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If you like military, action and adventure style anime with the OP/master strategist MC and the badass fighting female lead you shouldnt miss this series. Set in an alternate world with a mix of weapon technologies, it deals with the origin story of Ikta Solork, the invincible lazy general.

Characters are pretty standard with the twist being that the MC's motto is being lazy rather than the usual work extra hard with determination to win type. Regardless, there is a good ensemble cast with interesting chemistry and interaction.

I think any 13 episode series can only do so much in terms of development, with the ... story accomplishing the main goal of sufficiently engaging the audience into staying for more. I think all of us can enjoy an almost too perfect OP main character paired with a beautiful fighting machine female lead. I would like to see a bit more romance to make us care more about the characters but that perhaps will come later on.

Animation and music are good with well executed fight scenes.

I'm glad to say that my impression of the series has not changed over the course of the season, which is more than I can say for many many anime which start of strong and then fall into confusion and disappointment.

It's sad that one of the best shows of the season has gotten so few views and relatively low scores - I believe this show is certainly in the 8.3 to 8.4 mark after 13 episodes. Watch this - you won't regret it. Here's to hoping we get season 2 and beyond!

I've finished re:zero with mixed feelings. I disliked the start, grew to love it in the middle 15 episodes then after that, it was a bit of a chore to the end. For an anime with a MAL rating of more than 8.7 at the time of this review, I have to disagree with the vast majority of the reviewers then who have been giving this series a 9 or 10.

While I think the story is interesting, I just never really identified with the characters. Subaru, the MC, came across as annoying but persistent with no real saving traits apart from his devotion to Emilia. ... There was woeful development of Emilia, with her going missing for the last third of the series. In fact the character that most time was spent on was Rem during those episodes Emilia was missing. I suspect it was my lack of caring about the core relationships which make me rate this a low 8 to high 7 rather than the 9 I was giving it initially.

On the surface, I think the art and sound are absolutely to the standard expected of a 2016 anime with no complaints about the artwork or character design.

It's just a sense of disappointment that the original mechanic of resetting time became less and less relevant as the story progressed and the absence of meaningful growth and character development held back the final third of the series. I still think it's enjoyable to watch but I cannot rate this in the top 5 of the concluding spring anime for 2016.

As it stands, my top 4 for this season so far are Shokugeki no soma, alderamin, mob psycho and relife. Re:zero started of average, became really strong then just fell away at the end.

I loved season 1 of this anime and ultimately at the end of season 2, I found myself a little disappointed by how it all went. I'll try to tie everything in with my season 1 review because I believe that the ending of the anime actually in many ways affects everything that comes before.

In many ways the end 2 episodes were the best 2 episodes in season 2. Why? Because it actually progressed the story and let us see a bit of the reward of all that promise and struggle through the earlier 35 episodes.

Having said that, as others have pointed out, the first ... 7 episodes were so frustrating I wanted to gouge my eyes out at points. I accept that people can go backwards but to use the typical rival and competition mechanic as well as the classic misunderstanding twist was in some ways a cheap way of prolonging the series.

All stories reach a critical point, where the author has to let the characters come to a natural conclusion based on their pattern of behaviour established over the previous development. Unfortunately at times, it felt that the drama was forced and as such the show lost a lot of emotional potential. This second season just never reached the heights of feeling and excitement as the first one.

Ultimately I'd still give this season an 8 (just barely), simply because it did keep it's promise in the end of finishing on a good note. If you are in the mood for a rom com, with lovable characters, fun moments and in the end an uplifting fulfilling conclusion, then you won't go wrong watching this series. It does not match the outstanding first season but I think most people would still enjoy it enough to not regret watching it all.

If you were to read the summary of Kimi ni Todoke, you'd never watch this hidden gem of romantic anime. The story is in many ways derivative and typical of shoujo romantic stories, with an innocent, straightforward, lonely girl falling in love with the popular guy in class.

