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The adventure of Hyakkimaru & Dororo, and what an adventure it was. A weathered, angry sapling with its freshly bloomed makeup on; two companions whose goal is to not only survive, but to thrive and challenge the bane that is the land beneath their very feet.

Underneath the sombre atmosphere that 'Dororo' (I'll quote the name of the anime to distinguish between the character) uses to tether the viewer's attention is a grand, beautiful & somewhat casual adventure.
'Dororo' is as raw and raw gets; but it has a pace. It's serene, yet condescending and that is what makes this anime adaption much more special than ... the manga & previous anime adaption. MAPPA have *almost* perfected an already perfect story.

Love, loss, lust; despair, distain, dishonour; the dark reality that encompasses the world of 'Dororo' & that is the immediate impression we are given and the one that stole my attention. And that is why I must give the story at 10/10...
Story (10/10):
This is no fairy tale (I suppose you can take that as a homophone too) nor is it your standard "protagonist vs the world" redemption story, this is a gripping, thriving and illustrously gloomy story that refills its fountain pen with the blood it spills. I have never seen such a splendid dance between a dystopia & a utopia. And it's consistent! An adventure that does not one bit betray its roots, not even for moments where the slim chance of hope becomes a hyperbolic fragment in an arc.
I never anticipated the first episode to become such a grand & bewildering story. As linear as the story is, that is what an adventure is supposed to be and 'Dororo' does not hesitate when sticking to that story. If you're a fan of becoming part of an adventure & experiencing two lost souls finding their place in the world, this story will bless you with a true feel of adventure unlike anything you've ever experienced before.
Easily a 10/10.

Art (9/10):
And yet another consistent part of 'Dororo' (although there are only some incredibly minor inconsistencies) that cosies the ironic serenity of the story in an airtight container; the perpetual unknowingness seeps through the fixated rain clouds & breaks through as our two companions seek enlightenment. What a heartwarming & wholesome way to give an already wholesome story a platform...
But yes, we do need to talk about the inconsistencies - one scene in particular which is just ridiculous and I hope whoever lazily animated it was fired immediately. Alas, it should not further taint an intentionally tainted story: 'Dororo's' art style is a visual symphony of horrors, glistened by the gory, rage-filled blades of Hyakkimaru. 9/10.

Sound (10/10):
Giiivveee meeee fiyyaaarrrrr!!! Wow, what a unique OP huh? Was not expecting a rap verse at all, but it worked and unironically suits Hyakkimaru's personality. Of course, it was met with yet another brilliant OP and therefore I cannot feel too much melancholy over no longer screaming along with the first OP and thus giving myself a sore throat.
And if you thought the OP was too "op", you should hear the endings... I much, much prefer the first ending due to how brisk yet warming it is and it sunk in with the closure of every episode. The latest one carries a different beauty that befits the latter half of Dororo.
As for the voice acting, Hyakkimaru has one of the best VAs I've ever heard. It fulfils the premise of his character fair better than his previous portrayal in the 80s production, but that's to be expected. 10/10 for me!

Character (9/10):
After refusing to pull several punches, you sort of "get it" with 'Dororo'. It's not going to let anyone off the hook and it certainly established that motif for me. But that's what made me, not only adore it, but mentally worship it. Worship it, because it is different and it completely owns it. You darn kids want to see some sort of "Mario rescues Princess Peach from the castle", well guess what: 'Dororo' will stab her through every artery in her body, roast her in lava, have her get ground-pounded by Bowser and let Mario discover her burnt, boneless corpse. That's 'Dororo' & that is how quickly a character can go from breathing to bleeding.
Hyakkimaru & Dororo are the most ironically innocent and compelling duo, they were fated to meet by destiny it seems and their adventure was already set in motion from the moment they were born. Hyakkimaru is certainly a unique character, as after all he is the focus here. I use "unique character" elusively here, as he is a samurai and he is well-versed in sword fighting as you'd expect, but he is so brutal, he is so unrelenting. You can feel the fire burning in his polysterine heart and while he can't feel anything on the outside, he certainly can on the inside. And that is what distinguishes Hyakkimaru from other samurai characters: he refuses to let his disability define him and rather he takes full esteem of it. Excellent character, excellent development and excellent portrayal. As for Dororo, she needn't change all too much... the adventure was her's after all, and she developed with it.
While the upsides overwhelm the downsides, there is one lingering thing I cannot get over: how does Hyakkimaru learn to talk properly right away? He couldn't hear anyone, he cannot possibly have learned it overnight... the lack of clarifaction there is what prevents me from giving it a 10/10. So that means it's a 9/10!

