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“La mort est le commencement de l'immortalité” – Maximilien de Robespierre


Death is the beginning of immortality – the immortality where everyone is even. And since only in the face of death we all are equal, the grim reaper will be the one to set us free from the inequity and prejudice called “life”.

Ignorance, greed and debauchery of aristocrats flourish, while poor folk keep on being humiliated, starved and treated like dogs. Fires of the French Revolution blaze brighter and brighter, painting the horizon of a new day with red, white and blue. Like fireworks on the Versailles balls – they plunge high into the sky ... ready to explode with extreme crimson sparkles and change the world once and for all.

Sansons’ justice continues to roll through the masses of Paris like a shaft, obediently implementing the kings’ will and executing every public enemy with steady hand and coldblooded face Charles-Henri’s passionately trying to archive his lifetimes’ purpose – make the convicts’ last road as painless and swift as possible.

Innocent: Rouge – the continuation of Sakamoto Shinichi’s saga Innocent opens a new arc with younger sister of Charles – Marie-Joseph Sanson as a main protagonist. Monumental, egocentric and fearless feminist character who’s been seeking revenge on the murderer of her beloved Alain finally gets a leading role and draws eyes of the audience to her gory persona. The dam holding Seine is about to collapse flooding France with sea full of blood of innocents and martyrs of the upcoming storm, a storm that can not be weathered aside. Theatre-like manga style continues to astonish with its grandiosely contrasting scenes of heavenly beautiful and hellishly brutal Paris in the monarchic days of late XVIII century. Ominous gothic-baroque atmosphere interlaced with torturous slavish spirit of that period create unique story penetrating mind and soul with its magnificent plot development, brave, provocative and revolutionary ideas, characters’ heroic deeds and unexpected Deus Ex Machina effect making a whirlpool of events swing even faster pulling in everyone and everything in its path.

The heat of the plot grows as we come closer and closer to the edge of the events that fundamentally changed the worlds’ order. Like the opera culmination – the fastening pace of the orchestra peaks the tension leading you to the climax of joy and pleasure, and Sakamoto Shinichi, as a kapellmeister, runs the show. Such detailed and accurate vision of each aspect of life of prerevolutionary France: the architecture, the fashion, manner of speech and attitude, morality and ideals, religious views, the politics, the social structure, lifestyle and general spirit of nation – everything is in accordance with famous history books like Thomas Carlyle’s “The French Revolution: A History”(1837), Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables” (1862). Sakamoto Shinichi himself, however, claims that he mostly referred to the Adachi Masakatsu’s book “The Executioner Sanson” (2003) as basis for his heroes’ portraying and their individualities’ development. And though the creator makes some changes and additions to the characters’ personalities and historical events, for example, altering the appearances of famous personas like Marie-Antoinette, Louis XVI, Robespierre, Charles-Henri Sanson by mixing their “nowadays type” hairdos, grotesque, even “circus alike” makeup style, still saving the key features of the post Renaissance period like dresses or jewelries (especially characters like Rose, Sabiss), making their plump bodies fit and faces thin, unlike on the portraits (same Marie-Antoinette), ejecting some key personalities like Iosif II – the king of Germany, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and brother of Marie-Antoinette, whose influence has pushed Louis XVI to having a phimosis surgery, or creating new, non existing, like Marie Sanson; adding an attempt of murder of Louis XVI to the “list of accomplishments” of famous gang “Les Enragés”(The Enraged Ones) and changing date of their first known activity from 1792-nd, to 1779-th, a decade before the revolution, or presenting Charles-Henri as an almighty superhuman with underworld powers who could’ve carried out all executions by himself, when historically up to 6 men helped him, until the guillotine was invented – all this only underlines the authors’ flexibility, persistence and efforts of trying to bring to the reader splendid and flawless novel the world has never seen before.

