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My Dress Up Darling is a heartfelt story that guarantees plenty of smiles. While it carries a mature tag and parental advisory, the content is comparable to other manga or anime in terms of explicitness. There is some nudity, but it always feels purposeful and never gratuitous.

The two main characters are remarkably nuanced. Gojo, a talented introvert, retreats into his passion for traditional hina dolls after losing his parents, finding solace with his grandfather, a master doll artisan. Kitagawa, on the other hand, defies first impressions—though she outwardly fits the gyaru stereotype, she's a dedicated otaku and passionate cosplayer. Their personalities and backstories add ... depth to the narrative.

The story's exploration of cosplay is thoroughly researched, with fascinating insights documented in the collected editions' extras. This attention to detail could easily inspire readers to delve into the cosplay world themselves. At its core, the series thrives on the romantic tension between Marin, the "bisque doll," and Gojo, the "doll maker." The progression of their relationship is paced realistically, resonating deeply with fans.

Though the series concluded sooner than expected, the finale felt satisfying. While there were open threads and potential new arcs to explore, the author chose to wrap up the story with a heartwarming and fulfilling ending—a testament to their creative vision. It’s a series that leaves a lasting impression on its readers.

If you're looking for a manga that seamlessly blends heartfelt romance, engaging characters, and a deep dive into the world of cosplay, My Dress Up Darling is a must-read! This series shines through its unique story, where the connection between Marin, a spirited cosplayer, and Gojo, a skilled hina doll artisan, takes center stage. Their relationship unfolds with realism, building romantic tension that keeps readers invested.

The cosplay elements are intricately researched, making it an insightful and inspiring exploration of the craft. Whether you're a fan of romance, a cosplay enthusiast, or someone looking for a well-crafted story, My Dress Up Darling offers charm, depth, and a satisfying conclusion. It's a journey that's sure to leave you smiling!

The anime adaptation of SAKAMOTO DAYS has several things going for it to follow in the footsteps of it shonen manga predecessors.

It is a solid manga staple. There will always be room in the seasonal broadcast lineup for anime based on shonen manga. This title has all the tropes needed to succeed. Reluctant hero, cool fights, mysterious characters, and more cool fights. Its main hero evokes the best modern action character in John Wick, as a plump convenience store clerk. It even has an upcoming school and training arcs if the manga is to be heeded.

The production staff follows the manga pretty closely, even if ... it had to cut a story or two to fit an international audience. It understands that long term success lies in not alienating the manga fans from their image of their favorite convenience store clerk assassin.

There is also that John Wick factor, which has become a favorite among modern action movie enthusiasts. The plump convenient store clerk/retired assassin has that John Wick charisma down pat.

However, these strengths have become the weakness of this anime.

It follows the manga too slavishly; at times I think it just uses the manga as a storyboard and just animates it straight. The production staff seem to confuse that manga and anime are different media, and there are techniques that can be utilized in anime to put a signature mark on their adaptation.

I can't say that animation is bad or mid because it isn't. However, it does lack that certain pop or charisma to bring out the best of the story in animation. There is nothing more pitiful than an anime that did not utilize the techniques and resources at its disposal to bring out the best of a story. It is such a waste of blood, sweat, and tears.

At this point, I can recommend this to the manga readers who want a refresher of past arcs while moving forward with the current manga arc. John Wick fans could get a kick out of it. However, I am unsure if it has what it takes to join its shonen manga predecessors at the head of the table.

Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom undoubtedly stands out as a cohesive and immersive movie, rather than a mere compilation of episodes. Several creative decisions contribute to its success, but here are five critical points that make this film noteworthy:

1. Neia as the P.O.V. Character: Choosing Neia over Remedios as the main character was a wise decision. Neia's perspective offers a more relatable and engaging narrative, whereas Remedios, being unlikable even in the novel's synopsis, might have alienated the audience.

2. Utilizing Nazarick's Characters: The movie smartly brings characters like Demiurge and CZ to the forefront. Demiurge's significant role, which was downplayed in Season 4, adds depth to ... the plot. Meanwhile, CZ gets more screen time, balancing the focus on the Nazarick stable effectively.

