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Fox

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Blog Entries posted by Fox

  1. Fox

    Review: Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid - Seasons 1 and 2

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.5
    Review: Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid - Seasons 1 & 2
    (Non-Spoilery)

    Season Aired: Winter 2017 and Summer 2021
    MAL Link: Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid & Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S
    I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    I began watching Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid without knowing anything about it or having any particular expectations for it. I figured it would be cute (which it is) but upon completing two seasons I found that the show is also poignant, deep, funny, friendly, engaging and... dare I say... life affirming.
    I found the show warmly entertaining, like time spent hanging out with friends.
     
     
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    Our main character Miss Kobayashi finds and rescues a dragon who has come to Earth from another world. The dragon asks Miss Kobayashi what reward she would accept for this deed. As Miss Kobayashi is drunk at the time, and not really processing the enormity of what she is dealing with, she says she would like a maid before heading home to sleep it off.
    And that is how Miss Kobayashi ends up with a dragon for a maid.
    This dragon, named Tooru, seems strangely happy being the maid for a human. Intrigued, other dragons begin appearing from the other world to see what's so interesting about humans.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid (seasons 1 and 2) was very enjoyable to binge. It is funny, witty and sometimes heart-warming entertainment start to finish.
    The first season gets us interested in the characters while the second season is exceptional in deepening both the characters and the lore of the dragons.
    Each episode is presented in a format of short story segments (or skits) which focus on a couple of the characters at a time. It is a sitcom format for an ensemble cast that gives each character time to shine and keeps what's going on fresh.
    There is a lot to love in this show and it is absolutely worth giving a chance. I personally found it quite entertaining.
    Score: 4.5 out of 5

    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.
     
  2. Fox

    Review: Zombie Land Saga and Zombie Land Saga Revenge

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.0
    Review: Zombie Land Saga & Zombie Land Saga Revenge
    (Zombie Land Saga seasons 1 & 2)
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Fall 2018 and Spring 2021
    MAL Link: Zombieland Saga & Zombieland Saga Revenge
    I watched it at: Funimation and Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    Zombie Land Saga is the bizarre three-way love child of Japanese Idol Culture, Josie and the Pussycats and Dawn of the Dead. 
    One of the things that makes Anime such an intriguing and dynamic form of entertainment at this time is the constant experimentation.  New story concepts are constantly being thrown at the wall to see what sticks. 
    The concept of this show is pretty out there, but it is very sticky.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    A necromancer / talent agent desires to revitalize his city with fame and economic prosperity.  So, he does what any necromancer / talent agent would do in this situation: he digs up and reanimates dead famous singers.
    With these talented zombies in tow, he turns them into a girl's Idol Group named "Franchouchou" and plans to use them to put his town back on the map.
    All it takes is a little make-up to hide these ladies true nature. They're cute! They sing and dance! They want to eat braaaaaaaains!
     
    My Verdict: 
    Zombie Land Saga (seasons one and two) was 24 episodes of well done entertainment.  While the first season was good, the second season was actually stronger and completed the story arc set-up in season one.  Watching both together as one show was very satisfying.
    The character work is very tight with each undead idol getting their own character arc and personality.  The show mines much humor out of the premise of undead celebrities hiding their true nature.  The performance work is very strong on this show and the voice talent can sing.
    Funimation has an English Dub of Zombie Land Saga.  I prefered the English Dub of this series because of all the musical numbers.  The English voice talent was clearly chosen for their ability to sing. They do a really great job with the performance numbers if you prefer your songs in English. 
    Score: 4 out of 5

    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.
     
     
     
     
  3. Fox

    Review: Killing Bites

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 3.0
    Review: Killing Bites
    (Non-Spoilery)

    Season Aired: Winter 2018 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: Killing Bites
    I watched it at: Kawaiifu
     
    Review:
    KIlling Bites is an R-rated B-movie.
    It's the kind of outrageous sex and violence filled schlocky sci-fi grindhouse you might have found on direct-to-video or late-night cable once upon an age ago. 
    The kind of show where you see somebody casually pick up their own chopped-off arm and beat their opponent to death with it.
    It is filled with brutal savagery and unintended hilarity.
    I can only describe it as solid gold trash.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    The show is about a tournament called "Killing Bites" where humans who have been genetically modified with the DNA of an animal fight to the death. 
    Hilarity ensues when you realize that the main character has been pulled directly from one of the Internet's classic memes: The Honey Badger.
    With 93 million views so far, let us review this classic YouTube video of that crazy, nasty-ass Honey Badger.
     

    If you are familiar with the meme, then you know that Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit. 
    Yes, our main character has been genetically modified with the DNA of the Honey Badger and, no, they don't give a shit.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Killing Bites is "Good" for certain narrow definitions of "Good".  If you are in the mood for a schlocky, R-rated, blood-splattering, action-filled grindhouse romp, then look no further! You are in for a couple hours of solid entertainment.
    if that's not your bag, then you will need to look elsewhere because that's what this show has to offer.
    I only rate series on how entertained my brain was during the viewing. I would say I was engaged with it all the way through while realizing this ain't no masterpiece. More like a guilty pleasure.
    Score: 3 out of 5

    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.
     
     
     
  4. Fox

    Review: The Slime Diaries

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 3.5
    Review: The Slime Diaries
    That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
    (Non-Spoilery)
     
    Season Aired: Spring 2021 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: The Slime Diaries: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
    I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    The Slime Diaries is a spin-off of the popular anime That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.
    The show That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime follows the adventures of the character Rimaru Tempest who was killed in modern Japan and reincarnated as a slime monster in a fantasy-based world.  It's a fun show which I enjoy and rate highly.
    This show, The Slime Diaries, essentially asks the viewer, "Hey, would you like to see what Rimaru is doing when he's not having all those big adventures?" The answer to that is probably going to depend entirely on if you are already a fan of the parent show.  If you haven't watched the parent show, this side series might not make a lot of sense because it assumes you are already in with the characters and running gags.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    It's Rimaru Tempest just hanging out in Monster Town with the regulars between big adventures.
    If that sounds exciting to you, then you are probably already a Slime fan and this show might be for you.  Otherwise, probably not.
     