The writing is a pure existentialist emotion, historic ambition and sensual romanticism immersed in the black chocolate of creationism sprinkled with gothic gloom and modern impulsive sex scenes. Massive, tremendous and naked, the plot just can not get bigger than this one. Great people with great ideas on the most spectacular stage of the world, Paris, are trying to create a new bright future crawling out of darkness and void of Medievality. Versatile characters – dozens of well-known historic figures of the second half of the 18th century with less known ones, and new, created by the author, they swing in the majestic Waltz desperately trying to reach their own goals, whether its power, money and glory, love, revenge, or chaos, revolution and war, each hero dances his variation imposing tempo to others. Special attention deserves the main character and the puppeteer of this circus, endeavoring to carry out her vision of the future and, especially, the role of women in it, she’s willing to go against everyone. So unattainable, so alienated her mentality is, no wander the representatives of her profession become subjects of worshiping and ritual estrangement for ordinary people.

Epithetical metonymy, metaphorical comparisons, allegorical antithesis, sarcastic irony weaved in naturalistic, expressive, sometimes even barbaric context – the saga is full of such artistic techniques, scenes and more. Just think on these situations: prepared to cut off the head of the condemned, the executioner stands knee-deep in the blood with the sword raised high above his head – like a reaper, he is an empty soulless skeleton with no sympathy, no prayers or begging are going to help you as he’ll hand you over straight into death’s hands, or, he is a musician, whose blade is his violin, scaffold – his podium, crowd – his choir with the sharply rising buzz of which the violinist goes with the lead improvisation of “Jesus bleibet meine Freude” (Bach) and the last screams of the sentenced echo through the hall up to heavens where angels are already coming down for his martyred soul; mating process depicted as the fly (male) slowly and with caution approaches to a wonderful flower (female) charmed by her beauty and smell, hoping to consume the sweet nectar, instead to be the one consumed, as the flower turns out to be a flytrap (Drosera), a prison of lust, from which you can’t nor want to escape, or, just like taming of a wild horse – sex is natural, tempting, explosive, makes you exchange roles and be the conqueror and the conquered, dominant and submissive, hunter and prey. Such epithets and metaphors are everywhere, but you just can’t get enough of them and impatiently waiting for another one to occur – so gorgeously and melodiously they resonate through your subconscious. BRAVISSIMO!!!

Homo-lesbian kissing, lesbian sex, exhibitionism, bdsm, group rape, copulation with a smallpox person – all your dirty perverted expectations will be satisfied still keeping the sensual and romantic traits of that epoch. The author manifests an excellent knowledge of anatomy as main characters besides being official executioners have also been practicing medicine for generations by treating fewer, chill, scurvy, conducting complex operations like cesarean section or amputation of a body part and, digging in the corpses of their “ex-clients”. Sometimes the writer even makes historical references regarding some particulars of those times’ medical operations or less known facts about Medieval torture mechanisms (Spanish boot, Catherine wheel). Dismal spirit of Innocent is much alike to Claymore, Berserk and Attack on Titan series with a slight scent of French restrained charm, and though Innocent doesn’t have that much of massacre scenes as higher mentioned series do, it doesn’t weaken your impression about manga, vice versa, gore is dosed and is injected at the right time to underline whole improbability and rapture of the moment. You will see no “sound imitation” inscriptions that are expected to be in a novel with lots of smashed arms, broken legs and chopped off heads. Creator makes things work without unnecessary text and lets your own imagination create sounds directly in your brain.

It is understandable why Sakamoto Shinichi is in love with France so much. The Burbons’ dynasty fashion taste can’t be compared to anything before or after their reign, and, naturally, they dictated the vogue to the rest of the world. Amount of country’s budget spent on luxurious palaces, gardens, costumes, jewels, servants is beyond imagination of richest businessmen of our time. The debt of France in 1789th carried out around 12 billion livres, revolution was as inevitable as the fact that day comes after night, but the Burbons knew how to party as if “tomorrow never comes”.

