Category: Some Quick First Impressions

Yuri Is My Job!

Short Synopsis: A widely-admired high school freshman struggles to get her bearings while working at a yuri-themed cafe.

Mario: I think I get why Hime is such a perfect protagonist for this type of premise. In a yuri-themed cafe, the girls have to act like students of a fictional high school and improvise as if they are on stage. It works double-layered given that their stage persona is vastly different from their real personalities. And in Hime’s case, a triple-layer given that she has been “acting’ all her life. As a result, it’s amusing to see her play as a straight man at first, and then proceeds to change the plots to the dismay of those involved. Despite that, I cannot look past the forced method in which the show brings Hime to this cafe. It might be the manager’s intention all along (given how she fakes her injury), but there’s no way it could happen in real life. All in all, I believe Yuri is my Job has some potential to become something worthwhile here, but it’s best to watch it with tempered expectations.
Potential: 40%

Wooper: At long last, Japan has supplied us with a new feline-themed Amazon logo parody! Prior to 2023, onomatopoeia enthusiasts were stuck with Sonny Boy’s Nyamazon, but with the introduction of Nyanyazon, the meta has finally shifted. Thank you, Yuri is My Job, for bringing some much-needed diversity to this neglected corner of the anime landscape!
Potential: Nyaa/10

My One-Hit Kill Sister

Short Synopsis: Standard isekai setup, except lil bro summons OP sister who loves him lots.

Amun: My One-Hit Kill Sister looked better than expected on the first outing. I don’t hate the sister’s design as a blatant knockoff of Yoko from Gurren Lagen. However, the plot is where I start to lose interest. I guess the pretending to be powerful is interesting, but the whole character complex was overdone – even without the incest angle. It just makes the characters so flat…and honestly, it’s insultingly lazy writing. Look, one plot gimmick does not make an interesting show. Give us something to keep us hooked. And the answer is definitely not the horned rival from the after credits. All in all, this is a pass from me.
Potential: 0%

Lenlo: Interesting… an Isekai I didn’t immediately hate. Is this because of the OP toned female lead in place of a basic-bitch of an OP MC? Maybe. Could it be because the production actually seems kind of nice? Or maybe it’s the slightly less amount of ecchi fan-service bullshit that objectifies every female character in the show. It might even be that I connect to this MC’s desire to have a strong Onee-san beat people up for me. I’m not sure yet. What I do know is that I kind of had fun. I wish the female lead didn’t have an incestuous brother complex but look, I take what I can get. Whatever the case, I’m kind of down for this Ciaphas Cain style of lying bullshit. Could be fun, though probably not particularly good.
Potential: 10%

Opus.COLORs

Short Synopsis: An immersive field of digital art known as “perception art” was developed only a decade ago. Two childhood friends team up to create a masterpiece of said art.

Lenlo: I want to like COLORS. I do. The show is all about art, our perception of it and how it can change as technology improves. But compared to a work like Blue Period, I feel like COLORS is too wrapped up in the novelty of this AR technology and is missing the forest for the trees so to speak. By focusing so much on the technology, it loses focus on what the art actually means to the characters. The few works we see lack the deeply personal touch that we saw in Blue Period. Because of that, COLORS ends up feeling more like a shounen set piece with AR art then anything actually interesting, complete with class separation and different uniforms/class system. On top of that, I just can’t find myself to care about any of these characters. They are all so… stiff, they just don’t engage. Maybe it can pull something off, but I’m not that interested myself.
Potential: 5%

Mario: It’s kind of a novel idea for a show to promote a “new kind of art” and the way the university splits into two separate streams. The art is believable in the way that it connects to the technology advancement, it’s like 3D digital art where it’s not only the visual but all senses are stimulated. In addition, the school settings that divide between “grader” and “creator” allows some friction between the two classes. Sadly, that’s the only thing interesting about this first episode. The show either focuses on info-dumping about said art, or it is too occupied with one character doing everything he can just to get his friend to “notice” him. All the characters are plain and the setup for what to come is uninteresting. Too bad for such a nice premise.
Potential: 10%

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too

Short Synopsis: An overweight teenager gains six pack abs after traveling through a mysterious portal in his grandfather’s closet.

Amun: As the resident isekai enjoyer, I feel like there were some things about “Cheat Skill in Another World” to be excited about. Door to another world that’s a two way street, transformation of a down-trodden character, etc. This uh…was not great. At least the main character was just unattractive instead of being a terrible person or a pedo. THAT is the bar we’re setting for positives here. The contoured outlines try to disguise the other animation inadequacies…that are dwarfed by the ridiculously flimsy plot. There will be an isekai this season that’s good. This ain’t it.
Potential: 0%

Wooper: This episode came so close to breaking the record for ‘Most RPG menu screens in a single anime episode.’ Alas, that honor still belongs to last year’s Reincarnated as a Sword, which means that I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World is sadly not Unrivaled in the Real World, Too – unless you’re talking about the size of its protagonist, who monologues at length about how everyone hates him because he’s overweight. We’re forced to watch as he receives a bloody beating for defending a girl from sexual harassment, which the scriptwriter apparently thought would be a natural first meeting between the two main characters. Never fear, though – after getting fired from his part-time job and breaking his bathroom mirror in a fit of rage, what should he find in his apartment but an interdimensional door to a fantasy world! There he gains a bunch of awesome skills before traveling back to Earth, magically transforming into a hottie with washboard abs, and meeting the very same girl the next day. (She immediately recognizes him despite the makeover, of course.) While all of this is happening, the episode assaults your eyes with soulless layouts, lots of brightness and blur post-processing effects, and a bewildering color palette that goes all-in on gray, purple and orange. It’s unpleasant to look at and even more unpleasant to think about, especially when you consider how many more Cheat Skills in Other Worlds will receive anime adaptations before this godforsaken fad finally dies.
Potential: NOT GOOD

Kizuna no Allele

Short Synopsis: A girl aspiring to be a VTuber goes to a virtual idol academy and meets new friends.

