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Seems like the crowd darling this season is receiving some serious unjustified flak from the anime community. Hence, I was compelled to write this post.

I never saw ERASED as the best airing right now but I do not deny its quality as the show that defined Winter 2016. I still think Shirayuki-hime and the new Lupin III are much better than this and do not even begin on comparing it with the mythical Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu. However, this show did what the other three cannot do - capture a very large audience with its premise. As of this writing, you can add the total ... MyAnimeList members of these three other shows and ERASED still trampled them big time. This is also the most interesting title to ever grace the screen this season for all the right reasons. Time travel thriller, family issues, serious feels and cat and mouse chase were presented in earlier episodes which are the baits for entering the Top 100 of MAL. In its heyday, it was one of the highest ranked series in the site (it still is but a steep fall is expected for the next days). What happened after its run?

Let us start with the complaints first. ERASED is a show with two segments having disproportionate quality. The mystery and thriller component of this anime bombed so the haters can pinpoint any plot holes they can ever think of and come up with compelling reasons. Episodes 5 and 6 showed the weakness of this series when it tackled the main plot. ERASED cannot show a proper layout to the mystery in the present time as it lacked subtlety and intellect to sway the viewers into thinking who the culprit is and how did he execute these crimes. Red herrings were not executed properly as these were just shown for the sake of deceiving the audience in finding the murderer. We also witnessed that it has unhealthy dependence on cliffhangers to keep the audience hooked with the next episodes. Character wise, Satoru as an adult is dull and Airi's backstory is so bad it's funny because of the chocolate incident. Yashiro's motives were never explained in full as well as his fixation on Satoru. ERASED ended with lots of questions related to this aspect. The show scraped the bottom of the barrel in its tenth episode when Yashiro revealed that he is the culprit in a manner that even Nobuyuki Sogou of Sword Art Online's Alfheim Arc blushed with his blatant declaration.

What I do not understand at this point is why many fumed when we saw Kayo holding her child from Hiromi and people cried over the community as their ship sank. This is where ERASED's rating fell from 9.13 to the present. Probably people always wanted an ending where the two main leads in the series end up together given the hardship they encountered. Yet - they seemed to forgot something important that Satoru was in a coma for 15 years. Kayo is forever thankful for having her life saved but waiting for that long period of time will surely leave her behind. They were eleven when the events in the 1988 occurred. Satoru and her were both young back then - at least in their physical state. Puppy love does not always work in the end as it is fueled by infatuation more than anything else. Kayo must have found someone along the way and the anime adaptation does not have to present her meet up with Hiromi as this isn't their story. The direction ERASED took at this option is far more realistic and logical. It will be really melodramatic to see Kayo patiently waiting all along for Satoru to wake up. Remember that people under coma may not wake up again so she might have wasted a good chunk of her life if Satoru died in his sleep.

Moroever, a lot of manga readers were unhappy with the adaptation in the final episodes of ERASED. Airi, who served as Satoru's love interest was cut off until the last moments of this adaptation and Yashiro's motives were omitted so we got a hilarious speech about drowning hamsters. The latter is a real complaint because Yashiro was reduced to your psychopathic and archetypal villain but the former can be forgiven. Remember how happy we are when we were fed with Kayo? Yes, She is the heart of this series and the most of its run were focused on her development. Sure - we can present Airi and her romance with Satoru but for what expense? ERASED is only slated to run for 12 episodes. They can opt to give this a Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches treatment if they wanted to adapt everything but thankfully they did not. The staff did whatever they can do to have a neat resolution while adapting 15 plus chapters in a span of three episodes. Most important events were presented and anime only moments were inserted to connect the scenes. We can cut some of Kayo's moments to focus in the present but it will hurt more than it could benefit. As stated earlier, the present day Satoru is not the best lead we can have in this otherwise good show. On a less rational remark, the shoujo demographic offers a heck of romance titles you can enjoy if that is the case.

Lastly, even these haters thoroughly enjoyed the first few episodes of this series. Except for the magical moving knife, the magical list (I have to thank a Nihon Review commenter for this) and the hamsters, an anime only viewer will not notice anything rushed in this series. Satoru and his friends (Kayo included) elevated ERASED to something special. This series might have done poorly in its genre but its drama and slice of life component is nothing short of excellent. Family issues were handled gracefully in this show but is brave enough to present child abuse in anime - which is a pretty rare one if you ask. Who was not moved when Kayo ate a normal breakfast for the first time? Who was not wowed in the Christmas Tree scene in this series? There might be few but a substantial amount of watchers (even those who are manga readers) are unanimously happy that it climbed the ranks of MAL's Top 100 anime. There is also a lingering thought in me that we might have given it some weird expectation that it could not fulfill in the end given the constraints. Nonetheless, it is good as a stand alone show. Isn't that enough to be a merit in judging anime series?