Inspired with Innocent saga, a week after reading which, I went on a trip to Paris to witness all that greatness with my own eyes and to verify if the mangas’ arts where authentic. INNOCENT REALY IS THAT GOOD! The art style is something absolutely out of this universe and is about to create its own. Every single minim is being conveyed with absolute accuracy and passion: the Renaissance Revival style and every statues’ detail on of the city hall – Hôtel de Ville (Hotel de Ville), the French Baroque architecture style and the screaming grandeur of the exterior of the king’s residence – Château de Versailles (The Versailles Palace), each trifle of facade of Gothic, Neo Renaissance or Neoclassicism style constructions on the mangas’ frames background, and tiniest components of design of the Rococo movement dresses and interior decor. The arts’ incomparability doesn’t stop on architecture, the character design also deserves to be spoken about. Damn, heroes deserve even more than just mentioning, their guises appear to be more detailed and more worked out than the looks of real people you daily see. Starting with every flexion, contour, shade and pattern on their clothing and ending with individual lenses, lip gloss, eyelashes and eyebrows – the very definition of word “unique” increases hundredfold as every frame can be presented as the symbol of excellence and perfection. Innocent saga has no flaws in its art style, no flaws at all… and in this uniqueness, the artist reveals the true beauty of life and death in full-color palette. Combining so many aspects with such delicacy and care – you’ll find no analog to this masterpiece. No wander that Innocent was presented in Fukuoka Asian Art Museum on the days of Japanese art style exposure dedicated to French thematics ("Louvre No.9 – Manga, the 9th Art") organized by the Louvre Museum.

Nothing to add, nothing to take – its own magnitude can only be compared to its flawlessness. Innocent: Rouge – rightful follower, proudly and with high raised head carries on everything we loved the prequel for in a new crimson light of an upcoming revolution. Astonishing and noble, it will forever shine above all like Polaris in the night sky, and Sakamoto Shinichi, like a god, will always be unreachable for mere humans.

“… only doors stained with rouge, stained with blood, will beckon a dawn to a yet-unseen future.”


VIVE LA REVOLUTION, VIVE LA FRANCE!!!

=====================
-Oh, dear Lord its coming!
-A two hundred feet tall wave of sh*t!
-Its too late to run, its everywhere!
-Noo, no God please no, noooooooooooo!!!
=====================

No, I’m not talking about the review, I’m talking about manga.

Just how deep should a brain cancer go, in order to bring a “masterpiece” like that! The author probably had a diarrhea and by some miraculous mistake confused it with his work and took that sh*t to the editors, who also happened to have a heat stroke, so they approved that. APPROVED FOR 4 HUNDRED PLUS F**CKING CHAPTERS!!!
...
That is the example of when the industry is in stagnation and lack of fresh and new ideas makes an impact on it.

So, why do I hate it so much, and what made me go all berserk about it?!

Well, first, the plot.

The story is based on humans fighting some automatic dolls that spread their Zonafa syndrome (which already sounds like a 5-year old's tale) that makes everyone laugh in order not to die (this is first two chapters so I'm not spoiling anything, if you still have intention to read that) and the main hero is infected with this virus (very surprisingly) – now who in the world with a sane mind would want to read that, when manga world has to offer something like Vinland Saga, Innocent, Hokuto no Ken, Naruto, Shamo, Attack on Titan, The Breaker and others.... And the story only gets more and more blend, so somewhere near to the middle it looks like a god damn porridge.

The art style. Well, the art style is pretty much mediocre, besides the design of the main character. Just look at him – 4 lines, wow, such a "detalization", seems like somebody with a suicide convulsion would bring something more satisfying (reminds me of Uwe Bolls films), this only underlines the carelessness of the author who didn't even want to pay attention to the main hero and made him look like a Japanese Hulk whose face got smashed with a frying pan (cause he looks so handsome:)).

