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Dec 12, 2022
Sonny Boy was truly bad viewing, demanding the audience to infuse their own meaning into a bunch of disjointed, nonsensical stories, as the production quality slowly dwindles toward an unsatisfying ending.
Story - 1/10
Characters - 2/10
Sound - 1.5/5
Animation - 3/5
Avg - 2.5/10
Sonny Boy has great potential due to its commitment to bizarro, intangible, freeform concepts and storylines that allow for deep psychological exploration and avant-garde animation.
It wastes that potential by filling episodes with very poorly-developed plots that lack any realism to help the viewer make profound connections to real life, as well as a complete lack of cohesion throughout. The first 1-3 episodes work somewhat well,
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but after that, characters vanish, transport, go through dimensions, voids, and pretty much whatever the writer dreamed up the previous night. The show fully lost me with an awful, pointless episode where a contrived story is told about monkeys playing baseball. I could tell that the writer truly believed in their own poetic talent, and that things were not going to get better. Characters appear out of nowhere with hare-brained motivations and personalities, or disappear and are never seen again. Most events in the show can provoke reactions like "who cares?" and "just shut up", which easily sums up a pretentious show that wanted so badly to be intelligent.
I'm sure there will be many viewers who are struck by it, fascinated by the quirkiness, and can see parallels in their own adolescent experiences. But it was very painful for me. 'Psychological' is my favorite genre, because anime creators can often make remarkably creative and imaginative takes on philosophical character studies. So I suppose I expect some proficiency from it.
The show generally looks pretty cool. It wasn't for me, maybe it would be for you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Jun 19, 2021
Clannad is the first slice of life anime that I loved, got immersed into, and the only question I have is what else can I find quite like it?
Story & Writing: 8.5/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Art: 3.5/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Avg: 8.7/10
I have attempted a few slice of life now - finished one, and slowly working my way through others. Typically it's not my style. But they make so many. Something had to click. Enter Clannad. Watching this show was the first time I blitzed through 7 episodes in a day. I'm not much of a binger, as I like to let shows sink in, but it's easy to fall in
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love with what they bring to the table.
There isn't a specific story, but don't let that stop you. Every character and arc has their own story with their own very unique motivations that the main character can't help but get involved with. The writing is incredibly charming, and I laughed at the humor consistently. The writing was not childish, it fit the high school cast well, and the writers knew how to tease extremely well at the dark pasts and yet-to-be-uncovered secrets that almost always had a payoff. In fact it's hard to go much more into the writing without talking about the characters.
Whew, the characters. This is a really, really endearing crew. Thankfully few of these characters feel like pure arctypes of tsunderes, yanderes, or otakus. I would say the only character they mail in is pretty much the best friend. Beyond that, each girl has her own extremes, but has depth and somewhat reasonable growth along the way. Every time the protagonist entered a new arc exploring a girl he met earlier I chuckled at how excited I was. Honestly, it's weird to talk about how much fun it was getting to know these characters. Even side characters were done well. The dad of one of the girls is one of my favorite, funniest characters in an anime so far. I wish I was exaggerating. Finally, the MC Tomoya Okazaki is a stud. He plays off of the uncaring slacker trope, but what makes him so special is how much he does care. He can be nonchalant and melancholy, but deep down he is heavily invested in the people around him. He's very friendly, accommodating, but has his own darkness. Even the reasons for him being a 'slacker' made a ton of sense. This goes deep.
The visuals are consistently beautiful, and only a few later episodes have some slight animation degradation. Only minor fan service is included, which is refreshing. Yes, the cutesy art style is silly, but it's true to the VN, and you forget about it after a few episodes. The sound is excellent. The OP is unskippable, and the music throughout had a perfect balance, set the tone well, and included a frequent comforting melody. One last note - I prefer dubs, and the English cast did excellently, so no hesitation there.
I'm sure it's not for everyone. If you don't dig the Fuko arc, one of the earlier ones, then it's probably not for you, as that is filled with gobs of charm and it was one of my favorites. So about 5-6 episodes should tell you to skip or finish, as the quality maintains the whole way through. Oh, and Tomoyo is best girl, but you knew that, didn't you?
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 19, 2021
Log Horizon lacks stakes, has childish humor, minimal action or character-building, and only has 1 compelling arc that doesn't seem to denote that this should be a renowned isekai.
Story & Writing: 3/10
Characters: 4/10
Art: 2.5/5
Sound: 2.5/5
Avg: 4/10
I haven't written one of these in a while, but without spoilers I feel the need to unfortunately dump on a fairly beloved isekai. Let me start by saying that this is sometimes a very smart show. For anyone who has ever played an MMORPG, it is a very legitimate and affectionate take on the genre. They introduce several mechanics such as classes, subclasses, quests, grinding, balancing a party, etc.
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It also has 1 arc that was really great. I won't go into it but it's around episode 9-12 or so, and involves a lot of clever politicking and is very well-written. Beyond the aforementioned moments, it feels worthless to me.
