Author: Lenlo

Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou

Short Synopsis (Anichart): After dying in a traffic accident, I find myself standing near an unfamiliar lake. My body won’t move, I can’t hear my voice, and when I try to shout in confusion, words that I never expected come out! “Get one free with a winner.” I-it seems I’ve turned into a vending machine…! I can only do what actual vending machines can. It’s impossible to move by myself, and there’s no way for me to have any meaningful conversation-how am I going to survive some fantasy world’s dungeon like this?!

Amun: I mean, the vending machine isekai was exactly what it said on the tin. This is almost EXACTLY the same start as “Reincarnated as a Sword”….except Mr. Sword (I guess his name was Teacher) was way more overpowered. Poor vending machine-chan could only barrier away those mean amphibians (or reptiles? Who knows). The mechanics, the relationships, the progression all feels very standard – the only originality seems to be using a vending machine instead of a person. And that would be pretty unique….except we just saw it with a sword a few seasons back. Also, this guy was a vending machine otaku? I guess that’s not that weird – if you’ve not yet had the good fortune to experience Japanese vending machines, they’re pretty great. If those got adopted universally, I wouldn’t complain at all. (Although the corn soup love is a mystery to me). What do I think of them in an isekai? I guess it could be good, but there’s nothing else special aside from that so far in “Hanbaiki”
Potential: 35%

Lenlo: You know what, I can appreciate the meme of Hanbaiki. A vending machine otaku reincarnated into one in a fantasy world? It’s just so god damn stupid I can’t help but chuckle a little. Like… the guy is so earnest about it that I can’t help but be amused. And it really went all in on the stupidity giving him stats, changing what he sells, spending points to power himself, etc. Will it be interesting enough to last for an entire season? Probably not, it’s a gag series. But for a one off episode, maybe up to 3, I imagine this will be some good fun. And if it turns into more? Well you know what, Hanbaiki earned it at that point.
Potential: 50%

Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023)

Short Synopsis (Anichart): Re-adaptation of the main manga series.

Lenlo: Look, I maintain that Kenshin does not actually need this reboot. The original series was great, I never really saw what they could hope to add with this new one. And now after watching it? I’m confident that the answer is actually nothing. In fact it seems to be actively taking things away, as this reboot lacks so much of the charm of the original. Maybe this is just my nostalgia glasses from loving this series in the past, but while this modern version is visually cleaner it feels like they also cleansed a lot of the soul from it. Like in their quest to tighten up character interactions and such they lose the core of what made those relationships work. Plus while I don’t blame them for having to change the VAs, it’s been 20 years, I do think the new ones aren’t really hitting what made these characters work. I’ll watch it obviously, see if it manages to improve and find its footing. After all, the original wasn’t perfect at first either, only really showing its strengths after the first few villains came along. But if it can’t catch my attention by the time Saito shows up? I’m out.
Potential: 25%, Maybe 40% without my nostalgia glasses?

Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season

Short Synopsis (Anichart): The second season of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Amun: Ahhhh – I probably should have watched the movie before the season started. I did this last season with Dr. Stone, so you’d figure I’d learn my lesson. This is an episode of two halves – the first half was a weirdly textured Eternity Devil from CSM. The second half was JJK: Retro edition. I liked the latter much better, and fortunately that looks to be what’s in store for the first half of this season. I’m an anime only, so I’m honestly a tiny bit confused about who everyone is here, but I’ve identified the two main people (and, someone please help me out – is that girl related to Nobara from the main series at all? Or do they just have similar character designs?). Bottom line – JJK has always been more visual than cerebral, so as long as it keeps looking good, I’m here for it.
Potential: 75%

Lenlo: Let’s be honest here, this is Jujutsu Kaisen, you know what to expect. The show looks really good, some funky composites here and there as they continue to obsess over 3D environments, but generally it’s one of the better produced shows of the season. That should come as no surprise. What was surprising to me though was how much I enjoyed all of the little details of the episode. The character interactions, their relationships, a lot of the jokes etc. From what I remember, a lot of that is anime original too! I get that this is a flashback arc, and that it’s very different from what we will get later on, but so far Hidden Inventory is the best Jujutsu Kaisen has ever felt for me. The only concern I have with the season is the 2nd half, as I already know I don’t love the Shibuya arc nearly as much as many of the fans do. My hope is that it will look good and be a fun time at least, but for that we will have to wait and see if the production falls apart like it did in Season 1. Only time will tell on that, but for now I’m going to enjoy this 1st arc as much as I can.
Potential: 85%

Undead Girl Murder Farce

Short Synopsis (Anichart): The 19th century — a world inhabited by vampires, golems, werewolves and other paranormal creatures. Immortal beauty and disembodied head Aya Rindo, along with half-human-half-demon “Demon Killer” Tsugaru Shunichi and her loyal maid Shizuku Hasei, travels through Europe as supernatural detective “The Cage User,” solving supernatural mysteries while she searches for her lost body.

