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Here’s a very unpopular opinion and that is I am not the biggest fan of Makoto Shinkai. Do, I think he is great anime director who deserves all the love and respect he gets? Absolutely! But, his movies have never struck a chord with me- and the only one that I thought was at least good was 5cm/s. He never with his films , have left me in a state of awe like Hosoda, Miyazaki or Satoshi Kon did. But, did that change with Kimi Ni No Wa- his latest movie that is currently taking over the box office in Japan? Well we will find ... out today!

Kimi Ni Na Wa, or Your Name is a sc fi, romance, drama movie about a village girl named Mitsuha and a boy from Tokyo named Taki- who on a daily basis end up switching bodies. Not only does this strange incident affect their normal lives- but it also leads to the two having feelings for each other.

Now, from the premise alone- you might assume this movie might not have anything new to offer. It sounds like your typical body switching romance movie-but along with that you can expect all that gorgeous animation and melodrama present in Shinkai films. But, no that couldn’t be further from the truth. This movie was surprisingly very creative, and the execution of this body switching trope was handled brilliantly. This film isn’t going in the direction you think it’s heading and ends up being pretty unpredictable- despite all the hints that are scattered in the movie.

My only issue with the story would be that sometimes it got a bit confusing- especially when they constantly swapped bodies. Not to mention, regarding the fantasy elements of the movie- which being unique for the most part, kinda left me being clueless. But, by the end it isn’t hard to put all the puzzle pieces together. I believe that maybe a bit but not too much of exposition could have helped clear some of the confusion.

Other than the story, the characters too are praise-worthy. The main female protagonist, Mitsuha is very likeable and the movie does a good job of presenting her life, her family and friends. Hence, she feels like an actual person you can relate too.I found that very impressive and a nice addition to this movie. She wants to escape her mundane life and no longer deal with her father’s bullshit, and you want to root for her. Taki, too despite being your average teenager- is another very lovable character. He too has a great personality, and is very determined and strong. Also, the fact he can’t stopping touching Mitsuha’s boobs when being in her body- was quite a hilarious gag too. The friend characters of both Taki and especially Mitsuha were very relevant to the story as well, and also likeable.

We get see things from both of their perspectives, so it actually feels like they are both important to the story. But, we too the audience get a very good glimpse of both of their lives- and hence making us very well acquainted with the two and the people around them.

The romance too, despite not being the main focus was handled well. The two had a great bond, and they understood each other very well. They suit each perfectly, and you wish you got to see more moments of these two together. Like, these two are OTP!

Given it’s a Shinkai film, saying the animation is excellent would be an understatement. However, the animation despite being beautiful and breath-taking- this time around doesn’t try to be the star of the show. In most Shinkai films, I get a feeling that the animation is trying to be more memorable than the story and the characters. However, this isn’t the case now, because this movie isn’t just about showing off its outstanding visuals. The character designs are really great too, and much better than his previous works. There was this one sequence in the middle of the movie, that had water colour/pastel affect to it, that was so mesmerizing that it made my heart race.

The voice acting for this movie is highly impressive as both the seiyuus-portraying the two leads did a great job bringing the characters to life. In fact, listening to them speak during the emotional moments, can get anyone teary eyed.

Overall, Kimi Ni Na Wa not only lived up to my expectations, but exceeded them. Not only are the characters very lovable, but the story too has way more to offer than you think it does- with interesting twists and turns along the way. It can get very emotional, with a great build up to the climax and an ending very fitting for this movie. This movie is not only my favourite Makoto Shinkai film, but one of my favourite anime films in general. He finally managed to leave me in awe, given how not a single moment was dull, not to mention, I was thoroughly engaged and enchanted while watching this movie.

Hence, Kimi Ni No Wa or Your Name gets a very well deserved 10 out of 10 and that it’s a MUST WATCH. Shinkai hits a homerun with this movie and I will be looking forward to his future projects. Now, I expect nothing but the best for him, and if he continues making movies brimming with so much creativity and relatable characters- then he too will end up being one of my favourite anime directors.

Now, I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t one of KyoAni’s more creative works- since this one doesn’t mainly focus on high schoolers in a club. If anything Tamako Market defines the slice of genre, by hardly having any actual story and being about the everyday life of a cheerful high school girl and her obsession for mochi.

My issues with Tamako Market’s story would lie in the fact, that there isn’t anything there for you to keep coming back for more. After the introduction of the bird, which was an entertaining first episode- the show keeps on going downhill- unable to find better ways ... to keep you engaged. The show starts of decent and fun enough, being a nice slice of life that you kick back and catch watch after a stressful day. However, by episode 5 is when I feel the show really starts going downhill.

It kind of reminds me how like in Air, they tried doing something completely different half way through which just miserably failed. Same can be said about Tamako Market- with the introduction of a new character named Choi who sent Dera to Tamako’s area. From the beginning of the series, this arc happening was constantly being hinted and given some sort of importance that will in turn affect our main character and those around her.

It even felt like it was going in that direction- but the execution of it was terribly handled- by the end of which it this arc happening felt completely pointless. It didn’t give the story that flare it needed- nor did provide any much needed character development for Tamako or those around her. I just felt completely pointless and when I finished the anime I was frustrated. If anything that arc established was Tamako loves her market- that too in a very messy way. Tamako Market also could have explored several side stories regarding the shop owners close to Tamako and instead focused on developing a stupid arc that felt pointless.

Tamako’s best friend Mochizou who is obviously in love with her- hardly gets the importance he deserves. Yes, he gets one episode dedicated to him about that- but again that hardly changes or progresses anything. The show just didn’t explore or develop the relationship with the two- which was a damn shame and complete waste. The fact, they waited till the movie- is just sad. Yes, we didn’t necessarily need any confessions- but it would have been still better than to have Mochizou being madly in love with her and Tamako being completely dense about it.

As for the characters of the series, they were pretty likeable with some being a hit and a miss. The show does a great job of fleshing out some of the characters. The give attention to characters like Shiori who wants to be friends with Tamako but is unable to speak her mind or Tamako’s little sister Anko who is that little adorable kid who thinks all mature and grown-up and has to deal with her very first crush. But, also Tamako’s father who may seem strict on the outside but is a sweetheart on the inside.

