- Last OnlineMay 7, 2024 8:58 PM
- GenderMale
- JoinedMar 28, 2016
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Jul 2, 2018
It isn't too often that an anime can promise so much with its presentation only to vomit out a big nothing. This anime is a big, bland pile of nothing. However, this doesn't mean the anime necessarily goes the way of many other shows, staying the course and playing it safe as it fades into obscurity forever. And it isn't as if the writing is conceited enough that it makes it out to be more important than anyone would care. The problem lies in that while the anime does (at times) try to be original, relatable and emotionally engaging, it does so in the most
...
unfocused and impersonal way possible. (Meaning: it doesn't really do any of those things).
Yes, I think it's pretty obvious that this anime tries to be a character driven show. The military setting is a personal favorite of mine because the setup allows for a cast of characters of various importance and personality to interact in a way that might not seem natural in any other story. Maybe it's the way the military is almost like a workplace, with its rigidness countered by the personalities of the cast that makes it so endearing to me. Bonding over alcohol, hard work, silly antics, and drama these are all things I can expect from a good military/unit/team-based anime. And, let me be clear, we do get some downtime. However, it is only included as part of the bigger picture, and never seems to exist for its own sake.
This lack of organic interaction mixes poorly with characters who feel inadequate. We never get to know these people, and it's weird because it isn't as if the cast is so huge that they ran out of run-time to try and expose us to them. Amakasu's personality gimmick can barely sustain itself throughout the series, and we end up with another character having to remind us that it was something that defined her. And maybe it is the reliance on these gimmicks, which masquerade as depth, that makes the characters so hollow. I will give credit to the staff in that they clearly engineered each female character to be immediately 'relatable' in an obvious way. They're not written in the way most anime fans are used to seeing female gimmick characters, so it makes sense that it would trick people. But these ladies are still pretty boring, it's only that a female audience might actually like them (and as far as I can tell they do). But, gimmick personalities can be incredibly endearing if written well, and it is very possible for characters like these to have a strong, static personality that can be rewarding to witness. Sadly, the interactions and their personalities don't really make for anything interesting aside from the faux realism that they emphasize.
In this way, truly great characters are often written with simple personalities, but alongside this there is always an underlying capacity for them to reveal real human emotion, which should be apparent even when they express themselves in the most pedestrian way. A 2D caricature with a soul, now that is what a good anime character should feel like, especially when they're drawn so expressively and cartoonish, as in this anime. However the characters we get are written only to mimic humans in both personality and emotion, in the most basic and superficial way, which is why the expression always seems hollow. For, how can anyone expect to be moved by the words of a character who has no soul? They are caricatures who make caricature of emotion and expression.
And, it isn't as if the ritual/mythological element to the story was focused on in any great detail that a character focus would need to be sacrificed. If anything, the anime did a pretty good job of not expositing too much about the mysterious and existentially important ritual, keeping it understandably mysterious. However, it never feels mystical. Perhaps because the anime treats it as more of a natural disaster, like an earthquake or typhoon, which makes sense for the story.
So, what does the anime actually focus on then if not some semi-serious story element or the characters? I couldn't tell you. Having watched this weekly, I'm drawing a blank. However, the general movement of the story is a military slice of life to contrived romance drama that all of a sudden becomes super important to the plot (because we all really want to see Aquarion EVOL again, right?) to the ritual that unravels the previous point.
