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Apr 24, 2019
I'm like 5 years late to this but I'll write a review anyways because I really wish to consolidate my thoughts on this show.
Zankyo no Terror has been a wonderful, exhilarating ride, from start to finish. It's what you'd expect in a 3-course fine dining meal --- an enticing appetiser, the sustaining and building entree and subtle dessert to top things all off.
First of all, let's talk first impressions. Amazing. I did have high expectations for this one, knowing the reputation of Shinichiro Watanabe (big fan of Bebop), as well as the amazing Yoko Kanno on soundtrack (an actual genius). However, the introduction
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episode completely blew me away. The episode was a hard slap across your face to warn you about what this show would be about --- buildings falling, explosions, intense chase scenes, and terrifying minds of people. I was HOOKED.
The following episodes built on the hype based off of the first, and I was very much engaged by the standard 2-perspective storytelling of typical detective shows. Knowing a little about greek myths, perhaps my enthusiasm in solving the riddles made me particularly immersed.
However, I will say that the latter half of the series did lose my engagement a little. Particularly with the introduction of Five. I guess I just didn't quite like her character narrative --- she wasn't quite the personality I had been envisioning. Following her and the American authorities' intervention, I felt she was more of a hindrance rather than a creative and appropriate 3rd party player into the mix. I just think there could have been a better approach to her character.
Nonetheless, the revelation and ending rose up to standard. Though the premise about a plot through the eyes of the terrorist was exciting, Zankyo no Terror isn't about the terrorist act itself. In fact, the ending makes clear of the fact that no, these people are not conventional terrorists. They represent the voiceless, the oppressed, the silenced, the isolated. Which is exactly what draws people to become terrorists in the real world. Feelings of not fitting in, not belonging, they draw one towards committing these acts to turn the world's attention to you. Just as an explosion is only glorious in its climax, these kids, even just for a little bit, wanted to draw the world's attention towards their sadness, their suffering. And that's the beauty of this entire series. They were lonely, but their acts connected people to them --- Lisa, who many might find annoying, actually plays a crucial role in symbolising that of youths out there today who are victims of the cruel society we live in. She finds solace with Nine and Twelve, as do they in her, and together, they're isolated by the world.
When Lisa asked what Nine was listening to, he said "music from a cold place" It is later revealed that the cold place was Iceland, and Von was drawn from the Icelandic word, which means Hope. I read that Watanabe was very much inspired by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros when creating this series, and I cannot be more grateful. Big fan of Sigur Ros, have been for years, and Yoko Kanno's soundtracks without a doubt captured the essence and beauty of Icelandic music. Music from a cold place, it touches the hearts of the lonely, those who yearn to be heard, and their mourning. It's perfect for a series like this.
While it is sad that the main characters died, the ending of this series was bittersweet, and optimistic. Not like a shounen kind of way, but a realistic, mature conclusion that reflected the mindset and accommodating perspective we all ought to adopt. A lens that reaches far and near, that takes into account of the history of different people and their circumstances, not just judging by their external value. Zankyo no Terror has brought this fact to light, and it was a masterful piece of work.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 5, 2018
As you can tell from my profile, I'm a pretty big fan of Tokyo Ghoul. That said, this review is going to be as honest as possible, and I'll be letting my personal feelings towards to the series aside for this review.
Story: 8/10
:re is the continuation of Kaneki's path to tragedy. The beginning of :re nicely parallels the events of the first, but on the other side of the equation. We learn that war has no victors, only victims. Once that viewpoint is established, we continue to follow Kaneki as he tries to seek for an answer to this situation.
At the same time,
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we learn about some shocking twists behind the truth of CCG, as well as some of the ghoul organisations. To me, this was probably the pinnacle of Ishida's writing. It was strongly delivered, and it sought to convey how while there were two sides, people, or morals, could never be cleanly separated. This part sought to show the grey areas, that further provoke thought. Who's right then, and who's wrong?
Then, the story moved on towards reunion. A common enemy is established, and that pushes those who were once at each other's throats to come together. Kaneki tries, and fails, and tries, and fails. That's reality. It's painful, but real.
