Jeoffrey

This take on the 'robot friend' trope left me in a bit of a mixed bag. The storyline isn't exactly groundbreaking; it had me yawning in the first half, but things took a turn for the better in the latter half. The authors managed to squeeze out what little there was to offer, and surprisingly, it worked. The animation and music were right up my alley. Even the use of 3DCG for the large robots and monstrous Enders didn't bother me much; while it wasn't as charming as traditional animation, it didn't detract from the experience. As for the characters – Mystere hit the nail on the head - Kanata is essentially a hack, gradually turning into a lesser hack. Noir is a dud, an adorable robotic puppy that eventually starts to show some personality. Then we have Ellie, Kanata's die-hard fan, who thankfully realizes that it's not enough to build a personality around. The singing doll Ciel, with her secret mission, discovers she wants to be more than just a doll on a mission. And let's not forget the few mysterious characters (the man with a black mask, and the man with a white mask), who turn out to be not-so-mysterious after all. And a very cliché villain who didn't really throw anything unexpected my way. Overall, the first half lands at a solid 6/10, while the second half edges up to a 7/10, giving us a rounded 6.5/10, a weak 4 stars for me.

I'll be honest, I had higher hopes for this one. After the first season, I envisioned a more captivating story, a more thrilling spectacle than what I got. While there were some twists that pleasantly surprised me, the overarching connection with the past, the black knight, and the joker didn't quite leave the impact I was hoping for. The season has ended (though a special episode has been announced), and I'm afraid it's just a six for me. 6/10

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! and they might have their charm for some, but for me, the show fell flat and landed squarely in average territory. The heroines are decent enough, but the main hero mostly comes off as pathetic, almost annoyingly so. He's just a dull goody-goody, and his rizz comes solely from him being from Tokyo! Frankly, I don't see the appeal. But it wasn't just Cubasa who rubbed me the wrong way here. Let's not forget his grandma, who can cure indecent thoughts with a traditional tea ceremony and is a classic example of conservative (almost fossilized) thinking. Living with her? No thanks. But it's because I actually have a personality, unlike Cubasa. On top of that, the story is packed with clichés, blushing, and the main hero's panicked outbursts. It's all been done before, nothing groundbreaking here. So as I said, I get that the series might have good ratings because, sure, Hokkaido gals are cute. But with everything else into the mix, it's not worth more than a 5/10 for me.

The romantic tension and chemistry between the characters felt genuine, and I found myself rooting for them. Some jokes genuinely made me laugh out loud. However, despite these positives, the series didn't leave a strong impression on me. Perhaps it's because the humor occasionally veered into silliness. The main heroine had her cute moments, but she didn't quite win my heart. As for the devil, he was decent, but nothing particularly memorable. While there were some interesting ideas and plot twists, a significant portion of the series fell flat for me, like the subplot with the boxers. Overall, The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil is a decent series with its moments, but it didn't convince me that I need to see more. 5.7/10

I'm a seasoned anime fan who's seen it all -  you won't break me with such a simple and repetitive series! You won't make me laugh with such basic jokes. You won't make me melt with all these cute and likable characters and animals. I've seen an anime about a sleepy princess in the demon castle – you can't surprise me by turning my expectations 180 degrees and turning torture into something enjoyable. None of it is going to win me over. Or so I thought. This show did the unexpected. I found myself smiling through every episode, chuckling at the simple jokes, loving the pop culture nods, and the parodies hit just right. Even the characters I thought I'd dislike, like that "monstrous" demon lord, grew on me and I ended up wishing the princess more "torture" with her newfound friends. I can't give 'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess anything less than a 7.5/10, and I'm eagerly anticipating the next season.

I would like to be able to say that I enjoyed Mr. Villain's Day Off, after all, it had a calm and pleasant atmosphere, along with a likable main character. However, the fun factor of each episode seemed to vary quite a bit for me. Maybe it's because I'm not particularly keen on pandas, and this series had too many of them for my taste. The humor, too, only landed about half the time, leaving me laughing less than I had hoped. That said, there were standout moments that I genuinely liked. The robotic cat's scenes were a highlight, as were the endearing child romance of the tree ghosts and the family dynamics among the Rangers. On the flip side, scenes at the villains' headquarters or visits to the zoo and supermarket fell flat for me. Despite its inconsistencies, the show works well as a low-key Sunday watch. It's perfect for unwinding and relaxing, and I'd give it a solid 6.4/10.

