Anime Preview: Summer 2021

 Hey there guys, Endblade here once again with another post. This time, we will be exploring the latest anime releases for Summer 2021 (July 2021) and my thoughts on the titles. Note that I will not be covering any anime with a second season of which I did not watch the first season.

1. Bokutachi No Remake 

At first glance, this anime looks like its going to be another harem anime, and I think if you guessed that you'd be right. Just that in 2021, we have the overused trope of time travel to undo your past regrets! I'm not sure why is this becoming a thing, with Tokyo Revengers last season (still airing by the way) and now this. This show follows protagonist Kyouya, who is a disillusioned member of society slaving away at a developer 9-5 job and being a flop in general. He gets a chance through time travel to pursue his dreams at an art college and meet hot girls (as are all animes). 

The studio pushing this out is feel, the same anime studio that adapted Oregairu and Tsuki ga kirei. The latter of which is one of my all-time favourites! That being said, I think this anime isn't going to be bad from the initial episodes that I watched, but I doubt it's going to be fantastic. It gave me Pet girl of Sakurasou vibes, but I don't think its a compliment to compare a 2021 production with something produced in 2012.  However, only time will tell if this will even match that classic show, or be another vanilla disappointment.

2. Vanitas no Karte

Vampires in a Victorian-like setting, this historical anime drew me in the first episode with it's bright graphics and fantasy elements. It feels like Final Fantasy/Bravely Default and Castlevania in terms of it's setting.

The first two episodes seem to be establishing the fact that somehow a human, Vanitas, has possession of a cursed grimoire called the Book of Vanitas, a weapon meant to exterminate vampires. It follows the story of a human and a vampire, and the two protagonists help each other to cure rampaging vampires. While the premise is unique, and the setting compelling, I was not impressed by the first few episodes. However, the art direction and action sequences are interesting, and for that I will be watching a few more episodes before delivering my verdict.

3. Sonny Boy

Trippy, watercolour like graphics. To be honest, the setting of the show is pretty unique, with the school being teleported to another dimension. The first episode of the show seems to be more of just intorducing the characters, and I was quite lost as to what was happening. It seems like the schoolkids now have special powers, and have to play by certain rules of which are not well defined for now. The characters don't seem very compelling individually at the moment, but I will be watching a few more episodes before passing my judgement.

With supernatural and mystery aspects of the show, I would think that this has the potential to be a good show if executed well. The story would have to tie it all together though, and on that front I'm not sure how well Sonny Boy will do.

4. Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru (The Detective is already dead)

The premise of the show is simple enough, an ordinary person is pulled into being a detective's sidekick. The reason why and how he got into this mess was quickly explained away in the first episode. Siesta seems to be a detective despite being only a middle schooler. If you can get past the wacky and nonsensical setting, the plot is actually serviceable. I would have to give it some marks for its originality.

The mini mysteries in the first episode are quite interesting and different from usual anime. The second episode is no less absurd or nonsensical.

While I am still not a fan as a whole and I can't give a definitive rating as of yet, I will give the series a few more episodes before I decide.

5. Shiroi Suna no Aquatope (The Aquatope on White Sand)

A washed up idol leaves the city and wants to rediscover herself in the countryside. The premise is simple, and the animation beautiful. However, after watching the first episode, I feel that this is going to be a slow burner. With 24 planned episodes, it's really no wonder why the first episode was just a chill one, slowly introducing the characters. It seems like the plot will revolve around a few characters, and I hope it doesn't turn out to be some shoujo ai or romance anime. There's already tons of shows following that premise.

I'm a real sucker for slice-of-life anime, so I will definitely be watching this. There's isn't much to say at the moment, as there hasn't been much of a development.

6. Megami-ryou no Ryoubo-kun (The Mother of the Goddess' Dormitory)

This is about the safest-for-work picture I could show you without being flagged. The plot in the first episode is non-existent, but it's one of the heaviest fanservice shows ever. Its definitely ecchi, borderlin e not-anime. However, that being said, its still quite interesting. I doubt I would be watching this though, there's barely any story to watch.

And that's Summer 2021's preview! While I definitely will not be watching all of the above series' to completion, I will definitely try to watch most of them to provide a more detailed review in the near future! Stay tuned to the next post which will hopefully be out...soon?

Until Next Time,

Endblade

Spring 2021 anime review: surprising hits

Hey there guys, Endblade here once again with other post. 

It's been a while since my last anime review, and this season has brought quite a few sleeper hits, of which I will only be selecting a few in this review. Of course, all links to Myanimelist will be duly provided, and I will give an overall rating to each show on scale of 10.

