Hellsing Review

Hellsing is my favorite manga of all time. It combines a fun story, memorable characters, quirky humor, stylish art, and unrelenting gore and brutality all into one little paper back graphic novel.
So naturally, you'd think that the manga would make an awesome anime. Well, Chiaki J. Konaka and Umanosuke Iida thought so too and took it upon themselves to make an anime based off the popular series. In many ways, they succeeded. But they also failed...

The anime was released in 2001, long before the manga series would be complete. So they were forced to come up with their own story, completely unrelated to the manga (save for a few key plot points). This potentially is a pretty cool idea and allows room for originality, but the story in the anime is very hit and miss. There were times I was really enjoying the series and other times that I was flat out bored. I felt that the story just dragged and was often times pointless.
The story also lacks a key element that makes Hellsing so great, and that's the humor. This anime takes itself very seriously, but it loses heart doing so.
I've heard many times from fellow fans that the anime is just poor a fanfiction, and I can't say I disagree.

The animation is just plain ugly, even by TV anime standards. The characters are all poorly drawn, the colors are bland and ugly, and animation is smooth but suffers from choppiness. Visually, this is a lifeless anime. And that's all I can really say about it.

The soundtrack and voice acting is the anime's highlight. The soundtrack is nothing short of wonderful. The jazz tracks really set you in the mood for the series and I'd go as far as saying that the actual album is worth they buy. The voice acting was also very good. Crispin Freeman, K. T. Gray, Victoria Harwood, Steven Brand, Ralph Lister, and the rest of the cast did such an excellent job voicing their characters.

All the characters themselves were great, but the one character that truly stands out in the series is Seras. Her character is really fleshed out and you got to know her alot more then you did in the manga. Alucard was great, but he really becomes more of a prop in the background then anything else. The shows villain 'Incognito' was just... blah. He was kinda cool, but can't hold a candle to the manga's villain 'The Major'.

Overall, this is just simply an okay anime. Nothing rememberable or even exciting. It's not bad really, but it isn't great either. And to be perfectly blunt, this fails to live up to Kouta Hirano's vision. In recent years, they've rebooted the series with 'Hellsing Ultimate', an OVA series that is almost panel by panel like the manga's. I highly recommend you go see the OVA's, those did everything that the TV series couldn't.
If you consider yourself a Hellsing fan, then by all means go see this series. But if you're just entering the Hellsing universe, then I recommend you stay clear of this and go straight onto 'Hellsing Ultimate'.

D.Gray-man Review

On the surface, D. Gray-Man sounds like just another shonen anime with an organization of good guys with special weapons fighting evil monsters. Yeah, that's the base of it, but DGM turns into something more, something deeper than many other shonen anime series. In fact, I feel that it sneaks around seinen territory.

While the setting is standard shonen all the way, you'll find yourself surprised when watching this show. It starts off a bit slow, with many fights, small arcs (~1-4 episodes) and nothing special to it. However, it quickly picks up, and some way into season 2 or 3, DGM starts to show its qualities. The story soon blends in action, emotions and last but not least, realistic power-ups. The story is overall more deep and serious than most shonen anime, and builds up and only gets better towards the end, where it meets it demise with an unfortunate canceling, which, together with its slow start, may ruin the experience of the show for many.

The characters are without a doubt the strongest point of DGM. I mentioned earlier that DGM is sneaking about in seinen territory, and the reason for this is the characters. They don't think "You bastard! I need to suddenly get stronger so I can defeat you" and get stronger and defeat the bad guys. The characters here aren't all about brawling against the evil guys. They have emotions. Emotions which they have to face. And that's what makes it into a semi-seinen series; it's a bit more character-driven and not so much plot-driven.

The animation quality of DGM is also astounding. There's a lot of detail put into the environments, and character designs are great too. Special effects are really great, and the same can be said about lighting effects. When you consider that DGM is a bit dark and serious, the coloring is really great too; it's just as dark as it needs to be to fit in with the series.

The soundtrack is definitely the weakest point of DGM. The background music isn't especially memorable, and not really great. I hope they decide to get a new soundtrack soon so I can get something better. Also, using the same stuff for 100 episodes is a lot. OP and ED themes are okay though, and I like the more heavy style of the OP themes - it fits with the tone of the show. Voice acting and sound effects are great though.

Final thing which I should mention is that the fillers in DGM are actually good. "What fillers?" you may ask if you've watched the show. To be honest, I asked the same question when I first heard that there was a lot of filler in the show. The thought never even came close to my mind. So that's a plus.

All in all, I feel that DGM mixes shonen and seinen into something special and unique. It may not appeal to all shonen fans, but those of you who like more serious action anime will enjoy DGM even more.

Mirai Nikki (TV) Review

What would you do if you had something that told you the future? If you already had all the answers for an upcoming test, or knew how to avoid bully's on the way home from school? What about if it told you were going to die?

Mirai Nikki is a brilliant mix of a Psychological Thriller, Action, and Romance. Yuki is a boy who gains the ability to read the future through his personal diary, which is awesome until he finds out that there are 11 other people who also have their own diary's and are his opponents in a competition to become a god. But thats not all bad, he happens to have someone to protect him. Enter Gasai Yuno, a cute girl who goes to Yuki's school. She also has a future diary, and it turns out she has a bit of a crush on Yuki.... and is an insane psychopathic stalker, or Yandere if you will. The story follows these two as they try to survive in the killing game they've been placed in.

Personally, i think the anime is a 10/10, but for this review i gave it a 9 because of a few small problems in the story.

Story 9 - The story of Mirai Nikki is at its core a Romance, though its so much more than that as well. It explores how ones actions and willpower can change the future and how good people can do go insane or do terrible things because of traumatic experiences. The pacing is fairly fast, but not forced, even when there's no intense action going on, you find yourself on the edge of your seat knowing that an enemy could pop up at any time. I experienced all sort of emotions throughout the anime, fear, happiness, excitement, sadness.The shock value was insane. My reason for a 9 instead of a 10 was that some of the things that happen in the anime are soo over the top ridiculous and unbelievable that i just couldn't reasonably give it a perfect score and that some of the things that happen in the last few episodes get a bit out of hand, you'll see what i mean when you watch it.

Art 10 - Don't know what all there is to say about the Art. It's not the best ive ever seen, but there's no problems with it. The action scenes are fast paced and well animated and the characters all look fine. I see no reason to dock an anime points unless the animation is so miserable that it has negative effects my viewing experience, and one of my favorite animes is Berserk, which is terribly animated.

Sound 10 - The Opening and ending themes are fantastic, and go along perfectly with the anime. The first opening theme is my favorite song of all of them and does a perfect job of maintaining the feel of the anime. The music generally goes very well with the scenes that its played over, especially when Yuno does something awesome.