Next goes an aspect that deserves special attention – characters' lines. Guys with Down syndrome show up more creativity than the creator in this novel. So irrational and with no sense of logic: frequently reiterative replicas that claim same things; too much unnecessary words and lines, making an impression that creator was trying to make something out of a nothing; idiotic conversations which can drag for a couple chapters (manga world is full of this one, but Karakuri Circus overcomes them all) – all this is a prof of authors’ inability to be entertaining and provide an adventurous shounen, instead he just stretches same situations for dozens chapters desperately trying to figure out what to do next, not realizing that his work already looked like a transfusion of nothing from empty glass to empty glass from the very beginning.

Obviously this manga was created just for profit sake, because from any aspect it sucks comparing to anything I've read so far.

-Why did you go for almost two hundred chapters then? – you ask.

The thing is, I was a manga translator once, and our team has picked this project, unfortunately, my voice could not be heard. So during the period when I was translating this work, all my neighbors've heard how good I am at using bad words and making some new “sophisticated” combinations out of existing once. At the end of the volume 17, I said F*CK THIS AND F*CK THOSE WHO READ IT, and left the project. This insanely stupid manga has forever ruined me for translating any other novel ever again, and for reading any other Japanese comics for a very long time.

But you don’t have to trust my words, make your own opinion. Give it a shot, may be you’ll like it. There are too many projects here on MAL (anime and manga) that have sky-high ratings, but personally I think they’re just low-graded trash. That’s how it works, with experience your tastes change, especially when you try to compare things. There will always be something better, something worse, and Karakuri Circus will always be the bottom for me!

Now that, is seriously an unexpected but a very pleasant surprise. Damn, that is something really lighting up! Dancing TV shows have really been a trend lately, but what I’ve just witnessed is something much more impressive. The anime is 100% about ballroom dancing exclusively.

This is the very first anime series dedicated to professional ballroom dancing, if I’m correct, hell, that’s the first anime dedicated to dancing at all! There’s been lots of shows about all other kinds of sports like basketball, football, baseball, tennis, volleyball, swimming,… and tooons of others, and finally, FINALLY, we’ve got to ballroom dancing, which can’t make me anything but ... happy.

You see, being a ballroom dancer myself for 15 years, I’m SUPER DUPPER OVERMYHEAD EXCITED seeing my favorite sport at last getting an anime adaptation, and though it’s only’ve been a couple episodes, but trust the expert, judging from what I saw – this is gonna be EPIC.

The story is more than simple. A total newbie is been dragged into the world of dancing by some stranger who happens to be an expert and will teach our hero and bla-bla-bla… Now agree, that is mostly common plot thing to almost every sports anime, not to mention that our main character is making a tremendous progress since the very beginning of his trainings… aaand that’s all because he’s been charmed by a beautiful classmate girl who also happens to be into dancing (actually he was just stalking after her and that’s how it all happened, but that’s not a thing). The thing is that the creators have really made a COLOSSAL work by showing every single move of the dancers that we see, such detailed, every singe line and angle of their body as they stand prepared to waltz, every dynamic motion as they dance cha-cha, and every emotion on their faces – from serious and confident tango to romantic and sensual rumba.

With that said, all I can tell about an art style is “FANTASTIC”. Though I’m not a fan of frequent usage of 3D in anime (more a fan of an old animating style), this one does deserve to be noticed and praised for its aliveness, vividness and multicolourness.

The anime will amaze you with musical compositions – rhythmic and inflammatory – they will make you dance even sitting on a chair. From opening to ending – this is a trip to a wonderland that will drag you into an unrestrained yet splendid whirlpool of dance sports and you WILL beg for MORE. Not to mention flawlessly looking girls who will make your heart beat speed up twenty times faster;)

The show is expected to be on the level of “Your Lie in April” that startled us with great characters, its own unique drawing style and a feeling of full immersion in deep waters of music; this is what you SHOULD look forward to from “Welcome to the Ballroom” series,… but about dancing.

Just to clear the situation - nobody has done something like this before. And I'm not talking about Hitler and the WW2. I'm talking about the manga adaptation of his work "Mein Kampf".

