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Oct 26, 2023
Long version:
When I first saw the poster for this anime and MAL's low rating (at that time, around 6/10), I thought "probably another pretty anime without much depth." But I played the trailer anyway, and was pleasantly surprised.
Despite loving the trailer, the low rating still made me hesitant - how many other subpar animes have I watched thanks to MAL? I put it off month after month... and then last weekend, on my birthday. I decided to do something for myself instead of others (lol) and watch it.
I. was. in. awe.
Fuuka was extremely relatable for me. A young woman who moved alone
...
to chase her career/passion/dreams of working in a glamorous but cutthroat industry... only to be denied a promotion after years of hard work. And that promotion to be given to someone young, inexperienced, and definitely not as qualified.
I cried along with Fuuka every episode, her emotions and thoughts were so real, and what I've done in the past too. You might not know where you're going, but sometimes you just know you "don't want to be here" "anywhere but here," and I think the anime did an excellent job of expressing those complicated layers, especially when confronted by family or society. I could've - and would've gladly watched an entire series dedicated to Fuuka as the main character.
Unfortunately, Fuuka is not the protagonist. And I think this is where it might have lost many fans.
The actual protagonist appears to be Misakino Kukuru. Kukuru's mission of saving her family's aquarium business is noble, and even quite relatable at some parts e.g. who wouldn't want to save their family home, school, or other place that might be lost to neighbourhood gentrification? Who wouldn't want to save the only memory they have of their parents, especially if they grew up an orphan? There are many things in life that have immeasurable emotional value, even if there is no physical price tag on them. I think a lot of Kukuru's struggles make sense. Even though her personality and behaviour was not something I could relate to (or condone), I could understand where she was coming from.
You keep watching because you want to know what happens to the aquarium too - are they gonna make it? What new or old thing are they trying now? The other supporting characters are stellar, strong and well written, and the pacing is fantastic. Unlike other series (*cough* JJK), it's very easy to follow who is who, because they introduce new characters with the right pacing. Social relationships are connected in a humorous and believable way. The cinematography and shot sequences are nothing short of flawless. Absolutely impeccable lighting, angles, and framing in every scene. Not to mention the (Okinawan?) music is really nostalgic and comforting.
Season 2 / Episode 13 onwards follows the Gama Gama gang on a new phase, and it's refreshing to see everyone 'grown up' and with more 'adult' struggles. However, the charm and magic of the previous season is different... I still enjoyed it very much, as we get to see Kukuru grow from an immature, spoiled, and selfish person into one who also learns to care about non-aquatic animals (lol) like humans. But I think the Season 1 was better, and much more scenic as we get to see 'local life' and houses, as opposed to shiny corporate offices.
The ending was a fantastic wrap up as well, no loose ends, and the way more animes should be.
Overall, 10/10 from me. I would've liked it better if:
- Fuuka had been the main character
- People stopped spoiling Kukuru
- The anime did a better job explaining WHY people care about Kukuru, what do they see in her as a person or as a friend... because that part was the most ambiguous and confusing for me. It's clear that she is surrounded by love, but no one can really explain why they care about her (beyond maybe, her 'hard life' as an 'orphan' despite being comfortably taken care of by her grandparents). In the early episodes, she's selfish and bratty enough that she doesn't care about anyone else and takes out her anger ON everyone else. It's really unhealthy (and problematic).
-
I had to boot a couple of animes off my favourites list for this, but I'll be back soon... rewatching it to my heart's content!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Aug 5, 2023
TLDR version: This film was less 'love story in Kyoto' and more 'mediocre sci-fi fanfic'. Everything is half-hearted in this show.
Long version:
I was so excited going into this film. Seeing the Kibuneguchi (貴船口駅) sign set me off, and I knew it had the makings of a beautiful, heartfelt anime... good looking characters, a colorful craft / souvenier shop set in the heart of Gion... what's not to like? It's got the recipe for the perfect love story in Kyoto, and (almost) everybody loves Kyoto. Except that this film wasn't so much about 'love story in Kyoto/Japan' as it was 'mediocre sci-fi fanfic.'
Things they should've improved
...
on to make it a 10/10 in my completely biased and uneducated opinion:
- Storytelling
Ohmygod. This movie could have been almost completely salvaged if it wasn't for the poor storytelling. There is very little information given throughout the movie, so it's hard to follow the story. You're forced to piece together what is even GOING ON with the few scraps of plot 'hints' that you get when the characters fight, make up, whatever.
