Jeoffrey

Ever wondered what it’d be like to have sex with various supernatural beings? Well, anime has explored that in depth. Now, it's time to see what happens if you try to eat them! Don't worry, nothing resembling humans. Of course, Marcille, we understand. But Jeoffrey, cooking monsters seems too abstract and doesn't resonate with me! Come on, you don’t have to be Gordon Ramsay to substitute those supernatural ingredients with our everyday ones. The recipes aren’t complex; we’re cooking in dungeons, not a five-star hotel kitchen. Besides, is it really about learning to cook something? It's more about making cooking interesting, sparking your imagination, and making you hungry. The ingredients are beautifully drawn, the dishes look delicious despite coming from monsters, and if you grab a snack while watching, it will definitely enhance your experience. Back to the main question — or rather, a deeper one — Is this just another cooking anime? Or is it an adventurous journey that repeatedly asks how far you would go to save a loved one? Except for Laios, no one here wants to eat monsters out of curiosity; it's a necessity for survival in a hostile environment. Eat or be eaten! But Jeoffrey, if this is a desperate rescue mission, why does the party proceed like they’re on a casual trip, even with Laios’s sister slowly dying inside a dragon? The atmosphere is too relaxed for such a dire situation.  Admittedly, I initially shared this criticism, feeling that the only desperate act was cooking whatever they could find. But as you progress, you realize these dungeons are perilous, full of traps and dangerous creatures, where every misstep could mean death. Our adventurers aren't amateurs. For example, Senshi is a survival specialist in these dungeons. They know why they’re cautious and what they’re doing, even if it sometimes feels like a school trip with campfire cooking. The story gradually complicates, drawing both the characters and viewers into the labyrinthine corridors, making the dungeon’s operations clearer. Plus, the second half of the series takes a surprising turn, shifting the tone and addressing the characters’ problems with elegance and intensity. The question of how far you'd go to save someone you love gains new dimensions and intense answers. So, what makes Delicious in Dungeon truly great? Above all the characters, detail, humor, and animation. The characters are unique, diverse, believable, likable, and entertaining. The main five are fantastic, and even side characters like Shuro, Kabru, and Sissel keep you invested. Marcille’s expressions are a delight, you’ll quickly grow fond of Izutsumi, respect Senshi, find Chilchuk to be the voice of reason, and Laios is indispensable. But you'll also meet characters like Shurou, Kabru, and Sissel, whose every move you'll follow with bated breath, eager to learn more about them. The world-building here is truly impressive. Ryouko Kui has created a fully functioning ecosystem that feels layered and connected to the ancient ruins of past civilizations. You'll appreciate the importance of maintaining this balance, and the series will show you exactly what happens when things go wrong. It's fascinating how well-constructed and consistent this world is, with rules that make sense and a sense of love and care evident in every detail. One standout feature is Izutsumi, the first logically explained and integrated catgirl in an anime. No Nekopara bullshit here — her existence makes perfect sense within the story's context. The humor in this series is top-notch, ranging from sweet and silly to laugh-out-loud funny, all while blending seamlessly with the more serious moments. The transitions between different tones and themes are handled beautifully. The animation style is unique and visually striking, with character designs that are instantly recognizable and pleasing to watch. Studio Trigger did an excellent job, ensuring the series looks great and maintains a distinct visual identity. In summary, Delicious in Dungeon deserves top marks. I've grown to love this series, even though it hasn't quite reached the level of adoration I have for Frieren from previous seasons. My top series ranking remains unchanged for now, but I'm eagerly anticipating more episodes. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, even though I became truly hooked from the dragon confrontation onward. 9.4/10

