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Baby Steps

Baby Steps is a memorable sports anime with informative analysis of tennis, likable characters, and thrilling gameplay.

CHARACTERS: 20/25
The protagonist of this series is Eiichiro Maruo. Supporting characters are Natsu Takasaki, Takuma Egawa, Kojirou Kageyama, Yukichi Fukuzawa, and Himeko Sasaki. Eiichiro plays against and continually interacts with other tennis players such as Takuya Miyagawa, Ryou Oobayashi, Hitoshi Araya, Hiromi Iwasa, Souji Ike, and Yuu Nabae. Other supporting cast include Eiichiro’s parents and his coaches, Coach Miura and Coach Ryuuhei Aoi. Eiichiro is a very likable and hard-working student who decides to try his hand at tennis and ends up loving it. Throughout the series the ... viewer grows to admire and root for Eiichiro’s unique approach to mastering tennis and is charmed by Eiichiro’s growing love interest, Natsu. Kageyama and Sasaki play supportive, comedic, and unobtrusive roles. Eiichiro’s parents both support and challenge Eiichiro’s pursuit to go pro. The coaches and Eiichiro himself provide a majority of the analyses about training and gameplay. What is greatly impressive is the number and variety of other tennis players that Eiichiro faces, providing new and unique spins to each series of episodes in which Eiichiro is playing against one of them. The viewer grows to admire the uniqueness of each person’s game and how Eiichiro learns something different when/after facing each player. Something that might be lacking is character development and screen time for some of the other characters, like Natsu, as she is basically just a strong tennis player who is supportive of Eiichiro and is the cutest girl in class. Kageyama ends up just being someone who goes to Eiichiro’s matches and is talked to by the coaches. In addition, Eiichiro may be almost too analytical and focused on tennis, as other aspects of his life, such as his love life, are really very superficial and don’t get the depth of character development that the viewer may want to see.

STORY: 38/45
The story of Baby Steps draws you in and leaves you wondering what happens next, especially when Eiichiro is playing in a match. While one might think that watching Eiichiro play in matches multiple times can get repetitive, every opponent is unique and possesses different skills, making every match feel fresh and thrilling. What’s great is also that while Eiichiro is a rising star in tennis who is improving at an alarming rate, he doesn’t win every match, keeping the story feeling a bit more realistic. The gameplay analysis narrated usually by Eiichiro himself or the coaches is very strong and informative. There is also, of course, the overarching story of Eiichiro growing as a tennis player and deciding that he wants to go pro. For this reason, the stakes are raised, causing viewers to root for Eiichiro even more as there are concrete goals he has to achieve. The overall development of his relationship to the sport and to his studies are done very well, as are his training and adjustments in his training. What may be lacking, as mentioned previously, is more about Eiichiro’s personality and life other than being an honors student and being very focused on tennis. For example, there’s not much regarding his friendship with Kageyama. In addition, while Natsu plays heroine to Eiichiro’s main character role, their interactions are quite minimal and Natsu doesn’t receive much character development other than being another tennis player trying to go pro who happens to be the cutest girl in class.

ART: 8/10
The art in Baby Steps is nothing special. Everything is well-drawn and most scenes are well-animated. What might be lacking is having more scenes with actual movement of players during matches instead of just using speed lines for the ball. The OP and ED are well-animated and set up the series well.

SOUND: 8/10
The sound in this series is great. The voice acting is done very well, including the action scenes. The sound effects are strong and matches sound like a real game is being played. I’m not sure how many variations of tennis balls being hit that they used, but it seems like a lot. Background music is used at appropriate times, but seems limited as we hear the same music used repeatedly, especially during matches.

ENJOYMENT: 9/10
Baby Steps is a very enjoyable anime. As stated before, Eiichiro’s is a very likable character and one can’t help but cheer for him to do well. Every match is unique, thrilling, and sometimes spans for several episodes, leaving viewers wanting to know what happens next. His growing relationship with Natsu is also a joy to watch.

OVERALL: 83/100
Would I recommend Baby Steps to a friend? Absolutely. It’s an informative, funny, entertaining, and thrilling anime about tennis. It makes me want to take up my racket again and get back on the court.

Romantic Killer is not only a fun otome game-like anime but also a surprisingly in-depth analysis of love/lust/intimacy.

CHARACTERS = 17/25

The protagonist of the series is Anzu Hoshino, who is thrust into an otome game-like experience because of Riri, a wizard. Her love interests include Tsukasa Kazuki, Junta Hayami, Hijiri Koganei, and Ryuuya. There are side characters worth mentioning, such as Anzu's friend Saki Takamini, Tsukasa's sister Arisa Kazuki, Hijiri's go-to man Tsuchiya, and Tsukasa's friend Makoto Oda. Anzu is a very likable, pretty, and fun character to follow throughout the series. The new ikemen who have entered her life, as she calls them, also have ... a bit of depth to them that is surprising for an anime of this genre. The side characters often provide comic relief and a bit of freshness to the main characters' interactions. The characters overall have a good balance of surface-level enjoyment to them as well as some character development.