The second season left me with mixed feelings. What irked me the most? It's probably the series' heavy focus on Ruti. I mean, even the entire opening seemed like it was just Ruti fanservice. I was eager to dive into more adventures with Rit and  Red, envisioning how their relationship would blossom in the countryside with friends. Instead, I found myself mostly immersed in Ruti's societal integration and more Ruti-fanservice, which honestly didn't quite resonate with me. The main couple only came to the focus in the last episode, which felt a bit overdue. What did I enjoy? The entire storyline revolving around the hero Van was a standout, showcasing the true essence of a hero in this world. I was quite satisfied with how that arc concluded. The final episode, in my opinion, was a triumph; it finally delivered what I'd been yearning for throughout the series and served as a fitting conclusion, possibly even for the entire series. With the rollercoaster of emotions I experienced while watching — my interest and disinterest taking turns — I land on a solid, average rating. Thanks to the last episode, which I genuinely enjoyed, I'll bump it up by half a point. 5.5/10

I must say, I quite enjoyed this series. From the very first episode, the excellent animation got me hooked. The way the creators played with light and shadow was impressive, setting the stage for the introduction of Prince Arnold in a manner that commanded both respect and a hint of fear. As the series unfolded, I found myself growing attached to the main heroine. The concept of a time loop and her six previous lives felt like a fresh and intriguing premise. I was eager to see how she would navigate her current story with the wealth of experiences from her past lives. And I have to say, the series delivered on this front. She cleverly utilized her history and knowledge throughout the storyline. Arnold's fascination with the main heroine totally makes sense. She's not the kind of woman you'd get bored with; she's full of surprises. It's easy to see why she keeps him intrigued, and it's a quality that impresses many. The dynamic between the main couple was a highlight for me. Their playful teasing added a charming layer to their interactions. Watching the cool and pragmatic prince undergo subtle changes, all while trying to maintain his facade, was fascinating. Similarly, witnessing Rishe's evolving relationship with the prince and her goals for this new life kept me engaged. Overall, it's a very good and quite interesting series that kept me entertained. Although I must admit, I'm puzzled by the use of "villainess" in the title. From what I've seen so far, the main heroine has never been a villainess... 7.5/10

Sasaki and Peeps follows the story of an overworked forty-year-old man who, one fateful day, purchases a magical bird from a store. Suddenly, he finds himself able to travel between two different worlds, accompanied by a group of underage girls who cling to him for reasons unknown. The last part may be some weird preference of the author, but considering the fact that Sasaki only has eyes for his P-chan, there's no cause for alarm or the need to call the FBI. Initially, the premise of traveling between worlds didn't strike me as particularly interesting. It immediately brought to mind at least two other anime (I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement) that, in my opinion, didn't quite succeed with a similar concept. So, I entered Sasaki and Peeps with cautious skepticism, albeit intrigued by the fact that the main roles were voiced by my favorite voice actors (Tomokazu Sugita and Aoi Yuuki). Thankfully, the extended first episode served as a strong introduction, quickly revealing the series' true essence. What unfolded was an original and captivating blend of themes. The world contains individuals with supernatural abilities, alongside wizards from a fantasy realm and magical girls from a mysterious dimension. These three distinct concepts of working with supernatural forces intersected in intriguing ways, and I was genuinely curious to see how it would all unfold. I wasn't disappointed. The series skillfully portrays how, despite the different techniques involved, the outcomes are often similar. Wizard Sasaki adeptly plays the roles of a talented esper and a "magical man," and everyone, myself included, believes in him. The transitions between worlds, the trading, and the establishment of new connections felt organic and logical. I found myself enjoying the narrative, at least in its early stages. Initially, the series felt fresh, creative, and engaging. However, as it progressed, I began to feel that it was losing momentum. Some parts seemed rushed, especially the storylines in the fantasy world, which felt somewhat incomplete. It's possible that there was excessive cutting from the original source material, leaving certain aspects underdeveloped. In the second half, I occasionally felt that the overarching story direction lacked a more solid foundation. Nevertheless, the final episode, along with the post-credit scene, managed to salvage the overall impression. The inventive confrontation and intriguing final cliffhanger reminded me of why I was drawn to the series in the beginning. Despite some stumbling blocks and the less successful storyline involving saving the merchant Marc, I'm willing to overlook these flaws. I'll give it a weaker 4 stars, landing at around 6.7/10.

Generic fantasy just about sums up my thoughts on this anime. It had a few elements that caught my attention, like homunculi and mana possession, but then others just seemed like utter nonsense to me such as the dungeon management and the gacha system for monsters. I'll admit, I found some enjoyment in the first and last few episodes, but the middle sections left me feeling indifferent. The main hero had his moments, but he's not exactly a character that'll stick in my memory for long. And the rest of the cast? Well, they were just kind of ordinary and unremarkable. As for the battles, there wasn't much to write home about. I will say I'm thankful that the damage indicator numbers didn't overwhelm the screen constantly, like in some Asian video games. It could have been much worse. Overall, this anime feels like a bland, unimpressive average to me. I doubt I'll remember much about it in a week. 4.9/10