Jeoffrey

Kenjiro Hata follows up Hayate the Combat Butler with another romantic comedy, however, this time it is more romantic than a comedy. The two main characters get married very quickly although given the fact that they are both rather shy the changes in their relationship move at the pace of a small, clumsy puppy. Also, do not expect any suspense, as user Scalpelexis writes, this show is about the ordinary and commonplace things that lead to gradual bonding, so the only real problem is the main female protagonist‘s sister's incredibly lame attempts to break up the relationship, although that only lasts for a few episodes. Even subject matter that gives other romantic comedies a more dramatic edge, such as love rivals, is dealt with immediately within a matter of minutes in Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You. So, the main focus is on the central couple, who are interesting in their own way, and maybe even endearing to some. However, for people expecting something deeper and more interesting than a naively sweet romantic anime series, it is actually going to seem quite boring. The main male protagonist is somewhere between a curmudgeonly virgin and a rather likable young man who is not afraid to say what he thinks, wants, and feels. The main female protagonist is a peculiar, yet run-of-the-mill type of girl, and also in many ways wife material (caring, hardworking, understanding...), which is what any normal man would probably want, and also has no problem saying exactly what she thinks, wants and feels. This brings me to something I find interesting in Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You which goes beyond many other romances in anime - the two main protagonists talk openly with each other about their feelings, emotions, their joys and their sorrows. There is no never-ending cringe-fest where one character is unable to tell the other what they think and how they feel. There is no agonizing waiting until the last episode for them to kiss. The couple here simply have a healthy and functioning relationship, showing how important communication is, and in my opinion, how to do it right. Honesty will get you the furthest and relationships must be based on trust! In my opinion, this is what this couple demonstrates to perfection and it is refreshing to watch them interact with each other, even though it is often naive and childishly innocent (unbelievably so for a male protagonist who is twenty years old and a female protagonist who is sixteen years old). I thought that the pacing was just right so the small and gradual development of the romance actually felt quite right and therefore I found this show interesting and enjoyable. I did not find it very amusing, some of the jokes were pretty stupid, however, in the end, they actually suited the overall mood of the show. This anime series is for hopeless romantics and those looking for a naive, almost fairy-tale recipe for a happy marriage... 6/10.

Before the start of the second season of The Ancient Magus' Bride, I figured it was time to refresh my memory of its world. I realized that except for a few characters and a vague notion of what it's about, I don't remember much about the series after five years. Well, after this three-part OVA, I'm starting to remember what I liked and didn't like about The Ancient Magus' Bride. Just like the series, the OVA looks good visually, although the animation is no longer done by the Wit animation studio but by the newly founded Studio Kafka. It does have some ties to Wit Studio including a few former employees, but this change doesn't mean any significant drop in animation quality. It's still quite nice to look at. What I enjoy about this series is the various supernatural creatures, of which there are a few in this OVA as well, plus the Wild Hunt as a bonus. The problem I have with The Ancient Magus' Bride in general, though, and this OVA hasn't changed my opinion, is the fact that the creators didn’t quite sell me on the world or build a strong story around it that I would find captivating enough. I wasn’t really affected by what I saw. Some emotional response came only at the very end, but it was minimal. I understand what the story was supposed to be about, and the message I was supposed to take away from it concerning the asthmatic boy and his new friend, but still, I don’t think I’ll remember more than just a few characters and a vague idea of what it was all about in a few weeks. Like the series, it just didn’t affect me. There was something missing, a certain charm. The setting itself was more interesting than what happened in it. For me, it was only slightly above average, 5.5/10 at most.

It looked so beautiful, however, it was mostly just so… hollow and empty... 5.5/10.

To be perfectly honest I was not expecting anything much from this anime series, and I was not really particularly impressed with the first few episodes. There is definitely at least one anime series also featuring an OP main female protagonist with extraordinary abilities that has overall similar mood and this series was better and more entertaining, and that is Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense. Plus, aside from the all-pervasive bear theme including the costume, there is really nothing all that unique about this show. This is because the show is really just about someone who (in their world) has extraordinary abilities and deals with increasingly dangerous menaces one after another, in more and more absurd ways (which leaves more and more of the supporting characters in awe). It is a template used by nine out of ten modern fantasy isekai. Eventually, though, I got used to it and even grew to like this anime series in the end. The atmosphere is pleasant, calm, and carefree. I started liking the main female protagonist, and I really liked the motivation behind a lot of her actions, whether they were based on her selfishness (like needing to be comfortable and having her favorite food) or the kind-heartedness with which she always chose to help the smaller and weaker characters. So, in the end, I certainly do not regret spending my time getting to know Yuna. While I do not really care about the ubiquitous bears everywhere and I could easily do without them as the show’s USP, the interactions between Yuna and her "fan club" and the building of the relationships are quite enjoyable, and the overall feeling I got from the show actually significantly increased my final rating. It was good, maybe even a little more than just good, and I am awarding this a strong three stars... 6.4/10.

