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After having watched many an anime and not bothering to review one, even after several years of not logging into this account, so comes a time when, after viewing Victory Gundam, I felt compelled to deliver this abrupt introduction to the most misunderstood Gundam show to date...

Hey there, reader, do you like motorcycle tires? Do you like bike wheels so much you wish they could fly? What about if they could tread the ocean surface and act like whimsically half-rotated UFOs swarming about the seas? And how about if they were the entire bottom hull of a ship, like one massive tank tread - big ... enough even to squish your mom? Or dare I say, would you like them if they spun about, rotated, and generated motion in space? You do? Well then, do I have the show for you.

Hey there, reader, do you like fan service? Do you like harems of girls in your anime shows, void of a reasonable explanation but bountiful in the voluptuous department of volume? Do you like entire companies of soldiers clad in nothing but bikinis for the sole purpose of trolling the protagonist? Do you like your main character to be suggestively dominated and put in inexplicably compromising situations with women twice their age? Boy, do I have the show for you.

Hey, reader, do you like popcorn blockbuster action movies? Do you like action scenes with completely unrealistic outcomes, where the Hero performs stunts that make Tom Cruise look like a girl scout scared of knocking at the neighbor's door? Do you like when people parachute onto buildings and objects from impossible heights, with no realistic chance of survival, yet done with such impeccable grace as to seamlessly move on with no comment to the next insurmountable feat? Well, you guessed it, I have the exact show for you.

And that show is: Victory Gundam. Put your grievances aside. The plot is impressively terrible. The characters are surface-deep at best, inscrutable at worst. The ending makes absolutely no sense. The entire 3rd arc of the story is a ramshackle-monstrosity of motifs coagulating into a climax of needless death and seemingly random conclusions to arcs we didn't know existed until but an episode prior.

But that doesn't matter, because you know what does? Victory. Victory is what matters, and our boy, -the- boy, if you will, Uso, is going to achieve it. By God, he's going to achieve it even if Shahkti has to walk into the enemy encampment a thousand more times. He will achieve it so hard, every girl on Earth and in space is going to be 'miring so hotly that the Char Aznable of the story will actually disappear from the story for no good reason other than that we are simply too busy admiring Uso from the perspective of literally every female character in the show. Mission achieved, Victory accomplished.

Plot holes? Yes, those exist - in fact, if you look closely, you can glance through the swiss cheese of the show and stare into the realm of what could have been, and with that glimpse, great sadness will creep upon you, wondering what actual heights our Victory could have risen to. BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS, because we have Victory. And Victory is sweet, if not a little bitter at times.

Still, you might ask, what will Victory get me, in the end? Will Victory be worth it? Victory, with a visually augmented and stunningly clear capital 'V', is not only worth it; it's so worth it, you might find yourself wondering what else is. For instance, is a coherent story worth it? If we can just enjoy unique artwork and oddly captivating hand-drawn combat scenes of giant mechs delivering ultimate annihilation, do we really need any characters to make actual sense? Apparently we do, because Uso is that character, and for the better part of the story, you will be fooled into thinking that Victory is the development of this young boy into a war-torn but headstrong soldier, overcoming all odds and miraculously accomplishing the impossible, all to finally save the day.

But, FOOL that you are (for taking popcorn action too seriously), none of that matters, because you will undoubtedly find that true Victory, and incidentally the actual best case I can make to watch this show, is found in the hearts and souls of us all. We all share a passion for life and love that Uso and crew serve up in spades across the breadth of the story, making it real even when it's absolutely, certifiably, nonsensically surreal. These genuinely human moments, while fleeting, recapture the heart-wrenching success of the whole Gundam universe, despite taking place in a surfeit of flimsy plot developments.

In all seriousness, the real Victory is getting through this series without saying "huh?" once, but if your faith holds fast and you remain constant to your beating heart, to that undying, innate dream to live and love beautifully this one life we have, you may find you actually enjoy this wonky ride for what it is: a winning excuse to spend some time with Gundams, those beasts of burden tearing our hearts and souls out over endless, wanton strife.

Oh, except for Katejina. She has no soul.

10/10, would never watch again. 7/10, if you choose to take this show seriously (if it wasn't clear by now, you shouldn't).

Do you like theories about human-robot social relations? Do you wonder what it would be like to have a robot that developed human sensations? Then, Time of EVE might be for you. If you're looking for something more than that, steer clear. This is more a romantic slice-of-life piece than a sci-fi flick, and even calling it romance might be a bit of a stretch. The concept behind this anime is indeed noteworthy, but unfortunately, most of your curiosity will be satisfied as a byproduct of the film not delivering in the atmosphere it builds off of. In other words, you'll be left imagining what ... should or could have happened, rather than being impressed with what actually did transpire.