- World-building
Because of the focus on Kyoto and surrounding areas, it's easy to believe that this is a movie with a realistic / current day era. There's almost no mention of robots or how advanced AIs came to be and what their purpose is in this movie ... even though the entire movie plot is ABOUT ROBOTS. The main characters discuss it for like two sentences ... and that's it. It left me as the viewer feeling very lost, and I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a sci-fi or romance movie. It didn't really feel like either, it just felt very contradictory and half-hearted. ... like the button.... yeah, pun intended.
- Characters
It was hard to care about any of them, because we don't learn much about each of them beyond the flashbacks that happen. The dynamic that this couple has is a 'well that's nice' but not really inspiring or even ... fun, because it's so predictable. I was actually really disappointed by this part, because I was looking forward to learning more about Kurumi. Someone who sews buttons, dolls, clothes, has entire walls of craft supplies is definitely a soul sister to an artist like myself... but we don't learn anything about why or how she even started sewing. Does she have any other hobbies? Any friends? She must have inherited the home or shop from somebody... but who? I was expecting this movie to have a character I could relate to and support, a new favourite, and Kurumi fell short. I don't think the writers ever gave her or Hal the opportunity to build any depth.
Half hearted effort also gets half hearted score from me, so a 5 seems fair. Honestly, if it wasn't for the stunning art and scenes of Kyoto - which was probably prioritized way too much, so that you would forget the lack of poorly-told story... I would even give it a 3. Had so much potential but otherwise fell short!
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jul 19, 2023
I don't review animes I didn't enjoy - not as often as I used to anyway. But I felt like I had to speak up about this one - it's confusing from start to finish. The first episode had a lot of potential: historic setting, fairy fantasies, and a dash of military power and action. There's clearly a backstory between the protagonist and her long-lost childhood best friend suddenly appearing as an enemy. It had all the makings of a wonderful, intruiging story.
And then it kinda goes downhill by the 4th episode. There's too many plotholes to list (LOL) so I'm just going to
...
type a few points why it the series fell short:
- The art is beautiful, but the world building and timeline is communicated very poorly. There's a lot of "U.E. 1940, 1945" etc. when the screen could have simply said "5 years later" "1 year later." Seriously. I don't think they even cover what the U.E. stands for?
- By the way, there's no map of anything. There's war(s) going on in neighbouring cities that escalate to their own country, but it's pretty unclear who is from where, and where anything is happening. All the names given - of people AND PLACES - are completely foreign, not easy to remember. Which is understandable given it's a fantasy/science fiction, but ... there's few explanations if at all, after the introduction of new names. I think there were 2 - 5 new characters every episode, meaning 9*5 = 40 characters by the final episode. Most of them don't have visually distinguishable features either, just a lot of uniforms, so that doesn't help.
- Very weak elaboration on the history of how fairies came to be, and the tie with Suna, the protagonist's hometown. Admittedly I was starting to skim the subtitles given the slow dialogue and pacing, so maybe I missed it. But the overall tone of the anime seemed to be "there's a war, and fairies are just the tools of the trade." so it might have been more of a shounen anime. Despite the female protagonist.
- There's the major problem: the female protagonist herself.
You know, I love my strong women, warriors or not. But this one was written almost as poorly as Saya from Blood+. Cute looks, average abilities, and most importantly: no backbone or quick thinking skills whatsoever. I was excited when she gained a fairy, like maybe she would turn out to be an OP character and things would get interesting, but they barely talked about it beyond 'it's illegal to have and shouldn't even be possible' for like 6 episodes. Okay.
Even if we overlook the very poor storytelling about her childhood friend Vera / Veronica and what happened after they got separated in snow. I was still hoping "Ver" would have more screentime, since she seems like a really bad-ass character, powerful, fast, and clearly a tormented past. Heck, if Ver had been the protagonist, I probably would've enjoyed it 20x more. They should've switched seats. Sadly, Ver gets a supporting role on the sidelines, and we're forced to endure Mariya's indecision and self-pity while she fails to be useful in battle.
