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Jul 16, 2015
There wasn't anything particularly interesting plot-wise within Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?. "Gochiusa" relies completely on character design and art direction. That's right, Gochiusa is a moe anime.
But that's not always a bad thing. Every episode of Gochiusa is entertaining. It's undeniably and endlessly cute. The miniature arcs within each episode are interesting enough to keep the viewer watching. The setting is just unusual enough to keep the slice-of-life motif fresh.
If somebody doesn't like the moe aesthetic, they probably won't like this show. If somebody likes drama, plot and character development, or action, they probably won't like this show. This show is for people who
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want to relax, laugh a little, and have their hearts go "kyun," if you will. It is no lower than 180 proof, weapons-grade doki-doki kyun-kyun moe-moe fuwa-fuwa kawaii cute madness, and that's all it tries to be. That's all it needs to be. That's all it needs to be to get a 7/10 from me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jul 3, 2015
Nisemonogatari was a great addition to an already phenomenal series, but with too much unnecessary fluff. I was inspired by a friend to try and figure out exactly what it is about the season that felt weak to me, so I guess I'm writing a review.
The arcs themselves were relatively interesting. Karen’s arc was lacking any real supernatural oddities, but that was okay because it expanded deeply on the universe, including the introduction of Kaiki, and fleshing out of Koyomi’s sisters and the previously stoic and silent Shinobu. There was actually a lot of content there, but I think seven episodes was a little much.
Tsukihi’s
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arc is a little more refined in its length than Karen Bee, but somehow manages to feel even more lacking in content. We find out a huge detail about Tsukihi, but when all is said and done, it’s really of no consequence. A couple new characters are introduced, but one is never seen or heard from again*, and the other doesn’t really add much to this arc one way or another.
*Edit: she does appear, but VERY far down the road, and frankly could still be substituted by any other exposition character such as Meme (who I would much rather see again) or Izuko.
The first episode of Tsukihi Phoenix contains no real plot development, instead focusing almost entirely on what could be described as an erotic toothbrushing scene. And you know what? I loved that episode. But it was just another blip on the radar showing a trend I noticed throughout the season. There was just too much fan service.
I think blending fan service in with all of the other elements is one of the things that makes the Monogatari series shine as an anime. A little fan service is great, in the right time and place, but Nisemonogatari just seems to take it too far. A loli panty-flashing Koyomi, Koyomi bathing with a loli, sister-on-sister yuri, a girl molesting Koyomi, a middle school girl trying to seduce a clueless Koyomi... These are just a few things on the list, and I’m pretty confident that no other season has had quite this density of lewd material. I don't know if this was Nisio Isin getting a little overzealous, or if Shaft was taking too many liberties, but it's definitely there.
The characters introduced were mostly okay. Kaiki is perhaps my favorite character, with his charismatic lack of regard for morals which he backs up with clever wordplay. Karen has a deceptively deep personality profile, and is a loveable addition to the lineup of female characters. Tsukihi is a little shallow as a character. It feels like her only traits are her yandere tendencies and devout following of her sister. I don’t love Shinobu the same way a lot of the fandom does, but she is certainly an interesting character, and an adequate replacement for Meme.
Monogatari is my favorite anime series, but that doesn’t mean I can’t criticize it. Nisemonogatari had better philosophical dialog, character development, and art design you could expect to find in any other medium, but it still has its faults. I don't really like to give "scores," but let's put it this way: Assuming I’m only allowed to give Bakemonogatari and Monogatari Series Second Season a 10 at the most, Nisemonogatari would probably get a 9. It's a great show, but the shoes it had to fill were just one size too big.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 3, 2015
KyoAni is among my favorite studios, but most of the anime they choose to produce, particularly in the last few years, are exceedingly shallow. They became infamous for this with shows like K-On! and Free!, where the key appeal lies in the characters and their charm, with not much thought put into story, and certainly no intricacies such as symbolism or political overtones.
That doesn't mean that they don't surprise us with some deeper experiences every once in a while. The less-popular Hyouka stands out as a genuinely unique and exciting take on the high school slice-of-life genre. And then there's Hibike! Euphonium.