One Punch Man's satire about superheroes is hilarious enough in theory and it is animated by a credible studio (Madhouse) that is an expert when it comes to the shounen genre. Many bought the show's premise to the extent that it jolted right at the top fifteen of MAL's best rated animes. Did it live in its hype? Yes, but with reservations.

Art and Sound: 10/10

If there is a compelling reason as to why this should be included as one of the best animes in 2015, the artwork and the animation can fully explain why. The artwork is no doubt one of the year's best. ... Colors are vividly drawn, the monsters of the week were carefully given details to standout and it is always amusing whenever Saitama switches from his usual face to a serious one. In addition, the level of artwork is at the all-time high in anime and did not falter through the course of its run. I was not prepared to see such awesomeness blasting through my computer screen.

More so, the level of sakuga per episode in One Punch Man is probably the highest I have seen in an anime series so far. Fight scenes are fluid and Madhouse seemed to exhaust their funds with these. Every episode does not disappoint in showing fairly choreographed fights. These moments are normally seen in the climactic moments of a typical action series but in this show, highly budgeted cinematography is just the norm.

The soundtrack does not disappoint either as it complements the satirical nature of One Punch Man. The OP in particular, is a real visual and auditory treat. Yet it can be serious enough whenever Saitama's about to change his mood and engage in his epic fights. Again, its usage was as if it is a mockery of other series.

Now, why can't I give One Punch Man a higher rating?

Story and Character: 4/10

A satire which includes a hero who defeats his enemies with a single punch and a mockery of shounen series is chuckle worthy and the first episode delivered just what the viewer wants. Yet for it to work in the long run, it must not be predictable or there must be at least a greater plot. One Punch Man struggles in this part so far because of its paper-thin plot.

Without a central plot, no amount of sakuga scenes can cover One Punch Man's tendencies to rehash some of its themes. A monster of the week approach is fine but a change in the show's formula is really appreciated (for the next season, there has to be one) because its brand of satire started to wear thin near the end of episode one and begins to feel repetitive at episode three. Sure, we were given well animated scenes that are sometimes wobbly choreographed since explosion is not equal to a good fight and worse, we have already predicted what will happen next by then.

Thankfully, a Hunter x Hunter parody at episodes five and six seemed to cover this problem but the monster of the week theme of this show is really recurrent which plagued its first cour. However, the Deep Sea King Arc is what One Punch Man at its best because it manages to mix action and emotional scenes seamlessly.

The jokes in One Punch Man are also hit and miss. I find myself laughing at some parts (Saitama's dream of becoming a popular hero) and being really irritated to some (Geno's really long introduction about himself) The series might be self aware to its shortcomings but it does not give it a leeway when the humor fails.

Saitama as a character is fine but we need to know more about him other than being the absurdly strong superhero who torpedoes himself for the sake of others. Genos was relatively fleshed and likable but is not exactly entertaining for laughs even if his existence is meant to be used for satire. For others? Aside from the green haired loli who courts the boundary of cute and irritating, they are mostly stereotypes who exist for the purpose of satire.

Enjoyment: 7/10

In the end, it really felt like the Madhouse's version of Nichijou where the animators are given freedom in their creativity but the comedy cannot keep up with the level of animation. Sure, if you're into animes because of the visuals, then this show is perfect for you.

Comet Lucifer's first episode pays homage to some lost animes in the nineties. The premise for this show is an old trope but the execution that time felt sincere. Also, the first major scene involved well-choreographed fights and beautifully integrated CGIs. While not perfect, it managed to capture the pure fun (and dumbness) of these type of shows and ended with its audience wanting for more.

Then it went downhill from there.

Story, what story?: 3/10

To be fair with Comet Lucifer, it presented a very simple premise in the first episode. There is this teenage guy who wants to save his girl from ... the evil forces that be and that girl supposedly contains some magical powers that could save the world.

The first few episodes might be little jarring because of the mood whiplash (just can a lighthearted tone be a fight scene literally a second later) but is is never bad. Felia might be a bit mentally challenged but their adventure (as well as the totally random fight scenes later) are engaging albeit a bit boring.

Of course, the story will not be complete without your caricature antagonists who appeared out of nowhere just to torment their peaceful days and a power being the power who manages just everything in this show.

Sounds like your endearing 90s anime, isn't it?

WRONG, or maybe not if you consider the negatives these shows used to have.

For the increase in the episode count, the plot was increasingly muddled with unnecessary flashbacks until it tried to mimic the epic failure that was called Guilty Crown. Who would have thought that Sogo would also be involved in the middle of that convoluted plot despite being a mere crystal idiot? Not to mention his tendency to be so stubborn to the extent of being irritating. Oh, his mother was also a researcher who knows Do Mon.. yada.. yada.. and Do Mon is also an ex-officer who knows this goon yada.. yada.. ZZZZ...