This is where the most likeness with Saya (Blood+) comes in. During critical moments - like their whole troop being killed - the protagonist is paralyzed with emotion and unable to help anyone. Everyone sacrifices their lives for the protagonist, and they still have trouble fighting. It's understandable if this is e.g. Episode 1 - 3, where everything's still new and the protagonist is still learning.
No. This is still happening even in the second half of the series, people got new weapons, allies etc.
The most unforgivable part of this?
Mariya on screen: It's my fault [he died].
Me off screen: About time someone recognized their mistakes. She might have a redeemptive arc-
Mariya on screen: I'm a cursed child.
Me off screen: What?
Mariya is stuck (maybe even a little obsessed) with her 'cursed child past', believing she brings misfortune to everyone around her... ... I don't know how much of that is true, but not lifting your gun when you have 50+ enemies around you has less to do with how you were born, and more about how you won't pull that trigger. Just my humble interpretation.
- The series turned from a fantasy based one into an almost exclusively military drama in the last 4 episodes or so. Talk about change of genre; I don't know if the studio changed midway but that might help make sense of it. I completely lost interest by that point and am just sharing it so you don't waste time either. Unless you happen to be studying fight scene choreography or inspiration for a new military-based book, I don't think this series will benefit you much.
All in all - disappointing, but more so because of the wasted potential. If there's a similar series but with better storytelling, I'd give it a go!
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jun 11, 2023
If you grew up or spent a lot of time in East Asia, and then had to move to a foreign country (in a different region)... this is the anime for you! In a land of heroes and fantasy magic, I think food is often overlooked, if not placed on the lowest priority for many people. However, in the case of Mukouda, food *is* his only skill, and he makes it work really well!
What sets this apart from other food-based animes is that:
- There's an actual storyline
It's not just 'one diner, one episode' or 'one meal per visit to an isekai restaurant' *cough*. There's travels,
...
battles, and powers learned along with the "local culture."
- Character depth
Flat characters are common in this genre, and they don't have much of a role beyond delivering the food or helping out another secondary character... this series focuses on its two - later three - mains, and we learn a lot about Mukouda's likes, dislikes, preferences and consideration towards others. Each main character grows either physically or emotionally.
- Change keeps it interesting and re-watchable
I was expecting this series to be another 'looks great but probably won't rewatch' one for the shelf, and was surprised at the amount of change. It's like the writers (or team behind it) deliberately wanted to make it different from other food-based animes, and it struck a perfect balance of food and fighting. Whoever was responsible for this was definitely experienced in other genres, so I'm thankful for that.
- Relationship dynamic
It's uncommon to see strong relationships grow between characters in food-based animes. But the dynamic I witnessed between Mukouda and Fel was very similar (if not the same) as Natsume Takashi and Nyanko-sensei from Natsume Yuujinchou. Introducing the third character also grew to be a strong plot element for all of them, and tightened the community feel.
My personal favourite part was just how relatable the series is, though. It's hardship living in the U.S. without access to all the Japanese food I'm used to, and a lot of Mukouda's commentary were thoughts I have here too, haha! The only difference is that he gets his ingredients at the same price as they are in Japan, versus e.g. $7 for a shiitake mushroom... let's not get into that, lol. It really is heartwarming to be able to eat one's own cuisine (or one they are familiar with) while being in a foreign country, so I highly recommend it to others when they are finding it hard to cope. Hopefully, over time, more countries will begin to love food and convenience just as much as Japanese people do! ご馳走様。
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 18, 2023
It's hard to watch a love story unfold when you're rooting for the underdog in a love triangle.
I was drawn in because I love vampires, fantasy, and handsome anime boys - and this ticked all the boxes for me. It's an EXCELLENT series that scores well in thoughtful writing, music, character development and more... it felt like I was watching an anime movie with cinematic frame cuts and zooms, perfect editing and metaphors in every single episode. I wouldn't describe it as anything other than a visual and literary masterpiece, as it evokes the kind of complex emotions one rarely feels from series today.
...
However. Due to the complex (back)story of the vampire history, it also felt like the series was cramming too much content into 12 episodes. The main arc (the vampire kingdom's rise to success) ended by episode 7, and every episode after that introduced a new plot point that deserved another arc of its own. There was too much going on with too little time. And yet, the series focused almost exclusively on the relationship between Queen Mina and Akira during those limited 4+ episodes.