1. Vivy: Flourite Eye's Song 13 episodes

Spunky AI diva meets end of the world scenario

I have to admit, when I first saw the promotional poster a couple months back, I most definitely wrote off the anime right there and then. I dismissed it largely because I thought it would fall into the genre of cheesy idol-singing . Oh boy, was I completely wrong. The first episode was a frenetic, bloody ordeal that got me immediately hooked. Without too many spoilers, Vivy: Flourite Eye's Song is a futuristic anime where our protagonist, Vivy, an AI songstress, teams up with a cube (Matsumoto) to correct history and prevent a Terminator-like Judgement Day-style apocalypse by altering flashpoints in their timeline.

To fully enjoy this show, you will have to suspend all reservations about time-travel and a structured plot or pacing. To put it bluntly, the story is somewhat a mess, full of plot holes. It's not to say the writing isn't gripping or emotional. The show is just a little too over-the-top at times. But the action sequences, animation quality by Wit Studio, and most of all, the AMAZING soundtrack (repeat: amazing soundtrack), really makes this anime something special. 

The soundtrack is phenomenal - gives me chills

This is one of the shows where I really love every single song, as it fits into the story and amplifies the emotions that the show is trying to convey. While I cannot in good conscience give this show a perfect score due to the plot, I'd say its close to an excellent watch. Highly recommend.

Rating: 8/10 - Close to greatness, but falls short in the plot. Still extremely good.

2. 86 (Eighty-Six) 11 episodes

Gundam rip-off? Maybe. Still good though

A mecha anime that isn't Gundam or full of fanservice like Darling in the Franxx, or the disaster that was Aldnoah Zero, Eighty-Six is a dystopian future where child soldiers are utilized to fight bloody and brutal wars (Remember Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans?). The plot is gripping and it alternates between the calm conversations and feisty battles. The tension between the two main characters Vladilena Milize and frontline commander Shinei Nouzen, who come from different strata of society is clear, and a parallel to our own world. While 86 tries to handle these sensitive topics during the show's run, it is clear that the show is too short to resolve everything cleanly. 

What I felt could have been better executed were the battle scenes. While the first few battles were intense, towards the end the battles got a bit too repetitive and lacked the initial shock and awe factor. Eleven episodes were not enough to flesh out the plot AND satisfy viewers with action sequences. If Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans was a little too draggy at times with its 50 episodes of runtime, Eighty-Six suffers from too little runtime. 

A good story but lacking in actual fight scenes

Overall, while I would recommend this to any mecha lover and anyone who is looking for an emotional story with some mecha elements, I cannot say that this is better than Gundam IBO (which by the way came out in 2015). The fact that even after 6 years, Eighty-Six did not manage to surpass or match IBO, I felt was a wasted chance as such anime do not come often.

Rating: 7/10 - A good watch, especially if you like mecha anime.

3. Tokyo Revengers ongoing

A show with a lot of yellow-haired protagonists

While the premise has been overused in many anime (man full of regrets gets a chance to do-over and fix his mistakes), what I felt drew me to this show was the premise. Gang wars and the light-hearted moments were what made this anime good at times. However, the keyword would be 'at times'. I could not get myself to like the animation or art style, and while the relationship between Ken and Manjirou was interesting and heartwarming, the MC was not.

The constant sobbing and emotional wreck of a character the MC Takemichi Hanagaki was a source of frustration. Yes, I understand his sobbing performances touch the hearts of others, but to constantly use it as a cure-all in most situations made it contrived. 

It is an ok show, but honestly nothing more than that.

Rating 6/10 - I wanted to like it, but somehow I end up feeling indifferent.

4. To Your Eternity (Fumetsu no Anata e) 20 episodes

To your eternity

To your Eternity starts off extremely promising - an otherwordly being is placed into the world and takes on the form of whatever it makes contact with. The first story was full of hope and despair, and I really thought it would use the momentum it started with in the first 1-2 episodes and run with it. But alas, it didn't. 

We are thrown in different situations which this sentient being faces and watch its growth - but we are forced to accept that 'that's how it is' and given little to no explanation how everything ties up together. The fight scenes weren't that entertaining, and it felt like we knew how things would turn out after the first story. The show tries to be everything - action, slice of life, fantasy, adventure, but because it tries to be the jack of all trades, it ends up being the master of none.

But its' not the say the show is horrible, it isn't. The setting of the stories are beautiful, the BGM is amazing (especially the opening song by Hikaru Utada). But potential can only carry you so far. That being said, this review was made only after 12 episodes aired, and while I am not dropping this anime, it will take a lot for it to go up in the rankings for me.

Rating 6/10 - Still has potential, but feels like a wasted opportunity to do something special.