The rest of the characters, however didn’t give much screen time or attention. The bird Dera was a pretty funny comic relief character and he added a lot to the show- but his Choi just felt unnecessary to the story and thanks to her involvement caused the anime to give us several bland episodes and also a very lame conclusion to the story. Tamako Market instead of introducing new characters- so would have just stuck by fleshing out the already huge cast. The supporting cast of the eccentric shop owners were all interesting- so it was sad they were reduced to nothing much more than side characters for Tamako to regularly interact with. Tamako’s friends too don’t get fleshed out well to, with Midori’s intentions and feelings not being properly explained or explored. Also, people’s acceptance of a talking bird just seemed unnatural.

Another thing about Tamako Market that annoys it is its overuse of the word mocha. Like seriously, you can make a drinking game out of the number of times someone says mocha- 90% of the time it would be Tamako. If I had a dollar for every time someone said mocha I would be as rich as Bill Gates. I have never even tried mochi, but by the end of this show I was completely sick of it. That however is my own personal issue, I wonder if any of you felt the same or not.

The opening theme is forgetful but the ED is catchy and adorable- honestly I looked more forward to that than any episode of the show. The animation is really nice- but the character designs aren’t anything original and the type you’d normally come to expect from KyoAni the latter of which isn’t a bad thing. Majority of Tamako Market’s character look way too similar to others. Tamako, Anko, Shiori bearing similar appearances with Mio Akiyama. Mochizou looking like Yukito and a bit of Makoto- and Kanna looking a bit like Yui. But, overall the animation is really clean and polished- despite it not being some of KyoAni’s better looking works.

So overall, Tamako Market started of being a decent slice of life anime- that went downhill because it tried having some sort of a plot that felt pointless because there was no conflict and everything got solved quickly. It didn’t affect any of the characters and our leading lady Tamako remains completely unchanged from start to finish. There were some enjoyable moments in the show, but the comedy was just lackluster for the most part and some episodes were totally skippable as they barely help the story move along and were just down right boring.

I am going to give Tamako Market a 4 and that you should probably SKIP IT! I don’t hate this show because it didn’t piss me of or offend me- but I would be lying if I said I enjoyed it. It is in my opinion one of KyoAni’s disappointing shows- especially with a tonne of waste potential. If Tamako Market just explored all the characters, and focused on developing some of the relationships between the characters than I would have highly recommended it. But, since the story blows and the characters don’t have much to offer- I must say it’s better to watch something else that would be worth your time. Tamako Market felt like a waste of time to me- which was really sad.

*This is for both seasons and not including the movie*

Slice of life is a genre that isn’t for everyone. Not everybody can appreciate a story that mainly deals with a person’s mundane everyday life and I get that. There is nothing wrong if you don’t like slice of life- I hate to admit it but I can’t seem to get into sports anime. But anyway that’s not what I am here to talk about.

K-On is an anime that is popular and beloved beyond belief, despite being mainly slice of life. However, it is also infamous for influencing this whole heated debate on moe. But, ... despite all that bullshit, how is K-On as a standalone series? Well, let’s find out today.

K-On starts of telling the story of five different girls starting of high school. They are part of the school’s light music club where they constantly slack off and do nothing but drink fancy tea and eat delicious cake. That’s it- that is basically the show in a nutshell . You can’t get more slice of life than that, can you?

Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations for K-On- but at the same time I didn’t think I was going to end up agreeing completely with the people who bash it just because it’s cute girls doing cute things. However, I personally believe there is indeed more to K-on than people give it credit for. I have watched a lot of slice of life and I guarantee that K-On is some of the best slice of life I have ever watched.

There isn’t anything unique or interesting about K-On’s story because I can name a dozen anime from the top of my head that features high schoolers in a club. Half of them I am pretty sure are also done by KyoAni. K-On had a relatively weak start, and I just couldn’t get into the story. But, after forcing myself for four episodes- I finally reached the part where the show became something I looked forward to watching. I think that was because it started off as basic as possible and so I ended up finding the earlier episodes bland.

However, as the characters started to grow on me and also with the addition of great supporting characters is when- K-On started being quite refreshing. One thing that constantly kept me interested was the show’s comedy. The comedy of the show despite being nothing gut busting like Gintama or School Rumble- still managed to keep me thoroughly entertained. You will notice that there are several running gags which works really well throughout the long run of the show. Which proves how GIFs and memes that this show generated.

K-On has a great cast characters which is mainly female, and some characters do stand out from the others. And those that don’t, still manage to be very pleasant. The main characters mainly consist of the incredibly dumb Yui Hirasawa, sweet and shy Mio Akiyama, tomboyish and mischievous Ritsu Tainaka, the wealthy and weird Tsumugi Kotobuki and finally the serious but still adorable Azusa Nakano- who happens to be their kouhai.

Despite, all the characters having some sort of stereotype- I feel like they end up becoming more than just what I described them to be. These characters are frankly really charming, likable, and relatable and honestly there wasn’t a single character that I disliked. I actually shared a lot of characteristics with a lot of these characters- making me love them more than I expected them to. '

We see these girls grow over the course of this this anime, little by little. They do somewhat still feel unchanged in terms of behavior and personality by the end, but I feel like that’s alright. K-On is a pretty light hearted series where hardly anything dramatic happens- so to have them go through major character development is out of the question. It wouldn’t work for this type of show and I am glad that wasn’t the case. It was a bit unrealistic- how their high school lives seemed like so much fun- when in real life that is far from the truth. Well, from my experience I can guarantee that.

K-On did attempt at some dramatic moments that I feel actually harmed the story rather than helping it. But, that only happened once during season 1 after which the show didn’t have any which was good in my opinion.

The characters however did change in the sense that they grow to care deeply for each other and of course for their small club. The friendships in this anime were highly engaging and memorable and it didn’t feel forced or incredibly saccharin. These girls had great chemistry with each other, as just friends that is. Seeing their bonds becoming stronger throughout the series was one of the highlights of the series. They also had a great relationship with their teacher Ms Namako, who is also a hilarious and epic character might I add.

Speaking of great relationships, Yui and her younger sister the sophisticated and mature Ui had one of the best sibling relationships in anime period. It isn’t just adorable how much they love and cherish each other- but the moments they shared felt genuine too. When Yui wrote a song about how she appreciates Ui, I almost got teary eyed.