If you are a fan of Mina's narcissistic character - and it looks like she has many fans on MAL - then you'll continue to enjoy the direction of the series. If you are do not worship her, nor care about romance, it's safe to say you can skip episode 8 onwards. They might as well be romantic comedies on the most unlikely couple ever.
I'm not a fan of that, or rather, I'm a bigger fan of Yuki.
Throughout the entire series, Yuki proves to be a solid friend, a selflessly kind, trustworthy, sensitive human, and she remains supportive towards the love triangle, even if her feelings are hurt or unaddressed. And yet, despite all that she does ... Yuki does not get a happy ending. It was painfully frustrating to watch Yuki not get an apology from Akira. To watch someone else's love story unfold, while your own is destroyed because of it. I couldn't stand that. She was deeply relatable for me, and even though I typically want 'vampires to win over humans no matter what,' in this case, I really didn't. I actually preferred the humans in this series, which speaks volumes on how shockingly awful the vampires were.
In conclusion, I recommend episode 1 - 7 for the general public (18+ years old due to mature content), and episode 8 - 12 if you enjoy watching ridiculous relationships that would likely end in divorces in reality - I'll be the first to make a bet on it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 15, 2023
Man, I almost dropped this show. I was disappointed to say in the least, because I'm a jewelry artist with my own small business. I was over the moon during the initial episodes, where each episode revealed a different 'case' or customer story and their connection with gemstones/jewelry. The insight and knowledge on gemstones was pretty spot-on. But after Episode 5... the series focuses heavily on the relationship between Seigi and Richard. Which, despite my reservations, proved to be increasingly romantic... there's even a marriage proposal. There's nothing wrong with that, I just wish there had been a 'Boys' Love' tag for this title, because
...
it's not my cup of tea. Even 'Romance,' would've sufficed to give more clues to the viewers of what they're getting into.
There was less and less screen time about rocks and gems, and more screen time on how much affection the two men have for each other. It was also very confusing, as the anime tried to portray them both as straight with female love interests, rejecting notions of POSSIBLE LOVE. While they pretty much do everything lovers do and marriage is an option.
So if you also enjoy minerals and gemstones, I'd highly recommend Episode 1 - 5 for a refreshing and insightful take on the industry, with beautiful illustrations. 10/10. But feel free to drop it after that unless you enjoy exploring Seigi's romances and relationships further.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jun 18, 2022
I am in love with Loid Forger, and this review was written for straight women like myself, but anyone is welcome to read it. (I noticed others writing reviews early, so I will write mine and update it if needed).
My first thought: Ohmygod. No one told me the main character [Loid] was hot!
I'm stunned that friends had mentioned the series to me, but no one said he was this handsome. They should've, because I'm thirsty for hot anime boys and would've dropped everything to watch this WAY sooner. The Animaxplay synopsis is actually accurate for this one and the vibe I would describe is a
...
combination of the following media titles - the higher number of titles you like below, the more likely you'll love Spy x Family:
[ ] Fugou Keiji: Balance:Unlimited
[ ] Gakuen Babysitters
[ ] Usagi Drop
[ ] Hinamatsuri
[ ] Who made me a princess (manhua)
[ ] Any media dealing with 'adopted daughter' premise e.g. Alice & Zoroku
This anime is like if Daisuke Kambe married Suzue and had a kid, and this series captured their family life 500%.
Why I love the series:
Ironically, I'm not the biggest fan of Bond movies, but rather fictional characters that find themselves in hero type situations and are skilled at what they do, even if they're not your traditional, archetypal "hero on a white horse". The more morally grey they are ethics wise, the better!!
That being said, I've always loved reading spy, adventure, and assassin stories, and my favorite book series is Artemis Fowl. The world of secret missions, crime, and high level physical combat training has always fascinated me... it's just so cool. So seeing Loid Forger come to life on screen was like a dream come true, there's just not a lot of spy animes out there (that I know of). Humans who work in this field, after all, are probably the closest we'll ever get to superheroes with superpowers.
But it's not just Loid that I'm in love with. I really do love Anya and Yor, as well. Anya is a reason for this anime's existence at all. She's a brilliant character, full of creativity and humor, but highly perceptive, the way many children are. Her being telepathic is just icing on the cake, and I can't wait to see it in action / blending well with the ultimate family.