Lenlo: Undead Girl Murder Farce is easily the most engaging and interesting premier I have watched so far. Part of that is the narrative, heading to Europe to hunt down a killer and mad scientist on a mutual quest is just good fun. And of course it helps that the characters have this chemistry of mutual dismissal/disrespect/just not giving a shit that makes just them talking to each other interesting. More than any of that though, the show is just really really well shot. I don’t mean well animated or well drawn or anything, though those are also true. Just the way it frames all of its scenes kept me engaged from start to finish. Suffice to say, I’m really looking forward to this now and it’s my current favorite of the season.
Potential: 90%

Amun: Watching this, I can’t help but compare it to “Case Study of Vanitas”, which isn’t the best anime, but I very much enjoy. And I think that’s the ceiling here – a fun romp across Europe with some supernatural dynamics being explored with a new character every week. This episode really did everything right…except the fights. The overly artistic framing choices were just unnecessary, and honestly a waste of animation. I want to see the fight straight on, not through a puddle of water, sheesh. That’s a pretty small complaint, but I hope the direction doesn’t get overly artistic and forget that the viewers want to see what’s going on as well. Everything else was spot on – character introductions, setting up the premise, the big finale…great first episode. I think we’ll get into a rhythm with a mystery per week and breadcrumbs to the overall boss – and that’s great. I’ll be here for it.
Potential: 90% [The rarest of the Lenlo and Amun agreements!]

Okashi na Tensei

Short Synopsis (Anichart): A boy named Pastry is set to become the next lord of the destitute dominion of Morteln. He’s known for having remarkable talent for his age… and it just so happens he was a genius pastry chef with a promising future in his previous life! He still retains his determination to make sweets that will make everyone smile, even after reincarnating as Pastry. But many challenges stand before him, including bandits attacking his domain, malicious and eccentric nobles, an unfortunate financial situation, and land so barren that even water is scarce. The only weapons he has to fight them with are his own ingenuity and love for making sweets. Can Pastry succeed in bringing happiness to the land?!

Amun: Uh, meh. This is pretty standard fare as far as isekai go. I guess I view this as an inferior (and unnecessarily isekai’d) version of “Sugar Apple Fairy” airing later this season. There wasn’t anything terribly wrong with this episode, but there wasn’t anything terribly right. For a better (although way more harem-y), check out the farm simulator isekai from a few seasons ago. I might watch one more (I guess two came out pretty quickly?), but this is going to be low priority for me – if I even get to it.
Potential: 20%

Lenlo: You know as far as Isekai go, this is simultaneously one of the more standard of the season and one of the weirder. It’s normal in that it’s a traditional reincarnation story into a child in another world. And in that sense, it’s so painfully average. The weird part is that the one being isekai’d is actually a respectable and successful adult with their own dreams, skills and accomplishments, and that gives them a sense of purpose/goals from very early on, however silly they may be. The sad part is that it doesn’t really do anything with it. Instead just falling back on all the same silly, basic tropes of the genre and bad jokes like cross dressing and such. I wasn’t expecting much, so I’m not terribly disappointed, but for a moment I thought maybe this could at least stand with the vending machine, you know?
Potential: 40%

 

Genjitsu no Yohane: SUNSHINE in the MIRROR

Short Synopsis (Anichart): The story reimagines Yoshiko Tsushima, the school idol afflicted with chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur), as a magical girl. The story is set in Numazu, a scenic harbor town surrounded by the sea and mountains. Ever since she was little, the girl Yohane has never fit in, and has always felt apart from everyone in town. Her aspirations and true place in this world lie elsewhere. The story follows this girl who can’t follow rules as she journeys into the mysterious world.

