Jeoffrey

This review contains SPOILERS that will reveal everything about this anime! Do not read on if you do not wish to know. Of course, this show is a fairy tale, from the beginning to the end, with the only non-fairy-tale moment being the end of the ninth episode. If only a pink unicorn had run under that rainbow at the very end, then it would have been "perfect". Well, what is this all about, dear children? This show is about good, honest, and righteous Theo who is wandering the world with his big plan and steely determination. However, alas, he has absolutely no idea how to achieve what he has set out to do. Oh, and this also is a tale about a beautiful, intelligent, and strong woman who is not happy with the fate that has been chosen for her. Therefore, there is the one who knows what he wants, although he does not know how to achieve it. He meets a woman who does not know what she wants; however, because of how intelligent she is, she can achieve anything. They are the perfect couple! And so the whole world is shaking at its foundations, and all the problems are being resolved until it is time to add a romantic subplot. Then their grand plans have to take a back seat for a while because what kind of prince would Theo be if he was not willing to give up everything for his princess? Which, if I remember correctly, pissed a lot of people off. It annoyed people because the love story just did not seem logical at the time and contradicted all the strategies going on in the plot. Plus, the main two protagonists were not the only ones with a plan; there were others, like the sad princess with big eyes and a long tragic backstory. She failed to marry Prince Charming, the wedding was a disaster, so everyone could understand that this sucks. She is furious and determined, and she would do anything for her vision of an ideal society. Anything! And so we have reached the end of the ninth episode... This moment annoyed another section of the audience because it was in incredible contrast with all the fairy tale stuff going on up to that point. It was perhaps too realistic, and surprisingly for me, it made perfect sense! However, even this princess eventually succumbs to the plot armor of Theo. He comes along with Prince Charming and forgives everyone, and even in a battle the prince shows what beautiful things he can paint in the "dust". There is also Holy Maiden Maria, a martyr who joins Theo along the way. We do not get to know her until almost the end. However, that is just to show us what a martyr she is and to martyr herself and fall in a "terribly unexpectedly" way for the greater good. In the end, Theo defeats the terrible secret conspiracy. These evil overlords ruined Prince Charming and the princess's wedding. He also defeats a demon (okay, it is actually a vampire) because demons are always behind everything, and the ideal antagonists, for the sole purpose of learning another unexpected piece of information about how it is all going to end badly and get a moralistic thumbs up. Of course, our hero Theo is not scared of that either. So it ends with a wedding and retirement to the vineyard, probably because even Geralt of Rivia thinks this is a good ending. And now the fairy tail about Little Red Riding Hood... So, this show is basically a fairy tale, or perhaps it is a very naive and not very good fantasy show. The main male protagonist is really irritating because of his incompetence. Also, apart from bullshitting about his ideals, he could not come up with anything himself, in my opinion. On the other hand, there are other characters like Lassic David, who actually has balls. He is a character who beats a one-eyed cyclops in one of the ugliest (animated) fight scenes I have seen this year. Luckily, there is still the bear from Golden Kamuy, which beats it. Poor old Theo seems more like the kind of cute yappy dog that Siluca keeps on a leash. This girl Siluca is adorable - she is also strong and capable, and you do not see that so often - I found her likable. The female characters in this show are generally much more active, stronger, and more engaging than their male counterparts. So, enough about what it was like, now to talk about what I liked about it - I mostly took it as a mediocre fantasy B-movie. However, after the sickeningly sweet ending with the totally unexpected morality tale packed into it, I feel kind of annoyed. So, that means I am pretty much saying in effect that I am probably too old for such fairy tales. If the whole world fell into the shadows, I would give it three stars, but since they lit the place up, tough luck. Record of Grancrest War is a below-average fantasy show, an average fairy tale, and a below-average anime series, 4/10.