Yor - I want to write an essay on how much I love Yor, but I think the top reason for the adoration is: She's relatable. As an unmarried female, well past the age of 27 years old, living alone, who grew up with dysfunctional parents and without relatives, the concept of 'family' is a personal struggle for me, and sometimes, an insecurity. While I can't relate to being an assassin (only dream of it!), Yor's deep empathy, intuitiveness, and thoughtfulness really strikes a chord with me. Her instinctive actions to protect those she cares about in the face of danger... She is always in action before she can even think about it, and I love that about her. Our fashion styles are also very similar, so I felt represented and happy at seeing another character who was strong and yet feminine. It doesn't have to be if/or, but a 'and.'
I think it takes assault/combat experiences to fully appreciate and respect the violence in Yor's and Loid's work, and I have nothing but admiration. The fact that the anime hasn't objectified or fetishized her, and show that both Loid and Yor are respectful towards each other... is so wholesome that I almost can't take it. I would die for a relationship like this in real life.
Related to this, the series frequently challenges the watcher: What's your definition of 'family'? I think it deals with difficult topics of single parenthood and grief, in such a beautiful way... it's no easy feat to do that while still maintaining the humor level. Every episode is so well written, and well timed (perfect comedic timing). There's a lot of sentences that are simultaneous lies and jokes. Paired with Anya's precious expressions, watching it will leave your heart feeling warm and amused.
I highly recommend this series to others, and if you're on the fence because of the shounen tag - don't worry, it's not like most of them. I think it actually deserves the seinen and josei tags, becvause there's an amazing storyline, more plot than action, no fanservice on females, and the art style is casual, gentle, and pretty. You won't regret it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 1, 2022
Been a while since I reviewed something with such a low score, so... get your popcorn ready if you wanna read my 100% personal, biased, interpretation of dirt. Because I'll be dishing it out by the PAN.
To start - I fully enjoyed Hakuouki Season 1. Even gave it an 8/10. It's got ridiculously good looking ikemen, fighting/action, natural dialogue among characters, and a solid plot based on real historical events in Japan ... sounds like all the elements of a 素晴らしい subarashii anime (let me be my weeb self). I loved every minute of it as much as I love my 'historical otome
...
games.' Even if Hakuouki was mostly based on entertainment value and not actually worth much in history books, it was still a delight to watch. I was shocked I hadn't heard of such an excellent series.
Then I started Season 2 (aka episode 12 - 24, some sites display the videos together), and my thoughts turned to 'ah, now I know why.' The quality, story, and characters rapidly deteriorate. The biggest factor for its failure lie in its protagonist, Chizuru. The second factor was simply 'too many plot elements.'
I'll start with (2), because I could write a book on (1).
There's just too much going on, plot wise.
- History from centuries ago
- Samurai / warrior bushido code and lifestyle
- 7 handsome dudes
- Zombies/vampires being artificially created
- Demons something something supernatural world war (will detail this later).
It's a really ambitious undertaking for any story to include so many elements. Hakuoki might not have been 'the worst' at juggling multiple themes, but it still detracted from what could've been a really great series. Season 1 introduced each theme gradually, in a way that made sense. But Season 2 just threw everything at the wall, with each element taking turns on 'this is suddenly important' rotating cycle, with no clear logic or timeline.
People who enjoy ambiguity will probably enjoy this kind of momentum, but for others who prefer a structured progression, this is definitely not the series for you.
Now, onto the main failure that is known as Yukimura Chizuru - a character who should be banned from all screens, media, and devices, save for 'here's how to NOT write a character.'
- SPOILERS AHEAD -
1. Chizuru's sword is a decoration, not a weapon.
Set in times of war, strife, and battle, it's pretty natural that people 'kill or be killed.' Not Chizuru. We watch her get 'saved' as a damsel in distress more than eight times... and she doesn't lift her sword once. We don't actually see her fight, ever, so the sword might as well be a decoration.
I got real sick of it. It's okay to not fight, but don't pretend to - that's where my anger lies. It's just kinda insulting to people who actually can hold their own (and I assume) people like Princess Sen or her shinobi, REAL WARRIOR WOMEN!!!!!
Worse, the Shinsengumi guys go from warning her 'You need to hold your own, protect yourself, we're not always going to protect you,' to full on defending her and her INTENTIONALLY HELPLESS WAYS. I grew sick of whatever excuses people made for her, and angrier at the guys for allowing it / change of attitude. It doesn't get any more contradictory than that.