As for other cons of the series, the story dragged towards end making me feel as if it was three episodes too long. Yes, there were some emotional and heartfelt moments- but the show could have still concluded in a better way in my opinion. But, it still ended thank god for that. I didn’t have to deal with the same BS presented to me by both Hyouka or the Haruhi franchise.

Also, out of all the characters, I would say that Tsumugi’s personality kind of felt underwhelming compared to the others. But, with time she too becomes really likeable despite how plain she might be in comparison. That was mainly due to her curiosity and desire to break free from her life as a rich girl and do something normal like joining the light music club. Also, let’s not forget her desperate need for some yakisoba. Oddly, enough she might not the most interesting but she is still one of my favourites. We also don’t learn much about her and Asuza which I felt like was an injustice- because we got to know a lot about Mio, Ritsu, Yui. Given how they too are the main characters, I felt that was unfair- even a just a little would have been good.

The moe on the other hand, wasn’t bad in my opinion. I have seen shows in the past with unnecessary and cringy moe- but K-On doesn’t fall in that category in my opinion. Yes, I did feel sometimes they overdid the cute Mio moments where she gets scared or nervous- but that even stopped being excessive as the show progressed. So, the moe wasn’t a problem for me in this show. It didn’t make me go ‘aww’ or anything- but I didn’t mind it at all honestly. What was excessive however was the gag of how dumb Yui is- it was funny at first- but then I just got tired with it.

The soundtrack for K-On is pretty kickass, despite being songs with weird titles and often sung with cutesy moe voices . The main song the band plays Fuwa Fuwa Time is one of my favourites and I personally love both the versions. The first opening of K-on is something I wish I could include in my Top 50 Anime Openings List. If I do update that list in the future, then expect this one there. All the ending songs are excellent too, but the first one Don’t Say Lazy is my absolute favourite and is probably in my Top 5 now when it comes to favourite anime ending themes. So, I was quite pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed K-On’s music- because for this type of anime it not only suits, it but adds a lot of greatness too.


Since, it’s KyoAni I don’t need to go into detail how good it is. Granted not as stunning as its recent works- but still pretty good even compared to most airing anime nowadays- with them paying special importance to small details which I have always loved about KyoAni.

I really also liked the character designs despite it being what you come to expect from KyoAni- but I felt that they made Azusa and Mio look too similar. Like I am okay with the Yui and Ui thing cause I find it funny- but the Mio and Asuza one bugged me. Not only that but there was this other background character that looked exactly like Mio with glasses. I swear KyoAni, be a bit more creative with your character designs- I doubt it’s confusing only me.

The English dub is actually pretty good too, thanks to the very talented cast. My personal favourite was Stephanie Sheh who gave an excellent performance as our lord and savior Yui Hirasawa- making sure to bring out the cuteness and hilarious personality of the character. But, if you want the full moe effect then the sub is great too, but I watched it mainly in dub being the cringy weeboo I am.

K-On is an anime that I feel got consistently got better, as you get more invested into these characters. If you like them, which isn’t that hard of a thing to do then you will you feel as if you too have grown up and experienced all the fun times that the Houkago Tea Time club did for the course of three years. You see them grow and bond with one another- which can be really touching at times.

The show has a weak start and finish but everything in between is just oh so good and never failed to make me happy inside with a goofy smile on my face. So, I am going to award K-On with an 8 and that it is WORTH THE WATCH.

It’s a series, that I didn’t think I was going to enjoy and basically checked out because it was one those popular series I hardly touched. Little did I know, that I would end up loving the show and that I would end up cherishing all the characters. I should make it perfectly clear for once and for all this isn’t an anime for everyone- especially if you can’t appreciate the presence of these characters or enjoy slice of life in general. In fact, you’ll love this show as much as I did maybe even more if you saw these girls as the best friends you always wanted. So, if you need five waifus to ruin your life, then look no further than K-On.

Watamote’s main aim was producing a show that otakus like you and me could relate to and when watching it you’d be like

"Holy Shit, that’s me! That is totally me, I swear this exact awkward thing happens to me. I never get the girl or boy- I never get invited to parties and no one likes talking to me. TOMOKO IS MEEEEEEEE!"

*Nervously coughs*

Watamote truly succeeds in making you feel of all of those things and also makes you feel as if you are watching a show based on your life. Well, that’s what I felt because I am in a sense a ... lot like Kuroki. Just not as sexually frustrated or hungry for popularity that is.

I mean, when you watch a anime you usually feel like projecting yourself onto the main character- especially when it’s a harem. However, in this show you don’t want to project yourself onto Tomoki- but you still can’t help but admit that you are just like her. Unless, you are popular and pretty then get the fuck out of here! *no not really though!*

That is the thing about Watamote I personally liked the most- but sadly that just was not enough to make the show stand out. But, I will get to the major issues of this show later.

The show hardly has any characters worth talking about except for our main female protagonist Tomoko Kuroki. Now, there are some things I loved about her and somethings I didn’t. But, don’t worry the positives outweigh the negatives. Tomoko is a very interesting character and the problems she faces are something that many people, especially girls go through in high school. She has trouble expressing herself to others- not to mention you feel bad for how lonely she is. That’s why you want to root for her to the end. But, the main thing that made me care for her was of course her personality and that she is painfully shy like muah over here. This girl is hilarious and basically every otaku’s spirit animal. She is a weird and crazy chick that is hands down epic. Reason why you don’t care that the show hardly has any memorable supporting characters.

Now, the things I disliked about her character is her strong belief that she needs to be popular and also her lame attempts in becoming so. I know she is lonely and she does deserve close friends- but in the show’s twelve episode run she never realized that life in high school isn’t the end of the world. Not to mention, the actions she takes to get friends or become popular make me just nod my head left to right in disappointment. Cause, not even I was this desperate despite the fact I spent almost of my high school life in the corner of the class alone. Heck, I still do in college!

