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We've all heard it before: the sequel is worse than the original. Well, I'm glad to say this isn't the case for Mob Psycho 100 II.

Wow. This anime made me think, laugh, and cry. I do have one issue with it, but wow. I can't stop thinking about Mob saying, "I am the protagonist of my own life." I can't stop thinking about Reigen's struggles -- ones that are so real and relateable and heartfelt. I can't stop thinking about how much this season developed on what was already built in the first one. They fit together like puzzle pieces.

Story: 9 for Great.

We're not ... supposed to comment on other people's reviews, but I have to. Someone commented that the lightheartedness in this series is lacking. I disagree, but I do understand where that perspective originates from. This season is definitely less lighthearted than the last, but there are still moments of comic relief: Ekubo, Reigen, the press conference arc, etc.

However, the arcs in this season can get so dark. I actually think this is a good thing. Mob is not the same kid from the last season. His mentality has changed. He fears losing the support system he's built and so do the other characters. This is a difficult fear to face and one that we face everyday. Of course, nothing about this fear is lighthearted.

It makes sense that things get dark, that things change. Mob is older and he's seen so much. So have the other characters. I like the story WAY more in this season because it feels more purposeful. I understand the appeal of a slice of life anime. But I do think that we get tastes of life in this season: the marathon, Tsubomi, Reigen's life, the Body Improvement Club, etc. This all culminates into the end of the series and ties together perfectly. Mob gets his strength from his successes and failures, all which were detailed through the story in this season.

I've criticized the story in both MP100 and OPM for being too lackadaisical. Last season, it seemed like there were a few introductory episodes before the Claw arc. This season, the arcs follow each other and build off each other.

The only thing I will say is that I feel like the story ties up together too perfectly in the end. The characters faced injuries that I feel would kill them or severely damage them. Even citizens should be crushed by the fallout but there is no detail of actual death in this series and it doesn't make much sense to me. I understand Mob is a middle schooler and so death would SEVERELY damage him. But I don't like how this series evades permanent damage.

Art: 8 for Very Good.

I feel like I enjoyed the art more in this series than in the last. The same techniques are utilized and the art style is consistent. With a few exceptions, I really loved how the anime looked. I just think this series was more vivid, especially with the battles. The last two episodes are beautiful. You can see the effort that the artists put into the series, at designing and arranging characters in beautiful and unique ways. I love it.

I didn't like the art in the opening sequence too much because I felt like things were a little too scattered and didn't build off each other, unlike the opening sequence in the first season.

Sound: 9 for Great.

The soundtrack in this series fit perfectly with what was transpiring on screen. I love the song in the opening sequence as well.

Character: 8 for Very Good.

THIS is how you do character development. EVERY character developed. Major development from Mob, Reigen, Shou, and Serizawa. The character development from Ritsu, Ekubo, and Teru didn't fade into the background either. They changed last season and it was evident in this one, which I enjoyed.

I didn't like the way Reigen was written at certain points during this series, though, especially during the press conference arc. He cares a lot for Mob but it wasn't too evident then. Even though I know why, I didn't expect it so much at that moment. Reigen is definitely not a flawless character but I still disagree with the way he was presented there.

Enjoyment: 8 for Very Good.

This series fits perfectly with the last one. It takes weaknesses -- like the story -- and makes them into strengths. It's great for fans and newcomers alike. It's funny, thoughtful, and consuming. There is so much intention in this, so much work, and the funny part about this is that some people don't watch MP100 for the art style. I HATE to sound like a hipster here, but the art isn't something that can be grasped from one promotional picture. There's so many great things about this series and it sucks that people are missing out on it.

Overall: 8 for Very Good.

I love Reigen Arataka.

I came into this hoping I wouldn't be trash for it, but I was trash for it, of course.

The movie is split into four parts. Each story details the events after Free! Eternal Summer. The stories mainly center on apartment hunting, a visit to the hot springs, filming a swim club recruitment video, and a surprise party.

The stories themselves are the biggest hang-up I have with the movie. They weren't too interesting in their premises. I mean ... an episode about apartment hunting. Really. How interesting can that get.

But I did like it more than Free! Starting Days. That was a reconstitution of Free!, while ... this at least added new elements to the table. Even though it was obvious that this movie was just a lead-in to Dive to the Future, it taught us more about the characters Free! fans we know and love.

(The Samezuka team was especially showcased in this movie. I love them more than ISC, so I was happy about that.)

