Jeoffrey

The prologue (or "Episode 0" as the distributors call it) really set the tone for Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction in a way that instantly grabbed my attention. The glimpse into the post-apocalyptic world hooked me right away. The apocalypse felt fresh and original, and because of that, I had no issues getting through the first few episodes, which have a very different, almost slice-of-life vibe, with a much slower pace. Honestly, I’m thinking of checking out the movie version, where this pacing might be smoothed out. That being said, the build-up did have a purpose. The series took its time to really flesh out the two main characters, Kadode and Ouran, along with their relationship and the other characters around them. As the layers of the sci-fi plot unraveled, we eventually circled back to where the prologue began, and the final episode wrapped things up so simply and elegantly. What I loved most about this show? The thought-provoking questions it posed and the careful, satisfying answers it provided. How would you react if you met an alien? How would humanity respond to such an encounter? Why do we fear the unknown? Why does power so often corrupt those who hold it? These and so many other questions came up throughout, and I found myself not just watching but thinking—and getting answers that were either intriguing, satisfying, or left open for me to ponder on my own. The show really nailed the sci-fi elements, with both the alien encounter and time travel aspects handled exceptionally well. I loved how the story gave us perspectives from both sides, making it clear that nothing is purely black or white. The time travel concept, simple and effective like in Terminator, was easy to follow yet impactful. By the time we reached the conclusion, everything felt so logical and straightforward, as if to say, "sometimes, it really just takes a little." The main characters were genuinely likable. After spending so much time with them, seeing their flaws and strengths, I found myself fully understanding their motivations. Yet, both girls still managed to surprise me as the story unfolded. The plot was thoughtfully layered, mixing intriguing ideas with themes that made you reflect, all while giving each element the time it needed to breathe. Inio Asano’s writing shines throughout, and I can see why his other works like Punpun and Solanin are so revered. Now, I’m genuinely curious to dive into those as well. Production-wise, the animation is top-notch, detailed, and polished. The character designs may not appeal to everyone, but they’re distinctive enough that you’ll easily recognize and remember each person. The music is another highlight, with the opening and ending songs hitting just right. Sure, the pacing felt slow at times, and maybe we lingered on certain points longer than necessary, but overall, this is a solid series that grew on me with each episode. By the end, I was thoroughly hooked and satisfied, and I’d give it a solid 8.3/10.

Ramen Akaneko sounds ridiculous on paper—cats cooking ramen? Plus, it doesn’t have the best visuals, and you can tell they were cutting corners on the animation budget. There’s a mix of traditional 2D and some obvious 3D models during movement, which isn’t the smoothest. So yeah, the premise is silly, and the animation is nothing to write home about. But honestly? I really enjoyed it. Why? Because there are a few key things that tip the scales in its favor. For starters, the opening and ending songs are surprisingly catchy—so much so that I never skipped them. Then there’s the stellar voice cast, with veterans like Kenjirou Tsuda, Rie Kugimiya, and Noriaki Sugiyama bringing their A-game. Their performances really shine, adding a layer of charm that elevates the whole experience. The short, sweet episodes touch on surprisingly relatable themes, and for a show about cats, it feels very human. The vibe is just really cozy, and it’s the kind of series that knows exactly what it wants to be. Every Thursday night, I found myself relaxing to its warm and comforting stories, almost like the anime equivalent of a soothing bowl of ramen. And okay, maybe being more of a "cat person" myself played a role, but watching these adorable feline chefs had a calming effect on me. I’d almost place Ramen Akaneko in the iyashikei genre for how soothing it was. All in all, I was happy with it—though I can totally see how it’s not for everyone. It’s a quirky, low-stakes show that you either vibe with or you don’t. But if you’re willing to buy into the premise of cats cooking ramen, it’s a charming little watch. 7/10.