    My Verdict: 
    The Slime Diaries is a cute and occasionally humorous slice of life show for fans of the That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime world.  It adds some more world building and context to Monster Town, gives screen time to the side characters and does so with general good humor.  You won't find much action or adventure here - just stories of the day to day goings on around Monster Town. 
    I was entertained enough watching it, but I'm already invested in the parent show.  Obviously, if you haven't watched the parent show That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime then there is no reason for you to watch this.
    Score: 3.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
     
     
     
  5. Fox

    Review: Fate Zero (Seasons one and two)

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 5.0
    Review: Fate / Zero (Seasons one and two)
    (Non-Spoilery)
     
    Season Aired: Fall 2011 - 25 episodes
    MAL Link:
    Fate/Zero - Season One Fate/Zero - Season Two I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    An Introduction To "Fate":
    Fate requires an introduction as it is somewhat complicated.
    The source material for Fate is an epic Japanese visual novel which may be as lengthy as Lord of the Rings.   There are three paths or routes that a reader may take in the visual novel which leads to alternate events unfolding. 
     
     
    These routes are Fate, Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven's Feel. They are captured in the Anime series:
    Fate/Stay Night (series) Unlimited Blade Works (series) Heaven's Feel (unfinished trilogy of movies)  
    Besides the core Fate story-line with its three routes, there are various side stories and spin-offs such as Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya which is an alternate version of Fate totally re-imagined using magical girls.  But I digress.
    Fate/Zero is a two season prequel series to the Fate story with it's three paths, listed above.
    Now, I myself have not yet seen the core series. 
    I started with the Fate/Zero prequel.  I will skip the Fate/Stay Night series (released in 2006) as my understanding is that it has not aged well. Instead I will go to Unlimited Blade Works which was made by the same animation studio which made Fate/Zero.  Heaven's Feel hasn't been completed, but that is where I would go after UBW.
    Chronologically, Fate/Zero can be a good entry point.  The downside is that it kind of expects you to come equipped with some knowledge of how things work as gathered from the main series.
    On the other hand, if you started with the main series it may ruin the tension of Fate/Zero.  It's kind of a no-win situation so I started with Fate/Zero.
     
    Review:
    "Then you swear that, once I defeat an enemy, you will buy me pants?"
    Ah, Anime. I just can't quit you.  It's lines like this that keep me coming back.
    Fate/Zero invites the viewer into a world of epic battle, where heroes and legends of bygone ages are summoned to the present to compete for an amazing prize.  Alexander the Great (with super powers) vs. Arthur Pendragon (with super powers)  ... sure, why not?
    The concept might sound contrived to you, or it might sound cool to you. I personally fall on the "it's cool" side of that scale so I was ready to soak in some great fight scenes.  I got that and a lot more besides.  It's a huge cast of interesting characters all vying for the prize - sometimes through treachery and sometimes through alliances of convenience.  But, in the end, there can only be one winner. 
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    Every 60 years the Holy Grail appears - a powerful and seemingly sentient artifact that can grant any wish.  It will select participants who may participate in the "Grail War" and try to claim the prize.  These participants will summon a great historical warrior to fight on their side in the Grail War.
    That's the gist of it, but the twists and turns you will follow as they all try to assassinate one another is an entertainment goldmine.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Fate/Zero (seasons one and two) was one hell of a ride.  An entertainment gold mine filled with rich and thick veins of ore.  I had the luxury of binging the whole thing in one weekend and was deeply satisfied with my viewing choice. 
    The storytelling, pacing, character development and, of course, the battles were epic.  From the most brave and virtuous heroes to the most dark and depraved villains - they all have an agenda and they are all chess pieces in the ultimate game of life and death.
    Great animation, great sound, great story.  It was glorious.
    Score: 5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
     
  6. Fox

    Review: The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 2.5
    Review: The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent
    (Non-Spoilery)
    Season Aired: Spring 2021 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent invites the viewer into a world of enchantment, romance and fantasy.
    It is a pleasant enough world, inhabited with characters who generally seem kind and chivalrous. There's a bit of danger to be dealt with, which provides some small stakes. There's a love interest to follow, for the romantics among us. And the art is pleasing to the eye.
    However, this easy-going and generally pretty show is marred by some storytelling issues that can take you right out of the narrative and break your immersion. Specifically, there are characters in this show whose decision making processes are questionable and may have you shaking your head about it.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    Generic Fantasy Kingdom is in dire straights as viscous monsters are appearing at the borders.  Hence, they play their ultimate card and perform the ritual that will summon the Hero they call "Saint".
    As it happens, the ritual summons not one, but TWO prospective Saints.  So, two women are pulled from Japan and appear in Generic Fantasy Kingdom: a middle-aged workaholic corporate drone and a younger student.
     
    My Verdict: 
    The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent is not terrible.  It can be perfectly fine, if somewhat mindless entertainment.  And I am totally fine with mindless entertainment as long as my brain is pleased.
    The Main Character - The Saint - is just fine.  Her story and her actions are understandable and generally congruent. My Brain floated along with her story in a generally neutral entertained state without issue.
    The problem is that there are a couple of side-characters who make decisions and take actions which are simply incomprehensible. Their actions defy logic and reasonable judgement - and anytime my Brain has to stop and question the stupidity of the show's writing my score goes down.
    It is unfortunate because overall the show was cruising along at about a "3" score for me but the idiot side-character's arc (the Prince) was a pot-hole in the road that dinged my enjoyment.
    But you may not be as critical about it as I.  If you're in the mood for a mellow, feel-good romance show with some fantasy world-building elements then you might be more charitable towards it.
     
    Score: 2.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
  7. Fox

    Review: Shadows House

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.5
    Review: Shadows House
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Spring 2021 - 13 episodes
    MAL Link: Shadows House
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    Shadows House invites the viewer into a world of mystery, suspense and intrigue.
    I did not know what I was getting into when I started this series, but I was quickly hooked and binged the 13 episodes straight through. My major complaint right now is simply that there was not more of it.
     
