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Oct 23, 2019
Harem comedies are very common in the anime universe. Some are too boring to be watched, and almost all follow the same paradigm and setting: a guy and a group of girls creating a triangle, polygon, or any weird romance configuration. I thought the same when I started reading the novel, and you will feel the same when you watch the first episode. However, Ore wo Suki nano wa Omae dake ka yo is not the casual harem or romantic comedy. It was a surprise for me and it will be a surprise for any fan that loves this kind of genre or wants to
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start with it. Furthermore, I am sure you will watch it for Pansy, and I don't blame you. In my case, I am like her in several aspects, and I feel very related to her; so far, she is the best seasonal character.
The story is hilarious and is very different from the casual harem because the girls did not declare their love to Kisaragi, they declared that they loved his best friend and asked for help. During all that mess, he finds that a girl, the librarian, Sumireko loves him. However, he considers that Sumeriko (aka Pansy) is ugly, mad, and weird, so he tries to avoid her.
The most exciting part of this show is the story twists, how Kisaragi reacts to those situations, and how Pansy deals with everything. Furthermore, the story has good pacing and a good outcome. The changes and the character's development will keep us entertained, and they will be fun to watch in some aspects. For example, Kisaragi has a double personality, he tries to be the good one, but in the end, he is a sick liar with a repulsive personality and Pansy, the weird girl. From several angles, she could be a cold, evil, mentally unhealthy, calculator, but she hides several aspects of her personality and her looking. I consider Pansy adorable in several ways, but maybe I am biased because I feel very related to her, and because I know what is going to happen after. Finally, both complement each other and that is a plus.
On the other hand, one of the aspects that concern most of the fans is that the show could turn into the typical harem. I want to say, they are following the novel, and in some parts, the story feels in that way. However, I do not think that would be a reason to drop the series. Also, not all the source material will be adapted because it has twelve volumes and it stills publishing.
The art and sound are acceptable. After watching four episodes, I can say that the story has a lovely palette and a great direction from frame to frame. I know there are some ugly frames but understand, it is a comedy, the important here is the pacing, camera angles, and the frame movement and it is acceptable. The OP and ED are good, and the lyrics reflect part of the story. I like the OP more because it has a better rhythm.
Finally, I am enjoying the anime so far. No idea if I will keep the same score, but the first episodes are delightful and too funny that keep me entertained. I am sure you will feel in the same way. You should give a try to this series.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Sep 27, 2019
When I was beginning to watch Granbelm, I thought another generic series with an average plot and awful characters. Well, this is the time to retract and eat my own words. Granbelm is a good show, underestimated and hated by anime enthusiasts for no reason; One cause cannot be that the director of Granbelm is the same as Re: Zero. Besides, a score below 7.0 is not valid for a series that has some substance, emotion, an acceptable story, and some charming characters.
From my perspective, Granbelm's story is the strongest point in the series. The plot configures two worlds where all the characters interact. These
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two environments, a real-world, a combat scenario, are directly affected by magic and are the premise of several details that will appear as the story progresses. The idea of the combat scenario is to create a world where the main characters or the selected magicians can use magic robots called "Armanox," and they fight for all the magical power that disappeared from the world (Magiaconatus). The last standing magician will become the "Princeps Mage" and will be worth to use the Magiaconatus. Yes, I know what you're thinking, what the he ..., that sounds messy, the story can be confusing at first, but it is entertaining. I can not explain more because it could spoil the plot with small details. Following that order of ideas, the main characters are the mages who will fight each other. I find it very interesting how the authors fused the two worlds with the help of the characters. They compete in the magical world, and they can be friends, enemies, in the real world, and they do not know what could happen after each fight.
The characters are the magicians. Unfortunately, one of the things that could have scared many viewers is that the entire cast is feminine, so a large group will think it could be a junk story, a fan service story, cute girls doing cute things, but none of that fits this show.
There are two main characters, Mangetsu and Shingetsu. The rest of the cast is secondary because they stimulate Mangetsu and Shingetsu’s traits.
Mangetsu or the girl who has nothing. She appears in the magical world without any magical knowledge and is found worthy of using an Armanox. As the story progresses, its complexity and behavior run brilliantly.
Shingetsu "the white." However, her Armanox is black, but she is wiser than Gandalf. I wanted to give a little magic reference lol. She is one of the strongest magicians. She fights following her ideals and wants to become Princeps for a personal reason. She needs Mangetsu to become a good character. Sometimes her decisions are painful, and she fulfills her role fantastically.
