[intro with compelling quote here that somehow relates to what I want to say next]
[write-up of the show in pseudo-intellectual text that relates to the compelling quote]
[reasons why you should watch this show]
[paragraph that wraps up everything I said up there because let's face it, you probably forgot]
That's my review, folks! [that stupid part where I ask for you to rate the review as helpful]
Actually, I do get tired of reading reviews here because they follow this format. I do understand the informative part, but to be honest, I feel like there's a template when it comes to writing reviews, one that people blindly follow
...
in the same way writers decide there must be a template to making a good anime show (or manga, for that matter). What was that?! Did you just say we can all become critically-acclaimed in a liberal art career field?! HAHAHAHAHAHA no. It's not like following the template all the time will win you a fanbase (unless most of your viewers watch TMZ, or some shit. Seriously, fuck TMZ), but every time I turn my back and decide to score something, given enough thought, there MUST be a template to all this that they ALL follow. It gets incredibly boring.
However, something I found impressive about GSN was the way it gave me an expectation, then delivered it. No, it did not say "this is what to expect, here you go, DEAL WITH IT." If that was the case then I would have simply asked you all to read the first few lines of my review which deals with writing a review. It's like a genie granting a wish. When you ask for something, the genie gives you what you ask for, but in a way you don't expect. The thing is, you still got what you asked for, but the expectation versus the reality leaves you with some kind of shock. Or trauma. Or pleasure. It really depends on whether you're the S or the M in "S&M."
Let's just say this: after watching GSN, there's no doubt in the back of my mind that it compares to Neon Genesis or Madoka Magica. If there was an anime genre that focused solely on shattering expectations, you just found your comedy.
On second thought, I'll take credit for introducing it to you. You're welcome.
Oh, also, [insert section where I explain I have no spoilers here, when in reality I probably have a spoiler or two so you've been warned, joke's on you].
Story: Yes, I'll tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was nothing. And it stayed that way. The end.
Just kidding.
To be fair, as far as adaptations of 4-panel komas go, the story is flimsy. Every half-episode focuses on a different problem and the last episode feels heavily accelerated when they rushed into the "overview" of everything and "all that time we spent together" and "cherry blossoms and butterflies" and all that (I don't know if that last part actually happened. I started drinking at the last episode for no reason at all).
In the end, the plot ran into a tree and it was hilarious. Take one for expectations.
Possibly the only real progression of a story comes from Sakura Chiyo, the focus of the entire show, and her feelings towards Umetarou Nozaki (oh, by the way, SPOILER. Unless of course you read the show's synopsis so shut the hell up about it). As the show progresses, we see her feelings grow, we see some more development, but otherwise, that's about it. Beyond that, there's nothing to look forward to.
Art: As expected of a 2014 anime, the art is noticeably modern. I only bring that up because I saw Ao Haru Ride and I thought we were taking a trip back to the '90s. I'm fine with that, but then all that bullshit '90s kid hype will come back so I decided to get over it.
I did watch GSN, though, because of the art. It was reminiscent of the show Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou, and to be honest, that's the only reason I wanted to watch it. What I do like about this show is the use of manga drawings to explain some situations or give a sense of what the characters were seeing, especially given the fact that the show revolves around Sakura who has a crush on Nozaki the manga artist.
The animation depending on the character portrays a distinctive style as well. Seo Yuzuki, the oblivious tomboy, for example, has a pretty radical, spontaneous style surrounding her character. Mikorin is depicted with the pretty boy style, while the frustrations of each character in troubling situations is exaggerated, most likely to stop us from feeling sorry for them.
Also, I'm not an art major so if anything I said makes no sense, SUCK IT.
Sound: Yes. There is sound. Yes. There are voices. There is also background music and special effects.
Character: Remember that whole intro about expectations? This is that section about expectations. How we prejudice comes down to this, and quite frankly, because of the characters in this show, you could simply call GSN a Public Service Announcement against discrimination.
Here's what I'm talking about: if someone introduces a sensitive person with a cutesy nickname, we expect a shy girl. If someone introduces a womanizer, we expect a tall, handsome man. If someone introduces a person who's always being chased by guys, we expect a popular girl.
Umm....yeah. About that.
Think about it this way with the characters: GSN was casting. They then decided to seek out the actors and were given a production deadline. The talent scouts went out to find their actors, but with a minor problem: they can't find anybody. The position for a shy, petite shoujo character was given to a somewhat two-faced child actor. The position for the incredibly-sensitive character was given to a male, teenage pop idol with a nasty attitude. The role of the "womanizer" was shortened..... to "woman." But did the producers care that the characters were completely mismatched? Absolutely not! They have a production deadline to meet!
"Aaaaaaaaaand that's your line-up! Ready? ACTION!"
*two minutes later*
"THAT'S A WRAP! I know you all fucked up somewhere down the line but it's okay, the footage is still watchable every Monday night 8/7 central!"
Enjoyment: Looking back on it, Character and Enjoyment go hand-in-hand. Without the characters' obscure logic, there wouldn't be any "good" moments, especially regarding Nozaki, the male lead. Want to walk home with him? Nozaki will do that. Want to stay the night? Sure, why not? Want to eat his cooking? Absolutely, Nozaki will arrange that. Of course, remember what I kept saying about expectations. Be careful what you wish for.
But something that really gave GSN its humor was the fact that it went over-the-top without going completely "over-the-top." Some shows take pleasure in exaggerating moments or portraying crude, perverted humor to generate big laughs, but I suspect they only do that because it's easy to gain a couple brain-dead perverts by doing it. GSN seems to have taken a different approach, using events or common cliches that most would find mundane and finding a "loophole" that makes them enjoyable. I'm not talking about amplifying a funny moment to make it funnier, but finding an event so mundane and so boring that we generally overlook it, then turning THAT into the punchline. Example? Like the time Nozaki and Mikorin-- never mind, I'll spoil that. Or that time Nozaki and Sakura were-- I'll spoil that too.
I think probably the only dull moment in this show was the density of Nozaki, but that's because I've already gotten over the whole "dense character" bit with Infinite Stratos (take a hint, dumbass!). Otherwise, there is so much to describe about the show, yet I do not want to talk about because these events are really the first time I've seen them ever happen in an anime show. This really requires the salesman's pitch to describe: "see it to believe it!"
Overall: A solid 8. While GSN is not your typical comedy show, disregarding all those other morons who say "not your typical anime show" for something with more cliches than a B-list children's movie, I have no doubt in my mind that if it wasn't for my low expectation for this show, given the fact that I only wanted to see this because of the art style, I would have rated it higher.
Honestly, I have nothing else to say, other than if you're looking for a shining example of how good the quality of comedic content can really get, then search for GSN Episode 1 and start watching, otherwise [insert some kind of conclusion that conveniently wraps up this review and ties back to the intro. Some shit like that, I don't really care.]
.......
Yeah, fuck this. I'm over the inserts.
All (45)FriendsAlso Available at
AIM: Fire.
Yahoo: indeed. RSS Feeds |
Oct 11, 2014
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
(Anime)
add
Recommended
[intro with compelling quote here that somehow relates to what I want to say next]
[write-up of the show in pseudo-intellectual text that relates to the compelling quote] [reasons why you should watch this show] [paragraph that wraps up everything I said up there because let's face it, you probably forgot] That's my review, folks! [that stupid part where I ask for you to rate the review as helpful] Actually, I do get tired of reading reviews here because they follow this format. I do understand the informative part, but to be honest, I feel like there's a template when it comes to writing reviews, one that people blindly follow ...
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Informative
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all 
Nov 18, 2013 Recommended
I don't think I've ever given perfect 10's across a rating scale. I don't think the third Madoka Magica movie deserves 10's across the board either, but this is the closest I'll probably ever get.