Comet Lucifer also used too much anime physics for the suspense of disbelief of the audience. There are also times where Sogo is in the middle of the war and should've been blasted off by the shock from explosion or be hit by a stray bullet but his main character status protected him from warn. The show did not even bother to explain how on Earth that caterpillar became a mecha and how Sogo was able to operate it with ease. And gasp! That caterpillar is a female with a hideous character design just because the show wants to. Yay.

However, those missteps were not enough. Guilty Crown took 22 episodes to be that renown (or notorious) and Comet Lucifer aspired to be like that in a span of 12 episodes. The end result? It was not even close. It is too tame to be called trashy entertainment a.k.a. Guilty Crown and it is just terrible. The show took itself too seriously to be labelled as guilty pleasure but is offending (and sometimes boring) enough to be classified as one of the worst this year.

Comet Lucifer tried to salvage itself in the finale only to show more stupidity when it revealed its main plot. Really? A mecha lost its master so it should find a new one out of envy in any way possible. What is this? A girl stealing some doll from another girl? That was supposed to be a Eureka moment in this show but I was busy laughing with the stupidity that show has just given.

Character: 3/10

The moment Felia woke up sent a distress signal in Comet Lucifer. If you are expecting some extraterrestrial being who is naturally wary after all the mouse and cat chase she is in , then you are wrong. What we get is a girl who acts like a five year old who gave a montage of dancing vegetables in Sogo's garden. Yes. She plays the princess in damsel in this show. Ugh.

Sogo, on the other hand, may have earned the most stupid male character lead this year after Comet Lucifer. He decided to save Felia 'just because' and suddenly fell in love with Felia the moment she transformed into a voluptuous woman. No matter how sexist and stubborn Shiro of Fate/Stay Night is, at least he has a reason doing things in the show. Sogo would just do whatever he wants (and mind you, in an irritating manner) and it cost him a lot in a supposedly dramatic episode for his development. Only to look totally what he is exactly before in the next one.

Other characters were tropes not utilized properly. Do Mon exists for the purpose of flashbacks and feels which fizzled. Kaon is the doomed childhood friend that was not given enough time to flesh her character and Roman's group is in this series for God knows why. The reasons for their actions were never explained and they have an emotional quotient of a rock.

If you are going to show multitudes of characters, then develop at least one of them. Darn it. It seems like they are mere talking card boards than actual characters. Their world could be gone in an instant and the audience will not care about them.

Overall: 3/10

Just avoid this show. It is not worth your time. This is just bad not even on a guilty pleasure level.

To start with the good news, Owarimonogatari is a breath of fresh air in this rather stale year in animes. The bad news? While its second half provides hints of what was the aftermath of Kizumonogatari film to be aired next year, it is one of the worse arcs in the Monogatari universe.

Story and Character: 6/10

The Sodachi Lost Arc is an oddball even by Monogatari standards. It started with solving the supernatural right away then proceeded with detailed explanation behind the titular character in the arc. The pacing is slower than normal albeit more even which gave enough time to layout the foundation of this ... fantastic case and the characters to develop well. For the plot, it is straightforward this time and avoided some irritating Monogatari quirks that marred the show.

Every character was utilized to the extent that removing one of them leads to the series' failure. Sodachi, in particular, stood out given her neurotic nature and her background which justifies why she hates Araragi. Ougi, on the other hand, is still an enigma to the viewer but is not as abrasive during her presence in Shinobu Time so she gets a pass. The arc also gets a big plus because Araragi is not portrayed as your typical loli-loving pedophile but as a person who is trying to resolve some issues in the past and is trying to find the missing part of him which he repressed in his memories. Moreover, the Sodachi Lost Arc explained as to why Araragi was like what we saw through the course of Monogatari series.

In that sense, the first half of Owarimonogatari could be viewed as a coming of age story because Araragi and Sodachi managed to settle everything between them. As for Araragi, he finally reconciled with Sodachi. As for the latter, she is now able to move on because she found what she hoped to look for. (Spoiler: It's not romantic in nature)

The end product is a compelling and emotional piece that is reminiscent of what Monogatari can offer in its prime.

The second half? Not so much. The disappointment could be from the unrealistic expectation Owarimonogatari brought but it is no doubt that this arc is one of the subpar ones in the series. The majority of Shinobu Mail did what your typical bad Monogatari episode does: there was too much talking that did not move the plot.

The bad omen began when this particular arc opened with Araragi and Kanbaru had their banter which was seen too many times in the series that the jokes grew old. Gaen talks too much to the extent that her ramble took half of an episode with much of the details flying to the viewer's heads. The comedy in Shinobu Time didn't help either. This is because we already saw those jokes and there are certain points in the series where you have to really know Japanese to appreciate some of their gags.

