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Chalk up my rating to the fact that I really do not like parodies. There's a disconnect between me and that genre; where others would be lying on the floor laughing, I am merely sitting on my chair, bored out of my mind.

To be fair, One Punch Man is decent, more like a parody of a parody, but I still cannot see at what point this is the saviour of anime like others have claimed. It's light-hearted, doesn't take itself too seriously, and there's no continual plot; each plot ends as the episode does, except, perhaps, with the last couple of episodes.

The characters are ... not well-rounded; some of them are merely caricatures. Saitama was a bored salaryman whose knowledge about his powers came about on pure happenstance, and thus he uses it to become a hero, but ultimately gets too strong and becomes bored because he takes out his enemies with one punch, a'la the title.

Genos is a cyborg with a dark past. He's the one that brings the comedic effect to the duo; on a regular basis he ends up becoming a trash heap as his opponents regularly take him out, or he loses all self-preservation and ends up sacrificing himself.

An assortment of eccentric background characters come in to either "lend a hand" by being completely useless, or being equally useless enemies.

If you're looking for a deep plot and well-rounded characters, you definitely won't find them here.

The art was really well done for a show with a decent budget. You can tell that the animators really love doing their jobs and doing it well, because the fight sequences were exquisite - enough to make you want to watch it a few times over.

The music is catchy and not going to lie, I was humming the OP more than a few times when I was distracted.

One Punch Man is not an extraordinary anime, but a decent one.

Don't get me wrong, I can see why a lot of people enjoy this anime, but I didn't see what the fuss was all about. Though I have bought the manga. I enjoyed the series enough to do that at least. I will just be among those who can't picture this anime as the saviour of Japan's entertainment medium.

As someone who is a big fan of fantasy, Arslan Senki was right up my alley and it did not disappoint me.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, to be honest. The first episode was kind of 'meh' for me, but I stuck with it, and by the second episode I was like a ravenous beast; I needed more, more, more. I caught up on the show that day and watched weekly after that.

What I enjoyed most was the moral compass this series is guided by, or rather, Arslan is. He's a just, fair young man with a very good ... head on his shoulders. His growth from a rather wimpy kid who only knows what he's been taught to someone who sees the world without judgement in the sense that if he disagrees with it, it isn't automatically seen as "the wrong thing", he just doesn't agree.

You can't help but root for Arslan as he starts his journey with Daryun, Narcissus and the others to reclaim Pars after it has fallen to Lucetania, because you want to know what kind of leader Arslan has it in him to be.

Each character has the remarkable capacity for growth, and they do. Arslan's company grows to the point where if you were to place the old them and the new them beside each other, the differences would be stark. I love that, and in a series like this, surrounded by war and politics and religion, it's definitely necessary.

The art was phenomenal as well! Honestly, I think that's one of my favourite things, aside from the characters. The way everything was animated was simply gorgeous.

The music, also, was grand. It helps sweep you up into the moment. With each swell of the music, you're left sitting on the edge of your seat. What's going to happen? What's going on? Honestly the composer should receive some kind of reward for this. They capture the show beautifully in their music.

Honestly now that I'm finished, I want to go back and watch it all again. I adore this anime and I can't wait for the second season. 2016 can't come fast enough!

I had my reservations going into this one. I was just getting into sports anime at the time, and I came across this one looking for another great one to watch. The only image I saw of it beforehand was Hinata and Kageyama doing their setter and spiker poses in front of an orange and black backdrop. For some reason, my instincts were telling me that I really needed to watch this one, whilst the rest of me was questioning what was so good about volleyball anyway.

I am really glad I have such great instincts, because this anime is a gem.

First of all, you ... don't need any prior knowledge of volleyball; Takeda-san, faculty advisor for Karasuno's volleyball team, acts as an audience surrogate. He knows basically next to nothing about volleyball when the anime begins, but slowly and surely he starts to learn and we learn alongside him; the positions, the rotations on the court, all the moves that setters, spikers and middle blockers perform.

The reoccurring theme amongst sports anime is that they push the sports to the side for a while and focus on characterisation. This, I believe, is why a lot of people relate more to sports anime than, say, actual sports. On television, when watching live-action sports, we know next to nothing about the players unless we do some hardcore research. In sports anime, you get acquainted and attached to all sorts of characters as you go on this journey with them.

