- Last OnlineJan 24, 3:00 AM
- GenderMale
- Birthday1995
- JoinedDec 30, 2017
RSS Feeds
|
Jun 18, 2021
No anime has quite captured my attention as much as SSSS.Dynazenon while being somewhat unpopular or niche within the community. This is a quasi-sequel to SSSS.Gridman, a mecha/tokutatsu series that surprised viewers with both its creative direction and undeniable Saturday morning cartoon feel, which you will find again here. But don't worry, no prior knowledge of the previous series (or the even larger Gridman Universe) is needed to get in on the fun.
Director Akira Amemiya and his team at Studio Trigger are back at it to creating his uniquely singular take on the countlessly-done setup of mixing the banal and the fantastical. But whereas he
...
previously focused on mood-setting and world-building, this is more of a character study that happens to have short fun fights at the end. I'd like to emphasize how that change made a difference. Gridman is a show I appreciate; Dynazenon is a show I love. Although 2 characters take up most of the screen time, the gang itself are fun and likable right out of the gate.
If I wasn't so busy right now, I could honestly write paragraph after paragraph about why its great and why you should watch it. I could even discuss to returning fans the differences and similarities between the two series. Its characters, beautiful shot compositions, astute sound design, and numerous other aspects truly deserve a more thorough discussion than what I can convey to a passing viewer on an anime rating site.
Still, if you're looking for something fresh, interesting, or just plain enjoyable, then you've come to the right place
Story - 7
Art - 9
Sound - 9
Character - 9
Enjoyment - 9
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
Dec 15, 2020
Chainsaw Man.
It's all in the title. No context is needed; no barriers to break when you start the wild ride that is Fujimoto's latest attraction. Having previously published Firepunch, a delirious work of its own, in the online platform Shonen Jump+, the move to the mainline Jump magazine was met with some expectations. His style has always leaned more on the graphic, arguably tasteless, depictions of the human condition and how chaotic and uncontrollable it is, even evident in the way he unfolds his stories. To see how he will continue this while being constrained by mainstream censorship was an intriguing matter. Having read through
...
all of it now, I can say confidently that it was never a problem to begin with.
The story you ask? A boy and a chainsaw-dog-devil combine to make chainsaw man and kill other devils. I do love how direct it's surface-level pleasures are in the initial chapters, a gory and violent smorgasbord of sawed bodies and gushing blood. Not that this pleasure ever wanes, it just learns to give space to the worldbuilding, the characters; the meat beneath the skin.
It's dumb fun was already enticing, if not especially clever. But what's great about it is that, over the course of the story, it becomes something much more. The way its story and characters twist and turn, the tone adjusting to whatever feels necessary, showcases his versatility and flexibility in spite of the chaos. It is indeed a rollercoaster, where the thrills of the moment can trick you into never seeing the tracks already laid out.
Even beyond his storytelling, the art already is enough of a justification for this exist. He has an eye for character design, and his depictions of the various devils within in this world are memorable and defined. The way its action scenes play out are simple and easy to follow, but are elevated by the grandeur "metal"-ness of it all. Plenty of the panels know how set a scene, with the purposeful use of visual metaphors and environmental shots, giving it a cinematic feel.
Or just ignore everything I've said and read it cause its fun and enjoyable, which it truly is. It's a man that's a chainsaw, how can that not be awesome?
Story - 8
Art - 9
Character - 8
Enjoyment - 10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
Jan 5, 2018
Going into this series, I had zero background information on any of its details. Didn't know that it was a manga adaptation, that it contained adult content (so. much. boobs.), or that it was directed by THE Maasaki Yuusa (Tatami Galaxy, that one episode in Adventure Time) until I decided to do a little research halfway through the series. So there was little to no expectations in my part, other than my friend suggesting I watch it. And I have to say... I was kinda disappointed by the end. Started promisingly but faltered way down as it rushed to its finish line. Let's break it
...
down, shall we?
Story: 5
- First episode was definitely intriguing, establishing the world and its themes, but felt a bit rushed and jumbled at times
- Pacing was odd, to say the least
- Themes of humanity and the good/evil that comes with it, not the most original idea (granted, the manga was written way back in the 70's)
- The second half is where it reaaaaally dovetails
- Plot development feels unnatural
Art: 8
- Greatest asset, even with the occasional flaws
- Eclectic and unique camerawork
- Character design is lush and defined
- An ecstatic and colorful palette that transitions late in the series to darker and muted tones
- Animation in the mid-episodes sometimes felt stilted, and just plain bad in a few scenes
Sound: 6
- Nothing really noteworthy, music and sound design is solid, even inventive on occasion
- Plenty of electro beats, and wood percussions
- OP song is quite good (not really a factor for critiquing)
Character: 5
- No character is downright hateable, so that's good
- Most likable is definitely Miki, the bright and hopeful girl next door
- Contrasting of Ryo and Akira is obvious, but not memorable
- Supporting characters have confusing arcs and inconsistent internal logic
Enjoyment: 4
- Admittedly enjoyable at first, with its melange of colors and overzealousness in presentation, but becomes downright depressing by the end, minus any form of catharsis or larger talking point
- Can't imagine anyone willing to re-watch all of this for the sake of entertainment
Overall: NO THANKS, I'LL PASS (or watch once and regret losing 5 hours of bountiful sleeping time and writing a review after, 6am in the morning...)
#Thanks2018
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|