One thing that bugged me, is that no one came to Kuroki’s aid. Her parents nor her brother ever helped her come out of her shell and neither did her middle school friend. It isn’t hard to realize how shy this girl is and no one supported her at all. I swear, this show would have been a whole lot better if they introduced a character who helps out Kuroki. They were actually hinting at something like later on- however the show ended before it could happen.
Watamote is a show that will disappoint many people- because it goes nowhere. Every episode is in the same pattern where you see Tomoko struggle and epically fail. That’s the show in a nutshell and it doesn’t try anything new than that. After a few episodes, it’s get repetitive and you really wish there was more to it than just that. One thing Watamote does well is executing its comedic moments and cause they knock those parts right out of the park. I remember, that there were certain moments where I just freaking lost it

The show tries so hard not to be like those clichéd shoujo and or school anime- and heck even pokes fun at them –not to mention they throw in a shit tonne of anime references which is enjoyable. But, in the process of doing so- Watamote forgets to actually present a show in which the audience will find satisfying. Our main character hardly changes despite all that happens to her and hence the story suffers a lot from it. Not to mention, the lack of impactful characters is a huge flaw of its own.

As for the animation it is pretty standard fair and something that suits this type of show very well. The main issue I have with it would the disappearing faces on the characters- not to mention all the silhouettes. But, some times they played a role at showing how lonely Tomoko really is. The character designs are nothing that original either- well except for Kuroki and her brother. I swear, they look like Moe anime characters after having a bad hangover. I loved their designs as from just looking at these two you are like "Yep these are geeks who stay up late at night playing hentai games!"

The soundtrack for Watamote was very average and it’s basically ‘Moe’ meets metal. And to be honest I am not a big fan of the opening. The animation is cool- but the lyrics and beat really do not scream greatness for me. One track I really did love from Watamote was called ‘ Tear Breaker’ and that was honestly the only thing that stood out. That song however sounds like it belongs on Fate/Zero’s album though!

Lastly, other than its realistic portrayal of a shy and introverted otaku- Watamote also has a good dub. Monica Rial gives an excellent performance as Tomoko Kuroki- and I must admit it’s probably one of my favorite performance of hers. Yes, sometimes I get annoyed how she uses the same voice for most of her characters- but that wasn’t the case Watamote. Yes, you still could tell it’s her- but you can also tell Monica was having fun voicing Tomoki and also did a great job of emoting the character perfectly. The supporting cast members did a great job too and so Emily Neves who was the ADR director did a brilliant job with this dub. The dialogue was entertaining as hell and the cast members really gave it their all.

In a nutshell, Watamote is not the worst anime I have seen but it is really disappointing. It could have been something great- but it wasted all of its potential. Instead of developing Tomoko and making her story more interesting- they kept recycling the same gag in hopes that it would stand out and be better than any other typical school anime. Not to mention- the ending of the show didn’t even feel like it helped conclude the story in any way possible.

The show is by no means is boring- and it has some great moments. However, overall the show will make you feel as if you have gained nothing from watching it. And so, I am going to award Watamote with a 6 and that it was ‘Meh!’ If Watamote, does ever get another season I will definitely watch it- with hopes it will fix all the issues I recently addressed. But, I doubt it ever will !

This anime in a sense is a story about well story-tellers. These people try and work hard over a course of years to master this form of storytelling known as rakugo. And it isn’t as easy as one might expect it to be. This anime is all about rakugo’s effect on these people’s lives.

When I went into this anime- I honestly thought it was going to be boring. But, I realized that wasn’t going to be the case at all after being done with the first two episodes. This anime is actually does not really focus much on rakugo- rather mainly on the characters. ... Yes, this anime is honestly nothing without the characters.

The characters of this anime are not meant to be likeable or entertaining- if anything they are meant to be portrayed as actual real people. I have noticed that all of these characters have both negative and positive qualities- making them as realistic and as human as possible. For, example let’s take a look at our main male protagonist Bon also known as Kikuhiko.He is such a layered character and honestly there are so many things I can discuss about him. But, I will keep it brief in this review.

Bon has had it rough all his life, especially since enduring an injury that prevented him from dancing ever again. He was abandoned by his folks and was taken as an apprentice to practice Rakugo. However, no matter how hard he tried he could never live up to expectations. He was constantly overshadowed by his friend Shin. He was miserable cause he felt like he didn’t have a purpose in life. He felt completely useless and so practiced long and hard to be the best in rakugo. Unlike Shin, he didn’t do it because he loved it- but simply because he wanted to gain something that would add some value to his dull life. However, with time he does grow to really love it.

In order to do so, he was willing to give up anything or anyone for that matter- making him seem very cold and distant on the outside. But, that’s only because of belief that he needed rakugo more than anything else to make his existence relevant. That’s why he always pleased the elders unlike Shin- and worked to the bone- while even trying to reinvent himself. He also fears being abandoned ever again- and this thing constantly haunts him. It’s also sad to see how this thing comes to back to bite him later on the show. The detailed exploration of Bon’s character was one of this anime’s major highlights.

Shin or Sukeroku, might seem like a loveable goof who always drinks and can effortlessly do rakugo- but honestly there is more to him than that. That is also given major focus later on. He was one of the main reasons which helped Bon become so hard working in trying to perfect his own rakugo. I would have liked that they would have explored Shin’s character as much Bon’s, but that’s honestly a nitpick on my part.

I also particularly enjoyed the bond these two individuals had in this anime as well. It didn’t ooze with bromance, as their relationship had problems like any other. They were envious of each other for different reasons- but yet they still always had each other’s backs no matter. Because of their complex friendship- no wonder everyone and their mothers shipped them like crazy in this anime!

As for the story , I liked how it was a bit different from your average drama anime. This anime educated me a lot on rakugo- which I honestly wasn’t aware of prior to this anime. What I liked, but might irk others is that they didn’t straight up explain what the hell rakugo is to the modern audience. But, with each passing episode we got to learn more about it and how this thing works. Instead of telling, they actually showed us rakugo and how it can make people both happy and sad. That and how it is an art whose popularity has been dying down.

This anime does take place in the early the twentieth century at the beginning of episode 2. Despite, all the time skips- the show was really well-paced and nothing felt rushed at all. I found that impressive since they did try to pack a story that takes place over the course of several decades within about thirteen episodes. I would however admit, that some of the rakugo they did tell was boring and I felt like dragged on, but only during the first half of the anime. Even when Shin, a person skilled at telling funny rakugo would perform- I would just wait for it to be over cause I wanted them to get along with the story. But, during the second half I loved all the rakugo they told. That is actually the only gripe I have with the story. That could be due to the fact that some of them get lost in translation or such stories are not entertaining to people nowadays. I wonder, if the rest feel the same or not.

