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Probably the most disappointing Gundam entry I've seen so far.

It felt promising at first, having what most Gundam anime contain such as an anti-war message, two military sides fighting against each other because they disagree on something military related.

Let me list what I didn't like :

- Zechs was cool (at first) but it eventually got bad. I thought "he"s Char" and then, the way his story initially went made me think that he would be different. However, he went through Char's 0079, Zeta and Char's Counterattack storylines all at the same time.
- Most of the characters are bad. Gundam work well when the characters are ... loveable in spite of their flaws and they're the ones who make it worth watching because it's a good exploration of the human psyche, especially in war time. The Gundam Wing characters are excruciatingly boring and plain and most of them don't evolve past their initial selves. Or if they do, it's a messy and rushed development like Zechs. Treize was probably the best handled character out of all of them. The worst was Wu Fei, by far.
- Gundam is a franchise that has always been full of subtext, however, Gundam Wing uses it in a bad way most of the time because the character development is mainly subtext and good luck figuring out what's up with Lady Une (it's so bad that they literally end up having to tell you and the reason is quite ridiculous)
- the animation isn't that good for a Gundam anime that aired in the 90's. Zeta Gundam and Char's Counterattack looked so much better. So many still backgrounds even after explosions and a crazy amount of reused stock footage (there were two episodes in a row that were just recap and stock footage when they reached the 25 episode mark)
- The further you get into the anime, the less the politics and events that happen have a proper explanation. Several times, I was like "I don't know what's going on".
- The plot seems to insist on the fact that pacifism can only be achieved without a war, however, Relena ends up using Heero's big murder machine. I mean, I wouldn't mind it so much if they didn't their spend time insisting on that. Also, how is nobody trying to rule over everyone or to establish a forced government?
- the battles are so underwhelming compared to other Gundam anime, feel like there's no real stakes to them.

Thanks, I hated it.

I was hesitant to start this anime because rom-coms usually aren't my thing but I'm glad I gave it a chance!

Here is a list of my favorite aspects of this anime :
- Shirogane is the best character (in my opinion). I was surprised when I found out he's not as popular as the other characters. I love how he's a much deeper person than what he gives off, there are insecurities underneath his proud demeanor. Also, I just think him overthinking everything is hilarious and relatable. He's just a sweetheart.
- The references to other anime! Especially the Lady Oscar ones. I loved those.
- The running ... gags where they always outdo each other in terms in comedic relief.
- The gradual development of the characters that led to a complete deconstruction of what I first judged them as.
- It doesn't hesitate to show those moments where you cringe at your existence.

The animation is top tier as well as the soundtrack. Very good visuals in the openings and endings.

I guess my least favorite part was the ecchi OVA because fanservice is something I really hate and I thought it took away from my initial reaction to watching Kaguya-sama "no sexualized female characters! In a rom-com? I must be dreaming".

Third Beat felt like Trigger torture porn but in a good way. They have grown so much since the first time we saw them and they became closer than ever. Even their manager and the president received a good amount of development.

Third Beat has many sad moments, but it never feels depressing. Ryuu, Gaku and Tenn show bravery and have each other's backs in order to overcome the struggles that come with their tarnished image. Moreover, Idolish7 and Re:Vale prove to be good friends and continuously support Trigger even if it causes them troubles along the way.

It took me some time to warm up to ... the ZOOL members because they were the antagonist group, but I found myself loving them and understanding why they were so bitter. They were done wrong by various actors of the industry who don't care about the humanity within idols. The writers take the time to show you that and to make you understand why they became so twisted which is greatly appreciated.

Overall, Idolish7 is definitely an anime that I think is worth watching! It conveys good messages regarding friendships, self-love, life's hardships and shows an often forgotten side of the idol industry : the behind the scenes. Moreover, it provides a wide range of characters with different personalities and motives. Even the characters who have done bad things are fleshed out and made into more than "cartoonish evil villains". Humans aren't just black or white and I think Idolish7 is good at proving so.

Third Beat is my favorite part because the stakes are so high and what makes it work is that Trigger is made of loveable characters so you're invested and you feel empathy for them because they don't deserve what happens to them. Also, the sound work is amazing! It doesn't get better than that!

One of my favorite Gundam entries, for sure! I definitely recommend watching it.

- Soundtrack -

I am so impressed by the soundtrack in this anime. It's full of songs that pull at your heart and increase the emotional stakes of the scenes, whether we're talking of the fights or important discussions between the characters. The first opening song makes me feel like I'm ascending and the second one has lyrics that fit the main character dynamics of the anime perfectly. The ending song visuals are quite breathtaking.

