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Feb 7, 2014
If you like cooking anime such as Cooking Master Boy, Yakitate Japan and the likes; this anime is definitely a must-watch. Mister Ajikko is THE FIRST cooking anime; is even said to be the origin of the cooking show Iron Chef.
Story: Youichi - a young boy who is an exceptional as well as self-confident cook and takes pride in his cooking - encounters chefs and cooking personalities and competes with them.
The plot in its basic lines is not so different from other well known examples of its genre. Like Mao in Chuuka Ichiban, the protagonist is young and very talented (Also there
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is a secondary cooking society that is not all that great, like the underground cooking society). He is as intuitive and innovative as Azuma in Yakitate Japan, and he has failures like Ichigo from Yumeiro Patissiere.
What I appreciated the most was that the focus stayed on cooking unlike those. As much as I loved watching all three, cooking respectively baking became a sub plot in second parts of those. There was the legendary cooking wares for Cooking Master Boy, Henri Sensei's weird baking village for Yumeiro Patissiere and seriously senseless competition for Yakitate Japan.
While there is enough sub-plot going on in Mister Ajikko, it does not overwhelm the main plot-thread of the anime. Cooking. I also appreciated that the anime was not time frozen. Between the beginning and the end of the anime one can visibly discern the physical growth of characters as well as their emotional growth. The cuisine is not limited to Japanese either. Eatery from all over the taste-board comes into play.
Art: The art is easy on the eye but you will not find any Bishounen or Bishoujo here. I can't exactly explain why, but it reminded me of comic-strips. Maybe because the "Characters" seemed to be drawn according to their characters. Some were adorably drawn, some outright funny. Facit the art is very likable and pays careful attention to characteristic details.
Sound: There is no OST to speak of. The mood makers reminded me of the hits of late 80's. Especially one. It almost sounded like a rip off "Jeanny" from Falco. The cast is vast, even if we just consider the copious amount of competitors for Youichi, but the seiyuu's do an excellent job, bringing all these characters into life with their voice acting.
Characters: The characters are very likeable. They are not perfect but their imperfection gives them room for development which helps the story.
Enjoyment: It was thoroughly enjoyable. The characters, the story, the art and not to mention the recipes. You laugh and smile and then there are times you are sad and nostalgic. But the single most amazing thing about this anime is this: The manga ran from 1986 to 1989 and the anime from 1987 to 1989.
That is
-almost 10 years before Chuuka Ichiban,
-almost 20 years before Yakitate Japan
-and more than 20 years before Yumeiro Patissierre.
Just take a second and let this fact sink in.
Yet neither the characters and their mannerisms and dialogs, nor the plot, not even the recipes and equipment seem so much outdated that you think that you are watching a piece of history. Some parts might seem and feel familiar to you because you recognize other anime in them one but this one is THE ORIGINAL that has been ripped off.
If you are fluent in Japanese language, anime gods are smiling down on you. If you are dependent on subtitles to understand it, then the level of your enjoyment is heavily tied to your sense of humor. The following is completely my guess work, so I can't vouch for anything but I think, this was translated from Chinese dubs via an automatic online translator into English. Just to give you a taste and also prepare you what is waiting for you, if you chose to watch this with subs, here is an excerpt from episode 8 and 9:
{Ep 8:
-The piquancy disappears, but it's still delicious...
-The betel succus tastes delicious but it'll make the beef cool....
-Yeah, the turnip slob is gelid so the cook can bring down a fever quickly
Ep9:
-If Youichi won't attend, for us,the match isn't meaning.
-How come?
-Your heeler is a cat in the pan.
-Yolk also wiped out piquancy of white turnip slurry.
-And just odour could keep. Burdening chestnut...
-Because it has been patched with garlic, so it isn't sweet bit it is crisp. As long as you put the beef on it, you can eat the reeky beefsteak!
-In order to let the eater can enjoy the reeky meat at last, he made especial efforts! And it moved me consumingly!}
I have to admit, it took me some tries to finally be able to watch it. I couldn't get past the third episode because the subs drove me almost to insanity. I don't know when but at some point I realized I was already at episode 23 and the subs -even though, I still detested them - bothered me a lot less than they used to. Please let me assure you, my reason to have kept coming back to this anime despite the subs, wasn't some otaku-stubbornness, that I just had to watch this anime because I started it or because it was the first cooking anime or anything like it. It's simply that the anime was just that good, that it made me come back despite the very exhausting, draining and annoying subs.