The ending gives closure to the events. Everyone has found a way of compromise, things have changed for the better, for the most part. Kaneki received the happiness he deserved. He persevered, he learned, he loved, he was loved. He protected the people he wished to save.
I do think the ending was a little weak, but in the grand scheme of things, for a theme as heavy as this, and seeing similar mangas with similar themes, this closure is probably the most satisfactory one. Why? Well that's simple--- there's simply no way Ishida or any writer could ever have a say in giving a proper conclusion to which side was necessarily right or wrong. It goes on in cycles. That's life.
I do really praise in Ishida's style of writing. His references to books, to quotes, as well as scientific explanations, and symbolism made the manga so much more interesting. I respect him in his immense talent for writing in that way.
Art 8/10
Simply because I have never seen anyone draw with such a style in manga. It takes a lot of ink to print so many black pages (laughs). Okay but in all seriousness, some of his panelling work have evoked tears in my eyes. Arima's death scene, the ticking clocks of Kanae, the Torii gates, the butterflies, combined with his art, have created iconic scenes that would be deeply ingrained my memory for being so visually impactful.
That said, I do understand that some action sequences were hard to read and decipher, perhaps due to his sketchy style. Give it a few times of read, it's not something to be overlooked, but I also do think that there are other things to praise his art about.
Also, his style has grown so much over the years. I do also think his illustrations are spectacular, and so fitting for TG. If you haven't read zakki, I suggest you buy that book, because it's amazing.
Character 10/10
Do I even need to explain? It's just darn good characters. Kaneki is such a great protagonist, not only because he starts off weak and learns and grows strong, but also because his self criticisms and recounts are so vividly real that one can't help but see themselves in him. Kaneki is a fictional character, his many changes in appearances, to me, are just iconic ways to benchmark how different experiences changes our perceptions, our personalities, as we continue to live.
As for the other characters, they have such an important effect on Kaneki, they can't be disregarded either. Hide, Touka, Arima, Eto, Hinami, Tsukiyama, to name a few, are important relationships that Kaneki has formed that has shaped his life. Without them, Kaneki wouldn't grow to be the same Kaneki. That's true to life too. You are very much shaped by the kinds of friends and relationships you make in your life. Not only that, these character intermingle with one another in interesting parallels too. Ishida manages to give depth to majority of his characters, which is a hard thing to do.
Enjoyment 10/10
Waiting for the release of this chapter throughout the past years have been the highlight of my week. Yes, some of these chapters have been painful, I've shed tears of sadness, tears of joy, gasped of horror, but the series has claimed a special place in my heart.
I think the online community also played a strong part in making me love the series. I enjoyed reading theories that were very much valid and well thought out, I enjoyed looking at art made by people, and contributing to discussions. As an artist myself, I enjoyed drawing these characters, and I enjoyed seeing Ishida be silly on Twitter. :re has given me the opportunity to engage with an online community, and like Kaneki, form new relationships and friendships that I really appreciate and learned to love. For that, I owe my life to this series. Thank you Ishida.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 5, 2018
Here's what I've observed from the reviews thus far. There seems to be a spectrum of enjoyment of the show, and the reason why is because of how "unrelatable" the plot is, especially to Westerners. There's nothing wrong with that, I just wished people would be more conscious about the fact that Asian stories go beyond generic, plain Asian stereotypes portrayed in Western shows and truly evaluate the show based on it's cultural relevance, and how the stories have been true to life.
So, as a Chinese, here's what I thought about the film. There's 3 short stories, and I will review them separately, or
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at least, the storyline. HEAVY SPOILERS, so if you haven't seen it, you've been warned.
"Sunny Breakfast" Overall: 6/10
Much of the plot revolves around the main character and his inner dwellings and reminiscence of his hometown, and of his feelings towards San Xian noodles.
The way this story was told reminded me very much of those kinds of essays we used to write in school, those that would use descriptions and recounts that would lead to an ultimate reflection to some aspect of life, or of values.
