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Jan 17, 2024
Having recently seen this, I am very torn in how I view this movie. On one hand it left me an emotional wreck. On the other, the two main characters just aren't fleshed out. Shouko is very one-dimensional. If the story was, as many say, about Shoya's redemption, then I could accept that Shouko is not the focus of the story and simply a plot device to explore Shoya's character. They call the movie "A Silent Voice," but Shouko really doesn't have any voice. But if we accept this as what it is, Shoya's character is never really explored. Why did he bully Shouko? That's
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not clear. I suppose we're supposed to assume that statistically every school will have its bullies, and Shoya felt some kind of inadequacy or insecurity he was compensating for, but that's not really shown until the "gotcha" moment at the end where he reveals his inability to look people in the eyes. Why did Shoyo change his mind about Shouko? Because he became a social outcast. Fine, but not very relatable. He deserved to be. Again we're left to simply assume that he's had a more fundamental change of heart than simply being unhappy with the consequences of his actions, but it's never really explained. The movie is ostensibly about his redemption, but the bulk of the movie takes place after he's already decided to redeem himself. I'm not saying movies should spoon-feed explanations to people (show don't tell, as they say) but I felt like this movie was a sequence of situations meant to resonate emotionally (which they did) but without doing the requisite character buildup to truly show any character progression.
On the other hand, what I did like about the movie that I didn't expect from reading synopses was that it wasn't just a boy/girl tale but really about a group dynamic, and how that group came to evolve around Shouko. Despite what I feel are some cheap/lazy narrative building, every character's actions seemed plausible, if not fully (or equally) examined. I'm still on the fence about how Shouko's character was portrayed, in particular. I think maybe the people who's opinions I would value to opine on whether Shouko's character is exploitative or not aren't my own, though, but people who have experienced disability and/or bullying. The one thing that makes me hesitate to say it is absolutely exploitative is that I have met people who reminded me of her character in real life, self-blaming with a steadfast refusal to see bad in anyone else. In short, this movie hit me in the feels like it promised to, and I wish we could see more of the characters, so I'm giving it an 8. But I do have mixed feelings about it regardless.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 6, 2023
The premise of this anime is excellent, and if I were reviewing it on premise alone, I would give it a full 10/10. Basically the series follows the main character, an elf whose lifespan is measured in hundreds of years, after the completion of an epic, D&D-esque adventure with three others. It's refreshing to see a show make explicit that the "action" parts are, for the most part, in the past, and what the subject matter will be is reflection and introspection, and the continuation of growth and the attainment of wisdom as seen through the eyes of someone who has already lived
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the equivalent of many human lifetimes.
That said though, I can't give the show a full 10/10 because the characters themselves haven't really left much of an impression. It's surprising that as of the moment I'm writing this Frieren is listed as the Number One anime of all time on the MAL rankings. Above Steins Gate, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Fullmetal Alchemist, Attack on Titan, etc etc. Perhaps not surprising though because this show probably could appeal to just about any anime-watching demographic. It has a tranquil vibe, it's cute, it has a sense of humor, it has some deep currents but also simple episodic plotlines. But as good as the concept is, I think there's still some generic-ness in the characters, in that I don't feel like I am getting a sense of anyone's real motivation. Basically, with a premise like this show has, I feel I should be feeling more emotional response than it manages to evoke. Maybe to some degree this is due to the nature of a story told at least half the time in flashbacks to times when the characters are already reminiscing - the main character is finding her own feelings change as she looks back, so what we're presented with seems amorphous, which can feel "flat."
But, it's decent enough. I don't get why this show is getting a 9+ score here, but it certainly deserves a 7 IMO and I'd recommend it. Like Frieren herself, there is a wisdom to the show's concept that belies its appearance.
EDIT: This review is getting a lot of "confusing" reactions, so to help clarify, I'm just saying the show has a great premise but the characters, to me, feel a bit shallow so far. It's very good but not sure if it's "the best anime ever ranked on MAL" good.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 10, 2023
This was a near perfect anime, from what I understand is the writer and director of Serial Experiments: Lain (and also the writer of Texhnolyze) as well as involvement from Masamune Shirow of Ghost in the Shell, and Produced by Production I.G. I feel this alone should give some idea of the quality of this tale. But while there are some similarities, this is a more refined and easier to follow tale than Lain (though still densely packed with ideas and open to much interpretation.)
The tale itself is a slow burn, supernatural story that has done its research. If you are
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interested in fringe science and the paranormal, this is a mature and serious take on a lot of issues that could otherwise have been given the "woo" treatment. Let me put it this way - by episode 3 the anime is discussing flaws in hypnotic regression. By episode 5 they're making references to John Keel. Ultimately you're getting a tale that incorporates everything from Shinto animism to Gaia theory to missing time experiences to Michael Persinger and.. well, the list goes on and on. And there's a dose of hard sci-fi and a secret lab thrown in for good measure, giving it a sort of "thinking man's Stranger Things" aspect. But it's not just a checklist of high-strangeness topics, it's actually a pretty tight tale, centered around three likeable and realistic protagonists. There are no "oh my god why would you do that" moments in this anime like in so much of the horror/supernatural genre.
I should add this is technically considered "horror" but there isn't any gore here like a lot of other anime horror tries to shock you with. There are spooky scenes, but this is more in the way of "supernatural mystery" than horror.
A special shout out to the sound composition. The sound in this anime is minimalist and *perfectly* accentuates the tone, perhaps better than I've seen in any other anime.