Overall, this Spring 2021 anime season brought a few surprises, and some shows that have the potential to be good if they step-up their game in the closing episodes. While I did not feature every single anime I watched for this season, these were the notable ones. I might come back to update To your Eternity  and Tokyo Revengers once the programming ends, but I have a feeling my mind will not change. Also, I have wanted to watch Odd Taxi, but the visual parallels to Beastars and the disappoint that was Season 2 of Beastars and the Netflix show BNA makes me hesitate. However, If I do give Odd Taxi a watch I might update this post to include it since it seems to have rave reviews.

2020/21: A time of busy reflection

Hey there guys, Endblade here once again with another post.

It's been a couple of years since I've updated this blog, to be honest I don't even think anyone uses Blogger or reads blogs for that matter anymore in 2021. But it doesn't matter too much to me, since I'm just rambling on here just because. Ultimately I guess it is a archive for me to personally look back in the near future and laugh at my shitty and outdated anime tastes.

Somehow, I can't seem to ever get a consistent release schedule of posts underway - a mix of lack of motivation/feedback and real life gets in the way mostly.

But for those of you who might chance upon this blog, good for you. I have a MyAnimeList profile which you can follow or comment as I do update my recommendations and lists from there! You can find it here

I might do a review of the better animes that I've watched in 2020, but off the top of my head the better ones are Jujutsu Kaisen and Great Pretender.

Jujutsu Kaisen had really good fight scenes, flashy and detailed. For a Shounen, it really is a step above (looking at you, Boruto)

Great Pretender had a bright colour watercolour-style palette when it came to the art style, and although the plot got increasingly wacky, it was decent. The art really reminds me of an anime which I'm pretty gutted didn't get a second season and was/still is one of my favourite isekai : Grimgar - A tale of fantasy and Ash.

But 2020 personally has been a roller coaster of a year, which I'm sure for most of you would be the case as well. I stepped into the adult world and got my first fulltime job, had to experience the first global pandemic firsthand but I think most of all the pandemic weirdly validated my extremely unsociable personality. I didnt watch many new anime, but I did reach back into the past and watch some classics like Neon Genesis Evangelion, which to be honest is better than quite a few shows in 2020 and 2021. 

2021 is shaping up to be a better year than 2020, personally and on an anime front. Eighty-Six has been a pretty good anime, albeit a little short in terms of number of episodes and it suffers from pacing issues as a result. However, it evokes the Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans feel, and I really like IBO.

Hopefully I'll be able to bring myself to editing and publishing a short updated anime recommendation list of my new top 10 anime of all time. But until then, stay safe everyone and have a good one.

Until next time,

Endblade

2020...Happy New Year! A look back on my top 5 anime of 2019!

Hey there guys, Endblade here once again with another post! Well, its' been a while (more than a year in fact) since my last post on this blog. Well, by now those of you who have read my posts you should know that I'm pretty much a sporadic poster. I personally do not like to post here if I feel that I can't provide any constructive recommendations or detailed reviews. And of course, its' not like there aren't thousands of others who put up their recommendations on what to watch or what to avoid!

But that being said, no promises this year, but I'll try to slot in a post every month, more like a monthly review of anime to get some schedule going. I doubt this will happen, but hey, New Year's resolutions right? 

Speaking of New Year's, here's wishing all those who read this post a very happy new year! Let's hope 2020 is better than 2019, and that somehow Blogger doesn't fall into absolute irrelevancy (not that it hasn't), but hey we can always hope. What better way to start 2020 than to look back at what 2019 has gifted us in terms of anime releases, both movie-wise and on regular programming. 

I'll have to admit, 2019 hasn't been an excellent year for me in terms of the new anime released, I spent most of the time watching older installments. Some notable mentions of not 2019 anime which I enjoyed would be Grand Blue (picture below), which is definitely not the most work-safe anime to watch, but the comedic gags is just top class.

One of the best scenes in Grand Blue...not for the faint-hearted!

Another pre-2019 anime which I enjoyed in particular would be 3-gatsu no Lion, which some of you might remember as March Comes in like a Lion. My personal interest in chess and other board games drew me to this realistic and emotional piece on Go (a Japanese equivalent to chess), and the two seasons which I had the pleasure of watching were excellent to say the least. 

How the humble game of Go is portrayed beautifully

A final honourable mention for pre-2019 anime which I enjoyed would be the Bungou Stray Dogs series, of which I sadly *spoiler alert* did not watch season 3 due to anime burnout (yeah, that's a thing for me). But the first two seasons and the movie were par-excellent, especially the first half of season 2. My personal favourite character has to be Kunkida Doppo, what's yours?