Now since the Japanese did take the German's side in the World War 2, it is not strange that Hitler's person is been used in anime and manga (not often, but sometimes we can see it, like in Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shaballa or Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn). But the idea of making an adaptation of "Mein Kampf" is something rare, one of a kind even, I might say. And though ... this is a very short excursus into the Adolf's life story and with some author's remakes (like that he never wanted to be an architect - that's not true, trust me I've read the original of "Mein Kampf") this is a great outtake of some moments of the world's history.

I don't put anything for plot or characters, because everything is based on a true allknown story of the world conflict, but for a unique idea and lots of efforts publishing it, this manga gets 8/10 and my approval as something worthy of reading if you're to tired of reading some average manga about highschoolers but to lazy to read all the "Mein Kampf" yourselves.

Wow, that is outstanding! That’s the idea that kept pulsing through my brain after I’ve read the Drag-On Dragoon Shi ni Itaru Aka. It’s something ground-, mind- and everythingintheworldbreaking. Yoko Taro – the master of humans’ hearts dark corners this time has brought to us something as unique and breathtaking as it is flawless in its own madness.

The beauty of this creation can not be equal to any other manga, because it is indeed colossal and unrepeatable. The diamond that makes Drag-On Dragoon series a work of genius is not the storyline, but the characters. Sick, twisted and bloodthirst “heroes” that will set the whole ... world on fire just to achieve their own goals: desperate attempts of One to redeem the sins of his past, sadistic and psychopathic nature of Nero – will drag you into furious whirlpool of human greed, lust and hate. Not to mention unrestrained, impulsive and lunatic secondary characters that will make this cocktail of blood, pain and sexual arousal taste even better. The art style – dynamic, brutal and gory only underlines the Yoko Taro’s dark fantasy genre and makes it look like an abyss of human tortured souls who’re suffocating in their own desires and thirst for more. Absolutely f***ing gorgeous!

The ending is just perfect. Best violent epilogue I could ever imagine for the best full of violence story.

This manga is more than just enjoyable. I’ve consumed it in one piece and was much more than satisfied with the “meal”. In fact, I was dope – that’s how satisfied I was.

Is it great and worthy of wasting time reading it? Hell goddamn yeah! Will you recommend it? Billion times YES. This is exactly what an anime industry needs: a fresh look at the world that shows the true colors of human nature and does not try to mask any ugly sides of our hearts. Especially recommended for true fans of brutality, sexual abuse and mindbending dose of madness in anime.

P.S. Recommend reading it when you’re angry and pissed off, if you really want to get high with it!

Now it has been a while since I’ve read The Breaker, so I’m sorry if I won’t stay strict to details. Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt this manhwa series is one of the best in martial arts genre. I’m sure I’ll have a 100% support by saying that. Indeed it’s a very high level manga, that may interest not only fans of seinen and action genres but all the manga lovers as well.

Starting with the storyline, I can say that it is pretty simple, but interesting and unique at the same time. Nothing special, still not boring, and the ... plot is able to surprise you a couple times. The story is set in our real world that authors show from the other hidden side. The martial arts federation is the most dominant secret group with powerful and destructive force, that runs society, while staying in the shadow and can make any country’s government bend their knees before them. But who is the real villain is yet to be known…

When we’re talking about the art style, all I can say is – great. This is probably the best manga art style I’ve ever seen so far. Everything is very detailed and I’m not talking about characters only, the background is also paid much attention to, so you can easily see the picture of the authors’ world. And though nowadays almost every manga series is been drawn using computer, that allows to draw particularized illustrations easily, The Breaker still deserves to be praised. I’m not even talking about the design of female characters, who look like flawless angels. Each of them!

The characters. Well, the main protagonist is nothing but a cliché – a week, unable to protect himself, still with strong will and good heart, trying to overcome everything that life throws onto his path. Constantly seeking the way to become stronger, he eventually finds it in the face of his new English teacher, who happens to be something more than meets the eye. And so their adventures in the world of martial arts begin. The big advantage of Breaker series is that there are almost 2 dozens of supporting characters who are very multifarious and have a great impact on the storyline (much more than our main hero) and that’s the reason of why it is so interesting to read.

