Jeoffrey

The ending of Orphen was just as bad as the entire series, if not worse. After the final episode, I can’t believe what the hell I have just watched. What is the whole point, and what am I supposed to take away from it? The direction was terrible, and the final episode seemed so cheap... As if it wasn't enough how weird the entire grand finale in the dragon sanctuary was. I struggled to understand what the hell was going on, who was who, and why everyone was fighting each other. The final disjointed, sloppy episode was the proverbial cherry on top and brought an utterly unsatisfying conclusion. This whole series is a huge disappointment, and the epic finale is an epic failure that barely manages to scrape together a weak two stars. 2.5/10.

Either Miku can't write, or her writing style is just not for me. This is the second work of hers, after The Fruit of Evolution, that seems like a ridiculous mishmash of various ideas aimlessly thrown together into one story without a clear goal or purpose with the hope that something will come out of it. Perhaps Miku does have an idea of where she wants her story to go, but she drowns it in boring nonsense, digressions, and silly clichés. Everything balances on the edge between comedy and utter nonsense. Plus, both of her shows have exactly the same beginning about an obese and unpopular kid who becomes the biggest rizzler at the drop of a hat and suddenly everything falls into his lap. I understand who the target audience is and whose dreams this premise is meant to fulfill, but I've never been particularly entertained by such a sudden unrealistic change in abilities and appearance without the character deserving it in any way. It's just uninspired and lazy. I made it through three episodes because I was curious to see how the show would deal with the fact that the main character has access to two different worlds at once. When the focus suddenly shifted to modeling in a mall, I decided that I simply don't have the time or mood for such bullshit. I also had mixed feelings about the animation. It wasn't explicitly bad, but the character design and drawing style with all that smooth and glossy skin made me feel as if I was watching hentai instead of anime. This really wasn't my thing, and all I need to decide is how much worse it was than The Fruit of Evolution. It sure got annoying much earlier... I dropped it after the third episode, and I’m giving it a maximum of 3/10.

It has been quite a while since I have come across a time travel drama this good. I can only think of Erased or the original Steins;Gate as a comparable equivalent, however, this anime series is perhaps even better in some ways (like the pacing of the narrative). The main reason why Link Click works so well is because everything happens on a powerful emotional level, plus the screenplay is excellent. There is no complex plot exposition, no extensive explanation of how the main protagonist’s special powers and abilities work, and what can go wrong; the show tries to show rather than tell. In addition, the viewer gradually discovers more rules that expand on the whole opening premise and give everything a much deeper and more interesting dimension. Sure, these extensions of what has already been said can sometimes feel like crutches for further plot development. However, they still make sense. The way they deal with causality works quite well too, and if you take in the various little details in the narrative, everything will make sense. This anime series also succeeds at creating a suitably decent emotional show, it manages to move you at the right moments, and thanks to a fairly brisk pace and good twists, it can also keep the viewer on tenterhooks. The first episode was a taste of the possibilities and a decent introduction to everything. However, the second episode has a very good narrative and gets emotional, with the next part being literally perfect and very strong after that. The following narrative concerning Dou Dou is again a bit weaker albeit still great. Then there is the conclusion itself which had at least one moment that gave me goosebumps and a fabulous ending that made me want to watch more episodes immediately because now it is going to be even more awesome! The characters are believable, likable and thanks to the skillful direction and very well-written screenplay, they all seem very human. Therefore it is no problem to empathize with their situations. The main protagonists are well-drawn and complement each other perfectly, and it is easy to deduce why they need each other, not just in terms of their special powers and abilities. Everything is wrapped up in satisfactory animation and accompanied by a very good soundtrack, which is dominated by a decent opening and ending, even though there are also situations in the anime series itself where the music is excellent (like during the karaoke in the last episode). I would never have expected one of the best anime series of 2021 to be from China, and it is proof that we should not be ignoring non-Japanese productions because this anime series deserves five stars, in my opinion. It was a brisk, strong, thoughtful, and quality experience. 9.5/10.

