; a little more thought could have allowed it to be leaps and bounds ahead of itself. It was a great concept, I'll give you that, but was executed poorly.
= Verdict =
Some might argue that I'm being way to hard on the movie and shouldn't be comparing it to the show. But why shouldn't I? This movie and everything it's made up of are supposed to be a continuation of the show, and should add on to the story therein.
Rebellion falls short in writing and character, which quickly lead to it being a chaotic, lackluster story. The animation and sound, while good, can't pick up the slack of the hole in the film, and all in all, leave much more quality work to be desired.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Apr 8, 2015
The idea of human nature and meaning in life has resounded via philosophical thinkers throughout history. Using it's creative themes and varying perspectives, Death Parade attempts to give us some answers to these questions, all while driving forwards a complex narrative driven by interesting and (somewhat) relatable characters.
= The Story =
The concept of Parade revolves around what happens to people after the die. Rather than go for the usual heaven and hell scenario, "contestants" are either sent to be resurrected in the world, or sent to the void, where their soul falls and suffers in regret for eternity. There are two contestants who are judged
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by an arbiter, one who ultimately makes the decision of who goes where.
In the latter half of the show, we are introduced to the idea that the method of judgment is flawed -- primarily due to non-human arbiters evoking and judging human emotions that they cannot understand. In essence, the show is about life and death and how people come to deal with both and how the inner workings of the human aren't as black and white as people think.
While the show drags a little in its middle, specifically episodes 6 and 7. The problem is that while the show is somewhat able to mix an episodic and overarching story together very well when looked at as a whole, it seems to stumble slightly with these two episodes, which feel disjointed, and perhaps even out of place. If you can push past these two and move on to episode 8 and further, I guarantee you will see that it was worth the wait.
Without giving anything away, I believe that the ending to this show was a beautiful masterpiece of emotion, tied into the very essence of the show: what it means to be human. It didn't feel forced in any way, and fit perfectly.
= The Animation =
I'm just going to flat-out say it: this show is beautiful. While some people say that the flattened look of the character designs detract from the viewing experience, I argue that it benefits the environment. They give a nice, varying contrast to the darker tones of the show's setting, especially Quindecim. The backgrounds are detailed and smooth, with some mixture of 3D effects placed in the foreground in some instances. The lighting perfectly sets the tone.
= The Sound =
Okay, we all know the opening for this show is both amazing and an inaccurate portrayal of the series. Moving on...
The soundtrack by Hayashi Yuki sets the tone rather well, and is composed of mainly beautiful piano arrangements. However, when used in the show, some tracks felt a lot more heavy-handed than others.
= The Characters =
Here's the main driving force of our story. The two main characters, Decim and Chiyuki, have a very well-developed relationship, with her helping to teach Decim about humans, and understanding their emotions and actions. A majority of the per-episode characters that come in as "contestants" are believable and fleshed out enough where you understand where they're coming from, and what motivates their actions.
What Death Parade lacks in character lies in the supporting cast, consisting of fellow arbiters. We are given the impression that some sort of social hierarchy is in play, but is never explained. Further, the viewer is required to assume some things about these characters, especially the more prominent ones such as Nona and Oculus. Had the series been longer, I'm sure these points would have been elaborated upon.
= Enjoyment / Final Verdict =
This show isn't one you can sit back and watch mindlessly. You have to be engaged and invested in its viewing, allowing you to process everything that is being commentated upon. For those who would feel inclined to do so, such as myself, the show makes a great way to be exposed to new philosophical ideas regarding human life, combined into a great package of story.
Death Parade is an astoundingly resounding philosophical commentary on human nature, that the judgments that we make on others. Though the show is not without its flaws, it is an enjoyable watch for anyone who ponders their existence.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Apr 5, 2015
a chain of short stories about their distance. ~
= Story = (Spoilers in analysis; assuming you've already watched it)
Directed by Makato Shinka, 5 Centimeters per Second tells the story of the relationship between two kids, and how it grows and fades over time. Rather than be your general cliched love story, it takes the experiences we have in the real world and brings it together into a universe that everyone can relate to.
The movie is split into 3 parts. The first part, titled "Cherry Blossom," is arguably the strongest and most impactful of the three. We are given the present mixed in with the
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past, a complication of backstory and real-time that introduce us to these characters. The distance and time that keep both Takaki and Akari apart is depicted in a sense that gives us hope, yet a feeling that something is wrong from the start. The pacing, though excruciatingly slow, could be argued to actually help set the tone of this part. When they both finally meet, the objective we have been waiting for all this time, it's over in an instant. Though some might say that's poor pacing, I believe that it realistically shows us how fleeting time is, and how quickly something we long for can once again be lost.