Character 10 - I would rate this higher if possible. The characters is where Mirai Nikki truly shines. Yuki is a kind of a wimp who has to rely on others to protect him, and ive seen plenty of people complain about this, but in all honesty i think that makes the anime so much better. He's a 14 year old boy thrown into a battle royal with people trying to kill him, I would probly be a bit of a wimp if that happened to me too. He's forced to seek aid from and rely on others in order to survive. And he isnt without redeeming moments either. All the side characters are well developed and have their pasts and motives explained in the story and a few of them are just plain awesome. All that being said, the part of this anime that got me hooked, and the reason its become one of my favorites of all time, is the female lead Gasai Yuno. She's incredibly cute, and incredibly psychopathic, and the perfect yandere. Shes also one of the most unique characters I've ever seen in an anime. Most of the psychological thrills stem from trying to figure out what the heck shes going to do next. At one moment your scared of her, another you can't help but smile at how cute something she does is, then you notice the knife in her hand and your scared of her again. Sometimes you want her to do something insane and at others your shocked about something insane shes doing. She's the selling point on the entire anime for me.

Enjoyment 10 - I couldn't stop watching Mirai Nikki, i watched it over the span of 2 days. And spent the entire day at work the second day anticipating what would happen in the anime after i got home. I have yet to watch an anime that kept me on the edge of my seat to such an extent as Mirai Nikki.

Overall 9 - Mirai Nikki is a great and unique story, the characters are excellent especially Yuno, who is one of the most unique characters ive ever seen in an anime. Mirai Nikki is certainly worth giving a shot.

Kuroshitsuji Review

Holy flippin' A!!! Where to even begin with this anime?! There is so much here that I look for in an anime; I even added it to my favorites list before I was even done watching. It's got beautiful and THICK plot, hidden meanings, a GORGEOUS musical score, wonderful and zany characters, and enough emotional hitting power to make me keep a tissue box handy for those sad and happy tears. This would be my first review to be an absolute 10 in score if there weren't just a few unanswered questions and assumed understanding after everything was said and done. Even with those there, though, this anime is one of the best things I've seen in a while, even better than Hikaru no Go which had be so wrapped up spring break. I'm sad to see it end 'cause I want more of this world, but, on the other hand, I'm glad it's got a definitive ending and isn't really leaving us cliff-hanging.

STORY - 9

The story of this show is something else. There's just so much depth, and it's so cerebral. I'll definitely have to do some re-watching to get all the little nuances and plot points down. I wouldn't recommend this show if you're just looking for some simple anime that would kill an afternoon. This is a thinking anime that touches on a ton of dark and deep issues. You'll also need to be paying close attention to all the plot twists! These little suckers come out of NOWHERE and twist the story into a completely different direction that one would expect. I was left gasping like fish more than once here. For me, that's one of the best aspects of this story is those little plot twists. I never know what I'm going to see when watching something like this. Now that I've mentioned the good, let's talk about why I couldn't give this aspect a perfect 10. After watching the ending, I was left with some unanswered questions regarding some of the details here. While these details didn't sour the complete story for me (hence the 9), they might sour it for someone else. One detail that they didn't address did leave me a bit peeved, but my mind made a connection with another story aspect that I could guess was the answer. If everything had been addressed here, this would have been a DEFINITE perfect 10.

ART - 10

A simple word here. BEAUTIFUL!!!! The animation flows so gorgeously in this anime. From the fight scenes to humorous antics to zany parties to heart-wrenching death scenes, absolutely everything here is flows so smoothly and sweetly. An aspect I noticed a lot in this anime was lighting. I don't see that a lot in anime and found it very appropriate for this title. If the characters were experiencing a dark and horrific scene, shadows and reds played big parts. If they were experiencing light-hearted birthday parties or servant antics, colors were bright, vibrant, and day-filled. Besides just the lighting, the art conveyed the atmosphere so much. It almost seemed to reflect character emotions and fates/destinies as well as set the mood for the anime. You will not be disappointed here! Just a slight warning, though, this anime doesn't shirk from blood. Not that it's gratuitous, every scene with it almost requires it and the blood adds to the atmosphere. But do be warned; I wouldn't let kids watch this.

SOUND - 10

This is the crowning glory in my opinion. Every single piece of music adds to the atmosphere of this anime and leaves a person breathless. It's so haunting...... It's full of fast consistent beats for the fighting, chants and drones for the dark, plot-filled moments, sad female-filled melodies for the gut-wrenchingly sad parts, and a soft operatic finish for the final anime finale. There was use throughout the anime of a really fast beat chanting/droning thing used towards some combat and many plot-revealing scenes that I found particularly innovative and unusual. It added something really unique to an already beautiful track of music. The opening and ending themes fit the anime to a tee; the 2nd ending, Lacrimosa by Kalafina, especially fits the ominous ending the anime is barreling towards when this ending comes in. It's haunting, lyrical, and so emotion-filled. Just beautiful!! Besides the glorious musical score, this anime exhibits very good character voices. I especially loved Sebastian's dark and low voice. I could imagine my demon butler having that voice. *shiver* I can't think of any misplaced vocals at all. Everyone was distinct and complete unto themselves.

CHARACTERS - 9

There were so many hidden depths to most of these characters that absolutely no one seems two-dimensional. Everyone is fleshed out to some degree with emotional back stories and plot twists. Oh the plot twists!! There were a lot where it came to character development. I only wish that there had been equal attention to all characters. For some of them, the viewers were left wishing fervently for more. I personally wished the back stories of the servants at Phantomhive were fleshed out more. We are given some back hints in a few episodes and one episode almost completely devoted to the four of them, but not really a lot and I was curious! Oh well. The gradual building of Ciel's character and his relationship with Sebastian is more than enough to make up for it. There were some characters who I thought I had pegged when something radical happens and their intents and motivations turn in a completely different direction. Again, oh those plot twists!! Gotta love 'em!!

ENJOYMENT - 10

I thoroughly enjoyed this title, unanswered questions and all. My mind can find connections between points where there may be no connection and so I can answer those questions in my own little mind. It was a beautiful and haunting ride that took me on an emotional rollercoaster and through a thorough mind-wringing. There was so much content here, from plot to wacky humor. I loved every bit of it. And the music!! Ack!! I'm going to be haunting ebay and the net in general looking for this OST ASAP!!

OVERALL - 10

I think I pretty much summed it up in the enjoyment section. Everything just came together beautifully and created an anime that has made it to my favorites and re-watchable list. I absolutely adore it and wish there was more!!

Fate/stay night Review

Reading reviews for Fate/stay night (hereafter F/SN) in 2013 or later probably means that, like me, you're considering this series well into its lifespan. By now, there is a prequel series, an alternate story arc film, recap OVAs, specials, character spin-offs, and a forthcoming spin-off series (F/SN meets mahou shoujo... judgment withheld). If, like me, you're considering this series well into its lifespan, you may also be wondering where to start. A quick glance tells you that another series called Fate/Zero (hereafter F/Z) comes first chronologically and second by release order. As this review is written after the completion of both F/SN and its prequel F/Z, it will reference both and be primarily directed at those who have seen neither. The first focus of this review will be to aid you in deciding which you want to watch first and the advantages and disadvantages of either decision. The actual review of the series and what to expect as an adaptation of the source material will follow. To skip past all that junk and go straight to the review, hit Ctrl+F and jump to "---" (without quotes).