STORY = 32/45

The underlying story of this anime is that the Anzu is being thrust into a situation in which she must fall in love. The first 3/4 of this anime seems very much like that, with different ikemen being introduced into her life and the audience wondering which one she'll eventually go for. Riri comes up with all kinds of scenarios to put Anzu in, making the experience quite fun overall. We get to delve into each of the guys' views on dating, examine their approaches, learn about their insecurities, and find that everyone has their share of strengths and challenges, just like us. Throughout everything that happens, Anzu proves to be a very impressive catch for any one of the guys. Without giving too much away, there are also arcs in which we follow some of the ikemen or the side characters as they provide a different perspective of love/lust/intimacy which in some ways seems aligned with anime of this genre but in other ways are actually very unique. It provides a huge amount of depth to the anime that this reviewer certainly appreciated.

ART = 7/10

The art in Romantic Killer is nothing special, but it is quite crisp, as expected of a Netflix anime. The comedic elements of scenes are done in a great way as they highlight it as a fun anime, one that you can take lightheartedly. The OP and ED are both fun visually.

SOUND = 7/10

The voice-acting is done very well, but no one really stands out. Even with the more monotonous characters, there is a level of depth to their emotions that you can detect from their voice-acting. There is good background music and there are good sound effects when the story calls for it. The OP and ED music help set the tone for the series.

ENJOYMENT = 8/10

At first, Romantic Killer seems like just a fun otome game-like experience, and for many of the episodes, it sticks to this formula. There's nothing wrong with that, as it was what I was expecting and enjoyed. The bonus was the turn the story takes as it dives into the stories of other characters. This really changed the mood in a welcome way and is probably what will make Romantic Killer so memorable.

OVERALL = 71/100

Would I recommend Romantic Killer to a friend? Yes. It's fun and lighthearted most of the way, and the turn the story takes really pulls the viewer in. However, while this turn of events is welcome, it is being added to a mostly formulaic story, making Romantic Killer something I would probably call good but not great.

I'll keep this brief, as I wrote a full review of Osomatsu-san - Season 1 and a follow-up review of Osmatsu-san - Season 2 which you can both find on my profile.

After thoroughly enjoying the hilarity and creativity of seasons 1 and 2 of Osomatsu-san, I can see why the score for this season is lower. However, I do think this season deserves a score that is a bit more consistent with seasons 1 and 2.

While the gags overall tended to move in the direction of less ridiculousness, the ridiculous ones were pretty consistent with seasons 1 and 2 and the stories/gags continued to be ... creative, funny, and sometimes insightful. In addition, the stories continued to do well at highlighting each individual sextuplet and pairing different variations of the sextuplets, which was a strength of season 2. It also seems like the side characters like Iyami and Chibita got less screen time, however, for good reason...

A big change in this season was the addition of the Riceballs: Pickled Plum and Salmon. This was a bold direction to take as it brought a level of story continuity along with two new enjoyable characters. This change makes this season feel a bit different from seasons 1 and 2.

I think the end result was just as funny/creative, although it could be considered at times a different kind of funny because the stories overall had less of a "shuffled" feel to it, especially with the addition of the Riceballs' continuing narrative throughout the season.

Overall, I'll admit that this season felt different, but I enjoyed it at the same level of seasons 1 and 2.

I'll keep this brief, as I wrote a full review of Osomatsu-san - Season 1 which you can find on my profile.

After watching Season 1 of Osomatsu-san one gains a level of familiarity with what the anime is all about, making it easier to enjoy the stories/gags of Season 2 because one knows what they are in for.

This season of Osomatsu-san continues to provide richly creative stories/gags and a bit more insight into the minds/characters of each individual sextuplet.

The stories/gags continue to be funny and somewhat insightful. While not always laugh-out-loud funny, they can be enjoyed simply for the creativity behind the writing and voice-acting.

The ... OP and ED continue to be wonderfully creative and enjoyable, too.

Overall, I think this season deserves a consistent if not higher score than the previous season.

Osomatsu-san may be hard to get into at first, but after diving into its waters one will find a lot of enjoyment and relaxation out of it.