However, characters from Free! Starting Days were constantly referenced throughout TYM, which was something that I hated. This broke up the flow of the story and forced you to rethink who was who.

Overall, I did enjoy Free!: Take Your Marks. It's a great addition for Free! fans. I am so excited for the third season of this show.

You have to be fond of the series to enjoy this. That's pretty much it. It's a retelling of the first season through Reigen's very altered point of view, so if you like Reigen and can get past the fact that he manipulates kids (as I can) then you'll enjoy the special. Because this is very much about Reigen and how he attempts to manipulate people. It's also a recap, so if you don't want to go through a reconstitution of season one, don't bother.

I enjoyed this. I love Reigen; he's my favourite character in the series. I also needed a recap on this (I ... don't have the best memory) so I was fine with it. Again, it's really about personal taste. If you don't like Mob Psycho very much, you're not gonna like this. 'Cause the art, sound, character, story, etc. are on the same level as the series, obviously.

I'm thrilled about the second season of Mob Psycho 100, and I can't wait to see what's in store.

I'm writing this in 2017. Death Note is Tumblr's #18 Anime/Manga. This series aired in 2006 and 2007, so it's ten years old and still popular. Its timelessness is again proven by its spot as MAL's #1 anime series.

I'm on the side of many others -- for me, the first third of the series is what shone. L and Light's cat-and-mouse battle was interesting, but when Light starts working with the team, it gets a bit monotonous. When Near comes into the picture, it's over for me. I understood things until we got to specific rules and aspects like transferring ownership of the Death Note. ... Nonetheless, this anime is great and I definitely recommend it, especially to people who want to get into the medium.

Story: 7 for Good

The concept of the Death Note is creative. Light's handling of it really makes you think, and it's even the subject of debate for some. This anime isn't merely something you watch, despite how consuming it is. It's something that you think about, peruse over.

All areas of the story were covered: Kira, the team to defeat it, the team to defeat that team. Police and Kira's worshipers and Kira's opponents. Questions are answered and stakes are constantly raised in the interest of keeping the audience attentive.

When Near and his taskforce enters the picture, I definitely lose it. There are things I don't understand and questions that I continue to have even after finishing the series. Again, Light and L's battle of wits was what drew me in. But that doesn't meant that there isn't merit in finishing the series. There were still moments that shocked me, scarred me, and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Art: 7 for Good

This isn't necessarily the prettiest anime to watch. Nothing about the art was spectacular to me, but considering that it was created ten years ago, there's some leeway in that respect. All this, however, matters little when considering Death Note's content. The color palette is dark and muddled, which makes perfect sense considering the tone of the series. Some images appear scattered and hazy, which is also understandable.

There are two artistic details I remember: light changing (no pun intended) when Light and L pass under trees, and clouds of breath streaming from the mouths of a crowd. These are small but were well done and are just examples of how these details helped depict the setting.

Sound: 7 for Good

There isn't much to say here; I don't know much about sound. I will say that I appreciated the opera-ish themes for the characters. But the more that certain compositions played, the less they retained any effect. I did not like the opening and closing themes of the later episodes, but that's more subjective than objective.

Character: 8 for Very Good

Light and L were my favorite characters in the series. Misa simply loves Kira/Light. The taskforces are in pursuit of justice. Mello is in pursuit of victory.

Personally, I believe that Near is a pale imitation of L (no pun intended.) Even though he accomplished "more," he would not have been able to achieve this without the work of L, who knew Light was Kira and made obvious to all.

What I liked about Light and L was that they were full-force into their characters. Nothing about them trickled into any other personality. Until Light's last episode, Light believes that Kira is the way of justice. That Kira is necessary for the progression of a new, better society. A new world. Until L's last episode, he believes that justice will prevail, that Light is Kira, and he continues to ensure that Kira is caught.

But these characters are not the epitome of good and evil, even though Mikami (I had to look up his name) says those are the only two forces in the world. L is willing to sacrifice human lives for others. Light kills criminals, but innocent people die as well. They are not virtuous; they are flawed. Yet they are unapologetically themselves.

Their battle is enthralling. They are geniuses and it shows, and they will be ten steps ahead of you, and they will think that they are ten steps ahead of each other, even if they are not. It makes for some good viewing, it makes for some cringing, it even makes for some laughs.

Enjoyment and Overall: 8 for Very Good

For the most part, I enjoyed this series. It excels in terms of plot, characterization, and even humour. I understand why Death Note is loved and why it continues to be revered as a masterpiece of suspense, even ten years after its initial airing.