     
    This series hits a few of my personal geek hot-spots including:
    Gothic and creepy yet elegant old mansion. Steampunk Victorian aesthetic. Freaky WTF is going on here mystery from the word go. Trap and puzzle filled hedgerow garden maze. My geek love affair of deadly hedge mazes probably began with The Shining and I was delighted when this series unexpectedly served up probably the best example of one I have ever seen.  And, of course, with a main character that looks like Alice in Wonderland traversing it, no less. The art, animation and colors are just fabulous in this series, rich and gothic.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    A strange group of individuals who appear to be three-dimensional shadows live in a massive and rich manor. These shadow people are attended by their living dolls who act as their faces and display the expression of what the shadow people are feeling. This because the shadows faces cannot be seen.
    The mystery of what Shadows House is unfolds... 
     
    My Verdict: 
    The way I rate Anime is simply dependent upon how entertained my brain was when I viewed it.  As such, this is a perfect 4.5 scenario: Outside world forgotten.  I was totally engrossed with it.  I intended to give the first couple episodes a look because the premise of the show was intriguing and then I could. not. stop.  Ended up staying up way too late.
    I've already been quite clear that this show nailed some of my personal geek obsessions, so my review is totally biased.  The show may not tickle your fancies in the same way.  But the fact remains that it is a well animated series with an interesting premise and some nice mystery twists.  MAL categorizes this as a 'Slice of Life' show, but it's really not. It's a straight-up mystery and suspense series to my eye. I don't know where they came up with that.
    I do have some quibbles, such as the main character's personality being a bit too cheerful and that they seemed to try to fit too much into the last couple episodes (here's hoping for Season 2), but they are really just quibbles. I was very satisfied and pleased with this show.
    Score: 4.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.
     

  8. Fox
    Review: Higehiro
    After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway
    (Non-Spoilery)
     
     
    Season Aired: Spring 2021 - 13 episodes
    MAL Link: Higehiro
    I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    Higehiro invites the viewer into a world of heavy interpersonal human drama that is played straightforward and serious from start to finish. You will not find typical anime story devices such as a clownish comic relief character, a flight of fantasy or a sudden absurd plot twist in this series. If you are in the market for a mature and no-nonsense romantic drama to curl up with for a couple of hours, then Higehiro might just be for you.
     
     
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    A damaged and traumatized young lady on the run from a troubling past finds herself in Tokyo where she is taken advantage of repeatedly by unscrupulous people. Battered and broken, she is in dire need of a safe port to pull into where the repair process can begin on all this damage.
    Enter into this scenario a twenty-something corporate salaryman who's got his own problems and has just been rejected by the woman he is in love with.
    The fateful meeting of these two characters will lead to a chance for both of them to help each other and try and figure out what's wrong with their lives.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Higehiro kept me involved with the story and the characters and I was interested to see where it was going to go. There are a couple hooks to keep the curious viewer progressing in the story. The first one being what the hell happened to this runaway girl to begin with, and can it be resolved? 
    I knew that eventually there would be the big reveal of what happened to this young lady.  For the show to be fully satisfying and congruent to me, the trauma of 'what happened' would need to merit all the actions she takes after it.  You will not know 'what happened' until late in the series and I knew my mind would be made up about how I felt about this show in its entirety based solely on it. For me, the big reveal worked and provided the basis needed to understand the character.
    The second hook the show presents is how the salaryman's love interest sub-plot can progress while he is living with this runaway girl.  This story-line is okay and human enough but seems like filler and ends ambiguously. It is not what carries the show.
    Thankfully, this series does have something which approximates a conclusion. Anime series often leave the ending open, hanging or unresolved which would have been unforgivable here. I have to give it points for seeing the story of the runaway through to the end.
    Finally, you really have to be in the mood for a hard drama to sit down with this one.
    Score: 3.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

  9. Fox

    Review: Horimiya

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.0
    Review: Horimiya
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Winter 2021 - 13 episodes
    MAL Link: Horimiya
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    Horimiya invites the viewer into a world of teenage romance, essentially.  It's a romantic comedy focusing on an ensemble cast of characters all going through the process of growing up and dealing with emotions.
    The art direction on this series immediately got my attention with its unique bright pop. It is a visually stimulating series with vibrant colors and crisp, wonderfully rendered settings. Watching it is like enjoying the spectacle of a sugar-high rainbow unicorn vomiting pop-rocks and skittles onto a wall of fresh morning snow dappled with sunshine.
    While visually interesting, a romantic comedy isn't going to be able to get by on its art direction. The characters and writing will make or break the show.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    A fateful meeting outside of school brings two students together who would seem to have nothing in common.  This chance encounter leaves them intrigued with one another and leads to them having social interactions at school.  When the odd couple start to spend time together, it raises the eyebrows of their respective circle of acquaintances.
    The relationship between the two main characters at the center of the show will have an effect on the relationships of those around them in interesting ways.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Romantic comedies are built on their cliches and tropes, both well worn and familiar.  They can be made comforting and enjoyable in a well done show or grate on the nerves when handled clumsily. In this regard, Horimiya handles it like smooth jazz in a Cadillac. You'll see the tropes and cliches rolling by but you'll never feel a bump in the road as the sweet music and luxury suspension carries you down the highway.
    That said, as far as tropes go, I'd say Horimiya goes all in on Opposites Attract.  That can get out of hand quickly and lead to dysfunction if not carefully balanced on the characters personalities.  The two main characters here balance it well and it is enjoyable to watch their dynamic. They are very different people, but find creative outlets for their differences without antagonizing each other.
    I enjoyed my time with the characters and the show left me pleased with its friendliness and positive vibes.
    Score: 4.0 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