Enjoyment (10/10):
Easily a 10/10. I always keep a watch of countdowns to when a new episode would air on Amazon Prime & get even more excited after being reimmersed into the gorgeously gloomy world of 'Dororo'. The ambience surrounding the careful brew of adventure, action and tragedy is what allows this anime to thrive in my heart while leaving wakes of sorrow. The intensity from fight scenes showed no signs of limits and the animators definitely had a lot of fun displaying Hyakkimaru's exceptional fighting capabilities. Absolutely loved how overwhelmingly destructive he is with his swords, very much reminds me of Gintama's brutality and gore in fight scenes.

'Dororo' left a welt in the centre of my chest & let it overgrow with roses and tulips. Bittersweet is one way to describe it, however I would love to again revisit how consistent this anime is. Perhaps it was the adventure aspects followed by the linear quest of Hyakkimaru, but it felt so raw in a way where you don't really know who to empathise with. It never forgot the story it was portraying nor did it leave behind the important values of the two main characters. They grow together, they evolve together; they try to escape the cradle of fate and repaint the land with a fresh coat of red paint.
If it's not the unrelenting gore of 'Dororo' that carves its name in your heart, then it'll be Dororo's wholesome smile that will transform your screen into a mirror. And for that reason, I have to give this absolute masterpiece a 10.
Remember to always look forward & persevere together! Just like these two.

Imagine being in the world of your favourite JRPG; living in a world full of anime waifus, with party systems and an ambiguous world full of adventure & mystery. I suppose this anime closely relates to the philosophy of the Dragon Quest series, which was the immediate impression this anime gave me at first (that was put to bed eventually).

Let me start off by saying, I absolutely love watching Shield Hero. The exciting moments make it completely worth the watch.

After the first episode of Shield Hero, I was blown away by how masterful the introduction was. It showed signs of promise that this would be ... an anime that would soar through the 'Top Anime' list, due to how enjoyable & breathtaking this anime was: a 40 minute episode to remove the melancholy of waiting for the second episode, attempting to capture the desire to remain loyal to this series.
In this episode it shows feats of betrayal, despair & isolation, a telltale sign that befitted the name 'The Rising of the Shield Hero'. They had the chance to show how real story-telling prowess, character development and plot progression can make an anime find a home in your heart, rather than a mere 'yeah I love shieldbro, it's sick fam'.
I've never seen a first episode as attractive & as inspiring as the first episode of Shield Hero's, it left me hoping & praying that it would follow through and not stoop down on its wonderful streak of great episodes...

Story (6/10) - Closer to 5 than a 7:
...And of course, it did stoop down. With all this tremendous world building, I suppose it was bound to let something negative slip through the cracks. The shocks, awes, excitement and desire to wait - even watching countdowns to the last second - eventually disappeared. Shield Hero went from being produced by the hands of an artist, to being Fairy Tail but with 3 wizards & 1 protagonist, who completely sacrifices the initial depression that made him so cool.
The story continuity collapses in on itself, despite it getting so exciting & thrilling. It was at a certain point where everything fell short; granted Shield Hero does still produce amazing scenes in every single episode. However, nothing is tying in together & it is so easy to see where it could improve and take more caution.
It's evaporated the feel for adventure, eroded the content between the 4 heroes & made the stunning idea of a JRPG anime (where the player is the character, but also experiences it as both) feel obsolete.
TL;DR: Story has marginal inconsistencies which prolong time between the exciting moments; falls short from the first half of the series.

Art (9/10):
The art, of course, is amazing. It fits the genre of Shield Hero & serves its purpose of giving a platform to its story. There are some moments which outshine others, and only a few moments where I felt the art was out-of-place with the rest of an episode.

Sound (10/10):
Both openings (at the time of writing this) are AMAZING. Not keen on the endings, but the openings definitely make up for that. Prefer the first over the second, but they are excellent & I'm happy that I could download them on Spotify. SFX is nothing special.