The duo of Dazai and Doppo has to be my favourite bromances by far

You may take a look at my regularly updated personal anime list for recommendations here, of which I update after I have finished watching the series. I did watch many other series, but if I did not complete it or dropped it, I will not rate it. You can assume that I did not fancy it/ lost interest in it for whatever reason, and as such if I were to rate those dropped anime, it would not be favourable at all. So I decided to not rate them for fairness sake. But it doesn't mean I won't go back to them in the future, so as time passes I might pick some of them up again for viewing.

Other great anime which I have watched in 2019 include Koi wa Ameagari no You ni (After the Rain), Hoshiai no Sora (Stars Align), Asobi Asobase. 

Well. I think I might have digressed quite a bit, but without further ado, here's my top 5 recommendations of 2019 anime, alongside with a short review of each of the five! Each recommendation is linked to MyAnimeList, with which you can see the aggregate scores/reviews. But note that the following five are PURELY my own choices!

Number #5: Psycho-Pass Season 3

Reporting for duty! RESET RESET

We begin the top 5 with one of the last anime for the Fall 2019 season to be aired. With 8 episodes, each almost an hour-long, its' definitely jam-packed with action and suspense. It basically feels like you're watching a Psycho-Pass movie every week, which I felt was refreshing for a change, as 20-minute episodes when you remove the OP and ED sections, don't really help much in traditional storytelling of an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action then resolution/conclusion. Speaking of OPs, the opening for this season's installment was AMAZING. Love the song Cubism by Who-ya, definite earworm for end-2019 for me! An hour-long episode allows for ample time to draw cases to a close, and while not all episodes manage to do so (as suspense does help extend anticipation), Psycho-Pass does what it does well: thrilling action sequences interspersed with character development. 

What caused this fall to fifth position when it could easily be top 3 would be the unsatisfying conclusion to the season. While I understand that the next movie Psycho-Pass: First Inspector will provide the resolution for this season in 2020, the way it ended just left many things unsaid and unresolved. Commercially this might be a good choice, but just storytelling-wise it does take a slight hit. But definitely an improvement over season 2, the friendship between Kei and Arata really holds this season together, as well as cameos from the older cast make for great reminiscing without stealing the limelight from the new cast. Overall, Psycho-Pass Season 3 was done well, but it could have been so much better.

Number #4: Tate No Yuusha No Nariagari (Rising of the Shield Hero)

The bond between Naofumi and Raphatalia is strong, and one of the best pairings in anime so far

I would say that Tate No Yuusha comes in really close to Psycho-Pass S3 in the sense that both are well done shows, but disappoint when it comes to the ending phase of the story. The premise of Tate No Yuusha is like any other isekai or fantasy genre anime which has come to define the last two years of anime releases, but with a twist. While I won't elaborate on the twist here as it includes major spoilers, it does help to differentiate it from many other fan-service anime adaptations (not mentioning any, except maybe the one which has a season coming out soon, go figure).

Overall, the growth which our main character Naofumi undergoes is both touching at times and the friends which he makes along the way does lend the name "Rising" very well to this anime. Typical fantasy fights keep the story engaging, although we do know the inevitable 'happy ending' that would come, it feels like the door is left wide open for a second season, as it did not feel complete. While I agree that doors should always be left ajar (read: ajar, not flung wide open) for sequels, the intention of every show should be to be the last season, unless already announced. But for an adaption, Tate No Yuusha does well in making the storyline interesting, although too many mechanics and new plot threads were introduced towards the second half of the anime, which I felt caused it to suffer from a fast-paced and cramped second half. 24 episodes is a long time to keep someone's attention, and that being said I looked forward to every weekly installment of Tate No Yuusha in trembling anticipation. This says a lot about a show in its' ability to keep the audience coming back for more, and for that, it makes its' way into my top 5 anime of 2019.

Number #3: Tenki No Ko (Weathering with You)

Another success for Makoto Shinkai

At number three on my top 5 recommendations of 2019 is Tenki No Ko, an excellent movie by director Makoto Shinkai of hit anime movie which you might have watched, Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name). I had the opportunity to watch it in theatres when it came out a few months ago, and I loved that it focused on the innocence of love, which many animes and movies in our present era focus less on. The sheer emotional gravity of the show is what made Kimi No Na Wa great, and while I do not feel it is fair to compare it to Tenki No Ko, the same formula is somewhat emulated in this show very well. This a overall good-paced, well done movie by director Shinkai-san.