I dreaded the day that a sequel came to fruition for Madoka Magica. This was a show that ended on a rather ambiguous note but still left a good, everlasting impression in its original run, hinting that there was really no need for a sequel, an explanation, or an "After Story", for that matter. I'm not saying I don't want any more of it, not at all. But seriously, Gen Urobuchi, ... there's no way you can write a sequel any better than the original series, especially when your original series was THAT good. So yeah. Like.... just stop. Okay, I was jumping like a schoolgirl when I heard that there was a new Madoka Magica, but I didn't have much hope for this one either. But what I believed to be a mediocre attempt to capture the world by storm and ultimately fail, I was proven wrong. I hate being wrong. I can't stand the thought of being wrong. To me, being wrong, is just wrong. Never been happier to be wrong. Story: What the original series packed was a story that was armed to the teeth with dark undertones and twists so shocking, Lindsay Lohan could be one month sober from her usual crack fiend habits and the power of the message would still be ultimately missing. So when Madoka Magica was renewed for a sequel film, they ultimately took the exact same impact and made it even better. For those of you who have already seen the original (and you HAVE to see it first), you might be wondering, "how does it get any better?" Remember when Madoka transcended into the heavens and became a holy power? Think of this as God's believer trying to make direct contact. However, I think the real impact of the film doesn't happen until much, MUCH later. You're watching for an hour and thirty minutes and you probably haven't reached it yet. Ten minutes later, you're probably.... almost there, and I'm specifying what happens near the end. When you hear from other MAL users about how the ending was a serious shock, nobody knew how to take it, "ending of Oreimo", all that stuff, that's all true. But if you still have a vague idea of what they're talking about, then imagine it this way: life gives you a cookie, then kicks you in the third leg just to take it back (if you don't have one, forget the reference!). Only difference is, if life does it, you're rolling on the floor, writhing in pain. The ending to this third movie turns you into Niagara Falls for a while. The story is just splendid. Art: Aniplex can screw up just about anything on this list in the eyes of some, but if there's something a pissed-off fanboy or a nine-year-old shounen rage kid cannot base his bad rating on, it's the animation. Looks clean, characters move in a crisp and fluid motion, and the Nightmares that appear, while they don't retain the same animation style as the rest of the characters/scenes, it blends in, oddly enough. If they did those sequences wrong, it would pop out very noticeably, especially given the two conflicting animation styles. Fortunately, there's a sense of depth, and instead of that bolstered look where a character looks as if they "happen" to appear in the scene, the character looks like they're actually there (and there is a HUGE difference between the two definitions). Sound: I'm a fan of ClariS. ..... .....yeah, moving on..... Character: I didn't quite understand Homura's actions the first time I watched the movie, but after a good runthrough over the exact section I was skeptical about, I had to use my own judgment and speak for myself, "it's logical, it makes sense." This is the exact same place in the movie where everyone spreads rumors about Gen Urobuchi "ripping out your hearts and sending you into a black oblivion of nothingness and despair and I'm gonna go kill myself and-" you get the idea. You'll just have to watch this part for yourself and make your own decision about Homura's actions (that's a small spoiler, I think, but I know it's not enough to spoil the entire thing). I don't like forgettable characters. Not the forgettable ones in the sense that we see them once throughout the whole movie and they dick off for the rest of the time to do as they please because we don't need them. I don't like forgettable MAIN characters, and while Sayaka was one of the main cast of the original series (and still is), I feel like she was neglected most of the time, and never really got the spotlight even after Kyouko came in, who ended up stealing it (as far as Character Favorites on MAL tells me). With the amount of screen time Sayaka got in the original series, I was impartial about her death. It never struck me as particularly noteworthy. That changes with the third movie. Her role is more defined, we do get to see more of her, and this "more of her" that we see isn't just a way to give Sayaka fans something to squeal about. This is her own persona, her own contribution, and what I would call redemption from her lack of presence in the first movie. I'm more delighted by the idea that Urobuchi doesn't neglect to use his characters when he needs them. Enjoyment: If you can classify "enjoyment" as sitting at home and drowning in my own puddle of tears while watching, then yes, I did enjoy it. Madoka Magica is one of those shows that never initially grabbed my attention, but then again, it doesn't take very much to draw me in at the same time. All it needs? Good storyline, good execution, and I can cope with the rest. But while a select number of shows can do a combination of both and I would still point out a flaw or two, and while some will gradually lose my initial attention, Madoka Magica is, for me, a very, VERY difficult show to dislike or change the rating of, or keep my eyes off for that matter. I wasn't swayed by the hype, I've listened to all the criticism, and at the end of the day, this series still stands as one of the best series I've seen, if not the absolute best. Even with the ending as controversial as it is, there's no way I can bring myself to dislike this series. I thought it wasn't a proper ending, as diehard of a fan as I could be, but I was satisfied having seen it. And while I have a tendency to associate myself with shoujo and rom-com shows, I'll have to admit eventually that I loved the action sequences just as equally as the idle explanation scenes. You know, those ones where they just sit around and talk to each other? Yeah, I don't know why I like those scenes. Maybe I'm just weird. Overall: I think everyone who previously didn't know I like watching anime and everyone who does know has heard this from me at least twice within the past two days: WATCH THIS MOVIE. If I keep this up, I probably won't have a social life. Whatever the case, I don't think I've been this hyped over an anime show, nor have I had such a strong desire to watch it again. Maybe I'm being biased because this is my favorite show, and maybe I'm missing something here and I failed to pick it up, and while this third movie may probably be one of those shows that will still get bogged down on hype alone, there's no reason for any of that. It's brilliant, it's well-thought-out, and it really doesn't need any of its hype to prove its worth.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all 
Oct 21, 2013
Lovely★Complex
(Anime)
add
Not Recommended
If you haven't noticed by now, one of my favorite genres of anime is the high school rom-com, behind slice-of-life and quite possibly incest. Given that Lovely[star]Complex was one of those rom-com shows, I was excited to watch another rom-com that seems to have reached universal acclaim amongst fans and skeptical viewers alike. Having seen Kaichou wa Maid-sama, Toradora!, and a whole mess of other shows that have always delivered without the action, the fan service, or all those other anime elements that average anime addicts tend to fangirl about, Lovely[star]Complex seemed to meet those exact same conditions. Plus, I was way behind when it
...
came time to watch it on classic anime shows as they call them, so it wouldn't hurt to throw Lovely[star]Complex in the mix of shows I'm currently watching.