The story is almost nonexistent. There is an event that happens that is never explained, and none of the characters seem overly concerned that this is a monumental life-changing experience with no sign of changing. There is also no goal, journey, or point to the season. They essentially meander and try to take over until some kind of conflict arises. That said, the final arc is mostly slice of life and has little suspense or interest. I had to multitask to even finish it. The writing is smart at times, but the humor is very poor. Maybe children could find the slapstick funny, but it's mostly cringy.
The characters can be good sometimes. The main character is one of the better ones, in that he's an otaku but his skills come in handy in this game world. He's never a pure good guy but easily someone you can root for. As for everyone else, you have the perverted friend, the sagelike perfect friend, the adoring sidekick, generic tough guys, a guy who can somehow always read the mind of a princess, a bubbly woman who fawns over another girl, etc. They reuse the same jokes and character interactions over and over again, and nobody grows or learns in the story.
The art and sound are both fine. I skip both the OP and ED althought the ED isn't bad. Nothing special or terrible in either of these regards.
If you are a very patient MMORPG fanatic, this might be for you actually. I'm not dumping on it to be cruel but to provide a perspective for potential viewers. I definitely hope to see some newer isekai that change my mind about this genre at some point in the near future.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jan 5, 2019
Ergo Proxy is a dark, gray-tinted anime with more misses than hits, but with enough digging into it, the concept can leave a shockingly good impression.
Story & Writing: 7.5/10
Characters: 6/10
Art: 3/5
Sound: 3/5
Avg: 6.5/10
This is a tough show to recommend. As the story and writing goes, it starts off strong, albeit jagged and disheveled, but then gets totally lost in the middle, for about 10 episodes in my opinion, including an inexplicable info dump as a crutch for the convoluted plot. Thankfully, it scrapes together a very memorable conclusion. Many episodes are conceptual, and they don't piece together until you look back at their journey as
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a whole. It's a show that would bring much more clarity on a rewatch, but due to its slow and melancholy nature, I would have a hard time doing that. I had to read a critical analysis to understand the ending, which was fine I suppose. You'll want to watch the episodes very closely, as they don't always connect cohesively or explain themselves.
Characters were ok. Re-L is a good main, but can be very moody and fussy. Pino provides childlike innocence through the lens of an android, with some great highlights. Vincent Law is one of the toughest main characters I've watched. He is supposed to be, but it's hard to really connect with anyone in this show. Maybe that's the point.
Art wasn't special -- I remember lots of gray and typical animation. The sound was fine. I really like the OP as it captures the nearly metaphysical themes of the show, but other than that.. voice acting was ok, and I don't remember much in terms of music. The ambience was good.
Spoiler commentary this paragraph:
I will say that I love some of the concepts of this show. Early on, Vincent in my opinion showed an amazing metaphor for how we can give up what makes us personal and unique and brings us passion, in order to fit into whatever community, society, religion, job, family, or circumstances that we think we have to, with the key moment when he leaves the city and opens his brilliant green eyes. And to imagine that this painstakingly mild-mannered, bashful individual had another side of himself designed for killing, is a great dichotomy to the duality we all have, and can learn to understand and direct, rather than being hidden and shamed and manipulated for it. Anyways, just a couple personal inferences that I grabbed and held onto.
So yes, if you commit to the end, it can stick with you. I have to go with a 6, barely, because so much of it felt like a slog. But, I occasionally still think about it and, months removed from it, I'm glad I watched it. While Ergo Proxy is remarkably ambitious telling the elaborate juxtaposed story of Vincent Law, it doesn't always execute well, which is a shame, but is still admirable in its own way.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 2, 2019
Engaging from beginning to end and holds up like a gem. And despite having a fair amount of action, it's the the fleshed out characters and sharp, tense writing that surprised me, and make this a great intro into the series.
Story & Writing: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Art: 3.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Avg: 8.8/10
Beyond just the action and intense mecha battles, Gundam I also has a terrific balance of drama, character development, a flawed protagonist, memorable enemy characters that you slightly cheer for, and very realized factions on each side. The story starts off quickly, but takes time to world build and allow for slight realism of letting us watched inexperienced
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'good guys' trying to figure out how to fight back and survive. But after the initial build-up, it doesn't let up, surely buoyed by cutting out hours of extra time from the original show. The slowly developing "Newtype" concept is intriguing as well.
The writing actually most excelled for me when building characters, taking time to show their personalities, the power plays, motivations, and dilemmas they deal with. Char, without much screen time, steals the show on a charismatic level. Amuro is frustrating and melodramatic, but he's also a moody teenage boy, and not a soldier, and it would be less believable if he behaved otherwise. They build appeal with side characters as well, who are understated but distinct, and grow on you. This movie shows instead of tells, doesn't waste time, and takes itself seriously enough that you can immerse into the world of the Universal Century.
The art is passable but surely good for its time. Oh and can we talk about that sound editing!? Great Japanese voice acting, and music, but the sound when it comes to ships and mechs as they take off, fire weapons, and the dynamic stereo utilization of passing mechs and vehicles, is impeccable. Underrated in my opinion.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 24, 2018
Ridiculous lunacy, with understandable deeper undertones as a metaphor for growing up and dealing with loneliness, puberty, and family drama. But just because it's deconstructive and Lynchian... does that make it artistic, or just a bad drug trip?