The first thing that you should be aware of is that F/SN and F/Z are penned by two different writers and produced by two different studios. Given that, there are differences in characterizations, animation, style, and tone between the two. Some of them are quite subtle. Some will be immediately apparent. Overall though, the continuity is well-constructed and the complete package doesn't feel disjointed or broken. It often happens that a second visitation of a story becomes virtually unrecognizable when the property switches hands (see: Gunslinger Girl). That isn't the case here, so those doubts may be laid to rest.

An obstacle often insurmountable for writers in prequels is to tell a story that is original, engaging, and contains plenty of new material and surprises before handing off to its parent story. While watching a prequel, your mind shouldn't be preoccupied with "I wonder how this builds to X." With a successful prequel, you should be thoroughly engaged, thinking more about what you're watching than what follows it. Without standing on ceremony, almost every prequel in history has failed in this task. When we know the ending, what's the point of the story, right? If this is a concern of yours, let me offer some relief in saying that Gen Urobuchi, the author of F/Z, has accomplished the thought-impossible of delivering a prequel that gives you plenty to sink your teeth into by focusing not on arriving at the (rather straight-forward) narrative of F/SN, but in developing the most interesting character from either series and digging deeper into the philosophy and subtext that was always floating around somewhere in the background of F/SN, but never addressed. If narrative was a factor in your decision of which to watch first, know that watching either first will provide you with a fresh experience for both rather than an obligation or rehash of the other.

So your decision should come down to other factors. Ultimately, there is no "correct" story to watch first, even though one was definitely written first, even though one definitely takes place first. What you need to decide as a viewer is what you want out of the complete package, because your choice will affect which specific aspects will engage you the most.

The skinny:

-F/SN is a more action-orientated series that focuses on the relationship between the two leads, Shirou and Saber. If you're familiar with shounen in general, you should have an inkling of what to expect. It is the more accessible and romantic of the two.
-Watching this first will spoil a major plot event of F/Z, but will keep you guessing on character motivations and revelations. It will make you more emotionally invested in the male characters of F/Z, Kiritsugu, Kirei, and Archer (true name withheld to avoid spoilers).
-The first portion of the series unfolds gradually, granting the viewer a comfortable pace to understand the setting and characters. If you have not played the game or read the manga and watch this before F/Z, you will have no problem immediately entering the story.

-F/Z is a more philosophical series that focuses on character development and motivation. If you're familiar with Gen Urobuchi, you should have an inkling of what to expect. It is the heavier and more mature of the two.
-Watching this first will spoil details and character revelations of F/SN, but no major plot events. It will also make you more emotionally invested in the female characters of F/SN, Saber, Rin, Sakura, and Ilya.
-The first episode of the series drops an A-bomb of information on the viewer. The setting is quickly unveiled and the characters are introduced at a breakneck pace. If you did not read the manga or novel and watch this before F/SN, you may find the first 40 minutes of the series overwhelming due to all of the new information to process.

Are you more interested in a character-driven or plot-driven story? Watching F/SN first, you'll find yourself wanting to dig deeper into these characters and F/Z will be all the more engaging as a result. Downside, the ending plot twist won't be a twist. Watching F/Z first, you'll find yourself wanting to know what happens and how the overarching conflict is finally resolved. Downside, the big bad guy reveal near the end of F/SN will be of no surprise.

Anyway, you'll have to forgive my long-winded answer to an unasked question. If you're still with me this far, congratulations. You have reached the actual review.

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Story - 7.0
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F/SN is an easily accessible story that makes no large demands of the viewer and doesn't aim to leave you with a different outlook on life, the world, and anime. It's functional. It's serviceable. It's entertaining. What more could you ask of a fantasy series? As any great fantasy writer has communicated to us over millennia, the story should ultimately be a framing device to transport you to a different world full of fantastic settings, rich lore, and memorable characters. Lord of the Rings was about walking to Mordor. Star Wars was about overthrowing the evil empire. Die Hard was about the general annoyance of the elevator being out of service.

But that's not the point. As with any good fantasy series, F/SN provides a well-paced and interesting story that doesn't intrude upon or obstruct the world it builds. It's a package of 24 episodes that flow comfortably and don't fall into habit or routine. Unlike a lot of shounen, there's no "baddie of the week" episodes or arcs. There's little fluff or filler. What is there is well within permissible range of a romance series. The largest deviation is a date episode towards the end. Otherwise, it's one running narrative with a definite opening and definite close. In other words, this is a story that you pick up, follow, and depart with on a satisfying note. There's nothing groundbreaking, but it's a fresh and enjoyable story that successfully strings together the setting, the lore, and the characters.

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Art - 7.0
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While not being the highest production value that 2006 had to offer, F/SN features beautiful character design and fluent animation. The action, like much shounen, is often broken up with bits of dialogue, as few animators seem mastered in the art of having your characters move and talk at the same time, but the bursts of action that do occur are very well done. Camera angles and perspectives offer a fairly varied range of shots that show off the characters and locations effectively.

A notable downside is that while the setting is what seems to be a fairly large town, most scenes take place in about three different locations and always either at midday, sunset, or night, so you'll see a lot of backgrounds and landscapes reused several times. It's not without its standouts. A large underground temple and a castle in the forest break up the monotony of scenery and are quite gorgeous.

Trained eyes will note several cost cutting techniques used as well. There are times when dialogue takes place from a far angle so that faces need not be animated. The "shake the frame" technique is used here and there. We're sometimes treated to extreme close-ups during the action. The use of these techniques ranges from sparing to excessive, but all things considered, this is a well-animated series by a director that knows how to properly utilize an art budget.

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Sound - 8.0
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Of all the technical specifics of F/SN, I consider the sound production to be the most adept. The soundtrack, while not overly inventive, is complimentary, engaging, and one of the standouts of 2006. The voice acting is all very professional. The sound effects seem somewhat recycled, but always adequate. Everything is mixed and edited flawlessly.

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Characters - 6.0
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Archtypes. Archtypes as far as the eye can see. Welcome to shounen.