- Animation -

It is a visually stunning anime to look at! It has one of the best retro animation I've ... seen out of all the anime made before 2000 I've watched. The character designs are some of my favorites out of the entirety of the Gundam franchise and I know the mobile suit designs aren't very popular among Gundam fans but the Turn A mobile suit is one of my favorites! I believe the women in this anime have the best wardrobe, especially Dianna, Kihel and Lily. Sochie's tomboy personality while still wearing a great amount of pink is a nice contrast. Miashei is so cute!

- Characters -

I thought Turn A showed how much progress Tomino had made when it came to writing women! Kihel is genuinely my favorite out of the entirety cast, she's an intelligent and compassionate leader. Her relationship with Harry is the best version of the "princess x knight" trope I've ever seen and I loved that she was never meant to be the second best choice for him as Harry was always able to tell the difference between Kihel and Dianna - and his love for Dianna is different in nature. As for Dianna, I loved seeing her journey navigating life as an Earthian woman and seeing who she was outside of a diplomatic figure. When Lily was first introduced, I thought she would only be there to be manipulated by Guin (who is a serious case of gay denial if I've seen one) but she turned out to be just as cunning, if not more ambitious than him and I really appreciated it! Sochie deals with her grief and hatred for the moonrace over her losses and ends up maturing a lot in the process - I never hated her and understood her anger, some people forget she was literally 15.

Loran is different from all the hot-headed and hyper-masculine Gundam MCs the previous entries offered so it was a breath of fresh air and I found him compelling to follow, thanks to the relationships he shares with Dianna and Sochie.

- Plot -

The anime can feel a bit slow at times but it ends up paying off because everything you need to understand the plot and root for the characters is fleshed out in a satisfying manner. As the plot unfolds, the action gets more and more grandiose and it offers a nice mix between fights and romance. As always, like in every Gundam, there are a few elements that are up to the viewer's interpretation. It depends on how you view the characters and the setting. Speaking of it, I really appreciated the pre-industrialization America vibes.

A short ONA series that you can definitely watch in one afternoon. I absolutely loved the Trigger boys in the first season and I wanted to know more about them and Vibrato delivered on that part.

At first, I thought Trigger would be their enemies or set up as antagonists for the entirety of the franchise but I loved that they subverted our expectations and gave so much development to Gaku, Ryuu and Tenn. They are so loveable, just as much as the boys from Idolish7 and it's truly a positive thing on my part.

My favorite part of this ONA was finding out more about Ryuu ... because he didn't get as much screentime as Tenn or Gaku in the first season and I loved what they did when they brought up his real feelings when it comes to the steamy commercials he does. He's a sweetheart.

Overall, this ONA radiates nothing but positive vibes. A sweet slice-of-life moment and less serious than the first installment. I recommend it if you really enjoyed the first part.

Okaeri Alice is a manga that explores gender-norms, gender non-conformity, navigating the world as a transgender human being and sex. These are topics I've always been interested in because I've done a lot of reflecting on sexuality, not so much on my gender, but whether or not I felt different from other women I know when it comes to being attracted to men.

I am not trans so I can't speak on whether or not this is good trans representation, I will let the concerned people do that. However, I can speak of what bothered me while reading this and what led to me giving ... it an average grade in spite of the fact that it initially intrigued me. Many "sex" scenes in this manga qualified as dub-con and borderline rape which made for a very uncomfortable reading experience. The main three characters are guilty of that to an extent and it was most painful as I felt the author wanted me to like them but all they behaved in a way that made me hate them, in the end. I understand suffering because you feel stuck in a role society forced on you, however, I cross a line at being toxic and making others pay for it. They were all especially cruel.

If this had been written with the intention of making you loathe the characters and as nothing more than a criticism of the sensitive topics it tackles and how it can lead to people becoming terrible, maybe I would have given it a higher rating.

I'm not entirely sure I recommend this. Give it a try and see for yourself if you're really interested in picking up this manga.

Ore Monogatari offers a male protagonist that is far from being your usual attractive shojo love interest. If it had been any other manga, the main character wouldn't have been Takeo but Suna, and the narrative does tell you that through Takeo's point of view on himself and girls. He's been rejected so many times because of his unconventional looks while Suna gets all the love.

In any other anime, this would have driven the MC to be jealous of the attention his friend receives and it would have led to a toxic, dramatic confrontation. Luckily, Takeo and Suna share a bond like no other. ... They are true friends, always looking after one another and Suna refusing to date girls who talk bad about Takeo behind his back was a nice touch of loyalty. I'd say the only thing that aged badly is the forceful "kiss".