Suisho or the girl who will die soon, I thought that. A complex character with a lot of background. You must pay attention to all her information because it is the most complex character in the series.
Nene or the magical genius with an exciting story. She is the most resourceful character, and her background is a need for the story progression
Anna or cry and angry girl. She considers herself very special and powerful. Maybe it is, or perhaps it's just another aspiring magician. However, she fulfills Shingetsu emotions and boosts her traits and background.
Shisui or she will fight for her. She fights for a relative, and she is a need to show the real face of a certain mage.
Rosa or the girl who steals some time in front of the screen. She fights ... without further details.
All characters contribute to the story in some way. The most important part, they give and add details to the story, and their features are totally different. Furthermore, their background is diverse, so their actions and development vary, which gives the story a refresh of the casual generic characters that appeared in the season * cough tra *.
Art and animation are good. The fights are not ugly; the effects are acceptable, followed by good movement and a proper configuration that varies from one mage to another. Also, the powers and Armanox are subtle. The real world has beautiful and vivid colors, and the magical world changes according to the scenario.
The sound is excellent and the VO is acceptable. I think the most influential part is how the interpretation conveys some feelings to the public. I know it's not a great VO, but it's okay. Also, I'm glad to hear Aoi Eir singing again (well, she came back several months ago, but I'm happy she has recovered as I expressed to her in the past), the opening is good and has good lyrics.
Finally, the show has a different air than the usual magic fight series. It is refreshing, and if it was an experiment, it ended acceptably. I cannot complain about Granbelm. The series has good pacing, the story fragments are explained in the perfect time, and they help the characters to grow and shine. Yes, the show is not excellent, it could have been better, but it is the season's hidden gem and deserves to have a second chance.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 18, 2019
Kanata no Astra could be an anime that surprised several viewers. In my case, I was bewitched by some episodes until I noticed that the show is mediocre science fiction with several plot flaws and unfinished ideas.
The scenario is good at the beginning; A group of students is drifting in the dark space with only one goal in mind, returning home. I was surprised to the point that I ignored the strange CGI moments when the characters looked like dead puppets in the first episode. I ignored the device created in a few hours that could diagnose if the food is good or bad with
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a "delicious" sound that seems ridiculous. I ignored the luck these students have during their trip with some minor risks for space travel. Everything is conveniently configured and ready for their survival. I even ignored a significant detail in the middle of the story I find hilarious. I asked myself "why people cannot fix their cars that simple, there are many cars nearby," but this group doesn't have a spaceship nearby, so ... you will understand if you watch this anime. However, I cannot ignore a plot that is not consistent, a scenario that ignores the details and uses strange ideas to create a secondary storyline. That new story is far from the survival goal placed at the beginning. The real risk is not space. In this story, space is not as dangerous as it seems, the real threat is humans, and that is very unfortunate. Also, all those "extra" additions created a strange story that I cannot stand because it is silly, stupid, the name "Astra Lost in Space" does not fit anymore.
As the plot progresses, observe that the story is full of coincidences plotted by a mastermind who leaves more questions and few answers. Those coincidences created several unfinished stories that affected the behavior of the characters. For example, they are not worried about space and all the surrounding dangers, and they do not care if they cannot find food, they are concerned by a human inside their ship that could turn against them or a conspiracy group, that is ridiculous. The highlight of each episode is a mixture of dramatic events like "my father never loved me," some actions like "hey, the device found good food, this animal tastes delicious." Then, the authors added some conspiracy events "Someone is an enemy, say nothing, we have a great meal tonight" and some real survival events but with a stupid outcome like "the spaceship is failing but don't worry, it will solve somehow. " Unfortunately, the storyline is a mixture of useful elements without proper development and conclusion.
Although I liked the first part, the plot, the writing, and the dialogues are very average. All these lead to unusual character behavior. They are afraid about their life and the next minute they are singing kumbaya. The characters are average. Do not come to tell me that they are stunning with a fantastic background because they are not. If you pay attention, all the characters have the same context and have the same problems, except Aries. In other words, all characters are generic like clones. The characters fill a convenient spacecraft crew: it has a hero, an expert in phytology, a genius/pilot, an expert in weapons, an expert in crafts, a medic, a singer, a villain, a survivor and a girl. The most normal character is Aries, but the plot affects her directly, sadly.
The animation and art are adequate. There are some bad parts, but not so remarkable. The colors are very vivid and created a pleasant atmosphere from planet to planet. The camera angles and the speed between the scenes are acceptable and, combined with a good score, create an impressive visual wasted by a mediocre plot.
