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Mar 25, 2025
Ao Haru Ride is exactly what I'd hoped for in a school-setting shoujo. The series follows Futaba, a girl who is worried about seeming too 'girly', who is reunited with her middle-school crush Tanaka Kou after he returns to town after suddenly disappearing without explanation. Futaba soon discovers that Kou is very different to his middle-school self and the series follows Futaba's adventures with Kou and her new group of friends.
To be honest, after a few chapters I thought 'gosh, how am I going to read, like, 50 chapters of this?' and began regretting my decision, until I finished the chapter where Futaba receives a
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certain text and suddenly I was hooked! The innocence of high-school first loves makes for a very endearing and heart-warming fluffy read but the interpersonal drama and relationship dynamics, for me, transcended the setting of high-school and felt still relatable to me as an adult. There were certain moments that really hit me in the heart, especially in moments when the characters are not honest with others or themselves.
Ao Haru Ride has great characters - Futaba is incredibly relatable and funny, Kou is fascinatingly complex and somewhat tsundere, Kominato is simply adorable and makes every page a pleasure and finally both Touma and Narumi are very interesting and bring a lot to the plot. I also think the story is well-paced and I frequently found myself going "oh just one more chapter!" because I just had to know what happened next.
I highly recommend Ao Haru Ride especially for lovers of shoujo and romance. This is the perfect school love story and I can see why it is such a classic.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 25, 2025
'My Dress-Up Darling', as its known in English, promised A LOT with it's pilot. I was actually hooked whilst watching the first episode, under the impression that I'd be following the endearing character development of a shy and lonely boy as he made his first friend, learned about fashion and otaku culture and perhaps even fell in love. Unfortunately, I soon discovered I was sorely mistaken
This show instead is pretty much 80% of Gojou, the male lead, getting *nosebleeds* and ogling Kitagawa at every chance he gets. The other 20% is usually the pair designing cosplays together and pretty much nothing else happens at all.
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In fact, there is no story, the show is simply Kitagawa thinking of a character and the pair then endeavouring to make a cosplay. There is no story arcs, no significant events, no character development, no drama, no comedy (except for "oh god, she's in her underwear! Where do I look!?") . Literally nothing happens. The show is entirely poorly done ecchi, which provides little entertainment when done so vapidly as opposed to other shows which utilise it for comedy and romance purposes, in part of a larger story.
The first episode made me think Gojou was a sweet protagonist, but it soon became clear that he had no depth and was really just a vessel upon which the viewer can perv on Kitagawa. Kitagawa showed some promise of being vaguely interesting, particularly when she began to show interest in Gojou, however through the series she showed little development too. There aren't really many other characters which again makes the series rather dull.
I could continue as there are innumerable bad things about this series, but I'll turn to some aspects that I found more positive. The animation is absolutely gorgeous and the series is very aesthetically rich and pleasing to the eyes. The outfit designs for the cosplays are also really detailed and cool. I also really like the concept of a show about cosplaying and seeing the efforts behind the scenes that cosplayers make, however in this case it was just executed really badly.
To summarise, 'My Dress-Up Darling' falls short of the expectations set by its promising first episode and is an incredibly underwhelming and boring show with no plot progression driven solely by ecchi interactions. An complete waste of 264 minutes.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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May 10, 2024
I've read a few of Asano's works and was particularly impressed by Oyasumi Punpun, therefore I decided to give Nijigahara Holograph a read after reading the premise on MAL. Finished it in one night as it is a relatively brief manga, and my GOD was I disappointed.
The troubling thing about it is that Asano really knows how to structure a manga- the way the panels are laid out, the use of visuals, the narration - he is really REALLY good at it. Thus its disappointing that he would use his talent to write such a miserable and confusing manga. I will start by discussing my
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'confusing' allegation - the story is just SO unclear. The manga flits between timelines, from when the plot's main incident happened (a girl, Arie, being thrown down a well by her classmates) and the events around ten years later, however it can be unclear which timeline you are in. Asano has a very unique art style but I do find that his characters look very similar, thus with the flitting timelines I found it difficult to work out which male character was who at first. The manga also leaves a lot to the imagination, I later discovered after reading a few reviews that one character died however this was barely implied in the panels.
Now to my other assertion - that this manga is so utterly miserable. I don't recall even a page where it is not absolutely depressing. It is almost as if this manga is written purely to depress the reader, with violence, torture, incest, rape and abuse being seen innumerable times - baring in mind this manga is only one volume long, that is a LOT of disturbing content. I understand that the trauma of the events from the well incident would undoubtedly leave psychological scars on the characters, however the fact that such an insane amount of suffering is inflicted in one tiny town is not only bleak but also just ridiculous.