With that said, let me try my best to say something nice for once. "OMGG!! LOVELY COMPLEX IS SO AWSUM!!! I GAVE IT 15/10-" Fuck this. Never mind. If I could say just how excited I was to see this show, a friend of mine who was NEVER wrong about recommending anime shows to me told me to watch it. Every single show he recommended to me, I've enjoyed. Working!!, Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka?, Psycho-Pass, and a good number of others. But if our friendship hangs off the balance of one show (and thank your deity of choice it doesn't), then we would've unfriended each other on Facebook over disagreeing about Lovely[star]Complex. Only Facebook. We'd still be friends. Your first impression of Lovely[star]Complex might be "just another rom-com", the average animated filler to leave yet another dull impression on the anime market, back in 2007. And if you initially thought that, I'll tell you right now.... ....that you are probably not mistaken. Lovely[star]Complex is the average high school shoujo anime and the only real difference is the boy is shorter than the girl, that's about it. You could technically switch one thing to make it seem different and more appealing, but to be honest, it really doesn't make that much of a difference. This leaves Lovely[star]Complex, middle-of-the-road, and not purposed to surprise. But if it were up to me to point out any one instance in which Lovely[star]Complex had any highlights that gave it a "head" above the normal crowd, I'd have to cite it for being a little too excessive. Overexaggerated, overhyped, overrated. You know what happens when a comedy act gets to be, "too much", right? It's the only reason Jeff Dunham landed a job as a comedian, and that's not the only reason; I'd have a hard time too getting Muppet rejects onto Sesame Street. Lovely[star]Complex is the same way in that respect. Don't agree with me? Please continue reading. Story: A King Kong-sized high school girl falls in love with Jeremy Lin, the shortest basketball player in existence who can miraculously drive balls deep behind "enemy lines" and somehow manage to get it in, and to clarify on that, horny ladies and gentlemen, Jeremy Lin, who for the purpose of this story will be renamed "Otani", is just a really talented basketball player. While self-acclaimed critics and public conformers ask for certain elements added into a show to make it all the more "unique" and therefore "better", Lovely[star]Complex overdoes it. As a result, Lovely[star]Complex delivers a plain-Jane romance between a shaven Star Wars Ewok and the girl in elementary school who always stood next to the teachers because she was just too damn tall to fit in the bleachers. See, a lot of people think that Lovely[star]Complex has been a terrific show for its "inspirational story about how we must overcome our differences and come together as one", but I for one don't believe that's the case. It's just a height problem, people outside of scripted lines and animation work around it all the time. It's really nothing special. Just get some stilts and end the show in half the time. But setting aside all of the height complaints, Lovely[star]Complex delivers too many complications and too many ridiculous situations in 24 episodes. One moment, Risa falls in love with a guy that is ACTUALLY HER HEIGHT, and in the same episode, she decides to herself that she is in love with Otani. I know, it's completely possible, because prostitution services require that you MUST share your affection with other men, but instead of cheering her on as the protagonist, a quick jump like that makes me think, "is there something wrong with her?" I'd definitely think so. That's what I thought when I was getting stalked by a girl in high school who easily changed her mind after finding out I was already dating someone, after writing my name all over her notebook which I found out about in due time (yeah, creepy shit. I speak from experience). The complications do NOT stop. It's always the tragic story of "we fight, we make up" with this show, and it happens very, VERY often. Before they begin dating (because we know where this is going already), the show takes on the vicious cycle of fighting one episode, making up at the end. They fight another episode, they make up at the end. Does it get tiring for you to watch? I'm sure it does, but if that was what fans were looking for back then, I think everyone should reconsider their decision, or get their heads bolted on properly at their local clinic (because it spawned eight episodes of the same shit from the 2nd season of Haruhi Suzumiya). Art: I think this was the worst discovery I had when I first saw this show: the animator was Toei Animation. That's the studio that brought us Air Gear. You're wondering, "why is that even relevant?" I'm pretty sure I've made it well-known that I thought Air Gear was a big disappointment, and one thing that made it horrible was the mismatched comedy which is usually delivered in the worst possible situation or when it's generally uncalled for. Lovely[star]Complex, in my personal opinion, is the exact same way. Emotional sequence? Go ahead and laugh because they made Risa's face look funny. Supposed to be a serious scene? Sure, it doesn't make a difference whether or not Otani's teeth are jagged or not and his mouth is now opening like a dysfunctional 10-year-old on coffee, we can be serious and have fun at the same time. I really disliked the comedy because I felt like the animators placed the comedy in every scene they see fit. Not that it really matters, but how hard is it to laugh at the same joke being delivered in multiple different ways, and recurring every single time you hit the "Play" button? If you do laugh, though, I don't blame you. At one point in our lives, we do end up kissing someone's ass so I suppose we can start now. Character: Why is it a common anime element to fill the protagonist's head with air? The only reason you'd want to is if you wanted to take a ride in him (or on), or if he really angered you that much (and at times, he really did). People are not THAT stupid. You can be the biggest moron on the face of this planet (literally and figuratively) and you'd still be able to pick up ALL of those hints. Think about it. A girl wants to get close to you, she does, and she becomes your friend, now she's your best friend, and suddenly you get a confession from her. If you act surprised, or if you haven't taken a hint by then, either you have amnesia, you've been dropped on your head, or you've been hit by a bus. Otani probably had all three. Come to think of it, I really don't get Risa either. I remember one instance where Risa was really serious about giving up on Otani for being a complete blockhead within those first few episodes (and it drags on into later episodes as well), but if that were the case, she'd have given up her pursuit of him and chased after someone else, preferrably of her same height. She fell in love with him in two episodes, without any proper backing aside from touching him. If true love worked that way, all the 40-year-old virgin neckbeards in the world would do their best to touch every ten-year-old girl they saw as a part of their strange little harem they've got going on. In their world, it's quite possible that it did happen, so I'm not too surprised. I think I went a little off-topic. What I'm trying to say is, in reference to the "OOH IM LIEK SOOO OVARR OTANI-BAKA-SAN" (however you Japanglish majors say it), I think there's too much unnecessary drama. Yes, it's a rom-com, and they tend to have drama, but don't you think the drama the type you see in a soap opera, where a poor sucker scratches his $1,000 shoes and throws a fit about not having them cleaned? Hopefully you see where I'm going with this. Wait, that's a reality show. Oh well, there's really no difference. Enjoyment: I did laugh somewhere at the end, the last episode where the "All Hanshin Kyojin" were supposed to deliver a speech and ended up tearing the paper, but that was about it. The rest of the comedy was like watching a 12-year-old desperately try to make an 18-year-old Internet troll crack up. Let's be real, that will never happen unless he fell flat on his face so that the troll could make a meme about it. Unfortunately, in this case, Lovely[star]Complex didn't quite do that. I'm a bit mad about it. For the rest of the show, I was counting the minutes that passed by as I watched with a straight face the show that didn't seem to live up to its expectations. I was sidetracked from time-to-time and I would wake up discouraged, keeping in mind I still had to complete Lovely[star]Complex, but I managed to finish it within two weeks. For reference, I finished all three seasons and the OVA's for Shakugan no Shana in a week. Overall: I really wonder how this show managed to get an 8.35/10. I have to say, I'm authentically surprised that a show with an appearance this awful, from storyline down to characters, has managed to deceive the majority of its viewership into thinking they stumbled over the next best thing. There's really nothing special I can see about Lovely Complex, aside from being an overhyped animated sitcom with nothing to offer. And over time, I had hopes that it would turn into a show like Lucky Star, which is an acquired taste and will only appear humorous to fans of the show who have had it grow on them. Unlike Lucky Star, Lovely[star]Complex took no time to grow, now time to develop, and in the end, nothing was left. There's no taste to acquire here. It is what it is; terrible. Maybe it's a recurring thing for me to rant on anime shows that are generally popular and well-received, but if that were the case, I authentically dislike Lovely[star]Complex. I respect that others like this show, and by others, I mean, most of the people here. But it didn't grow on me, and it won't be anytime soon.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all 
Sep 28, 2013
Shingeki no Kyojin
(Anime)
add
Mixed Feelings
There's only one possible number to represent Shingeki no Kyojin, and that number is a certain one-digit number between 1 and 10 and is a multiple of 3.
