Jeoffrey

Die, die, die, and you too, die! If I had a shot for every "shine" from the hero this season, my liver wouldn't make it to spring. What's even more disheartening is that none of those "die" moments carry even half the weight and power as when Frieren ordered Aura to kill herself. But that's not what bothers me, nor the fact that the hero is so ridiculously OP that you don't even fear for him for a second – as Anos Voldigoad or Cid Kagenó have shown, there's still work to be done with that. What also doesn't bother me is the fact that the series is an incredible mishmash of everything possible and impossible. Trying to follow any coherent story amidst all this clutter isn't easy. Fortunately, the main storyline isn't too complicated. This whole thing is a crazy mix of various ideas and twists. On the other hand, it's funny in its own way. Here, you truly don't know what you'll get in the next episode, minute, or second – there's only one rule: if you even think of slightly upsetting the hero, you die! And the hero kills anyone and anything; imagination knows no bounds. I appreciate originality, so I could forgive the below-average animation. But there's something that made this series hell on earth for me. There aren't just one, but two of the most annoying characters I had to endure this season! I'm sorry, but the protagonist's ancestor and the chubby classmate with Hiro Shimono's voice ruined any positive impression and dragged the whole experience down to below-average waters. Almost everyone was dying, but I had to put up with these two until the end. The whole torment seemed to be intended as a comedic element, which killed everything for me, even the desire for a potential next season (where both would likely return). For me, 4/10. Die Danoura Mokomoko, and die Daimon Hanakawa!

"Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Superman? NO! It's Wyvern! It's Alus the Star Runner! If you're looking for a series where a motley crew of diverse characters and creatures with wild abilities clash in battles, and you enjoyed Drifters, then this might catch your interest. The first episode kicks off with a bang, drawing you in with its shock factor and cool moments. But then, brace yourself for several more episodes of character introductions in the style of: "Meet Nihiro, Nihiro is cool!" Followed by, "And now, here's Kia, Kia's cool!" It goes on like this for quite a while, leaving you torn between laughing, hitting pause, or waiting for it to end... Amidst the constant character parade, a story unfolds that doesn't quite grip you as much. It's not overly complex, and the narrator, like talking to a child, repeats the basics at the start of every episode. In the second half, the long-awaited confrontation between the opposing sides ignites, a war erupts, lives are lost, drama ensues, and our cool characters finally clash. This part was enjoyable, though when it comes to crazy battles and their vibe, Drifters felt a bit stronger to me. With the multitude of characters here, the direction is intriguing but somewhat shallow due to the sheer number of them. As a result, the drama doesn't quite hit the mark for me; when a character dies, I don't feel much. Honestly, I don't even have a standout favorite yet; I'm still indifferent as to who might emerge as the hero by the end of the first season. Delving into the story, there are intriguing mysteries to uncover, like the whole isekai crossover and the burning question of who killed the demon lord. Perhaps the next season will unveil more layers, or it could dive into a tournament arc where our hero candidates battle it out in the arena. Personally, I'm leaning toward the latter, which could be entertaining but might not fully captivate me. In summary, Ishura is currently a straightforward fantasy brawl, with its main strength lying in the diverse characters and their abilities. It operates on the rule of cool, but unfortunately, it didn't dazzle me enough to warrant more than a slightly above-average 6/10. Still, I'll tune in for the next season, even if it's just for the pure carnage. Was it a bird? Was it a plane? NO! It was Dakai the Magpie!