Also, there is another underlying theme of how rakugo’s importance was going to disappear with time. And I kind of predicted they were going to go in that direction. Like, how television and movies will kind of take over. But, they touched on the subject just once- and didn’t bother with it ever again. I do hope they will further explore this in the upcoming sequel.

The animation was done by Studio Deen, whom I could never ever hate unlike others- because they made Fruits Basket and Higurashi ( two anime I love to death). And now this anime is another reason why I will continue to look forward to Studio Deen’s future projects. In fact, 2016 just might be Studio Deen’s year cause they are coming out with so many great things (Super Lovers excluded though). The animation was really good and I liked how the look was kind of dull- and not anything bright, colourful or sparkly. The character designs like its characters were also realistic. Bon however looks incredibly like Ebisu from Noragami Aragoto though! Am I the only one who thinks so?

So, I am hoping Deen will make more shows like Rakugo, cause if they do so- then they will automatically make my list of favourite anime studios. No one hardly looks forward to Deen’s anime (then again I can’t blame people cause they do a lot of yaoi)- but that might change thanks to this anime.

Overall, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu had great drama that is impactful and emotional moments that will make you sad. It’s a very simple but yet interesting story that had me hooked episode after episode. It excels thanks to its characters and the development given to them. This is surely a strong contender for anime of the year hands down.

So, I will award this anime with a score of 9 out of 10 and that it is a MUST WATCH. I would like more people to check out this anime- but I wouldn’t want people to hype the shit out it. Cause after seeing what happened to Erased, I realized hyping anime or anything for that matter isn’t a good thing.

From reading the synopsis, a lot of people might be skeptical to check this movie out. I mean, it’s about a human girl and a werewolf making babies out of wedlock- and let’s not even forget about the bestiality involved in this. Seriously, I had to take something so beautiful and ruin it like that?

All those dumb jokes aside guys- Wolf Children is an anime movie that is one quarter a wonderful love story and three quarters a touching tale about family. Now, the love story aspect was handled excellently and something I didn’t think that was going to be relevant in the movie. ... I thought it was all about the wolf babies- but no, the love story too contributes in making the movie way more memorable than it needed it to be.

This was mainly because of the emotional impact it had on me and countless others out there. My only issue with the love story part would be is that I wish that Hana’s and Wolfman’s relationship would have been fleshed out more. I felt that he revealed his identity to her way too early. I mean, if we saw them share more moments with one another- then it would have made more sense why he was willing to share such a deep and dark secret with her. But, other than that tiny issue - Wolfman and Hana is a great couple and the moments that they did share together were adorable.

This anime if it teaches you anything, is that mothers are the real superheroes in our lives. Sorry, Saitama- but you’re epic too. Seeing Hana struggling to raise her children was something eye opening. She had no one to depend on- and it’s inspirational how she could accomplish such a feat to take care of her children with such determination and hard work.


Majority of people might have dumped Ame and Yuki on the streets if they were in Hana’s shoes. Heck, I wouldn’t even know where to even start taking on such huge responsibilities. The fact that these children are half wolves- just makes things harder for Hana. She has to constantly hide her children from society- and she can’t even take them to the hospital if they get sick or injured.

But, yet not a single complaint came out of her mouth when raising her kids- especially Yuki who was quite the annoying brat at first. It breaks my heart seeing her go through all these troubles- and it’s like you want to help her but you can’t. All you can do is sit back with a box of tissues and root from her behind the computer scene.Hana’s trials and tribulations as a mother is hands down the best thing about Wolf Children.

So, yeah Kayo’s Mom I suggest you take some pointers from Hana on how be a good mother. Or better yet, head over to Saitama to get punched in the face!

Her children too as the anime progresses gets properly developed and they both start out with having clashing personalities. Yuki starts off by being very loud, annoying, stubborn but yet pretty cute. Ame on the other hand is a spitting image of his father and starts off being an adorable boy who is always scared and weak. The anime not only gave Hana importance- but they all took their time to focus on her children too.

Hana, yes she has her fair share of troubles- but the children too have to deal with being werewolves. They have a choice of either being a wolf or a human and this was another important theme of this movie. It was handled extremely well- and was incredibly prevalent with Yuki specifically, who starts shedding her weird personality and becomes more mature with time. Ame too, becomes stronger and less dependent on others- but, seeing Yuki deal with the situation was something I liked and appreciated a lot for being included in this film.

The animation was done by Madhouse and goddammit at this point I feel like I might have reviewed every anime by this studio. The animation is beautiful in this one- with being more consistent than The Girl Who Leapt through Time. The background scenes you notice when Hana is farming- were just really detailed and nice to look at. Again, the faces from a distance do tend to disappear- but not that big of a glaring problem. The scenes including all the snow was dare I say it magical- and again something that made me both happy and sad inside as they made such emotional moments look outstanding.

I have watched this anime in both dub and sub and honestly I like them both. I don’t think I personally prefer one over the other and they are just equal for me. I would honestly say they both are worth the listen.

In a nutshell, Wolf Children is one of those stories which may sound weird at first – but end up being something truly marvelous. I don’t have hardly any issues with this anime- but I would say this that I wish we got to see more of the relationship between Hana and Wolfman. I thought I would be completely depressed when finishing this anime- but I wasn’t. I was actually really happy seeing a caring mother give it her all in facing such a difficult challenge- while also seeing her bond with her children.

This movie made me want to be a better person and I now I could only hope of being half the saint Hana is. This movie does have a slew of depressing moments- and I was on the verge of tears by the end of the first half of this movie.

Thank you so much, Mamoru Hosoda for giving us this masterpiece of an anime movie!

After all the moe, slice of life and harem crap that gets dumped each season- sometimes it's refreshing to find something that isn't just that. And so, today I'll give my honest thoughts on Erased- a show I feel that a lot of people are dissing cause of all the hype surrounding it.

The story of Erased is nothing new- because we have seen stuff like this ages ago ranging from anime like Steins; Gate to movies like The Butterfly Effect. But, its different in the sense in how it presents the story to its audience.