"Are you a shy, socially awkward wizard longing for a family and a bit of love? We have the solution – slavery!" No, that probably won't sell you on this anime. Let's try another approach. "Come watch a series featuring an adorable elf girl! Elves have been all the rage in anime for the past two years, and Nephy is sweet, affectionate, and as cute as a puppy—she even wiggles her ears when she's happy! Who wouldn't want her?" There we go. And if we subtly translate "Dorei" as "wife" instead of "slave" in the title, it might work even better. What else do we have? "We also have a charming and funny dragon girl if you want a daughter too! And unlike other anime, we won’t even sexualize her!" This is a great pitch — Foll is super cute and that's sure to draw people in! Add in a bit of trauma that gets nicely resolved to make the viewers happy, and we're set. Let's not forget to give both main characters some trauma, because character growth is always a plus! For antagonists, we'll use misunderstandings, prejudices, and a slightly fanatical church, which will highlight another female character who sees the world clearly and will be loved by everyone. This is shaping up to be an 11/10 anime... Okay, enough with the fantasy. This show actually reminds me a lot of I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness from last fall. It has a similar fun and sweet chemistry between the main couple, and both characters are likable in their own ways. Most of the side characters are at least decent, and Foll’s interactions with Chastille are genuinely cute and entertaining. Unlike the previously mentioned anime, the humor here often lands — I definitely laughed more watching this. The biggest drawback for me was the storyline, which felt predictable and not as engaging as it could have been. Still, like I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady…, this anime deserves a solid 6/10 from me—maybe even a 6.1/10!

Honestly, this was probably the worst series I wasted my time on this anime season. The animation was weak, the music was forgettable, but those weren’t even the main issues. The biggest problem for me was the main character. His behavior and voice acting made him incredibly unlikable. Aoi Shouta's voice just doesn't fit an overpowered fantasy hero; it lacks the strength and presence needed, making it hard to take Allen seriously or respect him. His behavior was even worse. The protagonist wants to live as he pleases, which rarely works in any society. Despite the script throwing endless challenges his way, he navigates them with an irritating apathy. I found him annoyingly indifferent, not someone I could root for at all. The main storyline of the first half, which led me to drop the series, didn’t help either. SPOILER ALERT: When your father spirals into self-destruction after your mother's death and your troubled brother becomes dangerous, and you, with the strength and skills of a former hero, could stop it but choose to ignore it, you're the worst kind of scum. Allen’s failure to help his family when they needed him most made him a heartless, selfish loser in my eyes. END OF SPOILER By the time the series delved into the family backstory, I couldn’t see past how unnecessary it all felt. Allen’s easy solutions to other problems only highlighted his deliberate neglect of what truly mattered. Watching the seventh episode was a chore, and every appearance of Allen made me want to turn it off. When the new subplot also failed to grab my interest, I dropped it after episode seven. Were there any positives? Well, some of the supporting characters weren't terrible, though most were typical archetypes and future harem members for the useless protagonist. I was somewhat interested in Akira's storyline, thinking it could be better, but it didn’t seem like the author planned to develop it further. Maybe that’s for the best.Overall, this series isn't worth much, maybe a 2/10 at best. I’d only recommend it to die-hard fantasy fans who’ve exhausted all other options.

Because I’m not popular, I decided to rewatch WataMote — the story of a high school girl obsessed with popularity. Once again, I found myself rolling with laughter and cringing at the same time. Tomoko's inner world and her biting remarks about ordinary people are so relatable, it's almost embarrassing. This anime is incredibly original. Tomoko is an amazing character, wonderfully voiced, just like her brother. The series is full of interesting storylines and creative visuals, so there’s never a dull moment, even though it’s quite episodic and focuses on the same themes. When I first watched WataMote in 2013, it really resonated with me, and I loved it. I’m happy to say that even after more than ten years, it still holds up (and I’m still not popular). 9/10

A good movie, but not exactly groundbreaking or unforgettable. It was still a pleasant watch with relatively likable characters, both the main duo and some of the supporting ones they encountered along the way. The pace was a bit uneven at times, but the animation and music were nice. The story was decent, but for me, it lacked intensity, emotional depth, and development of some themes. It also could've used more of that legendary charm. Despite elements of the Japanese world, there wasn't much magic to it for me. I would've liked more moments to build the relationship between the main duo, especially since the movie is called My Oni Girl — you'd expect romance to be the primary focus. Instead, it dealt more with family troubles and the (in)ability to express emotions, which might resonate more with a Japanese audience than it did with me. I was hoping for more romance and fantasy. That said, there were parts I really enjoyed. I liked the whole journey and the encounters the main duo had along the way, which felt warm and human. In short, it was a good movie — not something that'll stay with me for long, but a film I'd watch again. 7/10

A delightful little mini-series perfect for the littlest viewers. If I were 3-5 years old, I'd likely be enamored with this charming shark's adventures, eagerly discovering something new in each episode and I'd probably sing along to that weird closing credits song. It turns out my inner child won't allow me to rate this little shark any lower than 6/10.

