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Mar 21, 2025
This anime is a 4/10 or 5/10 at best. This has been the most over-hyped and over-rated anime I've seen in MyAnimeList's Top Anime.
As of this writing it has an 8.85 score - for a rip-off of anime classics - that's not bad at all.
Let's copy-paste SAO shall we? -> Yes everyone is doing the isekai and on-screen stats thing it's cool and nobody will notice. The “game-like” leveling system, dungeon raids.
Let's copy one punch man's workout shall we? -> Yes they won't notice Saitama's bald anyway.
Let's ctrl-c + ctrl-v HxH and DbZ and Naruto -> Yes mix them together, so nobody
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will notice. Everyone is doing auras and hunters anyway, don't worry about it. Just hit those copy-paste shortcuts multiple times we need to sell these chapters ASAP. But replace some words with random sh*t so people won't notice.
-OK I won't replace the old man as the head of the hunter association.
-OK I won't replace the shadow clones of Naruto. They won't notice he's just doing necromancer thangs.
-OK I won't replace the island teeming with bugs. OK I won't replace the queen bug incubating an egg that contains the most OP bug (not chimera) of all.
-Yes we'll just say it's an homage to HxH (meruem) and DbZ (cell), but it's going to be a full homage arc, not just 1 homage episode.
-OK Togashi won't sue he's too sick to sue.
-Don't forget to get the best anime soundtrack creators!
-OK Just do it! Then let's do the marketing on crunchyroll, all anime outlets.
The story is presented without meaningful depth, the story is full of superficial imitations rather than homages.
Makes you think why the hell the Japanese and Togashi allowed this S-level of piracy and plagiarism to happen.
So why does this rip-off anime have a higher rating over other higher quality anime? The only explanation I can give you is, today's viewers haven't seen and read sh*t and are either just jumping on the hype train OR we're all trapped in a society where our brains have been warped so much by TikTok, Youtube shorts, instant gratification, GAMING LOOT SYSTEMS, Porn, Smartphone dependency - we rely on dopamine rushes to evaluate the ratings of what we're watching/reading. Since Solo Leveling delivers that big dopamine pulse with the fight scenes and beautiful ladies, then it's an instant 9/10. Therefore the high ratings.
After all, we've invested too much into it already, we've read the manhwa, we've watched all the episodes, we've waited for years to have the anime adaptation. We all want to justify that what we're watching is not less than 9/10.
Solo Leveling’s narrative hinges on visceral thrills, neglecting thematic depth or moral ambiguity. This strategy capitalizes on trends—OP protagonists, RPG mechanics, the human psychology and biology - to cater to binge-culture audiences, prioritizing marketability over originality. To be honest Solo Leveling excels as a visually engaging power fantasy anime, but its reliance on those dopamine rush action scenes but hollow storytelling exemplify a broader industry trend where marketing and accessibility eclipse artistic integrity. Its success reflects a demand for escapist content but risks discouraging innovative storytelling, rewarding formulaic replication over creativity.
Personally I think that for the long run, for anime to thrive, audiences and creators should champion works that balance spectacle with substance, rather than relying on algorithmic appeal, to ensure the Japanese anime's evolution .
IMO the only thing great about this is the soundtrack. Yes I absolutely love LiSA and Sawano and the rest of the gang. You can count on me to rate their songs 10/10. I've attended their concerts and they're truly great performers.
Story = 0 or 1
Characters
- Protagonists = 0 or 1
- Antagonists = 0 or 1
Art = 7
Sound = 10
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Mar 17, 2025
I had too much expectations I was thinking this is going to be Rurouni Kenshin + Basilisk + Ninja scroll but great because of all the hype.
I was expecting some ultra violence with a great story but it is falling short. Then the bad animation happened in episode 4-6.
I really should've stopped at ep 4 I was having a bad feeling already about what was happening.
I still persisted up to ep 6 to give it a chance.
The drama was so bad and forced. I didn't feel and understand why the male and female protagonist suddenly clicked. Suddenly the Hollow is asking the girl stupid
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questions like "daijobuka" "are you alright" , showing concern to her. Weak. WTF. Would've been better if it was a long journey about how they both gained the trust of each another. Like if they kept The Hollow as hollow all throughout and kept the girl ultra skilled with the sword and showing no weakness (controlling the Hollow), then I would've definitely watched more. It will keep me on the edge of my seat knowing anytime they can kill each other. The beginning part where the female almost killed the hollow, hooked me. But it's gone.