The first half of the series was thrilling, suspenseful and ... even very dramatic. I felt like that the mystery element worked really well during that time period. You wondered what would happen to our sweet Kayo and whether or not things will work out for Satoru's favour or not. Seeing her abused the way she did and how it affected her life- is something which countless unfortunate children go through on a daily basis. I actually know about someone in my town like Kayo that gets abused by their parents- and that person's behaviour is oddly similar to that of hers. I found that aspect very realistic in my opinion- as she is afraid to open up to others, and tries keeping hush about her situation in fear of her mother.

That's why Satoru's role kicks in the story- as a way of being the friend she deserves. Seeing them grow as friends tugged at my heartstrings- and he dare I say it- did save her from her nightmarish life. Even if it was just to save his mother's life- Satoru did end up considering Kayo a valuable friend and vice versa. I feel like the friendship between the children were some of the best parts about the anime.

However, the second half of the series does pale in comparison to the first half- and majority of it felt like filler. Not only that, but it was way too obvious who our main villain was- and the show would have benefited if they revealed his identity a long time back. In fact, it would have a been a whole lot better if this anime didn't have the mystery tag attached to it. The last two episodes were satisfying though and I felt that it concluded the series as best as they could. I know, a lot of people are disappointed that a lot of stuff got cut from the manga- but at the end of the day what we got wasn't terrible either.

The characters in this anime are pretty decent, but Satoru's mother was the best character in this anime- in my opinion. She was a very caring mother who looked after his son after that incident(can't mention it because spoilers). But, also she was a loving mother towards Kayo- who deserves a good Mom might I add. I hated Kayo's Mom- and she was honestly more despicable than the killer in this show. Speaking of which, they should have explored his character a bit more. If they did, then this guy would have been a very memorable and epic villain.

The animation was done by A1 Pictures- and it was pretty good might I add. It set up a nice dark and serious tone with the colours being not too muted nor too bright. It was overall very clean, with the character designs being good-if not great. I do, wonder why the heck Satoru's Mom looks so young. Then again, after watching Clannad- I doubt mothers in anime age at all!

The music was something I liked, and I enjoyed the OP and ED very much- the latter being one of my recent all time faves. The music was done by Yuki Kajiura and I must admit- from what I have heard from the background music it was pretty fantastic and different from her previous works. I do however need to listen to the full album once it comes out to judge it properly- but for now I am going to say that the music was really good.

Overall, even if I don't think Erased was a masterpiece- I do think it's a show worth checking out. It stands out with its touching story and relatable characters. This anime could have been something excellent if it was longer. Also, the build up to the plot twist(if I can even call it that) was done poorly- but at least they didn't do an asspull and reveal that someone other than the obvious person was the villain.

I am awarding this anime with a 7 out of 10, as it did tug at my heartstrings from time to time- but if you are expecting incredible then you are going to be left feeling disappointed!

FLCL is a very different kind of anime. And I put emphasis especially on the word different. But, yet it’s still got majority of all those things that anime is well known for. The biggest example would be giant robots. As a story it doesn’t have much going on for it- because it’s nothing extraordinary. In fact, it doesn’t have much of a plot if I think back to it. It’s kind of like a slice of life- but every episode ends in the same manner with an epic battle with some amazing music playing in the background. So, what does Fooly Cooly have that ... makes it stand out like a sore thumb among the countless other anime?

Well, that it would be how absurd this show can get! And trust me they take that to the nth degree! Hence this makes FLCL incredibly unique.

Cause I don’t think I can name hardly any shows that has robots coming out of a boy’s forehead or the same robot shitting out that boy later on. I have lost count of the number of times I have said the words ‘WTF Japan’ when watching this anime. There were even times I was like ‘What the hell I am watching’. It’s like this anime was on every single drug or something.

But, the weirdness actually works to this anime’s advantage a lot, and makes it something you should definitely sit down and check out. But, it will also heavily turn off a lot of people- because it is unbelievably weird- and I am done beating this topic to death now. Trying to make sense out of FLCL is a complete waste of time, so just turn of your brain and enjoy it. And if you can’t then I don’t blame you.


The characters of the show despite coming from a very loony anime aren’t that any extraordinary well except for Haruko. She brought all the absurdity to the table, and because of her the show is always entertaining. Her character design is excellent and unique to say the least and I just love all the craziness and spunk she embodies. The other characters were serviceable, nothing too extraordinary as I mentioned earlier. I do like the contrast between Naota and Haruko’s personalities- and it’s a good thing we get to see things from a sane person’s point of view. It’s like we perfectly relate to his hilarious situations. Also, I find it really cool how she uses her guitar as a weapon. The mystery surrounding Haruko is really interesting but I will talk more about that later.

Prior to watching FLCL I have heard great stuff about the English dub, and I have to agree it’s good. Nothing that excellent in my opinion but still worth checking out. Kari Walhgren’s performance in particular is worth a lot of praise- because she captures the character so well. My only issue regarding the dub would be the fact that there were times I felt like Mamimi, Haruko and Eri sounded eerily similar at times. I have no idea how that happened because they were voiced by three different people. Also, Stephanie Sheh’s performance as Mamimi was weak at times, but overall she did a okay job I guess.

The music is something I really liked about this anime, and it’s like they picked the right times during an episode to play some jam worthy tunes. The soundtrack was done by the Pillows, and they did a great job producing the music that suits perfectly to the atmosphere of FLCL. However, their type of music doesn’t ooze brilliance for me specifically- but I will admit it’s something nice to listen to once in a while.

The animation on the other hand is actually some of the best I have seen from Gainax. And this time they didn’t fuck things up like they did with Kare Kano and Neon Genesis Evangelion. I am glad Gainax produced this anime- because it’s like a match made in heaven. There were some inconsistencies- but nothing as horrible as Kare Kano or Neon Genesis Evangelion. Not to mention, there were changes in artstyle during some moments, heck they even for a brief moment changed to that of South Park.

It’s Gainax at their absolute weirdest!