Character (4/10):
Disappointing to say the least. How difficult is it to develop characters that supplement the story you're trying to tell about them? Naofumi's character development went from being an enticing one, to being non-existent. In fact, his party members receive more character development than him, but that is marginal. It's always a lack of character development that takes away from the overall entertainment value of a story; it's an adventure anime with very little character development. How do you even achieve that? It's an adventure.
Unlocking skills does not seem important at all, it definitely does not contribute to character development due to how sudden it is. Nor do we ever learn about the other heroes, just that Naofumi is different & isolated from the bunch. There's no other way of putting it: Shield Heroes' character development is garbage.
However, the character designs are amazing & at least they somewhat have personalities. Would have been nice if we could feel something about the other heroes & their backstories, or how they are growing, but apparently that's too much to ask for & pleasing fans with lolis takes priority in an **adventure anime**. If you're gonna rip an idea from Dragon Quest, at least rip the character development and plot devices they use as well.

Enjoyment (8/10):
Despite how pathetic the character development is & how far the story fell, it is still an incredibly enjoyable anime. Definitely takes priority over all the other seasonals I'm watching at this time.
But it is also responsible for me not giving it a 10/10 for enjoyment, due to how scared it is to articulate itself as a gripping story.

Overall (6/10) (tempted to give it a 7):
Shield Hero, but the only thing I need to shield myself from is further disappointment with this anime. It's truly heartbreaking as to how far it has fallen despite, as previously alluded to, the amazing start. The Rising of the Shield Hero now feels more like an accidental fall in the workplace than a rise of any sort; perhaps he should've put that book back on the shelf & opened up the Dragon Quest manga instead to give us an consistent & developed JRPG anime.
Jokes aside, it still does feel like Naofumi is rising & he is stiill finding his place in all of this. The feeling of ambiguity still exists, and it is just a matter of time before the disappointment is replaced with excitement again. I can only hope, as this anime has some 10/10 episodes.

Recommend this anime just because of the first bunch of episodes & the overall enjoyment; if you cannot handle the 'plotholes' that are yet to come, then I don't recommend this anime.

I do NOT recommend watching Fairy Tail to anyone looking to begin it or want to start anime for the first time. Fairy Tail's only magical ability is to bore you snotless before conveying your broken body back to watching Netflix Originals.

This was my first ever long anime series, and how ashamed of that I am. I'd much rather it had been One Piece, Bleach or Naruto; at least those have plot consistency and do not rely on fan service anywhere near as much as Fairy Tail does.

Let me start off by saying...
Fairy Tail is the most cliché and formulaic anime to ever exist. ... The most. You looking for repetition to the nth degree, so much so that an entire arc feels like an 1000 episode brainbuster from the top rope?
Pssh. At least writing a Fairy Tail review will satisfy my pessimism. And before Fairy Tail's dull memories finally fade from my mind.

Story (1/10):

Terrible. From start to finish, this is the worst story I have ever bothered caring about. You thought Sword Art Online had some inconsistencies, but at least it does not recycle the same arc formula over and over and over and over again.

In case you don't quite get it:
> Hang around in the guild for a bit, feels like a filler but it's not
> Someone goes missing / accept a bounty
> Spend way too long getting there
> Maybe some fodder, if not it's probably a flashback scene
> Bad guys destroy good guys for a bit
> Good guys use 'friendship' to get advantage
> Main bad guy comes out
> Natsu's friendship ftw
> Bad guy turns good
Rinse, repeat

Every arc is like this, just at different lengths. As much as I wish I was exaggerating, this is probably an understatement. If there was at the least some diversity, or if some of the wizards did independent missions without there being groups of generic evil wizards, the story would be much more flavoursome.
I'm supposed to respect the Fairy Tail mangaka as an all-time great, despite producing this horse manure?

Any of the sad or fatal moments in Fairy Tail make no sense with the plot; there is always a better way to deal with everything that they somehow cannot come up with. The only thing consistent about Fairy Tail's story is how terrible it is.

You want an anime with a good story? Go look at the top rated anime instead of the most popular.