Yet the story hides a special charm that grows on you the more you watch and this draws you into the world as you watch the characters grow and struggle.

The real highlights are the artwork and music which really convey the emotions and carry the viewer along. Those 2 elements is what helps lift this story and allows ... us to really feel for the characters.

I had no problem with the pacing of the story which I found entirely appropriate. It allowed us enough time to get to know the characters. All the cast performed brilliantly with the seiyuu voicing sawako particularly outstanding as she had a lot of work voicing her thoughts. In many ways this story is perfect for anime because many of the comedic elements and emotion cannot be conveyed in any other medium.

Obviously the main weakness is that at the end of season 1, there is no resolution whatsoever and hence I was very lucky to come along knowing that there is a season 2 to complete the story. However, I am also aware that the manga is still ongoing.

Overall, this is an extremely easy to watch romantic comedy style anime with charming characters, beautiful art and a heartfelt soundtrack. Highly recommended for those who enjoy such anime. Please read my review of season 2 for my overall view. Thanks!

There are so few anime which can entertain, move and at the same time teach. Bakuman is a very special anime because it takes the viewer across 75 episodes and shows an actual journey worth travelling with a terrific emotional power packed ending. As the manga depicted in the anime shows, too many popular anime are dragged on unnecessarily simply for business, while neglecting the power of a story which actually chooses to end itself. Therefore, if you are tired of watching anime which have horrible or inconclusive endings - I present to you Bakuman seasons 1, 2 and 3.

What makes the whole story special?
1. ... Characters - at the heart of the story the relationship between the mains, their love interests and the brilliantly realised ensemble support cast - carries the show. In general their trials and challenges show what a tough industry manga is and in some ways is an indictment on the problem of overwork in Japan - hence the uncle dying from overwork. In fact it was a common theme for the main characters to go without sleep for days to finish a manga.

It is in their journey and growth that you come to know and love those characters - you feel for their dreams and hope they can succeed. When Ashirogi Muto gets a serialization you can feel the happiness with them. If you love a story with great characters - this is a shining example.

2. Pacing - overall - it's a series where the pacing is done really well. Although some episodes may feel like filler, in the overall scheme, I suspect the closeness you feel with the characters rely on watching their ups and downs. Each episode is interesting and draws you in.

3. Focused story - although there are side arcs, the overall theme and focus is clear and it basically comes back to it time and again. This theme is the willingness to work and keep trying for your dream. It's so refreshing to see them grow from middle schoolers, to high school to working young adults. Although there is marriage in the series, the story does not get distracted too much by other issues, e.g. children or married life.

Weaknesses:
1. Plot loopholes and inconsistencies - it is the right of the author to allow coincidence to solve all your problems - but perhaps this device is used a bit too often at times, e.g. all the occasions that the 2 mains have conflict are often resolved by coincidental same thinking.

2. Music and soundtrack - not really memorable but certainly functional.

Overall, the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses and I have to say that watching this series has been a true pleasure. One of the best series - I'd say in it's genre of slice of life and shounen it is easily in the top 3 of all time.

ReLife is fun, engaging and a great way to start off the summer 2016 anime season.

High school is a fairly common base for anime but the twist in ReLife is the hook which drew me and I suspect most viewers in - which deals with the harsh realities of life after that. Although the anime overall is light hearted with some really funny comedic moments, the beauty of the story is in how it also introduces and deals with weightier topics, such as peer pressure, bullying and being left out.

Yet the story is above all one of second chances, change, hope with romance and love ... thrown in. It deals with the darker topics and moves the characters on with a cast as well fleshed out as could be in a single cour series.

I have to say this one definitely warrants a watch if you enjoy simple, relaxing and fun stories, yet with a few more mature and adult themes (without the ecchi, thankfully).

So overall, watch this particularly if you enjoyed - Ore Monogatari, Lovely Complex and Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo.

Wow, just wow - what a series. In this review I'll be covering both season 1 and 2, since I cannot imagine anyone who has finished season 1 would not immediately rush out and watch season 2. Spoiler free review and thoughts to follow.