Which was a shame, because the premise of this arc could be the more nuanced than the first arc. We have Shinobu and her first minion showed again after being supposedly dead for 400 years. How cool was that? Instead, we get an unnecessary slow arc with Gaen side trips and loli-tripping that took four episodes to be good. The output is just as emotional as in Sodachi Lost Arc but the way this arc was executed was really questionable.

Sound: 8/10

Again, Shaft is still excellent in providing the right music for a Monogatari show. It knows how to employ OSTs with fast beats when the characters try to come up with something and strings when things go dramatic. The soundtrack helped both arcs in reaching the emotional impact the studio wants. The OPs and the EDs are also strong in this one which is typical for the Monogatari series.

Visuals: 8/10

Now that's where this series excelled. While it may not be able to beat One Punch Man visually, it succeeded in entertaining its audience by its visual quirks. Keeping an audience awake over the span of 24 minutes is a tall task if the characters are just talking for most of the time. Shaft pulled every trick from its sleeve that ranged from visually fun (Araragi and Kanbaru's BL-centric banters) to entirely neurotic (Araragi's class search for the culprit).


Enjoyment: 6/10 (8/10 for Sodachi Lost Case and 4/10 for Shinobu Mail)

Owarimonogatari still stands as one of the best shows in 2015 due to the lack of competition. However, if the second arc is the indication of what will happen in Kizumonogatari, it's getting real hard to be excited for the next Monogatari series.

Ore Monogatari!! is a series that looks unconventional at first glance but a second look reveals that it adheres to every trope of romance animes.

Plot arcs with misunderstanding as the foundation? Check.
Third parties? Check.
Impossibly optimistic leads? Check.
Unsubstantial episodic fluff? Check.

The characters are also not Ore Monogatari!!'s strengths. Takeo's unconventional looks for a male shoujo lead feels gimmicky. While it's true that he was ridiculed by the girls he liked back then, it was glossed over and the series portrayed him as a someone who is much loved by everyone. Swap him to a bland looking guy but retain his behavior and we will still ... get the same results. Suna is the most interesting character in the series for being observant while emotionally distant but was not given proper development. Yamato was not given much task aside from being cute and a doting girlfriend.

You cannot also rely on the show's humor as it borders too much on slapstick or events which require the audience's suspension of disbelief (Takeo's blissful ignorance of a 'university exclusively for females' and the restaurant incident.) There are also some episodes that are reminiscent of countless romantic anime before and bore the heck out of the viewers.

No major conflict occurred in this series which might shake Yamato and Takeo's relationship. What we received is their daily fluff that while admittedly sweet, is never substantial. Yet to dismiss Ore Monogatari!! as bland is also not warranted as it shows occasional moments of excellence.

The musical score of Ore Monogatari!! was one of the year's most moving and was used in perfect timing with emotional scenes. The voice actors also did their best (although Takeo sounds grating at times) to bring these characters to life. Ore Monogatari!! is also a rare case where the ED is much better than the OP.

When it gets its groove, it really stands out. In Ore Monogatari!!'s defense, it only took three episodes before Takeo and Yamato became a couple in the most awkward yet endearing way possible. The poignant scenes in this series are really moving and hit the right spot for shoujo junkies. The couple's technically second kiss counts as one of the finest moment of 2015. However, episodes revolving the side characters (Suna's sister, Shijou and Yamato's friend) and Suna are the better representatives of this genre for being believable and well-developed characters.

These flashes of brilliance do not absolve this series for playing too safe and for following religiously to the tropes which made the shoujo genre dull. So probably, maybe, it will be a long time before a series can dethrone Kimi Ni Todoke as my most favorite conventional shoujo series.

The fangirl favorite of yesteryear has come back in its sixth season and it showcased a competent season of Hetalia. I found it as one of the decent shows of Summer season. Here's my review.

Story: 5/10

Hetalia always excels when it does not tame itself. Historical parodies and racist remarks have been always its forte which can range from hilarious to WTF effect. However, the jokes this time can forge a smile at best and indifference at worst. I cannot remember many moments which caused me to chuckle save Russia's episode and the Micronations which I think are the series' highlights. These are the only situations ... where their quirks work favorably in their favor.

We get some fairly entertaining historical episodes (the snippets of WW2 in Africa, a story from Denmark, Norway and Sweden, Canada's episode and how Germany came to be) but these pale in comparison with Gakuen Hetalia and Hetalia of the Dead (The Beautiful World) and with Prussia's mistake for Hungary's gender and Japan's tour with Italy (The World Series). With the segments gone, the humor which emphasizes on cultural quirks has gone stale due to its usage too many times before. The World Twinkle also ended in a very strange way that is totally random and devoid of humor.

Even when it tries to be heartwarming ( a story from Denmark, Norway and Sweden, Iceland's birthday party and Davie), the result is inferior with its predecessor probably because of the episode order the staff decided on. The whole series felt like a diluted sequel that is reminiscent of the weaker parts of Hetalia: The World Series in the end.