Art (4/10):

Has boobs, which gives it 3 points instead of 1. Just kidding; really liked some of the effects produced by magic and some of the character's outfits. Mirajane by far as one of the coolest outfits (you know which ones I mean).

Sound (3/10):

Just your average shonen soundboard stuff. Does anybody really care about this? I mean, come it's Fairy Tail.
There's maybe about... 3 good OPs, all the rest just sound the same. God help you if you bothered sitting through the endings.

Character (5/10):

They couldn't have pushed the idea that Natsu is the protagonist further down our throats, despite also wanting us to respect the rest of the Fairy Tail guild as equal protagonists, when it is always Natsu who defeats the main antagonist.

What is the point in building up such a strong, diverse and promising range of characters for them to just be hindered by a generic protagonist who has a generic power? Such a shame. I love Fairy Tail's roster of characters a lot, some have interesting backgrounds, magic and stuff.
Fanservice also ruined a lot of the characters as well. Erza's a prime example of this; poorly done tsunderes does not make your anime better.

Also, Kagura from Fairy Tail is just a blatant rip-off from Gintama's Nobume. Running out of ideas are we, Hiro-san?
Maybe you should have picked up comprehensive writing skills from Gintama too.

Enjoyment (2/10):

I don't detest, hate or wish death upon Fairy Tail. But I certainly don't forgive it for giving me my lowest standard for anime. Thank god it's ending.

Overall (3/10):

Fairy Tail didn't have my bawling in tears or anything, although it did make me crack a smile at times. Smiling to mask the pain of knowing I wasted time on this anime.
Thank you for showing me what's on the opposite end of the spectrum from Gintama, Steins Gate and the like.
Maybe I'll finish the final series just to see if it finally breaks its shackles. Can only imagine it's gotten worse.

This will be my second review of the Gintama series and I will definitely get around to reviewing the other seasons of Gintama momentarily. Spoiler free!
~~
Before I start this...
Are you looking to start Gintama? Or maybe you're new to watching anime and came to check out the top anime; saw Gintama's substantially catchy cover art?
!! Do NOT start with this season. Make sure you start at season 1 episode 3 (first two episodes are specials) to get the most out of this masterclass anime !!

And for those who are under the impression that Gintama is just a gag or a parody: remove those expectations and ... let yourself in for an experience that will change your life.
~~
Now let's review Gintama (with some focus on this season of Gintama)!

It is not often in anime where you not only watch through your eyes, but also with your heart and soul. Whether it causes you to binge watch a dozen episodes in succession or periodically; the emotions course through your body. Maybe it courses through the soul between your thighs too, as you try to connect with the pair of giant souls that eclipse the rest of the scene. Have some class, would you!

Most anime viewers will watch one large series (150+ episodes) among series with smaller capacity or ongoing series. You may pick One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, HxH, Fairy Tail etc. which tend to be the obvious go-to in shonen. So where does Gintama assert itself in the grand scheme of things? Why is it so highly rated that each season & movie takes up the top 20 on MAL?
If you ask me, Gintama not only deserves to be up there on the top anime of all time but it deserves the number 1 spot. It *is* the top anime of all time; there is no other anime that will resonate with you the way Gintama does.

Story (10/10):

Sorachi Hideaki, you wonderful b*stard. He just had to go and create the most tearjerkingly fantastic arc ever written in shonen. That's one of the things I enjoy most about Gintama, is how it does not recycle the same arc formula where you start to notice patterns (like in Fairy Tail); bad guys come in out of nowhere, overwhelm good guys and whatnot. Not Gintama! Gintama builds into this arc with such delicacy and it ends up harbouring the most raw, deep-seeded emotions you could comprehend. No fan service either.
Gintama proves, yet again, that it has superior storytelling that other anime immediately fail to challenge. You cannot expect people to take the "Gintama is just a gag" remarks seriously while knowing arcs like this exist.

On top of how Gintama has already shown its storytelling prowess in previous seasons, this just adds to the experience that is Gintama. That goddamn gorilla mangaka... stop cutting onions!

Art (10/10):

While the first season of Gintama is certainly not anything to go nuts over in terms of art, later seasons are definitely where Gintama's art shines. Action scenes, specifically fight scenes, allow Gintama to explore creative and gripping art styles to match the intensity of the story. Gintoki, when he unleashes the White Yaksha (White Demon) within himself, is portrayed in black and white slow-motion scenes and the emotions radiate through the screen. You will never find an art style that portrays a demon in the same raw, cynical and terrifying way as Gintoki is portrayed in these scenes.