While refraining from spoilers, the show is focused on this weather girl who brings joy to others. The rain dance in the movie was a light-hearted moment in the story, and our main character's journey in finding himself was clearly depicted in the short span of a movie. While I feel that the ending was pretty cliche and predictable, the rollercoaster of emotions was ever present in the second-half of the movie. Tenki No Ko blends real-world issues of climate change with traditional Japanese mythology of shrine maidens. This is a show aimed at the mainstream, and with that comes the high expectations of the one that came before (Kimi No Na Wa) while also having the privilege of not being constrained to typical anime genres and overused stereotypes and tropes.

Tenki No Ko is not the best anime for me in 2019, but as a recommendation for someone that has barely stepped into anything anime-related, it is a great start to get your feet wet (pun intended) in a span of 2 hours. It deserves the number 3 spot on my list for 2019.

Number #2: Seishun Buta Yarou wa Yumemiru Shoujo no Yume wo Minai (Rascal Does not Dream of a Dreaming Girl)

A fitting and beautiful way to cap the Bunny Girl series

The next show was a surprise for me. This comes very close to the previous entry Tenki No Ko in terms of how I think it falls on the list, and if I could I would tie it. However, it being a definitive personal list, I had to choose, and Dreaming Girl (let's use this, the actual name is too long) is ever so slightly better in my opinion. However, I would still highly recommend that you watch both. It's surprising that I find movies somehow better than conventional anime series this year, and looking back 2019 has been personally disappointing in terms of the 'blockbuster' anime being released.

Bunny Girl Senpai: If you can get past the name, it is an amazing series

Dreaming Girl is somewhat of a sequel to the previous anime series which I enjoyed thoroughly: Bunny Girl Senpai (You just have to get past the name). This means that you MUST watch the anime series Bunny Girl Senpai for this movie to make any sense, which I highly recommend. Suspend your disbelief when watching this show, as the scientific jargon they use is mainly to justify the plot that follows (with quantum mechanics somehow everything is explained away). I personally don't agree with how it executes the whole plot in terms of logic, but hey as an anime (which I am grading it based on) it is excellent. Pacing is good, the climax is fantastic and the ending is stellar.

Emotionally, I was moved to tears (actual man-tears let me add) during certain scenes, it felt like the voice actors' emotions were just raw and so genuine at moments. While the plot may seem confusing at times, the entire picture and ending is wrapped up ever so beautifully. You might have to re watch the movie to understand the whole idea, but Dreaming Girl manages to compress the novels which it adapts from succinctly and beautifully, while still capturing the beauty of what made Bunny Girl Senpai great: an anime with subtle tones of psychological issues like depression, deep-seated hate and insecurity. The way the characters develop and how they overcome these challenges is an acknowledgement to the suffering of many ordinary people and the struggles we go through fighting our personal demons.

Dreaming Girl is a show which provides a beautiful conclusion to the Bunny Girl Senpai series, and definitely a must-watch!

Number #1: Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai (Love is War)

Love truly is a battle sometimes!

For the final anime, we look to the beginning of the year. The first thing that I have to say about Love is War is that I absolutely LOVE the anime opening. I dare say "Love Dramatic" is one of the most catchy, memorable and well-choreographed openings in anime by far. Usually I would skip the opening (sacrilegious! some of you might say), but hey, to be honest I don't really like most anime openings as they feel too generic, the song isn't catchy or memorable, hence not worth watching. But I sat through all the episode's openings without fail, tapping my feet to the tune by Masayuki Suzuki. My only peeve is that the song isn't available on Spotify! 

Onto the story. To put it simply, the episodes are based on daily mundane tasks from planning events to just normal interactions, but set in a 'winner-takes-all' kind of battle royale format, accompanied by an epic narrator who just states the obvious but helps to over-dramatise the unfolding events. Fun, joy and laughter ensues, and while there is some element of relatability in the sense that love and relationships is somewhat about give-and-take, this is dialled to the extreme and the wacky expressions alongside with the fact that us, as the viewer knows exactly what is going on while the characters don't, helps make this anime a beautiful gem. This is one that you ABSOLUTELY must watch for the cheap entertainment it provides. 

Ishigami Yu, my favourite character apart from the MVP narrator

Each of the four main characters have their own quirks, which make this anime quite similar to other shows like Asobi Asobase with comedic relief, but a romance unique compared to other high-school type of anime over the years. Ishigami has to be my personal favourite character in the show, with his anti-social behaviour and brooding self. What I particularly like about the show is that most of the plot is set within the same room, but still manages to be so interesting! Just goes to show that sometimes, a plain setting with great characters and an even better plot is a formula for success.