Art: 6/10

While the artwork is still a notch above from the first four seasons of Hetalia, it is a step down from the visually pretty The Beautiful World. It retained the character designs last season but it seemed like the animation feels rigid probably because of the tight budget. The characters get deformed at times when they move and their designs have less details than the last season.

Sound: 7/10

The minimalist score is still continued to be used and the voice actors still give their best in bringing these characters to life. By the way, Hetalian Jet is a fairly catchy ending song.

My only main beef with this season as regards to this matter is it does not know how to put the right background music at the right moment. The World Twinkle's serious episode (Davie) was supposed to be sad but was misdirected by giving it a puzzling score which destroyed the mood of the episode.

Characters: 6/10

With fifteen episodes running at five minutes each, it is impossible to give every character the exposure for the audience to fully grasp the humor they present. The staff was left in a pinch to take the risk of showing them all or to play it safe to focus with the main characters. They chose the former with mixed results.

Russia's straightforward insanity never gets old whenever he switches his personality gentle to yandere. The Micronations are one heck of an entertaining batch. They were able to humor the audience with their personality in a span of two episodes (Molossia takes the cake, I guess).

The Nordics are interesting but their presence in the series is pretty much introductory. We also get to be introduced with Canada but his 'Who-is-he' joke has long overstayed its welcome even before that episode. The main trio (Japan, Italy and Germany) and the Allied were mostly relegated to the sidelines. Prussia never gets out of his pompous behavior which is likable but makes the viewers wish that he gets more than that role.

Hetalia has never been known with serious character development but The World Twinkle's manner of showing its characters is so scatterbrained that I even forgot to root in anyone of them.

Enjoyment: 5/10

I am a long time Hetalia fan so I can safely say that The World Twinkle is its weakest season. Will it gather new fans? No. This is solely for those who are already acquainted with the series. If the staff wants to regain its old glory, they gotta adapt some seriously better episodes.

TL:DR. For someone who is a Key fanboy and considers Clannad as one of the best animes in existence, this one is a sad miss from Key and PA Works. The first half might be underwhelming but at least, it knows where it intends to go. In my opinion, the anime ends at episode ten and I am afraid to say that the cohesiveness of the show also ended there. It can be also noted that Charlotte is a fascinating case of how hype can crush a show towards the end. If you are looking for drama bombs that could blur your logic as you ... are bawling from those poignant scenes, this is not the anime you hoped to look for. Yes, I lowered my grade for this one. Rewatching it left a very sour taste in my mouth.

Now for the full review. Minor spoilers ahead.

Charlotte is probably the most hyped show this season for a good reason. Key is the reason behind Clannad and Kanon 2006 and it also collaborated with PA Works in the hit Angel Beats! last 2010. The two paired again this time yet it is not exactly as great like the last one.

The first episode of Charlotte was probably the one I liked the most from a Key anime. It was as if it peeked some from Kyoto Animation's joke book and implemented it PA Works style. The next two episodes aired and Charlotte was still coherent as we were introduced to other main characters. The jokes were still funny that time and Maeda did a commendable job for introducing us the world the characters have and their circumstances in a span of three episodes.

While not at the level of other Key titles when it comes to artwork, this is one of the best looking animes this season. The character designs are pretty good to the extent that I can differentiate them from other PA Works show. The hues were also masterfully used in this show. Light colors are used during comedic scenes but when something ominous is about to happen, the shades change to very dark colors. Artwork is also consistent with only minor hiccups (some in episode 3 and 4) but not noticeable enough to distract the viewers.

The animation is also good and is mostly well timed with the jokes and crucial events. The background drawings also have good detail which can be said as one of their best.

As regards to background music, it has been shown in the past that Key animes are strong musically and this one is not an exception. The opening song of Charlotte is probably my most favorite this season. Even the story failed as a whole, it's the section where it tries to resuscitate its plot and it nearly worked.

Then episode four came then it became the worst Charlotte episode which showed the dullest baseball match from Key and aired twenty minutes of nothingness. It has been erratic since then. Episode five is a bit better but could've been good if it focused on the interaction between the two main leads and showed some of their circumstances, especially Yuu's. In addition, it suffered from horrible fast pacing given that its preceding episode is a filler. My opinion is that these two episodes should've been merged as one because it did not add anything major in the show. One may argue that these are shown to focus with the character development of the four leads but Takajo and Yusa have only been used for comedic purposes so far and they did not contribute anything with Charlotte's legitimately good episodes. Worse, these fillers caused the show to cram its contents on the last parts, much to the viewer's chagrin and dismay.

Some episodes were considerably better but Key has shown its glaring weaknesses in the past with its execution. Introducing a new character in the former to move the plot forward is a good idea in paper but Charlotte's execution was not good enough to warrant their importance in the series. The latter showed how good Maeda is in portraying depression but its effect was reduced because it has to be hooked with good past episodes for some sense of belief. Also, the problem presented in these episodes was resolved all too quick.

