Category: Review Index

Twelve Kingdoms Anime Review – 89/100 – Throwback Thursday

by Lenlo, posted in Anime Reviews, Finished Series: Adventure/Fantasy/Science Fiction, Reviews by Lenlo, Throwback Thursday, Twelve Kingdoms

In this day and age it is nigh-impossible to find a season of anime without an Isekai. From Konosuba and Slime Isekai to Sword Art Online and Re:Zero, they have invaded the medium. But the genre existed long before these more modern takes. .Hack//Sign did videogames almost a decade before SAO released its first light novel. Meanwhile Inuyasha did the same for fantasy worlds. Predating all of these though we have what can only be called an Epic in scale. Produced by Studio Pierrot during their golden years and directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi, I give you Twelve Kingdoms. Spanning 45 episodes, Twelve Kingdoms adapts the first 3 of 9 novels written by Fuyumi Ono. Novels which are still releasing to this day and that I would relate to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time in scale and influence.

If that doesn’t excite you, doesn’t make you want to hear more about this incredible series, then be gone I say! But if your interest is piqued and you want to hear about this fantastical world and Nakajima Youko’s role in it? Then read on, and lets dive right into it!

(Disclaimer: I am working to make 50 the new “average”. 70 is not an average score people. 70 is above average. Carry on.) Continue reading “Twelve Kingdoms Anime Review – 89/100 – Throwback Thursday” →

DanMachi 3 Review – 88/100

by Amunchet, posted in Anime Reviews, DanMachi 3, Finished Series: Adventure/Fantasy/Science Fiction, Reviews by Amunchet

Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in the Dungeon?  You thrilled with season 1, kept the hype going with the spinoff, did okay with the movie, and derailed in season 2.  But now – the faithful have been rewarded with this phoenix of a 3rd season.  From a meme to a dream, DanMachi 3 provided a great story, surprisingly thought provoking problems, an excellent cast, and – astonishingly – above average animation.  Let’s take a look at where DanMachi scored and the few places it fell short.

A word on my grading criteria.  For me, each show has 50 points to earn and 50 points to lose. Points are earned by going above and beyond the norm – showing me something I hadn’t seen or making me feel something unexpected.  Something that makes me applaud.  Points are lost when I feel a component of the show was below average or less than acceptable in terms of animation, storyline, etc.  Something that takes away from the show as a whole.

Let’s take a look!

Continue reading “DanMachi 3 Review – 88/100” →

Akudama Drive Review – 75/100

by SuperWooper, posted in Akudama Drive, Anime Reviews, Finished Series: Action, Reviews by SuperWooper

On the surface, Akudama Drive is far from my cup of tea. It’s a spectacle-first production that operates on the fringes of sanity, working with characters so thin that their names and occupations are one and the same. There was fun to be had in its early episodes (particularly the never-ending parade of carnage that was the premiere), but its adherence to heist and escort mission templates made it feel safer than such an otherwise-daring series should have felt.

That all changed in the series’ sixth week, which doubled as one of the year’s best action showcases and a statement on the futility of violence. From that point on, the show raised the stakes with each episode, quickly fraying the fabric of its dystopian setting and treating its characters’ decisions as major milestones. Akudama Drive was headed somewhere important – a belief that was justified by a finale that managed to be both catastrophic and hopeful. There were bumps in the road along the way, and we’ll talk about those, but overall the series gets a definite recommendation from me.

Continue reading “Akudama Drive Review – 75/100” →

I watched Black Clover so you don’t have to: The 151 Episode Shonen Check In

by Lenlo, posted in Black Clover, Currently Watching:, Finished Series: Action, Reviews by Lenlo, Special Articles

Bleach. Naruto. One Piece. The Big Three, a legendary trio of Shonen anime/manga that dominated the community for over a decade. Properties so successful that they continue to inspire creators to this day. However all things must one day end and only One Piece remains in its original form. The mangaka Eiichirou Oda is still chugging along to this day. As Bleach ran its course, My Hero Academia rose to fill its shoes. And as Naruto: Shippuden wrapped up in 2017, the manga ending 3 years prior, the question became: What would take its place? Running for over 150 episodes straight, there is one series that has clearly made a play for that position. But does it succeed? This is the story of Black Clover, its first 151 episodes and the troubled production found within. Is it worth it? Should you give it a shot? Let’s find out together.