Rinko is adorable and I regret that in the second half, there are moments that made it seem like she had no agency of her own. I really disliked the last two mini arcs, the ones with the stalker-girl who loves Suna and the annoying baker who believes he owns Rinko. I know that years of rejection and mean-spirited comments made Takeo insecure but would it have been too much to directly ask Yamato what she thought instead of accepting criticism at all times?

I don't know, apart from that, it's cute. If you're looking for a feel-good, slice of life romance with comedic moments, Ore Monogatari is definitely an anime you could watch. However, I felt that there were some plot-points that felt repetitive and dragged out for no reason.

This fourth installment is the definition of "I can fix him".

This reviews goes for all of the Twilight Out of Focus manga. The art is amazing, some panels are really striking and there's emphasis on "twilight", panels darker than others, as if the characters are overcoming their darker thoughts and reaching for light. Sounds corny, but it did for me. I wish BLs like this one were more appreciated because there's no romanticization of abusive relationships and while some of the characters can behave like assholes at times, they're not downright awful to each other when they're partnered up. Also, no unnecessary sexual assault moments ... so that's a win - the bar is surprisingly low.

Honestly, out of all the boys, Hisashi is my favorite. His story is the most somber and it made me happy to see him pursue something that was good for him. I was a bit scared, at first, that all of the boys would turn out to have traumatizing backstories (because that's usually the way it goes for stories that tackle dark topics, they can't stop at one) but it didn't turn out to be case and it was proof that you don't need to make your character go through all the terrible things in the world to make them compelling to follow.

Yeah, maybe them falling in love can feel a bit rushed but the chemistry works well and the dynamics are fun.

Rei walking in on Jin and Ichikawa kissing and Jin being shocked was hilarious. I'm glad it has more heartwarming and funny moments than angst.

I love happy endings.

I say yes to more shojo-romance anime with an all-adult cast getting anime adaptations. It was such a breath of fresh air to follow a cast of adults in my age range. It made them more relatable as I find it harder and harder to relate to highschoolers (but I do understand why teenagers would love highschool romance).

I absolutely loved Yuki, the main character. Language and communication are interlinked and I loved the amount of details the author put into showing how difficult it can be for Yuki to navigate the world - without making her seem like a lost helpless child. Between people not ... looking at her when they talk, masks that can make it difficult to read lips, people making no efforts to adapt to her needs, those were welcome and realistic additions.

I love her relationship with Itsuomi. He's so kind, patient and he does his best to adapt to Yuki's needs when it comes to her disability. He cares about making her feel seen and loved, when she's used to being left out of conversations. Also, he doesn't play with Yuki's feelings and immediately rejected Emma which was a plus.

The side characters are so loveable, with the exception of Oushi. Maybe he changes later in the manga but I thought he infantilized Yuki too much and some of the things he said made it sound like he wanted to control Yuki's every move and lock her up in her home, not allowing her to go out ever. I don't like him. I also found it insane that everyone was so quick to forgive Oushi after that episode with additional information on the way he met Yuki but everyone keeps holding Emma's initial behavior against her. Yes, what she did was bad. And the story framed it as bad.

I love Shin and I love that Emma gave him a chance. He's so lovely and she will get the love and attention she wanted that Itsuomi didn't reciprocate.

I recently finished this anime. I watched it after everyone because I wanted to see what the hype was all about. I'm not as crazy about it as everyone else is. In fact, I find the first half to be pretty uneventful and the pacing didn't help matter because I thought the episodes were never-ending.

My issue with the first-half is that it follows the same pattern. They are in the dungeon, they encounter a monster. Laois rants for minutes about how he wants to eat it, Chilchuck screams, Marcille is disgusted but when comes the time to eat the monster meat, she ends up ... enjoying. They kill the monster and Senshi cooks it. That's pretty much it. I found Chilchuck incredibly annoying and selfish most of the time - characters who scream is an anime trope I hate (I also dislike Bakugo from MHA for the same reason as well as his unlikeable personality).

Falin was my favorite character out of all the ones Dungeon Meshi has to offer. She was kind and not as self-centered as the other characters. Marcille was more interesting when she was teamed up with Falin.

The animation is good. However, I didn't find the "food porn" to be as appealing as in other anime about cooking, probably because it's monster meat.

It's a fun anime to watch if you want something to turn your brain off. I understand why people would love it which is why I recommend it.