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Jan 14, 2024
Shirokuma Cafe is an excellent slice of life anime. It is perhaps one of the most wholesome shows in existence, and is a must-watch for any slice of life fans, animal lovers, and people who want to relax and get away from worldly concerns. It is also essentially family-friendly, and is free of violence or inappropriate content. Finally, it is a good anime for people trying to learn Japanese, since the voice acting is clear and easy to understand.
Visuals: 8.5/10
Visuals are pretty good. Like some other slice of life shows, the art style is on the simpler side, but it fits the wholesome tone
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of the show very well. Animals and humans are drawn accurately, but not so realistically as to be off-putting. The art style contributes to the personality of each character -- Panda looks cute, Sloth looks lazy, Polar Bear looks playful, Penguin looks a bit more serious, and so on. Backgrounds are nothing special, but there are some moments of visual beauty that occasionally stand out.
Music: 7.5/10
The music is pleasant and fits the show well, but doesn't really do anything to stand out enough to be an 8-10. OPs are consistently strong, although a bit cheesy, while EDs range from strong ("Llama Mambo") to weak. While there are some great and memorable BGMs, they are not so amazing that I would go out of my way to listen to them.
Voice Acting: 10/10
Shirokuma Cafe has some of the best voice acting I have seen. The cast is filled with talented voice actors, and while this show might not be as well known, many of these VAs are famous for their parts on other shows. Each VA fits their character very well and consistently delivers high quality, energetic, and entertaining performances throughout the show's 50-episode long season. Dialogue is energetic and entertaining without being ridiculous or over-the-top like some shonens, which makes the show good for language-learning.
Story/Worldbuilding: 6.5/10
Each episode is usually split into two independent halves, although some stories are longer than a half-episode. Since the show is slice of life, there is no overarching plotline, so slice of life haters should not watch lest they become bored! There are some recurring gags and themes, but the main focus is on the daily experiences of the cast. The worldbuilding is decent, but the setting and lore is not really the focus of the show.
Writing/Characters: 9/10
The episodes and characters are quite well-written. While some episodes are better than others, most episodes are consistently strong in this department. The writers do a good job of creating entertaining, humorous, and heartwarming stories that engage the viewer without making him anxious. Most plot conflicts are the mundane problems of daily life -- work, relationships, family, and friends -- and yet the viewer still becomes invested in these silly characters as he gets to know them and their personalities and routines. Each character is unique and likable in his own way, and I found myself growing to appreciate their different quirks, such as Polar Bear's puns, Mandrill's disregard for personal space, Panda's laziness, and the like.
Creativity: 6.5/10
The characters are pretty creatively written. However, the plots are a mixed bag, with some decently creative stories and a few less inspired tales. Entertainment and emotional experience is prioritized over plot developments and intrigue, so viewers who are seeking the latter should look elsewhere.
Entertainment: 10/10
Every single episode was consistently relaxing, heartwarming, and engaging, providing a fulfilling emotional experience. We follow the relatable ups and downs of daily life with cute, funny, wholesome animal characters (as well as a few humans), growing more attached to them with each episode. There is also enough variety to keep the show interesting, with different episodes focusing on different settings, activities, events, and characters. While the show sometimes takes a more serious tone, everything works out in the end for the animals of Shirokuma Cafe.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Aug 2, 2023
Azumanga Daioh is an excellent slice-of-life comedy anime, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who likes slice of life, comedy, and adjacent genres. If you like shows like Lucky Star and Nichijou, then this is a must watch. However, slice of life haters may find it boring and unfunny.
Visuals: 7/10
The visuals are a mixed bag. While distinctive, they are also simplistic. The simple art style and animation honestly fits the series pretty well, but they are unremarkable compared to 9/10 or 10/10 visuals found in other shows. There are also some funny moments enhanced by the animation and art style.
Music: 7/10
The
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opening is top-tier, the ending is unremarkable, and the background music sets the right tone but does not stand out. The music certainly wasn't bad, but compared to a similar show like Lucky Star, whose BGMs and OP are iconic, Azumanga's music is good but not great.
Voice Acting: 9/10
Every second of voice acting is expressive, talented, and fits the scene and characters perfectly. While not everyone will agree, I think that the voice acting is one of the strong points of the show. (I watched the JP audio with EN subs, so I can't speak to the English dub.)