Lenlo: I was pleasantly surprised by this one, at first at least. Typically it’s the guys portrayed as chuuni, and in a pitiful fashion meant to mock them. And while it’s not exactly a praise-worthy character trait, it’s kind of cute to see it done for a female idol. It gives her a kind of arrogance that isn’t off putting because it comes from a place of ignorance/childishness rather than just being an asshole. Does this mean the show is for me? Not really, I’m not huge on this stuff. Especially with this weird fantasy/modern japan mix with huge talking dogs and shit. But that’s more regarding my own tastes rather than the show itself being bad. Yohane genuinely feels like something new/interesting in the genre. Or at least… it did until it shifted into being a magical girl show set in a small rural town. Suffice to say I wasn’t big on this shift, I think it would have been better if it stuck with the chuuni trying to make it big in Tokyo. Maybe it can strike a balance as it goes, but personally I won’t be around to really find out.
Potential: 25%

Suki na Ko ga Megane wo Wasureta

Short Synopsis (Anichart): With the new school year comes a new homeroom, new classmates, and a new desk for the timid Komura. But any trepidation he might’ve felt quickly dissipates when he catches sight of Mie, his new seat neighbor. Apt to quietly blurt out the most random things, the quirky Mie wears thick glasses that accentuate her lovely eyes, making Komura’s heart skip a beat!

Lenlo: Jesus H Christ GoHands what did I just watch. This is that “Graphic design is my passion” meme but with cinematography. Like fuck the actual show, I can’t get over just the visuals they are trying to create. Parts of it look fine but then they go on these weird extended tracking shots and absolutely annihilate everything with after effects. It’s like no one taught them the meaning of the word restraint while at the same time not having enough skill for anyone to care. I just… I need to process this. Don’t watch it, it’s terrible, just look at twitter for the incredibly stupid highlights.
Potential: GoHands? GoAway.

Amun: I’m not quite as down on this as Lenlo is, but I do admit the camera (fish-eye I guess?) angles were very distracting. And for no good reason too, since the remainder of the animation was really quite decent. I’m pretty against CGI generally, but there are exceptions I’ll stand for (Beastars comes to mind in recent seasons) – honestly, “Suki na Ko” is probably watchable without those weird shots. Mie’s hair isn’t going to challenge Pixar’s “Brave” any time soon, but I could live with it – the other characters were pretty fluid and didn’t strike visual discord. While the plot isn’t anything novel, I’ve established through my reviews from last season I’m a sucker for these kinds of stories. What I’m basically saying is I managed to get through the whole episode and thought “I’ll watch another one.”
Potential: 40%

Yumemiru Danshi wa Genjitsushugisha

Short Synopsis (Anichart): Sajou Wataru, who is deeply in love with his beautiful classmate Natsukawa Aika, is continuing to approach her without getting discouraged while having dreams about their mutual love. However one day he woke up thinking “I am not really fit to be together with someone as good as her, huh…” Upon realizing this, Wataru started keeping an appropriate distance towards her, much to Aika’s surprise. “Could it be that he hates me now…?” Did his intentions slip by her because she was getting impatient after arriving at the wrong conclusion!? This is the start of a romcom revolving around two people who just cant get their feelings across and both think their love is unrequited!

Amun: I will ALWAYS give props to a show that gives me something original, even if there are other issues. And “Yumemiru Danshi” does just that – I cannot recall off the top of my head another show where a semi-stalker goes “you know what, that was excessive, let’s chill out.” What makes this great is that the rest of his class have accepted this behavior as normal and are pretty disturbed when he stops – legit worried about him. I think there’s a good story here – the main girl’s realization that maybe she should have been a bit more receptive but now is playing off the back foot…that’s a great evolution for the genre. There are some flaws, no doubt, but I’m definitely intrigued by something that’s not just checking through the standard boxes to get to season’s end – “Yumemiru Danshi” really could be something special. I’m hoping it is.
Potential: 75%

Lenlo: Gonna be honest, that Za Warudo moment at the start really freaking confused me. That aside, Yumemiru feels like a rather safe romance for the season. I’m not wowed by it but I’m also not seeing any real red-flags either. It’s not filled with bad ecchi jokes, the characters aren’t fawning over each other from moment one, the MC isn’t a faceless unlikable loser living out wish-fulfillment. If anything this idea of the MC falling out of love with someone, or at least realizing they aren’t good enough for them and appearing to, and that in turn worrying his friends and confusing his love interest, is kind of amusing. I’m not big on highschool romances personally, I just can’t relate to it anymore as I’ve long since reached the phase where it’s easier to just ask and take a yes or no then agonize over it, but I can see lovers of the genre genuinely enjoying this. At the very least I think it might be worth giving it a try.
Potential: 50%

Jitsu wa Ore, Saikyou Deshita?

Short Synopsis (Anichart): After being a shut-in, Haruto is reincarnated as a baby. And amazingly, that baby is a prince! However, he’s abandoned in a forest on the day he’s born because of his low magic level… What will be the fate of Haruto, who was inadvertently given 1000 times the normal amount of magic by the goddess of reincarnation without anyone noticing?!