The enjoyment that I’ve received reading this novel is insane. May be that’s because I did recognize myself in the face of the main character and because I’ve experienced what he did, but I personally enjoyed this manga very very much, especially saying that it’s really easy and fun to read.

The Breaker has forever taken its place in my top manga list, and I absolutely recommend it to every anime/manga fan. Great work!

Oh, I hope that I’ll be the first to write the review when all the Naruto anime series end. Well, what should I start with… 15 years. For FIFTEEN years this anime brought me joy and unspeakable emotions. For FIFTEEN years it taught me right from wrong. For FIFTEEN years it … it’s been a guide of light for me. Jeez, I was raised on this anime, I became older with its characters, I just LOVE IT!!!

The Naruto series started when I was in a preschool age, and for 15 years it never stopped to surprise me. Though ... the journey was long (some might say too long) it was always exciting and brilliant. And I am really sorry if I get carried away by emotions, but true Naruto fans will understand – this is a tale, a unique and flawless tale, of nearly all of my life and now that I look back and see that little Naruto who used to be always alone, without parents, without friends, and I turn my look to who he became through these years – the Hero, who saved the world, Best Friend that was always there to help and to understand, and now – a husband… ah, I might cry. Seriously. Perfect ending. Naruto and Hinata deserve their piece of happiness. And though we did not see this in original manga series, I was really glad to be able to see that kind of and end in anime adaptation.

Now let’s get back to the show and analyze everything peace by peace.

I’ll start with the story. Indeed the plot, the fantastic world, all the jutsu techniques, all the creatures and characters, everything that we saw in Naruto and Naruto Shippuuden world is a creation of a mastermind – Kishimoto Masashi, and for that I bow to him to the ground. Just imagine how impossible it was to create such a wide universe with all of its own structure (villages, clans, fractions), its own history (all the clans and villages wars), its own beasts, beings and heroes etc; and how unimaginable was it to make this huge machine work. There is everything I love about the story and about how it is served to the viewer revealing its genius from all sides. It is groundbreaking in every way possible.

Now let us head to art style. Generally it is satisfying. Well, it is hard to make every episode look like Kimi no Na Wa (you can consider this a recommendation), especially when you have more than 700 episodes (Naruto + Shippuuden). But I can praise creators for really good special effects and the way they’ve made all ninjutsu types look like. And though I must admit that Naruto movies absolutely compensate lack of original shows’ drawing it does not make the original run look worse.

Unlike art styling – music really is the VERY strong side of the series. From top to bottom it is impeccable. Every opening, every ending, every song from the series is something breathtaking and mind blowing. I truly enjoy every track and I can sincerely call the Narutos’ OST one of the best of all time in anime industry. The openings like Hero’s Come Back (OP 1), Sign (OP 6), Toumei Datta Sekai (OP 7), Diver (OP 8), Shilhouette (OP 16) will fire you up and make your spirit riot; the endings like Shooting Star (ED 1), U can do it (ED 15), Dame Dame ga (ED 31), Spinning World (ED 32), Zetsu Zetsu (ED 40) will make you believe that you just witnessed a dream that you never want to end. I am not even mentioning stunning Hisou, Kikyou, Sengunbanba, Utsusemi tracks that appear at very exact lyrical moments and touch your soul in its deepest corners. The chorus tracks like Akatsuki and Pains’ theme songs make you feel goosebumps and your hair stand as you stare through the eyes of our heroes at fearless overwhelming enemy hordes. An incredible work by the composer – Yasuharu Takanashi.

The characters. Oh, there is so much to say. This is something galaxy lvl. Nearly 100 characters, each with their own temper, beliefs and credo, each of them is trying to make an impact at the world they live in. I will always remember characters like Madara, Itachi, Nagato, because their own vision of the world and the steel will they’ve shown to everyone is something worth of admiration and respect. All the heroes are versatile, unique and incomparable to each other. I am not mentioning the number of skills and techniques each character possesses and how multiform and complex they are. Worth mentioning are beasts like Tailed once. They are that destructive force everyone is trying to lay their hands on, but the author shows that they are something more than that – they have souls and feelings, and no one can see their good hearts under the scary masks.