The ending of the show is something I was incredibly pleased with which is a rare thing to say cause when does a Gainax ending satisfy anyone? They wrapped up everything perfectly, not to mention they actually revealed and explained what the hell is up with robots coming out of Naota and Haruko beating the living crap out of him with a guitar. We also got to know more about Haruko – the character that is always shrouded in mystery. And I was frankly really happy learning about everything behind all of it. Hence, it helped me appreciate Fooly Cooly more than I originally did.

Fooly Cooly isn’t obviously for everyone, and if you want something fun and outrageous to watch this is the show for you. But, if you don’t want to be left with a feeling of ‘what the fuck did I watch?”, then this show isn’t for you. If you are open minded then proceed with this show then. It’s a show not created to appeal to the majority, so it will make sense if many of you won’t like it.

Before going into Air, I was perfectly aware that many people deem it as being the weakest of the Holy Trinity. But, yet I decided to watch it because I was craving some KyoAni. And to be honest, this anime had me hooked- but only during the first six episodes- after which it went so downhill fast that I became more depressed by that than any of the tragic moments in this anime. And that my friend, is a huge problem.

Air, for me personally wasn’t as emotional as I wanted it to be- but it did still did make me go. ‘Aww…that sucks.” But, then ... again after five seconds later, I’ll just completely forget about it. The pacing in Air was just awful to say the least- and it's pacing is some of the worst I have seen.

Normally, I like shows that tend to be fast paced- but Air’s speed was like five times that of any other normal anime. It’s like they tried cramping so much material into only twelve episodes. Air had several arcs which all had potential of being something memorable. However, they all fell flat due to the poor execution of it. Arcs that should have been four episodes long were instead less than two- but yet despite that flaw I still thought Air was something enjoyable.

But, then even finding enjoyment in this anime came to a bitter end- when the story decided to completely take place in a different time period. This was in order to somewhat explain Misuzu’s reason for being sick and also Yukito’s search for the winged maiden. Those episodes however felt really boring to me- and I couldn’t care less about those characters in that certain arc. Giving them screen time, instead of our main protagonists felt like a complete waste to me. Speaking of which- let’s talk about the characters.

Unlike, Yuuichi from Kanon or Tomoya from Clannad- Yukito doesn’t have that big of a harem to brag about . It only consists of Misuzu, Kano, Minagi and Michiru even though the latter didn’t have the honour of being featured in the opening credits. To be honest, none of the supporting characters stood out to me- but they were okay in my opinion. Nothing good or bad. The three characters that I did care about was Yukito, Misuzu and Haruko. Like, this anime would have been a whole lot better if it just focused on them and their daily life and struggles with Misuzu’s illness.

Yukito to my surprise was distinguishable from Tomoya and Yuuichi- but he did have that same charm those other two did. He was very likeable for a main character and I also really like the bond he had with both Misuzu and Haruko. Sadly, his bonds with the other girls weren’t as well handled though. Misuzu is just a really sweet girl- and she contributed to some funny moments earlier on this anime. Her relationship with Haruko was really good and if this anime had more episodes to further develop it- then maybe there relationship would have garnered more praise from me. But, during the final episodes- seeing them together did tug at a couple of my heartstrings at least.

Also what the hell is Potato? Is it a dog or a Pokemon as it keeps saying Pico Pico?

As for the animation, it’s pretty decent- given the anime came out almost 11 years ago. I guess, what I liked about the animation the most was the way it made the clouds look realistic. The scenes with sunsets were nice to look at too from time to time. The animation did a good enough of job creating the eventful summer that the story takes place. I liked the character designs too but the colouring of some of the characters hair just didn’t feel natural to me. I wonder if that makes sense- because the hair looked very subpar to me.

The opening for Air is one of my all-time favourite things from this anime. It is my second favourite Key opening and for good reasons too. This opening makes me want to fly, no kidding and I never dared to skip this opening. Lia’s singing was so lovely and so she better sing the opening for Rewrite too. The intro with the clouds just makes my shoulder do some weird dance. The opening is just amazing to say the least.

Finally, before I assign the show with a score- I must sing praise of the dub. Unlike the Clannad dub- this one is really good- but I guess that would be because it was done by Funimation. Vic Minogna was really good as Yukito- and Monica Rial too shined as Misuzu. But, my favourite performance was definitely Luci Christian as Haruko. This is one of those roles where Lucy Christian doesn’t voice a cutesy high school girl- and she does an excellent job at that.

Overall Air had a lot of potential- but sadly it got all wasted away in my opinion. Even if I did enjoy the first half- the second half was just so messy- not to mention the info dumps on the Winged Maiden that has some connection with both Misuzu and Yukito was not helpful- and iit was something I didn’t appreciate. In fact, what they did to Yukito towards the last couple of episodes actually made me mad- but I can’t tell you cause that would be a spoiler.

The only bits of this anime that made me sad where the ones regarding Misuzu and Haruko- whereas the rest had no impact on me. That was mainly due to the fact- that the arcs revolving around certain characters were rushed and so it didn’t give me much time to grow attached to them enough to care about their situations.

With all that in mind- it pains me to give Air TV a 5 out of 10 and that you should probably SKIP IT. I really wanted to like Air as much as Kanon and Clannad- but I guess somethings are not meant to be. I don’t however hate this anime- it’s just it was very disappointing in my eyes. Also, do you completely disagree with my points, because it’s fine, if you do cause we do have differing opinions and I am aware that all a lot of people love this show and it sucks that I am not part of that group.

After much googling, checking out forums and basically watching any Youtube video that even coughs up the word anime, I still end up finding rare anime that I feel that most people completely forgot to check out. Like seriously, how the heck did I miss to check out an anime like ‘The World Is Still Beautiful”. So, without further ado, I am gonna start my review!

After losing a game of rocks, papers and scissors our main female protagonist Princess Nike no not Nike, has to marry to the Sun God or the conqueror of the world known as Livius II. And I am not even ... kidding when I say that is the plot of the show. Yeah, this lovely girl’s fate was decided by a game of rocks, papers scissors. Anyway, Nike comes from a distant and secluded land and oh yeah she has some interesting powers of controlling the weather. After some troubles here and there Nike finally makes it to the kingdom where to her shock she meets Ciel, I mean Lelouch, I mean King Livius II. Who is actually only 2 years younger than her despite the fact, he looks ten to be exact.