This is an anime disguised for adults but is actually for kids.
Episode 6 was critical. It is where they should've really put more budget on a smooth fight scene because it's critical to see how the action flows moving forward. But it disappointed. There was too much yapping. It's like a badly designed turn based RPG, no real urgency because of the stops. Just give me the supreme japanese action and ultra violence and darkness and supreme Japanese animation and merciless killing that I am looking for in a "violent" anime. In short the fight scene was lame. How do people score this anime an 8/10? Seriously, burning a forest will poison an invincible giant, but normal sized people won't get poisoned and suffocated? Oh is it because the hollow can't die? What about the girl? Her newly acquired sword somehow made her invincible to air poisoning?
I know the protagonist won't die anyway so I just stopped. There's no sense continuing this if the protagonist won't die. Like wtf cows, burning with oil, won't kill him but a big useless giant baby can inflict that much damage in a single blow?
I do appreciate that the female protagonist has the samurai / woman struggle. Definitely interesting to see if she'll be a clan ruler at some point because everyone seems to doubt her, but the goal of The Hollow is weak as well. What happens when he sees (or not see) his wife again?
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Mar 13, 2025
Score: 9/10
The weaknesses: World building. Didn't expand on secondary characters stories. The villain seems 1 dimensional at this point - it is super stupid but also super intelligent? That's it for me. But hey this is just the first season I am expecting more good things to come.
On to the good stuff, the animation is wild and solid, particularly during the Kaiju battles. There's a real sense of scale and impact, reminiscent of the destructive power of the monsters in Godzilla, the angels in Evangelion, and monstrous Titans of Attack on Titan. The character designs are also well done, with a good mix of
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familiar anime tropes and fresh, unique touches.
Of course, the show isn't perfect. Some of the character interactions are a bit predictable. But the core story about chasing dreams, even when life or figurative/literal monsters try to knock you down – is powerful and engaging. The pacing was right for me. Though I think it could've/should've gone slower to showcase some of the background of the different interesting characters.
YOU CAN STOP READING FROM HERE because it's about me and the show. It's about how the anime made me feel, which, as per MyAnimeList's Review guide, is the part where readers are not interested in.
TLDR;
Kaiju No. 8 is a solid action anime with an extremely relatable protagonist, setting and story. Even when you feel like you're past your prime, even if you're just a shadow among the lights, even if you’re dealing with your own personal Kaiju-sized problems, even if you're a 0% achiever - you can still make a difference. You're important. If you're looking for a show that combines thrilling action with a bunch of relatable drama, Kaiju No. 8 is definitely worth checking out. Personally, after finishing this anime in half a day, I was truly revitalized. My heart and mind are 100% refreshed even with an injured body. The surge of motivation I felt from watching it was indescribable. Also, crank up the volume during the fight scenes – you won't regret it!
I counted. There were like 5x I said to myself, "This is so good." while watching the show.
Details:
I am a 30-something-year-old IT support drone working in Tokyo, living in Yokohama, who spend my days cleaning up the remains of the digital bugs of developers and app users, I can relate to the daily grind and clean-up of crap. I can relate to being overshadowed by the guys in the limelight. I can relate to being the maintenance guy, the janitor, the background person. We are less than heroic. A cog in the wheel. Add in a foot and leg injury (occasional lower back pain), it's a recipe for a boring and depressing life. We've all had those moments where life throws a monkey wrench in our plans.
But then came the anime Kaiju No. 8, and let me tell you, it really resonated on a level I didn’t expect. I AM MOVED BY THIS ANIME. Kafka's journey is about finding a way to adapt and push through, even when it feels like your body is screaming at you (mine literally does, thanks to my foot and leg). The action sequences are a blast. The Kaiju designs are suitably grotesque and intimidating. Ever episode is adrenaline pumping, even if you’re watching it from your couch with an ice pack on your foot and leg.
It speaks to me: What really struck me was Kafka's relatability. He's not some overpowered teenager; he's a middle-aged guy dealing with the realities of life, being a "loser", grappling with regrets and feelings of being "past my prime." This really resonated deeply, especially considering the constant mental and physical strain of my IT job and the added challenge of my foot and leg injury. Seeing him struggle and persevere, even with his limitations, was genuinely inspiring.