Lenlo: Man, VTubers really are everywhere now huh? At first Vtubers were just anime waifu’s on YouTube. Now they have come full circle and become YouTubers in anime. Have we crossed a line? Is this where God abandons us? I don’t know. What I do know is that unlike Mario, I was more engrossed by this show when I thought it was just HoloGra but for Kizuna Ai. Making a show about real VTubers and involving them in the whole thing could probably be a lot of fun for their fans and introduce people to real, existing talents. Instead we got something that’s just trying to use Kizuna Ai’s name, and VTubing in general, as the topic for its latest “Cute Highschool Girls Do Cute Things”. Could that work? Yeah, maybe. Will it work for me? No, definitely not.
Potential: 20%

Mario: My mind wanders in the first few minutes as it feels as if it’s a vehicle to promote Kizuna Ai and VTubers – one of the most recent damning trends that has crossed into the anime industry. Then we see our girl logging off the virtual chat, and then we see “Wit Studio” in the OP and I immediately take notice. What’s Studio Wit doing here? My question remains unanswered through the rest of the episode. To its credit, the show has little to do with Kizuna Ai herself, but is more about a new generation that is inspired by her and is aiming to become her successor. It’s a niche angle for sure, but if you take that away, the episode itself does enough to stand on its own. First, Miracle is not a bad lead girl to follow; she has clear objectives and at least she doesn’t get a nosebleed when standing near her crush. In addition, the greenhouse she bumps into, and where she meets another cast member, is so totally devoted to the show’s main setting that it’s actually kind of refreshing. Will that be enough to guarantee a second watch? Probably not, but I’ll give it more credit than others who regard this show simply as VTuber-promotional material.
Potential: 20%

Skip and Loafer

Short Synopsis: A confident yet clumsy country girl shows up late for her first day of high school in Tokyo.

Wooper: It’s nice to watch a “country girl in the big city” show where the lead’s best friend plays a non-negligible role in the story, even though she’s still living in their small town. Skip and Loafer is full of smart touches like that, from main character Mitsumi video chatting with her BFF Fumi to attentive shots of the secondary cast buttoning their uniforms before their first day of high school. There’s a recognizable quality to this episode as a result, and a refreshing one, too, given Mitsumi’s indomitable spirit. She experiences various setbacks on day one, just as many school anime protagonists do, but consistently bounces back through a combination of willpower and naivete. And get this – despite starring in an anime, she’s not socially maladjusted! She’s a normal kid who trades phone numbers with multiple classmates after meeting them in homeroom, with a humorous inner monologue that’s totally free of bitterness. Her character design is refreshingly simple, as well – all the designs are, which makes Skip and Loafer that much more pleasant to watch. The script carved out plenty of room for the cast to grow (especially Sousuke, the aloof yet good-natured male lead), and I’m eager to watch them do it, so I’ll be following the ordinary lives of Mitsumi and friends for a full season.
Potential: 70%

Mario: Skip and Loafer is a truly charming anime that manages to captivate its audience without relying on the over-romanticization of its characters. What sets this show apart is its ability to present its characters, such as Mitsumi, with their strengths and flaws on full display, resulting in a level of authenticity not often seen in anime. The animation is also a major factor in the show’s success, with Mitsumi’s expressive blank stares and carefully crafted mannerisms adding depth to the characters and further immersing viewers in the world of the show. The cherry blossom scene in Skip and Loafer beautifully captures the essence of the series, showcasing the pure joy and youthful exuberance of the two main characters. It’s a testament to the show’s ability to create visually stunning and emotionally resonant moments without relying on heavy drama or complicated plotlines. While it remains to be seen if future episodes will delve deeper into the characters’ struggles and conflicts, this episode proves that Skip and Loafer has the potential to be a truly special and memorable anime series.
Potential: 80%

My Home Hero

Short Synopsis: A father kills his daughter’s abusive boyfriend and now tries to get rid of the body.

Lenlo: The most lacking thing about My Home Hero is its production. In trying to stay grounded in its portrayal of crime, murder and domestic violence, it ends up looking restrained and bland. I don’t hate it, it doesn’t look bad. Just uninteresting and not particularly memorable. Luckily the story seems at least a bit interesting. At its core it’s vigilante justice against organized crime. But I like how it’s also set up as father vs father protecting/avenging their mutual families. None of the characters are particularly noteworthy just yet, but for a 1st episode I’d say I’m satisfied enough to keep going and see where it can go with this little personal war. Part of what will make it interesting for me though will be seeing how our soft salaryman lead evolves over the course of the story, rather than starting as a hardened ex-killer or something. If My Home Hero can nail that evolution, akin to say Breaking Bad, then it should be at least decent.
Potential: 40%

