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9/10
+Beautiful, heart-wrenching story with excellent character work
+Highest production values ever seen in an anime: gorgeous animation, sound, and themes
-Lack of action beats may not suit everyone’s taste
-Main protagonist represents change needed in other side characters; doesn’t stand well on her own
English Dub: A

Sousou no Frieren is truly a work of art. The production values are simply incredible, with gorgeous animation, music, and character work by studio Madhouse. But what truly makes this series worthy the watch is our titular protagonist, Frieren.

At first glance Frieren’s story seems uninteresting. There are lots of monologues and flashbacks with little exposition or action beats. Frieren herself has no ... dreams, goals, or desires. Most of the show’s runtime we see her wandering the world without a purpose. She is so old, wise, and powerful that there’s practically no conflict for her. Why, then, is this tale so captivating?

As Freiren’s life flashes before us, we see her struggling with big emotions such as grief, finding love, and understanding her place in the world. This story is so timeless because we have all been Frieren at some point in our lives. It not about the destination, rather; it’s the journey as we are able to live and experience our struggles through her. It’s somewhat disappointing that Frieren isn’t a compelling character and acts as a vehicle for change for others. Despite this, one cannot deny the impact that Frieren leaves on us, which is reinforced further by the rich supporting cast.

This lovely piece is truly one of a kind and some of the best anime has to offer. Sousou no Frieren is an incredible experience you do not want to miss.

7/10
+Unique spin on the vanilla “will they won’t they” story
+Solid plot twists that keep viewer engaged
-Shallow character interactions can be a turn off for some
-Certain plot threads are tied up prematurely
-Faster pace is not utilized well and wastes time on fluff
English Dub: B

Season 2 continues Masamune and Aki’s story towards a hurried conclusion. The faster pacing helps the narrative from being drawn out too much but there are several missing character beats and plot points tied up off screen. Masamune-kun no Revenge could have been a sweet buddy love story but without well defined themes and character beats it’s hard to see ... why we should root for them in the first place. That said, their chemistry is so likeable that you may be willing to excuse its shortcomings. The ending provides a satisfying conclusion and more or less delivers on its promise of premise.

Enjoy the fluff and don’t take it too seriously.

7/10
+Unique spin on the vanilla “will they won’t they” story
+Solid plot twists that keep viewer engaged
-Shallow character interactions can be a turn off for some
-Certain plot threads are tied up prematurely
-Supporting cast distracts from main couple in a negative way
English Dub: B

Have you ever suffered a broken heart that drove you down the wrong path? Masamune-kun’s Revenge on the surface seems shallow, but underneath there are some decent character beats.

One can’t deny the aggravation in watching high schooler Masamune Makabe attempt get revenge on his childhood sweetheart, whose shallow, egotistical, and idiotic behaviors drive a wedge in all his relationships, ... but the story’s hook comes from watching these charismatic fools and the hope that they will change for the better. To its credit the narrative has some juicy plot twists the keep the viewer guessing and it’s effective at teasing the “will they won’t they” in a cliched, if not enjoyable, way; but its shortcomings are also equally glaring, with immature character interactions and plot points conveniently tied up off screen.

While nothing extraordinary, Masamune-kun delivers its promise at being a vain, bittersweet romance. It’s sure to satisfy the hopeless romantics in us all.

8/10
+Likeable male lead that continues to grow positively from S1
+More organic conflict between central relationship
+Great animation, score and musical themes
-Female lead continues to be too perfect
-Certain themes remain unexplored due to lack of conclusion
English Dub: A

Ah! My Goddess! Flights of Fancy picks up the pace from the first season with the endearing cast we know and love. Keichi Morisato continues to shine as the MC and this season significantly improves the character interactions between himself and Belldandy. Instead of magic causing the conflict, the couple is forced to examine their internal struggles which is resolved more organically. S2 also has more ... action which helps with the pacing and the tighter story arcs don’t drag. Issues from S1 are still present, however, such as Belldandy being too perfect and a lack of direction with her character arc. Thankfully that is not enough to distract from the overall experience. The only major disservice is the studio not adapting the manga’s full story.

Despite the studio missing the mark on a full anime adaptation, Ah! My Goddess continues to shine in the sea of classics. Those who loved season one will enjoy Flights of Fancy even more.

7/10
+Fun world-building, character designs, and OST
+Ensemble cast has great chemistry
-Takes bold risk by exploring adult themes, resulting in choppy narrative
-Uncomfortable romantic undertones between members of the same family
-Poorly written female lead that’s presented as token girl
English Dub: B

What happens when you die? .hack//legend of Twilight attempts to tackle this theme when a bunch of rouge children playing a popular video game experiment with the human consciousness.

Based on its predecessor in the .hack franchise, there’s a lot to like about Twilight. It features a solid premise, adorable characters, a killer soundtrack, and an entertaining “World”. Unfortunately, the show is ... equally littered with problems. A major issue presented is the romantic subtext between twin siblings Shugo and Rena. The show uncomfortably focuses on over-sexualizing its female lead, a preteen no less, with awkward camera angles and cringeworthy fan service. From a broader story perspective, there is not enough time spent on exploring the cast beyond the game world, preventing any sort of deeper character arcs. The resulting story beats lack substance and the viewer is left with more questions than answers. At times it’s too ambitious and other times it’s not bold enough.

Your mileage of .hack will vary. If you like a fluffy, no-nonsense adventure, you’re bound to have a good time.