Story & Writing: 4/10
Characters: 5/10
Art: 3.5/5
Sound: 4/5
Average: 5.5/10
To start, the characters have some appeal to them in how weird they are. The dad is as creepy and obnoxious as Dads get. The main character is an interesting shell of invulnerability based on recent life events, and the girls fall into strange spectrums -- channeling dark, quiet guilt on one side, and excited impulsiveness on the other.
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I kept waiting for the depth of that setup to kick in... but nope. Really just a drug-induced manic storyline plays out with little sense surrounded by deconstructive humor, over-the-top sometimes perverted characters, and a lack of meaning in the conclusion. Even with 6 episodes it was tough to get through.
They certainly exceeded in the English dub, with amazing voice actors, especially the flamboyant Haruhara. Also, the ED is one of the best of all time. The art looks decent, propelled by clever, fascinating, and playful artistic decisions.
If you're seeking a solid story, it's not for you. But this probably is for fans of quirky, mind-bending wackiness, with meaningful core themes. It could be an entertaining romp and a feast for the eyes in an extremely abstract way. So take it with a grain of salt, and you might dig it. I didn't. But it was 2.5 hours of my life so it could've been a lot worse.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Dec 17, 2018
Great promising psychological show with a devolving story and an odd final chapter.
Story & Writing: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Animation: 4.5/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Avg: 7.7/10
Classroom of the Elite seems to want to be psychologically and philosophically profound, starting with one of the first sequences. You see moral dilemmas played out by these aspiring high schoolers, and it sets the tone that you're not watching typical heroic, predictable main characters.
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This show is easy and enjoyable to watch. It covers a few arcs and the pacing is always solid. Unfortunately it's not meant to be 12 episodes. By the time you finish it, it feels like most deep character arcs were only glanced at, and you only understand a few motivations. Moreover, this is a serious show that manages to avoid Moe and goofiness but falls into a terrible pseudo-ecchi trap with unnecessarily ginormous breasts, odd swimsuit scenes, and an episode 100% dedicated to perversion.
The main character is an extremely fascinating enigma, with glimmers of the conflicted MCs that we love, who play in the gray and balance manipulation and good intentions. The supporting characters are extremely engaging as well and one of the best parts of the show. The English voice acting is absolutely excellent and consistent. I didn't really notice music necessarily but I dig the OP a lot. It's one of my favorites and it sets the mood perfectly each time. The art is exquisite. They don't have to do much but each scene has beautiful detail and never falters.
The main issue is that the story loses steam. You can tell that they had ratings problems. This gripping developing story turns into an odd final 1/3 where a confusing test is supposed to push the students to psychological limits and quandaries, but you just end up missing their school interactions. If you can put up with inconsistent story direction, this is a brilliantly enjoyable and serious, adult, clever anime that I wish got more credit and was given a better chance to succeed by its creators.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 4, 2018
Some of the best battle writing I've seen. Not much really... *happens* in this show. But also so much happens. Let me explain.
Story & Writing: 8.5/10
Characters: 7.5/10
Animation: 4.5/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Avg: 8/10
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In the first half of this show, it's mainly build-up. It covers a lot of time and deals with world-building and slight character development, but also a crap-ton of anime overreaction and excessive whining.
But don't turn it off!! Not only does it consistently break trope, meaning that you never really know what to expect from any action sequence, but in the second half, the writing of each battle is exquisite, entertaining, and a creative achievement.
When I say that not a lot happens it means that a lot of this season focuses on tiny increments. It takes one battle or one major crisis and breaks it up into 2-4 episodes and lets it play out while you're in the characters' heads. While you have a clear main character, the others are well-developed and you find your favorites.
The animation is excellent. The English dub is likely inferior due to the incredibly annoying voice of the main character, but it shines in many other areas. They did not skimp on this show. What holds my rating back was a sloppy first 4-5 episodes, but the show really found its stride and hit a home run to the end.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 4, 2018
Erased is a solid 12 episode arc with dark themes but an inspiring overtone. At only 4-5 hours of runtime, this is not going to bog you down or suck days away from your life, so it's very consumable. The dub is also very good, and every voice brings lots of life to the characters.
Story & Writing: 7/10
Characters: 7/10
Animation: 4.5/5
Sound: 4/5
Avg: 7.5/10
Story - While good, it is a bit disjointed and never really firmly defines or understands its own rules. That said, it still has a good amount of suspense and twists and turns, but the tone changes so often that it's hard to pin
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down. Unfortunately, it starts very strong and ends strangely. But still good overall.
Characters - What seems initially like the best part, the characters are very likeable, and the mother is an anime MVP. However, other than Kayo, they are pretty one-layered. The show lacks *any* serious conflict with character values or purpose, and the friends seem to go along with everything easily, so it's as if they are there to simply propel the story to ep 12.
I suggest it because it's easy, and the mystery is engaging. But don't go in expecting a masterpiece. Just enjoy the entertainment and the heart at its core.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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