A cute, fun, and light-hearted romcom with a nice, brisk pace that manages to deliver a complete story in just twelve episodes. If I had one small gripe, it would be with the animation. It’s not terrible, but it feels a bit basic—maybe that's just the style of the original work, but the animation doesn’t quite elevate the key moments as much as it could. Some more expressive facial animations here and there would have made the whole "pseudo-harem" dynamic land even better. That said, the animation never outright detracted from my enjoyment. The music, on the other hand, was solid. It fit the romcom vibe perfectly—sometimes emotional, always pleasant. Story-wise, I was really satisfied. The pacing was spot-on, and I enjoyed seeing the full evolution of the central duo's relationship. Their playful back-and-forth was a lot of fun, with Eiji sometimes taking the lead and other times letting Rin shine. By the end, I was fully convinced their relationship would continue to be just as lively and interesting, and I found myself rooting for them more with each episode. Initially, Eiji felt a bit underwhelming to me, almost like he was playing second fiddle and letting Rin do all the work. But as the series progressed, he became more entertaining, and the show became more enjoyable because of it. Rin, on the other hand, was fantastic from the start. I'll admit, the whole "pseudo-harem" setup with someone as charming as Rin would be a dream for a lot of viewers. Throw in some cosplay, and you'd never get bored—every day would feel like the start of a new story. Big shout-out to Saori Hayami for her voice acting as well, and I can’t help but love the "cool-chan" vibes that totally reminded me of Yor from Spy x Family. All in all, Giji Harem is a solid, breezy romcom that I'd recommend to fans of fun, straightforward, and well-paced romances. 8/10.

For an anime about an OP hero with one seemingly underwhelming ability, which he’s mastered to absurd levels—basically a premise we've seen a million times—this actually wasn’t bad at all. First off, I gotta say: anyone who tries to claim that "parry" is a weak ability clearly hasn’t spent enough time playing Dark Souls. Anyone who's tried parrying there knows it’s an insanely powerful skill if you know how to use it. So, from the get-go, the whole “parry is useless” concept loses some credibility for me. That aside, there are the usual complaints: clichés and a few repeated jokes, like the hero being oblivious to how talented he actually is. It’s funny at first, but after a while, it makes Noor seem a bit clueless. Which is a shame, because Noor is what really carried this series for me. He’s the definition of a likable guy—hardworking, humble, unbreakable, and totally down to do the dirtiest jobs. I mean, cleaning sewage in a medieval town? That takes guts. He’s a grown man, not another overpowered teenager, and his well-earned muscles make him look cool wielding a sword almost as big as he is. I appreciate that we’re getting more protagonists like him this season; he's way more relatable than yet another Kirito clone. Unfortunately, the supporting cast didn’t stand out as much. In fact, I found myself liking most of Noor’s mentors more than his female companions. The story itself was pretty standard—your classic "zero to hero" journey—but with the added twist that he had to “parry” something in every episode. I do have to give props to the creators for sticking to the title; the challenges Noor faced were often surprising and sometimes genuinely funny, even if his cluelessness occasionally got frustrating (but I've already covered that). All in all, it’s a charming, straightforward fantasy series—something you can easily binge and enjoy without overthinking. I wouldn’t mind watching more episodes, and I even debated giving it a fourth star. In the end, though, I parried that idea, just like Noor would, and landed on a strong 3. 6.4/10.

Right now, Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san is just a solid romantic comedy for me, built on a really simple premise: "everyone's hiding something." The biggest flaw with this setup is that most of the issues could be solved with a straightforward conversation. But the show’s strength lies in making you anticipate the moment when "everything blows up," even though you know you'll be waiting a while for it. Still, the series does a decent job of keeping things engaging despite the simplicity. The story and characters are likable, but nothing about them really stands out as unique enough for me to fall in love with. Sure, some people will argue that Alya is adorable, striking a nice balance between a vulnerable princess in need of protection and a strong woman who stands up for herself when it matters. Others might praise the main guy’s subtle Machiavellian streak and his complex family background, which will surely come into play later. And let’s not forget the die-hard Yuki fans who love how she keeps the protagonist on his toes, making the most of every situation with her sharp intellect and energy. I get all that, but I’m not totally blown away yet. Maybe it's because I’ve seen similar character types before, and in some cases, I’ve seen them done better. But that doesn’t mean these characters aren’t well-written or interesting—they are, for the most part. The story is also decent and occasionally compelling, but it’s missing that extra hook to keep me eagerly awaiting each new episode. As for the little details? Alya’s Russian sounds pretty authentic, from what little I know, though it’s clear the voice actress isn’t a native speaker. The animation is surprisingly good for a rom-com, which makes sense when you realize it’s from Doga Kobo (the same studio behind Oshi no Ko, but more on that later...). And each episode gets its own unique ending, which is a nice touch that keeps you around through the credits. In short, I get why people are into this show—it’s strong in a lot of areas and makes the most out of a simple concept—but I’m not completely hooked yet. Maybe by season two… 7.3/10.