Story/Worldbuilding: 6/10
Like any other slice of life anime, the story is not the main focus of the show. There is no real ongoing plot. However, there are interesting details sprinkled throughout the show, even though the story does not develop over time. These details are more gags or trivia than actual worldbuilding, but they still contribute to the overall viewing experience in a positive way.
Writing/Characters: 9/10
The characters and comedy skits/funny moments are definitely the best part of the show for me, as I ended up watching it because of various clips and memes online. The comedy writing can definitely seem strange or stupid to some, but it aligned well with my sense of humor. I would especially recommend this show for people who like surrealist humor and memes. The characters are also distinctive and you get to know them well over the course of 26 episodes. However, some may get tired of repetitive humor or "stock/generic characters." This is a fair criticism, but it is also important to note that Azumanga Daioh inspired several subsequent shows that reinforced these very character tropes, so the show should be judged in context. Also, here are the Top 5 Azus ranked: Osaka, Chiyo, Sakaki, Yukari, Chiyo-Dad. If you disagree, you are wrong.
Creativity: 8.5/10
The writing and direction of the comedy sketches is generally pretty creative, with surreal humor and several iconic moments that are still being talked about over 20 years later. However, the plot/humor can feel repetitive at times, so keep this in mind going in to the show.
Entertainment: 10/10
While it's not for everyone, I found Azumanga Daioh to be highly entertaining, funny, and original. It really manages to get you absorbed into its world, with all of its eccentricities like a flying lemon-shaped cat, a 12-year old high schooler with detachable pigtails, a post-lobotomy, living :D emoji who has inspired a whole series of memes, a girl who loves cats and yet always gets bitten by them, and an open-mouthed high school teacher with questionable interests, just to name a few. Goodbye Everynyan and thanks for reading my review!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Apr 8, 2023
Overall, this movie was very entertaining and there wasn't really anything I disliked about it. However, there is nothing so amazing or remarkable about it that I would give it a 9 or 10. Ultimately, I think that the movie is good on its own but the high standards set by Made in Abyss Season 1 prevent me from giving it a higher rating. If you liked Season 1, this is a must-watch, and if you haven't seen Season 1 but you like adventure anime or want to watch something different and creative, you should watch Season 1 and then watch this movie.
Visuals: 9/10
The visuals
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are definitely a strong point of this movie. The animation is beautiful and really helps immerse you into the world of the Abyss.
Music: 7.5/10
The music is good and fits the movie well, but doesn't really stand out. The ending is really good though, and it fits the movie well.
Voice Acting: 8.5/10
The voice acting is pretty good. The actors generally succeed in portraying their roles convincingly and conveying their characters' emotions without getting too cheesy or over-the-top, although there are a couple moments where their delivery is cheesy (in my opinion).
Story/Worldbuilding: 7.5/10
I am somewhat conflicted about this aspect of the movie. I thought the story was reasonably good, but it felt a little confusing or overcomplicated at times. I don't like it when characters overexplain their world in a really forced way, so I'm glad they didn't do that in this movie, but I think that there are still natural ways to make the story a little less confusing. The worldbuilding is decent. Some reviewers have criticized the worldbuilding in this movie, but I think it is important to consider that this is a 1 hour 45 minute movie so it will naturally have less worldbuilding than a 13-episode anime season. Overall, I think I would have rated the story/worldbuilding higher if the first season of Made in Abyss didn't set such a high standard for it.
Writing/Characters: 7/10
The writing and characters were not bad, but they are also less remarkable when compared to the excellent writing and characters of the first season. Character development is not a strong point of this movie, despite there being a lot of potential, and the new character that was introduced, while likeable, is not as interesting as comparable newly-introduced characters in season one. The writing is also good but not remarkable -- the writers generally do a good job of evoking the viewers' emotions, but there are a couple scenes that feel like they should be more impactful somehow. Overall, the character development and writing is not bad, but is unremarkable compared to season one (with the exception of Bondrewd, who is very well written).
Creativity: 8.5/10
Many aspects of this movie are fairly creative when compared to the average fantasy/adventure anime. However, this creativity is a feature of the Made in Abyss series as a whole rather than the movie by itself. The movie does a good job of continuing and expanding the story of Season 1 and setting us up for Season 2.
Entertainment: 9/10
While there are a couple slow moments, the movie is extremely entertaining throughout. You will laugh, you will cry, you will smile, and you will be completely immersed in the world of the Abyss for the movie's 1h45min runtime. If you enjoyed Made in Abyss Season 1, you should definitely watch this movie.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 5, 2022
Whether or not you should watch Lain depends on what you want to get out of it. If you want the satisfaction of a traditional, concrete story with a clear message or goal, then you will not enjoy this anime. However, if you like to see interesting symbolism and ideas portrayed in the anime medium, then this is the show for you.