F/SN features a cast of likeable and relatable characters. The writing and direction allows you emotional connection to most of the cast. You like who you're supposed to like. You hate who you're supposed to hate. I can't fault anything there. The problem lies in that there is not a single character in F/SN that isn't a character you've already seen in a different show in a different skin. Shirou is your standard act-before-you-think "I win because I fight for my friends" hero that you've seen in every teenage male oriented anime ever made. Saber never manages to break the mold of the "Duty is everything... or is it?" romantic interest. You have your token loli that calls the protagonist "onii-chan." The childhood friend that does all the cooking. The tsundere. The emotionless cool guy. Creepy authority figure. Check, check, and check. It's all there. Unless you've read/played the source material, you probably won't have a definite favorite, because this is a series of archtypes. Of all characters, Rin is probably the one that undergoes the most development and best manages to deviate from her archtype. Look for her in the F/SN alternate setting film, Ultimate Blade Works, where she becomes the main female lead.

I want to reiterate though that these are all likeable characters that carry the series. To me, likeable characters are the absolute most important thing of any story. F/SN passes in that regard.

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Enjoyment - 8.0
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While my favorite anime are ones with more substance, I usually find myself gravitated towards the lighter fare. I'll pick up the odd shounen. Maybe a refreshing slice-of-life once in a while. I'll grab a harem comedy if fancy strikes. While 20 solid minutes of dialogue in Ghost in the Shell may have left me with a lot to think about for long after, 20 minutes of fantasy escapism in F/SN holds great enjoyment value here and now. It's a fun ride. Turn off your brain and enjoy it. It won't be difficult.

It should be pointed out that the anime does not follow the visual novel exactly. While Japanophiles are not at all known for their tolerance of deviation from source material, I consider a good story much more important than a good adaptation. By nature, a VN is difficult to adapt because the interaction involved means different story branches. F/SN follows the main branch of the VN, simply called Fate, and sprinkles in scenes from other branches as well. The idea is that while you can replay a VN to get the full story, an anime isn't a Choose Your Own Adventure. It needs to make sense to a viewer not familiar with the source material because homework is not a prerequisite to watching TV. That said, F/SN does not successful manage to fill in all of the gaps in the story. It leaves out some important details found in alternate branches from the VN. Some of these are addressed in the film Unlimited Blade Works and others yet become apparent in F/Z, but again, homework should never be a prerequisite to TV.

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Overall - 7.0
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Watch it. But maybe watch Fate/Zero first. It's up to you. I recommend both.

Lucky☆Star Review

Lucky star is one of those unique Comedy anime that comes very rarely. It manages to put a comedic twist to normal everyday occurances, and many pop culutre references. The entire show is not your typical slice of life high school comedy anime, rather its show structure follows more of a western style of comedy, a sitcom to be exact. Instead of having a direct storyline, like most anime viewers are used to, it focuses more of everyday observations and Jpop culture as their source of comedy.

---Theres always a storyline no matter how broad it is. Many ppl say theres no story line but, there has to be a "story" of sorts or else this stuff cant be funny. If you had to put a plot to this show it would "A group of high school children trying to make it all the way through high school." With such a broad plot, the creators can do as they please. By the way, that is how most western sitcoms can list 5-10 seasons without it getting old (i.e. Simpsons, Family Guy, Cheers, etc.) Mind you thats the only connection this show has with a western sitcom.
---I have noticed many people bash the begging episodes of the show but i found them equally entertaining as the rest of them. It really depends on what the viewer does in their own daily lives is what truly makes this show funny. Somone who doesnt eat curry/rice or grilled meat sticks for dinner with their family wont understand a joke about it. But with all the jokes and references in this show you're bound to laugh out loud at all they throw at you! They've thoguht of everything for this show.

---Art and animation of the show is your typical comedy anime fair. Simple characters simple backgrounds simple static objects. But they manage to take "simple" to a whole different level. For example, the characters are only shown from the waist up for about 80% of the entire show. But the characters are drawn very simplistic and the coloring for each looks like it doesnt exeed 12 different colors for each person for the most part. But they are definitely drawn in a cute manner, if thats your thing. The simple-ness is what gives the show its charm too. The art style is so popular and easy to draw im sure you'll find spoofs for dozens of other non related characters around the internet.

---The Sound is your standard comedy sound efects from light hearted piano songs, to bing bangs and bongs, they're all there and accounted for. Music is mostly absent from the show aside from helping out certain jokes.
---You will definitely notice the lack of background music in the show but with such a powerful seiyu cast, one could understand that they didnt want to distract from the well executed voice acting. Of course most people will notice Aya Hirano and maybe even Minori Chihara. Its hard to believe that most of the main characters are voiced by relatively newcomers. Which also helps seperate Lucky Star from sounding the same as all the other school anime out there. You'll enjoy Kagami's singing voice by the way.

With the uniqe sound comes the "unique" (or not so unique) character types associated with each seiyu. Theres also ALOT more characters but you'll have to watch it to see them all ^_^ Speaking of characters you'll actually end up seeing all of them fairly regurlarly. Either supporting cast or main cast. By the end of the show, you'll get the feeling that not one person recieved more time than another. Even the extra characters get more than enough airtime to fully acknowledge them as essential parts of the anime.

---The enjoyment factor is through the roof in my opinion. The comedy aspect of this show covers so many angles and hits so many things perfectly its hard not to give a perfect score. I find it very hard for somone to hate this anime. That is, if you dont like japanese pop cultre, anime references and funny common occurences. If youre that type then why are you watching anime? ^_^
---Also, if you dont like western style sitcoms where the end of every episode will always leave the same way they started, this is definitely not for you. If youre looking for a romantic comedy or bloody action school go somewhere else. If you're willing to give up about 20 minutes of your time for pure entertainment, WATCH THIS SHOW!

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Review

Watching Higurshi is like locking a group of happy people in a test chamber, only coming back to find they've hacked each other into a bloody mess. Its horrific, its shocking, and yet a part of you, cannot help but wonder, how did it happen?

The curiosity takes over... and so you repeat the experiment, knowing full well that those cute looking teenagers you just sent are going to end up as bloody pulps. But hey, at least each time they die, you're one step closer to figuring out why they died, it's all good.

Higurashi essentially places you in the role of the scientist. It divides itself into several arcs, each of which begin exactly the same. A teenager moves into a remote countryside village, and befriends a group of sweet fangirls that could have come out right from a harem rom/com. Then, explicably, thing go wrong... very wrong.

The pacing is excellent, the suspence pulpable. You know terrible things are going to happen, but you don't know exactly what. Higurashi would appeal to two types of people. The maglomanics who cackle madly in seeing a happy community descend into the depth of oblivion, and the curious scientist who watched each arc with intense interest... for they want to know exact *why* everything goes wrong (though they can also cackle madly just a little).

The true draw of Higurashi is the mystery. The series will leave you guessing, postulating all manner of reasons why the sweetest girl in the class is now butchering every child in sight with a giant cleaver. Each experiment you run (arc you see) reveals a few more clues, and you formulate a new theory, only to find it shattered by another totally unexpected horror in the very same arc. The beauty of Higurashi is that a mystery of such grand scale, every detail is meticulous, and while every bloody event seems random at first, they all eventually fall into place

Not only are the characters are memorable, and filled with interesting secrets, and unlike school days, they're actually also extreme likeable. This is no small achievement, given what they're portrayed doing to each other.