Special academies and girls fighting mysterious creatures are my "favorite" subject matter! However, I have to say that this anime series is actually not bad; it is even relatively easy to watch, and it does not feature a lot of unnecessary fan service. The narrative, while not being precisely brilliant, is nevertheless relatively straightforward in the first half and because of the true identity of the villain, it is even quite entertaining. I clearly thought I would award the first half three stars, and I would even rate it good (like 6/10). Admittedly, I felt like I was in trouble during the first episode. As I mentioned in the first sentence, I do not enjoy this subject matter (the quotation marks there meant I was being ironic, in case you missed that). This particular show starts with a tournament (which can sometimes be a lengthy and tedious sequence for an anime series as well). However, everything is quickly and surprisingly resolved, and the storyline, which is then introduced, seems entirely original and even enjoyable. SPOILERS Then there is some chasing around, some characters trying to convince others what is actually happening, and then there is the final confrontation END OF SPOILERS. Well, if it ended there, I would have been relatively satisfied and would not even have to think about the rating. However, the second half came along, which strikes me as a kind of ham-fisted narrative setup. It practically just repeats the formula from the first half of the season in a much more complicated way, with a few tweaks and twists that are pretty predictable. In other words, I simply had the feeling that the second half of the season was rather pointless. I mean, I legitimately thought much less of the show (like 4/10), however... When I compare this anime series to other special academy shows, this show is clearly above-average. Concerning the characters, I cannot say any of the girls were particularly irritating, even though I did not fall in love with any of them either. So, the characters were basically OK. I enjoyed the fight scenes; the katana fights were good-looking and were decently choreographed. The fight scenes with the aradama were also OK, so overall the fight scenes were all good. I have probably talked enough about the narrative; however, to sum it up - it was not brilliant, even though it was interesting at times. Yes, it had a few (but really only a few) surprising moments. So giving a bad rating would be unfair on my part, however... If I were simply comparing it to how much I enjoyed all the other anime series I have watched, I would not award this show more than three stars. However, I am awarding the first half of the season 6/10 and the second half of the season 4/10. Putting the two together makes an average score of 5/10 for the whole season.

This was an average fairy tale that was neither bad nor was it entertaining. As far as the animation is concerned, I was most surprised by the repetitive inclusion of the first-person point-of-view shots. For example, unlike the slow-motion animation mentioned by others, I have never seen this in an animated movie before. It was so strange, sometimes a bit rushed (especially the ending) with a narrative that could perhaps entertain a child. In contrast, a grown-up probably would not find it very interesting. 5/10.

The fundamental problem with this anime series, at least for some audiences, is that Hinamatsuri is quite different from what it first appears to be. In the first episode, a young girl appears out of nowhere, has superpowers, and acts like some sort of sophisticated combat organism sent into the past to change the future. In other words, it really is a parody (not only) of Terminator, confirmed by the final scene where the parody is quite obvious. However, it becomes very quickly apparent in the later episodes that this is no science fiction or action anime series, and there is not even going to be a complex narrative here. It is not even much of a comedy, though the opening episode with its parody would suggest that. Despite all of that, it is still quite entertaining. In fact, Hinamatsuri ends up being one of those enjoyable and likable anime series that focuses on its characters and their relationships and manages to make the viewer happy with the pleasant and fun interactions between them. The whole thing is simply delightful to watch and just so heart-warming. This is one of those anime series that one reviewer writes "smiling throughout the whole episode", it felt like that all the time - at least to me. I mean, some will be disappointed that they "only" get short atmospheric episodes instead of a complex narrative. Lyrical instead of epic. In other words, this show is not for everyone. However, I guess I am lucky that this anime series really hit the spot. Some viewers found only wasted potential, repetitive jokes, a boring slice of life anime series, and forgettable characters. On the other hand, I found something amusing, often human and incredibly pleasant, with excellent characters. It is hard to choose a favorite from the characters. It could be Hina, the little bartender Hitomi, or the anguished and conscientious Anzu. Even though I did not see much of her, it could even be even Mao, whom I found intriguing. All of their narratives indiscriminately caught my imagination; some with Anzu even moved me. In other words, I found this anime series really worked. Oh, and it is not just the child characters that I am going to remember; I really do not think I am going to forget Nitta or Utako in a year. I felt that the comedy worked too, and it worked from the very first episode. The ending of first episode and the Terminator parody put a big and sincere smile on my face, especially. However, I did not stop smiling even when it changed from being primarily a comedy. As for the criticism about repetitive jokes, I will just add that it does not matter how many times a joke is told, but rather how it is delivered. If I had a problem with repetitive jokes, I probably could not have fallen in love with Gintama. What I can relate to is the criticism that the soundtrack and even animation are sub-par. However, I did not notice this so much because it was suitable and still sufficient for the purpose of this anime series. The quality of the soundtrack and animation simply did not affect me = did not spoil the impression. Personally speaking, Hinamatsuri is a well-produced piece of work that I enjoyed a lot. I think it is one of the best anime series of Spring 2018 releases. It is quite possibly the winning show of this anime season, even with only four stars - 8.3/10.