Sorry for this somewhat rushed review. Basically, this show is criminally underrated. Watch it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 25, 2023
The beauty of a show like "Bartender" is that while ostensibly a show about different customers in a bar being served by the eponymous bartender, the reality is that *you* are the customer. The bar in the story is not just a refuge for the troubled and weary dramatis personae, it is also yours (and perhaps you, too, may be in need of a moment's sanctuary from the world outside the bar). The bartender is not just an ally serving the perfect drink for the other characters in the anime, he's serving you a tale as you sit unseen in his bar.
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You feel the same emotions and the same relaxation as his customers might, because the set-up is that simple, and the tales are so very basically human that anyone can relate to them. No monsters or giant robots or superpowers or other dimensions here. Just a small, cozy bar tucked away in a Ginza alleyway.
I enjoyed this greatly. It has the same charm and a similar conceit as the tv show "Midnight Diner," except, of course, the venue is a bar called Bar Eden. But Bartender is not a mere copy of Midnight Diner. (Actually, I'm not really sure which was authored first.) Ryu, the Bartender, is open about his philosophy as a bartender, unlike the sphinx-like silence of "the Master" in Midnight Diner. And a charming philosophy it is. I won't spoil anything, so will leave it at that. Suffice it to say, we all need a place like Bar Eden.
The viewer should also be willing to accept that this show is aspirational. It's a nice fantasy that our problems can be solved with a drink. Maybe sometimes, if the bartender is skilled enough to make that perfect drink while playing the role of confidant and therapist all in one, it can happen. The reality of course is alcohol and problems don't often mix well.
The show is educational. I learned quite a bit about drinks in the 11-episodes, some of which have been favorite tipples for years. So if you're into the "gourmet" category of anime, this may be an interesting watch for you.
I'm giving this a 9 despite some rough edges. A few plot aspects in certain episodes seemed not to lead anywhere. The lines between characters and narrators sometimes seemed blurry in the earlier episodes until things clicked later on. But there is so little anime like this that I feel it gets an automatic bump from the 8 I might otherwise give it.
Finally, a shout-out to the narrator who introduces each episode. I don't know who that voice actor is but he was perfect for the role. Smooth and elegant, setting the perfect tone for each story.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 22, 2023
So, having stumbled across this one, I was quite surprised to read the plot premise as I felt I had exhausted what few adults-only, non-mecha, non-isekai, non-high school based, etc etc anime was out there, and frankly this sounded exactly like the sort of show I'd be interested in. First contact based sci-fi dealing with aliens/other-dimensional beings, and some of the reviews even went as far as to note the DMT/psychedelic motifs that accompany the best of this genre (after all, if you're going to see a tesseract, your brain is gonna bend.)
So far, so good. But, so many of the reviews seemed
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to contain the same critique: "This show started excellent but somewhere around episode 7 (sometimes 6, sometimes 8) it took a nosedive." So, I began the show. I waited with bated breath until episode 7 and - absolutely nothing surprising happened. If *anything* (and without giving away spoilers) there was a slight tone shift from "straight up Arrival-esque sci-fi" to "here come some mild anime tropes and some unexpected character developments." And even the character developments were not what I was somewhat expecting them to be.
Basically, this is very solid sci-fi fare, a rare "mature" anime (term used relatively here), with a closed-loop plot, some great concepts and some decent character interactions which may have simply turned off people who thought they were going to get "pure" Arrival in anime form. I'd recommend this to sci-fi fans, psychonauts, and basically anyone with an interest in higher dimensions and how we as humans cope with those concepts. I think Asimov or Clarke said any sufficiently higher technology would appear to us as magic. Likewise, would a higher dimensional being appear to us as an angel or a god?
Ultimately, it's a first-contact tale for the modern era, it's the Day the Earth Stood Still for our time. Ignore the people complaining about the last third of the series, because honestly, I don't quite get what they were expecting and the story seemed to remain of a consistent quality to me. Again, without spoilers, I'd just say let yourself have some fun on an otherwise high-minded philosophical ride.
My only quibble, if anything, is I wish this was maybe a few episodes longer as I would have liked to see more of the world reacting to the events portrayed, and some of the complex character motivations fleshed out a little further.
Oh, and do watch Episode 0. It's on Crunchyroll. It provides some character backstory that does come back to enhance the plot.
Final thought: I believe the same writer wrote "Babylon" which I started but never finished, but having seen Kado now I think I need to return to Babylon and give it a second chance.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 12, 2023
Haven't reviewed anything here yet but decided this one warranted a review. First, I'm not a big anime fan. If you asked a non-anime watcher if I was into anime, they'd probably say yes, simply because I watch some anime. I tend to like the more "serious" sci-fi ones, stuff like Ghost in the Shell, Ergo Proxy, Cowboy Bebop, Monster (not sci fi I know), and Legend of the Galactic Heroes. The rest of it, meh. Magical girls, high-schoolers, giant robots, battling card game heroes - don't care for any of it.
I had read good things about Space Brothers and
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while I was worried it would be a little too comedy-oriented for my tastes, I was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is often comedic. But never to the point of silliness. This is what it says on the tin - a heartwarming tale of two brothers who dream of going to space. It's heartwarming and there is enough drama to keep you hooked for every next episode. It has some moments where I teared up, and some where I laughed out loud. You'll also learn a lot and gain a new appreciation for astronauts and the engineers, scientists, administrators and others who support them from this show.
What surprised me about this anime was that watching this tale where the main protagonist starts a little behind but nevertheless rekindles his childhood dream and works hard to achieve it inspired me to question my own life and make some decisions I had been putting off. "Inspiring" is a word that probably gets used lightly in reviews, but "Space Brothers" absolutely deserves that descriptor.
I'm 66 episodes in out of 99 and already I feel regret that there's only 99 (!) episodes. I hope they make more. And do take a chance with this anime, it's definitely worth your time. 9/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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