Let's look a little closer into why Time of EVE fails to offer an impressive narrative.

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Story: 7/10

EVE's plot is mostly about a pair of high school boys that find a new, fascinating experience in their world, involving androids that could easily pass for humans, were it not for their halo indicators that identify them as artificial. There is also a subplot about how the government (or some company) is trying to rectify this very issue. This subplot is basically abandoned as soon as it is brought up, and it never gains much ground. Instead, the majority of the plot centers around a cafe that the boys find.

It's a nifty cafe that brings up this very poignant social issue for the boys to understand and come to terms with. There's also a certain special robot that one of the boys takes a fancy in, and really, every encounter with a robot that they have is unique and compelling.

But here's the problem: that's the entire plot. There really isn't much more, and what the movie sets itself up to discuss never ends up being talked about beyond the chit chat in the cafe. It presents a very dynamic issue, and it relents and instead indulges in how the boys are dealing with their own personal dilemmas, rather than exploring the wider problem that they themselves encounter and recognize. Essentially, EVE gives us a lot to consider and then skirts the issue itself, so that you have to assume the boys' success in the cafe means the world will be okay with it all. A little bit anti-climactic, to say the least.

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Art: 5/10

To me, this is where Time of EVE really disappoints. Most of the backgrounds in this film are of the cafe or the houses of the family. Rarely do we even see the outside world, and when we do, it's not a very impressive design. There just isn't much going on at all besides the characters themselves, which are often facially blank (robots) or just simply plain. Granted, there are some careful details to certain parts (one of the boy's robots come to mind), but I would expect more from an anime that touts a futuristic concept and delves into robots and their evolution.

If you want to watch a visually stunning anime, this is certainly not the one you're looking for.

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Sound: 9/10

The music and sounds in Time of EVE are fitting and often well-designed, helping to create moments of laughter or calmness for the viewer to experience alongside the characters. There isn't much else to say here. It's not the best sound design for an anime, but it certainly isn't lacking. The pace is well-kept and the mood is appropriately enhanced by the aural ambiance, which seems to reflect the soothing nature of the cafe itself.

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Character: 7/10

I really wanted to be compelled by the characters in Time of EVE, and you might say that this movie is more about the character development than anything else. However, it simply doesn't deliver. The behavior of the characters is monotonously predictable, to the point where it dulls the entire gist of the film. Am I supposed to care that the protagonist has decided to take up his talent by the end? You can see it coming a mile away, and there really is no confusion as to how each character will interact with another. A robot that seems human? Well, that may have been exciting, if only that wasn't the whole point of the cafe's rules in the first place.

Yes, there are some touching moments, especially with Boy B's dad and his robot. However, not much ultimately comes of anything, and we are left feeling that the film was merely a recitation of potential issues of human-robot interaction, rather than any resolution or defining wisdom to the dilemma. There just isn't much going on here, and it's hard to ignore when the anime sets up so many possible, compelling conclusions.

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Enjoyment: 6/10

This shouldn't be surprising. Time of EVE just doesn't impress, despite having ample opportunity to do so. That isn't to say it is a bad film; it has many fine qualities and certain moments are very genuine and heartfelt. However, these moments are muddled within an aimlessly wandering plot and a setting that lacks pizazz or anything other than the catchphrase of the movie being repeated on far too many objects. What could have been a visually-engaging and conceptually deep film ends up falling short and relying on the common cliches of shounen anime and slice-of-life melodrama.

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Overall: 6/10

If you are looking for a new sci-fi movie to watch, Time of EVE is not it. If you are interested in seeing the growth of two young guys and their puberty-infused social problems, coupled with an android twist, then Time of EVE will satisfy, amuse, and tease you. Sadly, what Time of EVE won't do, however, is precisely what it seems set up to do in the first place, and with that in mind, you might enjoy the film more than I did.

Ah, Shiki.

If you're willing to put up with a few plot holes, a large amount of rather graphic violence, and some strange stylistic flairs, then you're in for a real treat with this one.

This anime does something few other vampire stories manage to do these days: captivate you with the thrill of the genre. There is a mystery unfolding, a morally ambiguous danger in the air, and a whimsical sort of horror to it all that puts Shiki a cut above the rest.


- Story: 8 -

For the most part, Shiki's plot is very solid. There is a very strong impression of suspense that builds as ... you discover what exactly is going on in the secluded village of Sotoba. Unfortunately, towards the second third of the story, there are some glaring circumstances that seem almost inexplicable, which you may very well shout at as an observer of the whole scenario. It gets to the point where you really have to give the story some liberty, sadly.