The Ministry of Health warns: Deer may cause brain cell loss! Wait, what? Deer! Why? Because DEER! Don't try to make sense of it, you won't win. You'll just end up thinking that Nokotan was probably born one day when a manga artist, under the pen name Oshioshio, went for a walk in the woods, locked eyes with a majestic deer, and thought, "If you were a cute girl, we'd be having a lot more fun!" And so, Nokotan was born, a manga whose entire joke hinges on that one magical word—Deer! Meanwhile, WiT Studio seemed to be going through an identity crisis. Maybe they were tired of hearing that all their recent works—Owari no Seraph, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, The Empire of Corpses—were just Attack on Titan knockoffs. So, they ditched the Titans and brought in some new directors, including the legendary troll Masahiko Ohta, the man behind Yuru Yuri and the unforgettable Umaru-chan. With a fresh approach, WiT was expanding its horizons, dabbling in more genres. Even Ohta got involved, directing Onipan!, which built its own loyal fanbase. It was time for their next quirky project, and with Deadpool still trending, they decided to go all in on breaking the fourth wall with something creative, unexpected, and... well, absurd. Enter: Nokotan. Legend has it that one day Yasuhiro Misawa got a commission to create the opening theme for an anime, with just one condition: the song had to include the series' name, "Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan." What the anime was about or how the song should sound? Nobody told him. So, while working on it, he repeated the tongue-twisting title in his head until he realized—hey, that could be a catchy chorus! And well, we all know what happened next. The creators decided to release that chorus to the world, and overnight it became a total meme. Word about the show spread like wildfire, and when the first trailer dropped, it was clear this was going to be completely ridiculous but potentially hilarious. Fans, including myself, started hoping for a new king of absurd comedy, maybe something that could stand alongside Nichijou and Azumanga Daioh. The hype was real. The full opening turned out to be addictive—millions of views later, it's still stuck in my head. Hours before the first episode aired (and even now, after the finale), people were playing the same chorus on a loop. So, did Nokotan manage to take the anime throne? Did it revolutionize modern anime? Sadly, I have to say... no, it didn’t. It quickly became clear that the whole series was built on one joke (deer) and endless variations of it. Fourth-wall breaking can be brilliant when done right, with a clever meta context, but you can’t just spam it and expect magic. I also realized I'm getting kind of tired of the constant self-aware shtick in so many shows. The jokes about Nokotan’s antlers were amusing at first, but after a while, they barely got more than a chuckle out of me. Even the deer cracker ads started to wear thin. The humor only really landed about half the time, and unfortunately, most of the best jokes were already spoiled in the trailers. The pop culture references were cute, but I would've liked to see more of them. The characters were likable enough—Nokotan was undeniably adorable, and I can see how caring for her would be fun—but she didn’t quite pull me into the "deer cult" (I’m sticking with Mitama). The other characters were fine too, though aside from Torako, they didn’t do much to stand out. What really hurt the show, though, was the botched English subtitles on Crunchyroll’s release of the first episode, which were probably AI-generated and made a rough first impression. Overall, my expectations weren’t fully met. I was hoping for something even more chaotic and high-energy. That said, don’t get me wrong—I don’t think My Deer Friend Nokotan is a bad anime at all. It kept me entertained, made me laugh a few times, and the animation by WiT Studio was solid. But given all the hype and what I thought this series could be, I’m left a bit disappointed. The humor, which was supposed to be the main draw, was often just... average. Nothing groundbreaking here—this deer-centric series is worth about seven out of ten deer (6.8/10). And I’ll end with this: you can’t stop the deer march!