Welcome to the first, and possibly only, edition of Shonen Check-In. How’s that for a pretentious start eh? Had to get people hooked in early. Don’t worry, this isn’t that kind of post. The long and short of it is that, for various reasons, I decided to catch up on the first 151 episodes of Black Clover. Like many I dropped it early back in 2017, in the first cour in fact, maybe even the first episode. Between Asta’s screaming, the questionable production and the almost… blatantly generic plot, I had 0 interest in another new Shonen. But over these last 3 years Black Clover has somehow survived and the fan base has only grown. They sing its praises, they keep saying “It gets good, it gets good!” Well I am here to check that assertion. I watched Black Clover so you don’t have to. But maybe… maybe you should.

(Disclaimer: This is not a review, there is no number score, I just wanted to talk about Black Clover damnit.)

Continue reading “I watched Black Clover so you don’t have to: The 151 Episode Shonen Check In” →

Great Pretender Anime Review – 78/100

by SuperWooper, posted in Anime Reviews, Finished Series: Mystery/Suspense, Great Pretender, Reviews by SuperWooper

From an aesthetic point of view, Great Pretender is my favorite TV anime of 2020. I’ve spoken plenty about art director Yuusuke Takeda in previous posts, but since this is the last time I’ll be writing about this show for the blog, allow me to recap: he’s one of the best and most prolific visual designers in the industry today, and Great Pretender is one of his most striking works. His brash juxtaposition of color was a great fit for such a sharp, fast-moving series – as were the angular designs of legendary character artist Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. Tasked with creating an entirely adult cast, he opted to give them prominent noses and messy hairdos, incorporating plenty of detail while still allowing the animation team room to breathe. They did their nimblest and most acrobatic work in the show’s first arc, but even as Great Pretender settled in for the long haul, it maintained a sense of liveliness sufficient to absorb you in its story.

So why the caveat that it’s my favorite only in aesthetic terms? What disqualifies it from being the runaway AOTY that I initially hoped it would be? And on the flip side, what does Great Pretender do right that most other series wouldn’t dare to attempt? Read on for one man’s thoughts on one of the year’s most original anime.

Continue reading “Great Pretender Anime Review – 78/100” →

The God of High School – 12-13 + Final Thoughts

by SuperWooper, posted in Finished Series: Action, Reviews by SuperWooper, The God of High School

I know it’s only been three months since The God of High School premiered, but given the density of the show’s second half, it feels like it’s been airing since April. I’m glad it’s over, if for no other reason than not having to blog it anymore. There are only so many ways to praise its visuals while criticizing [everything else] without falling into a repetitive rut. I won’t be writing a standalone final review for GOH, as that would be just another drop in the echo chamber of the series’ negative reception. Instead, I’ll attach some concluding thoughts about the show to the bottom of this post. Skip to the end for the wrap-up, or read the whole thing to relive the insanity of episodes 12 and 13 – the choice is yours.

Continue reading “The God of High School – 12-13 + Final Thoughts” →

Fugou Keiji Anime Review – 72/100

by Lenlo, posted in Anime Reviews, Finished Series: Mystery/Suspense, Fugou Keiji: Balance: UNLIMITED, Reviews by Lenlo

Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. There are a number of rather famous characters that fit this description, from Bruce Wayne to Tony Stark. And it was only a matter of time before anime came back with one of its own in Daisuke Kambe, of Fugou Keiji: Balance: UNLIMITED. Adapted by Studio Cloverworks from a novel series of the same name, originally written by Yasutaka Tsutsui and directed by Tomohiko Itou of Silver Spoon and ERASED fame, Fugou Keiji is a lot of things. It is both a comedy and a mystery. A tale of murder and revenge, of heroics and villainy, and perhaps most importantly: of family. And while there is no shortage of missteps along the way I can say one thing with certainty: Fugou Keiji is a fun show oozing in style and I cannot wait to talk about it with you. So lets jump right in!