Relatable Protagonist: Kafka's age and his feelings of being stuck in a rut are something I deeply understand. He's not a chosen one; he's just a regular guy trying to make the most of a bad situation.
Physical Limitations: Seeing a character struggle with physical limitations (0% power) , even if they're different from mine, adds a layer of realism and relatability.
Kaiju Action: The spectacle of the Kaiju battles is a major factor. The sheer scale and destructive power are thrilling.
Theme of Overcoming Obstacles: Much like cleaning the mess (of others) up, or dealing with a persistent injury, or being in the shadows and not the limelight, or in general, overcoming the challenges in life are what I really relate to.
Godzilla/Evangelion/AoT/Pacific Rim Vibes: The sense of impending doom and the constant threat of annihilation evoke the tension and intensity of the anime.
Bonus:
As a Yokohama, Japan resident, I loved seeing the urban environments of Greater Tokyo. The sights and sounds made it seem like the Kaiju battles were close to my home and my work!
Killer Soundtrack: As a drummer, I have to give a massive shoutout to the OST. The beats and music during the Kaiju battles is just icing on the cake! The driving rhythms and orchestration complement the training of the cadets, building the intensity and finally delivering the final blow in the real battles.
Small/minute detail, there was this particular episode where the male protagonists were in the onsen taking a bath, all male. You would think it's a fan-service episode for women or gays, no, This is super realistic. Life here in Japan isn't about men peeping or seeing women bathing or vice versa. Life here is after being beat up at work or gym, you go to the onsen, talk or not talk to a bunch of guys and call it a day, rinse repeat, head on to the next day. I found this small detail as probably an experience that the author himself wanted to portray - and I found it was a counter to the generic fan-service episodes which I think is genius. But I might be over-analysing it.
Bonus points, the age limit increase for the Defense Force Exams - It tackles the population problem of Japan. Also a very realistic problem that needs to be solved.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 5, 2024
So I just watched this in the theater with my daughter and wife.
I started really slow but builds up towards the middle and end.
Japanese raccoon dogs have joined the party reminding me of the Pompoko Ghibli characters that I loved so much when I was younger.
Story : 7 : Not perfect, it's fine. Pretty straightforward and almost same format as the series. But with added twists and turns which will keep you smiling throughout.
Animation : 7 : THere are scenes where you feel like the animators should've done better and put some more budget in it given this is a movie.
Music : 8
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: the music played at the right moments and adds to the emotional attachment or damage. Ninjas cutting onion moments.
Overall : 8 : I went out the theater contented and happy. Daughter was very happy. Wife was very happy. The monotonous day is saved by Precure once again
*SPOILER*
Pros: Past generations of precure characters help to save the day. Precure fans of all ages will love it
Cons: Issekai element. Why did the concept of issekai have to be mixed in the plot?
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 30, 2024
As a grown ass man who's watched all the top anime in myanimelist and whose favorite anime are the ultra violent ones, and has also watched the previous precure series (delicious party and hirogaru sky) I can say this wonderful anime is refreshing. I have a daughter I watch this with. I can say for sure this is the best for a toddler. No hand to hand combat for our main protagonist. They use love and understanding and nice words and they use their brains and teamwork to beat the bad guys. That's perfect. Not everything can be solved by brute force. Although I like
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violence, this anime gives me the balance I need from all the blood and gore. Totally recommend for those looking to just have a great time with their daughters. I particularly like the transformation sequences' animation. The frame rate and quality of animation are great. The songs are catchy. The dance moves are nice. Story is not perfect. Solid 9/10.
Not to mention I can play as the bad guy and my daughter will save the day by loving me. Chefs kiss. 😘
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 22, 2022
DO NOT HESITATE TO WATCH
If Shingeki no Kyojin almost made me shit my pants on some few episodes, this series' season enders almost made me cry like a little girl. And I'm a 36yo dad.
ART 8/10 - wish it was perfect but no
MUSIC 10/10 - they hit the timing of the songs on the biggest moments which I think is the thing that made me almost cry lol.
STORY 9/10 - non-cliche. Also the white haired female protagonist was like, a cutie patootie eating deserts kinda lady at first. But then transforms into a bad ass mofo towards the end/s.
PACING 7/10 - a
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tad slow in some parts, probably due to world and character building.
I don't know what the hell it was but I really loved this anime and can't compare it with any other anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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