Despite all of my complaining I wouldn't say the anime is egregiously or offensively bad, it's just tasteless. This makes the designs; characters and art style (which I do like) to feel like such a waste. A waste of setting and design. I should also be up front about my bias as well though. I didn't like the dragons. Now, I knew there was going to be dragons going into this, but this ended up being deviantart:the animation, with dragon vore being the method of piloting, with vomit as the icing on the cake. Maybe this is why I liked Hoshino so much in the beginning, if she got her way this anime might have been about fighter pilots instead. And speaking of Hoshino and her romance, it was quite funny seeing the weekly reaction from the peanut galley: people clearly would rather get angry than use their heads. All in all I couldn't recommend this. However, it is clear that at the surface level a lot of anime fans seem to be happy. For me, this is just a very bland anime that doesn't really leave too many lasting impressions or say anything interesting. And even with the great art and visual design, it was still aesthetically uninspired.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Jun 25, 2018
Fumikiri Jikan is a great way to spend three minutes. There isn't much to say besides the fact that the anime knows how to use up it's time. The problem with shorts often is not the length itself, but what happens within that timeframe. Some shorts have the gall to not only include an opening, but an ending as well, cutting into the content (mainly because there really is no content). Fumikihi Jikan allows itself to use almost all of it's runtime, with an opening that lasts no more than 24 seconds (at least for the one episode where I actually checked). This means that
...
the three minute short is actually a three minute short.
Now, even if the anime only gave us a minute for content, nobody is going to want to waste time if it's shit. But, every episode is gold in its own way. The meat of the anime ends up being interactions between different characters as they wait for a train to pass at a railroad crossing. Each episode is a vignette, all taking place at the same spot. The difference being not the setting, or the factor that sets them up to interact, but the characters themselves. And it's entertaining interaction between various characters that serves as the selling point for this anime. Little 'slice-of-life' scenes are done masterfully. It may be the brevity or the casual everyday randomness that prevades the conversations, but it's hard for me to find any fauly with the writing. It all feels very natural, pulling you along with the rhythm of the scenes until they end. There is no ending theme (credits play during the 'opening) so when the scene is over, the anime is over. And it usually ends once you just started feeling like you got to know the characters. I think it takes some smarts to be able to put in so much genuine feeling into characters whom we really can only see in one spot, at one time. There's certainly more feeling in these conversations than we sometimes see in full-length series, which often meanders around, and away from, anything interesting. But, perhaps it's so short that there isn't a ton of room for them to screw up. The focus, for this anime, is the conversations themselves. They unfold and become the narrative, where other anime only use interactions to set up for a certain result. Of course being written this way also allows for a quick and immediate emotional attachment, so when the writing becomes sentimental and wistful, it doesn't feel tacked on or contrived. In any case, Fumikiri Jikan is probably the best short this season, it's funny and a great way to spend the time it takes to complete.
Also, I think the voice acting deserves special mention. All of the voice work is done very well, which it needs to for a dialogue-driven short. There's plenty of newbie actors in here, so it may be interesting for people who are into that, as well.
Rail road crossings may not be very 'poetic,' as one of our characters points without realizing the irony because the anime she's in. Oh, and they stink too, so you may not want to confess while in front of one(or maybe you do). However, as we see here, crossings can serve as a starting point for some good fun, and maybe a lesson or two in social interaction.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
Jan 7, 2018
For an anime that's usually about climbing mountains, making memories, overcoming struggles and accomplishing a dream, Omoide Present is a meandering stroll without a destination, the sounds of the park, a lost child, a broken promise, self-reflection, a desperate late-night room search, old photo albums and old memories. But of course, we go full circle, and in the end find, a promise kept, a child found, new promises, and the chance to make new memories. The cycle of overcoming and accepting the past and looking towards a bright future.
It's sentimental and beautiful. And you couldn't ask for anything more from an OVA setting us
...
up for the third season. Thematically, it's perfect for this purpose.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Dec 24, 2017
It makes sense that if anime characters in an anime start talking about anime in their anime club then something strange has to happen on a (meta?)-physical level within their own story. Animegataris is a school-club comedy anime that sets itself up on a self-aware journey that (kind of) explores why anime otaku appreciate anime so much. And the best way to do that is through its own medium (of course).
