- Last OnlineFeb 1, 7:13 PM
- JoinedSep 20, 2018
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Aug 4, 2020
I am convinced that Ping Pong is one of the greatest works of modern storytelling ever written. It does more in terms of character development in 11 episodes than other series have done in hundreds. The two lead characters are so distinct and interesting, and I could not have expected the level of care that was put into writing these fictional characters.
The first time I watched Ping Pong I flat out didn't understand it. I wasn't able to allow myself to feel enthralled by the story, or the art style. I gave it another shot several years later, feeling a bit more open minded, and
...
I was completely taken aback by the care that went into every aspect of this story. Every character, even the somewhat minor supporting characters, is written so well. I was especially enthralled by the character of Kong Wenge, a character driven by pride, envy, and the overwhelming pressure to support his family, who by the end of the series is completely unrecognizable compare to his debut.
Ping Pong is unique in that it's symbolism is primarily found in imagery rather than words. The "Enter the Hero!" piece that chimes throughout the series is perhaps my favorite imagery, and is nearly impossible for me to put into words. It reflects the complex relationship between Peco and Smile; Smile's lonely image of himself, Peco's confidence, and Peco's role as Smile's inspiration. Without spoiling anything, it charmingly challenged my preconceived notions of their relationship as I began to see the greater picture towards the middle of the series.
All I can say is that this series is fantastic. I'm glad I was born in a time where I could experience it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Jul 26, 2020
10 out of 10 across the board;
If there was any moment of doubt in my heart that JoJolion would be at all inferior to any of the previous parts then, my God, Araki you have proved me a fool once again. JoJolion is perhaps the pinnacle of fictional narratives in just about every respect.
I will admit that the story starts about as obtusely as any JoJo story, but through recent events in the manga it's clear as crystal that every left turn the story takes was masterfully crafted from the genius that is Araki's mind. And that's why we all love JoJo right?
...
It subverts our expectations in new and often uncomfortable ways. Araki asks: "what would the dynamic be in a big, Brady Bunch family of JoJos?" Through the strange, yet very real interactions between the protagonist Josuke and his adoptive family we learn more about his surprisingly complex character. I especially love the dynamics between Josuke and Joshu, and Josuke and Norisuke. Yasuho is a fantastic supporting character as well, and adds a wholesome, "coming-of-age" vibe to Josuke's character progression. There's a subtle scene where Josuke is daydreaming about buying Yasuho steamed buns and is practicing what he is going to say in his head, and this is the kind of thing that makes him relatable. Who hasn't had a moment like that?
The art. Oh god the art. It's beautiful. With inspiration from surrealist artists like Renee Magritte, Araki once again furthers his unique style.
The story is as wild as it gets, taking a lesson from each of the previous parts. The supposed main villain's ability is perhaps the most enigmatic thus seen in the series, and is bound to be a source of further character progression for many of the main cast.
Perhaps taking direction from Part 2's "Pillar Men," Araki has introduced enigmatic "Rock Organisms" as a central plot point in Part 8. For the majority of the story thus far, the reader got small details of the Rock Organisms' nature at random sections in the story. A recent chapter has greatly expounded upon the already known details, and sealed the deal on Part 8 being Araki's greatest work. Without spoilers, the chapter introduced a lot themes related to the Rock Organisms, including their evolution, apparent evolutionary purpose, and most importantly, the concepts of Christian and Buddhist rebirth mixed with Greek mythology (Pygmalion).
Is JoJolion perfect? Yes; in my eyes it is Araki's most prodigious work and is anything BUT messy. Every detail feels incredibly intentional and ominous. Is it for everyone? Probably not, in the same way that works by Edgar Allen Poe aren't for everyone. JoJolion is incredibly thematically rich and rewarding for those who have an open mind and patience.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 26, 2020
The battlecries of those that love this series are, "it gets better" or "the first season is the worst anyway." While that may be true, it would be ludicrous to rate a single season based on anything else other than the content of that season.