The second season of Hikari no ó might be a spectacular culmination of a brilliant story for some, but for me, it just didn't hit the mark. The characters keep going somewhere, endlessly babbling about nothing, with gods constantly flying around... I was expecting big things, a massive attack on the city where our heroes were, but it happened completely off-screen and we only saw a total of two attackers throughout the entire season! The main character spends a significant portion of the story dealing with the fact that he killed almost all of his enemies off-screen, building drama around something I didn't even see! Add to that the insane yapfest about the local gods, how humans have destroyed and continue to destroy the Earth, constant walking back and forth with no real outcome, often for very weird reasons, plenty of confrontations full of poorly animated fights interspersed with beautiful yet atmosphere-shattering artsy shots. Everything felt so empty and bland, full of pseudo-important dialogue that made me feel like I was reading another Genshin side plot. At least the finale was relatively satisfying, everything tied up nicely. Visually, this season is just as unique as the first one, with a style straight out of the 80s, maybe 90s, the visual storytelling form is very distinct, sometimes almost cinematic, other times literally comic-like, with approaches focusing on various details and characters, occasionally complemented by gorgeous artistic shots that I'd happily frame and put on my wall - a strange mishmash that I often liked, except when anything was in motion, especially in fights, which looked like they were animated and edited by a complete amateur. For how intrigued I was by the series, how I actually quite enjoyed it in the first season and was curious about what's to come, the second half literally bored me. What I wanted to see and what interested me mostly happened off-screen, or there was too much talking going on, so I often lost concentration and couldn't even explain exactly what happened, I just have a basic idea. Simply put, this didn't entertain me; the only thing I slightly enjoyed was the form, but the content was often mind-numbing. What a shame, if there was more showing and less talking, if Mamoru thought a bit about a realistic scenario and direction instead of just writing dialogues, this series might have appealed to more than just art enthusiasts and pseudo-intellectuals who might find the meaning of life, the universe, and everything in it. For me, it's a bored and disappointed 3.5/10.

Meiji Gekken: 1874 ends up being a bit of a letdown, especially for someone like me who has been intrigued by the beginning of the Meiji period ever since the first Kenshin. Unfortunately, this series fails to deliver anything particularly memorable. The story lacks those powerful, standout moments it seems to be striving for, leaving it feeling rather lackluster overall. The quality of the action scenes is, at best, average. I didn't feel that gripping tension or excitement during most of the battles, making it hard to become invested in the fate of those in combat. What did I ultimately glean from this experience? Perhaps just the reaffirmation that "A traitor is worse than an enemy" Or the realization that even though one hand can't clap, it sure can shoot a bow flawlessly... Okay. In essence, I found myself with very little to take away considering the number of characters and the scope of the story compressed into ten episodes. To make matters worse, many twists were easily predictable, like how Sumie would end up which I called from the get-go. The main protagonist, unfortunately, came off as rather unremarkable to me. Instead, I found myself more drawn to characters like Kyoushirou and his group out for revenge. The most likeable character for me has to be the sword master Koto, even though her role in the story was somewhat limited. On the flip side, I don't have many outright criticisms either. The series isn't dumb; it just falls far short of the interesting and epic tale it aims to be. I'll give credit where it's due — there's nothing that particularly annoyed me. Mostly, I just see wasted potential, especially in those lackluster battles. It's a bit of a grey, mediocre, at best slightly above average series. I made it to the end, but I doubt it'll stick with me a month from now. 5.2/10.

Fluffy Paradise was a delightful treat for me. I really enjoy these cute and pleasant series that don't require much effort and are perfect for unwinding (especially appreciated during the gloomy winter days when it gets dark early and my overall mood tends to be - well, let's say - dismal). The main heroine is incredibly endearing; her efforts to protect all these "misunderstood" monsters (Goblin Slayer would probably lose his mind with Nefertima) really struck a chord with me. I mean, who wouldn't love a cute little girl whose main goal is to help everyone and pet every furry creature in sight? As for the story, on the one hand, I don't want to think too deeply about it because it seems like the pseudo-serious drama clashes a bit with the adorable and friendly vibe of the series. Sometimes I also think that some problems could have been solved much more quickly. Plus, the heroine's monster reservation plan hasn't entirely convinced me yet (hopefully those monsters end up better off than Native Americans in America). On the other hand, at least during the final battle, I appreciated that the author tried to resolve the issue relatively satisfactorily for both sides, kind of a win-win situation. I'm still curious about what lies behind the migration of creatures to the north and what the main driving force is. Despite some plot holes and things that could have been handled better, the show managed to captivate me, which is quite a success for a series that's primarily about cuteness, fluffy creatures, and a little girl trying to befriend every monster she encounters (though sadly, I don't have high hopes for another season, these types of series don't often get follow-ups). The animation is very charming, the music as well, and most of the characters were quite likable, nobody really bothered me... So, for me, this first completed anime of the season earns a solid 7/10. It was like a slightly more dramatic, but still very good and adorable bedtime story that worked perfectly for those Sunday winter evenings.