Amun: Let’s get the good point (singular) out of the way: I liked the twist with the second life parents rejecting the child. That’s a nice adaptation. Now the bad: everything else. The character list shows absolutely no imagination. To be honest, the moment the contracted demon turned into a human to give breast milk to the reincarnated baby was where you lost me. That’s such a weird adaptation that modern isekai keeps doing: starting from the baby stage. Please stop. To sum it up: there’s probably going to be a good isekai this season – but you’ll have to keep looking, since there’s nothing worthwhile here.
Potential: 0%

Lenlo: Man this show really didn’t waste any time did it? 30 seconds in and already the deadbeat MC is being reincarnated by a big-titty blond woman with copious assets. Now to be fair, the gag of him getting immediately abandoned was amusing for about 30 seconds. Beyond that though this really is just trashy isekai with a budget Holo. It’s basic wish fulfillment on every level with absolutely nothing unique or interesting to say about the genre. Like Jesus Christ, give me Shield Hero or Gate or even SAO over this. Hell I’d even take Mushoku Tensei, if only because that one will at least look good. But this? It’s so bland I almost forgot what I had just watched the moment it ended.
Potential: There are better isekai this season, watch them.

Lv1 Maou to One Room Yuusha

Short Synopsis (Anichart): After his embarrassing defeat at the hands of a brave hero, the Demon Lord is back and ready for revenge… but after ten years apart, the hero, Max, isn’t the dashing do-gooder the Demon Lord remembers. In fact, Max has turned into a shut-in slob with no interest in an epic rematch. Can the Demon Lord whip his former nemesis back into shape, or will he be defeated by the hero-turned-couch-potato once again and join him in his lazy life?

Amun: I’m mixed on “Lv 1 Maou”. We’re starting to see this type of post-adventure hero premise crop up more and more (one of the OG’s sequels, “Hataraku Maou-sama” is also airing this season). This is a great starting point, but the devil is in the details (in this case literally). What’s good: the complexity of the characters and storylines. Obviously, much has happened in the ten years, and it’s truthfully pretty believable. I think the main characters also have a pretty good basis and can be built on nicely. What’s bad? The lowbrow aspects. Plus the demon king being in weird outfits – just kind of a strange twist. I get that they want it to be comedic with the other overtones being pretty heavy, but I’m not sure that hits the right notes here. Bonus: although she was only onscreen very briefly, I am very down with the original party’s mage. I’m guessing she’s the current ghost though. “Lv1” has generally good aesthetics and visuals, so I’ll probably see it out for a few more at least.
Potential: 50%

Lenlo: I gotta say, I really really wanted to enjoy Lv1 Maou. The idea of a villain whipping a retired hero into shape to defeat them is right up my alley, I’m a complete sucker for mutual respect between enemies after all. But then Lv1 Maou had to go and ruin it by filling itself with poorly made lewd jokes like constantly focusing on the helpers ass, the hero looking at porn/holding onto an onahole and dressing up a minor in inappropriate outfits. Had it just played it straight and focused on a man who had fallen from grace and a former enemy who wanted his worthy challenger back it could have worked. And what really sucks is that there are traces of that greatness there. I genuinely enjoyed a lot of the Demon Lord and Max’s interactions, there was some great stuff in there as he gives up hope and the Demon Lord tries to build him up, or as the reminisce about their past. If it can just drop the poorly written attempts at lewd humor and focus on building a piece of shit back into a respectable human being then I wager this can be a decent time. At the very least I want to give it a few more before it really disappoints me.
Potential: Tentative 35%, I dearly hope it can work

Mononogatari 2nd Season

Short Synopsis (Anichart): The second season of Mononogatari.

Amun: I bashed “Monogatari” (no relation to NISIOISIN) earlier in these previews as being subpar visually. And the first episode has made me reconsider that a little – there really weren’t any major moments that jarred me like the first season had in abundance. Is this just a case of getting the first episode right when the production schedule is still on pace? No idea, but it’s an improvement nonetheless. Season 1 was a build up to the main conflict of the inner deity living inside the main girl – this season looks to get into that in greater depth. I felt the first season was decent, so I have high(er) hopes for this sequel. If the visuals keep up, this is a solid show. Without it – mediocre.
Potential: 65%

Ryza no Atelier: Tokoyami no Joou to Himitsu no Kakurega

Short Synopsis (Anichart): The story of Ryza, a fledgling alchemist, who escaped her boring daily life with her friends to pursue her dreams.