Okay, so I found that the last two episodes managed to move me, so I cannot award an average rating. Otherwise, I am going to say right off the bat that Kaoruko Moeta, aka Kaos, is the cutest character I have seen from the entirety of this spring's releases. In addition, she improved my experience of watching this anime series. In other words, I had the exact opposite experience from what my colleague Hellierer described. Kaos is a case of a completely tragic and weepy cute character who evokes deep sympathies in me, and then when I see how hard she tries, I feel like I just have to root for her. Then, when she succeeds, I am really moved, proud and satisfied. I call it the Yurika effect because I first experienced this with the eponymous character in the anime Invaders of the Rokujouma!?. So, I really enjoyed the whole Kaos thing; I found her really entertaining, even though I understand that not everyone can tolerate that much cuteness, because people have different taste (for example, I cannot stand weeping, sobbing, effeminate boys, or "traps"...). As for the rest of it, it was interesting to watch the girls, who were practically living representations of the tropes that symbolize the style of manga they are devoted to. So, for example, there is the creepy horror writer, the mature-for-her-age erotica author, etc. I also liked the animation and the soundtrack. Sure, some of the jokes were not that funny; I did not always have fun or find it interesting. However, because of the above-mentioned fact that it moved me, in the end, I am awarding this show 6.8/10.

This is what you get when you have an elaborate and complicated fantasy world that features different nations with complicated relationships. However, you have very little screen time to present it all. Take all that combined with a sophisticated narrative focusing not only on the characters but also on the politics, the fight scenes, the love story, and who knows what else? In summary - this show is a mess! This project had a lot of potential, and this could have been an above-average fantasy anime series, at least. Suppose there was room and opportunity to introduce us in the plot correctly and have good exposition. Suppose it had a complex and adult narrative with all the politics and relationships between factions, nations, and even individual characters. Perhaps it would have then been better. In its paper version, i.e., the original novella, this narrative may possibly have those qualities, although that being said, the anime adaptation is a failure. There is too much information crammed into a small space. A lot of things are poorly explained, and some are not explained at all. I was lost in the layout of the world it is set in, the different factions and their motivations, and I was supposed to be following the politics and scheming, too? They  introduced the characters rather poorly and the world it is set in and its rules still largely escape me too. In other words, I have been left confused, and I doubt a second viewing would help me sort it out; furthermore, I do not think I would want to watch it again. It could have been great - the main protagonists, narrative, and setting had potential, but in the end - meh... 4.3/10.

Love is hard for otaku, love is hard for everyone, so why, after watching this anime series, do I get the impression that it is not that hard with an adult perspective and some humor and tolerance? Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku is a likable spring romantic comedy that works in all aspects. It easily puts both an amused smile on my face and the kind of goofy expression that accompanies something pleasant and endearing. The main credit for this goes to the characters, who are excellent. Hirotaka is cool, Narumi is cute, and the other couple (Hanako and Tarou) are likable and quite funny. The most important thing is that I liked all four characters and enjoyed watching them - the chemistry between the characters works. There is a spark between the two main protagonists. After eleven episodes you can see that theirs is a relationship that was initially just based on the fact that they both have similar interests and have known each other since childhood. This meant that they did not have to pretend in front of each other, this couple evolved and grew, and you could see that they liked each other. Well, the other couple is again an excellent example of teasing. Relationships like this can be intense, especially when it involves two temperamental personalities; it makes it look like the proverbial blowing hot and cold. The reconciliation and those moments of peace, the kissing, and making up are just worth it. Well, in other words, the relationships are emotionally charged, and they are presented quite realistically. Combined with the fact that each character is an otaku (or, if you want, each character has a hobby bordering on obsession), there is a lot to follow. There is no shortage of entertaining situations - a pleasant 8.1/10.

Best Tokyo Ghoul  season? Well, I donť think so! I am sorry; but I found the brainwashed Kaneki living under the identity of Haise Sasaki quite boring. His entire Quinx Squad was full of characters I could not relate to over the course of twelve episodes. So then, when someone in the show was in danger or even died, I was left completely cold, and it did nothing for me. I was expecting suspense and great controversy since the former ghoul was now an investigator. I was expecting characters from Kaneki's past to make imaginative and interesting attempts to bring back Kaneki's memory. In addition to that, I was somewhat disappointed, probably most of all, that one of my favorite characters, Gourmet, was reduced to a wreck for most of the season. He only woke up towards the end to achieve what? Well, even the rest of my favorite ensemble from the previous seasons were just there. They belong in this world, and their turns are probably still waiting for them, even though that could only happen next season. I did not enjoy watching the narratives and investigations from the other side. The best bit was probably the auction part and then the season finale itself, where at least something was finally concluded. So, I can say that after this rather mediocre and uninteresting season, I am at least looking forward to the next one. However, the storytelling was quite good; everything was presented clearly and understandably. The action and fight scenes were again full of gore, with so many severed limbs. Well, all the nice things for some people. All in all, it is a real shame that I enjoyed the fight scenes, even though I could not care about the people in them this time... 5.5/10.

