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Goblin Slayer, Reincarnation as a Slime, and SSSS.Gridman were definitely the highlights of the season. Bunny Senpai was pretty good too, minus the ending.
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Source: MAL
Kemono no Souja Erin is a beautiful coming of age story focusing on the life of a young girl. And yes, her name is Erin. The story is split into three main arcs with those being childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The story begins with Erin in her home village and goes through her being swept away by the river towards Shin-Ou. There, she is taken in by a man named John. In this first arc we get a lot of world building about the relationships between different parts of kingdom and even some groups within. It helps remind the viewer that there are many things going on in the world outside of what Erin is involved in. As time goes on, Erin begins to age and starts to attend a formal school to follow in the footsteps of her mother. We see Erin grow throughout the show from a child to an adult and are taken along with her on her journey of self discovery sharing every bitter and every sweet moment.
With the story spamming many years, we are of course introduced to numerous characters. Many characters, even those with minimal connection to Erin, are rather well fleshed out. However, none compare to the growth we see in our title character, Erin. Most other characters are only around for a single or arc or show up once in a while in multiple arcs. However, something rather nice to see is that multiple characters throughout the show push Erin to overcome obstacles she faces in her life. Instead of having Erin face these alone or solely rely on one main supporting character, we see a small group begin to form around Erin. It brings some life into the world and other characters. While not all characters have the same level of development, the ones that do were definitely memorable.
Moving on to a more subtle aspect of the show is the music. Specifically the background music and inserts. Although the opening song itself remains the same, it is performed by a different singer starting from episode 31. While the song is the same, the performance shifts to a slightly more "dramatic" tone much in line with the shift in the story as well. It may take a few episodes to realize this, but once you do it should click about why such a change was made. Additionally, the BGM and insert songs are beautiful. The insert songs especially bring a lot of emotion to the scenes and, to me at least, remind me of the scenes when the song was used earlier.
With 50 episodes, it is a bit of a lengthy show. However, with three main time periods in the show nothing feels overly rushed. There are a couple of recap episodes along the way, but outside of those there is a lot of story to take in. I would really love to give this a 10/10. I honestly fell it is that close to being one. However, the comedic relief duo in the series comes in at the wrong times. If it weren't for some poor timing and use of these characters, I think the series would have been better and story ever more compelling. Nevertheless, the anime is a fantastic watch, especially if you prefer story driven shows. Would easily recommend this to anyone.
9.5/10
Kemono no Souja Erin is a beautiful coming of age story focusing on the life of a young girl. And yes, her name is Erin. The story is split into three main arcs with those being childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The story begins with Erin in her home village and goes through her being swept away by the river towards Shin-Ou. There, she is taken in by a man named John. In this first arc we get a lot of world building about the relationships between different parts of kingdom and even some groups within. It helps remind the viewer that there are many things going on in the world outside of what Erin is involved in. As time goes on, Erin begins to age and starts to attend a formal school to follow in the footsteps of her mother. We see Erin grow throughout the show from a child to an adult and are taken along with her on her journey of self discovery sharing every bitter and every sweet moment.
With the story spamming many years, we are of course introduced to numerous characters. Many characters, even those with minimal connection to Erin, are rather well fleshed out. However, none compare to the growth we see in our title character, Erin. Most other characters are only around for a single or arc or show up once in a while in multiple arcs. However, something rather nice to see is that multiple characters throughout the show push Erin to overcome obstacles she faces in her life. Instead of having Erin face these alone or solely rely on one main supporting character, we see a small group begin to form around Erin. It brings some life into the world and other characters. While not all characters have the same level of development, the ones that do were definitely memorable.
Moving on to a more subtle aspect of the show is the music. Specifically the background music and inserts. Although the opening song itself remains the same, it is performed by a different singer starting from episode 31. While the song is the same, the performance shifts to a slightly more "dramatic" tone much in line with the shift in the story as well. It may take a few episodes to realize this, but once you do it should click about why such a change was made. Additionally, the BGM and insert songs are beautiful. The insert songs especially bring a lot of emotion to the scenes and, to me at least, remind me of the scenes when the song was used earlier.
With 50 episodes, it is a bit of a lengthy show. However, with three main time periods in the show nothing feels overly rushed. There are a couple of recap episodes along the way, but outside of those there is a lot of story to take in. I would really love to give this a 10/10. I honestly fell it is that close to being one. However, the comedic relief duo in the series comes in at the wrong times. If it weren't for some poor timing and use of these characters, I think the series would have been better and story ever more compelling. Nevertheless, the anime is a fantastic watch, especially if you prefer story driven shows. Would easily recommend this to anyone.
9.5/10
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Source: MAL
When reading the description, you mind draw some parallels to Hataraku Maou-sama! and I don't blame you. At their cores, the two are very similar shows. As the description says, Blood Lad follows Staz and his journey on searching for a way to bring Fuyumi back to life. The premise seems to only be present though to provide a driving force to keep the story moving while the comedic aspects flow in. The overall story isn't bad and is a nice twist on the genre, but I feel the show falls a bit short in a couple of areas.
First up are the characters. While they do have their own unique quirks, none of the characters really left a big impression on me. Many of them sort of fell into the standard archetype you would expect for a character in the role. None of the characters, aside from the main two, really felt necessary for the show to progress in any way, just for the added comedy. While being generic/commonplace is innately bad, the lack of story and development of the characters at large makes it hard for me to find a way to sympathize with their triumphs and failures. Perhaps it was due to only having 10 episodes instead of the 12 or 13 most shows run that it felt a bit rushed. Overall, I find the characters leave something to be desired.