Mario: With My Home Hero, the main hook is definitely there, but I am concerned whether or not this production can make full use of the premise. For example, the visual is pretty bland with a muted and unattractive color palette and lacking in characters’ facial expression. But for me, my main gripe lies within its story, where the tonal shift is awkward and Reika’s boyfriend is too much of an asshole to be taken seriously. Take the scene where, upon seeing Reika’s bruised face, Tetsuo immediately senses that something was wrong (a great moment), but it then proceeds into him begging her to stay, which kills all the buildup from beforehand. In addition, to paint the yakuza’s boyfriend bad deeds, not only does he proudly confirm them in public, but the show has him repeat his intention every single goddamn time. A more subtle approach would benefit this better. My Home Hero is not without its strengths, however. We’re clearly rooting for the killers here, and the episode aptly gives more moral shading to the central murder – Tetsuo’s wife appears to be more convinced that Tetsuo did the right thing than the man himself. The episode so far achieves what it sets out to do – what Tetsuo and his family will do next – but they also need to give us more reasons to care about them.
Potential: 30%

Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru

Short Synopsis: A college girl attempts to strike up a friendship with a handsome gamer after her boyfriend breaks up with her.

Wooper: Sasuga Morio Asaka, Madhouse’s shoujo ace. Yamada-kun felt limited by its silly premise in manga form, but under Asaka’s guidance, this first episode successfully exploited that premise for comedy. Timing is one major factor here – take protagonist Akane’s tranquil pauses in between messages from an inattentive online guildmate, for example. The buoyant synth music and quiet sips of tea during her downtime make you wonder when this peaceful mood will be broken, so when she eventually snaps and tells the guildmate to get the hell out of her hunting ground, it ends up being exactly what you had hoped for. That guildmate ends up being the Yamada from the title, whose frosty vibe attracts Akane’s interest once they meet in real life. Her scheme to have him pose as her boyfriend, plus her strategy to get dolled up before attending an event where her ex is likely to appear, create a strong impression; Akane is somewhat shallow, yes, but she also puts a lot of effort into whatever she does, which should contrast nicely with Yamada’s laid back energy as the series goes on. The frequent shift between simpler and more detailed versions of the character designs works well, allowing the show to bounce between bemusement, sadness, annoyance, and any of the other emotions it needs to access. Its only major weakness is art direction, as Yamada-kun’s real and virtual worlds both look a bit flat – but seeing as it’s capable of keeping your attention on the characters from start to finish, that won’t stop it from being a watchable romcom.
Potential: 50%

Lenlo: I will admit, I was really surprised by how charming Yamada-kun was. It’s another one of those wish-fulfillment “Otaku meets hot girl randomly” stories, but there are small details about it I enjoy. Akane’s facial expressions are especially on point. Whether it be the sarcasm and vindictive attitude of “:3” or her complete and utter ignorance of “O.O”. I feel like Yamada-kun actually managed to translate some of those text expressions, and their meanings, well into the show. Yamada also being completely uninterested and actually pretty comfortable on his own was nice too, he isn’t some desperate incel looking for a sex object. Am I sold on Yamada-kun? Not yet, most anime romances are vapid and short-lived whirlwinds. But this one at least has enough potential and charm that I’m going to check it out for a few more episodes. Plus the characters might have gotten laid in the first episode, and I’m curious if Yamada-kun will actually commit to this being an adult relationship.
Potential: 40%

Alice Gear Aegis Expansion

Short Synopsis: A girl enrolls in a group to fight mechanical aliens, and with the help of all the other girls, she passes the test of becoming an Actress.

Mario: Here, at the bottom of the seasonal offerings, we have Alice Gear. It’s an adaptation of an action game where the girls – branded as “Actresses” – fight evil mechanical aliens to protect the Earth, but you get none of that in this first episode. Indeed, this episode is more akin to an idol show, where a girl decides to join the girls group to be near her crush. It serves as a perfect opportunity for the staff to draw her lewd reactions, nosebleed and all that jazz. If it sounds awful on paper, it’s even worse watching it happen on screen. The only novelty to this episode is that it came up with a method to test their “Actress ability” by blowing into a metal horn, just like the way you test your blood alcohol level.
Potential: it gave me a bad nosebleed.

Lenlo: I liked this show better in the few minutes I thought it was just Symphogear in space. And I hate Symphogear. I thought that at least then we could get some fun action and maybe some stupid space drama. Instead Alice Gear whatever the hell exists purely as a lewd reaction gif generation. Is this a bit unfair to the series? Yes. Alice Gear is nowhere near as bad as stuff like Onimai from last season, which made me feel like I should go to jail for just having watched it. The fact remains though, while it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever seen, it’s also not worth watching.
Potential: Ow

The Dangers in My Heart

Short Synopsis: A high school loner with violent fantasies becomes obsessed with the hottest girl in his class.