Don't even get me started on the characters, who are ALL the most unlikeable people on the planet. The only decent human being in the whole tale is Narumi, who one of the main characters Amahiko treats like absolute dog poo - another depressing facet to the story. Aside from Narumi (and you could also argue Maki as an adult), every single character is morally bankrupt, nasty and sociopathic. I hate them all, but Amahiko particularly grinds my gears. And I haven't even mentioned the paedophile! Oh wait, that's right there isn't even just ONE paedophile. A truly heinous group of characters.
In conclusion, I would not recommend this manga at all. Asano has talent it is clear, but this most certainly is not a good read, unless you enjoy and feed off utter misery. If you do read this, you'll find yourself having to google 'Nijigahara Holograph explained' due to its incohesive storytelling and you'll also need to buy yourself some chocolate just to cheer up after such a dismal misery-fest. Such a promising premise, horrid execution, I may need therapy after reading such a loathsome tale.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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May 10, 2024
Shinai naru Boke e Satsui wo Komete is gripping, thrilling and unputdownable.
The slow build-up of the first volume creates massive intrigue and from there on the series is a wild rollercoaster with shocking twists and turns every couple of chapters. What this manga does rather well is that rarely these twists are expected (in my case, at least). Whilst surprising, these twists are written so well that they end up making complete sense and being cohesive within the story, which I've found other mangas fail to do when trying to 'shock'. The way that many chapters end on a cliff-hanger makes the story incredibly addictive
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and the pace and fantastic narrative add to this.
I really like the characters in this story and they are all incredibly individual. The art is gorgeous but does not hesitate from being grotesque and frightening when the story demands it. I admire how the story tackles dark themes without being overly bleak and disturbing, a hard line to navigate.
I would highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and the 'amnesia' genre.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 10, 2024
Kuragehime is one of the most splendid manga I’ve read. Instead of a typical female protagonist, Kuragehime follows Tsukimi, a man-fearing otaku obsessed with jellyfish living in a girls dormitory with similarly antisocial otaku. Tsukimi’s life changes when she meets Kuranosuke (or Kurako) a cross-dressing rich boy who through a series of events ends up starting a fashion line with her and the rest of AMARS, the residents of the dorm.
Each chapter brought me joy and laughter, yet the plot was so fun and intriguing that I would always say to myself “just one more chapter!” (And then proceed to read five more!!!!!!!!)
This is a
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truly unusual manga and I really had no idea what was going to happen next in the best possible way. The characters are so loveable and the art is very pretty and unique, overall I would highly recommend!!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 25, 2024
The second season of Made in Abyss is unlike anything I've ever watched. Following on from the Fukaki Tamashii no Reimei movie, season 2 follows Riko, Reg and Nanachi as they enter the Sixth Layer, wherein the Golden City lies, complete with a dark history and complex social politics for our cast to discover.
Overall, I would highly recommend this anime as there are many things I like, even love, about it. The art is beautiful as ever, with the new characters' designs being increasingly unique and intricate. The music is enchanting and adds to the drama and emotion of scenes and the pacing is great.
What's
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most important here is the story - and the story is incredible. Riko, Reg and Nanachi are still our main protagonists and they each guide us through different areas of the Sixth Layer, giving the viewer a cohesive understanding and watching as tension builds between opposing forces. The current day is juxtaposed by events that led to the forming of the city and it is within this history that Made in Abyss' distinctive and disturbing darkness showcases itself. At times, this season made me squirm as I did not expect it to get darker than the Fukaki Tamashii no Reimei story, however I found it incredibly engaging and made me even more emotionally invested in the plot. A word of warning - this season is not for the weak. Despite this, it is beautiful, enrapturing and jaw-dropping.
There are few things I disliked about the season, my only complaints were perhaps that the season did not give as much attention or backstory to our beloved protagonists as I would have hoped. That is the only reason I have knocked points off of a 10 score, as well as due to the intensity of the storyline I am unsure if I will be able to rewatch it for a very long time.
Overall a fantastic series and looking forward to the next one! If you enjoyed previous instalments of Made in Abyss you will surely enjoy this as I have.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 8, 2021
Like many other Toradora reviewers, I don't usually watch rom-com anime and started this show as a bit of a gap-filler for my train journeys rather than because I really wanted to watch it, but after a few episodes I found my expectations completely blown apart!