Higurashi is really the pinnacle of a dark mystery. You'll start off the mad scientist, watching those innocents in the test chamber with morbid curiosity. Yet, slowly, that morbid curiosity will be transformed into sympathy, and as you fall in love these victims, that initial curiosity will into turn a genuine desire to figure out whats going on so that they can be saved.

Ao no Exorcist Review

A classic Shounen,what else to say. I think a lot of studios thinks about making anime about son of satan. But then they said "Oh no. It will be too stereotyped" When A-1 pictures said "hm...why not?".And they weren't mistaken. Now we have one of greatest anime of summer 2011. I enjoyed it so much and I hope you will too.

Story 9/10: 
+:The story is just masterpiece. As i said, it stereotyped,but it does not affect at fun of watching. You just watch and say "oh Sh**t! That was awesome!"
-:The story little bit slowly accelerates. I mean when you watch 1-2 episodes you think "in the next episode he definitely will kick someone's ass!". But in 6-7 story become boring a little bit. Because Rin collect his own team or smt else.
But I completely sure it will be briliant story. We just need to wait...

Art 10/10:
+:I really love how ANE are drawn.It doesn't lose quality at battle scene, how does bleach or smt like that.
-:Nothing to say. Just 10/10

Sound 9/10:
+: Rin's voice actor is Nobuhiko Okamoto. He famous for acting in Bakuman, Bleach, Durarara!!, Shiki, Toaru Majutsu no Index, etc. Of course he great and I totally approve set of voice actors.
-: Opening, ending and soundtrack isn't so cool how it could be

Character 9/10:
+: All the characters are charismatic and hilarious. Especially Rin. He is really character with balls. I definitely love moments when he release his demonic power. It looks amazing. Also in anime we have kinda tsundere, nerd, foolish beauty, badass friend and brother. Yes, I told you it is cliched. But it's doesn't nary irritate.
-: Too many minor characters. Trolls and atc...Why did you do that, men? they don't need to anybody! why you made the whole episode about it?

Enjoyment 10/10:
Nothing to say. I just in love with it since first episode.

Overall 9/10:
If you whant a classic shounen, which will cause you to scream "OH MY GOSH!" and all it conjugate with wonderful art, marvelous sound and damn good fights so this is anime for you! m/

K-On! Review

K-ON! is inconsequential fluff. One might compare it to popcorn or cotton candy: a tasty treat, but if you're looking for a meal, it will leave you looking for something more substantial after it's done.

K-ON! follows the tried and true formula of cute girls doing cute things. Based on a 4-koma comic, the series is about several high school girls who form (technically join, but all the previous members graduated) a light music club and follows their activities. The music itself often takes a back seat to the antics of the girls, and audiophiles may find themselves somewhat disappointed if they go in expecting detailed attention to techniques or references to real life bands (there are a couple, but few and far between). There are two concerts in the thirteen episode series, but neither is as impressive as the one from the Live A Live episode of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (one of Kyoto Animation's earlier shows), but still very enjoyable. The most common scene in the series features the main girls sitting in the club room snacking on tea and cakes while discussing various mundane events, particularly with the more dedicated girls trying to get the rest to practice.

The girls all have their own distinct personality. Yui, the main character, is the some clumsy and adorable airhead. She joined the club hoping to play an easy instrument like the castanets but ends up playing guitar because the club needed a guitarist. Ritsu is the energetic idiot of the show, drummer, and club president because she was the one who dragged everyone else into the club. Mio is Ritsu's long time friend, and the sensible, serious one of the group. She writes the groups songs, and plays the bass. She is also the most moe character, being the prettiest, easily embarrassed, and terrified of ghosts and yucky things. Mugi is the pianist. She comes from a wealthy family, and thus is a source of amusement by displaying the difference in wealth between rich people and normal people. She is also the provider of the tea and sweets that are regularly consumed at the club meetings.

There are a few regular minor characters, too. Ui is Yui's younger, but more mature and reliable sister. Yui has a friend named Nodoka who joins the student council, which means her role is essentially to let everyone know that Ritsu has forgotten something regarding paperwork for the club. Sawako is a music teacher who is recruited as the club adviser in one of the more memorable scenes of the series. Also, a late addition to the cast is Azusa, an underclassman who is much like a miniature version of Mio.

Character designs are generally cute, with the kind of big round faces typical of most Kyoto Animation works. Background art is consistently good, as is the animation, which should come as no surprise. When characters are shown playing their instruments, there is generally more attention to detail than seen in anime to the point where the sound properly matches the characters actions. The singing at the concert features the same style animation as Live A Live, where you can just about lip read the lyrics (if you know Japanese, of course).

The music used in the series can generally be described as light and fluffy, both the background music and the couple of songs the girls play at their concerts, with the exception of the closer, which rocks a little bit harder than rest. The voice acting fits well all around, with Yui being notable for regularly coming off as someone who isn't all there, fitting her character well.

I don't want to close saying this show is like Azumanga Daioh with a music club, but that's about the easiest comparison I can make, and not too far off a description.

Bakemonogatari Review

"To be blunt, I just enjoy talking to you... so I want to talk with you more."
"If our opinions clash, let's talk it over." (Dialogue from episode 5)

'Bakemonogatari', cleverly translated as 'Ghostory' or 'Monstory', is about five not-so-normal girls that Araragi Koyomi, a vampire himself, encounters and attempt to save from oddities possessing them.


CHARACTER:
The main characters of 'Bakemonogatari' are among the most unique and complex I have yet to encounter.
Heroine Senjougahara Hitagi is a tsundere like half of all modern heroines in anime, but she is also 「ドS」, a sadist to an extreme degree, which is more common for side characters and rare for heroines. Our protagonist, as expected, is rather on the masochist side who takes constant verbal abuse from Senjougahara.

What makes the couple extraordinary, is that Senjougahara is often boke while Araragi is tsukkomi. Traditional Japanese stand-up comedy consists of a duo: One takes the "boke" role who says something stupid while the "tsukommi" role points out the flaws in boke's argument, often with a violent slap in the head.

Yes, that's right. Boke is masochist by nature and often not very intelligent, while tsukommi is sadist by nature and often more observant.
The leading couple in this series, on the other hand, take turns with the roles. It is particularly interesting when the sadist and intelligent Senjougahara purposefully take on the boke role and overwhelms tsukkomi. Such as making insulting statements that sound flawed, but when Araragi tries to make a comeback, he realizes what she said was true. Or Senjougahara makes a blatantly flawed statement just to hurt Araragi, and his comeback fall into deaf ears. And of course, plenty of intentional boke or tease spoken with so much authority that Araragi just gives up and let it slide.

The unlikely toggling of comedy roles were delivered extremely well, and this back and forth interaction between the leading couple is a key part of this show's appeal.