The enjoyment that I personally got from this show is something outstanding. I enjoyed it to the core and absolutely adore it. Maybe that’s because I felt much the same as the main hero and ‘ve been a witness of many injustice things in this life, and the anime shows it very good. The human’s greed, the way we only think about our own sake, even the way kids treat someone who is not similar to them – it is a part of the masterpiece that Naruto is.

Colossal work by Date Hayato and everyone who worked to make this show to be this titanic and go on nonstop for 15 years. I personally bow to all of you and say: “Thank you for the best childhood memories, I will always carry them!” And again I want to congratulate Naruto and Hinata with wedding, and thus my beautiful dream is over, meaning that I grew up and it is time for me to let my childhood go.

Gorgeous. This word can fully describe everything what I think of Attack on Titan. Gorgeous plot, gorgeous characters, gorgeous dark fantasy world, gorgeous art style&spec effects, gorgeous music, gorgeous structure of the show, GOD – IT’S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!! There is no other anime like this, that could be so GORGEOUS IN EVERY WAY! It just doesn’t have any flaws at all! The way WIT studio has shown this anime is so brilliant, unique and groundbreaking that I have no other choice than to say: ”This is an Everest of anime industry”... , and I swear on my soul – it’s true.

... To say that I did not expect something like that from a newbie studio (which WIT really was back than) means not to say anything at all. Their first project… and such a success. That can only be recognized as a work of genius, and in this case genius is a whole studio. Most of all I can praise the producer – Jouji Wada, the director – Tetsurou Araki and the composer – Hiroyuki Sawano. The magic that appeared on the screen immediately dragging me to the fantasy world; the flawless music consuming me like a black hole and bringing me to new dimension of overflowing joy; the endless feeling of agony, pain and hopelessness but still not surrendering, not backing down and to the very last breath struggling emotion – the enjoyment is indescribable. Everything that our heroes ‘ve been through and each and every emotion they’ve felt – I felt as well: when they were happily crying seeing each other alive – I was happily crying with them; when they were angry or frustrated – I felt the same; when they where dying on the battlefield or sacrificing themselves to save their sworn brothers – I was dying there as well. The creators ’ve managed to show every single detailed emotion on the faces of main, and secondary characters as well, and ‘ve made you to walk through this path along with them “from the cradle to the grave”.

The story line is thought-out, unique and figuratively does imply to our real world in many aspects of life such as social differentiations and human animal nature. Beautifully done job by Isayama Hajime takes you to new horizons of dark horror fantasy and allows you to feel its greatness on your own skin. The art style is colorful and detailed, and in addition to high level 3d animation and dynamic effects puts some kind of enchantment on you and makes you 5-year old kid that still believes in miracles.

Special attention must be paid to the soundtrack. Hiroyuki Sawano has done an unbelievable job by composing an epic music, that makes your blood boil and your heartbeat frequency increase. The openings and endings are also something more than just mind blowing.

Characters are versatile and do reveal full spectrum of emotions as you see them suffering, dying, suffocating from the bottomless feelings they go through but still sacrificing their lives to reach the greater goal – TO BE FREE!

The degree of pleasure that I received from watching this anime is 150%. Something such incredible in every way, where each of its components suit more than perfectly and draw a picture of unknown beauty can be seen only once in a decade and I am very happy that I did not miss to see it.

Rating it 10/10 I call it an impeccable creation of the mastermind and best out of the best from what I’ve seen so far.

For me this anime was an unexpected discovery. One rainy day I was wandering through some internet anime fan’s pages when I suddenly saw “the best 2016’th anime” discussion, and this show(1’st season) was in top. I seriously don’t know where I’ve been in the previous year, but without a shadow of a doubt I can call it one of the best.