  10. Fox

    Review: Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.0
    Review: Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Fall 2020 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    This show takes the classic trope about captured and sleeping princesses and turns the concept on its head.  In doing so, it finds a fresh and entertaining perspective on the classic fantasy premise.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    The Demon King captures the Princess of the rival humans and brings her to his castle.  The Princess quickly grows bored with being imprisoned within the Demon Castle as there is nothing to do. So, she determines to just sleep her time away. 
    However, circumstances at Demon Castle often conspire to thwart her desire for sleep.  And so, what follows is her quest to overcome the challenges of achieving perfect sleep in Demon Castle and make Demon Castle more to her liking. 
    Demon Castle may never be the same once the Princess is through with it.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle is a very entertaining fantasy comedy.  It finds a lot of humor in the premise to give to the audience.  The fantasy setting itself is used to great effect in setting up the gags.
    The characters are fun to watch, but it is the Princess that is the beating heart of the show.  She is a perfectly crafted and written character for this show and it does not get old watching her in action over the 12 episodes.  The Princess is cute and adorable in appearance, but in behavior she is absolutely ruthless about getting her sleep and shows no mercy to anyone who stands in her way.
    Humor is very subjective.  I have watched a number of anime comedies that did not work for me, personally.  This one did, however.  The show had me chuckling from time to time through it.  It keeps the narrative and character development going while throwing out the funnies, which keeps it fresh.
    If the premise sounds like it would interest you, I think it is definitely an anime worth checking out.
    Score: 4 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
     
  11. Fox

    Review: To Your Eternity

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.5
    Review: To Your Eternity
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Spring 2021 - 20 episodes
    MAL Link: To Your Eternity
    I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    It is rare that I review a series before completing watching it in full, but the last twelve episodes have been an amazing storytelling experience and I feel pretty confident in scoring this one.
    To Your Eternity invites the viewer into a world of courage, tragedy and ... more tragedy.  Depending on how emotional you are, it might just rip the heart right out of your chest.  But you'll keep watching, pretty much guaranteed.
    It's a full plate of meaty storytelling drenched with pathos and served with sides of human suffering and triumph. I binged the series (so far) and was left filled.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    An Entity is put on Earth and given the purpose to evolve.  It begins its journey as a simple rock on the ground and remains so for countless years. In time, a dog lays down besides the rock to die. And so, the rock evolves into a dog.  The Entity thus gains mobility which will take it into the world of humans.
    In the world of humans the Entity will become self aware.  The Entity passes through the lives of different humans in different places and witnesses their trials and tragedies. The Entity gains strength and learns from these experiences.
    The Entity needs to grow and gain strength from these encounters because, it will discover, an enemy is hunting it.  An enemy with an unknown agenda who is just as alien as the Entity itself.
    The plot probably sounds cryptic, but it comes into focus pretty quickly in the show.
     
    My Verdict: 
    To Your Eternity is an epic fantasy with a strong dramatic narrative and a solid cast of interesting characters living hard lives. It is mature content that presents a great deal of sadness to the viewer in poignant, character driven vignettes. However, it balances the tragedy with enough hope and adventure to keep it from becoming depressing.
    I would say it is mentally stimulating storytelling and satisfying entertainment worth looking into.
    Score: 4.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
     
  12. Fox
    Review: I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level
    (Non-Spoilery)
     
    Season Aired: Spring 2021 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level
    I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level invites the viewer to share a warm and homey exercise in extreme cuteness. 
    It doesn't have any sharp edges or unpleasant topics for the viewer.  There's no existential questions to ponder.  It's just a fluffy and harmless kitten of an anime show that sits there purring in your TV screen.
    If you're in the market for a super cute and wholesome anime series about a family of friends getting into and out of wacky fantasy-based situations, then this show probably has you covered.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    Meet Azusa who is a witch with the gifts of beauty and immortal youth.  She's been kicking around the Highlands for 300 years killing slimes to make a bit of money. 
    Now, slimes are a low level monster which provide very little experience points, but if you happen to spend 300 years defeating a few each day, you can level up to the top. And so it is with Azusa.
    Once word of her great level gets out, various individuals across the land take an interest and seek her out.  Generally, each episode of the show is concerned with some new character arriving and becoming part of the circle of friends orbiting Azusa. These characters have their own quirks and the episodes spend more time delving into their personalities as the series progresses.
     
    My Verdict: 
    I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level is perfectly fine escapist entertainment about cute characters doing cute things. If you are in the mood for that, then you will probably be pleased with your viewing experience.  If your mood is for more mature or mentally challenging content, you will want to look elsewhere.
    I found it to be an agreeable and occasionally humorous bit of fluff to relax with. 
     
    Score: 3.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

  13. Fox

    Review: By the Grace of the Gods

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 2.5
    Review: By the Grace of the Gods
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Fall 2020 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: By the Grace of the Gods
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    Sometimes anime series are just ephemeral clouds that pass through my eyes and out the back of my head.  I watched all twelve episodes of this show just a couple days ago and already I am hard-pressed to remember much about it.
    This show follows the adventures of a Japanese corporate drone from our modern world who is transported to a fantasy world to make a new life. 
    This type of show has become very common and formulaic. The main character who is transported to the fantasy setting possesses futuristic knowledge along with god-like power which makes them very difficult to challenge, physically.  Any stakes that the show raises for the main character are typically at the social or emotional level.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    The main character is a corporate worker in his 30's who literally works himself to death.  Having few good memories to show for his trip through life, the gods offer him the opportunity to start over as an eight year-old boy in another world.  A magic-based fantasy world, naturally.  That seems pretty typical of how these things go. Naturally, the gods gift the boy with great magical talent.
    And so, the boy's journey to live a better life than he did last time begins. Along the way he will used his overpowered talents to assist those in need and also help make the often dirty fantasy world clean and fresh.  Yes, he does a lot of cleaning in this show for some reason.
     
    My Verdict: 
    By the Grace of the Gods put me in a vegetative mental state for much of it's 12 episodes.  I watched it, but I can't say I was particularly engaged with it.  I don't mind putting on an anime and relaxing my brain while the pretty art and images go by.  I'm perfectly fine with that.  In a show like this which has no antagonist, no stakes and nothing which challenges the main character or the audience, relaxing with it is about all you can do. 
    This one mostly succeeds at that most basic of tasks, but not quite.  It does make your brain seize up and say, wait... this is dumb from time to time.
    Score: 2.5 out of 5

    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment. An anime masterpiece.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.
     