Here, we have our two focal characters; Hinata Shouyou and Kageyama Tobio, two volleyball fanatics on separate spectrums of ability; Hinata has amazing reflexes and an almost inhuman jumping ability, but his skills as a volleyball player are poor at best, but he aims to be the Ace of the team primarily given to a spiker. He's far removed from his full potential. And then there's Kageyama, a genius player who can basically play all positions with ease, and focuses his overwhelming talent on the setter position, which unifies the team.

These two are backed up by well-rounded characters on both their team and others, topped off with a coach that uses alcohol analogies to describe things to minors, a shy female manager that evokes the jealousy of those on opposite teams with male managers. Sometimes we only see minor characters for maybe one episode, but every single person that appears on screen has a personality, a back story that helps you connect to them. Characterisation is a strong point in Haikyuu!!

The animation is really smooth, too! There are some parts where I just have to go back and watch it over and over because I am in love with how it looks. Admittedly I can only watch videos in 360p so I don't get to see the art at its best, but even at that quality you can really see the detail and the amount of care that went into every single frame.

The music is amazing too; especially the opening songs. I don't think I've skipped over them more than about twice, not counting the episodes I clicked on just to skip to my favourite parts. When the music kicks in, usually in a pivotal moment, you're on the edge of your seat waiting with bated breath to see what happens.

Overall, I give this anime a solid 10/10. I caught up with the manga, so I cannot wait to see my favourite parts get animated in the second season which airs in October. Definitely one of the best sports anime out there!

Could you love a doll long enough to watch it grow up like a normal human?

The hybrid child is a doll that grows older when their owner shows him (because the dolls we are shown in the anime are, of course, male due to the yaoi aspect) love. In this anime, we are given three stories of their owners loving their Hybrid Child.

The three stories effectively show the bonds between humans and their hybrid child. In the final story, it becomes more of the bond between two human men, one of whom is the creator of the hybrid child. We get a sense of ... how his project really grew to be his life, and how it changed the lives of the two men in the previous episodes.

The characters are all different from each other, as is the relationships between human and hybrid child.

Kotarou and Hazuki in the first episode bicker and banter, but when Hazuki's life is at stake, you see how strong their bond is and how far Kotarou is willing to go for him. The additional story within the episode of how the two came to know each other is especially touching.

In the second episode, we have a young hybrid child and an older man. This is not a perverted story, mind you; this one is about the hybrid child, Yuzu, questioning why, after all the time he's been with Seya, he hasn't grown yet. Does Seya not love him?

The last story is without a doubt what makes the story: this is the story of Kuroda, the creator of the hybrid children, and how his love for Tsukishima drove him to create all of these hybrid children.

The art is something one would expect from a yaoi when it comes to the characters: they do share the same facial shape. Think of the characters from Junjou and Sekaiichi (all by the same author) and you'll understand. However, the backgrounds are superb. I found myself pausing every so often to admire the scenery, as it's very well done. I appreciated the attention to detail.

The OP and ED aren't noteworthy. There's classical music throughout the anime, helping to evoke emotion within scenes. It's used effectively and upon second viewing I did find myself enjoying and appreciating the music more.

I enjoyed myself a lot. Just like with Junjou and Sekaiichi, I will add Hybrid Child to the list of things I will watch over and over again.

This season of Pokemon is like none other. I haven't felt this invested or entertained by a season of Pokemon since Misty's departure. For once, I am excited for episodes. I want to know what's happening. Also, there are a lot of tear-jerking episodes this season, and a bunch of cool new Pokemon to meet!

What I love most of all is that Ash and Pikachu weren't "reset". They keep all of the power and knowledge they got in Black and White. And Ash reuses battle strategies! Yes! Finally! He's used several strategies in the past that has been extremely effective and he just never used ... them again.

Ash is very battle smart this time around. He meets Pokemon and he instinctively knows what they need, particularly in the case of Hawlucha.

The companions are really amazing too. A different dynamic to the rest, but honestly this time around their friendship really feels like a friendship and not just three to four people walking from city to city.

Clemont is the brains of the operation, and brings along his little sister Bonnie who is really enthusiastic about Pokemon (like Max) but acts her age and is really excitable (unlike Max).

Serena is the love interest whom is searching for her own dream. I found that to be really believable. With the rest of the female companions, they just instinctively know what they want, but with Serena it takes time. She doesn't rush it.

Her dynamic with Ash is what keeps me hooked. I can actually see those two getting together and being happy. I haven't felt that way since Misty, but now I feel it more than ever. She and Ash just ... work. During most, if not all, of Ash's gym battles, her mere presence seems to help him out of a tough spot. She doesn't need to say anything. He looks at her and he knows what he needs to do. I hope once XY wraps up, Serena tags along with Ash to the next region.