There is a lot of anime in this anime. They talk about anime, they make an anime, they become an 'anime.' if this anime is going to be known for anything as this season peters
...
out and some late-comers decide to give it a try, is the stylistic and plot-break down 'twist.' However, it isn't much of a twist if the anime literally becomes stranger every episode. What could have been a last ditch effort to make something fun as the series winds down, ends up being a completely sensible conclusion, that if anyone was paying attention, they'd probably see coming. It's ridiculous, purposefully so, and that's what makes it so fun.
The references are usually oblique or universal enough, that the series doesn't get bogged down with 'hey we all watched that' kind of humor. Animegataris doesn't latch on to any one niche or franchise to parody or make reference to. Instead we get a a cornucopia of verbal and sometimes visual references, which considering the show is about anime otaku, seems par for the course. But obviously, nobody is going to watch this show for stuff like "Dirlish Number (or whatever the fuck they called it) was good." It's the self-aware, tongue-in-cheek, 'we're winking at you' humor and sensibility which makes Animegataris so fun, and funny.
The comedy works. That is, if you've seen enough anime to appreciate a cliche for its own sake.There's some genuinely funny stuff here: flubbed lines in some shitty anime short, odd attention to detail, 'the aspect ratio is closing in.' Fan-service sports girls hardly has any lines, yet she gets her own OP, definitely the most ingenious thing I've seen this season. (Ironically enough, even though she is hardly a character, fan-service girl still has her cameo in the anime within the anime). There is a sense of 'we can get away with whatever, so deal with it' as the anime moves along, but you actually excuse the staff, because instead of being over the top and obnoxious, it comes across as smart and tastefully done as is possible for a show like this.
For something more recent to compare it to, this reminds me of Akiba's Trip. But for the most part, this series really reminds me of, and has the sensibility of otaku oriented parody OVAs. A much less cynical Otaku no Video or Puni Puni Poemii, or maybe a more genre specific one like Nurse Witch Komugi-chan, or maybe Ribbon-chan and (though TV and not a parody), Going-Home Club (KKK), for both of those have an all too aware, budget conscious 'the staff knows it's going to fail'' kind of humor. Other recommendations: Comic Party, Animation Runner Kuromi
There are plenty of anime fans who would appreciate something like this, but too many are going to ignore it for dumb reasons. It's worth a watch if you want your anime to be a little too much like anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 27, 2017
D4 Princess is one of those shows that most people will overlook. Unless the superficial reading of the plot and genre tags interest you, there honestly isn't much of a draw for the average person. As someone who is very interested in all things that combine magical girl-esque transformations and mecha-esque metal combat suits, D4 Princess was something to look forward to. In that regard, the overall aesthetic looks really good.
The odd thing is the show chooses to pull a few tricks. With the short episode length, the typical thing to do as a creator would be to stuff in as much silly antics
...
and zany combat as possible at a frenetic pace. However, none of this happens, as combat takes a back seat to the main character, Doris, herself.
This might be why the anime is so addicting. Taking a rich and spoiled young girl (literally a princess) and stuffing her into a very luxurious academy, wouldn't usually leave too much room for pity on behalf of the main character. However, the anime decides to forego typical rich girl 'ohohoho' type nonsense and, through the constant misfortune that befalls Doris, the anime manages to create one of the cutest and sympathetic characters I've seen in a long time. Whether it's the torturous training her (probably secretly sadistic) older sister puts her through everyday or the bad luck that befalls her at the cafeteria, Doris has a really tough time. And seeing what she goes through it's impossible not to feel sorry for her, and as a result it's impossible to stop watching. It's an instance of, despite her implied status, the fact that everything goes so wrong for her and she can't seem to get anyone to understand or care, and the frustration that results, she's relateable. Sitting there, waiting for another character to finally pity her, and when it happens it makes you feel good. The way she acts and the situations she's thrust into makes her a powerful moe character.
And none of this has anything to do with what you'd think the meat of the show would be, comedic magical mecha combat.