After watching these nine minutes, the burning question I had to ask myself was whether this short left me eager for more from this world, and unfortunately, the answer is a clear "no, thanks." While the setting does have its charm, showcasing impressive colors and introducing a few original animals and plants, it all falls flat when the main hero comes across as rather boring and unremarkable - just your average protagonist. The main heroine fares somewhat better, with the short film attempting to sell her to the audience, alongside the big monster she battles (as one might expect from a film with "Kaiju" in the title), but the attempt falls short, and the heroine won't get more than a 7/10 from me for character design. Perhaps contributing to my lack of enthusiasm is the average 3D animation which is watchable but not eye-catching except maybe for the vibrant colors. However, what really didn't appeal to me was the plot itself, or rather the lack of clarity in these brief nine minutes. It seems to revolve around exploring a strange world, scanning peculiar eggs, and battling colossal monsters...but beyond that, it's hard to discern much substance. For me, this warrants a maximum of 4/10. Available in Japanese with English subtitles on the official Toei YT channel.

There can only be one "anime of the season" for me that deserves to ascend to the imaginary throne each season. The choice couldn’t have been more obvious this time. The best soundtrack, the most imaginative and powerful visuals, including literally perfect art direction. Plus, the atmosphere is so intense that it almost makes you want to just get up and go for a walk around the city at midnight. The work with metaphors is also excellent. The whole story is saturated with double entendres and it’s a perfect parallel to growing up, as well as proof that the vampire theme isn't completely drained of blood yet. All three songs by Creepy Nuts fit the series perfectly and it almost seems as if Kotoyama created the series after listening to the ending song on the radio. It already reflects its atmosphere, double entendres, and playfulness. What's even better is the fact that both the opening and the ending basically tell their own little stories. It's been a while since I've seen music and visuals so beautifully intertwined into an ideal and unique experience that offers more than one meaning. And that's just the opening and closing credits. It's already obvious that you're watching something truly imaginative that the filmmakers have put a lot of effort into. And the series itself? It only took one episode to completely blow me away. I'll be thinking for a long time about how sexy the sucking of blood can be. As for the visuals, I thought I'd have a problem with the character designs. I knew Kotoyama's previous work, I'd seen his candy commercial called Dagashi Kashi, so I was familiar with his drawing style which is very distinctive, to say the least, and which I didn't find very appealing. I didn’t mind it at all here, the strength of the characters and the excellent work with every shot and color beats everything else. He can make the characters not only sexy at the right moment, but also really beautiful. As I said, the art direction is simply amazing. There are amazing and sometimes slightly frantic cuts, unexpected close-ups of objects or body parts, that somehow mysteriously work to complete the atmosphere and pique the viewer's interest in what's happening on screen. There is excellent work with the camera, its movement, and angles, but not just that. The use of color is also excellent and enhances the beauty of some of the shots and makes the night look even more beautiful and magical. Color is also used to create the right impression and atmosphere. What does this mean in practice? For example, there are dramatic scenes that are all red, or dark grey, even if it doesn't correspond to the real setting at all. It's there because color has a hidden significance for the viewer and can bring out the importance of the moment much more strongly. The particular color tones are used to evoke emotions in the viewer, pink can mean cuteness or sensuality, red stands for violence, blood, etc. The animation is equally well done. The series masters the basics, such as using simplified animation and backgrounds to support funny scenes, but it also knows when to take it up a notch to create beautiful images that you just want to use as your background, or how to make a shot sexy, a character incredibly charming (for example by adding detail and color to the eyes). The whole series has a really excellent atmosphere, which I expected, but it still exceeded my expectations and I really felt like going for a walk around the city at night a few times. Plus, it’s a brilliant exploration of the theme of growing up, the problems of youth, trying to find yourself, and experiencing love for the first time. This is mirrored not only in the main characters but also in many of the supporting characters and their own little stories. The characters themselves are also absolutely wonderful. On the one hand, Kou is a confused 14-year-old boy who is figuring out what he really wants out of life, getting carried away by his youthful longing for freedom, but at the same time, I like the way he thinks and how rational he can be. And then there's Nazuna! Nazuna is already probably the best waifu of 2022 for me because she is a combination of most of the things men secretly desire. What does a guy want from a woman? According to one joke, the ideal woman has to be a girlfriend, a lover, a virgin, a prostitute, a wife, a mother... On the one hand, she is a confident vampire who isn't afraid to talk about sex and make fun of it, but then it turns out that she's actually a not-so-confident girl who's afraid of any kind of romantic attachment. She's a girl who guides the protagonist through a new world for him, acting confident but also secretly experiencing a lot of new and unexpected things herself. Nazuna is an incredibly complex character, and when the animators make her beautiful, cute, or sexy in a particular shot (which they sure know how to do) you can fall in love much faster than Kou and immediately want to be a vampire too, and roam the city at night with her... The vampire theme itself serves as a parallel to absolute freedom. Of course, they're still vampires, so there’s no ignoring the moral issues that come with it. But even vampires have a soul, and they're just as complicated as humans, which the writers know how to work with excellently. The theme has its strength, it's not just a cool backdrop. And, considering some of the open plot lines, it still has a lot to offer. Everything about vampirism and how exactly it works has me excited to find out more. I want another season, ideally right now! Call of the Night is simply another perfect experience for me, an example of a job well done, a well-adapted manga, but also an example of how impressive anime can be. 10/10