The sound is good; it fills the scenes and is used intelligently. The songs are acceptable.
Finally, I liked the first part, but I did not like the conclusion. I think the ending is ridiculous and affects all the characters directly in the wrong way. Here we have a good animation with a good idea but developed poorly with many coincidences that can bore the audience because it makes the anime silly and empty.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jul 24, 2019
I always wondered what would happen if you end on an island with Rambo's daughter after an accident (airplane crash, a sinking ship, etc)? However, Homare isn't Rambo's daughter but she received similar training from her father. The plot of the series is easy, following a group of girls that ended in a desolated island and watching their adventures to survive and how Homare an expert in those situations is helping them.
On the paper, the idea was interesting. Once I watched the first episode, I figured the series is very average. Most of the jokes are silly, boring, dull, and in some cases
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grotesque. Although survivability can be fun under certain circumstances, this show is becoming a lame combination between Lost and Gilligan's Island where the silly events tend to be boring and without a plausible argument.
Finally, the length of each episode is only half from the average. However, do not hope too much from this kind of series or you will end very disappointed. Also, It won't surprise me if at the end we watch something like "Wilson, Wilson!!" correction "Homare Homare!!"
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jul 2, 2019
One Punch Man 2 is just tiresomely stupid and ugly.
Four years ago, Madhouse animated One Punch Man aka OPM and blew the charts with an outstanding production. The fans waited four years for a sequel, and in exchange, they got a piece of trash that is in pair with productions just as "Mommy, please save my eyes," "Honey, I destroyed OPM." I do not know if "Boku no Pico" is better than this junk, but it is clear that J.C. Staff failed severely. In one sentence: OPM2 is the kind of sequel you may end up wishing you’d never seen. If you are an OPM
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follower, be advised, proceed with caution, and be ready for a long agony.
After watching the first episodes, I was feeling miserable (the feeling never changed). I was not expecting to see something poorly drawn by a group of professionals that cannot understand how an action animated sequence is made. The characters need a vibrant movement. However, in this production, the action is weird because they overused "still" sequences; they do not have the right direction (sound, art, etc.). Furthermore, the design is awful and disgusting.
All went wrong with OPM2. The animation is ugly, the colors are horrendous, the jokes are unbearable, the story... did this thing has an acceptable plot, maybe? Lastly, the fights are grotesque, uninspired. The story tries very hard to catch our attention with the comedy and the villains' performance. However, you cannot transform the wood in gold, and you cannot turn OPM2 in OPM because the jokes are bad. I do not know if it is the timing, the writing, the art, the sound, or maybe I became immune to OPM's charm, but the second season feels empty. The biggest mistake is asking more for a studio that isn't specialized in this kind of genres. They did what they could. Sadly, this sequel feels more like a cheap imitation than a sequel.
Worse yet, the story does not deliver a climax. This kind of animated series needs to have a precise harmony between action sequences, sound, art, and writing. OPM2 fails in most of them so, in the end, the fights, the comedy, are unconcluded. Call it a wrong direction, bad production, I call it lack of studio's experience. The result is an empty carcass titled OPM2.
Lastly, I can continue pointing the bad points of this mediocre show, such as the sound that for me is one of the most awful of the season because it does not help the fights and does not raise the action. However, there is some positive aspect, such as the introduction of some villains (Garou, his background) that are there to boost Saitama's performance. The direction improved in the last episodes where we can enjoy some outstanding action sequences. For example, when Garou fight against Genos. However, the poor management predominated during all the season killing the entire show. While OPM2 just implodes and burns, J.C. Staff missed a golden opportunity to display the otaku community that they can be a great studio again.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Jun 30, 2019
Sometimes the best things in a romcom are found in the contrasts: Silly jokes, the most stupid series of events, perhaps a clumsy teacher, or a grow up student with the face of a kid, whose actions serve as a booster that helps us to appraise the differences between all the cast. All this nonsense works as a preparation for the future action now that the second season is announced in the last episode with the simple words "tsuzuku" (続くor つづく).
Maybe I shouldn't be praising this series, but the season was too average, and I couldn't find an acceptable series. Although Bokutachi wa
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Benkyou ga Dekinai is an unexpected finding with small but potent pleasures that can hook an avid anime enthusiast like you. This silly show has a lot of similarities with “5-toubun no Hanayome” to the point that it could be a copy. The question is: who copied whom?