You guessed it. Six. Or nine, flipped the other way. I know you anime whores and die-hard SnK fans are probably sitting in your chairs ready to light torches and grab your pitchforks and form a mob right outside my front door because "six" is a pretty low-end score, at least on my ranking scale let alone for a hyped-up series like SnK, but come to think of it, did you come here to confirm your opinions about SnK ... being 2013's greatest anime show, or did you come here to whine in American-accented Japanese at the next guy that gives SnK a low score because you hate it when people disagree with you? I have to admit that SnK, through my eyes, was a decent show at best, decent being the number "six". And before you and wonder "wut skoar did dis n00b giv sao?!?!?!", let me tell you beforehand, I rated it 8, in my own unbiased opinion. I wasn't excited at all to watch SAO, and I was pretty darn excited to hear rave reviews about this new show that brings Jack and the Beanstalk down to Earth, multiplies the number of giants involved, and gives the humans no beanstalk to escape to safer grounds. It sounds interesting, but was it a good show? Six. I'll stop saying that now. Story: A fantastic tale about 10-meter-tall zombies eating out every woman and child like certified pedophiles in the world's largest buffet platter with three different types of meals: Outer Wall for peasant's dishes, Inner Wall for middle-class, and the ultimate dessert: the King and his loyal subjects for those fattening delicacies. I believe the first episode gave this story the right amount of pressure to set the rest of the series of events in motion when [literally] the world's largest pop star, Michael Jackson, resurrects as a Titan and has a change of heart to chase after married women instead of children, but a couple of years later, this leaves us absolutely.... nowhere. See, I'm fine with that, at least it shows humans are struggling to keep themselves off the main course by avoiding intervention with their larger selves, but what accelerated like a rocket from the beginning has become a race to reach the end as slowly and safely as possible. My grandmother doesn't drive slow enough to keep the same pacing as SnK's storyline, and what should be 24 minutes of giant ass-kicking is in reality 15 minutes of build-up, 5 minutes of something ACTUALLY happening, 1 minute to introduce the cliffhanger, 1 minute for the opening sequence, 1 minute for the ending sequence, and another minute for desperate neckbeards to unzip their pants and fantasize about Mikasa Ackerman being their "waifu". That Mikasa Minute usually occurs in-between the build-up scenes, so on the plus side, it gives weeaboos everywhere a chance to wipe their monitors (or leave it there so they can claim to their friends that they also ejaculated on Eren's face). Art: I can see why every male anime nerd wants to stick something onto their screens every time the females show up. Shingeki no Kyojin has some of the best aesthetics of an animated series that I've ever seen/heard, from the show's sheer amount of gory content to the snapping of bones (which I still feel). On that alone, I've felt something. Character: A good number of the characters make very little sense to me. Armin van Buuren RIAA Multi-Platinum Arlert makes spot-on predictions because he's probably reading ahead in his own manga series. Eren Jaegermeister wants to kill all of the Titans and save everyone, but his indecisiveness causes more people to die, not that it matters that dozens die in his care. Captain Levi Denim claims to dislike pointless deaths, but every time he sacrifices a soldier, he never completes his operation, and when he executes the operation, more people end up dying anyways. That's like telling people you're a green politician, yet the car you drive is an environmentally-friendly Hummer H2. We also get characters with very little introduction and very little development, who only seem to fill in the role of creating more pointless deaths. Titans are scary, indeed they are, but are soldiers really THAT expendable? One does not simply self-impregnate, clone, or genetically-engineer new soldiers to fight. Sooner or later, there will be less soldiers to feed to the Titans, but then again, the author could always create new ones out of black matter to keep drawing his fanbase in. Enjoyment: Despite what I have to say about SnK, I found it to be an enjoyable watch. It delivers softcore male pornography on a large scale, and sometimes it adds an extra X to the already triple-X rating and exposes what's UNDER the skin for those hardcore biology nerds (I know, it's too intense just thinking about human anatomy). When the action sequences come around, they deliver. There's something special about the 3D Maneuver Gear that allows for more dynamic camera angles, giving you that same high-speed sensation the characters should also be experiencing. However, if I could pinpoint my absolute favorite moment of this show, I wouldn't highlight anything involving 3DMG. Instead, I would opt for Episode 8, the underground scene when members of the 104th Training Corps attempt to retake their base. Why THAT scene, you may ask? Because it's more fun discharging your guns in the Titans' faces, and it's better doing it in a group. Overall: Yes, I enjoyed watching. Yes, the aesthetics were phenomenal and it did draw me in from the beginning when Michael Jackson went on tour to Wall Maria and ate one of his fans. I thought the action was superb and it was a thrill to watch. But does it make it a great show? In my eyes, not really. Slow pacing, meaningless death, and heavy amounts of build-up define SnK. I know there are people out there who will complain, disagree, and ultimately flame on my profile for disliking SnK, but then again, take this into consideration: I gave this series a 9 from the beginning, and I ultimately decided to drop it to 6. Am I being biased? I don't think so. But if you hate my opinion, or if you're hoping to defend the glory of SnK by trying to convert another non-believer to your SnK Fan Club or whatever the hell you'd like to call it, then do me a favor and don't try to shove your opinion down my throat. I've had it happen already, and it'll only tell me how much of a steaming pile of shit you are.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all 
Aug 25, 2013 Not Recommended
Between the 10 Freeway, Downtown Los Angeles traffic, and missing the first hour of a cyber security conference, what did I dislike the most of those eventful two days? That would be the anime show I was watching as I sat in the car. It took us roughly two hours to travel between Destination A and Destination B, both ways as the traffic wouldn't let up. Kanokon was the show that I was happening to watch; oddly enough, I was looking for an ecchi show as I waited. Its 12-episode length allowed me to finish the entire show within the span of the trips since
...
it was a two-day conference, and it wasn't gridlock or 90-degree heat that made this show a horrible watch. I have determined that the show itself is the reason why this show is not a good show.
