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I watched this movie on a plane and was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it. While the romance aspect between the main characters felt a bit rushed initially, I grew to appreciate the uplifting development of Sarah and Naranbayar's relationship as the story unfolded, the two bringing out the best in each other without being overly reliant on the other. Towards the end, I found myself quite satisfied with how things played out for them and their respective kingdoms, given their role to help both.

The film also introduced some really compelling side characters, though I wished they had more time to fully ... develop. For instance, Piripappa, the king's massage therapist turned advisor, could have benefitted from more depth as an antagonist. On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the sisters were given more depth than I initially expected in this movie. They didn't come across as mean for the sake of it, and I found their relationship with Sarah to be rooted more in her anxiety rather than any mere pettiness. Saladin, was also a standout character who defied my expectations in a pleasantly surprising way, as an actor turned advisor, who though a bit of a trophy husband actually went to the effort to make a difference without betraying his character. (Maybe I also liked him because he was voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya, and man does he do a great job in all his roles!)

However, unfortunately, the movie was not without its flaws. The excessive use of flashbacks unnecessarily padded the runtime, and the comedy, especially in the 'introduction' scene, was one of the weaker aspects of the story. Unfortunately, the final conflict also left me somewhat disappointed, and Sarah's jealousy towards the 'fake wife' Naranbayar had felt like an unnecessary layer of tension in their relationship that I don't think was needed, at least to the extent the movie pushes on you.

Either way, this was a solid movie, but not something I'm going to rush to rewatch.

Not going to lie, I thought this was going to be generic isekai, and to a certain extent, it is just your generic shoujo isekai. But it's done super well. And its concept as an isekai is unique.

I think the isekai genre is overshadowed with reincarnated shoujo stories at this point, but where this one differs is it's set in a BL world. As a fan of both BL and Shoujo, I thought this was a unique premise. I think this is amplified by how realistically Octavia acts. She just wants a boyfriend, the only problem is, all her male attendants and boys she ... ends up meeting fall for other boys she interacts with.

I think where this manga shines is in its comedy. Though Octavia is ignorant, it's not in a 'stupid' sort of way like Katarina. She's ignorant because she believes in this world, BL laws in a way, where pretty boys want to be with pretty boys, not her. This leads to some very funny interactions. But her ignorance also sets up a plot line where her brother thinks she's trying to overthrow him for the throne, which is actually really interesting, as her ignorance leads to plot relevance.

Then there's the idea of a BL world existing as a bit of a meta-commentary on itself, which is also hilarious too. Since Octavia is of course a fujoshi, she likes aspects of this world, but she finds it frustrating she herself can't get a boyfriend, since all the males in her life end up with other males. Since this is a BL world, there are a lot of BL relationships, it's very normalized which was part of what I liked. The fact she doesn't even see her new guard as someone interested in her seems realistic.

One part I didn't like, was the fact that 'sisters' of the families in this world specifically give up their children to their male brothers and friends, that part seems a bit misogynistic. However, Octavia doesn't want to fall in line with this attitude and doesn't even agree with it, trying to escape this fate. I'm hoping later chapters address this a bit more, but I'm not expecting it to.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this though. This manga is a gem, and worth the read for fans of BL/Shonen Ai, Comedy, Isekai and Shoujo lovers. The comedy mixed with the plot is very well executed, and I look forward to more chapters.

This story is nothing super original, but there's quite a bit of charm to it.

Riko is brought into the Arima family when the head of the family (who has no children himself) pities but also is fascinated by a child who was found in the red light district to be the daughter of a wealthy girl who went missing from a prestigious family. She's quite feral and refuses to talk, so he basically decides to adopt her and provide the girl with better support in his own home.

We aren't entirely sure about Riko's past, but the strength of this manga lies in the ... small hints we get throughout that Riko has gone through something terrible, and now views the world completely differently than everyone else.

Luckily, she comes under the care of Ogata Tohru, the head butler of the Arima family who could put Sebastion to shame.

Riko is described as a wild cat, and Ogata is the only one who's able to tame her.

Thus begins a relationship where Riko becomes dependent on the butler Ogata, and Ogata tries to balance his own work of looking after the eccentric head of the Arima family while also teaching and showing Riko a world she never got a chance to occupy.

It's quite a cute dynamic and the two have quite a bit of chemistry, though the chapters feel a bit disjointed from each other-- a bit episodic. The only thread really connecting them is Riko leaving more and more of her shell-- and Ogata himself learning the girl may hold a more special place in his heart than he came to expect. (They like literally share a bed so Riko feels more comfortable).

Overall it's worth a read, the manga has a lot of wholesome content mixed with some unsaid layers that are sure to be unravelled.

This show has laughs, mystery and a lot of heart.

Astra probably isn't the best show set about people lost in space, but I do give it a giant A+ for effort when it comes to keeping me invested in the overall plot and mystery.

The show follows a group of teens (and an elementary schooler) who get lost in space after a wormhole shows up on their field trip to another planet.