Episode eight is one of the better Charlotte moments but it is still plagued by some questionable execution with its first half. The humor feels off and I sincerely believe that Takajo was reduced to a comic relief that is a hit or miss. However, this episode benefited from some organic drama that somehow forged the main leads' connection further.

What made me really frustrated with it is the sheer greatness of episode 9. That episode alone is enough to change my perception with this show from meh to something that has potential. It's perfectly executed, the plot is evenly paced and it gave answers to the fundamental questions the viewers have in this show. While the tenth episode continues to give us answers in a Charlotte universe, its manner of storytelling honestly killed the excitement I had the last episode. The same can be said with the penultimate episode. Although it's now late to save the show from being mediocre to good at that point, it forged touching character interaction that somehow made me invest with the leads.

The first ten episodes already told an already complete story that is not stellar but at least coherent. Then it suffered from a schizophrenic plot and told the last parts as if it came from its sequel.

While not as bad as episode four, episode eleven is one of the worst Charlotte episodes which really hurt this series more. The show is now suffering from the fillers it had in the past because things are happening in a very awful fast pacing. Shunsuke was reduced to a panicking leader and it dropped a drama bomb that didn't feel anything in my opinion. Its worst flaw is it feels like an episode from a sequel and not as one of the climactic moments of this series.

To add more salt in its flaws, I sincerely believe that Charlotte has failed to incorporate the sense of possibility (or impossibility) when it tried to land for a grand ending. As a result, the finale needs to be patched because of glaring plot holes (seriously, how can a passport got powerful like that) and any poignant moment, was totally off the heads of the viewers now since they got more questions to ask as if we are still in the middle of a single cour series. The ending is also a typical Key ending with Deus Ex Machina being thrown for the sake of happy ending.

The way on how the characters are handled is the worst aspect of the show. Aside from Yuu, all other characters are sorely underdeveloped. They are mostly cheap plot device or they exist for comedic purposes. Even with its good episodes, I suppose that its problem with giving proper role and development with its characters is its biggest flaw. Take Shunsuke and the Zhiend singer for example, they only appeared at the latter part of their respective episodes but they practically stole the show from everyone else who made an appearance beforehand while Yusa and Takajo are relegated for Charlotte's comedic hijinks. The latter two also do not have prominent roles in the show's crucial moments which makes me question their existence for that long as Charlotte is concerned.

In the end, Charlotte is nowhere near the worst but the hype due to the writing staff as well as PA Works' visual prowess crushed it which will be forever remembered as one of the traits of 2015 anime summer season.

DISCLAIMER: I did not read the manga. This review should be taken as an anime-only perspective. This WAS my most favorite anime last summer season until it showed its ugly head. What happened?!

The Highlights

Character Development: Great for the first eight episodes
The Hunters: Unnecessary addition which stagnated the show overall
Plot: Evenly paced but desperately needs a sequel
Ending: The most inconclusive ending this season
Artwork and Animation: Often passable but terrible at times

... Gangsta. will always be a shining example of how terrible animation can destroy the mood of the show and why not to adapt a manga which is still on its world building phase.

To be honest, this has the most compelling premise and characters this season which was unfortunately given a very low budget for its own good. The staff has done a few tricks to cover that problem via zooming in and out some of the scenes and the use of still images but it shows its ugly head when the characters engage in action. Character expressions were awful and deformed during close ups and drawn poorly when distant. The fight scenes are dragging and the character movements are really stiff.

A viewer whose priority is the visual appeal will be turned off by how sluggish the animation could be and will find himself dropping this show once he reaches episode 9 which is really unfortunate for Gangsta because of its masterful storytelling for the first eight episodes. Exposition in particular can be a double edged sword as it ruined Fate Stay Night's great moments but this anime showed that it can be used to further enrich the plot while also entertaining the audience. In Gangsta's case, we were not spoonfed by dull narration but the staff decided to show us tidbits of their past and what drove them to what they are right now. Episodes six and seven in particular were the best episodes this summer season which explained what Alex, Worrick and Nicholas were like in the past and man, these are two episodes which seamed heartwarming and cold scenes seamlessly.

While not new in terms of plot, this was executed properly at least for the first eight episodes. The show excelled when it presents the character interaction between the leads and the intricacies of its story when taken to a larger picture. Moreover, Gangsta.'s ambitious when it comes to its world building since its premise was thoroughly explained, from Alex' reason to stay in town to the powers that be whose interaction was fragile enough to exude an uncomfortable feeling when we are watching this show. This however, faltered the show's quality because it has only an episode left to iron out multiple plot line and it failed to do so.