A satisfying conclusion to the entire series, particularly the very last episode. While I anticipated it to be a more emotional rollercoaster (unlike Yuno, I didn't find myself reaching for tissues), I still found it enjoyable, especially the cleverly done flashback in the final episode detailing how our two high school graduates first crossed paths. With something ending and new beginnings on the horizon, the tale of Sae and Hiro at Hidamari Dormitory has come to a close. Whether Yuno will mature into a responsible third-grader, setting an example for others, or if poor Miyako will now starve without anyone to cook for her, I may never find out. Nevertheless, it's been a charming series. I initially started watching because of the unique animation style courtesy of Shaft studio, and now I'm left slightly moved and full of stories from the lives of these six girls. I hope to remember them fondly. If not, it would truly be a shame. The final bell has rung, and I'll give it an 8/10.

This season of Hidamari Sketch was a real joy for me, perhaps even as much as the first one, especially in the middle episodes where I found myself enjoying it even more. What made it stand out this time? It's mainly because the series is slowly approaching its conclusion, and with that, some subtle hints of melancholy were added to the cheerful world of the Hidamari dormitory. They started addressing important themes like life after school and the enduring nature of friendships. Spending the last three months with these girls, they really grew on me, and that touch of light melancholy worked incredibly well. At the same time, the middle of the season felt like the creators wanted to contrast this with as much fun as possible, almost saying, "Let's savor this last part before the finale!" Thanks to this, the jokes seemed a tad funnier this time around, and some plots, like the school festival, I enjoyed much more than when it was featured in previous seasons. There was a moment where I was considering giving it the highest rating, seeing how entertained I was on one hand, and how it managed to touch me emotionally here and there. However, the last two episodes (Christmas and New Year) felt somewhat average compared to the rest of the season. I believe they could have been more impactful and didn't quite have the extra emotional punch I was hoping for, despite the last episode having excellent accompanying music. So in the end, Honeycomb will receive an 8.4/10 from me. Now, it's time to grab some tissues and head to the grand finale...

“It's not about making a harem, It's about FAMILY!” Well, this special family is growing at a really fast rate, perhaps only Dominic Toretto from The Fast and the Furious could manage to do that faster (and more furious). Otherwise, this is a quite likable and sweet comedy that is maybe a bit silly and childish at times, but enjoyable and quite relaxing to watch. There are a lot of likable characters (the main character, Beelzebub), some are adorable (the kids), some are "just" lovely (the sisters) and there is also one slightly dimwitted but entertaining elf. Nothing dramatic happens throughout most of this anime series, problems are mostly dealt with either calmly or entertainingly, and it is no wonder, mainly thanks to Azusa’s strength. I found her strength believable, just like I found the path she took to get to it believable, after all, it is similar to killing boars for five EXPs each in World of Warcraft for a year straight, you would get to that max level eventually, too... What really spoiled my experience of this though, was the occasional and in my opinion unnecessary fanservice, especially in some of the scenes with the Demon King which seemed very weird to me, and the constant focus on Halkar's chest, as if this character was nothing more than a pair of walking boobs (and comic relief), was also pretty cheesy. Halkar and the entire last episode was just a kind of winking at the audience, especially if they are into maids, and a reminder of all the characters that have appeared in this anime series, so for me it would have worked better as an OVA rather than a conclusion. Anyway, in the end, I am more satisfied than annoyed, so I am awarding this anime series a solid three stars. Or 6/10 if you prefer.