Lenlo: What is it with anime and weirdly fetishized middle/high school settings? Like whose idea was it to create a shitty rom-com about an edgy school shooter and a quirky idol? Because whoever it was, I want them fired. Is this the worst rom-com I’ve seen? No, of course not. I’m just getting so tired of these kinds of Incel & Idol shows is all. There’s never any real chemistry between the characters, nothing to actually make them feel like they belong together. It’s just fantasy wish fulfillment for Otakus physically incapable of talking to women without insulting them, trying to convince them that their perfect demure sex-object exists out there. Suffice to say, I’m not a fan, but I’m sure if you liked Nagatoro then this might be for you.
Potential: 5%

Wooper: Male lead characters in anime romcoms keep getting downgraded, huh? From the hapless teasing victims in series like Takagi-san and Uzaki-chan to the epic gamers who require crash courses in hygiene like the guy from Tomozaki-kun, we’ve gotten a lot of bottom tier dudes in recent times. Not wanting to rock the boat, The Dangers in My Heart has crafted what’s sure to be one of the most pitiful romcom protagonists of the year – a vertically-challenged wannabe high school slasher with massive bangs swooped over one eye. Just listening to this guy introduce himself as a “bloodthirsty beast” who wanted to gain possession of his crush’s body by killing her was enough to make me question my temporary return to anime blogging. But I kept watching, and the show settled into a pattern of him stalking the girl in question and narrating the experience with nonviolent language, which I suppose was an improvement(?). Spying on her through the gaps in a library bookshelf, hiding in a store where her photos are on sale in a fashion magazine, trailing behind her as another guy unsuccessfully tries to get her LINE info – these are the scenes that made up the remainder of Dangers’ first episode. Unfortunately, the bar for romcom leads is still a little higher than “stalks girl instead of brutally murdering her,” even in 2023, so there’s no room for this show in my heart.
Potential: 0%

Amun: I want to chime in from having previewed it – the anime adaptation did not solve any of the problems it needed to. While it gets less murdery, it’s unlikely to get less bad. I liked Nagatoro (well, the first season, I quit during the second), but this is a 0% from me.

My Clueless First Friend

Short Synopsis: Excitable transfer student misunderstands classroom bullying and tries to attain Shinigami powers from a very confused shy girl.

Lenlo: What are these designs? And that weird fade in the hair, as if every character had a bag of flour dumped on their head? And this eternal fade into a bright light on most of the backgrounds? Clueless Friend might be the ugliest thing I’ve had to watch so far. Just on those issues alone I have no desire to watch it. But add on to that a wholesome, but ultimately toothless, main plot where an introvert meets an extrovert that we’ve seen a thousand times before, and you just have a boring waste of space in the season.
Potential: 0%

Amun: Okay, let’s keep it real here – the art is really bad (I hate this new trend of weird gradients in the hair and clothes). However! I strongly disagree that we’ve seen this exact formula before: anyone who has been a part of an introvert-extrovert relationship of any kind will appreciate the dynamics going on here. Instead of the borderline bullying that occurs in other shows of comparable genres (Nagato-san, Kubo-san, etc), My Clueless First Friend is about an energetic outsider who doesn’t understand the history of the classroom and looks at things from his fresh perspective. It’s completely anti-bullying – not toe-ing the line for humor but turning what everyone else views as a negative into a positive. That’s what makes this show so refreshing and wholesome. I didn’t realize this was Studio Signpost, but I have great confidence in their making of wholesome stories (Letter Bee, Beelzebub, and Morose Mononokean). Now…it looks atrocious. But I’m onboard with the characters, so this will probably get at least half a season out of me!
Potential: 60%

The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far

Short Synopsis: Neet gets stabbed protecting a cute girl, Isekai’s into a fantasy world with magic as a Noble with multiple divine blessings. Isekai ensues.

Lenlo: Yes hello, I’d like one order of stereotypical trash Isekai with a side of shitty art-style please? Yes, I’m feeling fat today. Jokes aside, it took me 2 minutes to know exactly what this was and exactly how generic and forgettable it would be. Of course I still finished it, can’t be intellectually dishonest here. But there are probably better Isekai, definitely better adventures, and without question better productions this season. Don’t bother with this.
Potential: 0%

Amun: Oh look, the first isekai of the season! It’s so cute and full of potential…until you finish watching the first episode. Jokes aside, I’m still hunting for my isekai diamond in the rough for the season (last season’s was Handyman Saitou, which was wildly better than expected). At first glance…Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure isn’t it. But that doesn’t make it unpalatable – in fact, this was a nice power-fantasy, low-stakes, harem romp (looks like he’s accidentally snagged a king or something?). If you need some feel-good filler for the season, you could do worse than this. I’ll keep it on my watchlist till something else comes along.
Potential: 40%

Hell’s Paradise

Short Synopsis: Death row convict ninja is offered a chance at a full pardon if he finds the elixir of life with his hot would-be executioner.

Lenlo: For most of this first episode, Hell’s Paradise kind of disappointed me. Not narratively, that fits with what I expected. I liked how it spent an entire episode setting up Gabimaru’s personality, history, stakes in this conflict, as well as his relationship with Sagiri. All of that was fine, good time. No, what disappointed me was the production. For most of the episode it felt… lacking. There wasn’t that spark to it, something to set it apart, it felt passionless in a lot of ways and this was reflected in the rather drab color palette. But in the last maybe…1/3rd of the episode, Hell’s Paradise managed to bring it back. Its depiction of the island, of Gabimaru’s flames once he had his will to live back, of the flowers on the boat, all looked gorgeous. Maybe, just maybe, Hell’s Paradise is saving its production chops for the island, so that it truly feels set apart and otherworldly from the “real” mainland. At least that’s the hope I have as we head further into the season. If it can bring that production up a few steps, then I imagine I’ll have a good time with this.
Potential: 60%