As a former band
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geek, I can't help but really, REALLY wish that I had been able to watch this show in middle or high school. I was an unexcited, unmotivated Alto Sax, always lingering in second or third chair, (rightfully) unappreciated by teachers. That being said, I could feel those nostalgic emotions being captured again and again as I moved through the episodes.
The tension of filing out onto an unfamiliar stage in front of a large audience. That ever-present fear of something, anything going wrong. Somebody's going to squeak. Somebody's gonna realize they forgot their mouthpiece. The soloist is going to choke.
I never played in a band the caliber of the one depicted in Hibike!, and I was never motivated the way the characters in the show were by the end, but I could relate to all the little worries, all the frustration that they felt. I knew what it was like to play alone in front of a strict conductor's judging ears.
Even minus all the band stuff, the characters were fantastic. Kumiko was a perfect main character, not too wacky or opinionated, for us to project ourselves onto while at the same time remaining interesting and lovable. Eccentric characters such as Sapphire and Asuka felt like real band geeks, with their strange personality quirks and undying love for their instruments. Taki-Sensei is the perfect, inspiring teacher we all wish we had guiding us. My only complaint would be the number of characters. I felt like I was mixing people up and losing track at times.
And then there's Reina. The yuri overtones in Hibike! were strong. Intentional or not, Reina and Kumiko felt like a real budding couple. The tension between Kumiko and Shuuichi stemming from their relationships with Reina and Hazuki was almost palpable. It's really a shame that KyoAni teases their viewers this way, especially knowing full well that there is an established canon they cannot change. I have argued with friends extensively about this topic, and I concede that they were right. What KyoAni instilled in the hearts of viewers for no particular reason was a dirty trick, dirty enough that I must condemn them for it.
All that being said, everything else about the show is top-notch. The animation is detailed, colorful, and beautiful. The music is enchanting. The band sounds realistic and un-exaggerated, always matching up to what the characters are saying, whether they be sharp or out of sync, or just plain unskilled with their instruments. The Opening and Ending are fun, creative, and just as well-animated as the rest of the show. KyoAni may have me heartbroken about the relationships in the show, but Hibike! Euphonium is still an absolutely fantastic anime, and it deserves a complete ten out of ten.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jul 2, 2015
Let's start with the good. Oregairu has some great, believable characters. From the beginning of the series, I've always thought Hachiman was one of the best main characters ever spawned in anime, with his hyper-realistic and negative outlook on the world and human relations. He takes everything we expect out of an anime protagonist; naivety, loved by all characters, attractiveness; and turns it on its head. He is looked down on as a creep by all of his classmates, he seems to have come to terms with this. Yukino and Yui are really the first two real friends he ever has, but due to his
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reputation and his bitterness, none of them are really willing to admit it. It only stands to reason that this would create some complicated drama between them but....
I felt like I was watching a daytime soap opera or some other generic drama-filled pedantic depressing romp through the lives of a bunch of people who just can't seem to get it together. Every episode spiraled further downward into a depressing confusing mess of emotions that just didn't seem to go anywhere and were never properly explained. Where the first season had some decent comedy mixed in with the drama, the second season had more drama, like frosting on pudding. It was convoluted, thick and heavy, and it always left a bitter taste in my mouth when the episode was over.
Even the last episode, despite its fun, cute, and otherwise enjoyable moments just devolved into meaningless babble about "the real thing" and how something-or-the-other is ending or something-or-the-other would never be the same, and then the credits rolled, like if George Carlin were to end his routine with a Laffy Taffy joke and proudly bow and leave the stage.
Everyone seemed to love the second season of Oragairu. I did not. I kept watching, hoping to see some kind of development, but it just flat-lined at that deadpan, semi-intellectual woe-is-me drama after a few episodes and stayed there until the end.
If you're looking for more clever Hachiman antics, more comedy, more cute tension between the main characters, or any kind of mix of ups and downs, you might just have to wait for the third season. If you liked the first season, statistically you will probably (unlike me) like the second season, but prepare for constant debilitating, depressing drama.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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