Kanokon is your typical ecchi, your typical fantasy show, your typical harem-style show, with one minor detail: it's all completely pointless. How pointless? It's a knife that doesn't cut, nor is it meant to spread butter, nor is it heavy enough to act as a paperweight. It's a pencil that doesn't write and the eraser is as rock-solid as a brick. It's a love story that's actually worse than Twilight, as the notorious Internet meme goes. Don't get me wrong. I am attempting to avoid misleading you into thinking that I hate this show out of pure spite, which is why I will try to write what I saw in this show without giving it a personal bias. Well, I did say that I would try. Story: What if you were stuck in a world of spirits and "yokai" and demons and devils, and there were a couple of things that you've been made aware of? Spirits cannot harm humans and a kiss can transfer powers between two individuals, and a whole mess of demons do not approve of your questionable love affair? I think I described the world of Kanokon in a nutshell, but for those who want to ask "why does this happen", or "what background does it have behind it" or "is there anything else?" Unfortunately, that's all I picked up. There's no history behind the spirits aside from the given that they co-exist with humans and the storyline has no other motive behind it other than allowing fan service to exist. How can I rephrase that? "It's the plot that works for plot." Well, look at that. A cheesy line to describe a cheesy storyline. Art: Fan service comes in droves; there's no end to it. The funny thing about it is the way they try to make it look important to the storyline, but when you come right down to it, take out the fan service and it has absolutely nothing to do with the way the story progresses. All they did showcase was a timid prepubescent boy and a girl with an insatiable sex drive using any excuse they could to take a stab at attempted intercourse. It's such a shame as well. To make up for everything else that this show lacks in, fan service HAS to present itself. I'm sure for those who prefer fan service in their shows, Kanokon will be an easy show for them to get along with, but for those who enjoy it in moderation, Kanokon is definitely a show to avoid like the ex-girlfriend that is desperately trying to contact you at 12:00 midnight. Character: If the characters rolled out of a factory, which I'm sure was really the case, each one of them has exemplified everything that was wrong with Chevy in the 1980's. There's nothing special about them and most of them seem like they have a screw loose. The protagonist, for example, Minamoto Chizuru, has no reason to love Kouta, the male lead. We're never given a proper reason, yet she does (and it may be safe to say that dropping her on her head was a normal childhood occurrence). It doesn't stop at a simple interest, which is acceptable in this situation; it is a wild addiction that turns her into a first-class whore every time she is in contact with Kouta. Speaking of Kouta, I have never seen a more useless male lead, one that is easily molded by anything that flies in his direction, like grains of sand or the common housefly. He also objects to Chizuru's physical affection, but why is it that at the end of the series, he can finally muster up the courage to say he loves her? I'm pretty sure down the line, he gave up and allowed Chizuru to have her way with him, however the hell that's about to happen. The support cast are somehow the most appealing characters in this entire show, with the exception of the antagonists. The antagonists make just as much sense as the main cast, who will set the stage for a fight for a few reasons: to declare love for no good reason, to test someone for no good reason, or to pick a fight for no good reason. One of the antagonists that picks a fight tries to take Chizuru from Kouta, and after he is hit with one energy beam, he packs up and leaves as if nothing happened because he is a cowardly pretty boy who was more worried about the smudge on his leather coat than losing the girl he "likes" to a 6th grade kid. Another spirit comes along, begins attacking Chizuru, and after trading one or two blows, she leaves and says, "oh, I was just testing you." What's the point of that? If I wanted to test something, I'd just become a teacher and hand out tests to everyone that walks into the classroom. The last couple just attacks them. Why? Why would you want to attack someone without any reason? "Oh yes, it would be fun, wouldn't it-" come off it already. Now you're just confirming your stupidity. Enjoyment: I mentioned above that this is a fantasy show. Fantasy shows generally come with action. Kanokon, unfortunately, has fighting sequences. Why is it unfortunate? Because fight sequences stop themselves halfway before finishing. Each of the antagonists flee halfway through the battle, and this paves the stage for multiple anti-climactic sequences, which become quite tedious to watch. Maybe I'm expecting too much from an ecchi show, but what if I compared it to a show like Omamori Himari? That's a harem with ecchi scenes AND action, and they pulled it off correctly. Why couldn't Kanokon do it? Or rather, what blender did you use to screw up this show so badly, and what setting was it on? As always, I'm only a fan of ecchi in moderation. Since I'm not the type of guy to enjoy shows filled to the brim with fan service, I'll have to let you decide that for yourself; do you watch for the plot or do you watch for the plot? Overall: Believe it or not, I have a least favorite anime that's not called Kanokon. Despite all that I can say about this show, I would still watch it in front of Air Gear, which would be as rock bottom as rock bottom gets for me, unless another show wants to take its place. Sure, it avoided being one of my most disliked shows, but it's still much closer to the bottom of my list than it is to the top. I do know that shows have potential to reach greater heights if they would just throw out a good number of useless elements, but Kanokon lacks any of that potential. There's no story, the characters are flimsy pushovers, and fan service has always been a useless addition to any show. I know a good number of people out there enjoyed it much more than I did, but Kanokon isn't just a bad show. It's a bad show with a fanbase. I don't mind if you took my words and said, "oh, I'm watching this show anyways." In fact, I couldn't care less what you did with your time just as long as it doesn't cut into mine. But there are only two paths you can take with this show: love it and dismiss every word of offense towards this show or hate it and end up realizing that you wasted a good chunk of your time watching bad characters look like they're about to do something. And a note to the writers: next time you want to blend something, I recommend that you use my personal choice, the Vita-Mix 5000. It juices everything in the cup fairly well and the end result is a delicious smoothie.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all 
Aug 22, 2013
Futari wa Milky Holmes
(Anime)
add
Not Recommended Preliminary
(6/12 eps)
I know that this is effectively going against my rule of reviewing an anime AFTER you've seen it the whole way through, but Futari wa Milky Holmes is an exception. Six episodes in, and there is already so much to say. A lot of disappointment and an unexpected dive south has befallen Milky Holmes.
Can we just forget that Milky Holmes is airing a third season? The original flavor of Milky Holmes thrived in pointless comedy and endless stupidity, effectively creating a series that not only made your face and palm better acquainted, it was actually boatloads of fun to watch. Futari wa Milky Holmes effectively ... ends the run of the original series with a season that makes sense. How much sense? A whole lot of sense, which it substitutes for all of the airheadedness, all of the moe, and all of the charisma that the first two seasons blessed us with. Why would you ruin a series that was brilliant to begin with, to turn it into something entirely different? And who actually tells the writers that it's okay to fix something that isn't broken? Story: We are thrust right into a brand-new storyline set two years after the events of Season 2, I think, following two aspiring detectives that are probably the same age as Milky Holmes, who have mysteriously regained their powers. These aspiring detectives decide that they will protect the city from the recent uprising of gentlemen thieves by calling themselves "The Feathers". Now, I do not have a problem with the name, as stupid and 8th-grade as it sounds, but I want to address a very important issue: The Feathers actually go out and do things. I love the pointless nature of Milky Holmes 1 & 2. I love the way they would go out, attempt to do something, and at the end of the day, they would end up merely trying and never achieving their goal as part of the comical impact of the episode. I love the storyline that doesn't seem to move anywhere. In the case of Milky Holmes, it worked and that's all I really hope for. But now we have two "successful" detectives who are capturing villains left and right and the serious tone of the third season as a whole can only hinder the issue further. Suddenly, the story that was originally about random antics day in and day out becomes a story about hope, determination, and struggle. The only other place I ever see that is a sports show. Why is it heading in this direction anyways? Art: I think this is the only thing that is saving Milky Holmes. As far as the animation goes, it looks more refined and there is a heavier emphasis on powers and the special effects keep the action sequences shining bright, but in the case of a show that has taken a very drastic change for the worst in its sequel, a select few will yearn for the older animation style, to remind them that once upon a time ago, the show that they see before them used to be good. Character: Milky Holmes makes an appearance as does the rest of Genius 4, even though only Kokoro becomes a regular character. The series is centered on two characters that are so memorable, I don't even remember their names. Not only are they bland, uninteresting, and it is essentially a bore to watch them take the stage, the older characters from the previous seasons change so much, they are beyond recognition. Nero doesn't seem like a tomboy, Cordelia is no longer delusional, Sheryl seems intelligent, and Elly, my favorite of the original protagonists, doesn't seem shy anymore. Is it true that when you regain your toys, you do so by losing a large chunk of your charisma? I'd say so. And the character that makes this entire show a joy to watch (as if the first two seasons were not already enjoyable enough), probably the most well-known for a 10-hour loop on YouTube, Akechi Kokoro, is not bragging about her 1400+ IQ or panning Milky Holmes for their usual stupidity. Why isn't she? It was comedy gold in the first two seasons and they decided to throw that out as well. Enjoyment: How can you enjoy watching a show that used to be so great fall from grace and become a show that is so utterly normal, that it's almost unbearable to watch? Maybe for a first-time viewer or a viewer who has had relatively little interest in the Milky Holmes series, it's possible to watch this show with so much as a blank stare, but for an avid fan who enjoyed the original series through-and-through, this third season is like being promised a good thing, only to realize that the promise was no better than getting shot in the foot. It's disappointing. The story has direction which doesn't work with this show and the characters are a shell of their former selves. What's there to like? Overall: Maybe my excitement got the better of me this time, but for those of you who saw the original two seasons that came before Futari wa Milky Holmes, as much as I want to recommend a NEW Milky Holmes to you, it's not that easy. This season is radically different. It's boring, it does not retain any comedy, and it's really difficult to enjoy. There are 6 episodes left, so hopefully there's something to look forward to within 6 12-minute episodes, but as far as what I've seen, there's no salvaging the old seasons and there's no guarantee that things will even begin to pick up in a more favorable direction.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all 
Aug 18, 2013 Recommended
What's up with all the Call of Duty rage kids suddenly thinking they can review a show based on one ending? Tell me, is that really the way to review a show? "Yes, but there's INCEST-" yeah. There is. You got a problem with that?