Adventure, comedy, fantasy and romance, these were the genres AniChart promised me. There was no mention of it being a mega-harem/ecchi anime series. On the other hand, it was clear from the first few episodes, even though I had not expected it to grow to such crazy proportions. Episodes ten and eleven are simply a powerhouse and a reward for fans of both genres to properly enjoy. However, I have concluded, mainly because of all the fan service and its density per episode, that I do not really need to see the conclusion, as I already know how it will be. The dialogues kill me, the interaction between all the girls and the totally futile main male protagonist Touya Mochizuki kills me, and the only thing that is missing to make it perfect is nosebleeds and the main male protagonist getting beaten up every time he gets into some always completely unwanted situation. An active group of girls hanging around Touya, sighing about how great he is, chiding him when he does not pay enough attention to them and competing for his attention - well, it is like a henhouse, and it gives me a headache after prolonged viewing. I like cute little girls and I am no stranger to the harem, though this is a shouty extreme show full of utterly insane dialogues and I just do not understand what someone as insipid as Touya actually does to deserve it. I guess it has to be how freaking cool he is, how nice he is, how he helps everyone, and how smart he is. Well, yeah, but only if he did not have virtually unlimited skills and abilities from the deity, especially his smartphone. That smartphone, which is practically useless because with his unlimited abilities he could easily do without it and figure out some new special magic to save everyone, he does that more than half the time anyway. However, because smartphones are just cool and trendy now, and they are cramming them into games so you can take a selfie with the main male protagonist during a zombie apocalypse, for example, and they help you figure things out, it is no wonder we need them in this show too. This is just a commercial shitfest trying to please everyone and trying to introduce us to another anime series set in a fantasy world. After all, that is very cool right now too. Anyway, it is really an incredibly eye-popping rip-off of, say, the aforementioned KonoSuba, except that the main male protagonist does not have the chops to finish half the jokes or be amusing at all. In other words, Touya is an example of what Kazuma would look like if he were a boring trope from the "ordinary student" category in any ecchi anime series, and the worst version of someone who is extremely upright, honest, hard-working and also gifted with godlike powers. Because Touya will save everyone, Touya will wrap everyone around his finger, even though Touya is not going to take advantage of anything, he is just going to act like a bull in a china shop and let his mega-harem grow bigger every episode without realizing he actually has one until the girls themselves just give it to him straight. Plus, by making the main protagonist the chosen one, a fantasy reincarnation of Chuck Norris and MacGyver combined, there is not a second of worrying about anyone or anything to get you pumped up - by which I mean that it is also, unfortunately, incredibly boring. Plus, the main male protagonist pulls problem solving out of his hat like rabbits and I am just waiting for him to make a bomb out of shit. This anime series just has nothing to offer me besides quite likable animation, and I stupidly believed for so long (it is supposed to be a fantasy adventure...) that it would get better (no, it got worse!). If you like ecchi and harem anime series and have never seen another Isekai anime series (or you are dreaming of a show that is a combination of all of the above), then you have just about found a five-star treasure. If you want adventure, romance, comedy (ok, with comedy it is the sense of humor that matters), an interesting and complex narrative, or maybe even character development, then run as far away from this as possible. I did it at the last possible moment. Dropped at episode eleven and 1/10 - purely for the animation.

Playing golf is an enjoyable and fun outdoor pastime. On the other hand, watching a golf game on TV is usually pretty boring. So, I guess I should appreciate anything that can make golf on TV appealing and entertaining. Well, yeah, but even after thirteen episodes, I'm still trying to figure out if it’s appealing because it's a decent sports shonen anime that reminded me of the early days of Megalobox for some reason, or if it's because the writers were sneakily pandering to my baser instincts and used a lot of hidden sexual tension, yuri bait, and fan service. You don’t have to go further than the opening to encounter scenes where the two main characters are subtly making ahegao faces in the background, which says a lot about the show. Plus, some dialogues and situations in the show are more like a horny teenager’s wet dream than a sports anime. "And what can you offer me in return? --- My body!" But maybe I'm wrong and it’s not like that at all. Well, I'm going to check out the second season to decide if I like or dislike it. So far, I’m giving it a 5/10. SPOILER ALERT The beginning intrigued me, although I found the mafia games a bit far-fetched. I also found it hard to believe that Eve arrives in Japan somehow mysteriously speaking the language without it being explained. "You speak Japanese? – Yeah, I guess so..." Plus, she's immediately accepted into an elite golf school with no problem using forged papers. END OF SPOILER The whole story progression just needs to be taken with a massive pinch of salt. The golf itself is nice and colorful, there are even some strokes named like in the most typical sports anime. I also grew quite fond of some of the characters, including the main pair. I like the animation style too (especially the characters). The setting (golf courses) sometimes looks a bit artificial and empty, though.