Storywise I think this is where the anime most strongly stands, it has a bit of an episodic format to start off, but in the second half the episodes race (at a ... good speed) toward the conclusion, where not a single plot thread is left unanswered (the conclusion for this anime makes it seem like their ending off a 100+ episode series, and has a better conclusion than some of those anime).

I think the first few episodes take a bit to get on their feet, (the episodic format of planet to planet and each characters tragic backstory not particularly interesting when you don't know the group) but where this anime really finds its footing is not in the space drama but in the mystery aspect that grows throughout. Where reveal after reveal takes your mind on a magic course, and you're second-guessing parts of earlier episodes, and wondering where each small hint leads as you theorize different elements.

Art is typical but never distracting--artistically it's told with a letterbox 16:9 format, they sometimes break away from (like when showing space, which I found quite fascinating). Sound has some good tracks, but nothing stands out; often the opening is left behind to use that extra minute of screentime to parade more information in.

Character-wise they all start out very generic tropes; the nice one, the nerd, the jock leader, the princess, the dark edgy one, etc-- except surprisingly they actually grow out of their tropes.
An example is most of the characters don't appreciate Kanata (the leader, who proclaims to be captain) in the beginning, however, it involves to everyone having gained a respect for him after he recuses Aries in the first episode, and he's the heart that brings the team together. He evolves from they typical someone who "must save everyone" to having a reason for having this attitude than being a shounen protagonist-- and a reason to realize he's most suited to be the captain in the group, which is why he takes on the role.

Most of the main cast grow out of their tropes as the series goes on, and in the last episode, there wasn't a single one of them I didn't like (whereas in the first episode I had much doubt about a few). Each character breaks away from what you presume them to be in at the start, truly giving the series an edge, and making me invested in what will happen.

Honestly, this was a really fun series for the 12 episodes they had (the first and last of those episodes are 40 minutes, so really it's like 14 episodes!)

I came in expecting a bland space team adventure, but in the end, I got to experience an unravelling (well paid off) mystery, and a conclusion that's written better than most 12 episodes series (and most anime in general) ever get.

There's no review for this movie? Why you might ask, well maybe because you as a Kingdom Hearts fan, and I especially, was not expecting this to even be on MAL.

But well lets dive in.

You won't probably like this if you're not a Kingdom Hearts fan. Even if you're just a casual Kingdom Hearts fan, you probably won't find this as interesting until more installments come out for the series. It just doesn't hold a large amount of substance to it.

Story wise, this story takes place before the keyblade war, and leading up to the keyblade war which is important in the ... main Kingdom Hearts universe, and is ever growing more important after kingdom hearts 3. The way it's told through this movie is well. . . it's not boring, but even as a strong kingdom hearts fan, I think the mobile game is doing a better job with the Back Cover story elements.

But this does introduce you to forces, and will help explain basic elements of the mobile game if you don't want to do your research.

Each characters getting their separate arc as it leads up to a reveal at the end.

Art, is like a cutscene from Kingdom Hearts 3, maybe a little less on quality. 3D, and like a video game.
Sound involves the KH soundtrack, with tones fans should be familiar with. Nothing really new.

Now character wise I do think the movie stands out, as it introduces you to key players of the Union Cross universe, the lore, and also the characters as well. Most of the main cast is a bit generic, but their are some key stand outs with Ava, Luxu and the Master of Masters especially.

The story of how they try and devise who the traitor is, is in fact actually quite interesting as you piece together your own thoughts. But again, I think this is only interesting if you have a backing in the Kingdom Hearts universe already.

Overall I enjoyed it though as a mobile game player! It doesn't really give you the major plot heavy details of the mobile game, but it does introduce you to the foretellers, and the Master of Master-- all who will play key roles in the series moving forward.

If you're looking for an anime movie though, this isn't it.

Boku no Hero Academia the Movie: Futari no Hero is predictable, from the very beginning, but still a typical shounen movie that will make you smile.

It's an enjoyable movie, but this is overshadowed by the fact the artwork looks like a budget episode from the series (most of the time anime movies have better animation, but I find it's the opposite here).

They introduce the new characters well. Melissa despite being a little bland you can get behind her actions. Dave as well, when you find out his motivation and relationship with All Might.

Though I find the movie gives quite a bit ... of clunky dialogue with the characters, and at times it seems awkward, as it feels like the characters are just speaking "exposition". There's also a large beginning portion of the movie in the first act dedicated to the same flashbacks you've seen a hundred times in the anime.

I think the story's main problem is adding almost too many of the classmates, some of the kids from UA just happen to be on the Island, and aren't intricate to the plot at all it's just a shot of them in the hotel room, and it's kind of a pointless addition. The characters who take part in the final fight have a purpose, and as they move up the floors you can get behind their actions, but it almost feels they brought to many of them, and would have done better with a tighter cast of just five of them.

The other problem is, a lot of the plot is just predictable at the end, you can almost see every turn coming. The final fight also used 'the power of friendship' trope that I often find the show usually doesn't resort to, making the final encounter almost a bit redundant as it keeps going.