Pokemon XY is just so mature this time around. They've finally, FINALLY got it right and I hope they don't change it.

The music is amazing too. It gets really intense during gym battles and sucks you in so completely you can't look away from the screen. You cheer, you get emotional, and overall you just feel so happy. Where the hell was this the entire time?!

And the art! THE ART! It's so beautiful! Everything is just so crisp and clean and so well done. It's very aesthetically pleasing.

Overall, I am enjoying XY so much. I don't want it to end, because they've finally gotten it right. They've got a cast of characters that just mesh so well.

I have to admit, I was very worried about this. I ended up putting off watching it for two weeks, even. It's all because I know absolutely nothing about music, especially the classics. If it sounds good, I'll listen to it. Doesn't matter to me what the instruments are or how long it took to perfect.

When I found Nodame Cantabile, I was intrigued, but hesitant. I figured this was an anime that required knowledge of classical music, the instruments and how an orchestra operates.

I watched the first episode and I was hooked, spending a day and a half watching all of the episodes, ... delighted to find that all the knowledge I thought I would need wasn't required. What this anime does best is showing and telling all about the music world, but it doesn't leave you out. If you don't know the flute you were made to practice with in second grade from a piccolo, it doesn't actually matter. See, I probably fucked up that analogy right there, because I don't know shit about instruments. My point is, this anime doesn't try to be high-collar, where only the musicians of the world would ever get the smallest intricacy.

The characters carried this story, especially Noda and Chiaki. Their dynamic is ... interesting to say the least. Chiaki is a perfectionist and Noda, well, she's a slob, and by all means these two should be at each others' throats - the dynamic just shouldn't work - but it does. They are exactly what the other needs in order to grow. They play off each other really well and become more ... human (especially in Chiaki's case).

Chiaki learns from Noda that he shouldn't chase after perfection because it's the imperfections that make something great; Noda learns passion, willpower and courage from Chiaki.

Without Noda, Chiaki would never have been able to conduct the orchestra as well as he does because he'd never connect with the musicians. In fact, if he had continued to be insensitive I have no doubt the orchestra would've walked out on him.

Noda's problems get a bit more of the focus; she's very talented, playing a song perfectly because she "played it by ear" meaning all she had to do was listen to it to get it, though she has difficulty playing it without putting her own unique style into it, earning her many a slap from her teachers. But past issues dulled her ambition to go pro, until she meets Chiaki, who continuously inspires her to do better and be better, though she does still have her inhibitions.

I thoroughly enjoyed this anime, and I'm sad that this portion of the story is over; it was so much fun!

I am now beginning to understand the hype surrounding Kou Yoneda's work. I thoroughly enjoyed this manga. The art was wonderful, I liked how fleshed out the characters were. The story was interesting and kept me reading without taking too many breaks.

My main problem was the time jumps. I'm the type of person who finds it hard to keep track of time jumps, so occasionally I'd have to go back a few pages to figure out where in the timeline we were. But other than that, this manga was great! I wish there was more to it.

Can't wait to get my hands on ... Kou Yoneda's other work!

After watching Fullmetal Alchemist, I was left with an unsatisfied feeling. Everything felt rushed, and the twists and turns lacked gravitas. So it was with great scepticism that I continued on to watch Brotherhood. Quickly, my fears about this remake were dispelled and I was hooked. Four days and 64 episodes later, I'm at the end and I'm blown away.

I do strongly suggest you watch FMA before moving onto Brotherhood. FMA was good, had a lot of entertainment value, but half the things I wanted to see didn't happen - and I haven't even read the manga yet. But in Brotherhood you get everything you ... expected to see and more.

The relationship between Edward and Alphonse feels so much more real in FMA Brotherhood. I can actually see their bond and believe that they'd do anything to get their bodies back. In FMA, I wanted to see more brotherly moments, and I just didn't get that until Brotherhood.

Winry had a much bigger role to play in Brotherhood than she did in FMA. Her interactions with Ed and Al we hilarious and touching, and the three of them really drive this story all the way. You never stop rooting for them and you never stop hoping that they can right their wrongs and get their bodies back.

Another favourite duo was Mustang and Hawkeye. I loved seeing the two of them together, because they just played off each other really well. They were there for each other through thick and thin and every scene they had together was a delight to watch.

FMA Brotherhood left me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't stop watching, and when I had to because I needed sleep, I swear that all I could think about was FMA Brotherhood, the characters, and where I thought this anime would go.

I strongly recommend this!