Lenlo: Ryza no Atelier has one goal, and that’s to engrain the following message into as many peoples heads as possible: Thicc Thighs Save Lives. That’s not even a joke, I’m pretty sure this show exists entirely off of the sex appeal of Ryza’s thighs. Why else would they get shoved into every shot possible. Character picking tomatoes? Frame it so her thighs are eye level with his head. Girl standing up? Pan the camera down to her ass centered on her thigh gap. 2 characters standing side by side in a fullbody shot? Apply specular highlights and blush to her thigh meat so it stands out. It is legitimately 50 minutes of leg meat. That’s right, this is a double feature of a premier. On a more serious note, it’s a pretty classic jrpg plot. Local village kids want to get out of their small-town lives and decide to go on an adventure. They fight some goofy slimes, form a party of adventurers, and generally just wander around in classically overdone jrpg outfits. There’s nothing particularly impressive about its production (Aside from the thighs), it doesn’t move all that well or that much. If you’ve played the games then you know exactly what you’re in for, and if you haven’t then there probably isn’t much to hold your attention past this double feature. I know there isn’t much holding me.
Potential: Thicc Thighs out of 10

Amun: Yoooo, Lelno is NOT joking about the THICCCCNESS of this show. I mean, I started to get concerned for her circulation – between those shorts and the thigh highs, that can’t be promoting healthy blood flow. Something like half your blood is in your legs, right? Anyways – “Ryza no Atelier” is a rather uninspired plot. Nice setting, but I was very bored throughout the hour long introduction. There is an immense amount of dumbness present as well. Staggering amounts. Almost more than the thighs.
Potential: 0 thighs for me

Uchi no Kaisha no Chiisai Senpai no Hanashi

Short Synopsis (Anichart): Shinozaki is an office worker who is taken care of and coddled by his senior team member Shiori Katase, who is a gorgeous, profoundly kind, loving, and diminutive woman. Shinozaki certainly hopes that she’s not doing it out of duty… but her joy of doing so increasingly exposes her feelings!

Lenlo: Look let’s not beat around the bush, this is fetish wish fulfillment for people into short stacked girls, only this time instead of being a loli the character is actually legal. Baby steps. Or adult steps, in this case. That said if all you’re looking for is ecchi bait then you might want to go elsewhere, because this seems to be trying to portray itself as more of a wholesome romance with some lewd jokes then an actual ecchi show. Personally I think it plays things a bit to forward to be taken seriously as a romance. The series is basically a middle/highschool rom com that happens to take place in an office, not an actual adult work-place romance. But if you want something chill and straight forward between 2 consenting adults then I think you could do a lot worse than this.
Potential: 30%

Amun: This show somehow insists on using the absolute worst parts of any ecchi/ero – the setup. It’s like the entire show is going to be the lead up and none of the payoff. The problem here – and where previous shows have done a better job – is that it’s about your two main characters’ journey to romance. “Uchi no Kaisha” is so obviously one step from the finish line (in perhaps more than 1 way…) that there’s no potential for growth here. And that doesn’t make for an interesting story. At least the visuals are on point – it’s clear that there’s plenty of love for the characters from the staff. I don’t hate that, and I usually like these kinds of shows, but I need something more substantial to make it through this season here.
Potential: 30%

AYAKA

Short Synopsis (Anichart): The story follows Yukito Yanagi, an orphan who one day encounters an eccentric disciple of his father’s. The strange man takes him to his birthplace on Ayakajima, made up of seven islands where mysterious beings called “Mitama” and dragons are rumored to reside. There, Yukito meets his father’s two other disciples, who protect the harmony of Ayakajima… which soon threatens to collapse.

Lenlo: My initial impressions of Ayaka are mixed. The surface at least appears to be a rather standard emotionless/blank-slate self-insert MC with a cast largely defined by whatever their primary color is. The setting is fine, and I’m always a bit of a sucker for oni/cultural monsters and shit. Plus it being an original gives me a slight hope that it could do something good with the MC slowly opening up. As far as thinly-veiled shows about self-acceptance goes, I’ve seen worse. I’m just not terribly enthralled by it either yet.
Potential: 20%

Amun: Okay, this is basically a worse looking (if that’s even possible), worse written version of Monogatari, which has a second season airing this summer. There are too many characters, the mechanics of the world are wonky, and the visuals are flatly subpar. Monogatari is going to be my show that fills the supernatural slot this season, so my recommendation is to skip this. I do like the train on the water between islands, though.
Potential: 5%