As for the comedy, I enjoyed it, but not as much as I was hoping I would. After all, that was the main reason I decided to watch the show. If the premise is something you are looking for, you'll probably enjoy shows like Hataraku Maou-Sama! or Soul Eater more. Some of the jokes and character interactions were amusing in the first couple of episodes but sadly ran stale about halfway through. I can only laugh at the same setup and joke so many times.
Overall, the show isn't terrible but there are better alternatives out there (Hataraku/Soul Eater) if you're looking for a comedy show similar to this sort of premise.
Side note, Liz is pretty cute. 10/10 for her.
5.5/10
When reading the description, you mind draw some parallels to Hataraku Maou-sama! and I don't blame you. At their cores, the two are very similar shows. As the description says, Blood Lad follows Staz and his journey on searching for a way to bring Fuyumi back to life. The premise seems to only be present though to provide a driving force to keep the story moving while the comedic aspects flow in. The overall story isn't bad and is a nice twist on the genre, but I feel the show falls a bit short in a couple of areas.
First up are the characters. While they do have their own unique quirks, none of the characters really left a big impression on me. Many of them sort of fell into the standard archetype you would expect for a character in the role. None of the characters, aside from the main two, really felt necessary for the show to progress in any way, just for the added comedy. While being generic/commonplace is innately bad, the lack of story and development of the characters at large makes it hard for me to find a way to sympathize with their triumphs and failures. Perhaps it was due to only having 10 episodes instead of the 12 or 13 most shows run that it felt a bit rushed. Overall, I find the characters leave something to be desired.
As for the comedy, I enjoyed it, but not as much as I was hoping I would. After all, that was the main reason I decided to watch the show. If the premise is something you are looking for, you'll probably enjoy shows like Hataraku Maou-Sama! or Soul Eater more. Some of the jokes and character interactions were amusing in the first couple of episodes but sadly ran stale about halfway through. I can only laugh at the same setup and joke so many times.
Overall, the show isn't terrible but there are better alternatives out there (Hataraku/Soul Eater) if you're looking for a comedy show similar to this sort of premise.
Side note, Liz is pretty cute. 10/10 for her.
5.5/10
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Source: MAL
I know the description doesn't really give a whole lot of detail, but that's actually all you really need to know about the show. It's roughly a show about nothing. Nothing really happens at all throughout the show except us watching the characters interact with each other with no real importance or significance to any of their actions. Life just goes on for them as they live out their high school days. I know it may sound boring, but it's definitely a very enjoyable show. Especially if you subscribe to the school of watching cute girls doing cute things. That's pretty much what this show is for 23 minutes each episode. Well, 20 minutes after excluding the opening and ending themes.
The three main characters themselves are all so drastically different that it makes for a fun combination and exchange among them. You have the more shy and serious type in Yui, the innocent airhead Yukari, and the hyperactive bunny that is Yuzuko. Three dynamically different personalities all coming together definitely makes for a fun watch. And really, with a show like this, that's all I'm really looking for. Along the way a few side characters join here and there with some rather amusing exchanges with the main three, but the highlights are definitely when it's simply the main three going about their day.
Also, the music as a whole is pretty forgettable. But the opening is fantastic. It's such a fun song and just filled with energy. Listening to it before each episode, embarrassingly enough, definitely got me in the mood to watch the rest of the episode. Definitely still a personal favorite of mine just for the entertainment alone. If you enjoyed shows like Kiniro Mosaic or Yuru Yuri, this is going to be right up your alley as well.
6.5/10
Also, because I mentioned Kiniro Mosaic it got me thinking about the good "classic" anime memes. Before Ayaya there was Dondurma!
I know the description doesn't really give a whole lot of detail, but that's actually all you really need to know about the show. It's roughly a show about nothing. Nothing really happens at all throughout the show except us watching the characters interact with each other with no real importance or significance to any of their actions. Life just goes on for them as they live out their high school days. I know it may sound boring, but it's definitely a very enjoyable show. Especially if you subscribe to the school of watching cute girls doing cute things. That's pretty much what this show is for 23 minutes each episode. Well, 20 minutes after excluding the opening and ending themes.
The three main characters themselves are all so drastically different that it makes for a fun combination and exchange among them. You have the more shy and serious type in Yui, the innocent airhead Yukari, and the hyperactive bunny that is Yuzuko. Three dynamically different personalities all coming together definitely makes for a fun watch. And really, with a show like this, that's all I'm really looking for. Along the way a few side characters join here and there with some rather amusing exchanges with the main three, but the highlights are definitely when it's simply the main three going about their day.
Also, the music as a whole is pretty forgettable. But the opening is fantastic. It's such a fun song and just filled with energy. Listening to it before each episode, embarrassingly enough, definitely got me in the mood to watch the rest of the episode. Definitely still a personal favorite of mine just for the entertainment alone. If you enjoyed shows like Kiniro Mosaic or Yuru Yuri, this is going to be right up your alley as well.
6.5/10
Also, because I mentioned Kiniro Mosaic it got me thinking about the good "classic" anime memes. Before Ayaya there was Dondurma!
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Wanted to try and get this out sooner, but between moving countries and grad school, life is pretty busy. Thankfully the current season (spring) is rather poor and full of shorts, so it's a lot easier to manage watching things on the side. Anywho, we're here to take a look at last season and the first of this year. So let's get started.
Winter 2019 Look-Back
Keep in mind, this list contains shows I both completed or dropped after a few episodes, giving it at least a fair chance. Additionally, shows that span across multiple seasons are ONLY listed in the season in which they first aired. So, let's get into it.