Initially, I liked her other qualities. It was just the 'helpless' habit that pissed me off and reminded me very much of 'Saya' from Blood+, where it's like, "I'll always be in the face of danger but conveniently panic and not actually do anything while people around me die and try to save me."
I can't stand that attitude. It is just really selfish and the battleground is too costly a place to be selfish.
The least she could've done, if it's something she was bad at. Was to freaking train. She basically lived with soldiers; is someone going to live in a dojo 24/7 and tell me they refuse to pick up a sword or even practice? Once? Yup, that's Yukimura for you.
2. Chizuru is playing house.
Chizuru becomes something of a domestic housekeeper to the Shinsengumi - yes, even though they were soooo reluctant to let her join them. If they had this been this lenient in real life. Heck, any woman could've joined "the ranks." She cooks, cleans, makes tea, and doesn't make much progress (physically or psychologically) beyond the occasional errand running.
She was very lacking and predictable as a character. I really, really would've enjoyed this if she actually cared about her demon blood and was less of a traitor / try to see other sides. She pretends to be this selfless and compassionate individual, but really. She was affectionate and compassionate to a SELECTIVE few, so not actually a kind or good person.
A demon princess who REFUSES TO acknowledge her heritage or have anything to do with it, even if it might actually save humankind or at least help someone...? it's like she doesn't have a brain, only a puppet with a heart.
3. She's reactive, not proactive, I hate it.
Everything is an "oh no" and not a "let's go" with her. Her role felt more like an observer in an otome story, than an actual 'player' in a game. I know there's situations where the character is intentionally written like that, to not disrupt the history or rest of the show. But I really can't think of a single contribution she made, unless we count the 'who can sacrifice more to save each other' game that she started when joining the Shinsengumi, an already struggling force.
- Other pointers -
- There should've been a romance tag. Despite the fantastic (reverse) harem, Miss Useless just chooses ONE guy and lives in denial throughout the series. If you aren't the biggest fan of romance media, I'd recommend sticking with Season 1 and ignoring Season 2 completely. Also a grief tag for excessive deaths of many characters.
- Even if this was meant to be an accurate historical portrayal of Japan's Shinsengumi era... I just don't see the point of it. Because Chizuru's presence means the whole story isn't accurate already, so like... stay with the inconsistency?
- By the second last episode, we STILL didn't learn anything about the master race aka the demon race. The whole plot was wasted on Chizuru. Just a tease like everything else in this show.
- Honestly, the military pacing of Season 2 was so slow to me that I started doing my craft embroidery work while watching. EMBROIDERY. If that doesn't tell you how boring the show was, I don't know what will.
The only character I cared about was Kazama Chikage. Chikage x Chizuru is something I 500% support, only because I like Chikage so much. So yeah. Give Season 1 a try if you must, but I can't recommend this show to anyone else unless they are a masochist with lots and lots of time on their hands.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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May 30, 2022
My synopsis:
Watch extremely handsome men battle it out in an apocalyptic world where it's humans vs. vampires, a nice take on a classic situation! They're so good looking that I was honestly surprised there wasn't a josei/shoujo tag.
TLDR:
Ok. I actually wanted the vampires to win this one. I mean it was hard to pick sides since I liked them all so much, but I'm starting to wonder if I just want vampires to win against the human race, because I don't like most humans.
1. This anime is all about honoring the past.
I feel like it's really common in reality for people to forget their
...
pasts, and even if bad things happen, they get 'overwritten' with good memories, just like computer files. Romance exists? Watch people forget the world before the romance happened... e.g. half of my friend group. They forget about relationships/friendships the moment they have something or someone good or 'better' to replace the past completely.
But not Owari no Seraph.
This anime did an excellent job of keeping the memory, the life, the "reason for living" really consistent throughout each character's developmental growth. No matter how much Mika and Yuu changed, their love for each other was pretty much endless. You can even say 'steadfast,' 'unending,' 'undying,' like even after everything, it wasn't a "welp guess he's on the other side, bye now" but a "I will save you". Their bond was so precious, pure, even beautiful, that it made me really happy and left heartwarming feelings after watching.
2. Characters I didn't like.
- SHINOA
Shinoa was not cute at all. It's too bad. Her face and looks are 10/10, but her personality is close to 2/10. Sarcastic, bored, tsundere type, I know maybe that's attractive to others. But personally, it's hard for me to like or feel any kind of sympathy for this type of character.