  14. Fox

    Review: Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 3.0
    Review: Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Fall 2020 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    This show follows the adventures of a teenager from our modern world who is transported to a fantasy world to make a new life. She is provided a bear costume to wear which protects her from danger with its overpowered abilities.
    This type of show has become very common and formulaic. The main character who is transported to the fantasy setting possesses futuristic knowledge along with god-like power which makes them very difficult to challenge, physically.  Any stakes that the show raises for the main character are typically at the social or emotional level.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    Fifteen year old modern Japanese teenager is obsessed with a virtual reality fantasy game.  One day when she logs into the game, she is asked some questions by the Game Master.  When she answers appropriately, she is transported to a fantasy world to start her life over.  She is provided a bear costume which allows her to defeat monsters and protect herself.
    Soon she has joined the local Adventurers Guild and so begins her journey to fight monsters and find a way to eat traditional Japanese cuisine in this new world.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear isn't terrible.  It just doesn't bring anything new to the table in the Isekai genre.  These kind of shows follow a pattern which is fairly predictable.  The differences between them seem to be around the edges.
    The main character is pleasant and relatable, so that is a plus in it's favor.  The art is fine, the production values are fine and the characters are cute and easy to watch.  The story is as easy to digest as a bag of Doritos, and about as memorable.
    Not every anime needs to be a masterpiece.  Switching off your brain for a couple hours to take in a show like this can be relaxing.  If you were entertained, then the goal was met.  However, if you are looking for a masterpiece or more mentally challenging fare, you will need to look elsewhere.
    Score: 3 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
     
  15. Fox

    Review: Adachi and Shimamura

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 3.5
    Review: Adachi and Shimamura
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Fall 2020 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: Adachi and Shimamura
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    This is a Yuri anime.  Yuri is a Japanese jargon term for characters, themes, content and a genre involving lesbian relationships or female homoeroticism.
    In this case, looking at it from the puppy-love angle.
    Adachi and Shimamura is like if somebody looked at the yuri trash-fire that was Citrus and said... hey, why don't we do that except with relatable, well developed and human characters?
    The two shows bear a certain similarity at first glance - you have the intense, introverted dark-haired girl and the somewhat more outgoing blonde girl navigating a relationship together.
    That's pretty much where the similarity ends, though.  Where Citrus quickly spun-off into the absurd and prurient, Adachi and Shimamura is a real character study of young people dealing with the awkward, confusing and sometimes painful emotional throes of a first love.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    This show is a "Slice of Life" which means it portrays the sequence of events in a character's life. There is no strong plot line - the point of the show is the journey; not the destination.
    As we follow the pair through their first years of high school, we experience what they do as they awaken to new feelings and grapple with it in their own ways.
     
    My Verdict: 
    The art and animation is really superb.  You can tell the artists and animators gave a lot of love to this production.
    The two main characters are deep.  their self-realizations about themselves and the people around them are what drives the show. 
    The show doesn't use cliches or character archetypes to give the viewer a quick reference point on the two main characters.  The viewer has to go on the journey of self-discovery with them as the layers of their personalities are exposed, episode by episode.
    And, overall, the show is really kawaii. The animators put a focus on the cute and adorable which makes the emotional pain of first love a bit less biting to the viewer.
    Score: 3.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

  16. Fox

    Review: Demon Lord, Retry!

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 2.0
    Review: Demon Lord, Retry!
    (non-spoilery)
    Season Aired: Summer 2019 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: Demon Lord, Retry!
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    This show is another entry into the "Isekai" anime genre which has become popular in recent years.
    The premise in an Isekai show is that the main character is transported to some parallel universe or fantasy world.  Often it involves being transported to the world of a game they are playing. 
    Demon Lord, Retry! has an Isekai premise which doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
    In Demon Lord, Retry! the main character is indeed a game player, and does have a powerful game character called "The Demon Lord".  This "Demon Lord" character exists within a high-tech, futuristic video game.  However, the world the player gets sucked into, as his character, is a pure Medieval Fantasy type world.   And apparently he got there because some evil priests were trying to summon a "Demon Lord".
    Now, how do summoners in another world end up summoning some random dudes video game character when they are looking for a demon lord? 
    In fact, as there are actual demon lords within their fantasy-based world, this seems completely contrived and ridiculous that they would somehow miss summoning one of those and instead some summon random dudes video game character called "Demon Lord".
    Anyway, all that goes down in the first five minutes of episode one, so you know the series is going to have plenty more contrived and ridiculous things to show you over its twelve episode run.  
     
     The Plot in a Nutshell:
    "Demon Lord" dude, who looks like a reject from a hair-metal band that went corporate, shows up in a generic fantasy world with his suit, tie and a never ending supply of cigarettes he chain smokes though twelve episodes.
    Also he has amazing futuristic powers.
    His primary goal in this fantasy world with all his futuristic powers is to... build a hot springs resort?
    Yeah, I've got nothing. That's pretty much it.
     
    My Verdict:
    Demon Lord, Retry! is, objectively, a very terrible anime.
    The art and animation is about as low budget as it comes.  It is laughably bad at times and you can see the animators cutting corners at every opportunity that was presented.
    The story is pure cliche. The characters are two dimensional with bizarre motivations and over the top personalities.  The plot is mostly non-existent and very little that happens in the series makes much sense.
    And, of course, there are two bunny-human characters who must end every single sentence by exclaiming "Hop!" or "Bunny!"
    In fact, Demon Lord, Retry! is so bad that it comes back around to being entertaining. 
    You can tell that everyone who worked on this series in the Art and Story departments knew that they were given no budget or opportunity to  produce something good.  So they put their tongues in their cheek and leaned hard into the cliches and the futility of it all.
    I had to laugh a few times at just how ridiculous and awful it all was.  It's a train wreck that knows it's going to be a train wreck and embraces it.
    SCORE:
    Score: 2 out of 5 (objectively)
    Score: 3 out of 5 (so bad it's good)
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

  17. Fox

    Review: Infinite Dendrogram

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 2.0
    Review: Infinite Dendrogram
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Winter 2020 - 13 episodes
    MAL Link: Infinite Dendrogram
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    Anime shows that are about living in a fantasy game world are somewhat common. I tend to enjoy these shows because I enjoy fantasy games.  I am the target audience.
    These shows have the complete freedom to combine the elements of a sword and sorcery world with the high-tech elements which would make such a game possible. They pretty much get carte blanche from the viewer on suspension of disbelief.
     