3D Kanojo: Real Girl 2nd Season - It's 3D Kanojo. Nothing special but decent enough. Sequel
Boogiepop wa Warawanai (2019) - It's not every day (or season rather) that we see a good mystery title. Mystery shows, when done well, are definitely some of my favorite shows. Boogiepop may seem like it has a rather crazy and convoluted story, but as you watch more episodes within an arc it all begins to piece together. I definitely enjoyed that method of story telling. Highly Recommended
Domestic na Kanojo - If anything, it can become a nice guilty pleasure show for you. Although the premise may seem a bit risque and out there, it actually does have a pretty decent story. I think something that separates this from similar shows is that you sort of get right into the drama, and I guess only escape for short periods of time, as opposed to building up the drama for 5 episodes and taking 3 episodes to resolve it. I've been following the manga for probably way too long by now and I can say that although I was a bit concerned at first, as with the anime, it definitely became a series that grew on me. Recommend
Dororo - Dororo follows the story of Hyakkimaru and Dororo (title character) in Hyakkimaru's attempt to regain what was stolen from him by the demons. His body. His father makes a deal with the demons to bring peace and prosperity to his land, but it all comes at the expense of his soon-to-be-born son. Definitely a great adventure and one I've been most excited for each week. It's actually based on a manga of the same name written by Tezuka Osamu who is one of the most influential creators in the history of manga. Highly Recommended
Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue. - I enjoyed it. I thought it was a nice and cute show. There were a few parts that seemed a little slow to me, so maybe for me if it was done was a 12 minute short it may have been better, but still good nonetheless. Recommended
Egao no Daika - Everything about this is just... no. Hard pass
Endro~! - I think I'll stick to Doga Kobo if I want moe blobs I guess. Safe to pass
Girly Air Force - I only watched 5 episodes of it, but I still didn't really understand much of what was going on. Maybe it was just lack of interest in the premise/plot in combination with it just not being all that great elsewhere. Pass
Gotoubun no Hanayome - School comedy. There's a ton of them out there. I would say this one is definitely a cut above the rest, but the overall average for this genre isn't really all that high. If you enjoy school comedy manga/shows, this is probably right up your alley. If not safe to pass
Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen - THIS is the school comedy you should be watching. Every bit as amusing as the manga. It's a very cute series overall and one that I think others in the genre should strive to be like quality wise. Highly recommended
Kakegurui?? - More gambling with over the top animation to show it. It's really not all too different from the prequel, but I still enjoyed it. Sequel
Mob Psycho 100 II - You can't hate Mob Psycho 100. It's just not possible. Another fantastic season from them. If you haven't seen the first one, go watch it. Highly Recommended
Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari - Here we have another transported to another world story, but the main character didn't have to die for it this time! Actually, I think Tate no Yuusha takes the overall theme and adds something to it that we don't often see or see early enough. Character development. Very quickly, and for good reason, the main character becomes incredibly jaded and, although he gets better as time goes on, his past experiences still cause him to lash out at times. A bit of a nice change of pace. Recommended
Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita! - Here it is, my Doga Kobo moe blob show. Sometimes it's nice to just have a show like this as background noise. This is probably the moe blob show to watch this season. If moe blobs aren't your thing, this is safe to pass.
Yakusoku no Neverland - Definitely a great series and entry to wrap up this list. As a huge fan of the manga, I am definitely very pleased with how this adaptation turned out. I think there are a few mistakes from the directing side that really prevented this from being one of the best this season, but nonetheless it was still a good show. It was nice to see some of the darker themes portrayed well and even come with some impact that you can really only get in anime as opposed to the impact you can get in manga. Recommended
_MEGA's Anime of the Season Winter 2019 Pick: Dororo
There are actually a few shows I was considering for this, but I feel that Dororo is the one that stood out the most. As I mentioned, this was definitely a show I was looking forward to each week. Even now with the few remaining episodes, I am still just as excited waiting for those each week. The action sequences, although aren't as flashy as some studios like ufotable, are done well and enjoyable to watch. I find the story and characters very interesting and I almost feel invested to finish watching their journey as they take me along. It's been interesting watching the characters grow over time as they went from a sort of "safety as a group" to "family" status. So yeah, if you're only picking up one show from this season, my suggestion is to make it Dororo. Although some honorable mentions are Kaguya-sama, Boogiepop, Yakusoku Neverland, and Mob Psycho (assuming you've seen the first).
Winter 2019 Look-Back
Keep in mind, this list contains shows I both completed or dropped after a few episodes, giving it at least a fair chance. Additionally, shows that span across multiple seasons are ONLY listed in the season in which they first aired. So, let's get into it.