Sound (10/10):

Let's start with the openings shall we? Maybe this comes with a little bit of bias as I adore Gintama and its openings - & endings too - but every single opening complements the upcoming arcs. While some of the openings are not as catchy as others, they are all unique and all enjoyable to listen to. I don't think I have ever skipped an opening while watching Gintama, as the songs are excellent!
Even the endings produce the same effect; oftentimes they work seamlessly with the closing of an episode.

The voice acting is perfect, beyond perfect in fact. Nothing will make me cry with laughter as much as hearing him singing Doraemon out of fear or yelling obnoxiously.

As for the sound effects, they enhance combat scenes and especially comedy scenes. Sometimes the sound effects are what causes a scene to reach its climax, mostly due to how Gintama is action-heavy.

Character (10/10):

Why is 10 the maximum for this? It should be 'Gintama'! Gintama is the pinnacle of character development in anime. The absolute pinnacle; unchallenged; nothing remotely comes close -- nothing! Sorachi is a genius when it comes to creating and developing a character, even side characters who will usually have one appearance. In fact, every single side character is memorable which is explored in one of the endings where every single one is shown in chronological order.

Gintama has a beautiful canvas of characters, personalities & relationships that puts it on a level so high it exceeds the scouter's limit tenfold.

As for the supporting characters, it is safe to say that Gintama has somehow achieved 4-dimensional characters. One of the reasons is to do with how they break the 4th wall, which is shown through them reading JUMP, referencing other shonen or talking about real-world events. Might I add, there is an enormous list of characters in the Gintama universe and every single one of them is memorable. You know exactly what they are doing when they are not on-screen, their backgrounds, how they react to events and their relationships with one another.

And, of course, the three main characters: Shinpachi, Kagura and of course, the White Yaksha, Sakata Gintoki-san! These three characters, along with Sadaharu, make up a beautiful family-like connection to one another. It is deep-seeded and exerts itself benevolently, while also fitting in with the comedy aspects of Gintama. In fact, the comedy enhances the bond between the Odd Jobs crew and any indifference felt causes a huge shockwave of emotion.
Gintoki is the best protagonist in anime. With the ability to transition from a leader & father-figure, to a lazy, carefree gambler and further, the White Yaksha (white demon), while keeping his character consistent and memorable is an enormous feat. Not only is his appearance unique, but his personality as well. Never has there been a sadist with a heart (and smile) as big as Gintoki's.

Enjoyment (10/10):

Huh? An anime that can perfectly combine hilarious comedy with plot twists and tragedies, while making room for the emotions that come along with both? I can't remember how many tears I've shed at both dying of laughter and weeping in sadness; Gintama will tenderise the soft place in your heart with laughter, before soaking it with intense sorrow. If you don't have a soft spot in your heart, Gintama will certainly help in making one.
Having taken this anime in varied portions, it has enabled the best possible experience in watching Gintama. Extremely enjoyable anime that will make you want to binge to the end of the rainbow.

Overall (10/10):

Reaching the end of season 4 has given me a chance to look back at the journey I have taken with the Odd Jobs crew. It reminds you not to rush to the end nor to skip any steps; embrace every single journey you take and to trust those who will always be around you. For a long time I felt as though there was a missing place in my heart and Gintama has filled that void.

Gintama is a masterpiece. The perfect blend of comedy & tragedy; hard-hitting action and the occasional parody. It is the absolute pinnacle of storytelling, character development and the like. There is nothing you can fault this timeless anime for, as once you're into Gintama you can never avoid the way it will warm your heart and make your soul chern. A little inferno will gradually turn into a sacred, silver fire that will reside in you for as long as you live.
Your balls may even turn golden.

You probably were looking through the Gintama side-stories one day, noticed "Gintama x KFC" and were left with utter confusion. Then you remember that this is Gintama we're talking about here. Yes, the most ambitious crossover in anime: Gintama partnering with China KFC.
As this will be the best advert for KFC you will ever see, it is only right to give it a 10/10.