    However, that doesn't absolve the show from delivering on a good story with good characters.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    So, the year is 2043 and virtual reality games have advanced to the point where players mentally travel to the fantasy game world and inhabit it.  This is the world of Infinite Dendrogram which promises infinite possibilities for adventure, fame and loot.
    Into this world comes our main character who logs into Infinite Dendrogram for the first time as the show begins. Just a newbie.
    Now something is going to have to happen right off the bat to give the main character some kind of an advantage in this new world. And, of course, it surely does.  Our main character becomes the owner of an intelligent sword that can turn into a cute girl dressed like a maid.
    Totally did not see that coming.
    With the help of this sword and his older brother who has been playing the game for awhile and offers occasional advice, the main character journeys into the world to find loot, adventure and level up!
     
    My Verdict: 
    Infinite Dendrogram is a hot mess.  It has a bland main character, a convoluted story line and characters whose motivations are meant to be mysterious but the viewer could really care less.
    That said, I did watch the entire series so as to get the whole impression of it.  I have to say, last couple of episodes - the climax with the big show down - I had little idea what it was all about.  The show did not really explain who the villain was and I had no reason at all to care.
    I found the battles mostly uninteresting.  I blame that on the main character being mostly uninteresting.  Besides having no appreciable personality beyond "generic do-gooder", there were also no stakes for the main character.  If he "died" he just got logged off the game for a day or some such.
    Pretty much the only interesting character in Infinite Dendrogram was the intelligent sword who could turn into a maid.
    The art and animation was alright. Nothing great.
    Score: 2 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
  18. Fox

    Review: Goblin Slayer

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 3.5
    Review: Goblin Slayer
    (Non-Spoilery)

    Season Aired: Fall 2018 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: Goblin Slayer
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    In fantasy games, goblins are often a low level monster that present an early challenge to players, but are rarely seen again beyond the very early game.   They are good for some early experience, but players typically have no interest in goblins once better options are available.
    I mean, I personally don't certainly.  I'm into better, sexier monsters that have better loot. But I digress.  
    This show recognizes that goblins are a very early game creature and embraces that stereotype.  Just like in fantasy games, this show has a whole cast of high level adventurers and none of them want to bother themselves with goblins.  It perfectly captures goblin's place as the lowest rung of the monster hierarchy. And yet, goblins are still a nuisance and a constant threat to humanity.  What to do?
    Enter the Goblin Slayer.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    The show is about a warrior who is obsessive about killing goblins.  There is, naturally, a tragic backstory involved which left the main character deeply scarred and with an unquenchable desire for vengeance. 
    The story opens with an absolutely brutal first episode that puts the viewer on notice that goblins are not to be trifled with.  Once that bit of world building is established, the Goblin Slayer concerns itself with the main character moving from one goblin related problem to the next.  Along the way, he is joined by other adventurers who have shared goals.
    The show is somewhat episodic and doesn't have a linear plot line.  Different adventures are broken up into episode blocks.  It does have a very satisfying no-hold-barred conclusion.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Goblin Slayer is a bloody violent fantasy romp.  The action, adventure and Dungeons and Dragons type callbacks are the draw here.
    For the most part, the characters in the show are served to you fully baked.  There are no character arcs to speak of besides, perhaps, that of the young priestess character that follows the Goblin Slayer around.  She is probably intended to be the audience surrogate and provides some gentle sanity to balance out the main character's obsessive violence.  The main character does see a bit of development, but it's subtle and around the edges.
    Goblin Slayer never apologizes for what it is: 12 blood soaked episodes about how to make goblins dead. And, because of how brutal the first episode is, you will likely be all for their often spectacular demise.  It is a dark, violent fantasy series and it succeeds admirably within that genre.
    Score: 3.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
  19. Fox

    Review: Darwin's Game

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 3.0
    Review: Darwin's Game
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Winter 2020 - 11 episodes
    MAL Link: Darwin's Game
    I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    Darwin's Game has some cool ideas and some fun fight scenes.  However, it will give your brain's suspension of disbelief circuits a workout.
    Now, most anime does require that the viewer suspend their disbelief in order to roll with the fictional story about incredible things.  All good.
    The problem with Darwin's Game is that it takes place in our present day and reality.  It presents the same science and city life that we are all generally familiar with.   Because it's using a familiar setting to the audience, the show needs to be more clever about presenting incredible things to the viewer.
    In this regard, Darwin's Game is about as clever as a dump truck crashing through your living room wall and asking to be filled up with all the suspension of disbelief you have available.
    The show does have it's cool and fun moments. But it's going to do things that will have you rolling your eyes at it.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    A mobile game called "Darwin's Game" causes its players to join an actual life or death survival contest against their will.  It's kill or be killed in this survival of the fittest contest where just about anything goes. 
    Our main character inadvertently joins Darwin's Game when invited by a friend.  The show focuses on his struggle to stay alive and figure out how to get out of the game.
    That is basically the plot. 
    Now, if the show had stopped right there, then this could have been a gritty and realistic "kill or be killed" thriller set in a grounded reality.  But, the show has other plans.  And here's where the viewer's suspension of disbelief is going to get some exercise as things get totally gonzo.
    Every participant in this death match contest is handed a free super power for use in the game.  Wut?
    And every contestant's individual super power is different.  You could get a cool and helpful power or you could get a mostly useless power.  That doesn't seem very fair, does it?
    But wait, there's more!
    Also, the shadowy cabal running this game seems to have unfathomable powers to bend reality around the city. This so that none of the normies notice these super powered characters running around killing each other and causing massive property damage.
    It's honestly a lot to swallow. But we're in it for the action and cool fights, right?
     