3D Kanojo: Real Girl 2nd Season - It's 3D Kanojo. Nothing special but decent enough. Sequel
Boogiepop wa Warawanai (2019) - It's not every day (or season rather) that we see a good mystery title. Mystery shows, when done well, are definitely some of my favorite shows. Boogiepop may seem like it has a rather crazy and convoluted story, but as you watch more episodes within an arc it all begins to piece together. I definitely enjoyed that method of story telling. Highly Recommended
Domestic na Kanojo - If anything, it can become a nice guilty pleasure show for you. Although the premise may seem a bit risque and out there, it actually does have a pretty decent story. I think something that separates this from similar shows is that you sort of get right into the drama, and I guess only escape for short periods of time, as opposed to building up the drama for 5 episodes and taking 3 episodes to resolve it. I've been following the manga for probably way too long by now and I can say that although I was a bit concerned at first, as with the anime, it definitely became a series that grew on me. Recommend
Dororo - Dororo follows the story of Hyakkimaru and Dororo (title character) in Hyakkimaru's attempt to regain what was stolen from him by the demons. His body. His father makes a deal with the demons to bring peace and prosperity to his land, but it all comes at the expense of his soon-to-be-born son. Definitely a great adventure and one I've been most excited for each week. It's actually based on a manga of the same name written by Tezuka Osamu who is one of the most influential creators in the history of manga. Highly Recommended
Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue. - I enjoyed it. I thought it was a nice and cute show. There were a few parts that seemed a little slow to me, so maybe for me if it was done was a 12 minute short it may have been better, but still good nonetheless. Recommended
Egao no Daika - Everything about this is just... no. Hard pass
Endro~! - I think I'll stick to Doga Kobo if I want moe blobs I guess. Safe to pass
Girly Air Force - I only watched 5 episodes of it, but I still didn't really understand much of what was going on. Maybe it was just lack of interest in the premise/plot in combination with it just not being all that great elsewhere. Pass
Gotoubun no Hanayome - School comedy. There's a ton of them out there. I would say this one is definitely a cut above the rest, but the overall average for this genre isn't really all that high. If you enjoy school comedy manga/shows, this is probably right up your alley. If not safe to pass
Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen - THIS is the school comedy you should be watching. Every bit as amusing as the manga. It's a very cute series overall and one that I think others in the genre should strive to be like quality wise. Highly recommended
Kakegurui?? - More gambling with over the top animation to show it. It's really not all too different from the prequel, but I still enjoyed it. Sequel
Mob Psycho 100 II - You can't hate Mob Psycho 100. It's just not possible. Another fantastic season from them. If you haven't seen the first one, go watch it. Highly Recommended
Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari - Here we have another transported to another world story, but the main character didn't have to die for it this time! Actually, I think Tate no Yuusha takes the overall theme and adds something to it that we don't often see or see early enough. Character development. Very quickly, and for good reason, the main character becomes incredibly jaded and, although he gets better as time goes on, his past experiences still cause him to lash out at times. A bit of a nice change of pace. Recommended
Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita! - Here it is, my Doga Kobo moe blob show. Sometimes it's nice to just have a show like this as background noise. This is probably the moe blob show to watch this season. If moe blobs aren't your thing, this is safe to pass.
Yakusoku no Neverland - Definitely a great series and entry to wrap up this list. As a huge fan of the manga, I am definitely very pleased with how this adaptation turned out. I think there are a few mistakes from the directing side that really prevented this from being one of the best this season, but nonetheless it was still a good show. It was nice to see some of the darker themes portrayed well and even come with some impact that you can really only get in anime as opposed to the impact you can get in manga. Recommended
_MEGA's Anime of the Season Winter 2019 Pick: Dororo
There are actually a few shows I was considering for this, but I feel that Dororo is the one that stood out the most. As I mentioned, this was definitely a show I was looking forward to each week. Even now with the few remaining episodes, I am still just as excited waiting for those each week. The action sequences, although aren't as flashy as some studios like ufotable, are done well and enjoyable to watch. I find the story and characters very interesting and I almost feel invested to finish watching their journey as they take me along. It's been interesting watching the characters grow over time as they went from a sort of "safety as a group" to "family" status. So yeah, if you're only picking up one show from this season, my suggestion is to make it Dororo. Although some honorable mentions are Kaguya-sama, Boogiepop, Yakusoku Neverland, and Mob Psycho (assuming you've seen the first).
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Only underrated to some
The anime division will rise again
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Thanks
My feelings for you are an appropriate amount based on our limited interactions.
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Source: MAL
Rokka no Yuusha is definitely one of the more unique shows, premise wise, that I've seen. Many shows have this concept of taking out some strong demon, adversary, or other. While that is mentioned, the show is actually not about taking out the Demon God at all. I think when many people watch this show, they seem to get that idea and end up confused or upset at the end. The show is, actually, about the group of six characters who are supposed to band together in order to defeat the Demon God. However, seven people arrive, meaning one person is not who they claim to be. This is more focused on the mystery of trying to uncover who among the group is lying and who can be trusted as opposed to an action fest of fighting demons.
The characters themselves are also a very diverse group. I think having numerous characters with all these different backgrounds and stories come together is even more important when, for 12 episodes, it's mainly the same set of characters for each episode. As the show goes on, we start to learn more about the backstory of each character, how they were selected to be a hero, and the events that shaped many of them into the people they are today. If anything, I would say this show really focuses a lot on world building and character interaction in order to tell its story. The characters play well off of each other and, in the midst of all the mystery and drama, small alliances form of who others begin to trust. Also, I'm not sure what it is about the character designs that I like, but I do like them quite a bit.
While this show definitely isn't for everyone, it was one I enjoyed a lot while it was airing. If by some crazy miracle a second season does pop up, I'd love to give that a watch as well. If you enjoy mystery shows that can get you thinking and surprise you, this is a good one to watch. If not, there really isn't too much you're missing by passing on this show.
6/10
Rokka no Yuusha is definitely one of the more unique shows, premise wise, that I've seen. Many shows have this concept of taking out some strong demon, adversary, or other. While that is mentioned, the show is actually not about taking out the Demon God at all. I think when many people watch this show, they seem to get that idea and end up confused or upset at the end. The show is, actually, about the group of six characters who are supposed to band together in order to defeat the Demon God. However, seven people arrive, meaning one person is not who they claim to be. This is more focused on the mystery of trying to uncover who among the group is lying and who can be trusted as opposed to an action fest of fighting demons.
The characters themselves are also a very diverse group. I think having numerous characters with all these different backgrounds and stories come together is even more important when, for 12 episodes, it's mainly the same set of characters for each episode. As the show goes on, we start to learn more about the backstory of each character, how they were selected to be a hero, and the events that shaped many of them into the people they are today. If anything, I would say this show really focuses a lot on world building and character interaction in order to tell its story. The characters play well off of each other and, in the midst of all the mystery and drama, small alliances form of who others begin to trust. Also, I'm not sure what it is about the character designs that I like, but I do like them quite a bit.
While this show definitely isn't for everyone, it was one I enjoyed a lot while it was airing. If by some crazy miracle a second season does pop up, I'd love to give that a watch as well. If you enjoy mystery shows that can get you thinking and surprise you, this is a good one to watch. If not, there really isn't too much you're missing by passing on this show.