CHARACTERS = 20/25

The series' protagonists are Osomatsu, Karamatsu, Choromatsu, Ichimatsu, Jyushimatsu, and Todomatsu. Side characters include their parents Matsuyo and Matsuzou along with Iyami, Chibita, Hatabou, Dekapan, Dayon, and Totoko. As you can see, there are already many characters about which comedic stories can be written. After getting the hang of each sextuplet's identity, one also finds one or a few sextuplets that they relate to the most. Each of the sextuplets is rather unique and they often play ... off each other, much like manzai, and often two of them are in a scenario as the stars while others play supporting characters. This allows for different variations of pairings of sextuplets along with the side characters. The side characters also often get their own stories which makes for a fun change of pace. What the characters lack in depth they make up for with their comedic idiosyncrasies.

STORY = 37/45

The underlying story of this anime is that the sextuplets are virgins and NEETs. Many of the stories revolve around them figuring out their life situation or contemplating finding work. Since their situation is not desirable and they are sometimes gross, vile, perverted, stupid people, this makes for lots of fun stories. In addition, as this is a gag anime, sometimes that background story is even ignored as the sextuplets play different characters in various sketches. Sometimes the side characters get their own fun stories. At times, the stories transition from ridiculous to real and sad in genuinely heartwarming ways. Many of the insights shared by the anime's various characters are often realistic and make for good social commentary. Overall, shuffling around all these variations of stories, feelings, and messages conveyed makes for a great mix of laughter, creative fun, realness, and emotions that can leave one impressed by what this anime has to offer. It is worth mentioning that the viewer will probably not find everything laugh-out-loud funny and that's okay, especially while one is still getting a sense of what this anime is all about.

ART = 8/10

The art in Osomatsu-san makes the anime very unique and immediately identifiable. While it may look simple, the artistic style sets the anime up for laughs and provides a level of comfort to the viewer. Also, the various ridiculous situations the sextuplets and other characters find themselves in provide opportunities for the animators to show their skills. In addition, the OP and ED are very creatively done.

SOUND = 8/10

The voice-acting is very well done, by both the main cast and the side characters, though some of the sextuplets seem to stand out more than others. There is good background music and there are good sound effects when the story calls for it. The OP and ED music really set the tone for the series.

ENJOYMENT = 8/10

At first, Osomatsu-san is a lot to take in. It may take some time to get used to the characters and understand what this anime is all about. After getting comfortable and understanding the direction this anime takes, it becomes quite enjoyable and it is easier to laugh and enjoy the various stories/gags. Again, not everything is laugh-out-loud funny, but one can admire the creativity behind the stories/gags.

There is also something to be appreciated about how this anime first aired in 1966 and was revived in 2015. It is impressive that Fujio Akatsuka created characters/stories that can be adapted in a new era.

OVERALL = 81/100

Would I recommend Osomatsu-san to a friend? Absolutely. It's stupid. It's funny. It gets at your feelings sometimes. The OP and ED are great. It's genuinely enjoyable to appreciate the creativity the series has to offer.

Shimoneta is a fun watch that sparks conversation but often falls flat when it comes to humor.

CHARACTERS = 5/10

The series' protagonists are Tanukichi Okuma and Ayame Kajou, surrounded by a small supporting cast. This anime is intended to be a comedy so there is not too much depth to these characters. Tanukichi and Ayame exist as a comedic duo, in which Ayame makes very similar obscene jokes left and right and Tanukichi reacts to them. The antagonists of the different arcs are also very simple (crazy) in their attitudes/behaviors. The side characters, such as Otome Saotome and Kosuri Onigashira, add some fun flavor to the ... mix. These are all certainly very different characters than seen in most other anime.

STORY = 5/10

The setting of this anime is very unique and actually sparks some conversation about sex positivity and free speech. It takes place in a world where all that can be considered obscene (mainly sex-related materials and conversation) is under the scrutiny of a police-like force, leaving many people, especially the youth, unknowledgeable about things like family planning, masturbation, or sex. Viewers definitely get the sense that this is not a world they would want to live in. As far as plotlines go, Shimoneta certainly has some strengths as far as telling some bizarre stories (e.g. Moist Throng), but a big issue is that its humor often falls flat. Some moments are pretty funny while most of the show's jokes feel like a lot of repetitive (sometimes disgusting, depending on your viewpoint) fluff to get through just to see how the story progresses.

ART = 8/10

The art in Shimoneta is one of its strengths. It is fairly well-animated, with decent character designs.

SOUND = 8/10

Also a strength. The voice-acting is quite convincing. There is good background music when the story calls for it. The OP and ED music really set the tone for the series.

ENJOYMENT = 6/10

Shimoneta is pretty enjoyable because it is so unique. However, as one gets through it, it starts to drag a bit after realizing how repetitive the jokes are. The overall message of free speech and sex positivity that lies beneath this bizarre series is also one that many people can get behind.

OVERALL = 6/10

Would I recommend Shimoneta to a friend? Yes, but I would probably preface that I found it more interesting than I found it great.