Because of this focus, the pacing, despite the short episodes, is incredibly (surprisingly) well done. The first few episodes are literally just Doris getting used to school. This slow, but natural build, up gives the anime the feel of a typical length show. The only problem with this is the combat doesn't get as much focus, and when it does, it's underwhelming. The battles are not as zany, fun, well designed or as interestingly animated as they should be. The only thing helping it, is that you actually want Doris to win. The comedy starts off hit or miss but improves as the viewer gets used to Doris.
The ending is unfortunate, not the result, but the way it's done. The art is colorful. The ED is great.
D4 Princess has some surprising elements, with a much stronger character focus than expected. Overall, I'd say the show is worth watching just for Doris herself, and considering she's the main character there's nothing necessarily bad about that.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jun 24, 2017
Much like Twin Angel's first TV series (Tokimeki Paradise) BREAK is much better written than most people would expect and, as some might say, than it deserves to be. Whether one likes the content of the show or not, fundamentally BREAK tells a coherent story in a surprisingly mature manner (mature, relatively speaking for the kind of show that this is). Much like Tokimeki Paradise, plot points are revealed subtly and intelligently, and most importantly, the writing is focused on telling the story. With simple characters and a simple message, the most important thing a writer can do is shape the story in a
...
way that feels natural to the viewer. It's simply good writing. It's the kind of writing a lot of 'mature' shows could afford to adopt. Unlike Tokimeki Paradise some of the goofiness is sacrificed for a somewhat serious story near the end. Oddly enough, or maybe because of how well it's handled, it works well. When something that is for the most part a light-hearted magical girl romp tries to be serious, dramatic or emotional one would expect some eye-rolling. But BREAK manages to slip dramatic, serious, emotional shit in without sacrificing the feeling of the previous light-heartedness, and it isn't like the goofiness goes away completely either. BREAK has found a great balance of being serious when it should but not forgetting that there's a limit to how much the viewer is going to care. That's self-awareness.
The show would be better off if it gave its side characters, like Billy, more screen time. There is some comedy gold to be found in their antics.
Also, the villain is actually a really good villain. It's almost uncanny.
We have new characters this time around, and judging from the first episode one would think it an iteration or spin-off. But [insert good writing here] as the story progresses we learn more about why this new Twin Angel team is running around. Also, it's refreshing to see these new girls. I personally liked their characters better than the originals. The ending could have been better but the build up made up for it.
There's not much else to say. Most people will refuse to admit that this is a solid show, simply on principle. And judging from the score here on MAL there is obviously a ratings threshold for 'shows nobody told me were good.' It's nothing ground breaking but simple done well is almost always better than extravagant done poorly.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 30, 2017
Kuzu no Honkai and the praise it's receiving is an example of the weird idea that eroticism is only allowed as long as everyone is miserable. Read: 'realism.'
The main problem with the anime is that it's seemingly supposed to be a character driven story: we get quite a bit of internal monologue detailing the emotions, feeling and motives of the various characters. The problem is that the writing is suspect. Characters will often repeat the same thing over and over again in slightly different, or unnecessarily abstract ways. It's as if the writers have a large vocabulary but not enough, or any new, ideas
...
to apply it to.
The characters themselves are pretty one-note. Hanabi is cute and all, but if you asked me what she was like I'd only to be able to repeat the synopsis of the anime back to you. This idea goes back to the 'realism' thing. Most people don't go throughout their daily lives only thinking of the one problem that's plaguing them. Even if there was one person that did that, I think it's highly unlikely that there's an entire group of people around them doing the exact same thing. 'Characters' and 'character development' are often used as a free pass when someone likes something about a character but doesn't know exactly why or how to express it, which is why I'd rather talk about something else than focus on that. But in this case, where the show is being praised for its realism, I must say that characters that don't seem at all like living human persons doesn't strike me as realistic. Give Hanabi a hobby or something, I'm not asking for much.
"But they're unhappy so of course it's realistic."
"But they're unhappy so it's mature."
"But they're unhappy so it's deep."
or
"But they had sex so it's realistic"
etc.