I doubt that I could say anything about Akira that hasn't been said already. It's THE legendary anime movie, the one that all my friends/even random strangers said they'd heard of or they knew was excellent.

I respect what the creators were trying to do. I respect Akira's art and how great it was at that time. I respect the effects Akira made on the anime genre and its introduction into mainstream cinemas, etc.

But I didn't like Akira. I'm not saying that it shouldn't be liked (thanks for the messages, by the way, all so lovely.) I just didn't like it, personally. I'm entitled to that. ... Not everyone has to like the things you like. I don't like green beans. I don't have to like them because someone else does. The end.

Story: 5 for Mediocre

There was too much going on, to a point where I did not care about it. From my understanding, thousands of pages of manga were condensed into this two hour configuration. Well, it shows, that's for sure. Yes, there's points, but the story wasn't suspenseful enough to get me into discovering what they were.

Art and Sound: 7 for Good

I respect the art and sound. The art is nice and it flows together well. Can carry its weight now, but isn't exactly timeless. The colours were too muted for it to look like something other than straight out of the '80s or '90s. But I'll give credit where it's due.

Character: 5 for Mediocre

Going back to the story -- there were too many things going on for me to care about the characters. None stood out.

Enjoyment: 3 for Poor

I didn't enjoy it. (Again, YOU can enjoy it! I just didn't.)

Overall: 6 for Fair

My personal opinion: Akira is overrated. Nostalgia is a helluva drug, and I think a lot of people are swallowing it down in spades.

And I think even more anime-watchers are trying at seeing something. I hate that this movie was portrayed as something I should like, because I enjoy watching anime. But it just wasn't for me. Was it the "cyberpunk" theme? Was it the weird green girl that was the final straw? Who knows. Take my words with a grain of adobo, too. No hate, all love. If you like Akira, that's cool. If I liked it, I would've given it a 7.

"It takes a special person to create a dictionary."

Well, it takes an even more special person to enjoy an anime about creating a dictionary. And I am not one of those people.

Before I embark on this not-so-great passage, I'm going to answer the unasked question. "If you hated this series so much, then why did you keep watching?" The Anime Watching Challenge, that's why. And because I like to give things a chance. There are aspects of other series I didn't like, but I still stuck with them and ultimately enjoyed them. This was not the case for Fune wo Amu.

And even though my ... reviews don't adhere to the rules of grammar, I do appreciate the intricacies and patterns of language. But this series wasn't really about that.

Story: 5 for Mediocre

There was nothing new or innovative about this work. While I'd never seen a series about dictionary-making before, this definitely gave me Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi / Junjou Romantica vibes. (Those series are partly about editing, although it's the manga kind.)

Every plot "twist" could be spotted from miles away. I get we all have different tastes but I watched one of the episodes on 2x speed because I couldn't handle it anymore. Stuff would happen and I'd say, "Who cares?" But here's the thing — NOTHING really happens! They make a dictionary. People work. That's it! I'm being completely honest.

But more about the story: there's a huge time jump at Episode 9. We miss 13 years. I don't personally care, but it just makes me think that even the creators were getting bored with the way the story plodded along.

Majime gets hired. Majime and his coworkers work on the dictionary. Majime meets a girl and falls in love. (Insert spoilers here.) In the end, the dictionary is created and Majime gets the girl. Which really isn't a spoiler because if Majime didn't get the girl, the series would be too depressing to watch.

There's just nothing new or exciting about the story at all.

Art: 6 for Fair

Again, nothing new or exciting. Nothing wowed me, but it was decent enough.

Sound: 6 for Fair

I didn't see the appeal of the opening or closing themes, but I respect them for what they were. The sound was fine.

Character: 6 for Fair

Nishioka was the best character of this series. It's easy to compare him to Reigen Arataka. While Nishioka is, again, Mr. Charisma, he does display doubt and consideration. He is confident without being truly cocky. He has good intentions and an analytical eye that surprises and humors the audience.

His relationship with Remi was beautiful. They displayed domesticity and true happiness without it being shoved in your face. They were a playful and content couple, and their love was visible and real.

Nishioka is also forward about the way that he loves Majime. (There are fan-servicey moments, but nothing happens.) Their bond was nice to see. They became very close and displayed a lot of faith in each other.

So, Nishioka was great. But the rest of these characters fell flat and could be summed up in one word.

Majime: anxious
Araki: dedicated
Kaguya: cool-headed
Matsumoto: wise

The new worker they brought in was a complete and intentional parallel to Majime. While this might've been endearing if I cared about him, I didn't.