6/10
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Back again as it's that time of the season. Been a bit busy with grad school so I've sadly been neglecting this thread, but I have a couple of weeks off before my next class so I'll be trying to get a couple of more reviews out. Anywho, we're here to take a look at the spring season so let's get into it.
Spring 2019 Look-Back
Keep in mind, this list contains shows I both completed or dropped after a few episodes, giving it at least a fair chance. Additionally, shows that span across multiple seasons are ONLY listed in the season in which they first aired. So, let's get into it.
Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai - Just another comedy school harem show. Nothing about this seemed special or really stood out to. Pass
Carole & Tuesday - We don't usually get music related anime these days without them being some what related to an idol group or having the theme being related to idols in some way. This is a nice break from that and the two titular characters are very charming. I was a little hesitant at first, but I'm incredibly glad I picked this up. The show has its ups and downs, but I've been enjoying every episode. Highly Recommended
Fairy Gone - Premise sounded interesting, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment. How this got a second season approved already is beyond me. Hard Pass
Fruits Basket (2019) - A great re-adaptation of Fruits Basket. I am a fan of the original series and the manga, and I still find this work to be just as brilliant as the original. If you have seen the original, I would advise you not to let nostalgia blind you to how wonderful the new adaptation truly is. That's not to say the old one is bad by any means. Both are great and both can be enjoyed to their fullest. No reason we can't like both! Highly Recommended
Gunjou no Magmell - Tried a few episodes and dropped it. Still not really sure what this was supposed to be. Hard Pass
Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu - This was a bit of a dark horse for me. Had no idea what it was going in and I never heard of it until the season started. It's basically a moe blob and it's not by Doga Kobo AND it's done well. The show is simply just a cute, fun, and relaxing watch. I often played it in the background while cooking dinner. If you're into moeblobs or simply "cute girls doing cute things", this isn't one to miss. Even if you want a nice little comedy, I'd say go for it anyway. Recommended
Isekai Quartet - This isn't something I asked for, but I'm glad it exists I guess. If you haven't seen at least 3 or all 4 of the shows though, you might not really get why some scenes are funny. Recommended/Spinoff
Joshikausei - Big yikes on this one. Nope. Super Hard Pass
Kimetsu no Yaiba - Demon slaying action by ufotable. If you've seen anything by ufotable, you'll know that they really love to bring out detail and flare to their action scenes. And this show does not disappoint in that regard. Couple with an interesting premise, it's definitely a good show. Recommended
Midara na Ao-chan wa Benkyou ga Dekinai - Thought the first couple of episodes were boring. 12 minutes an episode still felt too long for what was going on. Maybe half of that would have been better. Pass
Sarazanmai - A series by the man who brought us Mawaru Penguindrum and Yuri Kuma Arashi. For those who don't know, that's Kunihiko Ikuhara. The works he directs are filled with vivid colors and some pretty crazy things going on. However, it's not just fun and games with the visuals. The story brings the show full circle to be one hell of a ride. Highly Recommended
Senryuu Shoujo - Another short that aired this season based on a manga I've been following for quite some time. Definitely a nice little 12 minute short to watch. It's nothing too deep but was enjoyable.Recommended
Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san - Doga Kobo moe blob show. Not sure why this one in particular blew up so much on reddit, but it did. If moe blobs aren't your thing, this is safe to pass.
Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Part 2 - It's Attack on Titan. Everyone and their mother seems to watch this these days. I do like that season 3 is getting back to more of what made the first season popular. More action on the titans and a bit dialed back on the political aspect. I think the political aspect works great in the manga, but doesn't really translate well to the anime. Recommended
Shoumetsu Toshi - Not really sure what Madhouse was thinking with this one. Pass
_MEGA's Anime of the Season Spring 2019 Pick: Sarazanmai
The only other show I would consider for this position this season would be Carole & Tuesday, but sadly the two most recent episodes took that away. And with Sarazanmai having such an incredible and satisfying ending, I don't know how I could give this to anything else. From the music to the voice acting and characters, Sarazanmai really made me feel immersed in the show while I was watching it. Granted I do have a slight bias towards Ikuhara, but I do honestly believe this was the single greatest work this past season. It's definitely a crazy but very enjoyable ride.
Spring 2019 Look-Back
Keep in mind, this list contains shows I both completed or dropped after a few episodes, giving it at least a fair chance. Additionally, shows that span across multiple seasons are ONLY listed in the season in which they first aired. So, let's get into it.
Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai - Just another comedy school harem show. Nothing about this seemed special or really stood out to. Pass
Carole & Tuesday - We don't usually get music related anime these days without them being some what related to an idol group or having the theme being related to idols in some way. This is a nice break from that and the two titular characters are very charming. I was a little hesitant at first, but I'm incredibly glad I picked this up. The show has its ups and downs, but I've been enjoying every episode. Highly Recommended
Fairy Gone - Premise sounded interesting, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment. How this got a second season approved already is beyond me. Hard Pass
Fruits Basket (2019) - A great re-adaptation of Fruits Basket. I am a fan of the original series and the manga, and I still find this work to be just as brilliant as the original. If you have seen the original, I would advise you not to let nostalgia blind you to how wonderful the new adaptation truly is. That's not to say the old one is bad by any means. Both are great and both can be enjoyed to their fullest. No reason we can't like both! Highly Recommended
Gunjou no Magmell - Tried a few episodes and dropped it. Still not really sure what this was supposed to be. Hard Pass
Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu - This was a bit of a dark horse for me. Had no idea what it was going in and I never heard of it until the season started. It's basically a moe blob and it's not by Doga Kobo AND it's done well. The show is simply just a cute, fun, and relaxing watch. I often played it in the background while cooking dinner. If you're into moeblobs or simply "cute girls doing cute things", this isn't one to miss. Even if you want a nice little comedy, I'd say go for it anyway. Recommended
Isekai Quartet - This isn't something I asked for, but I'm glad it exists I guess. If you haven't seen at least 3 or all 4 of the shows though, you might not really get why some scenes are funny. Recommended/Spinoff
Joshikausei - Big yikes on this one. Nope. Super Hard Pass
Kimetsu no Yaiba - Demon slaying action by ufotable. If you've seen anything by ufotable, you'll know that they really love to bring out detail and flare to their action scenes. And this show does not disappoint in that regard. Couple with an interesting premise, it's definitely a good show. Recommended
Midara na Ao-chan wa Benkyou ga Dekinai - Thought the first couple of episodes were boring. 12 minutes an episode still felt too long for what was going on. Maybe half of that would have been better. Pass
Sarazanmai - A series by the man who brought us Mawaru Penguindrum and Yuri Kuma Arashi. For those who don't know, that's Kunihiko Ikuhara. The works he directs are filled with vivid colors and some pretty crazy things going on. However, it's not just fun and games with the visuals. The story brings the show full circle to be one hell of a ride. Highly Recommended
Senryuu Shoujo - Another short that aired this season based on a manga I've been following for quite some time. Definitely a nice little 12 minute short to watch. It's nothing too deep but was enjoyable.Recommended
Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san - Doga Kobo moe blob show. Not sure why this one in particular blew up so much on reddit, but it did. If moe blobs aren't your thing, this is safe to pass.
Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Part 2 - It's Attack on Titan. Everyone and their mother seems to watch this these days. I do like that season 3 is getting back to more of what made the first season popular. More action on the titans and a bit dialed back on the political aspect. I think the political aspect works great in the manga, but doesn't really translate well to the anime. Recommended
Shoumetsu Toshi - Not really sure what Madhouse was thinking with this one. Pass
_MEGA's Anime of the Season Spring 2019 Pick: Sarazanmai
The only other show I would consider for this position this season would be Carole & Tuesday, but sadly the two most recent episodes took that away. And with Sarazanmai having such an incredible and satisfying ending, I don't know how I could give this to anything else. From the music to the voice acting and characters, Sarazanmai really made me feel immersed in the show while I was watching it. Granted I do have a slight bias towards Ikuhara, but I do honestly believe this was the single greatest work this past season. It's definitely a crazy but very enjoyable ride.
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- Aug 20, 2010
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Source: MAL
If you made it through the summary, congratulations. You basically just read, more or less, the synopsis to most harem anime out there. Especially those based on visual novels as this one is. The story begins, of course, with the stereotypical guy falling onto the girl misunderstanding, but turned up to an 11 as opposed to just a 10. Well, I guess that really depends on your own opinion of the gimmick. Honestly, I think it's just a lazy gimmick and there are definitely better ways to get characters to meet each other, but oh well it's a staple for these types of series so I digress. Outside of the love triangle/polygon that forms from the misunderstanding to everything else, not much happens as you'd expect. It's just your standard run of the mill ecchi harem school anime.
The characters themselves aren't too interesting either. Nothing really separates the characters in my mind while watching the show except for their physical appearance. Mainly hair color, eye color, and height. Outside of that, the characters don't really get developed, so when different events play out, I don't really care because I never really got to know the character, so I don't really know why they are happy or sad at this particular event. Granted, it's a harem show so outside of the main heroine other characters hardly get developed anyway in these types of shows.
Visually, it looks just like any other generic cookie cutter harem show that, to me, doesn't have something unique that makes it stand out. For example if you watch this, you've basically already seen Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka, To Heart 2, or any of the numerous Da.Capo series. I'm not really big into visual novels, but seeing that all of these come from visual novels, and looking at visual novels such as Kanon or Clannad, it's pretty easy to see where improvements could be made, but that's a topic for another thread I suppose.
Anywho, overall, definitely a good show to pass. It has some nice and cute moments here and there, but I'm glad Doga Kobo (the studio) seems to be sticking to the pure moe blob shows these days where they don't have to worry about story.
3/10
If you made it through the summary, congratulations. You basically just read, more or less, the synopsis to most harem anime out there. Especially those based on visual novels as this one is. The story begins, of course, with the stereotypical guy falling onto the girl misunderstanding, but turned up to an 11 as opposed to just a 10. Well, I guess that really depends on your own opinion of the gimmick. Honestly, I think it's just a lazy gimmick and there are definitely better ways to get characters to meet each other, but oh well it's a staple for these types of series so I digress. Outside of the love triangle/polygon that forms from the misunderstanding to everything else, not much happens as you'd expect. It's just your standard run of the mill ecchi harem school anime.
The characters themselves aren't too interesting either. Nothing really separates the characters in my mind while watching the show except for their physical appearance. Mainly hair color, eye color, and height. Outside of that, the characters don't really get developed, so when different events play out, I don't really care because I never really got to know the character, so I don't really know why they are happy or sad at this particular event. Granted, it's a harem show so outside of the main heroine other characters hardly get developed anyway in these types of shows.
Visually, it looks just like any other generic cookie cutter harem show that, to me, doesn't have something unique that makes it stand out. For example if you watch this, you've basically already seen Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka, To Heart 2, or any of the numerous Da.Capo series. I'm not really big into visual novels, but seeing that all of these come from visual novels, and looking at visual novels such as Kanon or Clannad, it's pretty easy to see where improvements could be made, but that's a topic for another thread I suppose.
Anywho, overall, definitely a good show to pass. It has some nice and cute moments here and there, but I'm glad Doga Kobo (the studio) seems to be sticking to the pure moe blob shows these days where they don't have to worry about story.