There's a plentiful amount content to excited about in the main series of Gintama - this is definitely not the best thing to come out of Gintama. Make sure you watch more than 6 episodes of the 300+ episode anime before ... you reach that conclusion!

Nonetheless, enjoy your Gintoki-flavoured ice creams and maybe one day this will happen again. One day.

Gintama is my favourite anime of all time and forever. I am making the bold presumption right now - nothing will ever dethrone Gintama's place in my heart.

If you are about to start Gintama:
The first two episodes are specials - do not start with them! Gintama does take its time introducing characters and developing them for the viewer's benefit. You should not skip through or resume at one of the sequels; character development is essential in this anime.

Here is my honest review about Gintama.

Story (10/10):

The story of Gintama is breathtaking. Breathtaking in the sense that it'll leave you gasping for air at the sheer hilarity ... of some of the episodes; your sides will be begging for mercy and that mercy you shall not get if you haven't passed out at that point.

Do not expect anything with Gintama as it will completely defy all your expectations, no matter whether they are good or bad. This does not imply that the story is inconsistent, rather that it will take the most bizarre idea and create the most thrilling, mindboggling story out of it. While there are a lot of varied arcs (and mini arcs), everything is connected in some way.

You will feel like you are on the journey with Gintama. The story is gripping and feels as though it occurs in realtime. Gintama breaks the 4th wall just as many times as it will bring a warm feeling to your soul. It is the only anime that can weave together a sidesplitting comedy and a heartbreaking tragedy, while not abandoning its roots.

Art (9/10):

The artstyle of Gintama is not Kimi no na Wa level of detail, yet it does have its moments. In terms of beauty, there are moments where Gintama's artstyle portrays its scenes in stunning detail.

While it may not hit the mark of high-budget anime, there is really no need to as Gintama still possesses uniquity in its art. For example, its facial expressions are in a league of their own. Mostly they hyperbolize funny scenes which just add to the comedy or divert a serious moment into a moment of comedy. Either way, the facial expressions give Gintama a unique spin to its comedy. You've probably seen one or two of them in a forum post.

Sound (10/10):

The openings are perfect, absolutely perfect for Gintama. In particular SPYAIR's opening songs -- SPYAIR and Gintama are a match made in heaven. While the majority are not your generic catchy anime song playing over the protagonist running to prove the Flat Earth Foundation wrong, they are excellent songs that work beautifully.
Even the endings are great! Mr. Raindrop and Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot) are good examples and it is pleasant to let them play when at the end of an episode.

The sound effects complement scenes wonderfully, especially during action scenes and emotional scenes.

One of the reasons Gintama could never work as a dub is due to how perfect the voice acting is. When intense scenes are playing, the voices help add to the drama and in lots of cases are highlights of the anime. Gintoki's shriek of terror is by far the funniest voice acting in anime.

Character (10/10):

Gintama takes it time with character development and it should do. No other series takes it time with describing its characters as Gintama does. As you befriend the characters, you will be able to fill in the gaps between episodes simultaneously.
You feel for the characters, as though you are connected through blood.

Once you build connections with Gintama's colourful canvas of characters, you will always find a hunch to discover more about them. When you do, you will be rattled with different emotions - especially surrounding Gintoki - and it will make you feel for those characters.

There is such a diverse range of personalities between the characters and the relationships they share are unique. All of the characters have stories to tell and memories to make with one another. Sharing those experiences with them makes the characters feel like they are real people.

Overall (10/10):

I have never experienced anything like Gintama and I never will. I can positively rest assured; there will never be anything in my lifetime that even slightly takes the place Gintama has taken in my heart. Looking back at the journey I have taken with this anime, it feels like it should never end. The friends I have made in this anime will stay with me forever and I will happily die knowing this anime was a part of my life.

Whether you end up bawling in tears of laughter or sadness, Gintama has all regions covered and surplus. You never know what's coming with Gintama and you should not let the story get spoiled for you.
Gintama is a fine wine that only gets more delicious as it ages. Take your time with Gintama, as I am in selecting my words for this review. You will not regret watching and indulging in this masterpiece.

“If you've got time to fantasize about a beautiful death, why not live beautifully until the end?” - Sakata, Gintoki (Sorachi, Hideaki - Gintama Mangaka)