I sincerely hope a fansub group gives this anime a little love and care because I am certain it will be appreciated my many. But even if not, Mister Ajikko is still worth a try. It is fun and funny to watch with a lot of delicious recipes!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 9, 2013
I wasn't planning on writing a review for this series. The show is older and many valuable and to the point reviews have already been written. I started re-watching the series on the weekend and as usual when it ended I was left wishing for more. Then I checked recommendations on MyAnimeList and was directed to Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai!. I watched it. These two series are really not on the same wave length. Yes, in both the circumstances leave a male relative caring for the child/ren of another, and yes they both do grapple with changed lifestyle and added responsibilities. But really they
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are not alike. Let me put it to you this way. 50Cent lost his mother when he was 8 and I lost mine when I was 10. Now let me ask you this. Do you think I can rap like 50 Cent?
Story:
Synopsis is very accurate. That said, Usagi Drop is one of the loveliest slice of life anime out there. Despite being only 11,5 episodes long, the story surprisingly manages to be deep and serious and yet maintains an uplifting attitude and humor at the same time. So much so that when you are watching the episodes you don't actually fully grasp the seriousness of the topic. The serious part sort of hits you in the gut, when the episode has ended and you are actually basking in the afterglow of the pleasant experience. And then you think back, and realize, the anime did not make light of the topic in question, but simply managed to present it, in an uplifting manner. (e.g. parental abandonment and it's effects, marital discord etc.)
Art:
It is nothing "fancy" like the style that seems to be the "usual" these days. (Please forgive the quotation marks. I just don't know how to describe them, I am not trying to be sarcastic or overbearing.)
What I mean by that is, you won't find eyes sized half the face, ready to water up, or pouty lips that would make Angelina Jolie jealous, or hair that is glossy and shiny as if pearl dust has been spread over it. They look like normal people. And yet, Rin is exploding the cute-meter, Daikichi is adorable when he is slowly moving into his guardian mode and so on. In short, while it is not glossy, it is still very very fine.
Audio:
The seiyuus do an outstanding job. Considering this is a slice of life anime, if one of the characters sounds "out of whack" you are bound to go "eeeek, what the heck was that, that type would never sound like that!". But it never happens. Especially the kids. They never sound like 20-something year-olds that are trying to sound childish, nor do they sound over the top childish. They simply sound like children should sound. I have to admit, I watched the anime for the 6th or 7th time this weekend, but not once did I pay much attention to the opening nor the ending song, or to any other song in between for that matter. So I can't say anything about that.
Characters:
The characters are great. No matter how short their role, they all get handled with TLC and get their depths. As for the main characters Rin and Daikichi, watching their development as persons as well as their interaction with others and with each other is all what this anime is about and it is a joy to follow.
Enjoyment:
I remember the first time I watched this anime. I was expecting something "angst"y to happen any second. But it didn't. This anime tells its story without creating drama for drama's sake. There are moments, you laugh, there are moments, you dither, there are moments you get a little frustrated or agitated. It just simply takes you over the board of emotions without going over the board. It stays real. I really enjoyed this anime fully.
Facit, this is an excellent slice of life anime. If you are undecided, watch it. If the general tags "slice of life, comedy" are in your wheel of preferences, watch it. You won't be disappointed. But if you are looking something like Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai!, this is not your series. Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai! is slightly shoujo, slightly loli, slightly slice of life, slightly romance, slightly something. Not my taste, but not bad. Usagi Drop is not loli, it is not shoujo. It is just not really similar to Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai!. But it is definitely worth trying!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 28, 2013
Maji Love 2000% picks up the story where the first season left off. After making their - successful - debut, they are supposed to pick up the pace and become even more successful. They are to follow a special program while pursuing their careers.
I did read all the reviews before me, the general consensus seems to be that it is as good as if not better than the first season. I do not share that opinion.
In my opinion:
Story: While the story wasn't brilliant - not that I expected it from this anime - the first season, there was indeed more plot. To start
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with "cataract" Minami and her inability of reading sheet music, which was the leeway to her sickly childhood.