I'd say that the charm of it was that while there was an overarching storyline, each episode has a standalone mini-story which makes the weekly release perfect. While watching it now might not be as magical of an experience as before, Love is War still is a great show worthy of rewatching (since it came out pretty early in 2019). It is a great show to recommend as a starting point for those who have not watched anime, and similarly excellent for veteran weebs as it builds on existing anime love tropes. It has the magic of One Punch Man in the sense that every episode can be watched standalone and has the ability to carry itself.

While Love is War might not have the same emotional gravitas as our previous recommendations Dreaming Girl and Tenki No Ko, I believe the light-hearted anime is timeless and I placed it first as not only did I thoroughly enjoy the episodes, a Number #1 recommendation should stand the test of time and still hold it's own in the coming years. Hence, Love is War I feel is likely to maintain this air of longevity as a unique recommendation not constrained by emotions and as a stand-alone series. 

Summary

To end, 2019 while overall it has not been a great anime year for me, the small diamonds in the rough like Love is War and Grand Blue makes watching generic and dreary anime in the hope that I will find a gem is worth the struggle. I hope the list has given you some inspiration on your next series to watch! Again, if your favourites are not mentioned, take a look at my list here!

Until Next Time,

Endblade

Anime Review: Hero-Mask!

Hey there guys, Endblade here once again with another post! This time, we will be looking at the recent release by Netflix's Originals, Hero-Mask with the help of Studio Pierrot, the studio which brought you Naruto, Bleach and Tokyo Ghoul! Some heavyweights in anime series' right there produced by Pierrot, but how does the newly released Hero-Mask stack up against its' illustrious predecessors?

Poster for Hero:Mask, taken from MyAnimeList

First Impressions:

I'm a total sucker for crime/psychological/thriller anime, one of my favourites being Psycho:Pass. So when I happened to chance upon the latest anime by Studio Pierrot, Hero:Mask, my natural instinctive reaction was to immediately drop everything I was doing and watch the first episode of this new anime. And boy, was I totally hyped! Slight spoilers, but the first episode of Hero:Mask opens with a murder (like all good crime shows), and features Psycho:Pass' Kogami Shinya clone, James Blood. Except that what weirded me out was that this is apparently set in some European country, my guess would be the UK. Hearing them speak Japanese but having the setting of the anime being in what is supposed to be a predominately English-speaking country baffled me a little. But of course, this isn't the first time animes have had us suspend our disbelief, so I got used to the English signage and general background after a while, a minor gripe I might say.

But the context and setting behind Hero:Mask got me hooked, so let's see if my thoughts about this anime change after watching the series!

After watching the entire series (SPOILERS AHEAD):

Disappointing to say the least. This anime series had so much potential, from the realistic background setting and experienced animation studio, surely they could have pushed the envelope so much harder and farther than they actually did. Studio Pierrot stuck to a vanilla, sci-fi thriller which aside from some awkwardly thrown in plot twists towards the end (I'm looking at you episode 15) and some thrilling chases through the city, had none too many redeeming qualities to make this show watchable.

James Blood: ironically wearing a blood-coloured jacket

The main character James Blood didn't really have much character development, he was just portrayed as a plot-armor protected typical anime hero who happens to be the best detective in the police force and can fight like a MMA professional. I would say he seems to not have many deficiencies aside from his rash personality, which in turn doesn't really make him endearing to watchers in any way due to the lack of humanization. He seems more like a machine imbued with some altruistic sense of justice to fight crime, a one dimensional Batman would be a good analogy.

Harry Creighton: Good cop turned bad?

His good-friend-turned-enemy-turned-good-friend Harry Creighton is a confusing mess of an antagonist turned ally, his motives seem to be hinted at (his future wife Eve seems to be in critical condition hence he became Anakin Skywalker and turned to the dark side to save her), but then again it isn't explicitly confirmed. He then ditches his rich employer Steven Martland for some crazy researcher just because he said something to the effect of 'follow me'. Incredulous and appalling.

Sarah Sinclair, while sporting an interesting-sounding name, stops at just that. The show's attempts to introduce a heroine alongside James Blood falls flat as she seems to as a prosecutor, convert into a crime-fighting detective. Whatever happened to being Ace Attorney, her actual job? The attempt to link everything on a whiteboard (like all other cliche crime dramas/animes) is a little too cliche to be the lynchpin that holds the entire plot together. While her quest for vengeance for her recently deceased mentor is realistic and understandable to some extent, the levels of obsession and uncanny precision by which she puts everything together seems a little forced, like the producers had to cram the entire story into the second half of the anime because they didn't plan it out properly. What could have been a gripping heroine was left half-baked, although arguably much better than our titular MC, James Blood.