Toradora is a lighthearted romantic comedy but the one thing that sets it apart from similar shows is that it never gets boring. Each episode is fun and different and the further along the story gets, the more you're met with unexpected twists and turns! The final third of the show had me gripped, which is an impressive feat for
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a show of this genre!
The art is wonderful and still looks incredibly new, the characters are unbelievably loveable and unique and overrall I would say I have no complaints, though the ending was unexpected (but wonderful!)
I would highly recommend to any anime fan, seeing as this isn't my usual sort of thing but I still absolutely loved it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 1, 2019
Even though this is a very short manga, only 13 chapters long, I sped through this series at the speed of light. The reason being? I just could NOT put it down.
[Spoiler free review]
Why did I find Satougashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai so unputdownable? (Yes, it's a word, Google it).
Firstly, the story is so much more than the synopsis gives away. I went into this expecting perhaps a rather cute tale of friendship and school difficulties, maybe even some Yuri undertones? But instead, I was met with riveting drama, intriguing mystery and fantastic character development.
The character of Umino Mokuzu is fascinating and it is
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a true credit to the writer to be able to construct a character that the reader can empathise with to this extent.
The art too, of course, is absolutely BEAUTIFUL.
In fact, there was very little I didn't like about this manga. My only gripe would be that I wish it was longer, only because I would've loved to immerse myself in the narrative further and to learn more about Nagisa's brother. But overall - fantastic, would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great drama.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 9, 2019
I was rather excited to watch One Punch Man, given the constant hype surrounding it. This show is probably one of the most popular anime in recent years, so I simply had to find out why - and sadly, I now remember why people say 'don't believe the hype'.
~STORY~
In terms of story, it would be accurate to say that One Punch Man doesn't really have one. Of course there is the basic premise - a young cyborg becomes an unlikely hero's apprentice - but beyond that the anime has little plot. Instead, it is more of a 'monster of the week' type story, which can
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be fun, but after a while I found rather tedious. I feel as though there were lots of interesting narrative avenues that the show could've explored but didnt, such as the backstory of Genos or the beginnings of the Hero Association. After a few episodes, the format of the episodes becomes predictable and for this reason I did not think One Punch Man had a good story.
~ART~
The art, for me, is One Punch Man's redeeming factor. The character designs are very unique and stylised and the animation is consistent and flows well.
~SOUND~
The voice actors also did a great job, particularly in the case of Saitama. The music also fits the moods and events of the episodes.
~CHARACTER~
The characters are....okay. The strength of One Punch Man's characters lies in Saitama, the One Punch Man himself. He is a unique anti-hero and brings a lot of comedy to the series, and I often found him to be quite unpredictable which is always exciting. Genos is also rather likeable in his bravery and dedication to Saitama. However, the rest of the characters faded into the background for me. The show features little character building and a lot of characters seemed to be just stereotypes.
Overall:
Overall I would give One Punch Man a 5/10. Whilst it is fun at first, the endless predictability of the episodes left me feeling bored and the lack of character development or deeper story made me rapidly lose interest. Whilst it has its entertaining and comedic moments, I'm afraid there is only so many times I can watch Saitama defeat a foe with one punch before I am utterly sick of it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Feb 21, 2019
Wow. Okay.
So after two episodes of Bakemonogatari I was like 'hmmm okay I see that this anime is quite different but it's not allll that amazing, seems pretty overrated..." skip to the end of episode 4 and I can't click to start the next episode fast enough. It's not that anything happens in episode 4 that really changes up the series, it's just that I found this series is just one that takes a little while to really captivate you - but boy, once it does, it has you in its grip FOREVER. And oh my it is worth the wait.
STORY~
The story is divided into
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roughly five arcs and I mean it when I say that all of them are really interesting. The way the stories play upon the notion of 'aberrations' (demons, spirits, etc) is really unique and can make for really gripping content. It's not only the supernatural which makes Bakemonogatari so fascinating either - the way the stories delve into the human psyche and Koyomi and Senjougahara's romance are also remarkable.
ART~
Okay, the art is just amazing. The intermittent words on the screen, the flashing diagrams, the experimental backgrounds, the character design itself - just amazing.
OVERALL~
Many say Bakemonogatari isn't for everyone, and they're right. Don't expect to immediately understand what's going on-- give it time. I was skeptical at first but after finishing this series, I cannot wait to watch the rest of the Monogatari series. Really, really good and I would recommend to anyone who likes their anime a bit more cerebral.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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