There was the individual stories of every single one of the boys, from family member coldness of Jinguuji, to burnout of Hayato/Ichinose. Not only that but more importantly all those single stories got connected somehow to one fluid plot.
The second season does not have fluidity. There are single episodes that deal with the members of Starish but those do not really connect to each other. Then final/highpoint arc is introduced, Heavens vs Starish, and ... no, except for my suspension point there is really no build up in the story towards the end. The competition is announced in episode 11 cataract-girl struggles in episode 12 and bum you have the - obvious and over the top - resolution in 13.
Art: Except for cataract girl I really have no complaints. One could say I actually watched it for the art, as in bishounen. And yes, they are so, so, so, so very beautiful! If I could scoop out the eyes of Minami I would be ecstatic. But all things said and done, the beauty of the boys and the landscape (seriously, the schools in both seasons are like castles and the greenery and the lake, ..., I really wanna be there too!) numbs my brains and I forget about her creepy eyes.
Sound: I liked the music in the first season so much better. In my opinion compared to first season the sound of second season is pathetic. I have heard more entertaining and effective jingles than the songs of the second season. And if that is not enough they are pale imitations of the first season.
Characters: Maji Love 2000% is trying to compensate for the lack of plot via introducing a bunch of new bishounen. While visually considered I have no earthly complaints, I have to say, the season ended and none of those characters really helped the plot in any significant or insignificant way. They were just very pretty to look at. When they were first introduced as the sempais to help Starish members to become more "idol"y I expected for them to do something. Anything. Guide, or help at a crossroads of life or something. At the end, they were there. And they were pretty. Then there were the 3 members of Heavens. The evil act was just so funny that I have no complaints. Albeit, I am guessing it wasn't meant to be funny.
Enjoyment: I did enjoy it. Because let's be honest, if you are going to watch this kind of anime, you do not have or you should not have high expectations regarding the plot. So I took it on the face value and I did enjoy myself watching all the bishounen and making fun of cataract Minami and laughing at the antics of Saotome. I was sorry to see less of Hyuga Sensei and Ringochan and Tomochan but it is understandable with only 13 episodes you cannot thin out the plot more than its already watery self.
Overall: If you are in the mood something light and soul uplifting; with a plot that won't engage your brain in the least, curb your expectation and watch this. It is an anime with a lot of bishounen and beautiful landscape and acceptable sound.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 17, 2013
Story: With a chin that would make Jay Leno blush and a nose that would leave Corporal Klinger wanting, Akagi is a mysterious 13 year old that tumbles into the middle of a yakuza Mahjong game one late night, where a mediocre Mahjong player is trying to absolve himself of his gambling debts. The entrance of the weird kid, (who is running around in the dead of the night wet as a fish fresh out of water) provides a welcome break for the gambler who is almost at the end of his wits. The story unfolds from there.
Akagi, even though he doesn’t know the
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first thing about Mahjong gets involved in the game, learns it at an amazing speed while keeping his wits about himself all the time.
The Anime has 3 arcs. First is introduction of Akagi to Mahjong, and Mahjong gambling “community”, second, reinforcement of Akagi’s “divine” Mahjong abilities, and the final arc (For the anime, the manga is still ongoing) : the biggest “baddest” wolf of Mahjong vs. Akagi.
I don’t know the first thing about Mahjong but that didn’t impact my viewing enjoyment. Obviously if you know Mahjong, you will enjoy it a lot more, but the explanations of the narrator, some “side comments” from support cast etc, relieves the viewer from the burden of having to know Mahjong.
Characters: Because in this anime in more than any other I have seen, characters go hand in hand with the story, I will talk about the characters before the art and the sound:
[Personal Opinion!]Many claim that Akagi has a death wish but in my opinion he is like the [extremely] gifted kid in a “normals” class. Simply bored out his skull with life, he looks for the ultimate thrill. And there is no bigger thrill than playing with death. He takes challenges on, to entertain himself rather than to prove himself. He pushes his opponents so far where they break, and that mostly is heartbreaking to Akagi; not that he cares for them, but because they were not strong enough to push back. So he wants to keep going on until the limits of reason are meaningless words.
