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Mar 12, 2024
Score: 4 (Bad)
Nothing is precisely wrong with the episode, but it earns its score of 4 by being unnecessary. No one needs a recap of 6 20 minute episodes. This usually happens when there are problems behind the scenes meeting deadlines, and due to Japan's odd insistence that an episode must go on, the dreaded recap happens. Recap episodes can also be a warning of a quality drop in animation in some of the following episodes. Unfortunately that proved to be the case by an obvious production value decline in some of the fight scenes post recap.
The one spot a recap episode might actually serve
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a purpose would be following the final episode. At least then it could be used as a refresher before following seasons, but it will never happen considering recap episodes are the anime equivalent of getting an extension for a project at work or school. Shame.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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May 3, 2012
Whether or not you should watch AKB0048 can pretty much be answered with two questions...
1. Do you like AKB48?
2. Does the dream to become a seifuku-clad guerilla idol that zips about on floating platform bravely fighting anti-entertainment mechas with weaponized stage props all while nailing the group choreography and keeping a tune sound like story-telling genius? (OR, more succinctly, could you really care less about a show's plot as long as you get to watch some moe chicks?)
If you answered "no" to either of these questions, AKB0048 is just not for you. When push comes to shove, it really doesn't matter how good
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the animation or the voice acting is, if you want something with a solid (non-ridiculous) story, save yourself the time. AKB0048 is a gimmick to capitalize on the popularity of the Japanese army (scratch that) pop idols, AKB48, and the writer's never let you forget that. In all honesty, they don't NEED you to like this show; all they need for you to do is like AKB48. If you do, you'll watch it. If you don't, well they don't really need you to watch in order to ride this one all the way to the bank. AKB48 has enough fans that will watch this just because of the title, and considering that they are based in Akihabara, the cross-over connection between their fans and anime is already there. They aren't winning any new people over with this show. Heck, they aren't even trying to.
Now if you answered "yes" to either or both of those questions, AKB0048 will probably pleasantly surprise you. The animation is solid and blissfully free of still-frames like many moe/harem shows. The cutesy pastel character designs fit the overall feel of the show nicely, and surprisingly detailed and well-drawn backgrounds are perfectly executed and lend themselves to the mood with ease. The voice-acting cast is chock full of veterans and fan-favorites. While it's not going to be the performance of a career for anyone, you won't walk away wanting to stick a needle through your eardrum either. Surprise, suprise... the little gimmick of adding the AKB48 girls to the cast actually paid off nicely as well; they do a pretty stellar job for their first time around the seiyuu block. If you like AKB48's songs, the soundtrack is full of them. The opening and endings are sung by the AKB48 girls in the seiyuu cast and will undoubtedly sell through the roof just like any other AKB48 songs. Compared to other shows of similar genres (not that 'hardcore idol show' is a genre yet, but think along the lines of moe shows like this season's Saki Side-A or Upotte!, etc.), AKB0048 excels in the animation, music and sound departments. The story is never going to blow anybody away and will probably seem a bit silly to even the most die-hard AKB48 fans, but I sincerely doubt anyone is picking this up for the plot. Yes, the question above is more-or-less a general summary of the show's plot. And, yes, you will probably have to keep an eyeroll or two in check while listening to the characters' woes of cruelly being denied permission to wear a rockin' hairbow or declarations of undying love for the titular idols (apparently a love much deeper than that of friends, family or neighbors.. who knew?). Perhaps the successful concept of an idol anime might have an impact on the market or spark debates, but the show's actual material won't.
AKB0048 is a successful effort to cash in on the AKB48 phenomenon. Despite the obvious gimmick of the show, it doesn't offend its audience. The studio and producers have created a quality product that the fans will enjoy, even though they could have easily put in a fraction of the cost and effort and still have walked away with the weight of all 48 gajillion AKB48 girls in gold. Just like the idol group itself, AKB0048 is fluffy, entertaining and completely benign... and anyone who's already into that sort of thing will eat it up.
Final Rating: Totally relative to how much you like AKB48 already.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Nov 23, 2008
Note: Vampire Knight Guilty is a direct continuation of Vampire Knight more so than a sequel, so it is necessary to watch Vampire Knight first to truly understand Vampire Knight Guilty. This review is only based on Vampire Knight Guilty.
Story: Vampire Knight Guilty is very much a traditional shoujo series about forbidden love. However, through the inclusion of vampires, the series takes on a bit more of a gothic feel which is heavily relied on to hold the viewer's interest. The story is mainly told from the point of view from the female protagonist, Yuuki, and her inner turmoil about her
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past and her feelings about the two male main characters, a vampire Kaname and a vampire hunter Zero, are the main driving forces behind the story. The story is also sometimes told from a third-person perspective, allowing the viewer to know details that Yuuki does not. While the story in itself is quite good and probably one of the best gothic romance animes out there, due to the switching of perspectives, the plot pacing can sometimes feel excruciatingly slow and often very repetitive. Yuuki continuously tries to tackle the same issues internally episode after episode to the point where it becomes very redundant; the actual story moves along much better when it is not dwelling on Yuuki's thoughts. This also creates a conflict in the main point of the story, since it sometimes emphasizes the mystery shrouding Yuuki and the other main characters and other times seems to try to hold the viewer solely by building up (almost uneccessary) romantic tension to keep the viewer watching to see which character Yuuki will end up with.