If you ever wanted a sports anime to actually have some romantic elements in it (although fairly subtle/light) then you cant go past this one. It is a top notch sports style anime in the tradition of Haikyuu, Kuroko no Basuke and Hajime no Ippo, just written from a Josei/female protagonist perspectibve. Such a perfect match, with the tension of the games, ... mixed in with distinctive likeable and diverse cast and such strong character development.

You can't help but fall in love with each and every character. You will laugh with them, feel their pain and joy and just have such a good feels trip watching this series. As they grow through failure and defeat, you will share their bond and savour their victories and successes.

The art is top notch with great character design and a beautiful colour palette. There is some slightly distracting CG sequences but I honestly didn't mind it too much. The music, OP and ED pieces suited the show perfectly. I loved all 4 pieces. I also loved the seiyuu who played Chihaya - just a beautiful voice. If you enjoy a classical type of voice, in some ways like Hayami Saori - both spoken and singing voice you'll enjoy this performance.

The only downside as is typical in josei, rather than sports anime is the open ending. I have yet to see a series that just ends with some closure - perhaps because the manga is actually still ongoing. I can only hope that a season 3 is produced at some stage.

So what are you waiting for? One of my favourite anime, easily top 5 in any list of sports anime out there. Watch this one. Highly recommended.

I usually look at overall rating in deciding what anime to watch then read the reviews after I've watched the anime. So as I look at the written reviews - there are so many 2s, 3s and 4s - I was thinking was the anime that bad? Had I lost 12 hours of my life watching a piece of unwatchable junk? What I can't understand is if people think it's worth a 2 or a 3 - why keep going? Why bother finishing it and wasting more time if it was that bad? Are there so many masochists with nothing better to do than watch ... bad anime after which they write scathing reviews, resulting in even more time wasted?

Obviously the answer is that the greater the promise, the more crushing the disappointment. And that is the problem with Aldnoah.zero (I will be reviewing the entire series - both 1 and 2 together). To be fair, it is a beautifully animated and scored series with nothing to fault the character design or the setting. It promised much in the first 5 episodes of season 1 (some minor spoilers will be present).

Starting off with some death and destruction - we see one of the school friends killed quite early on and also Rayet's father killed setting the stage for some potentially epic and emotional scenes which however never materialised. The series is entertaining enough but it never quite matched the early promise. No one else significant dies in the whole rest of the series and there are multiple plot lines which teases the audience only to slap them in the face, almost literally.

It's like falling for the girl, thinking she also likes you, leaning in for a kiss then you open your eyes and she's gone off with some random stranger instead. That basically sums up the ending. You are left thinking, what the hell is going on here? Am I really watching the show I thought and hoped I was watching? It's just so disappointing to see a series promise so much just crush itself by inconsistent plot 'twists' and character actions.

I picked this series up because it just appeared on the Australian Netflix and I certainly don't regret it. It is entertaining enough to keep you involved but man, it could have been so much more. Greatness comes in small increments and by degrees. It's a real shame that the ending just lacked so much emotional impact and was anticlimactic in the extreme. For more epic endings watch gurenn lagann or my favourite code geass.

In summary - if you are a big fan of mecha, sci fi action - Aldnoah is fun and entertaining. A score of 7 is fair because it's definitely not abysmal. Yet I do understand why so many people are upset because if only they had changed a few elements, e.g. an ending with asseylum picking inaho only to have him die heroically or if only inko was used properly as a romantic interest - this would have been an awesome anime. Looking at it objectively, there are a number of other anime which are definitely better overall but I think for a superficially fun time but ultimately hollow experience you can certainly give this anime a shot.

Summary:
Seirei no moribito is an excellent action, fantasy/historical period type anime which is well worth the time and attention of anyone interested in this genre. It has great character development, beautiful animation, a gripping story and above all real emotion and heart. It is a more classic and dramatic style of anime, with no ecchi, overpowered characters or overt slapstick type comedy elements. I would certainly rank this anime in any top 10 list for historical action and I am sure any viewer would enjoy this series.