On the other hand, the plot is delightful because it does not follow the typical harem settings. In this series a guy, Nariyuki Yuiga needs to teach a group of girls that are considered geniuses in some fields and stupid in some other areas of knowledge. However, ironical as it may seem, these "geniuses" want to study a career where their abilities are useless. This setting leads to a series of silly events where we can enjoy the differences between each character, their feelings, and we could smile on the stupid jokes. Sadly, after some episodes, the series can give the impression that something is missing and perhaps you could end dropping it because it is tedious or lacks romance and the storytelling is average. Nonetheless, this first season only works as an introduction that shows the main characters and paves the path for the future season, where I do hope to see relevant plot twists, romance, and new jokes.
The characters are acceptable, they have a big contrast. From my perspective, Yuiga, the ordinary guy, good at studying, poor, hard worker, is a neutral character that understands the girls' decisions but lacks any romance comprehension. This romantic aspect can be complemented with Fumino, who acts like the cupid of the story. I can explain this behavior because she is a literary genius, so her way to understand the human emotions is by far more different than Yuiga and the other girls such us Rizu or Takemoto. On the other hand, as silly as it looks, Rizu is the typical genius stereotype. However, she is a hard worker, and she cannot understand her feelings. And talking about feelings, the story introduces Takemoto, the athlete, full of energy and finds herself in a never-ending dilemma (cliche?).
The other characters, Mafuyu, the silly teacher and Asumi, the sempai, are a healthy complement to the plot because they refresh the story when the author needs to change some repetitive jokes.
The characters design is acceptable. Even if for some persons it looks weird, I want to say it is consistent. The animation follows the graphics from the manga and tries to keep closer to them. Asking more from this kind of design could be wrong.
Mostly, the show is entertaining: For Yuiga to teach these girls, and for the girls to understand their feelings and to experience romance. Together, create an acceptable comedy that is just beginning.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 28, 2019
Another harem plot, basically of all the harem stories you have seen before, you have never seen anything quite like "Gotoubun no Hanayome.” The series has an overall harmony, where this lavishly designed comedy, which sometimes turns into a slightly unrequited romance involving a nerdy guy and five ignorant sisters who hate to study. I forgot to tell you those sisters are quintuplets.
The plot is easy to follow. A guy, Fuutarou Uesugi, nerdy, poor, solitary, gets a job as the tutor of a group of quintuplets who are near to fail the school. This group of girls, Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, Itsuki, named in order
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as they came to this world, hate to study and even more dislike the tutor. After some time, these girls begin showing affection towards their tutor and their surroundings starts to change. The only problem, this kind of plot could be seen absurdness and filled with excessive banality, boring a selected group of anime followers.
But that hardly matters. This group of characters is funny and genuine. In the beginning, you can feel the show as the classical, generic harem where the guy likes and love all the girls. However, in this series, the guy only cares to study and do not see the quintuplets as friends or even more as candidates to have a relationship. I do not think that passed his mind (in the manga is in the same way). The quintuplets have a different personality forcing Fuutarou to take different decisions to deal with each of them. This contrast creates refreshing chemistry between the cast and keeps the whole crazy story spinning, this thing is never boring. As a positive point, I am glad, the adaptation followed the manga and they do not change anything of the plot, so I am hoping to see a second season in the future (it was announced).
The quintuplets have a very different personality; for example, we can observe a clear contrast between Nino and Miku. The latter is shy, dedicate, charming, not social while Nino is very social, extrovert, direct, bossy and probably most of the spectators could end disliking her. The same happens with the other sisters, Ichika, the eldest and the one who tries to keep the group harmony, Yotsuba, filled with excessive energy and who cannot say no as an answer and finally Itsuki, the hard worker and stubborn sister.
On the other hand, the art and sound are fabulous. For me, the art quality is one of the best of the season and I want to praise the creator, the animators because the quintuplets have the same silhouette but with some changes in the hair and the accessories they create different characters. If you pay closer attention to the character design, they will look the same boosting the effect. The sound and voice acting are perfect. The sound appears in the precise moments and it fills the scene. The characters' voice is contrasting and complements the personalities. The OP and ED are good. However, the OP is fantastic because it shows the voice contrast between the quintuplets and has a good rhythm and interesting lyrics.
Mostly, "Gotoubun no Hanayome” is just fun, for Fuutarou to become a better person and starts caring for others outside his family, for the quintuplets whom evolve and begin to experience the love path. Together, they create a cheerful and enjoyable comedy where this group connects between each other and their world expands hilariously.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 24, 2019
Yes, Manaria friends is a short series but can we like it? If you pay any attention to some critics, social media and other types of voluble anime enthusiasts will tell you that “Manaria Friends,” a side story of Shingenki no Bahamut, is a bad anime. What a boring aberration, they will say. They will tell you that it is a big disappointment and dishonors Bahamut series, I disagree.