The remaining four main characters are not as complex as the leading couple, but they all have their own unique issues that drive the story,each with distinct personalities that made them memorable.
There are 6 main characters in this series, and total of only 5 side/peripheral characters (Meme, Shinobu, two sisters, and Senjougahara's father) in the whole series. The limited character headcount made thorough character development possible despite being an arc-based series.


STORY:
Simply put, half the show is about the romantic relationship between the Senjougahara and Araragi.
The other half is about a constant argument between two values: The rational vs the idealistic, with Araragi as Mr. Nice Guy seeking happy end for everyone. Solution of supernatural oddities as the topic of the argument.

Hachikuji, Kanbaru, and Hanekawa's arcs developed the relationship of leading couple while offering new topics to the story.
The only flaw in the story in my opinion, is that Sengoku's arc was pretty much by itself, and contributed very little to the whole series other than loli and moe fan service.
Each arc is an incident focusing on a different girl, but all the arcs combine to show a whole picture of Araragi and Senjougahara closing their personal distances.

"Bakemonogatari" is essentially a verbal performance with visual support. Story is driven by back and forth debate on various issues.


SOUND:
With verbal performance playing such a big role in this show, voice acting is taken to a whole new level in this series.
Every characters' voices fit perfectly, and not only that, distinct tones and nuance of speech establish unique impressions for every single character. The characters speak so fast in this series with lots of tongue twisters, but the seiyuu cast had done a wonderful job in keeping up. I don't think it's an exaggeration to describe voice acting in this series as epic.

Music score in 'Bakemonogatari' has a generally consistent ambient feel to it with a nice flow. Other than intense music for action scenes, they don't particularly set the mood or enhance drama as what I usually consider to be strong BGM for anime, but the usually upbeat sounds in the background set the quick pace for dialogue, and make conversations all the more engaging.

OP song "Staple Stable" is one of the best anime opening theme song by a seiyuu, ever. Really memorable tune accompanied by great vocal and lyric by meg rock was simply amazing.
The other four OPs sang by seiyuu of each arc heroines were nowhere as impressive as "Staple Stable", but offers refreshment value to the OPs, and fits each character perfectly.
ED song's lyric made little sense at first, but its meaning was unveiled in a conversation between the leading couple in a certain episode, and it turned out to very suitable for the series. The two Senjougahara theme songs (OP1, ED) were masterpieces.


ART:
Animation in 'Bakemonogatari' mainly serve as a visual aid to the verbal performance, and it proved to be very effective.

Visuals for the anime got somewhat of an "art house film" treatment. There were many abstract and surreal scenes, unconventional cuts, and intriguing camera angles that made the viewing experience very pleasant. It's the perfected form of SHAFT's signature style.
Character designs were attractive, and main characters had visually shown a wide range of emotion that further portrays the character's state of mind.

The only complaint I have with the animation is the use of photographs/videos of real-life imagery. At the risk of sounding like a super-otaku, I would say 3D images do not belong in the world of 2D.


ENJOYMENT:
As a fansubber and having seen thousands of hours of fan/professionally translated works, I can tell you that at least 10% of the meaning is lost in translation, no matter how well translated. In conversation/narration driven series filled with wordplay and metaphors, at least 20% of the meaning, therefore enjoyability, will inevitably be lost to non-Japanese speakers.
Still, 'Bakemonogatari' is a true masterpiece with experimental production that actually worked. Attention was paid to the tiniest details, and a story well-told. Truly amazing direction by Shinbou Akiyuki left us with so many memorable scenes, and this will definitely be a series to be remembered.

The 8-month wait for the final three episodes were excruciating, but the ending was so satisfying that it almost made it worth the absurd wait. Given the commercial success 'Bakemonogatari' has achieved, I will be hoping for the remaining novels in the series to be animated. Possibly 'Kizumonogatari' OVA/film and 'Nisemonogatari' as a sequel season.


To be blunt, I just enjoyed listening to them... so I want to listen to them more.

Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha Review

Ah, the age old question; what to do when certain people suddenly begin manifesting mysterious superpowers. Darker than BLACK responds with a classic solution found in series ranging from Witch Hunter Robin to X-Men: Form secret organizations to monitor and control these people. However, despite the similar theme, this show is anything but derivative.

In the beginning of the series, the premise of the show is somewhat vague as little is known about where the powers of the contractors come from, or how they are related to the gates. As the series progresses more information is inevitably revealed, creating good plot exposition and allowing the story to move at a decent pace and keep each episode interesting. Where this series really shines however, is the characters.

Hei is portrayed brilliantly, having a rather comicbook superhero-like persona but adding a unique spin to it. His motives are not initially apparent, nor is his true relationship with the syndicate to which he belongs. Also, while contractors are known to be emotionless and purely rational, Hei somehow manages to retain his humanity, an anomaly which many of his acquaintances and opponents comment on. The true reason for this, as well as the origin of his powers remains hidden until the end of the series.

The other members of Hei's organization are similarly well portrayed, each being represented uniquely and interestingly. Huang, Yin, and Mao each have a well written back-story that is both engaging and important to the overall plot. The other characters in the story are outstanding as well, especially the antagonists. Despite the fact that the contractors are supposed to be unemotional, each character still manages to have a unique personality which often even enhanced by this fact.

If there is one weakness in this series, it is the ending, which is unfortunately rather inconclusive. I'm kind of hoping for a sequel, but this may be difficult for reasons that would be hard to disclose without revealing spoilers. The ending also has a "suddenly everything got weird" part to it that seems common in final episodes of supernatural anime, but at least it makes a lot more sense than many I've seen. If you like shows about people with supernatural powers, I think you should definitely watch this series. 

Neon Genesis Evangelion Review

Note: This is a spoiler-free review.

There comes a time when one gains knowledge of a certain story or event, in any form, that boggles his or her mind beyond comprehension. You don't know how you feel about it. Do you hate it or love it? It's definitely not just 'average' if it could evoke such uncertainty and conflict within you.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is that story for me. Animated by Gainax and created by Hideaki Anno, it is the tale of a fourteen-year old boy named Shinji Ikari and the unstable world he resides in. Shinji's father is the commander of an organisation known as NERV and his mother is a lost memory. At a very young age, he was abandoned by his father. In essence, Shinji is purposeless and neglected. When mysterious creatures known as Angels start attacking Tokyo, the young boy is recruited by his father to pilot the fighting machine known as the Evangelion. This is how Shinji is thrown into a gruesome reality he is absolutely unwilling to confront.

The Evangelion requires a certain amount of nerve synchronisation with its pilot, which is why all the pain of damage served to the machine is also inflicted upon the pilot. Thus begins Shinji's fight against obscure enemies known as the Angels.

NGE is often referred to as a classic masterpiece of utmost influence by the average anime viewer for its powerful psychological implications and startling symbolism. The creator himself was victim to various psychological problems, and partially because of this, the ugly realities of the human mind were brought to life in most frightening manners on screen.