As I used to love reading about ancient Greek myths and legends at school and repeatedly went back to read them again for years after, I did not find anything in this show very surprising, especially at the beginning. In fact, the whole basic narrative is nothing new. How about the main male protagonist, was he in any way original or interesting? Truth be told, not really... It is like a classic ancient fable, only much more fleshed out, gory and taken to crazier (and for some, probably much cooler) heights. Even so, did I find anything surprising and intriguing? Did I find something in Blood of Zeus that would make me miss it and crave the next season? I do not think so. I personally found that even the much talked about Castlevania, which is being raved about by everyone, was a bit more enjoyable than this because there was at least something surprising in every episode... The animation is fine, the soundtrack is great, although story-wise I think it is rather average. 5.5/10.

Ninja Kamui immediately piqued my interest with Song-hu Park at the helm, the same director behind the gripping first season of JJK. Known for his knack for choreographing exhilarating fight scenes, Park and his team deliver solid work here, seamlessly blending traditional animation with CGI. The fight sequences pack a punch, brimming with power, impact, and energy that kept me glued to the screen. The main character, brought to life by the stellar voice acting of Kenjirou Tsuda, drew me in with his compelling backstory and a motivation reminiscent of John Wick's. He exudes just the right amount of coolness to keep the entertainment flowing. However, my enthusiasm waned when it came to the story. While the beginning showed promise with its well-executed revenge narrative and intriguing ninja lore, it took a detour into the realm of mechanical suits and corporate villains, with the corporate world and a younger version of Steve Jobs as the primary antagonists. What began as a strong and straightforward plot gradually became convoluted, delving into themes that failed to hold my interest. It's disappointing to learn that the creators had to extend the episode count to 13 to accommodate their entire story, as I believe a tighter narrative with perhaps just 12 or even 8 episodes would have served the series better. Maintaining the pace and quality of the initial episodes without the unnecessary layers would have made for a more engaging experience. In the end, Ninja Kamui offers decent action and entertainment value, but its tendency to overstretch, overexplain, and rehash certain themes relegates it to a one-time watch for me. Unfortunately, it falls short of leaving a lasting impression. 5.5/10

Sand Land feels like the anime version of Mad Max, infused with a dash of fantasy and sci-fi from the mind of the late, great author of the Dragon Ball series, Akira Toriyama. Toriyama's signature humor style and overall atmosphere are unmistakable, reminiscent of the original Dragon Ball. Despite its simplicity, the series never loses its charm, keeping viewers engaged with straightforward yet intriguing storytelling. The characters, particularly the seasoned fighter and current sheriff Rao, are compelling and likable. However, the animation, especially the CG character animation, leaves much to be desired, like a sort of 2.5D. While it occasionally shines, it often feels heavy-handed and unnatural (such as Ann's hair), detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, the world's potential feels underutilized, failing to captivate enough to warrant further exploration or rewatches. Overall, Sand Land is a pleasant watch, earning a 6/10 from me. For fans of Akira Toriyama, it's likely a must-watch, but I suspect they will appreciate the series much more than I did.

Because of the strong main female protagonist (Aoi) and the prevalence of charming male characters, this is definitely an anime series aimed more at a female audience, although it is far from boring. As I mentioned before, the big draw here is the very appealing Aoi, who is mostly the driving force behind the plot and the one who provides the solution to most of the problems. I guess it is rare that it is fortunate that a main female protagonist in an anime series, who is surrounded by so many charming and capable gentlemen (all right, well, it is the ayakashi anyway), so intensely and sweetly gives a helping hand and gets down to work herself (because all too often the main female protagonists in such productions just sit around waiting to get rescued). Plus, the way Aoi does it (through food and kindness) can be very attractive to a male audience in particular. Also, the way Aoi approaches the issues she faces within the interesting and magical setting of the world the show is set in, there is a very pleasant atmosphere that warms the heart. Of course, it is not just a nice walk in the park, the anime’s creators sometimes manage to conjure up some kind of suspense, to set up an intense situation that Aoi has to get through and overcome either on her own or with the help of her companions. It has quite an interesting narrative, even if it may give some people the impression that it is merely going to repeat the same story twice (SPOILER ALERT Aoi is taken somewhere against her will, to gradually win everyone over and save everything END OF SPOILERS). Anyway, if I add to that, in my opinion, good animation, and an appropriately chosen soundtrack, I am going to award a nice 8/10, which is actually an excellent result from someone for whom this anime series is probably not primarily aimed at.