Short version: The story is conflicted in a way that it sometimes tries to be a mystery/suspense anime and other times simply a gothic shoujo/romance. 7/10
Art: The main character designs are lovely for shoujo and done very well' some character features are a bit too over-exaggerated (Yuuki's eyes being one example), but this kind of character design is fairly normal for the shoujo genre. The background is also illustrated nicely and gives off a bit of an eerie feeling to lend to the gothic mood the anime is trying to create. However, sometimes there are inconsistencies in the animation, many still frames, and skimping out on the details of background characters. For the most part, this can be overlooked because the actual art direction is done very well, showing the right images at the right times. Someone with a scruitinizing eye will definitely pick up on the flaws, but a casual viewer probably won't. One flaw of sorts that almost any viewer would immediately pick out is the rather boring ending sequence that looks like it was thrown together in five minutes.
Short version: Nice shoujo character designs and animation, but definitely not the best out there. 7/10
Sound: This is where Vampire Knight Guilty excels. Although the opening song is nice, but nothing to rave over, the ending song by Wakeshima Kanon is excellent and really gives the series an extra nudge into the gothic genre. The sound effects are also nicely done, as well as the background music which also gives the anime a rather eerie feeling, reminding you that you are watching something a bit darker than your average shoujo romance. The voice acting overall is great, but it is Miyano Mamoru (Best Actor in the Seiyuu Awards of 2008 for Setsuna from Gundam 00) that really does an outstanding job by voicing two charcters, twins, and giving them their own distinct nuances. Really excellent work. 8/10
Character: The main characters are all round, very well-developed characters for a shoujo romance, although their development is done in a way that negatively impacts the pacing. The anime almost forces you into their heads to experience thr emotions of certain characters, particularly in Yuuki's case, while leavin other characters in an air of mystery. You wouldn't be able to miss an instant of what Yuuki's thoughts and emotions are even if you tried. On the other hand, not everything is given to you on a silver platter, other characters remain much more mysterious and it is up to the viewer to try to unravel the mystery behind those characters themselves. It's a very stark contrast, but it works very well for the series. 8/10
Enjoyment: If you are looking for a shoujo anime overflowing with romance, this show will definitely hook you. It is filled with forbidden love, love-triangles, anguish, angst, unrequited love... just about any element you can think of that fits into the genre. However it is unique in its dark atmosphere. If you are looking for a shoujo anime and like the added bonus of a gothic edge and a bit of mystery, this is definitely the show to watch and would get a 10/10 in that regard. On the other hand, if you are looking for something that is more solely along the lines of suspense or supernatural without all the angsty romantic flare, give this one a pass.
Overall: An enjoyable, well-animated and produced show that definitely stands out in the shoujo genre as something a bit more unique than others. The added gothic edge and use of mystery will hook the lovers of the shoujo genre even more and probably pick up other casual viewers as well, since overall the show is better than your run-of-the-mill anime love story. 7.5/10 But, if you aren't a fan of the shoujo genre in the slightest and not interested in romance animes, you will want to give this one a pass. Although the show does contain a bit of mystery, suspense, and vampires, the main emphasis is undoubtedly romance, and there is no way to disregard that shoujo romantic factor in this anime to just enjoy it for the mystery and suspense it contains.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 30, 2008
I'm not going to compare Gundam 00 to any other of the Gundam series. Gundam 00 is the only Gundam series to not take place in an alternate universe, but instead takes place in the future of our own.
The year is 2309 AD. With the exhaustion of fossil fuels, mankind split into three power blocs to build orbital or space elevators, brining a never ending supply of solar energy to the earth. Despite this advancement, the three power blocs are still in a state almost equivalent to a Cold War, developing military technology to stay ahead of other power
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blocs and competing in a space race. The story takes place around the paramilitary organization Celestial Being, an organization founded over 200 years ago with its members sword to secrecy to achieve one goal: the eradication of conflict on Earth through armed interventions to unite the Earth before mankind ventures out further into space. To achieve their goals, they utilize mobile suits called Gundams, technology generations in advance to that found on Earth. With the beginning of their armed interventions, humanity and the three power blocs are forced to recognize and respond to Celestial Being. Gundam 00 is an intriguing story of comraderie, corruption, betrayal, passion in the face of adversity, and a testament to humanity's desire to exist/
The animation in Gundam 00 is unprecedented; almost the entire staff of Sunrise was utilized in its development. Each mobile suit, whether it be a main Gundam or a minor suit of the power blocs, is exquisitely designed with outstanding detail. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that there has never been a series in which mechas are so extravagent and breathtaking to see. The background animation of countless different places on Earth and in space are amazing. The artwork fully brings the universe of Gundam 00 to life in vibrant colors and designs. The battle sequences are smooth and detailed. Each character is given a unique look, unlike many animes in which all characters look the same spare different hairstyles and colors.
The music and sound effects in Gundam 00 are also outstanding, with opening themes done by major Japanese acts L'arc-en-Ciel and Brilliant Green, accompanied by excellent insert songs and endings as well. Every movement and every attack in the battles is realistic and pulls you into the action. The voice acting is also outstanding, producing Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards in the Seiyuu Awards of 2008.
The characters are fleshed out very well, especially the Gundam Meisters and Celestial Being's strategical planner, Sumeragi. While a part of the show is to keep their backgrounds a mystery, as the details are revealed, their actions completely agree with their backgrounds, creating well-rounded and unique characters. Even the civilian characters who give the viewers perspective of the affects of the Gundam's actions on Earth are very well rounded. The reason holding me back from giving the characters a 10 is that there is still a second season coming (a continuation of the first) where more information will be revealed. Right now, quite a bit of the main characters of Celestial Beings secrets are still hidden under layers, since their true identities are classified within the story.
Gundam 00 is for any type of anime viewer, from the casual to the mecha or Gundam enthusiast. If the amazing artwork doesn't draw you in, the story and characters will or vice versa. Even if you want to pay no heed to the story, the stunning visuals during battles are worth watching on their own. Very rarely is there a wasted moment in the show, spare one recap episode told from a different character's perspective. I can't possibly recommend this series more highly.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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