Moreover, there were quite a few unresolved plot points, it was disturbing to say the least that they left some these plot points hanging. Maybe they intend to push another season next year? Hopefully they address these points, because the world-building in Hero:Mask is unsatisfactory and skimps on many details. If it does end only on one season, then this might be one of the worst anime series' that I've watched.

A piece of origami? Or sci-fi Mask? Who can even tell?

The whole idea of the Masks didn't really do much for me, I mean they didn't explain the mechanics behind how the Masks worked, or even things like who was the Professor and what idea did he plant in his students' minds to drive such crazy and unethical research? There could have been more done to explain these concepts, and even delve into the arguments behind the ethical ramifications of scientific experimentation. These plot points are so crucial to the story, and yet they were only mentioned but not addressed, which was a pity.

The funny part was the last episode, when the plot twist happened where Steven Martland is revealed to not be Steven Martland? Then comes a serving of cold revenge in an explosion in the sky. A little abrupt, but at least that part of the anime was quite amusing to say the least. Plus the final scene in the anime seems to set up a second season, which I hope will do volumes better than this season, but I'm not expecting much.

Of course, me even watching this series to the end (I did fast-forward certain points because it was simply too boring) does speak volumes about the quality of the anime, which is decent. Not mind-blowing or intensely gripping, but I guess enough for you to want to watch the next episode. Not binge-watch worthy, but I guess a good time filler. I had high expectations of this anime going in, but in trying to be the next Psycho-Pass it got caught up in an unrealistic sci-fi scenario that it spent many episodes attempting to explain and unravel rather than being the solid crime thriller it could have been.

OVERALL

The pluses:

- Promising premise

- Realistic setting, pretty good art direction and background

- First few episodes were decent, the mystery and thriller aspects were showcased well

The minuses:

- Shallow, one-dimensional characters fulfilling certain anime tropes/stereotypes

- Plot devolved into a mess towards the second half of the anime

- Unsatisfying ending

Rating: 7.5/10

Overall ranking (out of all the anime ranked here): 66/101 (updated 2020)

Updates 2020: Do take a look at my not-so-comprehensive personal list right here!

Anime Review: Ballroom e Youkoso - Blood, Sweat and Tears

Hey there guys, Endblade here. Today we're going to be looking at another anime series which has recently ended - Ballroom e Youkoso, translated to Welcome to the Ballroom. Honest opinions here, I didn't start watching the anime when it first aired in for the Summer 2017 anime season back in July.

First Impressions:
The main reason why I chose to not watch Ballroom e Youkoso when it first aired was because I never really found dancing/music anime interesting. I didn't watch acclaimed shows like K-On or sporting shows like Yuri on Ice, so when Ballroom e Youkoso first aired, I felt that it was a show that didn't require my attention. I thought that it looked too effeminate and bordered on uninteresting. I mean, ballroom dancing? How interesting could it get? With all that in mind, I guess the most pertinent question would be: How did you even come to watch Ballroom (for ease of reference, I'll just be referring to Ballroom e Youkoso as Ballroom from now onwards) in the first place then?

Simply put, I was looking for decent anime to watch, given that the current few seasons didn't really have any anime series' which caught my eye. So I surfed myanimelist, and found Ballroom e Youkoso. Little did I know I was about to watch one of the most touching, emotional and inspiring anime to grace the anime world.

I can safely say that my preconceived notions of Ballroom e Youkoso and narrow mindset that I brought coming into this show were utterly wrong, and I have learnt to be more open-minded when it comes to anime. Well, we all live and learn. But what made me change my mind?

From left to right: Gaju, Hyodo, Shizuku and Tatara

After watching the anime series (SPOILERS AHEAD):
Some episodes are full of action in the form of dance competitions, while others are quieter and more idyllic, dealing with main character Fujita Tatara's growth as a dancer. The first few episodes build on our MC's desire to become a pro ballroom dancer, to 'beat' talented dancer and 'rival' Kiyoharu Hyodo. From Tatara's first clumsy box-step, to his first dance on a pro stage standing in for Hyodo with his Hyodo's dance partner and Tatara's schoolmate crush Hanaoka Shizuku, it begins a journey which spans over a few months to a year. While the amount of failures and effort put in by our MC to overcome said failures is commendable, what I found a little jarring was that he was able to eclipse some dancers who have been training since they were toddlers, and at least be on par with them in most cases. This might have been for the sake of pushing the story further, but it sacrifices somewhat on realism to achieve story progression, which may not be a huge issue since it of course is an anime, which requires one to suspend his or her disbelief to go with the plot.