Now, I don't like incest. I absolutely dislike it and I believe it's wrong for two siblings to get together and become lovers. It didn't sit well with me from the beginning of the series mostly because of the title, and it never sat well with me with Yosuga no Sora. But check my profile. Where is Yosuga no Sora now? ... What are my favorite anime shows ever? Yeah, oddly enough, I LOVE both of those incest shows. Incest matters. It's very unethical, and it's treading very deep waters when the siblings end up eloping. But that doesn't mean we have to undermine our previous thinking of such a show with our own prejudices. "Yes, but there's INCEST-" Okay, sit down. Shut up. Hear me out. Story: I can't believe that I'd ever love an incest show as much as this, but oddly enough, here I am, and there are so many key factors that come into play when I think of this show. One of them is the solid storyline. It's a very touching story about a fractured relationship between two siblings, and how one unusual hobby brings them closer together. But as you watch this show, you realize that all the subtle behaviors of the siblings hint towards their developing feelings towards one another, which should set the stage for the finale. So don't tell me, "There's INCEST and it was so sudden-" just please spare me your BS. If you didn't pick it up, you're either the most dense person on the face of this planet or the fanboy who thinks, "IT'S NOT A GOOD SHOW WITHOUT ACTION!" Fine, there's a whole mess of things that this show doesn't touch up on. These last few episodes ended quickly, in my opinion, and it felt a bit rushed as the common goal was to reach the ending and explain Volume 12 of the light novel in 3 episodes while featuring only what they feel is the most important to mention. This means they don't touch on some important key points, on some things that we will miss out on and it will actually matter whether or not we hear them, especially towards the end. But still, I loved the story through and through, incest or not. Art: I'm a bit biased when it comes to sampling Aniplex's work, but the whole reason I am a big fan of that specific studio is their involvement with the Oreimo series. I know anime shows tend to be a bit stiff when it comes to character movements, restricting a good number of actions from happening the way you'd probably want to see them, but the animation in Oreimo is nice and fluid. Have you ever had that feeling that when you watch someone's actions in a show, they have a small amount of influence on your movements as you sit in your seat and watch? I feel that sometimes. Stiff animation, stiff movement in the real world. Smooth animation, and I feel like I can lose a bit of tension. You know what? That's a weird topic. I don't even know how to explain it. Sound: If I had anything to say about sound, I would comment on the background music. I feel like they simply stuck songs in places they saw fit, especially when the mood of the song did not fit the mood of the scenario. In one scenario, Kirino runs off. The song they play isn't exactly a sad song, but what is it supposed to make you feel? I don't feel that Kyousuke has hurt someone's feelings by saying what he said when I listen to the BGM. It takes away the dramatic impact of the scene. That's what I think happens, and that's what happens occasionally throughout these last episodes. Otherwise, do you like ClariS or have you always enjoyed the catchy ending themes? I do too. Character: Let's get real. You're here and you probably saw the first two seasons of Oreimo. If you loved all the characters in episodes past, you'll love the characters. They don't go through any significant changes, so it's really not worth going too deeply into that subject. However, if any of you are total Yandere Ayase fans, she doesn't appear at all in these last few episodes. She gets no screen time, no mentions, nothing. It's as if they completely dropped her altogether. I know she's not as important as other characters in this series and her appearance wouldn't make a difference, but when it comes to shows about to end, there's often a brief mention of each character and where each of them end up by the end of the series. The last time we saw Ayase, she said her goodbyes to Kyousuke. Okay. What happened after that? Enjoyment: Believe it or not, this was my most anticipated anime show this season. It wasn't Shingeki no Kyojin for sure, because while that show is a brilliant show, I didn't bother buying a month of Crunchyroll Premium to see it in 1080p every week. This was different. I activated Crunchyroll Premium just to see these last few episodes, because I was feeling a great deal of anxiety and frustration over not seeing the ending. And did it alleviate my anxiety? Yes and no. Yes it did. I was thrilled to finally see that all turned out well and the show as a whole ended on a lighthearted note. A couple good laughs and an overall great feeling that you get when you finish watching a great series. I felt all of that, of course, being a huge fan of Oreimo. And no, it didn't. I'm still anxious after watching it a full day later and I can't stand this one issue: it's over. I watched the ending, thinking, "wait a minute, that's it?" I was hoping for a continuation of what happens to all the characters years after this moment. The ending was so abrupt and so sudden that it caught me off-guard, and this is why I am really hoping to find out what happens to each of these characters after all this. It ended happily, but I can't help but feel a sense of dissatisfaction, feeling there's more to it but let's face it, there's nothing more. I'd like to get my hopes up that there's something after all this, but I know it's not happening. Overall: Whatever. It's incest, it's a very disturbing subject and widely unaccepted in society. But what does it matter? Great story, great art direction, catchy theme songs, fun characters, and a high enjoyment factor make this one of my favorite shows ever, incest or not. There's a great selection of outstanding shows featuring incest, and if you want to continue keeping your mind closed, be my guest. But as much as you want to rate it down and as much as you want to throw your own prejudices out there and rant about having to deal with the ending, this is still a great show. Get over the fact that it will happen, focus on the title and all the hints you were given, and do you have any right to complain that this show took the direction that it did? You really don't.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all 
Aug 9, 2013
Yosuga no Sora
(Anime)
add
Recommended Preliminary
(11/12 eps)
Okay, so what's up with the subpar overall rating, and the reviews that suggest the exact opposite? It's as if the viewership's feelings towards this show fluctuate like the energy levels of a 12-year-old kid running on nothing but Monster and Red Bull. Yosuga no Sora is a controversial anime show, but it's no reason to lay down heavy artillery fire and bring all sorts of Hell on it.