After watching the last episode of Shōshimin Series, I felt an overwhelming urge to revisit Hyouka, and even after all these years, I’m still loving it. Oreki is a character I relate to so much, sometimes it feels like he’s speaking directly to my inner self. It’s not that I’m lazy—I just like to conserve energy, and when I do have to get something done, I aim to finish it as quickly as possible so I can get back to relaxing and, well, conserving more energy. I also adore Chitanda. She’s that curious, lively type who always means trouble, but somehow manages to drag you along with her energy. Who could possibly resist those big, bright eyes brimming with excitement and that iconic “I’m curious!”? I get Oreki so much—I've met a few girls like that who managed to pull me out of my comfort zone and push me to actually try. The chemistry between the main duo is one of my favorite parts of the show. But it’s not just them—the side characters don’t feel like background noise either. They contribute to the story and the solving of these everyday mysteries in meaningful ways. And speaking of the mysteries, they’re presented so well. Sure, sometimes you can figure out the twist early (though in my case, my memory might be kicking in since I’ve seen it before), but even when they’re dealing with seemingly trivial things, it’s always engaging. One thing I have to praise is the production quality. The animation is fantastic, even from the first episode. The way the show blends fantasy with reality in certain scenes is just magical (like Oreki’s first meeting with Chitanda or the moment she’s depicted as an angel). Kyoto Animation really knew what they were doing back in 2012, and the animation has aged beautifully, like fine wine. And the music—the soundtrack is phenomenal. The OST is great on its own, but pairing it with classical pieces from Beethoven, Bach, and others adds such a perfect touch to the mood of each scene. For a show set in a "Classic Literature Club" (where, ironically, they rarely talk about literature), I couldn’t imagine a more fitting score. All in all, even after all these years, Hyouka remains a solid 9/10 for me.

Want an easy life in a fantasy world after being reincarnated? Just have kids! Suddenly, you're living better than the average young Japanese salaryman, and the gods throw in a full zoo of magical creatures to keep the little ones entertained. What follows is a carefree stroll through this new world—no tension, no challenges, just endless gifts. Sure, it all feels completely unearned, but who cares, right? This attempt at a light and cozy fantasy quickly fell apart for me. Everything went so smoothly that it became mind-numbingly boring. Each episode was just more of the same—traveling from place to place with nothing truly exciting happening. The humor felt childish, and while the show desperately tried to be cute, the twins with their simultaneous exclamations ("That's a door!" "That's a treasure!") started to feel as grating as watching Teletubbies while hungover. The main character didn’t help either, being yet another bland "perfect dad" type, simply collecting rewards for doing the bare minimum. The animation wasn't anything special either—plenty of bright colors, sure, but the action scenes felt like someone was moving paper cutouts across the screen. Backgrounds were often lazily drawn too. That said, if you treat it like a light Sunday afternoon cartoon for kids, it probably works just fine. In the end, this show clearly wasn’t for me. If the goal was to make me think about starting a family, well, Alan and Elena failed spectacularly—my only takeaway was a headache. 4/10

Honobu Yonezawa has already proven that he can write compelling everyday mysteries set in high school, with great characters to match. His work on Hyoka left a strong impression on me, and I still love the main character’s energy-saving philosophy: "If I don't have to do something, I won't. But if I have to, I'll do it as quickly as possible." So naturally, I couldn't miss Shoshimin Series, and it’s no surprise that I’m really enjoying it. The first few episodes left me a little unsure as I got to know the characters and their desire to be “normal” while discovering why they feel they aren’t. The series offers a range of quirky everyday mysteries—like figuring out how someone made three cups of cocoa without a way to heat the milk, or where a missing dessert went. But each half of the season had a deeper storyline that slowly unfolded, helping us understand the main duo and the real heart of the show. Compared to Hyoka, this feels even more intimate and low-key. I was thrilled to solve a couple of the mysteries alongside the characters. Visually, it’s stunning in places, and Lapin Track did a fantastic job with the animation. And the finale? The way everything unraveled left me excited for the already announced sequel. Overall, I’m really satisfied, though that slower start has me giving it an 8/10 for now. Still, it's well on its way to reaching the top tier for me.

The future is all about AI and sexy robots, apparently. According to Japanese legends, robo-girls will eventually replace real women, and no man will ever be lonely again (though humanity might just happily go extinct). I can kind of get behind this idea in a futuristic, progressive way—after all, I have a pretty close relationship with my fridge, though I’ve never thought about putting anything in it besides food... That said, if I were to pick my own robo-girlfriend, I’d definitely go for an upgraded model like Super Mina over the older version. Seeing robo-girls with exposed parts doesn’t appeal to me; I’d rather leave a little to the imagination. Plus, the close-up shots of the robot girl’s camera eyes were more creepy than cute. Alright, enough jokes. While I have my reservations about human-robot relationships, I get that some people are desperate and may even crave something artificial. Putting the whole robot thing aside, what I found was a pretty laid-back series with likable characters (even Mamoru, who’s actually kind of adorable). I even found myself rooting for the main duo. So, overall, it's watchable, visually decent, and the music's not bad. As a romance, it only half works, with some awkward moments, but as a slice-of-life show with a unique family setup, it was actually pretty enjoyable. 5.8/10.