     My Verdict: 
    Darwin's Game absolutely has it's moments.  You'll need to just accept that a mobile game can give random super powers out like a slot machine and that a secret cabal can keep the population of a city from noticing their city is getting destroyed.
    If you can roll with that, then Darwin's Game will have you covered with some interesting characters using quirky powers to try and do in one another.
    The main character is fine; intelligent and level headed with no annoying character traits, which is helpful.
    I myself was won over by the action, creative use of powers and well choreographed and well animated battles.  I had fun with it. 
    Score: 3 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

  20. Fox

    Review: Made In Abyss

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.5
    Review: Made in Abyss
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Summer 2017 - 13 episodes
    MAL Link: Made in Abyss
    I watched it at: Amazon Prime
     
    Review:
    The art style of this show might lead you to believe that this is a show intended for a young audience. 
    It is not.
    Made in Abyss is an 'R' rated show intended for more mature audiences.  In fact, showing this series to a child might just traumatize them, honestly.
    This series has scenes in it  that will haunt me for the rest of my life.  Made in Abyss is absolutely heartbreaking in parts. 
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    There is a vast hole in the Earth, "the Abyss", the depth of which is unknown.  The Abyss has levels all the way down, each of which has its own biome with unique plants, animals and dangers.  Each level of this Abyss is it's own little world, essentially.
    This Abyss has a magical property to it - a curse which makes exploring it difficult.  A person can travel down into this Abyss without issue, but coming back up causes pain or worse. As in ocean diving, if one dives too deep underwater, then coming back up can cause the bends.
    Despite this, explorers do go down into this Abyss seeking knowledge or fortune.  However, they have to be rated to travel down to certain depths depending on their ability to withstand the hardship of coming back up.
    The main character, Riko, is the daughter of one of these explorers.  When Riko's mother does not return from the Abyss, Riko becomes determined to find her.  And so, with the help of a mysterious robot built to resemble a little boy, Riko travels down into the Abyss in search of her mother.
     
     My Verdict: 
    Made in Abyss is a series with a unique premise, very creative set designs and strong storytelling. It has mystery, adventure and danger in abundance.  It is also violent and, depending on how susceptible you are to it, emotionally gut wrenching.
    The first couple episodes are spent setting up the world and the rules that the Abyss operates by.  Once that is established and the main characters dive in, it is a harrowing and brutal survival story.
    When I sat down to watch this on Amazon Prime, I had no idea what I was getting into.  I saw it in the anime titles and thought it looked like it could be a cute series to watch just based on the rabbit looking character on the cover.  However, it is not cute.  It does pack a punch, though.
    So much of entertainment in general is so forgettable and derivative that it seems rare to find something that can leave a lasting impression.   For me, this show left an impression.  I don't know if I could watch it again, but I will never forget it.
    Score: 4.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
  21. Fox

    Review: Monster Girl Doctor

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 2.5
    Review: Monster Girl Doctor
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Summer 2020 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: Monster Girl Doctor
    I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    With this show, what's inside the tin is exactly what's printed on the label.  You have the main character who is a doctor whose patients all seem to be lady monsters. 
    Now it is apparent that the doctor studied monster issues as his medical specialty. That's all good. What's not so clear is if the doctor planned to specialize in medicine for lady monsters, exclusively.
    Is it just serendipity that causes only female monsters to need the medical attention of this doctor?
    And then we note that this anime is tagged as an Ecchi and we stop wondering.
    Yes, it's all serendipity. The monster patients are all female because Ecchi demands it.  And, yes, some percentage of the monster women will be hot for the doctor.  Again, because Ecchi demands it.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    A human doctor who has made monster physiology his medical specialty sets up a clinic in a city populated by all manner of fantastical fantasy creatures.  In this fantasy setting, monsters such as mermaids, harpies, centaurs, naga and so forth come to the doctor with their medical problems, such that they are.
    Each episode is kind of a Creature of the Week situation, with their particular problem that needs resolving.
    This occasionally leads to said creatures developing romantic feelings for the doctor.  And that leads to rivalries over the course of the season.
     
    My Verdict: 
    Monster Girl Doctor is a situation and romance comedy which has its entertaining moments.  If the premise of this show sounds like it would be entertaining to you, then it probably will be.  It is lite, generally stress-free entertainment fare that has some chuckles usually derived from awkward situations.
    One should not look too deeply at the medical treatments involved. The bizarre issues that the monsters suffer from usually require equally bizarre remedies.  Only in an Ecchi would a blindfold and spanking be a treatment for anything.  But, there you go - the challenges of being a monster doctor I guess.
    the Creature of the Week episodic nature of it helps keep it engaging and moving along.  The art and animation is serviceable for what the show is trying to achieve.  The lady monster character designs are decent, and that's where most of the focus is.
    I would say Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls did this topic much better already, but if you are looking for more of that, then Monster Girl Doctor has got you covered.
    Score: 2.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
  22. Fox
    Review: BOFURI:
    I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Winter 2020
    MAL Link: BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    The setting for this anime series is a virtual reality fantasy game.  You log into the game, create your game avatar and then go explore the game world.  Along the way you find new gear, have adventures and level up.
    And maybe you make a friend or two in game who will share the adventure with you.
    BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense has all of that.  If you've spent any time playing fantasy role-playing games, you are probably going to feel right at home with this series. 
    And, if you haven't, it's really not too difficult to figure out what the rules of the game are.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    In many ways, the plot is right there in the title of the show.  The title gives us the premise, the plot and a spoiler all in one. 
    The main character and her friend join a new virtual reality video game together.  The main character doesn't want to get hurt by things in the game, so she puts all her points into defense.  All her points.  Yeah, all of them... all the time.
    Typically when playing a game such as this, the player wants to spread those stat points around some.  A gamer may favor a particular stat for their character but, in general, there's a balance to maintain.
    If you play games such as this, then the title informs you that the main character in this show is going to be completely out of balance in terms of their stats.  So, that's the hook of this show.  Furthermore, the stat in question is defense, so clearly there is no offensive ability.  How does that work?
    You might be intrigued by this.  You might want to know what happens when all your points go into defense.
    I'd say that is exactly what the show is hoping for - and why the title gives so much away.
    As the story unfolds, these questions are answered for you.  And along the way, we meet a cast of pleasant characters who have adventures, do quests and battle various monsters for fat loot in the game.
     