3. Impact on Ainz's Presence: With Neia as the main character, Ainz Ooal Gown takes a backseat, often relegated to offscreen roles. This shift means fewer epic battles involving Ainz, contrasting with his main-event status in Season 1.

4. Albedo's Limited Screen Time: Ainz and Demiurge's adventures in the Sacred Kingdom leave Albedo managing the Sorcerer Kingdom. Despite her reduced screen time to merely five minutes, she remains impactful. However, other guardians are not as fortunate, receiving even less attention.

5. Overall Experience: For fans, this movie was worth the wait. It keeps the audience yearning for more Overlord content. The hope for another movie or season is high, even if it means exploring original stories, as long as they serve as direct sequels to this film.

In conclusion, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom delivers a well-rounded and engaging cinematic experience, balancing character development, plot progression, and fan expectations. The film's unique narrative choices and character utilization make it a must-watch for any Overlord enthusiast.

The Fall 2024 anime season is stacked with sequels and a few anime of the year contenders that this series would be buried under it.

It is not some unexpected gem, it has a similar premise with most other isekai stories of its ilk, and the animation is nothing special. What it has going for it is that it is indeed entertaining, and merits waiting for the latest episode week in and out. It is certainly the only series I watch weekly after the other new series I started were unable to catch up with my interest.

In being a generic isekai, it actually pokes fun at ... the entire genre. It subverts expectations by giving us a likeable "loner" lead, who treasures his solitude, is not as edgy as the one in Arifueta or Failure Frame. If one would actually bother to watch the first three episodes, it is easy to see why Haruka, our main protagonist, would prefer to survive on his own in the forest. The entire class he was summoned to this other world devolved into cliques as vapid as the next. The only group with good heads on their shoulder were the otaku group.

I really like how the creative staff made the most out of its middling animation to tell a solid story, like how the main protagonist made the most of the leftover skills he got after his classmates had their picks of the bunch. It is an underdog story that you would naturally root for the hero.

Now that the third season just ended, it ended on the same note that has been the theme for the entire season: meetings.

Meetings are not bad, because they are an efficient way to deal with exposition and world building. Thus, despite having too many meetings, the pace of the overall story has been brisk. The animation is decent, if nothing spectacular, up to season two levels, with some flourishes here and there.

Now that a fourth season was announced as the third wrapped up, I hope it can surpass it. Simply because it is not a high bar to cross. A solid action piece here and ... there and I might just forget about this third season.

Overall, it is a solid addition to the overall TenSura overall plot, with the worldbuilding that is the hallmark of this series. Thus, anime-only fans should enjoy it.

In my case, I'm also a manga reader, and this season catches up to the recently ended story arc. Given the timeline of anime development on a per season basis, I wouldn't mind the anime story leaving the manga story in the dust. The manga will have plenty of time in the intervening gap between development to build up its lead again.

Recommended for anime only fans. Mixed feelings for manga readers who supplement their reading experience with the anime.

Suicide Squad Isekai is not Warner Bros. first go around at an anime featuring its characters. There is already the memorable Batman Ninja.

However, it is the first time it combined the popular isekai genre with these assholes, pardon the language, from the Suicide Squad.

So, it has your Japanese occidentalist fantasy setting, with elves, beatmen, dragons, and a whole lot of magic. It even has a loli death god for a final boss. The American contribution is the ultraviolence this particular set of characters have a penchant for. This version of the Squad even have their own magical girl transformation scene.

The animation is ... superb, about as well as can be expected from the Studio Wit. The producers must pull out the stops because this is a collaboration that can’t fail.,

However, the story is all over the place. There are several story points that remain unresolved, and it felt like the plot was just going around in circles. It is not as obvious when you are watching an episode weekly, but when you are binge watching, it will feel repetitive at times.

This is a good show to watch with your brain off and just enjoy the quality animation poured into it. If you are a DC comics fan who enjoys a bit of guilty pleasure isekai stories, this is for you. If you want to watch the hypnotic Amanda Waller dance number at the end credits, give in and enjoy it.

The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World was that fantasy romance manga that looked like a shojo romance but was serialized in a seinen magazine.