The noodles were the subject matter that connected the main character to a)his kind grandmother who raised him, b) his first crush he would see when he ate the noodles, c) the different incidents of the family who ran the noodleshop. Also, those shots of making noodles, pouring the soup and everything was just pure bliss. They were such a highlight. Anyway. The noodles hold sentimental value to him, and as he grew up, the taste slowly disappears, which symbolises the passing of time, the changing of tastes and letting go or even forgetting what used to be.
I think the storytelling was beautifully written, and I do think the nature of English was unable to emulate the same weight of words as it would be in Japanese, or in Chinese. I do feel that the plot was predictable, but it was a good attempt at the iconic Shinkai-esque storytelling.
"A Small Fashion Show" 4/10
I really wanted to like this show. I really did. But, something about the main character, or the storyline, just didn't impact me the way it intended to.
Yes, it's a pretty realistic story about two sisters relying on each other for survival, and unspoken feelings and conflicts because one of them has been so caught up on life that she failed to notice her sister's growth. There is some sort of closure to the story that gives a nice, pleasant feelings. But it was... weak.
By the time it reached the halftime mark I felt beyond bored. Besides the rare shots and closeups with spectacular rendering and detail to animation, nothing impressed me. Even the model walks weren't as dynamic or detailed as I would have wanted it.
Probably the weakest short amongst the three.
"Shanghai Love" 8/10
I came from Shanghai. And my grandparents and my dad still live there, so I do go back every year. This personal experience may have played a part in pulling my heartstrings, but I do genuinely think this story was the strongest out of the three.
For one, the story was true to life. The changing of times as Shanghai develops into a bigger, more bustling city--- that's what I see every time I go back. The old house in the film, my grandmother's family grew up in the house like that. Narrow alleyways, really dangerously steep staircases, like four floors of small rooms on each one, and the furnishing of the rooms were exactly like my grandmother's, it made me really nostalgic.
Okay, sorry, I'm getting side-tracked. But, the characters were really endearing to me. Growing friendships, communicating through cassettes, working hard for one another--- those actions really evoked sympathy in me. I felt happy for them, I felt sad for them, and my heart ached when they fell apart. Sweet, simple. Which is more than enough in films sometimes. No need for dramatic actions, for exaggerated witty words. This was reality for many Shanghainese millenials, and that alone spoke volumes.
Next, I really liked the fact that it tried to intermingle past and present. Going back to the old, worn house for the old, outdated cassette player; the contrast with the modern skyscrapers that dominate Shanghai today--- these are subtle touches that make the story that much better. The settings were beautifully done, they definitely did their research, and I really appreciate that.
As for culture, a good portion of the plot revolved around how the main characters were trying to study to get into this elite school. A lot of panels about studying, no fun, and about being a hermit at home. That's also very true to life. The study culture is such a deeply entrenched concept in China that it can totally consume our entire childhood. Those violent methods would also be reality to many, and shouting to wake up neighbours isn't uncommon.
Probably the closest to 5cm per second, and I appreciated the film a lot. Made me miss Shanghai.
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The after credits scene was a little forced and extra but okay I'll tolerate it. Gives closure I guess.
Also that ending song is a BOP it was such a refreshing piece to compensate for the extremely uninteresting OST of the entire film.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 6, 2018
Dove into this series without knowing anything about it. So let's just say the heavy sexual themes did stun me a bit. But letting the sex and the gore aside, I got to see a very very convincing, touching and heartwarming message come through. The plot for Devilman:Crybaby encompasses the trope I love in shows -- two sides; two perspectives, each with their own reasons, their own "justice" and the conflict. How the main character slowly learns more about both sides, and then trying to end it all by urging people to have more humanity, through the power of love. Sounds cliche, but the symbolism
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in the show, truly ties everything together well and delivers the message in a strong, convincing way.
Next, the animation. Honestly, you can see the director's style, but, not the best animation. Lots of scenes the characters looked floppy, but well that was entertaining to watch. Still, the unique style made it pretty refreshing to watch. As for the music, while I'm upset that "Devilman no Uta" wasn't the official OP, the opening was very "Netflix", and the animation visuals aren't that bad, I have no problem. Definitely would check out the OSTs when released.