Enjoyment: 4 for Decent

I liked Nishioka, but towards the end of the series, he is no longer a part of the central plot.

I was so bored by this series sometimes that I wanted to bash my head in with my laptop.

Overall: 6 for Fair

The art and sound are fine. I liked Nishioka and Remi, but other characterization fell flat. There could've been more character development, but this was avoided with the time jump. The story was lacking. Fune wo Amu was boring. I wouldn't recommend this to my worst enemy — they wouldn't bother watching more than one minute.

This Garden of Words was fertilized by the cow manure of its poor characterization and story.

Story: 6 for Fair.

It's clear, at least. I was also a big fan of the ending.

Other than that, it was pretty dry. There wasn't anything interesting going on except for the plot twists, but I feel like anyone more well-versed in anime/cinema trends than I am could have spotted them from miles away.

These people sat on a bench and complained about issues they caused, or just things that didn't matter. There's only so much of that you can take before you realize that the endeavor is pointless.

It was genuinely ... boring, especially when the characters were being introduced.

Art: 8 for Very Good.

The art was ... Very Good. Easily the best part of this movie. The settings were nicely animated.

Sound: 7 for Good.

Nothing too special, nothing too shabby.

Character: 5 for Mediocre.

There was nothing interesting about these characters. The woman was flat and dull and just unpleasantly weird, despite any attempts to provide her with an "interesting" backstory. The male character wasn't interesting, even though he was obsessed with shoes. Who cares? I didn't. Other characters were stereotypically flat and boring, if they were present at all.

Were we supposed to be rooting for the romance? If so, it didn't work. I wanted it over as soon as it begun. Someone in the forums raised the question: if the genders between the protagonists were switched, would this continue to be seen as romantic?

I try not to operate under those double standards.

Enjoyment: 6 for Fair.

Enjoyed with a friend, but as I said before, the beginning is horribly boring.

Overall: 6 for Fair.

Good art is the highlight of Kotonoha no Niwa. The sound was not bad. Everything else wasn't remarkable or was bad. Bad story and bland characters, but at least the resolution was entertaining.

I recommend Doukyuusei, instead ... a romance with similar poetry to this one, but without all the corruption.

As with One Punch Man, characterization is a strength while the story is a weakness. But this review is about Mob Psycho 100, so let's get started with that.

Story: 6 for Fair

The same format as OPM. In the beginning, there's a teacher and a student. The student follows the teacher, even though said teacher has nothing to give the student. They defeat some things because they profit from it and want to help others. (In OPM there's rankings and in MP100 there's money.) And there's more of a story at the end, something that links the last few episodes and ties them together as more ... of a sequential progression. Nothing about it was too new or innovative, but it moved.

Art: 8 for Very Good

Mob Psycho 100's art is also incredibly experimental in comparison to OPM. With techniques like paint-on-glass animation, the paranormal scenes can contrast the more realistic ones. It's beautiful to GIF and beautiful to watch.

Sound: 7 for Good

There's not really much to remark upon here. I did appreciate the musical scores during or approaching battle scenes, but this was more towards the end of the series.

Character: 7 for Good

The dynamic does not attach itself to any new format: Mob/Reigen can just be seen as Genos/Saitama, albeit with different motivations. (Reigen relies on Mob for profit and possible emotional fulfillment.)

And Mob bears many similarities to Saitama. He is not concerned with power, but he is concerned with finding a purpose in life. He is almost effortlessly strong. His indifference is not unique. However, Ritsu's relationship with Mob makes him different from Saitama. Ritsu humanizes Mob, in a way. The Body Improvement Club and Tsubomi also help with this.

I truly loved Reigen. While Mob doesn't exactly need a father figure, Reigen is receptive to his calls for help. I commend the timing of the Mob/Reigen backstory. It's not exactly revolutionary, but it was more interesting than having it at the beginning.

Enjoyment and Overall: 8 for Very Good

I really did enjoy Mob Psycho 100. It's a good twelve episode stretch where you're introduced to solid characters and stimulating visuals. However, the story is lacking. Character development and relationships were the things to attach me. If you're looking for a better story than OPM, maybe MP100 isn't for you.

I recommend Noragami to anyone who's enjoyed this one, as well. It reminds me of Noragami in terms of the "there's always an exception to death" rule, and just the overall theme and look of spirits.