Now, the first time I saw the king the first thing that popped into my mind was Joffrey from Game of Thrones. And let’s face it, I am pretty sure many of you got the impression that this little fella over here is something of a head chopping obsessed, whiny and worthless bitch. So, after he like threw her in the dungeon I somewhat got an impression that this guy was going to be a royal pain. However, Livius in reality is one adorable badass and the show actually does a good job of portraying him as a suitable, strong and mature king.

When Nike meets him, she and the audience realizes that there is nothing childlike about him. He actually behaves like what a ruler might behave like. Sure, once or twice when you see him talk or behave you just want to pinch his cheeks or hug him to death but most of the time I completely forget that he's a fifteen year old stuck in a ten year old’s body! Like seriously I do!

Also, some people including me thought it was hysterical that this little kid was getting engaged to what looks like a younger version of Scarlett Johansson. Now, our main female character on the other hand is a breath of fresh air. Not only is she drop dead gorgeous but she in a sense is like the show’s main comic relief character. She has a wonderful personality considering the fact she is funny, stubborn, kind and just so awesome. I mean, I think the best part is that the show doesn’t portray her character in such a way, which is over the top and annoying, unlike most characters with her traits tend to be like. I truly loved Nike and I loved how the show explored her character during it’s run.

However, the show’s biggest triumph is creating a successful and memorable bond between the two leads. Now, you look at these two and you're like yeah that’s not gonna work. I mean, I don’t mean to be rude but she kinda looks old enough to be his mom even though they are two years apart. Also, despite both of them being royalty, I was curious to how these two characters will mesh together into something wonderful. And, I must be honest when I say that the chemistry between them is just over 9000.

Their interactions are funny, sweet and sometimes sad. And I know many people would just dismiss this show because of the height and age difference, but I have a feeling that if they actually sat down and watched this they would be charmed by it. Also, I am not gonna lie I was expecting a hot and strong king and I was a little disappointed deep inside that it wasn’t the case. But, then it got me thinking that if both characters didn’t have contrasting personalities and looks then the show wouldn’t be as epic and original compared to the heaps of romance anime out there. So, after episode two I was really glad that they chose this guy over here to be the main male character.

The last time, I felt like this about a romance anime was when I watched Inu X Boku SS. Actually, when I watched that show it took me five episodes or so to realize that Ririchiyo and Sousei are supposed to be love interests. I mean, it was obvious in the first episode the way they were shining the spotlight on them, but I didn’t want to believe it at the time. However, this show immediately establishes the fact that these two are gonna shoot love arrows through our kokoros. And that’s something Inu X Boku SS missed the mark for!

However the romance between Nike and Livius is however nothing like the one between Ririchiyo and Sousei. In fact, the show despite its 12 episode limit slowly, slowly with each episode succeeded in developing their relationship. It never felt rushed despite the fact that the characters knew each other for three or so months. Also, unlike most romance anime, the show doesn’t necessarily wait till the end for the two to get together.
Now, this is something I tend to loathe and kindly excuse in many romance anime, but I was just delighted that they made sure the two characters kissed after a short period of time. Also, it’s hilarious that a couple so amazing got engaged even before Nike or we saw the king.

The show however focused so much on developing the main leads that they more or less disregarded the supporting cast as nothing more than just side characters that were just there for the show and not the tell. I mean, they could’ve given Neil or the servants a little bit more depth so that they would have been as memorable as our two leads. Also, even if we are introduced to Nike’s family towards the last few episodes properly I wish they would have done a better job giving us a taste of what they were really like. Sure, we get the idea they are wacky, caring and supportive, but they really didn’t go into much detail. The only exception was the relationship between Nike and her grandmother and I am not going to talk much about that because I don’t want to spoil anything.

Livius on the other hand doesn’t really have a family - well except his uncle Bard. Now, the reason why his character is so proud, diligent, hard working, miserable is due to the fact he lost his mother he loved so much. I know this may sound insensitive but the relationship between the two and flashbacks of his mother is just so clichéd at this point. I mean, honestly , I never understood why Livius loved his mother so much I mean yeah there is a the fact that all mothers well except for Medusa from Soul Eater, love their kids, but all the flashbacks and Livius’ words were just not enough to convince us that the mother was anything special. She to me felt as if she was another clichéd dead parent, which sounds so mean coming out of my mouth!

Now, the uncle on the other hand, his character was clichéd too. I mean, I have seen so many characters like him in the past and he also looks like many anime characters with his traits. There is nothing interesting about him, despite the fact he is this Casanova who loved Livius’ mother and has been broken deep inside ever since. In fact, he was my least favourite character in the entire show. The arc surrounding him was nothing too spectacular and I just found him to be annoying and also useless to the plot. But, he did stir some conflict, so I will give him credit for that!

The fantasy elements of the show was okay, average at best. I mean, sure not every anime has rain summoning maidens in them so that works well to the show’s credit. However, they didn’t really dive much into the concept of nature, rain and magic or how or why Nike and her family has these powers. They merely just scratched the surface to all of these, and didn’t really give it the importance it deserved!

The comedy on the other hand was executed perfectly and I felt it had a nice balance with the drama of the show. Like the show was flawlessly able to switch from a serious tone to a more comedic mode without any trouble which many shows tend to struggle to do. The jokes in this show was hilarious even though it was not ‘rolling on the floor laughing’ hilarious. Also, the show even sneakily broke the fourth wall once or twice, which I thought was superb!

The animation of the show on the other hand was very decent and also consistent. It was not the best animation I have seen, but it was still really bright and colourful with wonderful character designs. Also, despite being a shoujo, romance I am glad that show didn’t have too much sparkly, pink backgrounds which can be very annoying at times. Sure, they had some I think but nothing that would get on a person’s nerve!

The opening and ending themes are nothing that extraordinary but still good for a show like this. The song ‘Tender Rain’ that Nike sings to call the rain was wonderful too, even though I felt that it was reaching ‘Let It Go’ status by being played practically during every episode. But, I still personally loved it and I feel it’s going to be one of the most memorable things about the show.

Now, the overall plot of the show was nothing too extravagant or interesting, but you watch this show for Livius and Nike. They make the show something worth watching especially for those that enjoy romantic comedies. So, after much thought I have decided to award this wonderful show with an 8 out of 10 and a recommendation to definitely to check out this freaking fantabulous show.