Jul 3, 2022
(This review covers both seasons)
March comes in like a lion is a niche show. It is not a show I would recommend to the average anime watcher because of the nature of the show. Slice-of-life shows like this one tend to be slow and uneventful with no real plot. This kind of genre does not appeal to most people and I recognize that fact yet I believe this show is one of the best of its kind (at least from what I've watched so far).
THINGS THIS SHOW DOES WELL/I LIKE:
Characters
I think this show does a great job of introducing realistic and relatable characters that do
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not rely on cliche anime tropes that we see all too often. The writers humanize the "villains" in the story, introducing the ambiguous aspect of human nature that Kiriyama observes. I can appreciate the fact that even minor characters get their stories shared and they're not just Kiriyama's opponents but people with hopes, dreams, and goals. Furthermore, I love it when a show relies on character-based comedy to introduce some light-hearted moments in an otherwise dense show. The majority of the characters are likable and make the show a very entertaining watch. The three sisters add a very wholesome element to the show and Kiriyama has become one of my favorite characters because of his immense growth throughout the show and his relatability.
Animation
This show has one of the most unique animation styles I have seen. It's not exactly a crisp animation style if that makes sense. To me, it's more of an artistic animation style. The show also has no qualms with switching the style every now and again to set the tone or emphasize an emotion or a metaphor. I think that is one of the reasons why this show is so special and why some moments hit so hard. Sometimes, it almost has a cinematic feel which I really like. The animation also does a very good job of portraying emotions. Kiriyama's mouth alone portrays so many of his thoughts and emotions which I think is really good. The eyes provide a similar effect as well and look very unique.
Soundtrack
Although the OST is good yet unnoticeable in a lot of the minor scenes, it creates a very impactful effect in the major scenes of the anime.
Metaphors
The metaphors in this show are very appropriate and thoughtful. They're not cheesy or over-the-top like some other shows and they complement the characters and/or scenes very nicely.
THINGS THIS SHOW DOES NOT DO WELL/I DON'T LIKE:
Pacing
This show has a pacing issue, especially during the early shogi matches in season 1. Despite the fact that I like watching slice-of-life and slow writing does not really discourage me from watching a particular show, I found some of the scenes hard to watch because of how slow they were. Although I do recognize that some of the scenes are slow for a purpose whether it is for elaborating on a metaphor or verbalizing a character's thoughts, if the pacing was altered, I would find the show a bit easier to watch.
Unfinished Plot Points/Characters
This show has many characters and plot points that are not completed (however, this would all be solved with a season 3). Akari, for example, is grossly underutilized in my opinion. Although Hina does a very good job in both seasons, I feel that she takes the spotlight and Akari is glossed over a majority of the time with the exception of a few scenes. Characters like Gotou and Kyoko are completely neglected in the second season which is unfortunate because I feel they still had some room for development and involvement in the story. Shimada’s story ends in defeat with no hope of redemption. He's represented in the story as the embodiment of hard work but doesn't get a title or any recognition to show for it. Kiriyama doesn't get a title and is left as a player with a lot of room for growth. He also never plays Nikaidou which was an event that I thought would happen.
CONCLUSION
I would probably rate the entire show an 8.5/10 with season 1 being rated a little lower than season 2. Although it was slow at times, it was a show I thoroughly enjoyed nonetheless and I watched it twice all the way through. The characters were relatable and enjoyable, the animation was unique, and the soundtrack and metaphors added significant value to the show. A great show.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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