That being said, stick around to watch the whole anime (including the 2 specials!) and you won't be disappointed. There is a subtle point to all the absurdities that do transpire, and it is worth absorbing in its entirety. I only wish it made just a touch more sense. But, it is about vampires, I suppose, so how real can it honestly get? Some ridiculousness seems necessary to make the more horrific parts more accessible, oddly enough.

Forgive Shiki of its sins. It recognizes its own fallibility as a fiction, and it often plays off that self-awareness by inviting us to accept the madness the story is all about. Just go with it, and you'll have a great time.


- Art: 9 -

The artwork in Shiki is quite pleasant, but at times, it feels a little less focused than what might be expected. Perhaps that's the point, though. There are moments of raw terror that are exquisitely well-illustrated, but those are occasionally mixed in with lightheartedness and almost comical facial designs. One truly impressive feat, however, which should not be overlooked by any means, is the fact that pretty much every single villager of Sotoba looks unique. The animators painstakingly took the time to create a genuinely new character in every single one of these people, including those that don't have any dialogue.

So, there's something to be said for the diversity of artistic style in the show. A few times, including a few hairstyles and color palettes, it feels jarringly juxtaposed into the horror atmosphere, but if you look past the beady-eye tears and the dyed hair, you will see a strong continuity of creative, stylized characters in a rich, grounded village setting. Some of the angles taken for the backgrounds are very well chosen, harnessing a certain degree of cinematic precision to the whole rigamarole, such as with the 'helicopter' overview of the village and its castle.


- Sound: 10 -

Shiki doesn't disappoint in the audio department. It should be noted I watched in dubbed English, and this happens to be one show you might want to watch dubbed. The VAs do a fantastic job, and each character feels original. A couple of voices are grating, but there is always a reason for it.

Besides voice acting, the sound effects are phenomenal and really on-point. The horror is amplified greatly by careful decisions to accent scenes with crisp, sometimes disturbingly real sounds.

There are a few musical tracks that repeat perhaps once or twice too often, but overall, the musical score for Shiki is also quite impressive. The tracks are always fitting and pull you further into the scenes. Additionally, for such vocal-heavy intros and outros (which I normally find off-putting), Shiki's opening and closing OSTs are rather catchy, and I was pleasantly surprised that I ended up watching them more often than not, since they seemed to build the excitement into and out of each episode quite well.


- Character: 10 -

This is the department in which Shiki really shines. As mentioned already, every character is visually unique and has their own personality. Even the old folks sitting on the bench in the first episode eventually have separate lines of thought established. There is a sentiment that builds around the structure of the show that, while watching it, one is embarking upon a journey to discover just what it is like to be a villager in Sotoba. At the same time, we also gradually learn to understand the Shiki as well, so that the two sides of the story are eventually clashing in the mind.

Some might argue that a few bad apples ruin the core of Shiki. However, if the show is given some liberty, it will not let down. It is well aware of the characters it is crafting, and it feels as passionately about the circumstances that transpire as its audience does. There is a deliberate effort being made to place the audience in the shoes of the main characters, such that we observers feel as emotionally involved as possible. If something disturbing happens to a character we like, be assured it was intentional. This is a classic horror in the sense that anyone and everyone is likely to be a victim, and there's no telling who will be sentenced next.


- Enjoyment: 9 -

Because of its shortcomings in terms of the plot, Shiki doesn't deserve a perfect score for entertainment. Sure, it's a gripping tale with lots of suspense, thrill, horror, and poignant moral dilemmas, but let's just say the second third of the show is a little bit of a letdown. Certain things happen that seem illogical, and it does take a little bit of a mental hurdle to excuse the rationale of some of the seemingly wiser characters. Some of the conclusions of the show actually get foreshadowed a little bit too early, and the logic behind some individuals only makes sense in the aftermath of it all. Again, sit tight and let it run its course, and Shiki will, without fail, be very entertaining.


- OVERALL: 9.2/10 -

As someone who rarely looks forward to the next inclusion of vampires in modern fiction storytelling, I went into watching the anime Shiki, or Corpse Demon, with very low expectations. I came out of it with a smirk and a head full of thoughts, happy to write my first review on MAL.

If you can excuse a bit of graphical intensity, give Shiki a shot. It delivers in full, and it lives up to the genre it seeks to redefine. It may cut a few corners, but honestly, it didn't mean to hurt anyone. If you forgive it for its forsaken ways, you might just let yourself get bitten. Enjoy!