Many of those who leave negative reviews have valid points about how the show brings up philosophical ideas without fully exploring or analyzing them, or without providing meaningful commentary on their validity and relevance. They also mention the difficult-to-follow storytelling, and say the
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show is unnecessarily confusing (which is fair). However, I think that these reviewers are underestimating the entertainment one can still get from the powerful symbolism, atmosphere, and exploration of ideas that takes place in Serial Experiments Lain.
Lain does not have any intelligible "point" or "message." Rather, it follows Lain's experiences in her world as she learns more about the nature of herself and her surroundings. Serial Experiments Lain is a viewing experience, not a philosophical thesis or thought-provoking narrative. Its strength is in its symbolism and atmosphere rather than its plot or message. As its critics have stated, Lain's exploration of philosophical ideas is quite shallow in comparison to actual philosophical works; while many interesting ideas are introduced (relationship between man and technology, the collective unconscious, identity, perception and reality), they are more shown to us as Lain encounters them than analyzed and explored as they would be in a philosophical work. Viewers who expect this type of analysis or like their shows to have a clear message will be disappointed. Similarly, viewers who expect to be guided through a straightforward, linear story should watch another anime instead.
Only those who enjoy a unique viewing experience in and of itself, are interested in experiencing potent symbolism through abstract and intriguing animation, and enjoy the artistic value of the anime medium will find Serial Experiments Lain worthwhile. Lain is also a good show for those who enjoy applying their own interpretations to open-ended stories that are driven more by symbolism than by plot (the later episodes of Evangelion being another good example of this type of anime).
Here are my thoughts on the different parts of the show:
Animation: 9/10. Some have described it is dated or too abstract, which is a reasonable viewpoint, but many viewers still enjoy the retro art style and there are a lot of great visual effects.
Sound and voice acting: 8/10. Strong sound and voice acting but nothing special enough to make it a 9 or 10. The voice acting is definitely less emotive than some other anime which might be off-putting for some. OP and ED are great, and there are also some cool insert songs. Sound effects contribute a lot to the atmosphere, although the electrical buzz is overused.
Story: 6.5/10. As mentioned before, the story is vague/open ended and is not a strong point of the anime. While there are many interesting moments, the overarching narrative is overcomplicated at times and is much less coherent than a typical story. Still, it is interesting to follow Lain's experiences as she explores herself and the world around her.
Atmosphere: 9.5/10. Lain's atmosphere is definitely its strongest point. It does a good job of showcasing interesting themes and ideas even though it does not fully explore them, and it effectively combines anime and sound design to create a unique atmosphere that is stark, lonely, and intense, with the tension mounting as Lain tries to outsmart the Knights and Masami Eiri and understand who she is and why she exists. The atmosphere is what creates the viewing experience mentioned earlier in the review. In this way, watching Serial Experiments Lain is more like observing a vibrant, abstract painting or sculpture than reading a focused, linear novel or play.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 28, 2021
Story: 6, Art: 10, Sound: 8, Character: 6, Enjoyment: 10, Overall: 8.
This movie is an excellent piece of entertainment. It is fun to watch, and looks great. The visuals are immersive, realistic, and skillfully produced. Same goes for the sound effects, voice acting (I saw the subbed version), and soundtrack.
The storyline of an anime is always controversial, and the ending of an anime is even more divisive. Personally, I did not feel that this was a satisfying conclusion to the Evangelion story. The ending left many questions unanswered, there are several plot points that don't really make sense, and parts of the story
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felt contrived or uninspired. The character development wasn't a high point of this film, either, especially when compared to the original Evangelion anime series. It was cheesy, cliched, or even cringeworthy at times. At least the world-building was pretty good.
The cinematography was well-executed. Watching this film was an exciting experience. While there were a couple choices that confused me at first, they made sense in the broader context of the film.
My general impression of this film is that from the perspective of the story, the film really didn't need to be this long. It could have told the same story just as well in 2 hours or even an an hour and 45 minutes. However, in terms of entertainment, this film was fun to watch 95% of the time.
For a fun, exciting film, I give Thrice Upon a Time an 8/10. However, for a conclusion of the Evangelion story, I give it a 6/10 at best.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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