Manaria Friends is set in the Shingenki no Bahamut world. Cygames used a gaming social event to create a manga/anime where we can appreciate the relationship between Anne, a human princess, skilled and genius with the
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magical powers and Grea a dragon princess, shy, with high physical strength. Since both personalities contrasts, the characters can shine in an unusual manner. For example, Anne’s loneliness is filled by Grea who sees her as a friend and not as part from royalty. We follow these two characters in the school life; they can get ill, they can get angry, they can cry, the typical student life. However, the story mixes those events with magic and other pleasant moments such as the delightful classical score. Also, the plot plays with the Yuri boundary. Sometimes we can have the impression that Anne is seeking a higher relationship with Grea, but I think that is called friendship. Loving a person does not mean that you want to have sex or to have a personal relationship, that means that you care for that person and we can observe that kind of involvement in this anime.
Another impression that you will have is the lack of plot. This issue is understandable because there is not enough source material for the animation, so Cygames recurred to some life events and created small stories condensed in short episodes. I do not see that as a problem; the series does not have the typical length, it does not need to follow the familiar series structure because they want to show some essential facts of the characters and they did it very well. Furthermore, this allows the series to have acceptable pacing from episode to episode.
On the other hand, it is hard to understand the reason for hate towards this series. The event in the game was trendy, and it was taken into a manga (2 Vols) and then into an anime. However, for the main anime series followers, the plot will be awful because there is no relationship with the previous series. The fans who are expecting to see characters from those series will be highly displeased because Manaria Friends is a side story and not sequel.
The sound and art are marvelous. The drawings can have few ugly spots, but in general, the art is gorgeous combined with one of the best scores of the season. The camera movement and the angles are good and focus the most impacting moments of the series such as the face emotions and or special events.
Finally, can we like this series? I like it. I understand several spectators can't feel any empathy for this kind of shows. The lack of a consistent plot or action sequences in a fantasy world is very negative. In general, the show delivers a beautiful relationship where the main characters express their emotions, and they focus on the meaning of friendship in a simple way that isn’t dull.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 21, 2019
Sometimes an OVA is considered a filler and the place for the discarded episodes. In this case, it is different. The Extra episodes of High Score Girl are a prelude of what we're going to watch in the second season. YES, a second season that was already announced.
The episodes continue with the same structure from the main series. As a significant development, we can appreciate Yaguchi and Hidaka's fight and their perseverance towards their feelings. Furthermore, the relationships are not dull or repulsive even if some persons think they are a cliché. The series continues following the main idea from the main series, the
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manga, and that is a plus for the spectators.
The extra episode's denouement is right. Even if some persons consider it as a waste of time, the plot only seeks to set up the events that are going to happen in the second season. The pacing is right, and the art is the same.
As a positive aspect now I am eager for more and I want to be ready for the second season.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 19, 2019
I agree with my concept and reaffirm that Eromanga sensei is a very normal show. However, I want to quote my review of the series "If we let Sagiri's relationship leave the spectrum, we can appreciate some characters like the promiscuous and introverted personality of Elf Yamada and the shy, educated nature of Muramasa, but unfortunately if we add Sagiri into the equation, Masamune's relations are unbalanced and, in some cases, forced."
As you can see, the real OVA explains that phrase. The OVA is beautiful and enjoyable. We can laugh at the ideas and reactions of Yamada Elf. I most enjoy the song, the lies,
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her attitude, and all the actions during the OVA. I wonder why I enjoy the OVA ... Ohh yes, Sagiri wasn't there. It is similar to episode 9 from the main series.
On the other hand, we can see the contrast in the second episode. I do not consider the second episode as an OVA; it is a surplus of the main series, and the opening gives me the reason. None wanted to transmit it, so let's add it as an OVA, none will notice that is a residue. Yes sure, we noticed and the score for that episode is 3 - 4 and I am being generous.
That extra episode is very dull. Seeing how Sagiri tries to take care of her ill brother is nonsense. Do not get me wrong, but the statement "I cannot watch over you if you're not in my room" and then she leaves the room several times is ridiculous and without any intelligent argument. Now I understand why that useless episode was removed from the main series because it's garbage.
The score I am giving is based on the original OVA, who resorts in the secondary characters creating a more pleasant outcome, we can see something different from the main series and in which Yamada Elf once again shine.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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