- Last OnlineJan 6, 11:13 PM
- BirthdayDec 9, 1993
- JoinedDec 16, 2013
Also Available at
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Jul 27, 2020
Preview Review 4: I had to come back to this show. It's been too long, and sometimes you gotta go back home while you still can.
Story: 9
As an entirely episodic show, you could watch it in any order you want. But that doesn't mean it's a shallow watch. The world established is rock-solid Vantablack - it's all there, but the other-worldly Mushi and what they could do leave the villagers you meet in a world of mystery among these creatures that cannot be perceived. Only to be saved by the Mushishi; those that devote their life to studying and understanding the Mushi. Every episode focuses
...
on a different story surrounding some particular Mushi living their life, and how the humans around them can best live in peace amongst them. The only negative thing I can say about this show is that in *the dub*, a couple of the episodes are a little slow. Yep that's it.
Art/Sound: 10
Every episode from the first second immerses you smoothly into what lay ahead of Ginko, the Mushi master. The sound and art do everything you could ask to build a peaceful (and sometimes foreboding) atmosphere. And check out the full version of the OP on YouTube if you enjoy it, it's worth your time.
Character: 10
Most characters come and go, which can leave a challenge to get the audience invested every time that other shows don't usually face. But in Mushishi, most viewers watch the show for Ginko and the Mushi he deals with. That doesn't mean that the characters are boring though. Considering most people around Ginko are around only for a short while, the show does a great job portraying them and whatever input they have compelling the story. Mushishi consistently does a good job at keeping the supporting characters interesting, and always add more to the world of the Mushi being explored.
Enjoyment: 10
In some sessions I watched one episode, in some I watched nine. This is the kind of show you watch at whatever pace you like. It's not heavy on plot, so you're not pushed to watch multiple at a time, but it's not boring either, so you'll find yourself wanting to (again) watch just one more...
Overall: 10
This is my favorite show on MAL. Every thing I could want from a show like this, it delivers in spades. And what the show offers is chicken soup for my soul - a different tale of wonder or warning, capturing the fantasy of a simple life shrouded by a mystical world I could never understand. Fascination incarnate in 20 minute slices.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Jul 4, 2020
Preview Review 3:
Another spoiler-free review, I'll make this quick. If you're looking for a 90's OVA, this one's great to pick up. Here's why.
Story - 7
Originally from the 60's, it isn't complex. It's a very episodic mystery-of-the-week-type deal, and done very well. I'd say 3 or 4 of the episodes felt a tad slow to me, but most were gripping and dramatic. A little larger than life, pushing the medical-based mystery to its peak. Exactly what I wanted from episode 1 on.
Art/Sound - 9/7
A rehash of the original Tezuka series, the base character design is very simple. But with that 90's flare and serious mood,
...
the OVA presents gritty experience for its time, and holds strong to-day. They were released throughout the 90's and hold their style well, with increased fidelity as the series progresses. And with the last two coming out eleven years later, the quality jump is a little jarring, but not bad.
Character - 8
Perhaps the "weakest" part of the show, simply because there's nothing too crazy here. Say, when you compare superheros of the 50's to the 80's, you'd notice how new characters have more dynamic qualities to them compared to older ones. And very often those older heroes would have more details and nuance added in over time to keep up with their newer counterparts.
Well this series doesn't really do that. Other than what's required for the medical practice needed, Black Jack sticks to his roots and keeps it simple. But the character writing is strong enough that it works. It keeps the show easy to watch, you won't get lost in any character dynamics if you missed an episode (as if you'd skip one)
Enjoyment - 8
While the characters are perhaps a little vapid, it's because the strength of the show is the whole package. Every episode is easy to watch. Very good one at a time, and in any order if you wanted to try. This show presents each episode so well, it's like each is a stand-alone 50 minute movie. I can dig that.
Overall - 8
I've known about this series for a long time, but never got around to it. Glad I finally did though, it is so solid throughout. A lot of people who watch newer shows would do well to watch this, it's entirely different than what's coming out today, but high enough quality to keep most anyone interested. If you're looking for a show you wanna watch a little bit over a long time, this is sitting right here for you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 3, 2020
Time for another review of a contestable show - I swear I won't make this a habit. I just feel like I have a little something to say, since there's a lot of mixed opinions on this show. Like the last one, I'll keep it spoiler-free. But I can't hide the mood, I think reviews are a great way to show a curious reader potential reason to (or not to) check out a show. And to hide the atmosphere would rob this show especially of what makes it so significant, to me at least.
Story - 8
How could this show so often feel so boring, yet
...
motivate me to watch the next one by the end of the episode? Every time I thought this show was gonna settle down, some twist would pop out by next episode. Did I like the twist? No. But as every episode unfolded I was that much more compelled to watch further. Every solemn step in this show. I ended up watching this show in two sessions because after a certain point the story had this detestable grip on me. To a point where I was watching it out of disdain. By the end though, the story delivers on every little motif and theme it hinted and promised on. Even the truly ludicrous bits.
Art - 6
The art is pretty generic for 2007 even, and that's saying something. the show isn't poorly animated by any means though. Just very plain. this show was never trying to stun anyone with its visuals, the art is just good enough to convey what it needs effectively.