STORY (8.7/10):

While the basis of NGE is not entirely unique, its manner of execution- as convoluted as it may be- more than compensates for that. Everything has been done before, and because of this, the quality of uniqueness comes only from presentation, perspective, and execution. NGE is quite possibly one of the best deconstructions of the mecha genre to date, using the mecha aspect in a way that is not only unique, but thought-provoking and perturbing.

NGE is one of 'those' anime. Yes, 'those' that do not acknowledge the direct translation of the term storytelling. More often than not, it is entirely up to the viewer to disassemble the events taking place on screen, and then reassemble them in a comprehensible manner so as to follow the complexity that is Neon Genesis Evangelion.

CHARACTERS (9.0/10):

The characters of NGE are one of its strongest points, but also one of its major downfalls. In a nutshell, they all suffer from various types of psychological trauma. Each character has his or her own coping mechanism to carry on with his or her everyday life (be it effective or not), allowing the viewer the opportunity to both compare and contrast these methods. In this regard, NGE does not falter in retaining an unyielding and well-established sense of realism in its portrayal of how the events that a character experiences affect his or her mental state of being.

A popular interpretation of Shinji Ikari's character is that of a spineless coward. I cannot disagree more. He is a young boy victim to severe neglect, and as a result, experiences social awkwardness, the curse we call loneliness, and more tragic circumstances that I dare not reveal. For someone already so psychologically disturbed to be flung headfirst into such a stressful and nerve-wracking position warrants genuine sympathy and kindness from us viewers. Unlike most young characters in similar settings, Shinji's personality is most faithful to reality.

However, the extent of the psychological tribulations they face are difficult for most regular viewers to relate to. They are extremely 'messed up'- for lack of better term, sometimes having entire episodes dedicated to showcasing their unstable mental states towards the latter half of the series. Most of the main characters are developed to a level that hits so close to home that it's frightening. Contrarily, the side characters receive little to no attention and development, often playing meaningless roles.

Towards the end of the series, this diverse cast starts to feel more distant than realistic, and more confusing than disturbing. NGE paints pictures of the unstable mind in ways that can be difficult to understand for many. Because of this, the regular viewer cannot draw the parallels between characters as is expected of them. This is, perhaps, the fault of execution.

ANIMATION (7.8/10):

Gainax distributed its small budget very peculiarly in this series. While the fight scenes between the Evangelions and Angels were animated with incredible fluidity and detail, more dialogue-based scenes and character interactions were an array of still frames with little to no movement. Many a time, the characters even took positions in which their mouths were covered, or the camera was zoomed out far enough to 'justify' the lack of lip movement, as if to avoid animating it. It is understandable to an extent that they had budget issues, but a more balanced distribution could have accounted for a much more effective execution, most particularly at the very end of NGE.

There is a considerable amount of both visual and direct symbolism in NGE, particularly Christian (take the explosions in the shape of crosses, "Melchior", "Balthasar", "Adam", "Angels", as examples). NGE does not make the effort to conceal these symbols, and for me this was a positive point because referencing the Christian religion inadvertently leads into a deeper, more human context. It isn't excessive to the point of becoming a distraction, but it isn't ignorable either.

There isn't much more to criticise about the animation. A comparison to present day anime would be unreasonable. In its time, it was a spectacular achievement worthy of ample praise.

MUSIC AND SOUND (8.7/10):

"A Cruel Angel's Thesis" by Yoko Takahashi was the opening song of NGE. It has topped many people's lists as their favourite opening of all time, and with reason. Accompanied by visuals that match the upbeat music, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" is undeniably one of the more memorable openings. The lyrics to this song were written with Shinji Ikari as its subject, making it extremely fitting. The same cannot be said about the generic ending. Though the music isn't terrible on its own, it's too dull to watch every time.

The soundtrack within the series is an excellent and bone-chilling compilation of various battle themes ("Decisive Battle" being one of the more memorable ones) as well as emotional and heart-wrenching music that is employed with commendable attention to tension as well as detail.

OVERALL (8.4/10):

Do I personally like Neon Genesis Evangelion? I'm not entirely sure. There are definitely select portions of it that I love dearly, but there exist others that simply leave me staring at the screen with incoherent, muddled feelings. Do I recommend this anime? Absolutely. Every person who calls themselves a fan of anime should watch the original series at least once.

I'm not going to provide an in depth discussion about the ending for two reasons. Firstly, I have mixed feelings about it. It was indeed confusing and out of place, but somehow left me with a sense of completion and satisfaction. Secondly, it is an extremely controversial topic in the anime community, so it all depends on your taste. My first thought after watching it was "a twisted ending to a twisted, but excellent, series".

Neon Genesis Evangelion is an unforgettable experience, one that cannot be appreciated by everyone, but is too influential and important to dismiss.

Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away) Review

I am going to talk about Spirited Away (yeah, obvious). It's been quite a long time since I watched it for the last time, more than a year in fact; but I became a really fascinating and influential piece for me at that time, far enough to define my current love for Miyazaki's works, the Studio Ghibli and animation in general as an art and a strong way of expression. Today it's still one of my favorite animated features of any sort, and not because of its lack of flaws than its amazing blend of concepts.

The first thing that appeals the audience in this movie is its art and animation. I, as unexperienced and poor in technical knowledge about the subject, think it's utter fascinating, it manages to create a whole world out of nothing, and the use of lights and shades, the forms and colours make the overall experience a visual joy. And in addition to that I find the characters' gestures and movements extremely plastic and realistic, some other scenes have been mentioned in that aspect by other reviewers but I was particularly fond of that one where Chihiro is walking with her parents and she gradually moves away, only to come back to her position with a little run-up. These things don't happen, usually, in animation. In so far as they are unnecessary, easily ignorable and feel like a waste of resources, we hardly see characters making these little movements which in the end result in nothing relevant. Ghibli, however, animates them, and does it with such a mastery, a love for detail and a goddamn naturalism that I can't help but feel amazed.

As if the visual aspect wasn't good enough, the movie is also a pleasure for our ears and has what I consider the best track of my heavily worshipped Joe Hisaishi, one of the best (if not the best) film composers I have ever heard. Spirited Away is exceptionally good at that aspect; I'd say it's one of the very few cases in which there is, at some scenes, such a strong fusion between story and music, that I can't conceive nor think of one without the other.

But despite all of these beautiful qualities about its setting, the real substance of this movie is at its story. I apologize in advance, again, because as I'm going to develop some points I will give some free spoilers. If you haven't seen the movie I'd recommend to stop reading at this point.

It has been said many times by critics that Spirited Away felt like a senseless blend of magic elements, just a simple story filled with many things the author introduced undiscriminatingly to drag out the experience. Well, I have a quite different point of view for that device. I just can't conceive that the animation, for example, is taken to such a high level of detail and, on the other hand, that doesn't happen with the story. And by rewatching it repeatedly in a short amount of time (once every two months, more or less), I began to develop some theories about the nature of the world that is depicted here.