The penultimate season of Golden Kamuy  has failed to disappoint me again (as a non-manga reader), and not even the unplanned interruption in the middle of the season could ruin it for me. Animation-wise, it gets better with each new season. I love the moments when I learn new things about Ainu’s life, discover new Kamuy, admire breathtaking scenery, or just watch a new dish being prepared. It's a shame that there are fewer and fewer of these moments every season. Most of the characters are great, and I really like the relationship between the main trio and how it keeps developing. I also appreciate every flashback and the development of some of the supporting characters, especially Lieutenant Tsurumi. Nevertheless, I'm starting to get the feeling that some stories could have been fleshed out a little more.  As manga readers claim, a lot of the original story is left out. I do like the humor in this series, even though it's incredibly masculine, and I get the impression that Noda Satoru has an unhealthy obsession with male anatomy. I don’t think I’ll be able to get the scene with the manly "shootout" from the penultimate episode out of my head for a long time. What a bizarre moment. I was also pleased with the satisfying conclusion of the storyline involving Tanigaki (the one Noda Satoru mentions as having the biggest balls of all the characters – you can look it up in the Trivia section of anime wiki) and Inkarmat. The opening theme was also great which means I’m giving this show a strong 4, and I'm looking forward to the already confirmed grand finale. I’m hoping it will affect me enough to finally give Golden Kamuy five stars. This time, it's an 8.4/10 again.

This is not easy for me to evaluate; the series captured my interest in the characters, sometimes even in its story, but only for a moment and in a weak way. I liked how believable and normal Realiana was. Her inner monologues, motivations, and decisions made sense to me. I gradually found my way to Noah, and his interactions with Realiana were fun. The romance itself also has its intense moments. It is the driving force of the whole story. It develops pretty slowly, and the authors interestingly incorporate the conflict between reason and emotion into it. There are sometimes doubts from both sides, which are understandable when I realize how their relationship started. The story that is built around it is sometimes quite substantial. Several plotlines were launched During these twelve episodes; one or two were even closed, and others will continue for a long time. There was so much going on that when the story returned to a particular object from the earlier episodes, I suddenly realized, "Oh, it's also about that." ... The story had its great moments, the best one probably being Realiana with a revolver in her hand, but it never drew me in for a more extended period of time. There wasn't enough tension for me, and even though the series has several interesting plotlines (Beatrice, the seal...), they still didn't capture me enough to want to know what will happen next and yearn for a second season. What fell flat on me was the humor. Or rather, there didn't seem to be a lot of it. On the one hand, what's nice about it is that the show doesn't have too much "typical anime bullshit" and feels much more serious (because there is no fanservice). On the other hand, when something was meant to be funny, for example, when the holy man was hanging around Realiana and wanted her to call him "grandpa," it sometimes made me cringe. Animation was also unbalanced. Sometimes, it was impressive, some scenes were well done, and the interiors of the castles often seemed monumental, but other times, it was clear that they ran out of time or money. For example, in the last episode, there were a few scenes where the drawing and coloring seemed rushed. And yes, I noticed the use of 3DCG on some vehicles or the chessboard, but the 3D seemed fine to me. I was delighted with the music; the opening and ending were nice, and the score did what it was supposed to and was well chosen. When I summarize it for myself, the series was interesting, sometimes even entertaining, but I'm not fully hooked yet. 6.6/10

Taijó Takada is the biggest rizzler of this anime season and has no idea about it! I really enjoyed this series; it is a beautiful combination of childlike naivety and initial adolescent problems. It also contains a very idealistic but fun and awesome remedy for bullying. Every time the main character managed to effortlessly fend off any attempt to bully the female protagonist, I had a great time and felt a sense of satisfaction. Of course, I realize that this tactic would probably not work in real life, and the main character would most likely become a target of bullying himself, but a guy can dream, right? On the other hand, I think the child characters are very accurately portrayed and true to life. The children act like children with all their naivety and occasional silliness, but they also have energy, illusions, and a unique view of the world, which they gradually lose while encountering reality. It also nicely shows how girls mature emotionally faster than boys, which can be seen especially in the fact that girls already have a basic understanding of romance here. In contrast, boys (including the main character) have absolutely no idea and don't even want to know. The characters are very memorable, and the main duo is very likable. I also liked the animation style; even though the drawing is quite simple, it suits this type of comedy with a slight touch of innocent, childlike romance. I also enjoyed the work of the voice actors. Ishigami Shizuka clearly enjoyed voicing the main character, and Kohara Konomi's voice beautifully captured and portrayed the interesting character of Akane. If I were to look for any flaws, I would mention the music, which feels like it's not even there, and the fact that the final episode did not offer a more significant conclusion. I just didn't feel like I was watching the finale, even if it was just the end of the first season. Despite that, I really enjoyed the series and would love to see more episodes in the future and, ideally, see how it all ends. My Clueless First Friend excellently depicts the transition from childhood to adulthood, facing reality and becoming aware of one's emotions, which can be very complicated to understand for someone who is technically still a child. 8/10