Sound - 8
Just like the art, it's here just to convey the heavily character-based narrative. Though I'd like to add that the OST does do a very good job at furthering the mood of the more intense scenes.
Character - 7
I don't think the characters are so much likable as they are appreciable. I don't agree with their decisions, but you're not supposed to. This is a story where you watch the ball of yarn unravel, where one ill-intention leads to a setup of a tiny mistake, where the characters just try to cover it up, which escalates further and further. And with that said, I appreciate these characters. They're dumb, selfish, sad, and whole. It's a lot more than I expected from what I heard about this show.
Enjoyment - 6
This show hurts to watch. Not that it was of poor quality (well maybe some of the characters morals were), but that watching it made me uncomfortable. Almost to the point of dropping it. You could have asked me at any point what I thought of the show, and every episode I would've given a different opinion, especially deeper in.
I started writing this review halfway through the series because I needed time to think and reflect if I wanted to continue. I didn't want to endure more of this, I didn't know what I signed up for. Hopefully you do after reading this.
Overall - what is anime bruh
I don't recommend this show if you're looking for a happy time. I wondered why this show has so many mixed ratings, and after finishing it, I feel I can confidently say that the scores given this show are only reflective of the perspective of the viewer and what they want when they watch something like this. I wanted to get off Mr Toad's Wild Ride multiple times, and hell that ending was only a good conclusion. But I'm glad this show exists. It's not perfect in it's execution, but it's a story worth telling. Do I think it's a great show? No! But I do think it's an important show, and "enjoyable" enough. One for the books. And I'll be sure to recommend it to some sap that I think will get into it.
(Potential Spoilers below)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(PS KINDA SPOILER MAYBE: I did not enjoy the fan service, but at least the show delivered on why those elements were used, and it wasn't just unnecessary fluff. Also, I seriously got mixed up on how I felt about this show. Episode 1, like a 7, by ep 4, and 5. At episode 8 it was maybe a 9, but by next episode, it was a 3! Felt like the show was going to plaid, for real. And though that sensation never left, it pulled itself together enough to wrap up by the end. What a trip.)
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
May 24, 2020
A crime to any review is to not start with what you're reviewing in the review. But a series as "lauded" as this one requires a short preamble.
After watching the original 97 series, I was left in a flurry. I *really* wanted to watch more, but I had heard so much flame about the newer series. I really didn't want to approach it. I saw the gifs. You know the gifs. But alas, my thirst to see what happened next needed to be quenched, so I bit the bullet. I figured the first movie would be fine to watch, since if it was in fact
...
terrible, at least it was short. I was expecting the worst at this point.
But it really turned my head around. Sure, the CGI was a jarring at first, but after acclimating to it, I really fell into the story being told. Even if it was a retelling of the 97 series, it was nice to see that part of the story again. And by the time I finished the 3rd movie, we were treading new ground, and I was all the way in to wherever Guts was going next. Which lead to me watching the 2016 series, which picked up where the movies left off. I thought the CG in the movies took adjusting, but looking back they were actually done pretty well. I missed the movies' CG two minutes in. Moving to a different production company really does wonders, essentially starting from a clean slate, and not for the best. But the story was as strong as ever. So I trod on to the 2nd cour.
Story: 8
Continuing on the dark tale of Berserk, it pulls that off pretty well. Not much to say, if you're in this far in the ongoing story of Guts' epic, let it be known that the story continues at a fine pace.
Art: 3
The CGI in the reboot series has definitely left an impression on a lot of fans. It varies from passable to to Photoshop dragging across the screen. When the show isn't using CG, it looks decent for the most part. It's hard to capture what makes the manga look good at times, some characters and monsters are a combination of Eldritch horror and HR Giger's wet dreams. Unless you're working for a Studio Bones-level company, you're probably not gonna have the budget to pull that off. But there are times when they use stills to capture important moments, as if they had no idea how to animate something at all.
Sound: 7
The mood presented in the OST is consistent as ever at least. But the sound design is nothing too great, and some specific sounds just don't line up, and are very noticeable. Not everything Guts hits with his sword is made of metal or rock, it shouldn't sound like that. I watched the subtitled version of the show, so I can't speak for the dub. But I did try the dub of the previous cour and moved onto the subtitled version after one episode. It may or may not be the same quality in the 2nd cour.
Character: 9
I just want Guts to find what brings him peace. This is where Berserk succeeds for me.
Enjoyment: 8
Despite the show not looking the greatest pretty often, the show was still very easy to watch. Berserk is known for its great story, and having any more of it put out in anime form is appreciated here. Seeing where this crazy tale goes next will always keep me watching.
Overall: 7
I think the new series of Berserk gets trashed way more than it deserves. Yeah, the animation is laughably bad at times, and it's a shame. A show you want to take so seriously can fail to the point of laughter, constantly breaking immersion. I'm not trying to deny or downplay that. What I'm trying to get at is that if you can get over/accept that the animation is poor, what you have is a further continuation to a legendary epic. One of the most important manga to come out of the 90's, pushing the limit of what was being made then, and even to this day. So I hope you don't pass on this show just because the production company couldn't afford to make it look the best, you'd really be missing out.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