Yes, even if she proves to have a heart later on, like. You gonna need to do a whole lot more to convince me to care that you *aren't* dead.
She has a strong bully/sadist streak, and when she's not acting out one of those things, she's uninterested in the world around her; lifeless and emotionless. It's possible they made her that way to be the 'logical voice' in a crazy crew, but you can also have a little balance instead of 3 hotheads and various other support characters.
- MITSUBA
... like a female version of Yuu.
Too much repetition in an already testosterone-driven cast and series, felt like too much. Her lines and personality felt like an extra; and the plot would've been better without her in it. It did seem like the anime added her as another token female who could possibly be a romantic admirer of Yuu, but she doesn't have much depth.
- GUREN
Omg I was practically in love with Guren until maybe the last 2 - 3 episodes. He was hot, funny, smart, and kind of like an older version of Yuu. Until we discover some plot points (I won't spoil them) and I was like "ok he's kind of a dirtbag," and he's not attractive anymore. Big pity, he had a lot of potential.
3. Story wrap up was lacking
Story / wrap up felt a LITTLE bit lacking, like they paced it decently towards the ending, so the fight scene ended when it should've. But there were new plot points that really couldn't be unpacked/explored in less than 2 episodes.
4. Voice acting
ALL MY FAVOURITE VOICE ACTORS IN THIS ONE!! How could I not like it?
Sakurai Takahiro = Ferid = Hot
Nakamura Yuuichi = Guren = Hot
Ono Kensho = Mikaela = Hot
Suzuki Tatsuhisa = Shinya = Hot
Aside from (2) and (3) points above, would've happily scored this one a 10/10. A total visual and audio feast for most women!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Apr 27, 2022
I first started watching 'Kara no Kyoukai,' after seeing it recommended on a forum here for 'strong female leads,' and I haven't been disappointed once. I adore this series/franchise.
From the beginning (Part 1), it was clear that the writers of this show had very in-depth knowledge and possibly personal experience from the stories they were portraying. I had never watched a series that fully accurately conveyed how I felt about death (and more importantly, suicide) until now. Satsuriku no tenshi (Angels of Death) came VERY close, but this took it to the next level. I felt so completely understood and validated. If I had
...
watched this series when I was in high school, it probably would've saved me sooner. To know I wasn't alone, I wasn't weird, and that depression was actually something that existed; that it was something that could be - and should be - professionally treated.
Anyway, despite the late discovery, I'm still incredibly fond of this anime. It just speaks to me on such a deep level. Initially, I wasn't going to write a review about any of them, just because I can see it being a controversial show. But this sequel, Part 3, re-kindled a lot of emotions for me to the point I felt I had to say something about it publicly, lol.
1) Part 3 should come with a trigger warning.
I mean, technically, the whole series should come with trigger warnings. But this one covers rape and many, many other instances of physical abuse.
2) Representation needs to be rewarded
If nothing else is remembered from this movie, I want to praise the studio for giving a poignant and meaningful representation to marginalized and victimized women. Maybe this is a controversial statement to say, but I really do think revenge (and related violence from revenge) can't be easily understood unless someone has suffered deeply enough to sympathize or empathize with the person carrying it out. I'm not going into gory details here, but let's just say this movie was very much balm to my soul.
3) 1 point away from a masterpiece
It had all the makings of a 10/10. I think the only reasons why I didn't give it a full 10 was that
- I wanted more (selfish, I know).
- Truthfully, they didn't do a good job of explaining the basically-supernatural powers that both Shiki and Asagami have. This part felt like a crack in a closed door that really should be open wider, because we are on Part 3. I wanted to hear more about Asagami's background, family, and of course, the power sealing / unlocked sensitivity etc. it just seemed like a lot of important details told in a confusing way. I am hoping that the other sequels will provide more context into this 'pureblood' thing referenced, but it will be disappointing if it isn't covered. I don't know if maybe it was just a Japanese to English translation thing not conveying the story right, but that was a LOT of details to be missing.
Aside from all that.
Highly recommend for those who like the following anime/manga:
- Satsuriku no tenshi (Angels of Death)
- Boku Dake Ga inai Machi
- Anyone else who gets angry at non consensual adult manga/anime...*cough*
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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