Nor do I share the opinion that he is cold. The way I see it, Akagi is reason. Reason doesn’t have any emotions. Akagi understands emotions; he just does not have any use for them. Not only for other people but for himself as well. Once, at the beginning of the third arc, for the first time I have observed Akagi experience and show, something akin to fear. (Please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion, there were no vocal words exchanged!) He hesitates for a moment before answering a question, fully aware of the impact of that answer. But like I said, he ignores even his own emotions. As disturbing as his opponents find this trait of his, it is also one of the reasons of the “divineness” of his Mahjong skill.
I grew up on Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple (Yes, I am that old :D). Wherever she was solving a murder, she used the characters of her home village St. Mary Mead as keys to her solving the murder; the gist of the matter being: Human nature remains what it is, who or where you are. Akagi seemed to have the same view to me. The characters seemed to represent different attributes:
Nangou: “The Common” He is Joe Average, who took a wrong turn at some point and ended up where he is, when his and Akagi’s roads cross faithfully, changing each their paths forever;
Yasuoka: “The Corrupt” cop is the person, you feel uneasy when you meet, even though there is nothing wrong on the surface;
Yagi: “The Pompous” represents the one who is full of hot air and all talk and no real action;
Ichikawa “The Arrogant” is the big fish in the small pond so he thinks too highly of himself, because there was nobody to really oppose him before, and so on and so on.
The characters in this anime may and probably will make you feel uneasy from time to time. But despite that or exactly because of it, you will find yourself getting involved in the story.
Art: The art is peculiar to say the least. But it wasn’t a style that I needed to get used to nor was it unattractive to me. In a way I have no better words for, this style is exactly what this anime/manga needs. It complements the story, the characters and the mood.
Sound: This was the first anime that made me realize the importance of seiyuus in an anime. I guess up until Akagi I was lucky to come across seiyuus who have done an excellent job, so that I took it for granted. However my lack of Mahjong knowledge let me concentrate on the characters trying to read the mood. Almost like a blind person trying to walk through a path by the voices. I can honestly say, they do an excellent job. There wasn’t any music in the sense of music but music that affects the mood, and they were done rather well. The whole anime is reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock. Even the opening song, where the sound of single Mahjong tile falling is more like a gunshot; creates a tension much like the mirror scene in The Prize (1963) with Paul Newman. (Yes I know, I am just too old to watch anime :D)
One last thing to mention would be the ending. It is like any other aspect of this anime. Peculiar. It is very abrupt yet it still gives a sense of closure. Maybe it would be helpful to mention that the manga is still ongoing, and the game between Washizu (final opponent in the anime) and Akagi is still ongoing. So considering the circumstances and looking at the general style of the anime, a smooth ending is even under normal circumstances not to be expected.
Facit: As much as I like Akagi, I think that it is an acquired taste. There is no real humor to speak of; no boobs bigger than my head, nor any action as in Naruto or Bleach; the story, the characters, and the psychological tone of the anime; even the ending might feel unsatisfactory to some while others like me start swooning over it. But if you like the Hitchcockian tension, you know the moment in a Hitchcock movie, you expect something hideous to happen, and the music goes “dun dun dun” and there are eerie silences with pregnant stares between the characters and then you hear the screeching of the door opening. Everybody turns to face what’s coming, expecting the murderer walk in the door… and it is the tabby cat! And when everybody is smiling at the cat with relief the audience sees a knife stabbing through the air…; well if you like this kind of tension you will like Akagi.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 8, 2013
I like watching sports anime. People who know me and have accepted the fact that I am a hardcore couch-potato find this hilarious. But the irony doesn't end there. I am a member of minority who does not possess a driving license nor has the faintest clue about driving.
After my Yawara "Brain-Imploding-Annoyance-Rage" I was rather desperate. There were very few sports animes left I hadn't watched yet. And I was - still am actually, I can't take bludgeoned faces!- digging my heels in not to watch Hajime no Ippo.
Barring any alternatives I gave in to desperation and started watching Initial D though in
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my couch potato opinion Street-Car-Racing is no sport.
The art took some getting used to. Every time I saw one of those "fish-on-land-gasping-for-air" mouths I just wanted to smash my fist into it. But then pretty soon something weird happened. I got sucked into the Takumi-Bunta duo.
The story itself is nothing world-moving; the synopsis tells it perfectly accurate.