Introduction:
If you are looking for overpowered characters battling it out with magic and swords flashing, ecchi, simple romance and ... lots of comedy, then this is not the anime for you.

However if you are interested in an anime which is predominantly a relationship drama interspersed with some great action sequences set in a well realised historical world with elements of magic, then I would highly recommend this anime.

Story:
At it's core, this anime is about the relationship between Balsa (our heroine) and her young charge Chagum who happens to be the prince of the country. By some mystical happenstance, Chagum has to go into hiding because he is thought to be the cause of potential drought and desolation since he is possessed by a water spirit. The story then revolves around Balsa's vow to protect and save an eighth soul and the revelation behind the water spirit possessing Chagum.

Art and Sound:
I loved the character design. All the characters are drawn true to life with no moe elements or over dramatised colours, hair or disproportionately large eyes. The animation and colours are varied and fluid with some excellent fight scenes. I thought the OP and ED songs were great and truly fit the story well. The music was also suitably poignant and dramatic and I cannot fault the technical side of this anime, particularly given the age.

Characters:
The characters is what makes this anime great. All of them behave in a consistent and realistic manner, with their motivations clearly expressed and conveyed. The relationship between the leads and the supporting cast is also well played out with some genuine heartfelt moments. By the end, you will no doubt be rooting for our heroes and you'll feel their joy and their sacrifice. If anything, the only slight downside is the lack of significant romance, although there is a minor element. My personal feeling is that the best stories have to contain all parts of the human experience, parental love, romantic love, friendship, joy, loss, sadness, comedy and growth. This anime certainly covers nearly all these elements.

Enjoyment:
Needless to say if you have read this far, you can see that I truly enjoyed this anime. The story moves at a solid steady pace with no real dips in quality or boring filler. Above all, it finishes of well, a rarity in this day and age. The loose ends are essentially tied up and you will feel satisfied watching it to the end. What more can a viewer ask for?

If you are in the mood for an intense and exciting anime with excellent fight scenes and a darker than usual tone, then Akame ga kill will certainly fit the bill.

One of the unusual features of anime in general versus western styles of storytelling is the emphasis on humanising the 'bad' guys. Most viewers who are new to anime will pick up on the fact that there are a number of episodes which focus primarily on explaining the motivations and relationships of the enemy team unlike in typical good vs evil books or shows in the west seeking to make the enemy as despicable as ... possible.

The art and sound is excellent with some great fight scenes - no complaints or issues there.

The main problem with the series though is also in part it's strength. It is the fact that the story portrays the cost and consequence of battles and war - i.e. there is a lot of destruction and death. While this is a realistic aspect, overdoing it desensitises the audience. Likewise, while some tragedy can drive conflict and character growth, too much of it is just plain depressing.

I won't go into spoilers but suffice to say that while I enjoyed the series, it failed to make the most of what came before. I felt that it wasted some of the great setup and development and in some instances how the characters interacted were inconsistent with how they were portrayed earlier, particularly in the relationship between Tatsumi and Esdeath, as well as the evolution of Seryuu. Some things just didnt make sense and that was disappointing in a show that aimed to have significant tension and conflict.

The abundance of characters introduced - like lambs to the slaughter in some regards also limited the character development somewhat. After watching this series and reflecting on it, I've decided arbitrarily that shows should probably aim to limit death to perhaps not more than 20% of the characters, because more than that leads to a sort of diminishing returns in terms of emotional impact. I just wish they had toned down a few elements to maximise the emotional impact of some of the brilliant set pieces there. I just wish they had toned down a few elements to maximise the emotional impact of some of the brilliant set pieces there.

Overall, though the story is certainly a much darker exploration of the genre, compared to others of it's type. I would recommend people interested in action in a fantasy setting, definitely check this out.