Predictable Mary Sue Protagonist: Tsukina, the female lead, fits the Mary Sue archetype too neatly. She possesses magical powers, runs a book café, and is universally liked. Her lack of flaws makes her less relatable and reduces tension in the story.

Underutilized World-Building: Despite being set in another world, the story doesn’t fully explore its potential. The remote location of Tsukina’s café away from the central plot (the royal palace) diminishes the impact of major events, rendering them mere ... afterthoughts.

Shallow Characterization: While Tsukina’s slice-of-life activities are charming, the supporting characters lack depth. The knight Il, who shares Tsukina’s love for books, has chemistry with her, but their interactions remain surface-level. More nuanced character development would enhance the overall experience.

Too Kind Monarchy: The kingdom where the characters reside stands out for its understanding and benevolent monarch. However, this utopian portrayal feels unrealistic, especially in an isekai setting. A touch of complexity or conflict within the ruling system would add depth.

Rushed Pacing: Despite having only 26 chapters, the story’s pacing feels hurried. While the ending is satisfying, some plot points could benefit from further exploration. A more balanced progression would make the journey more fulfilling.

In summary, “The Savior’s Book Café Story in Another World” offers a pleasant romance with minimal commitment, but it misses opportunities for deeper world-building and character development. Still, if you seek a quick read with a conclusive ending, it’s worth considering.

A short manga series tends to communicate that the series wasn't getting the attention neccessary to prolong its serialization. Not with this case, since the intention for this series was to be shorter than most titles being simultaneously published on the Manga Plus app.

The series in question is "Set It and Forget It', a fun and wholesome series about a single female office lady and her versatile electric and programmable rice cooker.

Ordinary people tend to use their rice cookers for one thing: to cook rice. But Fuko has hacked the functionality settings of her rice cooker, which she nicknamed "RC-kun", to be able to cook ... dishes along with the rice.

These are real recipes one can prepare with their rice cooker along with the rice. The recipes are included with every chapter and written in a simple and straightforward manner that one could imagine it would be an easy dish to prepare if one were to follow the steps.

The recipes are the key to this series. The story and art are good. The female character designs are cute and pleasing to look at. But those alone with put this story at a rating of 7 at the max. Rating both the story and recipes included would push the rating to 8 or 9.

So, a short run is not an indictment of the quality of the manga. In this case, a short run can allow the creators involved to prepare for longer running series in the future. The artist especially has the very useful skill of drawing cute and pretty female characters.

Lack of High Stakes in Season 3
The third season seems to follow a similar pattern to the first season, lacking the tension and high stakes that could elevate the plot. While the animation quality is high, the absence of significant challenges may disappoint some viewers.

Unlikable Characters
Season 3 introduces a couple of unlikable characters who bring their family drama into the school. This subplot can be distracting and detract from the overall experience.

Pacing and Remake Concerns
With four novel volumes covered in the third season, the pacing is brisk. However, there’s a risk of it feeling like a slow remake of the first season. Balancing pacing while ... maintaining freshness is crucial for keeping the audience engaged.

Despite these criticisms, the show remains popular in Japan, likely due to its quintessentially Japanese elements and the intriguing dynamics of the magic clans. Fans of this franchise would no doubt enjoy this show. The high-quality animation almost guarantee that at least it is watchable.

Untapped Potential
“THE NEW GATE” starts with an intriguing premise, drawing inspiration from popular light novels like “OVERLORD” and “Sword Art Online.” However, despite its solid world-building and a likable protagonist in Shin, the anime fails to fully capitalize on its potential.

Generic Isekai Appearance
On the surface, it appears to be just another generic isekai story. Yet, the show manages to rise above clichés through well-executed storytelling. Unfortunately, this uniqueness doesn’t translate well to anime viewers due to pacing issues and low-budget animation.

Competition and Disappointment
In a competitive seasonal lineup, “THE NEW GATE” faces strong newcomers like “Kaiju 8” and a “Spice and Wolf” remake. While manga and ... light novel readers might find some enjoyment, they may ultimately be disappointed by this adaptation.

Remember, opinions may vary, and mine is just one voice, but these are the key points to consider when evaluating “THE NEW GATE.”