Amun: Ah, this is actually really bad. I think with MAPPA’s recent success, we gloss over the less than stellar outings. Specifically, Hell’s Paradise feels a TON like the opening of Dororo, which…looked pretty good, but was a mess. I feel like the hype surrounding this show is an echo from Chainsaw Man’s success; I just have a bad feeling this show is the old MAPPA, not the new. Like Lenlo, I am very whelmed by the premiere – I think the characters are surprisingly uninteresting. Who knew, professional killers are kind of boring people – maybe it isn’t Gabimaru who is hollow, it’s Hell’s Paradise as a whole. Judging from previews and posters, this is an ensemble outing, so maybe some side characters help things along, but I don’t think I’ll last a season with these leads. It’s weird too, since I’m very partial to white haired heroes (Gabimaru is like an evil Bell), and Asaemon, on paper, is right in my strike zone. I guess maybe I’m not excited about the period piece that so far it looks to be – hopefully the island itself gets the series into the groove. As of right now, I’m very worried (plus there’s the infamous MAPPA back-half animation-quality crater).
Potential: Scared because I want this to be good (50%)

MIX SEASON 2

Short Synopsis: The key members of Meisei High consider new applicants and graduating middle school talents for a place on the school’s baseball team.

Wooper: Before booting up this premiere, I wondered whether Mix’s second season would feel significantly different from its 2019 incarnation, especially given the director change to first-timer Tomohiro Kamitani. Having seen the episode, the answer I’ve settled on is “only slightly,” which is a good thing, since I was fond of the series when it first aired. The presentation is largely the same, introducing characters with freeze frames and narration by Noriko Hidaka, who voiced Minami in Touch (Mix’s 40 year old prequel series). Poor background art and middling character animation are still the show’s greatest weaknesses, but it’s got the same strengths, as well: leisurely pacing that prioritizes fun dialogue between a wide range of established characters. The only new face in this whole episode was that of baseball team hopeful Nishiki, whose zombie-like appearance may be the result of mangaka Mitsuru Adachi trying to draw a new face for once in his career. Despite all the talk surrounding Nishiki’s violent past and shady friend group, I’m not too interested in him, or in any single character. Rather, it’s Mix’s overall blend of high school and graduating middle school students that appeals to me, laying the foundation for what ought to be a serious Koshien run in a couple years.
Potential: 60%

Mario: This first episode does a great job to remind us where the first season stopped (it has been a few years), and reintroduce the main cast with proper introduction cards to boost. But as usual with any of Adachi’s works, it’s less about baseball and more about the characters’ interaction, and so far its gentle atmosphere is a total delight. It looks like we will have a new addition to the team: the violent Nishiki. However, if you are familiar with Adachi’s brand, the “delinquent hit his senpais and got suspended” is a familiar trope, one I really hope Adachi doesn’t tread that same path this time. It’s great to have you back, Mix.
Potential: 40%

Tengoku Daimakyou

Short Synopsis: Fifteen years after an apocalyptic event, a pair of travelers search for an orphanage they know only by the name “Heaven.”

Lenlo: Tengoku is in a really weird place for me. The world is interesting, this Promised Neverland style setup where we get to see both sides of the wall/conflict is kinda cool, and the lead girl is pretty damn hot with those scars. But something about the pacing is just… I felt like this 20 minute episode took a god damn hour. I was constantly checking the time because it felt like it should be over. I don’t know why that is. By the end I was intrigued, there’s lots of cool stuff going on. It’s just that the presentation of it all feels… dull? I’m really not sure how to word it, but something about the show is failing to engage me. I’ve been told it is a blazing fast adaptation, that it isn’t a pacing issue. But I just can’t shake the feeling of something being off. Maybe it will change as I watch more, which I definitely want to do.
Potential: 50%

Wooper: Tengoku Daimakyou, or “Heavenly Delusion,” has met the majority of my high expectations after one episode. The art direction is uncommonly good, with climbing vines, rusted fences, and crumbling walls among the piles of evidence that Japan has been through a massive calamity in recent times. The script supports this idea by treating batteries as currency and focusing on resource conservation, along with supplying a loose timeframe of “the Collapse,” which seemingly predates the birth of the series’ two protagonists. Their exploration of this desolate Japan features a lot of proficient animation, as well – from major showcases like Maru’s martial arts expertise to small stuff like Kiru craning her neck to call for her partner, the level of motion on display in Tengoku Daimakyou is a cut above what you’d expect from an average TV anime. But all of these examples come from the show’s primary plot, which is set in the ruinous outside world; everything that happens within its idyllic orphanage (where Kiru and Maru are headed) has neither the intrigue nor visual appeal of what lies beyond its walls. Perhaps its role in the story will heat up if and when the kids start looking for an escape route, rather than just harboring suspicions or hearing directly from adults about the hellish conditions outside the orphanage. Until then, there are enough mysteries surrounding Tengoku’s primary duo to keep me coming back for more.
Potential: 70%

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War

Short Synopsis: To protect her hometown from the Erebonian Empire and to distinguish herself from her grandfather’s disloyalty, Lavie enlists in the Northern Jaegers where she’ll do whatever it takes to carry out the mission. Now this rule breaker must form a platoon to embark on a dangerous recon mission into enemy lines—will her mission be a success?