While it might seem that Tatara has quite a bit of plot armor due to him being the MC, we do see some difference in skill between him and his rivals/friends, classy yet precise Hyodo and fiery Akagi Gaju. This gap seems to haunt him constantly, a thorn in his side as the plot thickens. However, what Tatara seems to have is unbridled passion for the sport, which helps develop his partners and rivals by helping in some cases to reignite their own passion for the sport, or to find new perspectives on how to improve as dancers. The anime addresses issues that creep up in real life, like how to deal with failure, loss of passion for a certain job or hobby and contains small little nuggets of wisdom for the everyday watcher.

Tatara and Mako

Tatara and Chinatsu

Tatara's partners Akagi Mako and later permanent partner Hiyama Chinatsu both undergo their own 'transformation' with Tatara, from discovering how to shine in their dance as 'follower' in the Lead and Follow routine of ballroom dancing, to transitioning from a born 'lead' in Chinatsu's case to become a stellar 'follower'. The dynamics of the relationships between our MC and his partners reflect somewhat of the different personalities, and this anime aims to show a variety of different dancers, with different approaches to how they dance and their individual 'style'. This provides a small glimpse of what it might be in real-world dancing, with clash of personalities and differences arising between partners, as well as how to resolve such differences.






Ballroom e Youkoso employs four main styles: the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Quickstep, each different in showcasing the elegance, passion, tempo and technical ability of the dancers, and I can't help but be amazed at how real dancers have to master all four styles, and even more than those four aforementioned dance styles. While of course the dances may feel a little fast and steps a little exaggerated at certain times, the effort to show the subtle nuances of dancing have to be applauded albeit a little over the top.

Another small detail which I particularly liked and helped make the setting more realistic was the use of real-life locations as inspirations for competition venues in Ballroom, lending credibility and even perpetuating this myth that "it might have actually happened". This is true with Your Lie in April, where some locations like the hall where Kaori and Kousei played in was based on a real hall in Japan (see this link for comparisons), further pushing the idea that such experiences may be more true to life and grounded in reality than we think it is.

OVERALL
Ballroom e Youkoso is a gripping and emotional animation with amazing animations which help to showcase the different tempos of different ballroom dancing styles and while the movements can be a little exaggerated at times, it helps to bring across the intensity of the dance style, while capturing the various spectrum of emotions put into a single dance. It is a ode to all professional dancers in whatever fields they may choose to go into, the difficulties they face technically in mastering certain steps and movements. It also showcases the struggle between raw talent and hard work, plus a mix of both. Through this anime, I could catch a glimpse of what people who constantly strive towards excellence expect from themselves, as well as how dedicated they may be in their craft. While it may not be 100% realistic, this is an anime and to strive to hit a balance between the right amount of action and excitement while not making it too unbelievable was just right in Ballroom e Youkoso. I mean, I actually felt for the guy (Tatara) and was genuinely happy for him when he did find his groove. Not many animes manage to connect their viewers with the characters, and Ballroom e Youkoso does that fairly well.

Rating: 8.25/10

Overall ranking (among all anime I've watched so far): 23/101

Updates 2020: Do take a look at my not-so-comprehensive personal list right here!

The year so far...Anime 2018

Hey there guys, Endblade here! It's been a long while since my last few flurry of posts and content, but here's hoping I'll be able to churn out quite a few posts on anime, my thoughts and review on some of the anime series' I've watched so far in 2018, and my general thoughts on the direction of anime.

Before I begin, just a short update on my real life, I've been busy with school (in University now) and I haven't been religiously following the anime scene, nor have I followed many anime in the Summer and Fall 2018 seasons. But much of the reason behind my absence can be attributed to my waning affection for anime in general, I've been binging on UK crime series' like Luther and Korean dramas like Stranger and Life. So I haven't had much spare time to fill with anime, hence the hiatus.

But I have been trying to catch up on old anime series' which I have not watched like Tokyo Ghoul, Jojo's Bizarre Adventures and the like. Also, I have recently finished the Netflix anime series Hero=Mask or Hero:Mask (not sure which is the right naming convention), and I will be posting my review and thoughts on that series shortly! I might start on Goblin Slayer, as I have heard quite a few good things about it but whether I finish it or not is another matter entirely.

If you don't already know by now, I'm the type of person who prefers crime/thriller or slice of life/school anime. Maybe I'm just a vanilla person, but those genres seem to appeal to me the most, hence I usually prioritize watching and reviewing those titles, and might be slightly biased towards those types of anime.

Anyway, this is the end of my short update, do look out for my Hero:Mask review and thoughts, which will be posting up here quite soon!

Until Next Time,

Endblade

Updated 2020: Do take a look at my not-so-comprehensive personal list right here!