The character interaction is also excellent too. The Handymen plus Alex are quite a pleasure to watch. Their backgrounds were sufficiently provided and man, this is not your typical sad or bubbly flashback. Only a few anime series give detail to all other minor characters while not forgetting the main leads and Gangsta. is one of those. If we are to base Gangsta's merit for the first eight episodes, I have no reservation to say that it was the best anime last summer.

NOW WHAT WENT WRONG WITH GANGSTA?

Given that the artwork is a mess in Gangsta. (see episode 9), the story should at least be complete and compelling. The balance between action and character drama was stable until the end of episode eight then its ugly head showed afterwards.

The inclusion of the Hunters and the sudden shift to focus on the larger events in Ergastulum marred this already flawed show. The intimate relationship it built with its viewers were destroyed the moment we were presented the Hunter's psychotic demeanor and shounen like powers. Their motives for killing Twilights were never explained and they did not add anything to the complexities of Ergastulum. With the abrupt focus in the city and the addition of these characters, Gangsta. was reduced to your generic dark anime. Character interaction between the leads is now sporadic from episodes nine onwards to give way to new characters which we barely know. How can a viewer possibly care for dozens of new characters in a span of three episodes?

The soundtrack is mostly good in this show. However, there are moments when it is weirdly placed. Doug's death scene could be a compelling one due to all the direction the staff has given but was inserted with very upbeat tone which destroyed its poignancy. Another misstep is the sudden cut of the lovely piano piece at the end of episode 5 which is thankfully still an elegant episode by all means.

However, this is not the biggest flaw of the anime adaptation of Gangsta. If we are going to base the quality of each episode, I still think it is a fine show. It seemed like the staff and the publisher forgot that the manga is still on its early phase but still decided to animate the show. The series ended right in the middle of the large war it created and it caught up with the manga. New characters are barely introduced, the main leads' resolve are nowhere to be seen and the Hunters continue to ruin the show with their shonen-esque attributes. There is no resolution and we were given a finale which is a good episode in its own but a letdown as a series ender.

Will we be able to see the next season? No. It was a shame that this anime was adapted a season too early so we will never be able to see the end of the current arc. The staff could've done an anime original ending but they still stick to adapt this one faithfully until the end which really backfired. Ugh.

There are anime series which excel because they have an original story (Clannad After Story, Stein's Gate and Madoka Magica) and there are those which soar due to well-written characters who carry an otherwise generic story. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime may be dismissed due to its straightforward nature which seems to religiously follow the shoujo genre but a deeper look reveals its characters that defy the tropes which makes it special.

Story: 5/10

The legitimate weakness of this series is that its story does not stand out. We were introduced to Shirayuki, a girl who ran away from her home because their prince wanted to make her a ... concubine then she met Zen, a prince from another country. The premise basically rings a familiar trope that was used too many times before (Disney, anyone?).

The first episode is very fairy tale like in my opinion with all the events being mirrored with the first few events of Snow White. We then follow her life and struggles after she made friends with the Prince. In all honesty, it can be tiresome at times since the first few episodes were made to look as if she was a princess in damsel and the prince has to rescue her just at the right moment.

Other moments involve Shirayuki taking an exam, being introduced to Zen's brother and so on but again, the story does not stand out which is a fair claim to naysayers to dismiss the series as just another shoujo show. This hurt the series considerably in its not so stellar episodes and might leave a stagnant feeling to the viewers.

DISCLAIMER: My praise to Akagami Shirayuki-hime begins here and it might border as if it came from a rabid fanboy but I will try my best to balance my review.

Art: 9/10

The artwork is highly consistent courtesy of Bones and is the prettiest looking series this season. It was as if the staff borrowed some of Shinkai's technique (the man behind 5 Centimeters Per Second) when it comes to the relaxing hues used in Akagami Shirayuki-hime. The artwork (lighting and the characters' expression) was also able to accentuate the heartwarming scenes in this series (Episodes 4 and 11 in particular) and along with the standout score, it elevated an otherwise generic moment.

As regards to character designs, these were cleanly made and these faithfully followed the mangaka's but modified them a bit to have a Bones feel to them. These also mark a departure from your typical shoujo fare where the typical characters are so pretty that you might be dazzled.

Sound: 9/10

Again, Bones is not a stranger in putting the right music at the right moment which makes the effect of crucial scenes in this series very potent to those who invested their time in it. Strings were used during climactic ones which elevated nondescript scenes to heartwarming events. It also knows when to stop during the show's most crucial moment (I am not going to spoil anything) to emphasize something irreversible with Zen and Shirayuki has happened.

For most of the time, the musical score is relaxing enough to complement this languidly paced series which is a very commendable job for Bones.

Characters: 9/10

Akagami no Shirayuki is a character driven show which has actual and relatable characters and a very strong lead reminiscent of Akatsuki No Yona. For what the story lacks, the characters in this show compensate.