(Disclaimer: I am working to make 50 the new “average”. 70 is not an average score people. 70 is above average. Carry on.) Continue reading “Fugou Keiji Anime Review – 72/100” →

Gunslinger Girl Anime Review – 57/100 – Throwback Thursday

by Lenlo, posted in Anime Reviews, Finished Series: Mystery/Suspense, Gunslinger Girl, Reviews by Lenlo, Throwback Thursday

I really wanted to like Gunslinger Girl. Made by MADHOUSE, Directed by Morio Asaka of Chihayafuru and Card Captor Sakura: Clear Card fame, Gunslinger Girl has a simple but compelling premise: child soldiers. Little girls trained and conditioned to become assassins for the Italian government, forced to do their nations dirty work. Whether that be protection, espionage or outright murder, Gunslinger Girl takes something reprehensible and shoves it right into your face so you can’t ignore. And then it dives into how the girls themselves feel about their position, whether or not its so different from things we do right here in the real world. So with such a premise, and such a strong production team, what’s not to like? Well strap in my friend, because I have a few thousand words prepared just for you. And be warned, this review will contain minor spoilers for Gunslinger Girl.

(Disclaimer: I am working to make 50 the new “average”. 70 is not an average score people. 70 is above average. Carry on.) Continue reading “Gunslinger Girl Anime Review – 57/100 – Throwback Thursday” →

[Manga Musings on Mondays] Our Wonderful Days – Review

by Armitage, posted in Manga Musings on Mondays, Reviews by Armitage

Created by: Kei Hamuro

Chapters: 19

 

That’s right, people! Your eyes are not deceiving you. Manga Musings is BACK!

Um… kinda.

Like most people all over the world, I too have been feeling a general sense of demotivation and have been procrastinating endlessly for the past few months (Well, the procrastination was always there, the lack of motivation is new). I had been going through a terrible anime/manga slump and thus, for a long long time, I was on the lookout for a manga to rekindle my love for the medium.

After months of fruitless toil, I finally chanced upon this lovely little story of four high school girls just hanging out and being nice to each other! Continue reading “[Manga Musings on Mondays] Our Wonderful Days – Review” →

Japan Sinks 2020 Anime Review – 22/100

by Lenlo, posted in Anime Reviews, Finished Series: Mystery/Suspense, Japan Sinks 2020, Reviews by Lenlo

Masaaki Yuasa is, without a doubt, my favorite director in anime. His 2014 adaptation of Ping Pong the Animation is my favorite anime of all time, while Tatami Galaxy sits at a close 2nd. Among his more recent works, Devilman Crybaby was imperfect but ultimately a visual treat, while Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken is my current anime of the year. The man has a visual style unlike any other, and the works he adapts often resonate with something deeply personal, to put it simply, utterly human. So when I heard he was working on another series, also to be released this year, I was ecstatic. That it was based off of a famed novel from the 70’s and would be his last work as President of Science Saru only fueled this fire. I was expecting something incredible, a rival for Eizouken! Sadly, Japan Sinks was nothing of the sort.

Simply put, Japan Sinks was a complete and utter failure, the likes of which I was not prepared for. There are themes to be found, and moments of Masaaki Yuasa’s usual brilliance to be found. But they are few and far between. The tone is jarring and throughout the whole thing I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be laughing, crying or just shocked. Japan Sinks is, in a word or two, jarringly inconsistent, questionably paced and poorly timed in regards to current world events. With all of that said, the ending score should come as now surprise, it was an utter failure. But the question remains as to why, why did it fail, why does it not work? So without further ado, let’s talk details, and strap in because this is going to get wordy. Also fair warning this review will contain spoilers for Japan Sinks.

(Disclaimer: I am working to make 50 the new “average”. 70 is not an average score people. 70 is above average. Also apologies for how long this took, motivation was low with this piece.) Continue reading “Japan Sinks 2020 Anime Review – 22/100” →