I have heard a lot about Yuri!!! on ICE. I watched it because MAL recommended it to me, but all of my friends have already hit that mark. I even took a Tumblr hiatus because everyone I followed graduated to YOI. Nearly the entire series was spoiled for me, I feel like I've lived through an Otayuri discourse war, and I've seen every romantic moment GIFed already.

YOI became popular because of the romantic relationship between Yuuri and Victor. Yes, the figure skating is nice. Yuri is my angel. But the romantic relationship is the star here. The opening theme's song goes, "Yes, we were born ... to make history," and this series has done that. It's sports anime with a romantic sub-plot, and that's the first time I've ever seen something of the sort.

I'm thankful that this is no Junjou Romantica or Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi (both horrible representation, if you can call them that, which I won't.)

But damn if this isn't doesn't teeter on that Sports Anime Line of ambivalent and vague.

I'm not seeking voyeurism. I'm not seeking a play-by-play of their every touch. I'm not straight, but I'm not a man; I'm not seeking representation.

Essentially, I'm saying: ...What?

The ending: ...What?

THIS is it? THIS is the representation that people have been speaking on and on about for the past year?

What?

I'm pausing my typing here because I cannot understand this.

On one hand, the overhyping is not the fault of the series. You will get a relationship here. The pace is a good one. But said relationship is never firmly established. The characters don't speak about it to other people or each other. They don't kiss. Would this be the same case if they were straight?

You could have a dude orgasm on an ice rink a few times but two characters IN LOVE couldn't even share a kiss?

Anyway.

Story: 7 for Good

Clear, with some predictable turns, but it was all still interesting to me. You delve into the world of professional figure skating. You are not forced to endure lengthy backstories, but you get to understand the characters pretty well. The plot moves quickly because the competitions do. The story ended with cliffhangers that I'd like to see resolved in a second season.

Above rests my concerns for the story, but other than that, it was fine.

Art: 7 for Good

Yuuri's movements, while skating, looked a bit weird. However, this may just be me.

Sound: 7 for Good

I love "History Maker."

Character: 6 for Fair

Okay.

1) I'm not going to say I'm the best person, but the comments about Yuuri's weight made me want to bash my head against a wall.
I understand it from Yuri. He's immature. He's fifteen years old and spiteful because he is alone. I'm not saying that it's right for him to do. But Yuri insults almost every person he meets.
But from Victor or other people: No! ESPECIALLY from Victor, considering that he's supposed to be in love with Yuuri!
Most of these comments come from the first few episodes of the season. But they did not set me off on the right foot with Victor.

2) The fact that Victor brushed off his promise to Yuri is weird to me. The kid just wanted to prosper under Victor's guidance.

Also, I understand that people and characters are indecisive but I questioned why I had to watch moments that were thrown away later.

3) Yuuri's anxiety. Yuri's coldness. I feel like they both were portrayed well.

Enjoyment: 7 for Good

I enjoyed it. I watched episode after episode.

Overall: 7 for Good

If you're seeking a relationship where nothing is explicitly stated and there are strong professional lines drawn between two characters, this is the series for you! Art and sound were good and Victor bothered me sometimes. I love Yuri. That's all.

I wasn't a fan of the storyline. I did like Saitama and Genos, though, and that's what kept me here.

Story: 6 for Fair

I kept falling asleep while watching this. The script was good. There were some chuckles from me. But almost every episode was the same:

Villain! A fight! Winning! Discipling! Something ominous! Developing as a hero!

That's all there was. The plotline of their becoming heroes was interesting. But I wasn't a big fan of the fights or the progression or anything.

... Art: 7 for Good

I liked the variety of angles. At times, it was hard to see what was going on, but that's what a fight is.

Sound: 7 for Good

I liked the music in this series, especially songs in episodes 11 and 12.

Character: 7 for Good

For me, this was the anime's strongest point. I liked Saitama and Genos as characters. There's all these quirks to both, and their bond was interesting. It didn't feel rushed either: I understood why Genos followed Saitama, and Saitama was nice enough to him.

Enjoyment and Overall: 7 for Good

I enjoyed the script and laughed at a few jokes. I wonder if I would enjoy this series more if I knew about the superhero genre in anime, since I've read that this is a parody of it. I found the fight scenes a bit dry. Side characters were annoying and I never felt upset at the demise of anyone. Genos and Saitama are cool with me.

If you're thinking about watching One Punch Man, give it a try, why not? Plenty of people like this series. I would definitely watch a second one because I'm curious as to what happens next. I'm also curious to see the development of Saitama and Genos' friendship.

But I do feel like this series has been a bit overhyped with ratings of 10.