Like ParaParaJMo says, this anime's hook for me was and is Takumi. He is not only a reluctant hero, but rather a lethargic hero. He breaths, he talks and he walks and he helps out his father with the tofu shop by driving out the goods but driving, it is a chore, that must be done. His heart is not in it. It is not that he is lazy but he has no passion nor any direction in life. Enter the "woman" and the rock starts rolling.
God knows, I would have been as much interested if not more if this was Bunta's -Takumi's father- story, because Bunta is a character like Hiruma & Co (Eyeshield 21). He does things with a purpose even if the main character doesn't have the dream of a clue why. In that manner, Bunta started his son on driving 5 years ago, when he was barely out of diapers and from what we understand he was a strict master. And the fruits of that are now very visible in Takumi.
I like an anime if I like the characters. I have watched and liked animes, anime-lovers would diss. I watch sports animes; yet I barely know the rules of any of the sports; just because I like the characters. The characters here grew on me too. Well most of them anyway. And in Itsuki's case (Takumi's best friend) it was rather like fungus. The development and growth of the characters drives the story on. Even though it is a repeated plot reel, - there is a challenge, Takumi drives, Takumi wins- weirdly it never gets old and you find yourself engaged time and again.
The music is just awesome. It had me wiggling around on my couch so much so that I had a b.tt-print on it every time I watched it.
I would have enjoyed it to the max if the female folk wasn't in there. And that is my only gripe about this anime. Honestly, I think the Mangaka needed to get laid really bad, or may be I am too outlandish but the female folk of this anime is just horrendous. Here is a summary of the female cast in this anime
Takumi's first love interest: A teenage prostitute. Literally. Also rather "I haven't exposed myself in the last 30 seconds so let me show you my panties" type. Color me stiff but if my girlfriend is ok with showing her panties to my father, I'd be rather "peeved"!
Mako: a challenger, also a love interest to Iketani, one of Takumi's friends/Sempai; here is what she says to Iketani: If you make the race happen between me and Takumi I will sleep with you.
Kyoko, a love interest to Keisuke: 3 Seconds after she sees him, he is her "Darling" and she is a whiny, clingy, .... something.
Oh and the mother is not even mentioned.
The art does get better, And by that I mean, thank God they do lose their utmost annoying fish mouths. And the girls are not always there so my annoyance was kept in check, which is why Initial D gets 9 Enjoyment points and 8 overall.
I recommend trying out Initial D. And extend the 3 episode rule to 4 if you are still undecided because Takumi doesn't officially race before the 4th episode. Initial D is worth at least that much of your time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 28, 2013
I am by no means an anime-connoisseur. I tried to watch Death Note and Berserk because it is so highly recommended but it was too intense for my taste. I am mentioning it here so that it may serve as a measuring stick. That said, now to Hakkenden.
Without revealing too much, Shino Inuzuka who is the focal point of this anime, is an 18 year old stuck in the body of a 13 year old due to demonic sword Murasame. Around Shino are his companions whose connections to each other are still not 100% clear as of the end of the first season.
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This mysterious connection of the characters is the main plot. There in lies the only weakness of this anime in my opinion.
At the end of the 13th episode We still do not exactly know what is going on, who is really the bad guy and what the good guys are supposed to do. And that despite the fact that we are introduced the first bits of plot information within the first few minutes of the first episode. Also, even though the first season has ended, it is for sure that we have been not introduced to all the characters as yet. This all happens not because the plot is ingeniously intricate but rather because it is handled sloppily. Though it did not really bother me, instead of furthering the main plot, unrelated sub plots are pursued, ending the first season not really on a cliffhanger but rather incomplete.
I really enjoyed the art. Very eye pleasing characters all around. Also what I appreciated A LOT was the female characters did not annoy me with the usual weak, help me, support me, I am the damsel demeanor, or the obligatory forced pull-push romance. Hamaji for instance is the main female character. She is strong willed, smart, strong and compassionate. While flirtatious, she is not a character to lose her own being in romance. To my perception she is also not one of those extra dense female characters where the romantic interest all but stick his tongue into her mouth and she still doesn't get the news that he likes her. No, as far as I perceived Hamaji does understand very well Osaki likes her, but she chooses education before romantic mush.
There are slight undertones of Shounen Ai, so if you are allergic to it, beware.
I liked the music. I am not a very musical person so all I can say is in my opinion music was used very well to enhance the general atmosphere and the specific scenic effects of the anime. Also I liked the opening and the ending songs.