8/10
+Fun female lead that keeps the viewer engaged
+Teaches positive messages that are true to everyday life
+High production values: polished animation, sound, and camera work
-Slow plot progression
-Simple character work that doesn’t fit all tastes
English dub: A

My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 is like drinking a carbonated drink on a hot, sunny day. Its premise and characters are so sugary sweet and refreshing that it will leave the viewer with bubbly feelings.

What’s nice about the presentation is that it’s a straightforward story about exploring new relationships. With very little plot progression during its runtime, however, Yamada-kun may too slow for some. Yet it is ... that simplicity that effectively captures the show’s charm. Our heroine Akane steals the spotlight with her cheerfulness, positivity, and eccentric demeanor, along with a colorful supporting cast. Studio Madhouse offers crisp animation and the opening and ending themes are a bop. Yamada-kun sends the positive message that finding courage isn’t always about facing demons or winning wars, it can be simple as learning to accept yourself in everyday life.

Give it chance and it’s guaranteed you’ll leave with a big smile on your face.

8/10
+Heartwarming, mature romance that resonates with adult viewers
+Solid Animation, score and musical themes
+Likeable male lead deserving of positive change
-Underdeveloped female lead that is too perfect
-Some supernatural elements lose credibility with the viewer
English Dub: A

What if your wish actually came true? Poor, hapless college student Keichi Morisato can’t seem to catch a break, until he’s suddenly bestowed with a wish-granting goddess. While the premise itself is completely unrealistic, this empowerment story based off the 1988 manga offers a fun setting, a diverse cast, and one of the most heartwarming, mature romance seen in anime.

Unlike many heroes presented in this genre, Keichi’s personality embodies the positive ... change in us all. Despite his shortcomings, he’s hardworking, he’s not a coward, and he’s kind. His actions in the series prove he is the hero deserving of the goddess Belldandy’s divine intervention. That said, the show does a poor job of following its established magical rules, and Belldandy herself is far too perfect. Most episodes use supernatural elements to create conflict instead of organically progressing the couple’s relationship. Technically, classical artist Yoko Ishida delivers a soft, breezy ballad for the show’s opening/ending themes, and the character designs remain iconic to this day.

Despite its issues, Ah! My Goddess! is so likable that the viewer will easily forgive its overall presentation. Don’t miss this feel-good classic.

8/10
+Unique protagonist the viewer will have fun rooting for
+Setting is a hilarious satire of itself
+Colorful cast, if not cookie-cutter
-Borrows too many themes from other series
-Average animation and sound
English dub: A

Harry Potter meets One Punch man in this feel-good comedy!

The setting is one we’ve seen before: a misunderstood hero must rise up and become the greatest magician of all time. The only catch is he can’t use magic; his muscles are his magic! The concept is hilarious and what makes Mashle fun is its titular protagonist, Mash. At the same time the story borrows too many familiar elements from popular fiction ... resulting in too many cliches mashed together (pun intended). Mash’s classmates also suffer severely from stock personality syndrome. Technically the animation is choppy and the OST is forgettable which is par the course with the genre.

If you’re looking for a turn your brain off classic shonen romp with a bit of a twist, Mashle’s a good time.

8/10
+Funny, likeable couple with great chemistry
+Plot is simple and doesn’t take itself too seriously
+Great story beats with satisfying conclusion
-Certain side characters felt shoehorned in
-Animation and sound are nothing exceptional
English dub: B

The childhood friend trope has become commonplace in anime—but what if you thought your childhood friend was the opposite gender than you? Adapted from a 4-koma style manga, Tomo-Chan is a Girl is a fun lighthearted comedy about a young couple who have friendzoned each other romantically because of perceived gender. The series allows itself to have plenty of fun with this by poking holes at defined gender roles. Compared to ... its source material the anime has done a great job fleshing out the original story from manga. The relationships are so endearing that you can’t help but root for them. Animation and sound are about average from what you would expect from today’s standards for this type of show, but for what Tomo-Chan sets out to do, you’re in for a great time.

Relax, kick up your feet and enjoy this heartwarming rom-com.

7/10
-Unclear theme and muddled plotting
-Sloppy, dues-ex-machina world building
+Relatable heroine with interesting backstory
+Fun, colorful cast of characters
English Dub: A

Upon first glance, Lonely Castle and the Mirror sets itself up as a fantastical adventure—seven lonely children get whisked away to a magical castle where their wishes can be granted. The initial concept is promising as it opens the door to discuss themes of escapism vs reality, finding courage to face adversity, self sacrifice, etc. Our heroine Kokoro is sympathetic and easy to relate to, the colors in the film are whimsical, and there’s a fun mystery, all a recipe for success.

So what went ... wrong? Unfortunately the movie’s plotting and story beats are not well defined. With three fourths of the movie surrounded by a large cast the pacing is uneven, leading to a rushed and weak climax. The resulting conclusion prevents Kokoro from growing as a character and learning her theme, which wasn’t clearly defined to begin with. Is her lesson learning courage to face reality? Is it be careful what you wish for? You will be left scratching your head. Animation and sound is about on-par with a TV-episode, nothing extraordinary, but nothing bad, which is questionable as this is supposed to be a feature film.

Lonely Castle has a lot of great concepts which unfortunately were poorly executed. What could have been a compelling coming of age film ends up being a muddled joyride.