I had a tough time finishing this season. It wasn't objectively bad, it just felt... kind of boring. Don't get me wrong, I am plenty interested in the world of Kami no Tou, it just felt that, compared to a series with fantastically paced world building such as One Piece or HunterXHunter, Kami no Tou left too much in the
...
dark just for the sake of it. Mystery is great, and can certainly build that feeling of wanting to watch one more episode just to know what happens, but this first season of Kami no Tou never rewarded that curiosity. It's not an issue of complexity, because the characters themselves aren't particularly complex, at least from what I can tell, it's an issue of not explaining a damn thing. There's just too many questions piled on top of one another, creating a convoluted experience that beginners will truly struggle to enjoy.
That being said, I still overall enjoyed the first season DESPITE the unnecessary complexity. The art style is charming, and the animation is great. The music didn't make a big impression on me, but I like the voice actors. The characters, from what I can tell, aren't going to win the author a Pulitzer Prize, but they're fine.
Overall, a shaky start to series that is seemingly well-renowned.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 24, 2020
I fail to understand why this series is so acclaimed. I went into it with high expectations, but by the end of it I was so bored of the characters and the story. I kept thinking, "when is this supposed to get good" and before I knew it I'd finished the series.
I get it; time travel is a fascinating plot element by itself, and Steins;Gate seems to have pioneered some new ideas, but nevertheless I never once felt like it subverted my expectations. There was no "epiphany moment" for me; it was boring all the way through.
This is controversial, but the characters are
...
so boring, and the main character Okarin is so painfully unlikable with his fake "mad scientist" antics, that I was rarely, if at all, emotionally invested. It just felt like it was hitting all these pre-established tropes to appeal to a certain demographic, not trying to tell a unique story.
Overall I give it a 5/10. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I watched it when I was 13, but watching this at age 26 was a chore.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jun 26, 2020
-Edited September 2023-
First of all, I love One Piece's story possibly more than any other fictional narrative. I have grown up with this series, following it through my teenage years as well as my 20s. For every major plot development in the serialization I can remember where I was in my life. Needless to say this series has had an immensely powerful influence over my personal development, giving me motivation during high points and moments of ambition in my life, and encouraging me during low points in my life to keep fighting. However, these thoughts refer to the core narrative and characters of One
...
Piece, not necessarily the animation by Toei Animation Studios.
In all honesty, I still tend to recommend the first half of the series. The episodes are decently animated (albeit with a certain stiffness that gives them a unique, nostalgic charm), decently paced, and have decent sound design. The core narrative remains true to Eiichiro Oda's original manga work, and quality of the storytelling remains consistent. However, at around episode 500 the quality of the series begins to tank, and it is truly jarring. I simply cannot recommend this anime in its current form to those who are seeking consistency in the quality of an animation, and I daresay most true fans would agree. The pacing has become an irreconcilable issue in both the long-term and short-term storytelling. Chapters of the manga are spread out over several episodes, forcing the production teams to pad every episode with extended scenes of characters running, or thinking to themselves, or simply just standing still in a single, panning frame of animation. Fight scenes and impacts which are sometimes a single frame in the manga are now extended to seem like a "tug of war" in power, which kills tension. The animation quality varies wildly, with some scenes being enduring examples of incredible artistic direction by notable animators (search "One Piece sakugo on YouTube), and other scenes looking like the animators drew them in their sleep. Finally, the sound design is completely stagnant. They have used the same sounds for footsteps and gunshots for the past 23 years - literally from episode 1. There's one sound effect in particular that plays when a character has a vein popping out on their head that literally just sounds like mustard squirting from a bottle. Even the current arc which was marketed as being a "redesign" of the anime art style still suffers from the atrocious pacing and stagnant sound design that plagued the last 300 episodes. On top of this, the current arc (as of 2023) has used 3D animation for the villain in what I can only assume is a way to cheat having to animate a character with a non-human form. All I can I do is shake my head.
I love One Piece so much, but the anime deserves better than what Toei Animation Studios have turned it into.
The Netflix live action is pretty sick tho.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