I really enjoyed this anime. Apart from the eye pleasing art and ear pleasing music, despite the plot holes, it had the right balance of humor, fantasy, mystery, adventure and angst for me. Like I said at the beginning, I can't take too much of "excitement/fantasy". That is also valid for too mushy romances or nothing but stupid laugh humor. Maybe it means I have no taste or maybe I am too average. Whatever it may be, this anime spoke to my tastes. And the fact a second season was announced pretty much soon also helped. Without a second season it would have annoyed me a lot as many many many things in it are still unsolved/unresolved.
Overall, I recommend it. It is almost like a pop corn movie. You are engaged while you are watching it, because it is interesting and entertaining without ruffling too many feathers but you don't feel the stomach churning excitement waiting for the next episode.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 24, 2013
The genre sport anime usually evolves around a genius of the trade, his/her circumstances, friends, rivals and sometimes love interest, who grows with every new challenge. Although very enjoyable, most of the times expecting any sense of realism would be a little naive. Think of Eyeshield 21, Prince of Tennis, Kuroko no Basket, One Outs or Ookiku Furikabutte; to name a few.
In my opinion, what makes Giant Killing great is the fact that the story, the pace, the characters are very realistic, almost real-life-like.
The plot/story is all about the soccer of the fictional team of East Tokyo United catalyzed by the former player
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and the newly appointed coach of ETU, Takeshi Tatsumi. It includes all aspects of the sport such as the management, the coaching team, the players, the fans even their spouses!
The pace of the story is very well kept, especially considering the plot involves all the above mentioned aspects of the sport. It does keep moving along, involving every part of the soccer world without loosing the focal point which is: the soccer of ETU. That is to say, in a sense all the sub-plots about management, players, fans etc make up the main plot of this anime.
The art is like the rest of this anime. Realistic. What I like about it most is the fact that somehow the characters are drawn in such a way that represents their persona's somehow. Also, I don't know if this is the right place to mention it but the animation of the art is fluid. Like the movement of the ball or cheering of the fans. It makes it easier to get absorbed in the anime. I have to mention the following though. I have a tick about anime noses. In some they are none existent, in others they are simple triangles, in yet others simple holes with shadows represent noses. When I was watching this anime all I could think of was "tuber" :D
The sound is very supportive of the mood. As such it barely stands out but I am certain without it, the anime would be less enjoyable. Other than that I can't say much because I usually do not take note of the music that much. That is why I gave it an 8. I am simply not opinionated enough about it.
The Characters are the backbone of this story. There are several and at some point or other each of them gets to be the main character. The anime does an excellent job of not losing the pace or the main thread while introducing, following and deepening the back-story of each and every character. What I liked most was that I came to like even those, which I disliked and stamped as antagonists at the beginning. The more I learned about the reason of their behaviors, the more of their back-grounds, the dearer they became to me. It is definitely to big part due to the characters I like this anime so much. And as a footnote, I perceived Takeshi to be a very very moderate version of Hiruma Yoichi or Tokuchi Toua. (A very very very moderate version.) That is to say, Takeshi is always a few steps ahead of everybody else in terms of planing.
I really enjoyed this anime. Usually, in sports anime's the main character/team barely loses. In this one, losing is part of game, like real life. The characters are engaging. The anime is fun and funny to watch, one finds themselves cheering for the team, and you are not quite certain if they are going to win or lose, which makes it all the more intense. The matches don't make up 95% of the whole plot so even if you are not a real fan of the sport itself, you still don't get bored, or lose interest.
Overall, I cannot recommend this anime highly enough, to not only sports anime fans but also to those who like character and plot driven animes rather than just genre works. Give it a try. I am confident you won't be disappointed
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Feb 7, 2013
This is not a sports anime really. The story is about a Judo prodigy named Yawara, who doesn't really like the idea of doing Judo. But it is sort of the family trade and she doesn't have the - I am going to go with the word backbone here for the lack of a better description - to put her foot down so she does Judo even though she strongly dislikes the idea. But hey, everybody else seems to love the idea that she does it, so she does it.