Let's get one thing crystal clear. I am NOT a fan of incest, WINcest, or TWINcest. I am not even remotely sure why a writer will go out of his right mind and write a show while ... he's high off acid, because any of the three I mentioned above end up becoming the byproduct of the writer while he's stuck in his "zone". But I'm an opportunist. Once I've started a show, I won't stop until I've finished (and yes, I've heard of a break, but I watch a show the whole way through to make sure I have a good grip on it). This is why, 12 episodes later, I am writing a review about a controversial series, to deliver a message that I think is important to deliver. And that message would hopefully convince you to throw your biases aside and watch this show. Story: The thought of incest makes my stomach knot up in the most painful way imaginable. Mention it once in a show and I will bat an eyelid and turn in the opposite direction. I know, I'm a biased person, but what can I say? However, I am a stone cold sucker for a good storyline. Do everything else absolutely wrong, from the art all the way down to the characters. As long as you do the storyline right, I may like it very much. You can say that the storyline for Yosuga no Sora is what drew me in. This isn't run like a normal harem show. If you've ever watched the ending to a movie, bought the media, and watched the bonus footage with all the alternate endings, this is basically what Yosuga no Sora is pursuing, only, all that bonus footage plays a hand in the storyline. This translates to four possible endings, like an eroge or a visual novel. The protagonist, Haruka, can end up with one of four people: Akira, Kazuha, Nao, and Sora. This is what will confuse a good mess of viewers: the story is connected, but what applies in one arc will NOT translate into another; if Haruka ends up with Akira in one arc, the same does NOT apply in an arc that focuses on Kazuha. If I didn't explain it well enough, there's a whole section for it on Wikipedia. Anyways, down to the actual story. In the same fashion as a visual novel, the guy meets the girl, who has an issue that needs to be resolved. They resolve the issue, and end up together. We know that will happen, that's a given. It's Haruka being the nice guy, doing all the right things, and finally when everything comes together, they officially become a couple. That's how it is with all the arcs, but the events that lead up to that point differ from character to character. In some arcs, we see the true colors of those characters involved brought to light, while some offer a background story with a great amount of depth. As some would like to reveal outright, there are sex scenes in this show, but even if you aren't a fan of fan service, stick around. There's a reason for these scenes. It's not just "random ecchi", unlike other shows that take advantage of their genre and perform a nip slip every other episode. Yosuga no Sora knows very well what its genre is, and it doesn't try to push its true nature into every slot it sees fit. The sex scenes are integrated with the storyline. Their connection has an impact on the progression of events, and that's what makes this show unique. Art: If you're into ecchi or hentai for that reason, don't walk into Yosuga no Sora expecting any of that. In fact, if you're reading this right now, pull your pants up and fix your belt. Please. I don't want to think about the strange things you're doing at home by yourself. People that read the reviews expect this show to be on the verge of hentai and expect to use this as their "material", only to get thoroughly disappointed at how the reviews online lied, therefore, this show sucks. But the fan service, the ecchi scenes, and the "weak hentai" for that matter are all easier comparable to typical ecchi shows that go overboard with fan service. Think about an ecchi show that heavily emphasizes fan service. There are shows like that which are not afraid to exercise nipple exposure and an outrageous array of sexual references. Here's where their first obstacle appears: in which one of those shows do these ecchi scenes have ANYTHING to do with the story? Even if you're a fan of ecchi and you've been around long enough to have seen each and every one of them, you won't be able to name a whole lot. This is what makes Yosuga no Sora's fan service unique; it's not there to be there and give the fans something to swoon over. It's there to shed light on certain situations. But it's still ecchi. This is certainly a double-edged sword that fights and fulfills my preferences. Sound: The music is mostly reminiscent of a drama. That lack of upbeat music gives Yosuga no Sora a dramatic mood, but at the same time, the notes are not deep enough to drop your heart at every stroke of the key. It doesn't play out that mood all the time. There are some pieces of music in higher spirits, but don't expect to watch this show with a smile on your face the whole time, the way you watch with that perverted look every time you come across an ecchi. I don't even know how to explain it. Whatever. Character: This is why Yosuga no Sora is a unique harem. How often do the characters of a harem get their own screen time? Think about that for a second. Have you ever seen a harem so predictable that you saw the ending and thought, "yeah, I knew it"? It happens all the time, and the reason for that would be the lack of development for the other "protagonists", if we can even give them that name. Harem shows tend to place emphasis on one character that the writer determines will be with the protagonist no matter what; their development comes first while the other participants get a noticeable lack of screen time, therefore, only one route is ever truly open to the protagonist. It's annoying, and that is why I believe harems aren't as widely accepted as other genres. Yosuga no Sora is different. They may be separate arcs which revolve around alternate endings, but we get to see firsthand things such as personality, past events, and the true nature of certain characters instead of having to be told by someone that this is who they are and we have to take their word for it. These characters' ideals and personalities will stay constant throughout the series regardless of the events they are situated in, so as we progress through the arcs, we will continue to learn more and more about the character at the center of each arc, plus a little more about the other supporting characters. Maybe there's a better way to write it so we still get the same level of detail from the characters without having to deal with the storyline ending four times, but hey, it sure beats knowing next to nothing about the other so-called "protagonists". Enjoyment: I hate incest, as I mentioned above. I hate it very much. But by the end of Yosuga no Sora, for whatever reason that may be, I was backing my full support behind the twins. Maybe something is wrong with me, or maybe I need to see a professional about this issue, but whatever reason it may be, I liked watching this. I find it especially strange because I don't like ecchi, I don't like incest, and I have mixed feelings about harems, but mix all of that together and it equates to a show that is otherwise pretty solid all-around. At this point, I'm not even debating the reasons why I like this show. I'm already at a loss for words. Overall: If you can't get over the incest, you are missing out on a very good show. Don't be biased, because I already made that mistake and I'm here trying to convince you to watch this show, as ironic as that sounds. A solid storyline (if you can just keep in mind that the arcs are all alternate endings), characters with more dimension than a 3D movie, and an enjoyment factor that generally improves as you continue to watch. If you aren't a fan of incest and are so biased that you don't want to touch this series, I can understand that. But don't rate this series down on the basis that it's an incest show, which most people have the tendency to do anyways. I'm no incest, ecchi, or harem fan. I loved this show. Just throw aside all of your previous reservations about this show being bad for pushing incest, and if you still don't like it, I won't blame you. But I guarantee that this show is not a bad show, and the average rating it holds does not truly reflect the quality of this show.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all 
Jul 31, 2013 Mixed Feelings
Let me get one thing straight. I am a huge fan of the romantic comedy category. I was introduced to it by the show "Kaichou wa Maid-sama!", one that many rom-com aficionados credit as being one of the best rom-com manga/anime you can read/watch. After my introduction to this category, I began watching other notable shows: Toradora!, Clannad, and if it may be counted, Oreimo, all of which I enjoyed wholeheartedly. But the issue with the rom-com genre is the use of generic elements, some of them out of choice and some of them because there were no other alternatives.
Getting past that issue, I often ... refer to Toradora! as the benchmark rom-com, the [nearly] perfect rom-com. I refer to Clannad as a tearjerker with quite possibly the strongest storyline of any anime show. Oreimo, with its controversial title and incestuous elements, offers something new to the rom-com genre. Each of them had a black horse cleverly tucked under their sleeve and proceeded to expose and conceal it at the right moments. And that is what surprises me the most about Special A. It has no black horse, no tricks, no twists, and as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't even have sleeves, yet it still draws positive ratings from viewers. Special A is the dead basic rom-com. This is what every writer strives to surpass, because it's really that easy. Story: Kaichou wa Maid-sama!, where the Student Council President is a maid. Toradora!, where a boy and a girl have romantic interest in each other's best friends and help each other try to win their hearts. Oreimo, where it's quite possible that your lover is the otaku girl living in the room next to yours. How does it sound with Special A? "Special A, where a girl goes to school." Is that it? "No, her rival is also in the same club." Anything else? "......they get good grades." You think, okay, that's just about every other high school rom-com out there, but rom-com's have always shared the same generic format, the same elements, and in that essence, the same problems and situations. This would be like watching a sitcom on Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. They exist on different channels. They can switch up the characters all they want, but when it comes down to writing, they all use the exact same storyboard. For a high school rom-com, the typical format would be a girl that goes to school. She has some type of issue relating to the male lead, but in the end, they end up together. We know that's going to happen. We know that as soon as you show us the male and the female lead, they will end up together because there is honestly no other way it ends. What we're really interested in is how they get there or if there is any