Have you ever had a cat? If you have, then you may very well see yourself in some of these situations. The writers have managed to capture quite accurately some typical cat habits and things you get to experience when you’re a cat owner. The episodes are only about a minute long, but it's still enough to put a smile on my face and remind me that cats have a personality, and they are generous enough to allow people to live with them...6.8/10

Everyone has problems, Japan in particular, and this series satirizes the hell out of them, perhaps even more intensely this season. It's beginning to dawn on me that the majority of all the plots in Retsuko are partially about the characters, but mainly an attempt to portray Japan and what the creator believes is wrong with it. While the previous seasons managed to keep some sort of balance between the problems of the heroes and the problems of Japanese society as a whole, the latest season doesn't bother about that and is primarily about holding a mirror up to Japanese society. The voice of Retsuko becomes a vehicle to communicate dissatisfaction with various Japanese traditions. It is made obvious what the particular social problems are, and when the pictures fail to tell the story, it is simply announced that, for example, "Many young and talented people feel trapped in their tiny cubicles..." For someone who is interested in Japan and is familiar with the issues of Japanese society, traditions, and family, this series will work quite well as an interesting satire, as they will understand most of what's going on and what's being referenced. If you couldn’t care less about Japan, you'll at least be able to relate to Handy and his crisis as many of us (myself included) have been through something like that at some point. However, it will be much harder to relate to the other characters’ problems, and you might find the political conclusion to the series boring, weird, and maybe even far-fetched. Now that the series is over, I think it probably provided the Japanese with a lot to think about, but there’s no major takeaway for me this time... 6.5/10

I avoid certain kinds of anime because they're just not my thing, and mecha is one of them. Robots that fight and “go boom" don’t impress me any longer, and there are only a few exceptions to the genre that I've given a chance and even fewer that have really grabbed my attention. With most mecha anime I’m either put off by the trailer, or I drop the series after having seen the first episode because I just fail to see the appeal... I'm also rarely influenced by someone's recommendation. I usually form my own opinion. In this case, however, I was already intrigued by the trailer, and like Gigguk, an anime YouTuber, I noticed the excellent animation of the robots which is very detailed and almost doesn't rely on a computer at all. Gigguk even made me believe that this could really be the Gundam that will attract anime fans who know nothing about it. The story seems to stand apart from the whole crazy Gundam storyline. Gigguk hyped this series so intensely based on the trailer that I decided to give it a try (3-episode rule). The prologue came out well in advance, which gave me a better idea of the show, and I was hooked. The excellent suspenseful prologue introduces the setting and immediately raises serious moral dilemmas that the series is going to tackle. It made me believe that there would be something besides the big fighting robots - something that would keep me interested and make me enjoy the show. It only seemed that way, though. The very next episode, that is, episode one, is already quite different from the prologue. It looks like a standard "special academy", only this time with big robots. The problems that I expected to be solved here are tackled by students. I expected this weird combination to fall apart quickly. I didn’t think I’d find it convincing that a bunch of students could make a difference in a complex society ruled by powerful corporations. And yeah, sometimes it doesn't really work for me, for example when a bunch of students start their own company that immediately becomes a powerful player on the market – you have to take it with a massive pinch of salt. On the other hand, it does hold together and delivers what I expected from the series, i.e., ambiguous and complex problems (moral, social, psychological...) and some similarly complex and thought-provoking answers and solutions that are far from black and white. Some of the situations are done for effect, but the authors manage to pull them off, and I found many scenes truly moving and memorable (such as the ending of the first season). What I found striking were the main characters. It's not just their interactions with each other and their budding relationship, but also their individual personalities. I can’t tell you if I agree with Meon, another YouTuber, that this is "Utena in space" because I haven't seen Utena, but the chemistry between the two protagonists and the gradual and natural development of their relationship, including all the sticks the characters throw under each other's feet, is something I find endearing. I also quickly grew fond of Suletta. This girl clearly can't communicate with people very well, and I really enjoy watching her develop, try to make her dreams come true at school, and gradually overcome various obstacles that life has in store for her. The series is also very good in terms of animation. Unexpectedly, I even had fun watching the big robot fights and all the effects around them. They do have a certain atmosphere and drive. Plus, the visuals are often truly gorgeous and unforgettable (like the ending of the first standard episode). The music isn't bad either, and I liked the opening. I never thought I’d say this, but I'm really enjoying Gundam and looking forward to the second season in April 2023. While it’s not perfection like Code Geass or Gurren Lagan, it’s a very strong 4* for me.

I really enjoyed the second season and found it even more thrilling and interesting than the first. I was hooked a few minutes into the first episode when everything got so wonderfully messed up. It’s a hell of a ride that doesn't let up until the very end. The stakes are high throughout, the story is wonderfully epic and doesn’t fail to surprise you, the characters are well-developed and it’s full of excellent humor. Sure, I could complain about the use of several plot clichés typical of fantasy stories (you know exactly what's going to happen at certain points), or the poorly animated dragons that sometimes look oddly artificial, but I’m not going to because all the plot clichés work exactly as they’re supposed to, and the dragons do look scary in the right moments. Everything works as it should, the fights are intense, and the setting is imaginative (I was really impressed by the strange magical realm that we were offered a peek into). Even the music is great so I can’t go below 9/10 and I'm looking forward to the next season.