Story:
This is the whole plot of this anime. It is said in the description on
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many websites that it is a sports anime but in my opinion it is a shoujo'ish slice of life anime with the touch of sports in it. The plot moves along the same track over and over in an eternal loop, "She dislikes Judo, she is going to stop, something happens, she does it, and she wins." Then the circle starts again. The sport Judo is not the focal point, it is the reason. At the end of 124 episodes you are left with the impression that she doesn't hate the sports that much anymore but that is it. That is all the real satisfaction you get out of the whole plot of a 124 episodes long anime.
Art:
The art reminded me a little of Itazura na Kiss. I am not a giant fan of that style but I don't hate it either. At least they do have "real" bodies and no matchstick limbs with watermelon sized chest area and giant heads with triangular noses. All the characters are distinguishable and no two characters look the same.
Sound:
All I can say is, it didn't bother me. There was nothing outstanding for me, no piece of music I started tapping my foot to or started mumbling the words unconsciously.
Characters:
If I tell you they annoyed the hell out of me to the point where I started assembling assassination plans for imaginary drawn people, it is an understatement.
Inokuma Yawara: Is the main protagonist. She is a whiny, indecisive, weak and a not very smart girl who wants to have a boyfriend and thinks she cant have one unless she doesn't do Judo. She gets older but does not really evolve in my opinion during the whole 124 episodes.
The Grandfather Yawara: A manipulative old Judo "God" whose only objective is to gather certain medals through his grandchild. Said grandchild could be Male, femaie, plankton or alien. He is not really prejudiced. As long as that holy Judo family genes and -name bearing being practices Judo. To meet his objectives he is not above or below anything that could help this purpose. Admittedly he does provide a comedic relief now and then.
The mother and the father: Each a piece of work. Father up and left. We really do not know exactly why, even though there are two theories, both Judo related. Apparently he is a wimp and a wuss and a sore loser. He left, either because a five year old bested him once or he lost a practice match to one of his friends/rivals. ONCE. After that, he left his wife and daughter and vanished. He is like yeti, they hear stories about him but he is always elusive. And the mother is the yeti hunter. Whenever there is a story of the yeti-father the mother runs to check it, and doesn't come back until she knows more. This could be a day, a month a year. Who knows. We don't.
Love interests.: There are two. One is a playboy, the other is a fan-boy. The playboy gets engaged to the rival. And lo and behold, the Miss goodie 2shoes-protogonist doesn't really see anything wrong still going out with an engaged man and hanging on to him. The fan-boy gets at some point a bo..bie-wonder attachment, a co-worker who decided they are in love. The guy doesn't really like her. He says he likes Yawara, but doesn't really tell the annoying co-worker off, they go on dates, but hey, the guy likes the main character. Same goes for the playboy by the way. But at the end of the day they are both very lukewarm in their pursuit of the girl.
Friends are more or less interchangeable. the main rival is annoying and repetitive at best. And there is no real tension in the air, because she is too mediocre and too lukewarm to be a real villian and yet she is too villainous to become a friend. Oddly enough the only characters that evolve in my opinion are the ones from the judo clubs. Both High school and the College one. But the main characters and the first string supporting characters are always the same. Yawara is whiny, Grandpa is manipulative, mother is a doormat, father is, well, I don't have a polite word to describe him. So think your own words. The rival and the lover-boys also are always the same. Really, I could go on this raging negative review for 50 pages and I would still be annoyed. And this is coming form somebody who actually got over middle-aged looking middle school boys with supernatural tennis shots and glowing, flying bodies for over 178 episodes with giant plot holes.
In episode 1 Yawara is in high school. She doesn't have a boyfriend, but she has a few friends. She is real good at Judo and she wants to quit Judo. 124 episodes later: Yawara is in college, she doesn't have a boyfriend, but she has a few friends. She is real good at Judo and she is kinda sorta maybe ok doing Judo. 124 episodes. And that is all that there is.
Altogether, this is NOT a sports anime. This is a shoujo, slice of life, useless personal angst and drama anime, where sports play a role. I am guessing at the time they were trying to create a hype for the upcoming Olympics in Barcelona but apart from a countdown and an honorable mention at the final arc (About 30 days before the Olympics they START training to join the team. Yes you read it right. I said 30 days and start)
That all said, before I got this anime I checked all around and there are more glowing reviews of this anime than not. I am apparently odd ball out here. Still, if you are searching for a sports anime, watch the first couple of episodes before obtaining the entire series. You know, just to be on the safe side.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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