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Jan 7, 2016
I really don't understand why this is considered a masterpiece. It wasn't god-awful, but I wouldn't call it great - or even good.
First off, the art: It seems to be the main selling point with most people. The backgrounds and scenery are gorgeous, yes. In fact, the surroundings looked so nice that the poor quality of the characters' animation was not only surprising, it was downright jarring. The facial anatomy rivaled Madoka Magica in terms of cringe - lazy eyes, assymetrical jawlines, the works - and it was all juxtaposed against beautiful sunsets and photo-quality street scenes. Clearly the people who animated the backgrounds had
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nothing to do with animating the characters. It was really strange and distracting.
The story is mediocre. I think the director was trying to be subtle, but instead of saying a lot in few words, it seemed like he didn't have much to say at all. The relationship between the two main characters was two-dimensional and uninteresting, mainly because we never see what made them so valuable to each other in the first place. Moreover, there wasn't really a climax or payoff; the story just drifted on lazily, each character travelling a slow downward slope, until it just sort of ended.
Like I said, it wasn't god-awful, but it wasn't compelling or even interesting. The most memorable thing was the scenery, which couldn't make up for the prodigious mediocrity that came with it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Nov 8, 2015
This is a really difficult anime to grade.
I think this is an anime everyone should try watching, but I recognize that not everyone (or even most people) will enjoy it.
Story:
Being an avant-garde series, it seems unfair to judge the story by conventional standards. It's certainly oblique and hard to follow, but I think one can understand enough after the first watch to get something out of it. This is a series that wants to be viewed multiple times. Personally, I like that. If you don't (which is understandable), be prepared not to get all the answers.
Art:
The art is comparable to Madoka Magica. The characters' faces
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often look asymmetrical or "off model." Sometimes I found myself distracted during dramatic moments, because Lain's eyes were not even close to the same size and shape. However, the backgrounds and overall aesthetic is intriguing and appealing. There are some frames from this show that I would hang on my wall; there are others I would not blow my nose with. "Inconsistant" is the word here.
Sound:
I watched it subtitled, so I can't speak for the dub. The voice acting was fine; no grating high-pitched voices. I enjoyed the soundtrack and felt it complemented the series.
Characters:
I found Lain very memorable. She's complex, unique, and oddly charming. The theme of identity/how the Internet affects it was explored through her in an inventive way. I also liked the dynamic she had with her father, though it doesn't get a lot of screen time.
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed this, though I found myself bored at times. I would watch it again.
Overall:
The important thing to know going in is that the creator's intentions are very different from most. I think they aimed to express moods and ideas rather than a cohesive story, and if that is indeed the case, they succeeded.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 10, 2014
This manga is interesting, but not without its flaws.
Story: 6.5
It's a mix of the zombie and dark magical girl tropes, but has some nice redeeming qualities. Unlike a lot of zombie/disaster stories, the characters often survive because of their wits and good planning rather than dumb luck, which is refreshing. The story becomes more intriguing as it progresses and takes some interesting and unexpected turns. The trials and mysteries the characters face become increasingly engrossing the more you read. Also, the pacing is pretty on-point.
Characters: 6.5
The main character, Kogami, is pretty bland. In fact, he's the only character among the main cast whose name I
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couldn't recall. My favorite character is probably Yoruka. She seems like a typical "oppai" character, but as she develops she becomes very charming and more well-rounded. She's got a good mix of strengths and weaknesses - she's pretty tough and doesn't take shit from anyone, but has her fair share of insecurities. I find Akuta (the police officer) strangely loveable despite his psychopathic antics. Normally I'm very turned off by misogynistic characters like this, but his ability to scheme and think on his toes and his strange dedication to Yoruka (which seems to take a step beyond regular sexual attraction in later chapters) made me like him sort of begrudgingly. Tsukune is a little trope-y, though her character development was well-paced and her "twist" fairly well-executed, if a little melodramatic in some aspects. Sayano is also somewhat of an archetype, but in an unexpected way.
Art: 6.5
The mahou shoujo look awesome, but other than that the art can be lackluster at times. The gore, while pretty damn cool and inventive in some parts, can also be confusing to look at. The anatomy also needs work.
Enjoyment: 8.5
Despite its flaws, I really enjoyed this manga. It has a strange charm that makes it sort of addicting.
Overall the people who rated it a 1 are probably justified, but I would say give it a shot if you like the genre.
Also: I feel it is of note that this story has some misogynistic elements and several instances of sexual assault (though none of the characters actually get raped).
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Dec 10, 2014
This came out around the same time as Madoka Magica and has a similar premise. Despite Madoka's popularity, I would have to say I prefer Mahou Shoujo Site.
While it didn't impress me much at first, the story becomes more and more intriguing and fleshed-out as it progresses. Many of the characters, which read as tropes initially, are given interesting character development. Aya, for example, appears to be a typical "sad, abused loli," but she proves to be very cunning and capable in the right situation. She still hasn't completely avoided the stereotype (largely because her backstory is too pitiful and dramatic to be believable), but
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her character seems to be going in a good direction. I was also surprised that Sarina, the "typical bully", became such an important character. I also like the
As for the art - I like it, but at times the anatomy gets a little weird. However, it's pleasing to look at most of the time.
As I said, the story shares many similarities to Madoka, but I think it's a little more complex and well-thought-out. It also has some themes that are unusual for a manga of this type, like revenge. It's true that the story has many tropes, like the "mysterious website" and the "manifold misunderstanding" between Sarina and Aya; however, while it follows some tropes, the story also avoids others.
I've given this an 7 tentatively. I feel like the story right now (at ch. 17) is at a tipping point where it will either flourish or fall short.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Feb 2, 2014
Oyasumi Punpun is an all-time favorite of mine. It has everything I love in a manga: gorgeous art, a good sense of humor, and a sense subtlety that leaves it up to a bit of interpretation. It's definitely worth a read, and I would recommend it to just about everyone.
Story: 8.5/10
The story is conventional on the surface: a coming-of-age story about a kid that never quite fits in. However, it's quite a bit more complex than that. It follows the lives of many different characters, from Punpun to his friends to his family members. All the interlocking stories are engrossing and thought-provoking.
However, it does
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lag a bit at times. Maybe this is because I marathoned it, but I felt that there were some dry periods jammed into the normally intense narrative. Despite this, the pacing is good overall.
Another thing I must commend the manga on is its effortless transition in tone. Because it follows Punpun's life from his grade school days into adulthood, the tone naturally goes from almost off-puttingly innocent to something darker and more cerebral. The change is well-paced and scarcely noticeable while you're in it.
Art: 10/10
Fantastic, obviously. It's beautifully detailed with an innovative style. The art is one of the main things that attracted me to the manga.
Characters: 10/10
All the characters are well-rounded and developed. Even ones that seem bland and unlikable at first are given dimension and charm (Punpun's mother comes to mind). None of the characters are "typical"; they all have their finer points and their flaws, their good intentions and their ulterior motives. It definitely stands out from other stories -- manga or otherwise -- in this regard.
Enjoyment: 10/10
I busted through twelve volumes in two days, if that gives you any idea of how much I enjoyed it.
My only caveat is that the story is heavy, especially in later chapters; I wouldn't recommend reading it if you've had a rough week, as it will bring you down further.
Overall: 10/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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