Occasionally I come across a really weird anime series like this one. It leaves me kind of not sure what to think about it. So let me start with what I do know. I liked the animation, it was cute enough, and the girls in it were adorable. I most certainly did not feel like skipping the opening because I liked it, it was nice and fresh. Well, that is it. As for the rest of it, I have to admit that this was such an extraordinary and random show. The show tries to combine several different types of humor and the punchlines to the jokes in such a way that my head could not even register whether it thought any of it was actually funny, and, more importantly, whether I really got it at all. In other words, there were jokes that I would have understood if I had known the Japanese language in a more proficient way, and could have appreciated the way they played with words and inflections. Unfortunately, however, my ignorance meant that it all went over my head. There were jokes full of allusions to yuri, young girls' desires to touch each other, and they often ended up seeming like ecchi. That is to say, they were not successful (and were sometimes punished) and basically provided a kind of spoken fan service (even though it is hardly visible). What do I mean? Take the classic discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of large breasts (including repeated efforts to touch them). This time it is enriched with the new, novel, and strange observations by the girls themselves (she fell because she could not see the stairs because of her massive breasts! Her tie got soaking wet because it was sticking out too much on her enormous breasts!). In other words, that is how you could process data too, and I guess that is what it is all about. It is all about processing data and finding new, unexpected, and totally weird associations. So that brings us to the next set of jokes. Such jokes leave you wondering: "Why and how did they come up with this now." Well, almost every time you think this, there is no answer. This is because everything is so incredibly random in places that I felt like I was watching an episode of South Park where it turns out that the jokes for the popular show (Family Guy) are created by manatees pulling balls with words on them out of a swimming pool. So, for a substantial part of the show, I felt like I was listening to a conversation like --- "It is nice outside." --- "Why?" - "Because of THE DIGGER!" - "Why The Digger?" - "Because it is digging? - Why is it digging?" - "Because it is nice outside!" --- Even my playground metaphor makes more sense in some cases than what you see on the screen here. In other words, this anime series is very unusual, if only by the composition of the central three protagonists. We get not one but two girls who could be described as "crazy and carefree"! I have never seen this before, and it is a killer combination that only emphasizes the overall "random nonsense" effect I felt so intensely from this anime series. It is weird, random, and crazy, although it is also full of energy. When I was watching it, my mood was relatively positive despite everything I saw. Plus, I even smiled at times (often because I was embarrassed, sometimes because I did not get what was going on, and once perhaps even because it was sweet and I was amused.). In addition, who am I to say that if I could not understand something, it has to mean that it is terrible? What if I just could not get the genius behind this show - maybe I missed a lot of critical information, or I have been processing the data wrong all along... 6/10.

Was this season really better than the first? In many ways, yes, it was. For example, the characters are given much more screen time and show a much more comprehensive range of emotions and decision-making. This character development means the audience can get more into them, as they now have the necessary depth compared to the first season. It works out quite well because you might even find the commander of Gilgamesh's expeditionary force likable, and because of his acquaintance with a robot Lolita, he eventually achieves redemption and touches everyone's heart. Furthermore, the narrative is appropriately wrapped up, so the audience can feel the satisfaction they did not get in the first half. That is to say; you can finally experience the satisfaction of seeing a conclusion to wrap up the fates of the main protagonists. For the most part, it really does provide what someone like me wants for the characters. There is only one major exception that I can live with because of what happened in the first season. As far as the plot is concerned, it is a bit more convoluted than the first season; however, you could consider this an advantage because of the fact that I previously criticized how too straightforward it was. However, the honest truth is that I did not enjoy the "mish-mash" approach to this show that much. In the beginning, I found it still quite entertaining, and even in the third episode, I welcomed all the movie references (the countdown like in 24 Hours, the Star Wars-like Lando betrayal, and the Shawshank Redemption-like prison break plan). However, then the killer robots appeared, and I thought to myself that this just did not fit as well as the final confrontation with the goddess. I am certainly familiar with fantasy anime series where similar elements are present, like the Might and Magic role-playing video games series I mentioned in the review of the previous season (because  for example in MaM VI, we find out that one of the pyramids is concealing a spaceship...). However, I am not always into that combination, and here it struck me as rather odd and out of place. Likewise, the whole main plotline concerning what the Tower of Druaga represents and its connection to the facts, the gods, and the individual characters was probably meant to surprise me, floor me, and keep me interested; I do not know. However, I simply remained calm, like, "well, OK". Back to the beginning and the question - is it better than the first season? To sum it up, the answer is yes, even though I immediately have to ask a second question - did I enjoy it more than the first season? Well, the fact is that yes, I indeed did, just not that much. 6.4/10.