Now that the 1’st season is over, the second one not only didn’t low its level, but made a step forward. The jokes became funnier, characters are more versatile, secondary characters appear more often on the screen and are paid more attention to, and ... finally - some new locations(besides the newbies town and the castle that Megumin used to blow every time).
It’s been 7 episodes so far, but from what I can judge the creators will not please us with the big final - the takedown of the Demon King, and there is a possibility that we will see the 3 season(I really hope this will happen).
Now I’m about to be more specific (that’s the info for those who didn’t see the 1 season).

The story is pretty simple and common to many animes. The main guy suddenly wakes up in another reality/world (which, by the way, is very similar to some MMORPG game) and in order to survive he must assemble his crew. Storyline is nothing but 100 times used cliche, with one but. It could be shallow and boring in any other show, BUT NOT in this one. It is brought to viewers mixed up with tones of great (perverted) humor and funny (ecchi) situations, unlike each other (very very weird) main characters and… Aqua. Well, not the water, but the goddess of water. She deserves a special attention, because she is that cherry on top of a cake, she makes the whole mood of the show and brings the joy and laughter to every moment she appears on screen.

Creators paid much attention to different kinds of moods that we can see on our characters’ faces and ‘ve made them realistic and colorful. The openings/endings are great, art style is beautiful, dialogs are entertaining and creative, the enjoyment is very high.

The anime is everything I did not expect it to be – exciting, full of action, unique in its own way and full of joy. This show is definitely worth watching, unless you want to miss to see one of the best waifus (Aqua) in action;)

Spoilers alert!!!

Finally, I came to write a review about my best and most beloved anime – Hellsing Ultimate. There are so many things that I want to say about it, that I’m just afraid of being lost in this forest of thoughts. Well, I must start with the words that this is the remake of the original Hellsing (2001). Often when I say “remake”, I put some negative meaning in it, but not this time, oooooh, definitely not this time. Because this time I wasn’t just amased and dragged into this world, I believed every single word that came out of the Reich Major’s mouth, ... I tasted every drop of blood along with Alucard, felt sick madness growing inside me every time Anderson started his speech, sensed cold-blood nobility in every Integra’s order and action. These kinds of feelings just overflow you from your feet to the tips of your ears and you start suffocating in them. That’s what Hellsing Ultimate will endow you with – a gigant 100 m wave of feelings and emotions that will wash you away into the abyss of clear obsession.

Story – 10/10
The storyline is fascinating. The Knights of Round Table vs The Vatican vs Millenium. I mean what can be more exciting than a fight between the Devil himself, servants of God and beasts whose only reason of living is bringing DEATH to all. The mix of mysticism, religion fanaticism, brutality, gore, violence and tooons of pure insanity – all of that plus insanely catching story about NEW WORLD ORDER is what makes Hellsing that gorgeous.

Art – 10/10
The art style is beautiful. The animation is incredible. The special effects are on the top level. Hellsing is one of those animes in which 3D animation looks flawless and does harmonize perfectly with the simple graphics. Characters and the whole world in Hellsing looks very detailed and does not cause you any discomfort perceiving them.

Music – 10/10
Though Hellsing does not have any opening themes, it does have dozen of great orchestral endings (and a couple of rock endings) that will force you to plunge even deeper into the dark horror-fantasy universe. I’m not even mentioning the breathtaking scenes of undefeated beast as Alucard is, raping everyone with the sick, vomit and exciting at once causing smile on his face, accompanied by classic music masterpieces.

Characters – 10/10
Just don’t know what else to say about characters in this show. You can only feel it when you see it, because characters are that sparkling sun that makes Hellsing shine above all.

Enjoyment – 100/10
Unbelievable. Unimaginable. Unique.

Overall – 10/10
My absolute №1 of all time. Impossible to transfer the feeling after watching Hellsing Ultimate. Blood pumping in your veins, sensation of Mastering the World, GOD LEVEL. Absolutely recommended for all anime fans over 18.