Shirayuki defies the traits of a typical shoujo lead. She is socially capable, strong-willed, is not afraid to speak her mind and has actually has a brain which knows her limits. A viewer might expect a typical shoujo lead to go doki doki with her love interest but Shirayuki holds her own and yearns to seek position for her to see Zen as her equal. A crying main character trope because she was intimidated is also not present here but we are given a very rational one who thinks before she acts.

Zen, on the other hand, might err at times to your typical male shoujo character but a closer examination reveals that he is not. While he is kind, his past (a very painful one, mind you) reveals what made him like he is as portrayed. He might be likable and composed but his insecurity (or whatever that feeling is) to his much superior brother is palpable and shows its ugly fang when triggered but not to the point that he shows angst about it. He also narrowly avoided the sparkly main lead syndrome by toning down some of his traits and by not giving him a chick magnet role.

All other recurring characters were also given ample time to get some development. Mitsuhide and Izana benefited from Zen's flashback of his past so much that it can be also viewed that certain story was theirs and not Zen's. They were also elevated from plot device to actual characters which interact with the leads (and contribute to their future paths) without the feeling of emotional manipulation. Izana in particular might just be my favorite character in this show for his reasons and his peculiar ways of handling problems which antagonize him a bit.

Obi, on the other hand, is a very interesting oddball which complemented Zen's calm nature. He is quite perceptive and throws statements which drive the series to a positive direction. The confession scene would not have happened without him after all.

If you are a shoujo junkie and are looking for shoujo-esque moments every single episode, then I am sorry that you are looking for the wrong show. There are no overly complicated relationship webs (A likes B who likes C who likes D... yada... yada...) and we are only given focus with Zen and Shirayuki for as long as the shoujo nature of this show in concerned.

You will also not see Zen getting doki doki around Shirayuki (vice versa until the climactic moment in this show) just because it's the genre's trope. A crying lead being submissive to her love interest after an unfortunate event is also missing here. Instead, Shirayuki has her own resolve in the show's larger problems.

The main leads also prove that we don't have to go for two seasons of confusion and misunderstanding to get a very satisfying confession in the end. And boy, what a satisfying event that was.

Enjoyment: 8/10

There are episodes which fail to copy the oomph of the series highlights (Episodes 2 and 5 in particular can be erased and it will be better in my opinion) but I expected a generic love story upon hitting the play button. Then my prejudice in this show was destroyed in the first episode. This is how execution can make cliches to something special. A second season is coming in January which I hoped will live what makes this one a good romance title.

DISCLAIMER: I haven't read any of Sir Edogawa's work when I wrote the review for this anime.

Ranpo Kitan is an anime coming from the mystery genre which produced Un-Go, Hyouka and Case Closed. The show's setup was good enough. The characters are quirky enough. The premise of the mysteries was creepy enough to pick the interest of the audience. To be honest, I really thought it can be a successor of Un-Go but what went wrong with this show? Oh well, let's proceed with the review.

Ranpo Kitan's direction is more mysterious than the story itself because the way on how the outcome of stories were ... solved was bereft of any thrill and life. It was also randomly handled at times that it managed to squeeze all the characters in a single episode for God knows why. It can also be inferred that one may not enjoy fully this series if he is not familiar with Sir Edogawa's works. That alone sends a distress signal in this anime given that it cannot stand in itself.

In addition, the audience was not given enough time and clues to solve the cases it had. A typical Ranpo Kitan case goes as follows: Akechi and his gang do their daily hijinks, a case comes up and bam! it was solved immediately. It was as if you are listening to a narration which suddenly jumps to the resolution and bores you to death.

The main story picks up at episode 8 (after some empty fillers), which is really late for an eleven episode anime and the payoff is not anything grand either. The sense of belief and tension in the finale were not there. It was as if I was just waiting to see what happens in the end. It starts to become passable then but it was too late to redeem the audience who dropped this early on.

Instead of focusing to create a solid plot, Ranpo Kitan focused in the quirks of the characters which was never good enough to compensate the lack of story. Twenty Faces, Shadow Man and the Medical Examiner are interesting enough since they are portrayed in a theatrical manner but without a good story to anchor them, they are just talking cardboards.

Ranpo Kitan's characters were also not given proper development and were only shown for the sake of the writing staff to move the plot. The only standouts given these characters are Kobayashi who seems to be a sociopath and Akechi who received fair amount of development from an overpowered protagonist to someone who is likable enough in the end.

Yet to say that Ranpo Kitan is a total waste of time is not fair. The visual techniques are really pretty that it compensates its inability to deliver a good story and I can certainly say that the background sound is one of the best I have heard this season. The opening song sets the mood for the show and the ending song is a pure earworm pop rock.

In the end, it seems like the noitamina slot is not fail proof when it comes in producing quality shows. Ranpo Kitan is one of their casualties this season which is a shame given that this is supposed to be the tribute to Sir Edogawa's 50th death anniversary.