The second part, "Cosmonaut," seems to be the weaker of the three. Takaki is older, and now our focus shifts to his relationship (or lack thereof) with his classmate, Kanae. She has strong feelings for him, but doesn't know how to express them, and Takaki is seemingly oblivious to everything. He always seems distant and not aware of what's in front of him, which is later to be revealed his thinking about Akari. At the end of the part, Kanae accepts these feelings of unrequited love, which was to me felt too glossed-over. These feelings that Kanae had should have been drawn out and emphasized upon more, perhaps enhancing the depth of her character.
The final part, namely titled "5 Centimeters per Second," gives us a future look at the consequences of our characters' actions from the past. Takaki is a programmer, and Akari is going to get married. Unable to focus and be content with his life without Akari, Takaki slips into a depression and quits his job. They both feel the need to be together, but it seems as though that might never happen. The two meet per chance at a train crossing, but are separated by distance and time once again as each are on the other side. When the train has passed, Akari is gone. Takaki smiles to himself, and continues on through his life.
The heartbreaking nature of 5 Centimeters is driven through catharsis: you never truly forget your first love.
= Animation =
It goes without saying that the art in 5 Centimeters is beautifully stunning. The backgrounds and environment immerse you into setting and scenes, just another way of putting yourself in the shoes of the characters.
The animation, on the other hand, lacks the same crispness. Character designs are somewhat bland, which while might help the audience to project themselves into the story, at times really jolt you out of the viewing experience. Further, there are parts of the movie that skip frames, and use somewhat strange camera angles to cut further illustration of detail or the environment.
= Sound =
The soundtrack for this movie perfectly conveys the emotional tones of the story and art. Driven almost, if not solely, by the piano, we get some truly beautiful arrangements.
The sound effects used clearly were well thought-out and utilized.
The ending song "One more time, one more change" and cinematic perfectly brings everything together, leaving you with a glint of hope in a sea of overwhelming despair.
= Character =
This has to be, in my opinion, the weaker part of the movie. These characters should be relatable to any viewer -- especially given the nature of the story. While there were times when I felt connected to one character or another, these moments were too few-and-far-between. While the short one-hour we were given to connect with and understand the three characters that are focused on packs a lot of emotion with our story-drivers, there could have been a lot more character development. They have a foundation, but could have used more detailing that they never received.
= Enjoyment / Final Verdict =
Choo-choo, all aboard the feels train. Overall, this movie really portrays life, love, and loss. It doesn't bullshit you, and gives it to you straight. Despite some pacing/rushing issues and a lack of connection to both the second part and the characters, I still cried at the ending song. You really feel for the characters, and what they have gone through. And, again, it painfully reminds us that first love we've all had, and makes us question just how different things could have been.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 5, 2015
"Black Butler" is a modernized, Victorian version of Faust. ...seriously.
The story itself is derived from "Doctor Faustus" and the whole idea of the Faustian bargain, but it's generally very-well adapted into the Victorian setting. The first 10 or so episodes are rather good, but things drop in clarity and get more confusing as the episodes progress. By the end, some things are tied up together well, while others are left in shambles.
Character wise, Sebastian completely steals the show. With his mysterious persona, [seemingly] nice attitude and good looks (oh lordy), he's totally the centerpiece. Ciel can be annoying at times, but he is after all
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"only a child." I would have liked to see more development of the secondary and supporting characters, for they felt rather one-dimensional.
Art quality is very good, especially when it comes to the action sequences. OP and both EDs are very enjoyable. The English dub is quite excellent. The Victorian-style soundtrack really adds to the atmosphere.
I really enjoyed watching "Black Butler," despite the gripes I have with it regarding plot. It apparently deviates from the manga after the first arc or so, but seems good as a stand-alone watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 5, 2015
"Durarara!!" was a fun ride... for the most part. With a intriguing premise, and a HUGE and fun cast of characters, the show held a lot of promise. However, expectations were quickly diminished after the first 12 episodes...
The story itself is rather simple, yet expansive. We're given a deep look at a lot of the character's lives, and that's mainly what the show revolves around. Episodes 1-12 were enough to make you interested, and held promise. However, the story drops off after that, and until the end of the show, we spiral downwards into a sea of unrealistic character actions and motivations, as well as
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general plot points.
The main three (who are the primary focus 13 and onwards) have to be some of the blandest characters I've seen in a while. Their interactions are annoying, and none of them never really grow or develop into something better.
Celty's storyline is dropped half-way through, with what feels like half-assed reasoning. Izaya is interesting and fun, but his record-player statement of "Humans are interesting!" certainly isn't enough to back up his actions. Shizuo is awesome. Simon is weird, but cool. Kyohei's crew is awesome, especially Erika.
Art is good and conveys the setting well, though the quality drops off a bit after the half-way point, but it still gets the job done. Both OPs and EDs are FANTASTIC!
In regards to episodic value, it was below average. I wish I could say otherwise, but if 45% of your show is sub-par, there's obviously something wrong.
"Durarara!!" was a fun start that held a lot of potential, but panned out to be something that wasn't cohesive, and lacked direction.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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