This show has made me curious in Nagai Go's other works, and if time allows it, I will be reading Devilman or even watching the older series.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 13, 2017
TTGL never enticed me because I've always thought it was a mech anime, and the main character's design looked way too much like that dude from digimon. However, I chanced upon a clip online that sold me for the fluid animation.
All in all, this series is like, a tad of shounen, mechs, fanservice, and "if Michael Bay directed anime" for explosion scenes. The pacing was alright since it was 27 episodes, but I would have preferred if they made the series longer, for more development i.e. during the 7 year timeskip.
To me, the series is broken down to four parts: Adventures above the surface
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and formation of Team Gurren, Taking down Teppelin, Evacuating mankind and finally taking down Anti-Spirals. Each part focuses on a different concept and idea. As the series moves on, we mature along with the main character Simon, and the themes tackled gets more mature and adult-themed as well. I particularly liked the arc that slightly antagonised Rossiu, for he was the only one with the rational mind and the strong heart to make hard decisions. I liked the fact that the show not only portrayed humans truthfully (to put someone in the blame after something major happens), it also depicted the harsh reality of leadership and politics. Being at the top and satisfying everyone's demands is never an easy feat, and this show reminded me of this fact.
The concept of "drills" is also such a well-written theme. Starting off as Simon the Digger and how he was good at digging, it evolved to not just an action, but an adjective that represented the very soul of Simon. "My drills would create the heavens", "My drill is my soul", these words repeatedly being uttered never failed to send chills, and it filled the characters and the audience with so much hope. Yes, there are moments when life tries to send us to utter despair, but you have to believe, believe in the people who believe in you, and stand up there with the strength to take down the sky, the universe. It is this spirit that bonds and spirals everyone together, for them to overcome the anti-spirals and take down the ultimate antagonist. And I really loved this revolving theme. Adds a lot of good quotes to my list ;)
Finally, the animation. Oh boy. I only know Gainax from NGE, but bOY was the animation for this SOLID. There is never a moment of sloppy animation, and the staff honestly put in so much effort to delivering the most quality sequences. They do defy laws of sciences, but let's be real. This is a fiction, and this is animation, which allows freedom of exaggerations that live actions can never hope to achieve. And it gives such a human essence to the mechas, and I honestly love it for that. If I find an art book in the future, I'm definitely buying it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 6, 2017
Tokyo Ghoul is honestly an amazing, amazing work. Ishida Sui has such a talent for writing and spinning stories, you can see the detail he puts in his work, and how far he's planned ahead with the story. The panels are interesting and captivating, this manga has honestly some of the most vividly impactful images I have ever seen. Iconic scenes like the torture arc, V14, Kaneki jumping in to save Hide, thrown in with references from similar themed works like Metamorphosis by Kafka, Demian by Hermann Hesse, really makes you think. This manga will never get you bored, in fact, it gets better and
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better every time you reread and catch details you've never noticed that eventually are of significance to the plot, and you'll feel really mindblown. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys deep, dark plots with heavy literature references, as well as the enjoyment in analysing things.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Sep 6, 2017
This show is a timeless classic, after watching I honestly don't know why the heck I kept putting this show off. Because it's one of the best shows I've EVER seen. The music is so outstanding, I had the soundtrack looped for days. The cast is lovable, yet also have their own pasts, their own story. The script is very well written, with a lot of badass quotes you'd want to note down and keep them for use. As for the story... it goes from light-hearted comedy to complex, mature themes, but the balance is perfectly maintained, where serious scenes are weaved into the episodes
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in little bits and pieces. Despite not getting Spike's past laid out right smack at you, the flashbacks were more than enough for you to piece things together, and the entire process of figuring out is what makes it exhilarating. I'm just sad Ed and Ein had to leave at the end, and that there can never be a continuation to this AMAZING show. Also, animes these days really REALLY need to bring back jazz music fight scenes.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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