Lenlo: I was really hoping for a bit more… pizzaz from Trails of Cold Steel. After hearing about the videogame from some friends who wouldn’t shut up about it for years, I thought that it would surely be something decent. Right? But like Mario says, it’s about as generic as you would think. Info Dumps and mediocre monsters, lackluster production, there’s just nothing here to really love. So excuse me here at the end of this preview spree if I don’t write anything more then “Don’t”.
Potential: Don’t

Mario: We are at the tail end of this Seasonal Preview. Legend of Heroes is just as generic as its title. It spends all the focus on the settings, but forgets to add characters worth remembering or tell a story worth following at all. The cast includes a female soldier, and two lackeys who spill the information of the world blatantly – even at one point they remark “a kid should know this story”, and then proceeds to infodump us. There’s a hint of an upcoming uprising, but I don’t hold my breath here. The show offers me nothing to care about.
Potential: 0%

Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire

Short Synopsis: Old hero gets reincarnated as a girl, then promptly defeats a giant monster while still in nappies.

Lenlo: Old man reincarnated as a hot girl with all the powers you can ask for. Sure. Maybe if it was playing the whole thing off as a joke rather then having a shot in the OP that explicitly focuses on the female casts tits, telling us exactly what this show is about, it could be fun. But really it’s just the lowest common denominator shlock. Seriously, don’t introduce them as babies and then sexualize them in the OP right away. It feels way to much like grooming.
Potential: 0%

Amun: “I may be a baby, but the power isn’t so bad.” That is no bamboozle, the actual line from the show. There’s an overpowered infant who becomes an overpowered (and slightly bratty) girl. Throw in a duel and a fight with a large monster thing and some cousin love…all while an old man masquerades as his “ideal cute granddaughter” (their words, not mine). I’ll give a few merits for having a slightly unique arrangement of the common isekai components – but that’s really not enough to make a show worth watching. (I must say, “I may be a baby…” was a pretty funny line though, I appreciate that).
Potential: 0%

Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible

Short Synopsis: This schoolboy is so invisible that it’s a sport to spot him (brings you good luck). Fortunately, the girl who sits next to him can find him every time.

Amun: Socially adept girl teases awkward guy – I’ve definitely seen this before…this season even (Nagatoro 2). That’s what I thought going in, but I was pleasantly surprised by Kubo. For starters, it’s not mean. I think the teasing shows can really toe the line between cute and bullying – Kubo is just wholesome. Now, you might get cavities but at least you’re not cringing – I’ll take that trade. Character designs are a little meh, and the animation is passable at best. Personality, not looks for this one. Will it get boring halfway? Probably, but I’m willing to give it a few more. It’s just so heartwarming ^_^

Potential: 61%

Lenlo: What we have here is a “Reverse Komi-san”. Instead of a socially inept girl with an outgoing male love interest, its a socially inept boy with an outgoing female love interest. While this one has a much more active female lead, I can’t help but see it as wish fulfillment for the anime watching quiet weeb crowd and their desire for a cute girl to take an interest in them despite a complete lack of effort in any way on their part. Now Amun is right in that, unlike Nagataro, it’s nor mean about it. There’s no bullying or anything, which is a plus. It’s definitely a much more wholesome choice. But I still can’t say I’m all that interested in another wish-fulfillment romance. Watching this episode felt like it took an hour. After just 5 minutes I was checking my clock wondering how long I had been here. Suffice to say, it’s really not my speed. I can see the quality to it, it seems like a well made wholesome romance. But like Komi-San, it doesn’t feel like a show where anything actually… happens?
Potential: 10%

 

Continue reading “Winter 2023 Impressions: Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible, UniteUp!, Saving 80,000 Gold, Campfire Cooking in Another World” →

The Fire Hunter

Short Synopsis: In a dystopia where people can burn at the slightest touch of fire, a young girl sets out to the capital to return a Fire Hunter’s dog and weapon.

Mario: I sort of see the criticism for The Fire Hunter’s filter that makes it deliberately looks hand-painted and old-schooled than it actually is, but the strength of the rest of the episode is just a step above other Winter season shows. The Fire Hunter places strong emphasis on worldbuilding – to the point sometimes it does overwhelm the characters, but because of that the setting and its customs are well-realized and believable. The central set-up: about the “mythic” fire and how it affects humanity in a profound way can open up to many interesting developments in the future. And for me the production is top-notch. Certainly the cream of the crop here.
Potential: 75%

Lenlo: And so Fire Hunter rises to be my 2nd favorite premier of the season. There’s something beautiful about this world and its characters, their soft spokenness and how light is made to stand out with how dangerous it is. Not much really happened in this first episode, as we spend it largely learning about the world and its inhabitants, but it was presented so effectively that I can’t help but be drawn into it. These expectations could be betrayed, sure. But for now at least, Fire Hunter has excited me.
Potential: 80%

Vinland Saga Season 2

Short Synopsis: Season 2 of Vinland Saga

Lenlo: FARMLAND HYYYYYPE. I’m ready. I’ll admit, it starts very slowly. In fact the majority of the season is going to be slow. If you’re here for viking action, you aren’t going to get a lot of it. If you hadn’t already guessed, this entire season is focused on picking up the pieces after a conflict, and the obvious “War is bad”. What with the whole thing set on a farm, that means there won’t be much action and more of a lot of inner reflection. There’s some! It’s near the end, but it exists. But it won’t be the focus. That said if you’re looking for a deeply emotional character piece about broken people, Vinland Saga S2 is probably going to be the best thing this season. Plus, it actually looks pretty good too. I was concerned a bit after the studio switch, but so far it looks great. Very picturesque.
Potential: 90%