The use of the soundtrack to kind of felt like they were checking off items in a box, making sure to hit every one of the classic music from the series. At times these are used epic, other times though it feels really out of place and like they should have used an original track and not tried to force one we've already heard that doesn't quite fit the scene.

Overall it is a good movie with a few quick laughs (also a lot more guns than ever seen before, they really are in America now, huh), but the art almost makes it feel like a TV special and like the movie was rushed because of all the hype going on with the series. But if you like the anime, you'll probably like the movie, so it's worth taking a look.

Story
Overall the story is a nice blend of action and romance, the shoujo present throughout and making the story feel real. You don't feel the typical high school type drama, but more action and character based making the story engaging.

Art
Art is very simplistic, but it's drawn nice enough that you're never distracted.

Character
The main romance really drives the plot, even though it does kind of feel one-sided at first the girl chasing the guy, it kind of finds it way later on in the story. Though at the end I kind of wondered if they rushed some things, or didn't rush enough.

Enjoyment
The atmosphere ... really makes it just feel like a breath of fresh air reading this manga. The characters are driving the story and making it feel real despite the surreal aspect.

Overall
Overall this story is just a peaceful read but with some action scenes that make your heart pump. Sometimes the main girl kind of got annoying in the sense she kept jumping into danger to follow Karashima but unlike other shoujo protagonist her motivation felt genuine.

In the end this is 100% worth reading, especially if you're a fan of the Natsume Yuuchinjou franchise, the themes overlapping.

The only problem I have with it is the conclusion does feel a little out of left field, either I think they should have ended after Volume 2, or they should have kept going after Volume 3-- either way the ending is still satisfying and quite cute.

Mujin Wakusei Survive or Uninhabited Planet Survival was an amazing adventure that I can say every age group, and gender will find enjoyment in.

Story
The story revolves around seven teens and a pet robot getting trapped on a (supposedly) uninhabited planet when their escape pod gets blown off course and gets pulled into a gravity storm.

Now often the story flows into a few different arcs from starting off on how they group will survive on the planet they landed on, to a more sci-fi genre as they start figuring out the mystery of where they are and how they'll survive-- and my gosh are ... these teenagers resourceful.

Art
Art wise it was made in 2004 so the art could be better at times, and it has a very kid like charm to it with the bright colours. Though I don't want to say this show is for kids-- I think that was the intention starting out, but as the series progresses there are a lot of different dark undertones that I feel might be to inappropriate for someone under 13. Overall though the art has a lot of still frames at times and pan shots that get a little over bearing, it is one of the shows weakest elements, however I think the story overall makes up for it.

Sound
A good mix of themes for the characters, and when someone's in trouble the music really plays a part in getting you into the show, as well as when something mysterious happens. And at the conclusion I'm pretty sure the track playing is what got me close to tears.

Characters
Now this shows greatest weakness and greatest strength comes from it's characters. You have the average cliche group with these characters, the always positive one our main character Luna, the rich brat Howard, the class president Menori, the quiet mysterious one Kaoru, etc.

Now at the beginning of this series the actions of some characters (pretty much everyone but Luna- but even her) drives you up the wall with stupid decisions- particularly Howard as he constantly is causing problems for the crew with his narcissist attitude and choices. I literally wanted to throw my remote at one point he kept infuriating me, but because these characters start off annoying, I realized by the very end they'd grown so much they didn't annoy me any more.

The growth these characters face by living on this planet, honestly, is remarkable and noticeable throughout. As each character grows in their own way and slowly progresses through the story. Even the flashbacks aren't all shown at once, Karou's backstory I don't think was even revealed till around episode 30-- they spread it out, there isn't some strict formula to it, as each character goes through growth at their own speed and we don't know everything about each character right away, as we learn the basis behind all their actions.

Even the main protagonist Luna, who is never not positive finally reaches her moment of growth near the end, and you recognize how she'd been growing throughout the series.

Overall... this show was amazing, and near the end I couldn't stop watching as the mystery of everything was coming together, and the group is probably given one of the biggest dramatic choices in this whole genre. Characters I hated in the beginning I'd completely fallen in love with, and in the end the conclusion of the whole series left me satisfied.

If you're looking for a series with a Lost sort of vibe to it, with action, adventure a sci-fi mystery that's actually resolved and a conclusion that will most likely leave you satisfied, then this series is worth getting into. Just don't let the characters personalities at the beginning scare you away.

I personally loved the manga, and the anime is delivering well! The characters in are not anime cliches, Shirayuki is strong-- but not overly, along with being able to face adversities without being a cry baby about them. She's not afraid to take risks.

Zen the main male protagonist isn't a cliche either, he doesn't automatically trust Shirayuki, she earns it for herself. They're is a certain respect between the characters that makes it seem real, as they actually go through character development. (plus they are like the cutest relationship ever).

The art is quite well done, though the characters do look quite a bit ... childish.

The story itself moves fast in the first episode, and has similarities to snow white, but after the first episode things move away from that base.