I don't buy it. Making me care about these characters is like 'creating engaging drama 101.' If I don't care about them why should I be shocked by what is going on around them? This creates an emotional gulf where I kind of want to see what's going to happen, but I don't have to worry about any surprises along the way. In a way it's a good thing because it cuts down on stress, but that doesn't help make the anime engaging on any level that isn't superficial.
I did like the visuals and the character designs however. I felt that the visual design and direction was consistent throughout: it was engaging and descriptive enough to keep my eyes happy. This may be the case of the studio dealing with a flawed source, because they got the mood right... but it's a story that wasn't interesting enough, or maybe even just poorly focused.
The last episode contained the most characterization and charm out of any of them. Hell, the ending was way more reasonable than it deserved to be.
About the sex: novel at first, event that's a stretch, but got boring quick. Some people watching were too easily impressed by the 'they kissed in the first episode' thing and that's how they got hooked, I'm guessing.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 30, 2017
I really hope that the change in attitude regarding this anime is due to its own merits, and not word getting around that "hey, it's actually good, we're allowed to like it now!" When this anime started airing most people, especially MAL, were pretty harsh on it. This was despite the fact that by the time episode four aired, Japan, and a certain section of the English-speaking anime community, were becoming absolutely obsessed with it. This may be a tale of a simple delayed reaction, or another example of people jumping on the bandwagon.
Kemono Friends is animated and structured in a way that makes
...
it different from most anime. Maybe because of the CG, or maybe for some other stylistic reason, space and movement are handled in a way that feels foreign. People who are used to watching traditionally made shows may find themselves having to get used to a different cadence, different perspective of the camera, etc., It's hard to put into words but Kemono Friends doesn't "move" or "feel" the way most anime does. This 'pulled-back' style works well for the kind of story Kemono Friends wants to tell. Not really focusing on any one character or idea, the camera, animation and pacing allow for the audiences' eyes to be open on the big picture. Allowing us to watch out for what's coming next, what new Friend will show up, rather than what has already happened.
We see this from the beginning as the first episode throws us into the adventure without any introduction. Kaban-chan is seemingly just as lost as we are. As we move through the first episode it becomes clear that the anime wants to reveal things to us as slowly and subtly as possible. Dropping hints that there is something about this world that the characters, and us, need to learn, and that they'll give us the tools to figure it out. The anime never really spells it out either, meaning that even after a pretty big story event happens, characters only talk about for a brief period, and even then not directly. It isn't at all difficult to figure out what's going on by the end, but you never feel as if the anime short-changed you by revealing the mystery. All of your guess-work is just as important as Kaban and the Friends'. It's a satisfying feeling.
In essence what we have here is an adventure in two parts: Kaban trying to figure out how her new world works and what she is, and the Friends learning a little bit more about the place they call home. In this way, there is a prevailing theme of working together to improve what you have, which is done through quite a bit of building projects, subterfuge and battle strategy for the purpose of conflict resolution and even helping out idols at a concert. As the adventure continues we learn that not all Friends are as in the dark as we think they are. In any case, by the time you get to the second episode's ending credits, a little bit of what has been revealed to you starts to become a bit more clear, giving you a certain expectation for the remainder of the anime. Even this is a little misleading though.
The anime tells its story in a pretty consistent way. Kaban and Serval wander around bumping into new Friends and learning and helping as they go along. There are plenty of Friends in each episode, some appearing for only a second, while some are more important to the story. Its pretty rare for an anime to tell a story like this, with so many varieties of character popping in and out. Most episodic adventure shows are self-contained stories with some kind of bigger story revealing itself at the end. Kemono Friends however feels like one long journey, with all of the detours and distractions not really being distractions at all. When Kaban and Serval wave goodbye to the Friends they meet it doesn't feel as if that story has come to a close, instead you get the sense that the adventure has just moved in a new direction.