Mario: Well, the change in the studio doesn’t seem to affect the production one bit. It is brave to feature a narrative away from Thorfinn, but having Thorfinn emerging at the end is nothing short of rewarding. In Einar’s story, the show still touches on its usual theme of slavery, revenge, brutality and man’s path choice that even though it has a brand new narrative, the feel is pretty much Vinland Saga-esque. A man who tripped off of his own homeland, of the family he loves, of his own status… there’s certainly a parallel between him and Thorfinn. And the fact that it was the Viking (Thorfinn’s gang) that killed his family will open up more juicy conflicts. I’m certainly keen on its central moral ambiguity: is thriving to survive at all cost, even at the pain of losing everything, worth it?
Potential: 70%

Kaina of the Great Snow Sea

Short Synopsis: A young boy and a princess explore a strange world where a translucent canopy hangs between the branches of grand trees and a sea of snow between their roots.

Lenlo: Kaina has the unlucky predicament of competing with 2 major shows in my mind. The first is Trigun Stampede, the premier CGI show of the season. When put side by side, it’s pretty clear that Kaina simply isn’t as polished. While its backgrounds are stunning and beautiful, the CGI characters are stiff and lack detail, suffering from the kind of stilted animation and acting most CGI anime do. Simply put, I don’t expect Kaina to “wow”, or to even be “good”, in the animation department. For the second, that’s Made in Abyss, where it has to compete in regards to its setting and world design. Here, I actually think Kaina has a shot. The Yggdrasil-like trees with their translucent webbings, people living inside its branches eating large bugs as the world dies around them, the great Snow Sea slowly building higher and higher as none of the snow melts off. It’s beautiful, in a dangerous, fantastical sort of way. As for the story? I’m… curious. More entranced by the world then the “Save my country” plot, but that’s at least enough to get me to watch a few more. Hopefully Kaina is able to come up with a story as engaging as it’s world, because I want to bask in these backgrounds for as long as possible.
Potential: 60%

Mario: I’m always curious about Polygon Pictures studio. It’s a second-tier CG anime studio that was behind Ajin (which I dropped due to the visual) and Kuutei Dragon (which I love). At this point, I consider them having their own brand. It doesn’t look well-polished but you can tell from miles from looking at the arts that this is their stuff. And it brings me to Kaina. The show’s visuals actually look great for their standard, with many striking images: like the one where the titular character walks on the ice/ snow surface. You can credit it for the well-realized background arts and the world-buildings, which for me remains the best asset of the show so far. Moreover, the duo narrative works out in this episode as we see a large contrast in the two worlds, both in how they look and the politics behind it. The premise is strong so far, now we have Kaina the character explores the world underneath and helps the Princess in the process. It might not be the hit shows but if you look for more under-the-radar stuff, Kaina is a great alternative.
Potential: 50%

Chillin’ in My 30s after Getting Fired from the Demon King’s Army

Short Synopsis: Guy gets fired from being a demon, finds out he’s interested in human personality.

Lenlo: Look I have a lot of impressions to do and only so much time, so I’m going to cut this short: Demon King 30, or whatever abbreviation we wanna use, is dull. It’s not trash, because trash necessitates that I have an opinion on it and care enough to hate it. It’s not good, because being good requires it to actually do something and be watchable. It doesn’t and it’s not. All it is is a dull waste of time where nothing interesting happens and none of the characters are engaging at all. I was hoping that by having an actual adult character we could maybe get some adult problems. But sadly that’s not the case. As such, I have no more interest in this.
Potential: 1%

Amun: Honestly, in any other season, this is a watchable (albeit forgettable) title. There’s just so many shows of equal ilk this season, that it’ll probably be lost in the shuffle. On paper, it’s not a terrible premise: confused human thinks he’s a demon and ends up accidentally being strong as a result. There’s some intrigue and skullduggery going on behind the scenes too…unfortunately, it’s mostly lost due to our damsel in distress’ personalitittys (oops, is that a typo?). Oddly enough, I think the visuals past mustard, but it’s pretty much everything else that lacks (well, except cup size, I guess). I’ll quit making snide remarks and say it straight: if you can’t find anything else to watch in the FIFTY other shows that are airing, I guess you could do worse than Chillin in My 30s. But seriously, you can find something else.
Potential: 20%

The tale of outcasts

Short Synopsis: A girl who is abused by a Priest makes friends with a Devil.

Mario: Well, I certainly don’t mind its main concept. The show is about the pact between two mismatched individuals: a girl who lives in a world that is cruel to her, and the powerful demon who has lost his purpose in life. It creates an interesting dynamic for sure, but sadly the rest of the show is either bland or outright bad. You can easily tell apart bad guys at first glance. They go all the way with their evilness and punishments just for the sake of highlighting the girl’s bleak situation. That is oh no… not good writing at all. There’s even a leap in logic here and there. Suppose that the silver-haired guy is the main girl’s estranged brother, does he not recognize the Priest who sold him off, and vice versa? Moreover, the execution is sometimes clunky at best and laughable at worst. I have an example but I don’t have a heart to point it out so I spare you on that. It isn’t worth recommending.
Potential: 10%

Lenlo: The only good thing I can say is that at least it’s not an Isekai. Instead it’s an alternative history star crossed love story with a loli and a furry. It just feels so… bland. Like a made for committee sort of thing. Yes this is short, no I won’t elaborate, I have too many premiers to watch to waste time explaining to you why you don’t want to watch this.
Potential: 0%

The Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist in Another World

Short Synopsis: Super strong exorcist is politically outmaneuvered so he has to reincarnate himself and pretend to be weak (for like half an episode)

Lenlo:This is literally just Iceblade Sorcerer but with Exorcist in the title instead. It has a magic academy, an OP adult being reincarnated into a kid, generic designs and generally boring… everything. It can’t even keep its MC motivation straight as it starts with them not wanting to be strong on principle, only to end up pursuing it and becoming OP anyways. At least stick to the one marginally interesting decision you have.
Potential: 0%

Amun: I’m pretty sure I already watched this? I’m getting confused. Is this the demon king, the ice fellow, one of the 15 onmoyojis, or the farmers (there’s like 2 of those even)? Oh yeah, the handyman too (he’s good) – and the convenience store guy? At least it’s not the dog. I miss the season where everything was about slimes (although the movie’s coming out, which I’m hyped for). This is quite bland and I’ve now forgotten what it was about.
Potential: 0%

Kyokou Suiri 2

Short Synopsis: Two youkai specialists talk and exorcize an evil spirit.

Mario: It’s fun to check back on Kotoko and Kuro and just listen to whatever nonsense Kotoko spouts. This first episode of the second season (or episode 13 of the whole franchise) is a self-contained story that perfectly captures all the good and bad qualities of Kyokou Suiri. The good: Kotoko still demands your attention. The bad: The show seemingly drags out with too much talking. Most of the time, Kotoko’s charms and the story’s twists make the whole journey worth it, but I always have this feeling that a good chunk of dialogues can be easily cut out without any significant loss. As a whole, the episode works out well. It does a great job of reintroducing our main characters and their powers. The enemy is well thought out and the way they execute it is up to my valley. But at the same time, Kuro is still not that interesting and the episode feels like 20 minutes longer than it actually is.There is a nice surprise though: I wouldn’t expect Wooper to make a literal appearance in anime (bravo!). It only proves that, with enough will, you can find your own place in the anime world!
Potential: 40%

Amun: I forgot how much talking there is in this show. My goodness gracious, did no one tell them this was ANIMATED? Show, NOT tell! The fanciful stories and duplicitous explanations are a blessing and a curse, as Mario says. It’s the heart of Kyokou Suiri, but you would think for an invincible guy who can change the future, there would be more action. However, it is a yokai tale, and a pretty good one at that, so I’m still here for it. With DanMachi also airing this season, I don’t think I’ll be covering it (there are many other better candidates this season anyways), but I’ll probably watch it for a bit. Just a little more effort into the visuals please.
Potential: 50%

HIGH CARD

Short Synopsis: Super powered playing cards give people incredible abilities and they must battle to collect them all

Lenlo: High Card is… not what I was expecting, nor hoping it would be. With a name like this I was looking for some kind of high stakes gambling show, something around luck and a lead with a heart of gold. Instead what I got is a gambling themed super power combat show. That isn’t too bad, the powers seem flashy so far and since it’s based on a full deck that means there are 52 of them out there. High Card also has a bit of style to it, though I think it’s a bit too ambitious for its own good. Even in this first episode a lot of its higher concept scenes felt rough, and that tends to only get worse as a season progresses. Still, it did enough to get me to watch another episode or two. See how it pans out and evolves the concept, or if it stays as a pretty standard weekly power show.
Potential: 40%

Mario: For me, the most fun aspect High Card offers me so far is how it goes full wild mode with the supernatural cards. And for now, it’s too random the power the cards generate that it’s actually quite fun to see. Is 2 of Spades more powerful than… say 10 of Hearts? I don’t know. I don’t care. The way the show sets up thus far is far less original. Our main lead has a clear motivation for gambling and stealing money, but other than that there’s nothing much going for him. The same can be said for the rest of the cast. I suppose you will get the most out of High Card if you don’t think about it too deeply and just enjoy whatever insane superpower they cook up. Personally I think they missed their chance of making the original cards (why stick with this French-suited cards?) but that’s just me.
Potential: 40%

Ippon! again

Short Synopsis: Cute Girls do Judo

Lenlo: Ippon was a lot better than I expected. I was prepared for this to be another surface level Cute Girls Doing Cute Things sports show where they really don’t care about the sport on any meaningful level. But it turns out that Ippon is really more of a traditional sports show with a primarily female cast than it is a CGDCT show. And while I’m not huge on the character designs, the show has got some really respectable animation behind it. Some great Judo techniques, camera movements, etc etc. All in all, I expected absolutely nothing here and what I got was another show I’m actually going to watch. Good deal if you ask me.
Potential: 70%

Mario: It’s funny. At first glance Ippon Again doesn’t have much appeal to me personally, I know very little about judo, and the character designs don’t really interest me, but it’s such a joy to watch. Like Lenlo mentions above, the show is much more about traditional sports than a CGDCT fare. While they do follow some formula’s staples (a club needs 3 members blah blah), it’s about the judo, the girls and the joy of doing judo. First, Ippon Again’s Judo matches are clear standouts in terms of animation and framing. It looks like the staff pour their souls to animate these sequences. Second, the girls act so naturally with each other and the dialogues are actually believable. And finally, yes the joy of doing the sports, of what motivated you to play those sports for the first time. It certainly reminds me of why I love my sport (tennis) in the first place.
Potential: 50%