3/10
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- Aug 20, 2010
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I do like talking about shows like Hoshizora. Especially ones that I think helped me sort of formulate my own opinions and taste in anime over the years. This show especially I do recall being bad when I watched it while it was airing. When this show came out, it was actually around the time I started watching anime that was currently airing as opposed to only shows that were already completed. So it's a nice little nostalgia trip for me personally. I think shows I watched when I first started to watch anime, such as Black Lagoon, and the first shows I watched while currently airing both hold some nostalgia for me in different ways. While look at some older reviews, I saw my Yumekui Merry review. That as well was one of the first airing shows I watched. Maybe I'll go back to around that time and pull some other shows, like Gosick and Infinite Stratos, and get some reviews for those going. Have a nice, but bumpy, trip down nostalgia lane.
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Source: MAL
Nichijou, literally meaning everyday/ordinary life, is probably one of the best slice of life anime in the past decade. Nearly every episode had me laughing for a good majority of the time, and some of the scenes will definitely leave a lasting memory at the very least. As you can tell by the description alone, there's a lot of crazy stuff going on, and the intensity at which it plays out is what makes this show so entertaining.
I'd love to comment on the story, but as a true slice of life, there really is no major overarching story. We are simply taking things day by day with each character and getting a glimpse into their crazy lives. Seeing how the diverse group of characters interact with each other and the world is part of the humor in the show. From Mio to Hakase to Yuuko, every episode almost feels like going on a wacky adventure not knowing how things are going to turn out.
Honestly, that's pretty much all you need to know about this show. It's not a show with a deep story or characters that will move you. It's not designed to be that type of show in the first place, so comparing it to shows centered around dramas is silly. However, when compared to the slice of life pool of anime that is filled with moe blobs and, often times, very forgettable entries, Nichijou remains to be one people still remember and talk about. And it's been about 8 years since its release!
Definitely one of the few comedy series I think everyone should watch. Regardless if you like anime or not, Nichijou really is a fantastic show that sets out to be a funny and crazy ride, and it definitely delivers . I wouldn't quite go as far as calling this a masterpiece, but it's pretty damn good that's for sure.
Because this isn't a parody series like Lucky Star that requires you to understand anime from the years leading up to Lucky Star (which those newer to anime most likely haven't seen), it's incredibly easy to just jump in and have some laughs. I highly suggest checking this one out if you haven't yet.
9/10
Nichijou, literally meaning everyday/ordinary life, is probably one of the best slice of life anime in the past decade. Nearly every episode had me laughing for a good majority of the time, and some of the scenes will definitely leave a lasting memory at the very least. As you can tell by the description alone, there's a lot of crazy stuff going on, and the intensity at which it plays out is what makes this show so entertaining.
I'd love to comment on the story, but as a true slice of life, there really is no major overarching story. We are simply taking things day by day with each character and getting a glimpse into their crazy lives. Seeing how the diverse group of characters interact with each other and the world is part of the humor in the show. From Mio to Hakase to Yuuko, every episode almost feels like going on a wacky adventure not knowing how things are going to turn out.
Honestly, that's pretty much all you need to know about this show. It's not a show with a deep story or characters that will move you. It's not designed to be that type of show in the first place, so comparing it to shows centered around dramas is silly. However, when compared to the slice of life pool of anime that is filled with moe blobs and, often times, very forgettable entries, Nichijou remains to be one people still remember and talk about. And it's been about 8 years since its release!
Definitely one of the few comedy series I think everyone should watch. Regardless if you like anime or not, Nichijou really is a fantastic show that sets out to be a funny and crazy ride, and it definitely delivers . I wouldn't quite go as far as calling this a masterpiece, but it's pretty damn good that's for sure.
Because this isn't a parody series like Lucky Star that requires you to understand anime from the years leading up to Lucky Star (which those newer to anime most likely haven't seen), it's incredibly easy to just jump in and have some laughs. I highly suggest checking this one out if you haven't yet.
9/10
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- Aug 20, 2010
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- 5,688
Another season has come and gone. And of course, I'm back again with the look-back. Grad school started up again, combined with life in general, so I haven't really been able to get around to as much sadly. Although next season, so far, looks pretty boring for me so maybe it's a chance for the backlog. Anywho, we're here to take a look at the summer season so let's get to that one!
Summer 2019 Look-Back
Keep in mind, this list contains shows I both completed or dropped after a few episodes, giving it at least a fair chance. Additionally, shows that span across multiple seasons are ONLY listed in the season in which they first aired. So, let's get into it.
Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo. - This is a show that truly could only air in Japan at the rating it has (PG-12). It's a comedy series that heavily intertwines the themes of sexual awareness and coming of age of a group of high school girls. Honestly, it's a lot of fun to watch with some nice humor. Recommended
Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou - I guess they decided to stop spending money after episode 2. Not that it was really all that interesting to me in the first place. Dropped it after episode 3, but I doubt it got any better. Hard Pass
Bem - Premise is pretty interesting, but as the series continues it sort of seems to fall a bit flat. I personally still really enjoy the show and the three main characters, but it's definitely a hard sell so I don't think I can really recommended it. Try it if you think it sounds interesting though, otherwise Safe to Pass
Cop Craft - Started this because of the Princess Principal vibes I got from it. However it didn't really develop into anything interesting for me. Pass
Dr. Stone - One of the current top shounen series in WSJ. Definitely an interesting premise. Despite all of the memes that have come out about the show, I still think it's pretty solid. As a reader of the manga, I haven't been disappointed. Recommended
Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru? - If you've been following this thread for some time, you probably know I have a soft spot/guilty pleasure for Doga Kobo moe blob shows. And this one did not disappoint. Recommended
Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka II - This season season honestly felt like a giant mess. If this was the quality of season two, I probably won't be interested in watching a third season. Pass
Enen no Shouboutai - Anime about fire fighting. Now this is a rather unique premise and something you don't see too often. My only real complaint is the increase in fan service as things progress, but it's not the worst thing I suppose. Recommended
Granbelm - Leave the moe blobs to Doga Kobo. Hard pass
Kanata no Astra - Wow this show really took a turn for the better as the ending approached. For the first 3 episodes, I was sort of on the fence on if I should keep watching, and the next two episodes were enough for me to be satisfied with it. However, it had probably one of the most solid endings you could have wanted to see from a show. Recommended
Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san 2 - A sequel to the first Takagi-san season. Although, I think that was obviously. I think I loved this one even more than the first! Highly Recommended
Katsute Kami Datta Kemono-tachi e - Another interesting premise that didn't really go anywhere. Pass
Sounan Desu ka? - Even though it's just a short, I still want my time back. Hard pass
Tejina-senpai - Pretty much the same as above. Hard pass
Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de Ni-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki Desu ka? - The famous mom online show. Definitely not worth your time, even for the joke. Hard pass
Uchi no Ko no Tame naraba, Ore wa Moshikashitara Maou mo Taoseru kamo - Some Usagi Drop/Udon Kuni kind of vibes. Was kind of cute, but I think the other two I mentioned were much better. Safe to pass
Vinland Saga - Honestly a great show. I'm a bit disappointed people overlooked it at the start of the season, but it seems to be getting the appropriate attention now which I'm glad. It has a nice grit to it and I'm always pretty excited for the next episode. Highly Recommended]
_MEGA's Anime of the Season Summer 2019 Pick: Vinland Saga
Maybe you saw it coming as the only other show I gave "Highly Recommended" was Takagi-san. But honestly, Vinland Saga is by far the single greatest show to air this past season. As I mentioned, it has a grit to it and balances out some of the darker themes like revenge with some softer themes like family and holding true to your values. Definitely a great show and, if you only have time for one show from the summer season, I highly suggest you make it Vinland Saga. I don't think I've been disappointed by a single episode yet, even one that was supposed to be "filler" according to readers of the manga, but still received praise for the character development it gave during that episode.
Summer 2019 Look-Back
Keep in mind, this list contains shows I both completed or dropped after a few episodes, giving it at least a fair chance. Additionally, shows that span across multiple seasons are ONLY listed in the season in which they first aired. So, let's get into it.
Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo. - This is a show that truly could only air in Japan at the rating it has (PG-12). It's a comedy series that heavily intertwines the themes of sexual awareness and coming of age of a group of high school girls. Honestly, it's a lot of fun to watch with some nice humor. Recommended
Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou - I guess they decided to stop spending money after episode 2. Not that it was really all that interesting to me in the first place. Dropped it after episode 3, but I doubt it got any better. Hard Pass
Bem - Premise is pretty interesting, but as the series continues it sort of seems to fall a bit flat. I personally still really enjoy the show and the three main characters, but it's definitely a hard sell so I don't think I can really recommended it. Try it if you think it sounds interesting though, otherwise Safe to Pass
Cop Craft - Started this because of the Princess Principal vibes I got from it. However it didn't really develop into anything interesting for me. Pass
Dr. Stone - One of the current top shounen series in WSJ. Definitely an interesting premise. Despite all of the memes that have come out about the show, I still think it's pretty solid. As a reader of the manga, I haven't been disappointed. Recommended
Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru? - If you've been following this thread for some time, you probably know I have a soft spot/guilty pleasure for Doga Kobo moe blob shows. And this one did not disappoint. Recommended
Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka II - This season season honestly felt like a giant mess. If this was the quality of season two, I probably won't be interested in watching a third season. Pass
Enen no Shouboutai - Anime about fire fighting. Now this is a rather unique premise and something you don't see too often. My only real complaint is the increase in fan service as things progress, but it's not the worst thing I suppose. Recommended
Granbelm - Leave the moe blobs to Doga Kobo. Hard pass
Kanata no Astra - Wow this show really took a turn for the better as the ending approached. For the first 3 episodes, I was sort of on the fence on if I should keep watching, and the next two episodes were enough for me to be satisfied with it. However, it had probably one of the most solid endings you could have wanted to see from a show. Recommended
Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san 2 - A sequel to the first Takagi-san season. Although, I think that was obviously. I think I loved this one even more than the first! Highly Recommended
Katsute Kami Datta Kemono-tachi e - Another interesting premise that didn't really go anywhere. Pass
Sounan Desu ka? - Even though it's just a short, I still want my time back. Hard pass
Tejina-senpai - Pretty much the same as above. Hard pass
Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de Ni-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki Desu ka? - The famous mom online show. Definitely not worth your time, even for the joke. Hard pass
Uchi no Ko no Tame naraba, Ore wa Moshikashitara Maou mo Taoseru kamo - Some Usagi Drop/Udon Kuni kind of vibes. Was kind of cute, but I think the other two I mentioned were much better. Safe to pass
Vinland Saga - Honestly a great show. I'm a bit disappointed people overlooked it at the start of the season, but it seems to be getting the appropriate attention now which I'm glad. It has a nice grit to it and I'm always pretty excited for the next episode. Highly Recommended]
_MEGA's Anime of the Season Summer 2019 Pick: Vinland Saga
Maybe you saw it coming as the only other show I gave "Highly Recommended" was Takagi-san. But honestly, Vinland Saga is by far the single greatest show to air this past season. As I mentioned, it has a grit to it and balances out some of the darker themes like revenge with some softer themes like family and holding true to your values. Definitely a great show and, if you only have time for one show from the summer season, I highly suggest you make it Vinland Saga. I don't think I've been disappointed by a single episode yet, even one that was supposed to be "filler" according to readers of the manga, but still received praise for the character development it gave during that episode.
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