Obviously friendship is pretty important to the story. Kaban and Serval become close of course, but everyone is a Friend. Even Boss, who you would think of as just one of many robo-guides, manages to become an important and indispensable friend. ("This isn't our Boss.")
Every technical aspect of the anime is amateurishly charming. From the CG to the voice acting. About the voice acting, it's incredibly cute, every girl has their own manner of speaking, it feels natural and comfy. You can tell the people behind this show were trying their best, and its success probably comes as a surprise to everyone involved. But that success is probably born from the passion that they put into it. This isn't the case of something getting popular for the wrong reasons. Tatsuki and Yoshizaki Mine knew what they were doing. It's through actual talent that a show most people would dismiss has become so popular.
Kemono Friends works because it tells a simple story in a simple yet engaging way. It knows what it wants to do and it doesn't bog itself down in unnecessary nonsense. This is what trendsetting anime feels like. Hopefully whatever comes next doesn't lose that refreshing feeling.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 29, 2017
Some members of the anime community always seem to make a point to show public outrage when random seasonal show-x doesn't meet some arbitrary standard of 'maturity' or 'artistic integrity,' all in some weird attempt to distance themselves from "those kinds of anime fans." When doing this it's always easier to go after the low hanging fruit, shorts like these which most people don't care about or don't have high expectations of. This review of One Room is written with the expectation that nobody else on this site will defend it.
The fact that this is a POV anime seems to be enough to send
...
most people running. If it calms you down, you should know that it is not entirely done in POV. It's more of a hybrid of alternative views (when POV wouldn't make sense) and actual POV (when it's important). The anime itself is pretty smart about moving from one to the other in a way that isn't distracting or unnatural.
The character designs are cute, and the scenarios are deliberately made to be heartwarming or emotionally engaging on some level. Dialogue is meant to be pseudo-interactive, in that you don't hear the MCs response (it's you) but the conversation obviously progresses in a way that completely ignores whatever you shout at the screen. Effectively creating two 'yous'. In this way it's possible to try to reverse engineer the conversation based on the reactions the girls have to 'your' answer. People need to realize that 'cringing' at this is their fault and that there are others out there who can separate reality from fiction. When watching this anime it's important to remember that worrying about not looking lonely on the internet is a fool's errand.
Judging One Room for what is, is very simple. It's a short, relaxing and comfy look at the progress of three relationships that take place inside one room. The prevailing theme is that with these relationships comes growth and stability, both emotional and situational. It's interesting to note that (you) help out the girls in two of the three stories. The odd story out involves some tough love from your imouto. I think it should be obvious as well, that the real point of this anime is to help foster those feelings in the real you. You know, the person sitting on the couch in the dark.
It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that there is a demand for anime geared towards those who want some company or affection from 2D girls. The difference between the average 'escapist' show and this is that characters don't usually wait for (you) before they do something 'badass.'
We're all in this together people.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Dec 29, 2016
Tabi Machi Late Show can handle emotional story-telling much better than full-length anime because it is not the individual characters that we care about, but the universal feelings the characters, and their time on-screen, represent.
The emotions that build up, that are communicated, that get left behind as we say 'good bye' to the people or places which we spend our time, is the main theme of these shorts. And in 30 minutes this theme is explored in every aspect of each short. With incredibly simple animation, interesting character design, deliberately spaced out dialogue, and melancholic music it is obvious that each episode is crafted
...
to make one feel a certain way. Of course each episode has its own story to tell, but it is always a variation on the main theme.
One thing which is very striking is how effectively each short can communicate information to us by either saying very little or showing us the right image at the right moment. There is good visual story-telling here.
The shorts themselves increase in emotional content as they play out. The first two episodes are slow-moving with the emotions ranging from bittersweet to regretful. The final two amp up the kind of thing which is obviously supposed to illicit an emotional reaction in the viewer. I think it worked. Emotions of the final two shorts deals with finding closure in different ways and starting anew.
Well worth the investment, as the payoff vs. time-spent is higher than average.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