If I ever wondered how to get my friends, most of whom are 30+, into anime, then Spy x Family would probably be the first thing I'd recommend to them. The collaboration between Wit and CloverWorks has ensured some really gorgeous and distinctive visuals here. Plus, the score is excellent as well. On top of that a very well-written story that is actually a family spy comedy, thus offering various themes that should be interesting even for someone who has never been into anime. I also think that the portrayal of the political situation in a Cold War-like setting, or the many references to spy movies, and the occasional good action, could get many viewers hooked. Plus, the great comedic aspect, well-written characters, and emphasis on the family and its importance and the problems that go with it might resonate with many female viewers. Perhaps they would, like me, fall in love with Spy x Family, getting to like all the main characters and waiting with anticipation to see how it all plays out. The only criticism I can accept is that some episodes, especially those in the second half, can come across as a bit weak, making it feel like the main storyline drags on a bit. I don’t think this anime has another flaw, it's one of the gems of 2023. A lot of love and honest work was put into it, and I don’t hesitate to rate it 9.5/10. I’m adding Jor to my waifu list and Anja to the cutest things I've seen this year.

For me, A Galaxy Next Door is a slightly above-average romantic fairytale that I'd give about 5.5/10. What was interesting about it, apart from the fact that the local princess has a "stinger," was that the main couple got together quite early, so they had more room for classic romantic interaction. In other words, they had more time to go on dates. On the other hand, I can't say that the show had a strong emotional impact on me. I didn't become fond of the main couple or anyone around them. I also found the animation mediocre, sometimes slightly below average. The music worked only occasionally, mainly in the last episode, where more things seemed to happen than in the whole series. It works as a breezy romantic fairytale, but it's not a series that I would need to see again in the future. I don't feel a strong desire to see another season, but if there is one, I will watch it.

The hero gets reincarnated into the same world for the second time after having already saved it before. It sounds like an exciting and original concept that has potential! I'm sure it won't be just a pile of silly clichés and plot twists like "Jesus, it's you, Secu! I haven't seen you in a while. Remember how you saved us last time? Now you have to do it all over again!" I'm sure there will be fascinating characters, not just another boring harem trying to get close to the hero at the nearest opportunity... Okay, I could put up with that. I can handle the fact that the series works with the given theme in a weird and awkward way, throwing one character after another at you that you only get to see in passing, like, "Jesus, it's you, Secu! I haven't seen you in a while..." Then, after being rescued, they disappear who knows where. But then Toma appears in the eighth episode. The main villain doesn't seem scary at all from the beginning but is apparently behind everything, especially the morning sickness of our hero. The moment he revealed the motivation behind his actions, I couldn't take any more. SPOILER: I can handle a story where a group of enthusiastic girls and boys crave the attention of the main hero. The problem is that the main villain is the biggest simp of the whole story, who is offended that the hero once stopped paying attention to him. END OF SPOILER: I felt genuinely embarrassed for Toma... Plus, neither the animation nor the music is a masterpiece, the fights are pretty dull, and the writing is awkward, so you can't blame me for not giving it more than 3.5/10 after those eight episodes I've seen.

At first, I couldn't really get into this series. Akane seemed extremely stupid to me, and Yamada seemed like an emotional stump in the style of Saitama from One Punch Man. I was trying to figure out why this anime was so popular, thinking it might be because it's set in the world of video game players, which many people can relate to. I should be able to relate to it, too, being a gamer myself, but there wasn't that much gaming in it after all; it was more of a backdrop, like in Recovery of an MMO Junkie. However, I gradually started to like this romantic comedy. It was because its humor worked on me, and I found myself laughing multiple times per episode. It was also because the animation felt strong at the right moments and depicted powerful romantic moments enhanced by a beautiful work with colors and filters. The last episode in particular had many intense and well-executed scenes. This is how an impressive romantic comedy finale should be done. I also found a way to connect with the main characters. I can't say I'm really into them, but I have no problem rooting for their relationship. So, from an average romantic comedy, it gradually became slightly above average, and the final episode reinforced the overall impression. I'm giving it a 7/10.