What must be considered at first is that all this magical world, with strange creatures and spells, is just an allegory for the always difficult transiton between childhood and the first steps of adulthood. It's the age you start dealing with responsibility, when you realize your acts have consequences and you have to make decisions that will affect your future; you define yourself and the course of your life. Miyazaki puts these simple concepts by transforming the need of finding an identity into a way to escape the wonderful yet cruel world where Chihiro is suddenly trapped. Its hostility imitates quite well the drama of the process, as it reinforces the need of an additional effort every one of us have to make at some point and reset our lives and our positions.

Does this mean that Yubaba's world is an undeveloped blend of magic, hostile things that only serve as a situation that Chihiro has to overcome at some point? Well, I don't think so, as it seems to have a clear structure and hierarchy. One of the stories I see compared more often with this one is Alice in Wonderland. However, I would define that as a blend of unrelated events, a story whose main charm lies in its anarchic, nearly nightmarish, narrative. Spirited Away is not like that in any way. In fact I think there is an effort to transmit a strong sense of logic throughout, it tries to delimit the causes and consequences of every single case.

The key character to understand how Yubaba's tyranny works is, in my opinion, Lin. She just happens to be the link between Chihiro and the rest of the magical creatures, just like somebody that is in some sort of intermediate level. Her physical appearance looks slightly transformed, but not as much as the rest. She is aware of the existence of another world outside of that one, the importance of remembering her name, her "identity"; and knowing that, she helps Chihiro and takes the role of a mother. I have the theory that every one of the creatures that live in Yubaba's world were once human, maybe little boys and girls like Chihiro who couldn't find the way to escape, or other people; and they ended up forgetting who they were, losing their "humanity" and becoming mere pieces of this world. Lin is a special case because it seems she's not lost her identity yet, at least not at all, but forgot at one point her name, the key to come back home, and knows her situation is irreversible. She maybe observed this in some of her companions when she arrived, and Chihiro reminds herself of that. Maybe because of that, because she knows and appreciates what she's doomed to lose, she decides to help her in an altruistic way.

And what about Kamaji? Another key character in Chihiro's development in there; he seems to be quite aware of his situation too. I'd say he is a bit like the "sacrificed" individual, who Yubaba used to start his project and maybe the only one that didn't lose his identity at all. He's a slave in this world, he knows it but can't help it.

So yes, I have a more "adult" and crude view of the overall concept. This definition of the magical public baths as a place were people are doomed to end up losing what makes them "special" is quite harsh and melancholic for a -as targeted and admitted by Miyazaki- kid's movie, and it might feel even weird, but that's how I interpreted it and I think it makes some sense.

Does this mean Yubaba is a villain? Well, define villain. Somebody whose only objective in life is to harm people? That's hardly what Yubaba is. She, for better or for worse, created a world, and made it work. She imposed some rules. We could even say she created her own utopia (and that doesn't mean she is naturally "bad"), why not? And, most important, she has a strong sense of honor, she dictates and also OBEYS her rules. One of the (maybe) main reasons why she loses her battle against Chihiro, in fact, is that her weakness is shown eventually (giant baby); and reveals a hypocritical attitude, as she is protecting her lovely child from any influence while she's always preaching the exact contrary. As she knows it, it's a shameful thing to admit and maybe here is where her image of forcefulness starts to teeter.

All in all, these examples just show that the real strength of this story lies in the characters, as they are always depicted in a detailed way. Yubaba not being the typical villain, or not even being a "villain" at all; Haku, the hero and the "positive" one here has also an overambitious side and is for the most part guilty of his situation... and Chihiro, of course. She is a spoiled brat who learns to appreciate some things, but in no way overreacting at these points, as she sounds real and relatable at every damn scene. It's quite easy to understand her, she's not made to be likeable but her portrayal is solid enough to make us join her development through the story.

I could spend hours and hours talking about this precious anime and its many details, the enigmatic role of No Face, the negative influence of the parents in Chihiro's behaviour, and so much more... I love it. It breathes mastery at (almost) every one of its points, and I can enjoy it in many levels. My only grip would be the way things are resolved, which I have always found too rushed; reading Miyazaki's opinion on that ending I've come to understand the intention behind, but still I'd say the metaphor is made too subtle for the audience, and maybe the execution is also somewhat clumsy. But aside from this minor flaw, I can't help but admire this fascinating, eye-captivating piece of art, my second favorite anime behind Grave Of The Fireflies.

Sword Art Online Review

I don't really want to go into too much depth, but I'd like to give an overview of the series and give my opinions it. If you haven't noticed yet there are many negative reviews out there for this anime, and while many of them bring up some pretty fair points, I think some people are being a bit too harsh on it. Let me explain.

Yes it's a popular anime, yes it has flaws, no it's not perfect, but at the very least in my opinion it is enjoyable. The pacing is off, the beginning particularly feels rushed, there were moments where I thought I skipped an episode because of the time skips which made it difficult to really connect with any of the characters in the beginning, and there were some less than stellar instances where it felt like the anime was trying to make me care but failing hard.

Some characters felt to be completely forgotten throughout most of this series too. For example in the beginning we are introduced to a character named Klein who is quickly pushed aside after the first episode and barely seen again and doesn't really make much of an impact at all on the story later on. This seems to happen a lot throughout this series where there might be some emotional moments where a character dies, or something dramatic happens but there is really no emotional impact from it, and the main character seems to not really care that much about it or it doesn't really effect anything significantly.

I really felt this series shined from around episodes 4-13 and I wish they would have kept with that pace instead of rushing an ending midway and throwing something new at us. The second half just felt completely unnecessary and forced.

Pushing the negative aside, I found the overall theme and atmosphere of the series to be great, and being an avid lover the MMORPG genre obviously a lot of things in this series appealed to me. I really enjoyed the idea of being stuck in a game that was impossible to escape from without winning and having real consequences, it really made everything much more dramatic and meaningful in the story. Sadly this quickly goes away midway through the plot.

If I had to pick two of the best things this anime did well for me it would probably be the animation and soundtrack. They both were really well done, and honestly without them being as good as they were this series would have gotten a much lower score from me, and when I say I really enjoyed the soundtrack I mean that I loved it, it was superb.

I think what it really comes down was just the fact that I enjoyed watching it. I can look at the flaws and pick the anime apart pretty easily, but those flaws never really stopped me from enjoying this anime.I really do feel though that it had a lot of potential to be a top tier series, it just made far too many mistakes. Looking at it objectively I simply cannot give this anime higher than a 7. It was good because I found it to be enjoyable, but it wasn't great or amazing.

At the end of the day I watch anime because I want something that will entertain me and keep me interested, and I feel that Sword Art Online did a good job at accomplishing that.