The Minami sisters are back to their former glory with Minami-ke Tadaima.

Rather than my usual tempolate (characters, story, art, sound, enjoyment), since this is a sequel, I'll keep it very brief.

Minami-ke Tadaima is probably the best, if not tied for the best (with season one), season of the series.

The art is very clean and crisp, while keeping the bright, colorful, and detailed backgrounds. The stories are as diverse as ever, with a lot of involvement from side characters. The gags seem a lot tighter, in that they pack more laughs per minute. This season also includes more of what I enjoyed from season one -- ... Sensei and Ninomiya-kun!

Overall, this season is very enjoyable and reminds viewers of why they liked the entirety of the Minami-ke series in the first place. It is a strong ending to the franchise.

Minami-ke Okaeri is much better than Minami-ke Okawari.

Rather than my usual template (characters, story, art, sound, enjoyment), since this is a sequel, I'll keep it very brief.

Minami-ke Okaeri is a much fresher version of the story of the Minami sisters. The art style has reverted back to the more bright and colorful atmosphere we grew to love in the first season, while the character designs seem similar to the second season. There is also a little less fanservice. The stories are as varied as ever, with much greater involvement of other characters. This season is also funnier than the second season.

Basically if you are ... a Minami-ke fan, you will enjoy this season, and will be happy to have gotten through the second season in order to get here.

This is the Minami-ke series in its sophomore slump.

Rather than following my usual template (characters, story, art, sound, enjoyment) I'll keep it brief, since this is a sequel.

Minami-ke Okawari feels like the Minami-ke series got a bit lost trying to go into a new direction. The first noticeable difference from the first season is the art style. The lines are all very hard and everything looks darker. Sure, the backgrounds certainly have more detail, but perhaps too much hard-lined details. The art overall seems out-of-place for the lighthearted comedy we grew to love in Minami-ke. There also seems to be a bit more fanservice, which ... takes away a bit from what the series means as a lighthearted comedy.

The episodic stories are quite varied and still involve a plethora of characters, however, it seems like this season lacks the comedy we grew to love in the first season. Opportunities for punchlines are missed. For example, Hosaka appears multiple times but nothing really happens with him.

The characters, Haruka, Kana, and Chiaki are more-or-less the same as they were in the first season, with Chiaki probably being the most different in her attitude towards Haruka.

All this being said, because the MC's are so likable, I still enjoyed this series and went on to watch the rest of the seasons. I wouldn't recommend this season by itself; I think it's required that one watches the first season before this.

Minami-ke is a solid wholesome slice-of-life/gag comedy.

CHARACTERS = 9/10

The characters for the three sisters are well thought-out. At first it seems like they might be pretty easily stereotyped into just one particular attitude, but the way they interact with each other is surprisingly dynamic. The additional characters also get a decent amount of airtime and provide some variety to the series. They are slightly more well-developed than seen in many other anime. However, with two characters, Mako and Touma, their personalities are somewhat similar which kind of takes away from their respective gags.

STORY = 8/10

The intro of each episode says it all -- don't expect ... too much from this anime. It is part slice-of-life, part gag comedy. Taking it as such, the series does well to keep each episode different, following each sister for about equal amounts of time, with Kana probably getting the most airtime. It does enlist classic tropes like a beach episode and a Christmas/New Year's episode. What's also fun are the continuous gags they keep going throughout the show, such as the news story about loincloths or the drama they're watching about Sensei and Ninomiya-kun. However, there are side stories that get a bit dull and even repetitive, such as with Mako or Touma.

SOUND = 10/10

This series does a great job with background music and sound effects which really fit the vibe of each scene. The voice acting is terrific. Each sister sounds true to character, with Kana and Chiaki being highlights. The OP and ED songs are well-chosen, with a happy, bouncy energy to them.

ART = 8/10

The art has a nice, soft color to it which is easy on the eyes and allows the artists to change up the style in order to support a gag, such as when the camera zooms in on the characters' eyes and they glare at each other -- although this does seem somewhat out of place. Each character is well designed, allowing viewers to decipher who each person is. The backgrounds and settings such as the schools and the Minami home are all well animated. Overall the art is nothing particularly impressive -- hard to judge without a lot of crazy scenes -- but it's certainly appropriate for this type of series.

ENJOYMENT = 7/10

I enjoyed watching this anime. However, personally, the gags were hit or miss. I certainly could appreciate them all as funny but I wasn't laughing every time. I often found myself laughing more at the ongoing background gags (loincloths, Sensei and Ninomiya-kun) than at the main narrative.

OVERALL = 8/10

Would I recommend Minami-ke to a friend? Yes. It's a fun, slice-of-life gag comedy that's quite enjoyable.