Jeoffrey

Komori-san Can't Decline! is not particularly dazzling, and you cannot really flesh out a fairly ridiculous show based on a girl called Shuri Komori, who is so nice that she cannot turn down people's requests in two-minute episodes. However, the main idea of why Shuri Komori does not say "no" was something. While it was not perhaps anything unpredictable or original, I had no problem believing it. Anyway, watching it, I somehow did not mind so much, and I even quite liked the animation style. The main female protagonist is quite likable, and the little guy who clearly had a thing for Komori was equally interesting. All in all, it was a pretty pleasant short anime series; unfortunately, in this case, I would say too short because it definitely had a lot to offer. 5.7/10.

I liked this follow-up to the anime series Beyond the Boundary. It indeed had its shortcomings concerning its logic and the behavior of the two main protagonists. SPOILER ALERT. One of the characters tries to protect another character, but the person in question does not want that at all. END OF SPOILERS. I have seen it several times in the first anime series, and so even though I could have expected it, it annoyed me a bit. If Akihito had taken a different approach, told Mirai how it was, and then they tried to face everything together, the follow-up would not have had to be so insanely emotional. On the other hand, it probably would have been boring without all the emotional aspects. So actually, I guess thanks for that. Also, I was quite happy that the crazy plot twist from the end of the anime series (or first anime movie) was explained and that I thus learned how such a thing is possible. The narrative is slightly cliched in some aspects and it is actually like a romance described in a trashy novel, although I have to say I still quite enjoyed it. I am quite happy with this ending to the anime series. I liked the animation and the soundtrack too. All in all, again above average 7/10.

When I found out that this first part of a two-part movie project is actually just a retread of what happened in the 2013 anime series Beyond the Boundary, I was not too keen on the idea. However, given the fact that the second part, Beyond the Boundary Movie: I'll Be Here - The Future, has also already been released, I figured I would watch both of the two parts (they were released at around the same time). Certainly, squeezing a twelve-episode anime series narrative into an hour and a half is not really possible, and it is clear that the anime's creators had to do some extreme editing. Fortunately, in my opinion, they were quite successful and only picked out the highlights. So they rehashed what happened in the anime series, and my final impression is essentially the same. I liked the two main protagonists, especially Mirai, whom I liked very much. I enjoyed the mysterious and rather original narrative, and I liked the rather good, in my opinion, love story element. I also remembered that I had been put off from giving it a full rating back in 2013 by the not-so-great ending and especially the very end, which serves tries to bring everything to a head emotionally. So I was again slightly put off by the conclusion of this movie. Anyway, the soundtrack and animation are good, and I thought the movie adaptation of Beyond the Boundary was simply above average. 7/10.

I have to say that I thought Attack on Titan: Junior High was really funny sometimes. Sasha is probably the best character, even though I also liked Mikasa, who is quite different from the original show (this anime series is a parody of Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan). So even though I did not have much faith in it at first, I had fun with this show, and therefore I think it is slightly above average. 6/10.

I quite often hear the opinion that Haikyu!! is the best sports anime series and I have to agree. I like Kuroko's Basketball as well, although Haikyu!! is funnier and does not even need to feature characters with constantly developing sports "superpowers" to keep the suspense going. Sure, many of the characters have above-average and almost unbelievable talent; however, unlike Kuroko's Basketball, Haikyu!! does not give us that all the time. Rather, it emphasizes that volleyball is a team sport and that good results are all about a combination of teamwork and team spirit. The characters are great, and I enjoy the interactions between the two main protagonists and the fact that the characters are evolving, which was very apparent, especially in the first season with Tobio Kageyama. Plus, the anime's creators are very good at the episodes that do not have any acting in them, so I found the first two episodes of the second season quite entertaining. Plus, there is a new manager in training, and I like her too because she comes across as a cute girl, and even though it is pretty clear where her character will go next, I already believe I will enjoy watching her. I like the animation, and the soundtrack is again awesome. The narrative is heading in exactly the right direction. All in all, an absolute 10/10.

The beginning of Utawarerumono: The False Faces was very promising; I liked the main male protagonist, the animation is very nice, and the soundtrack too. Unfortunately, it is true that, unlike the first anime series, it dragged quite a bit, and so even though I enjoyed watching it, it lacked some oomph. Furthermore, where there were some interesting fight scenes and strategies in the original anime series, there is only fan service and harem building in this show. Some better action scenes and storylines arrive in the last third of the season. However, even that is not as good as the end of the original anime series, so it did not stop me from feeling bored, especially during the first two-thirds of the season. Furthermore, the ending itself was a disappointment. It was very weak in terms of content, although the fact that it was nice to watch makes it average, in my opinion. 5/10.

Young Black Jack is an anime series set in the world of medicine following a medical student becoming a surgeon and trying to teach the audience some moral lessons. However, the problem for me is that I do not find it very believable. I already spoilered one piece of nonsense I noticed in the first episode, and now after the second episode, it seems to me that the nonsense continues. How can I believe a show about a surgeon with so many logical errors and things I cannot believe? I cannot do that. If it were all just some stupid joke, then perhaps I could, however, it takes itself very seriously. Plus, how can you have an anime series about surgery without any actual surgery in it? In the first episode, they did not show anything interesting regarding the surgery, and in the second, they did not show any surgery at all! Plus, the conclusion of the second episode was one big load of crap. So I am not going to waste my time with this anymore. Dropped after the second episode.

Lovely Muco is quite a watchable show, even though it somehow does not seem to have much substance. I also did not find it very cute or very funny. I think they could have made looking at the world through a dog's eyes more interesting. However, as it is, Muuco is simply an overly hyperactive dog who makes up all sorts of silly things and is devoted to his owner, and that is all. I was waiting to see if it would pick up somehow, although unfortunately, it just stayed the same, and I got a bit bored with it all. I did, however, make it through to the thirteenth episode in the end, and perhaps I am going to finish it at some point because I feel it is not a total loss. On the other hand, I feel it did not deserve more than 3.5/10 from me. Dropped after thirteen episodes.

I must say I am still satisfied with this show. The characters have remained as interesting as ever, and most importantly, they have started to show us what I like most in characters - a fairly believable development. The narrative was quite good, and both the Bishamonten Arc and the Yato rescue mission of one of the Seven Gods of Fortune, Ebisu, were fascinating. Some interesting things were revealed, and the background of the "dark side" was revealed, which on the one hand, did not surprise me and, on the other hand, put a smile on my face. Otherwise, I liked the opening a lot too. I think Noragami Aragoto was a very nice addition to this year's releases, so "tonight we honor the hero!!" and I am going to award this show weak five stars. 8.5/10.

I really had very low expectations of this show, and I was almost convinced I would not last more than one episode. Well, I finished it! Plus, what is even more interesting, I even found it quite funny at times. However, I do not think it is really that good, as I was not too fond of the animation, and the soundtrack was not very impressive. Plus, I was only a little bit interested in number three (the one with the blue hair). Then, what I learned in the sixth episode made me quite angry! The anime’s creators should have kept some of the twists and surprises to themselves. Still, Hacka Doll: The Animation’s sometimes interesting, sometimes wacky, and mostly very failed efforts were quite watchable. Still, I did not enjoy it as much as, say, Magical Somera-chan, so I thought it was a very weak and average show. 4.5/10.