Jeoffrey

This social comedy may not have had a huge budget — something that's occasionally evident in the animation — but the creators made the most of what they had. For the first time in an anime, I saw a real slot machine integrated into the show. Despite its financial limitations, it still had a lot of charm. The humor, quirky yet likable characters, and overall vibe reminded me a lot of Hinamatsuri, which is definitely a compliment. The series essentially had two main storylines. One follows a young princess, Sara, who finds herself in our world from a fantasy realm and unexpectedly discovers a family. Her story was heartwarming, funny, and generally very endearing. The second storyline centers around Livia, a noble knight who came with Sara and experienced a series of life’s misadventures. This plotline delves into social comedy, offering glimpses into the lives of homeless people, escorts, con artists, smugglers, horse racing, and religious cults — basically, the kinds of places and people you don't often see (or prefer to avoid). It's all presented in a humorous, lighthearted way, yet still carries a bittersweet undertone when you consider the implications of their situations. The anime features a host of unique characters, as the title "Salad Bowl of Eccentrics" suggests. Each one was quirky, memorable, and weird, yet most came across as oddly endearing. The takeaway? If you're an eccentric, move to Gifu — you might fit in and even find a bit of happiness, or at least a bridge to sleep under. Add to all this an opening and ending that gradually grew on me (though the background music throughout the anime was just average), and I can easily give this series a 7/10. I’d be happy to see another serving from this “salad bowl.”

A Condition Called Love does a pretty good job in the romance department. The series can build and deliver romantic scenes that resonate well with those who have a soft spot for love stories. By the end of the series, the main couple even develops decent chemistry. I also appreciate how the show handles their shared past. However, I had significant issues with the main characters, which kept me from giving this series a higher rating. Both leads have their flaws, which is usually a positive, but... Hotaru is completely inexperienced with romance, leading to the overused trope of a shy girl searching for the meaning of love. It’s like watching a puppy explore the world, which many viewers might find cute, but it didn’t work for me this time. Saki, on the other hand, was even more problematic. I can't stand characters who become overly attached in relationships, get jealous of everyone, and make their partner the center of their universe. I've experienced this in real life, and it’s not pleasant, making it hard for me to watch the main character at times. While the show does explain his behavior, and both characters are aware of their issues and work on them throughout the story, it was still hard for me to fully connect with them. I also felt the story lacked significant drama. I expected more skeletons in their closets or some romantic rivals to shake things up, but the characters mainly struggled with themselves, leaving little room for external conflicts. It would have been interesting to see a scenario where, for instance, a friend from Hotaru’s past shows up and challenges their relationship, but maybe that’s something for future episodes. In summary, I found this anime to be decent and inoffensive to the romantic soul, but I wasn't particularly blown away by it. 5.7/10

What can I say about the third season of "Comfy Camp"? The atmosphere remains as delightful as in the previous seasons. The humor is light, charming, and occasionally a bit silly — exactly what you’d expect from a series about cute girls doing cute things. The music is wonderfully relaxing, featuring gentle motifs with flutes, guitars, and violins. The opening and ending songs are perfectly chosen, matching the vibe of the entire series, and I never felt the urge to skip them. The animation continues to impress, capturing the beauty of various Japanese landscapes and even simple things like blooming sakura trees. This season, instead of exploring Japanese geospots, the first half took us on a journey featuring different types of rope bridges. There’s still a variety of camping and traveling experiences, useful tips for aspiring campers, and plenty of food and outdoor cooking demonstrations. The main characters remain the same — charming, entertaining, and lovable. So, why did I give this season an extra star? In past seasons, I constantly complained about the 3DCG vehicles — the cars, scooters, and other modes of transport never seemed to fit with the beautiful 2D backgrounds and ruined the immersion for me. But something changed this season. Either the 3D models improved, the person creating them did a better job, the overall composition was better integrated, or (though I doubt it) I just got used to them. This time, Rin’s scooter and Nadeshiko’s sister’s car didn’t bother me — they finally blended in, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the story and enjoy the scenery and its atmosphere. I simply love Yuru Camp. It brings me so much joy, making me smile from ear to ear with each episode, and I look forward to every new season. 8.8/10