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This. This is a perfect show. Every aspect of this show is executed perfectly. I will go so far as to say this is the greatest anime ever created.

The enjoyment I have felt from watching Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld 2nd Season is inexplicably massive. I enjoyed every second of every minute I have poured into watching Kirito and his boyfriend's boyfriend's girlfriend; it was all way too worth it.

From the first tentacle scene to the last Star Wars scene, this show was full of action, comedy, and drama. It always kept me on the edge of my seat, and every ... turn the narrative took kept my eyes glued to my computer screen. An exciting and awesome ride this was.

Thank you, A-1 pictures, for this perfect parody. This is the greatest satire piece I have ever had the pleasure of watching. Thank you.

House of the Sun is a manga that seems unassuming at first--it initially feels as though it is a typical shoujo-romance work, only to hit you in the gut with some of the most powerful messages of love, friendship, and family.

Though the romance between Hiro and Mao is the main driver of the story, House of the Sun's many side characters and subplots really makes it stand out. As the relationship between the two deepen, Mao will gradually discover what is ultimately important to her; although Hiro is the principle interest of the manga, he is far from Mao's only focus. This manga never ... shies away from the many friendships and relationships the main protagonist has with other people, and the way Taamo, the author, explores these relationships is masterful. The themes of love and family become increasingly apparent as the narrative progresses and she interacts with more people--these themes grow with Mao. She learns the importance of family and what it means to love them. She learns that having loving friendships will give her a sense of fulfillment she was missing. Mao's development throughout the story is one of, if not the strongest aspect of this manga. Through Mao's growth, the importance of family and love are portrayed beautifully.

Taamo's artwork is also one of the best things about this piece. It is probably safe to say that the art displayed in House of the Sun is some of the cutest shit that I have ever seen. The character's expressions (especially the female characters) are vivid and animated, all despite the rather deceptively simple art.

The one gripe I would have with this manga is that the ending felt a little rushed. Hina and Daiki could've used a bit more development during the last few volumes--it's a shame because I really like both of these characters. That is not to say, Mao's conclusion to her character arc was nearly perfectly executed. I just wish that the other characters' arcs were as nearly developed.

With its diabetes-inducing art, excellent character development, and resonating themes of family, friendship, and love, House of the Sun is a great short read for not only shoujo enthusiasts, but also for those looking for meaningful themes and excellent character-driven narratives.

This manga is severely slept on. Not only is it one of the highest rated manga on this site, the cover art is very eye-catching and pretty, in my opinion. But enough with that, onto the review.

Otoyomegatari, or Bride's Story, isn't your conventional piece of narrative writing in the sense that it doesn't have the story structure that a normal story would have. Instead, it focuses on the daily lives of the people of Central Asia--a slice of life, if you will. However, this community especially has seen countless slice of life mangas, so such a concept seems far from unique. So what makes Bride's ... Story stand out?

I feel like the word closest to what this manga is would be a "documentary." Now, I don't mean this in a bad sense at all. It's just I got some major VICE documentary vibes from this manga, and I love it. Otoyomegatari explores the many cultural elements of the different parts of Central Asia--all through just the showing of the people's lives. I find Central Asian culture fascinating; it's almost never talked about in any piece of media, and discovering its people and culture was such a refreshing experience. Through the chronicling of the several families and settlements of the region, Kaoru Mori builds a liveliness that few other mangakas can. Like a documentary, it truly captures the lives of the people previously completely unknown to me.

The art also adds to the liveliness and the documentary-esque feel to Bride's Story. Kaoru Mori blends the realistic appearances and texture of the clothing and background with the manga-styled characters, and it creates a distinct art style that fits perfectly with the historical setting.

The narrative elements that do exist here are sufficient, to put it simply. Nothing too complex or interesting happens with the plot, but what does happen is often fun to read and occasionally pretty cute. However, on the grand scheme of things, not much really happens.

Even with all this praise, why did I rate Otoyomegatari only a 7/10? Though what it accomplishes is superb, to me, this manga feels only like a well-made documentary with some narrative elements, and not much else. If you are looking to connect with a piece of media emotionally, this is not the manga you want to read. To be honest, the only emotions this manga elicited from me are the "huh, that's pretty interesting" or the occasional "that's kinda cute." It holds no special or emotional place in me; my enjoyment was pretty surface level. However, overall Otoyomegatari is a great educational experience with some occasional cute romantic moments, and for history/anthropology enthusiasts this is a must-read.