sort of twist that will distinguish this show from everything else, and offering nothing but the barebone story itself portrays lack of thought from the writers. Special A shows us the main characters. We know that they will end up together by the end of the series. We know the female protagonist has a problem with the male protagonist, and we have identified that as the main issue. However, since there is no twist or any supporting element that occurs alongside the storyline, that leaves us with the protagonists in a high school. Where's the fun in that? Art: I think the only reason why this show is even remotely distinguishable is the art style. The characters seem taller than average and anorexic due to their long, skinny limbs, but the backgrounds for each scene were really appealing. One instance, in particular, would be the scene between Akari and Tadashi, when they leave the school to "see the night". Otherwise, I don't think the animation has grown on me yet, nor will it ever grow on me. Characters: The characters are as generic as generic can get. Not like a parody show or a satirical piece where characters can get away with being generic because they portray common stereotypes. In a rom-com, what's there to make fun of, and who is there to address anyways? That leaves, nobody. These characters aren't generic to prove a point or to make anybody laugh. They're generic, because that's just how they are. This seems to explain their distinct lack of energy as well. For example, Hanazono Hikari, the series protagonist, is bright, energetic, and dense. If any of you have watched School Rumble, the protagonist Tsukamoto Tenma shares all of the same traits. They both play a role as their respective series' protagonist, but while Tenma has enough energy to literally BE the Energizer bunny, Hikari, for the traits used to describe her, could be more likened to a desert: flat, dry, and a comparable lack of life. I believe that characters portray the mood of a scene through their words and actions, but how do you expect the viewers to catch on if the characters seem to lack the spirit? As you continue down the line, you'll begin to notice that every character in this show is more insignificant than the last, the secondary characters in particular receiving an elevated form of neglected attention. The Yamamoto twins, for example, lack presence in this series; two characters in the Special A club who supposedly make up the main cast who could be easily mistaken for secondary characters, which they aren't supposed to be. Sure, we're quite aware that the primary protagnoists are Hanazono Hikari and Takishima Kei, but let it be known that they aren't the only characters in this series. There are other characters with interesting side stories. Shed a little more light on them. Enjoyment: Bear in mind that you are watching a show about perfect people living perfect lives with the perfect amount of wealth going to the perfect school, making this show difficult to relate to as a normal person. You can be jealous, envious, or vicariously living through the lives of these characters, but I'll be honest; I have better chances of relating to a giant blender fighting outer space aliens across all seven dimensions. I may be wrong on this one, especially because we're talking about characters that can break through the bottom of cooking pots with their palms, but for a show that doesn't acknowledge science fiction, fantasy, or supernatural elements, why do I get the feeling that the writer set up Special A to be some kind of "superhuman fighting force from the distant future"? Was it implied in the name or did the writer think his idea for a superhero show would get scrapped? A rom-com doesn't have to be a slice of life to be able to relate to it, but why is Special A so out of reach? Okay, I'll admit it. I enjoyed certain parts of this show, but if I wanted to rewatch any one of those scenes, I'd log into YouTube and find them myself. Even keeping that in mind, I'm absolutely certain that there are other shows with normal scenes much better than the ones found in Special A, so why would I rewatch them anyways? This leaves me back where I started, avoiding Special A altogether. Overall: In my eyes, Special A is average at best, marking the most standard rom-com on the market. The writing is Disney Channel sitcom generic, the characters were likely picked from a hat, the art might as well be an advertisement to the world's most effective weight loss program, and the comedy is as good as that time Jeff Dunham picked up a puppet and reminded everyone of the joke he made on the last Comedy Central special. I can hardly say that I enjoyed it. Remember earlier when I said that rom-com's tend to be generic either by choice or because there is no other way? There's a reason why writers choose to be generic: some do so to play it safe and gather a guaranteed fanbase. Special A would fit that category of shows that are generic by choice. While writers take this route as an express ticket to quick profit (because writing is a difficult profession), a generic show is only average at best. Don't expect to engrave this show into the back of your head anytime soon.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all 
Jul 29, 2013
Hayate no Gotoku! Cuties
(Anime)
add
Mixed Feelings
If you're reading this review, you've probably seen the 52 episodes of season 1, the 25 episodes of season 2, the 12 episodes of season 3, and if you've ever gotten around to it, the movie. But none of this is quite as disappointing as season 4, labeled "Hayate no Gotoku! Cuties" and revolving around random events within the lives of the girls of Ayasaki Hayate's harem. I really hope I'm finished watching one of my favorite anime shows plummet to the ground and hopefully if they ever get around to producing a Season 5, it'll get back into continuing where the manga left off.
I ... get it. For writers, the industry calls for new material, all the time, and since writers are the ones pulling the strings for TV scripts as well, it means new material, all the time, and a distinct lack of fear when it comes to pushing new ideas. However, as I'd like to point out, Hayate no Gotoku! Cuties is one of those new ideas that doesn't actually work. Story: While I admit that there are elements of the manga that can be easily translated into this show and the storyline is based on whichever character is the main focus of the episode, the last two episodes are about kissing someone, anyone, to save Sanzenin Nagi from the Black Camellia-wait, what? The Black Camellia incident again? See, as I was told, Hayate no Gotoku! Can't Take My Eyes Off You is an epilogue for the series as a whole, although it only takes place a month after the events of the movie. I was more convinced that this would be a [somewhat] fitting end to Hayate's harem with the confession that takes place at the end, or whatever you'd like to call that display of affection. However, the last two episodes of season 4 seem to show otherwise, saying that the Black Camellia incident is still very much happening and it's still an issue in those last two episodes. To be honest, it just doesn't flow. And what about the fact that the entire plot of the series is crammed within two episodes? I'd like to think that they just needed a basis by which they'd end the series, but that's definitely not the way I would have ended it either, using the world's fastest anime story. Think about it: a season that doesn't push a heavy story line like season 3, focusing only on character introductions, yet at the end, something happens. That's exactly why the story makes very little sense. It's like Stephen Colbert, during any one of his shows, saying, "oh, by the way, I'm trying to be serious now." That just doesn't happen, and when it does, it just doesn't work. Art: The quality of the animation has improved over the years. It doesn't look the way it appears in a manga and a good number of the characters receive a "style refresh", but this is the very thing I'm not too fond of. Sure, the quality is better, but I loved the animation style this show began with in season 1. The animation may have improved the show from then to now, but if I can be anal for one subject out of this entire review, I would much rather prefer the old animation style. Why? The old animation style was used in the first two seasons, which I really, really liked. The new animation style was used for every other installment of the series, which I didn't really like. I'd take the old animation style anytime, just to remind me that at one point in time, this series wasn't as disappointing as it is now. Sound: Okay, who really has time to talk about a bang, a beat, and a bop? I came to realize that I have no clue how to judge sound. I might be tone deaf, but I honestly don't care. Character: Make the connection from previous seasons, and the only thing that didn't change is the cast of characters. They're still their same bubbly selves and watching them is always a blast, especially with the new addition of A-tan as a regular character (in past seasons, A-tan got anywhere from a couple seconds of screen time to none at all). A common occurrence in harem shows is the fanbase's ability to divide their support amongst the characters. There's nothing wrong in that, and as an avid reader of the manga, I can proudly say that I was and have always been a fan of Katsura Hinagiku even after the appearance of Athena Tennousu. But don't you get the feeling that the writers are trying to place her in every conceivable situation, without entirely focusing attention on her? That's what I feel like is going on. She's basically tagging along as support cast. Here's a note for the writers next time: we don't want to see Katsura Hinagiku. We want to see Katsura Hinagiku, doing things. Having a fan favorite in a slide as an Easter egg doesn't make up much of a difference. Enjoyment: Sure, it's funny, and sure, it was a great show, but this season 4 is really difficult to watch for me. For the first-time viewer, who hasn't seen a single episode of Hayate no Gotoku, this show will be easier to take in, enjoy, and not think too deeply about, but having been a fan of Hayate no Gotoku for a while, watching this particular season was like watching an angel fall from Heaven. You just don't want to believe that something so great has come to be so bad, but eventually, you'll have to come to terms with it. Overall: If I watched it without having seen the first couple of seasons, I'm sure I'd like it a lot more, but having seen the other three seasons, the movie, and the manga, speaking as a fan of the series, this season is one of the last things any one of us would expect to see from a work that used to be so brilliant. If the writers decide to continue writing side stories and straying from the roots of the manga, here's my advice: watch the first couple of episodes, decide if you like it, and if not, drop the series and read the manga, which is a hundred times better.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Informative
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all |