      My Verdict:
    This show isn't blazing any new ground or asking any big questions.
    It will trade you four hours of your time in exchange for some colorful fantasy adventure and light comedy.
    Whether the trade is worth it probably depends on how interested you are in the premise given in the show title and gaming in general.
    It did have some entertaining set pieces and game events.  I would say the show's final event between teams of players took the show out on a strong, high note.
    The main character is likable enough, the show is colorful and the 12 episodes kind of  breeze by.  I'll say the exchange of time for entertainment was fair, but only just. 
    Score: 3 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     
  23. Fox

    Review: The Saga of Tanya the Evil

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.5
    Review: The Saga of Tanya the Evil
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Winter 2017 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: The Saga of Tanya the Evil
    I watched it at: Crunchyroll
     
    Review:
    This is another entry in the "Isekai" genre of anime which has become so popular in the last few years.  The premise behind an Isekai show is that the main character gets transported from our normal Earth to some fantasy world or new reality. 
    The Saga of Tanya the Evil I'd say is among the top tier in the Isekai space. 
     
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    A Japanese business man who is of a deeply atheistic bent draws the attention of a higher being, whom we shall refer to as "God" for simplicity's sake.  God is perturbed by the lack of faith this business man exhibits.
    God speaks to this atheist businessman, demanding that the existence of God be recognized and his atheism be disavowed.
    The business man declines to give up his atheism or take up any faith and refuses to accept there is any after life.  Further, in defiance, he classifies God as "Being X" - simply an unexplained phenomenon that science will uncover.
    Needless to say that God is fairly annoyed by this attitude.
    This leads to a battle of wits where God is determined to get the faith of this human, and the human in question is determined to explain "Being X" within his atheistic philosophical framework.
    So, God proves his power by transporting the atheist businessman to a new war-torn reality where God assumes the atheist will be forced to recognize God's existence.  In this new reality the man finds himself in the body of a young girl named Tonya. 
    However, he retains all his memories of his former life, especially concerning this "Being X" who he is now really irritated with.
    At this point he essentially embraces Survival of the Fittest, adding some social Darwinism to his atheistic outlook and gets murderous on purpose.  Since this new reality seems to be based on an amalgam of World War I and II, he rolls with it and begins working his way up the military ladder as Tonya the child soldier.
     
    My Verdict:
    This show is a pretty entertaining ride. 
    It is an excellent war action / war drama based on historical fiction.  The story is very engaging as we follow Tonya through the trenches while leading her squad on missions.
    The animation, art and sound all have very high production values.  The battlefield and combat scenes have great detail and action.  The quieter scenes in European cities have great attention to detail in the architecture and surroundings.
    The overarching theme is the philosophical struggle between Tonya and "Being X".  This God vs. Man interplay seems like it may be referring to the writings of Nietzsche.  If so, then the Kaiser's WWI Germany would seem to be an appropriate setting for this dialogue. 
    This was a wild ride.  I was enthralled all the way through.  I binged it. Then bought the Blu-Ray.
    Score: 4.5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.

     

  24. Fox

    Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 5.0
    Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
    (Non-Spoilery)
     

    Season Aired: Spring and Summer 2019 - 24 episodes
    MAL Link: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    This was easily one of the best Anime of 2019. It is also sitting with a very high score on MAL, so you might say it enjoys universal acclaim.  All this for good reason: it is a superb anime.
    The English Blu-Ray of the first 13 episodes just shipped from Funimation.   I received my copy and dove in with some relish. 
    Yet again, I was captivated by this series, just as I had been during the 2019 season when watching it subtitled on Crunchyroll.  I will definitely be getting the Blu-Ray set of the next 13 episodes.
    I have a spread sheet of over 140 Anime series I've watched and scored, so far.  This is one of the few I've rated so highly.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    The protagonist of the series is an honest and able lad who becomes aware of powerful. man-eating entities called "demons" due to a personal tragedy which befalls him and his sister. 
    An attack by one of these "Demons" leaves the protagonist's sister in a bad state.  And so, the protagonist seeks training in the ways of the "Demon Slayers" to combat these monsters and find a way to help his sister.
    That is all set-up in the first episode, so this is no great reveal.
    The series concerns itself with the travels of the two siblings, their search for answers and their encounters with ever more bizarre "Demons".
    Along the way they are joined by a cast of both other Demon Slayers and characters which support the activities of Demon Slayers.
     
    My Verdict:
    This anime has very high production values. The art and animation are excellent with great attention to detail in both the historical Japanese settings and the fight scenes. 
    The story is fully realized.  The world building starts slow, then begins to pull back the curtain and show us the two shadowy tribes of Demons and Demon Slayers - ever at odds with each other.
    The characterization is very good - especially with the main characters who carry the show with great confidence.  As usual in Anime series, I find that there is at least one character I have to roll my eyes at for their over the top behavior.  Thankfully, it is a supporting character in this series, and not the Main Character.  Even that character had a character arc that had me rooting for him in the final episodes.
    This is just a very solid piece of entertainment in general, and as an anime it exemplifies what the medium is capable of when it is hitting on all cylinders.
    Score: 5 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.
     
     
  25. Fox

    Review: Restaurant to Another World

    By Fox,


    Anime Score 4.0
    Review: Restaurant to Another World
    (non-spoilery)
     
    Season Aired: Summer 2017 - 12 episodes
    MAL Link: Restaurant to Another World
    I watched it at: Funimation
     
    Review:
    The premise of this show is that natives of a fantasy-type world visit Earth to dine at a unique restaurant in present day Tokyo Japan.
    An assortment of characters and creatures visit the restaurant from this fantasy world include dragons, elves, fairies, lizard-men and regular humans as well.  All of them eager to sit down in this fine establishment and enjoy a good meal.
     
    The Plot in a Nutshell:
    A Japanese chef runs a fine Western style restaurant in Tokyo.  It is an unassuming, clean and comfortable restaurant, not fancy.  The draw to the restaurant is the food the chef prepares which, by all accounts, is excellent.
    This unassuming and comfortable restaurant has an unusual aspect, however, which is the hook for the show.  The restaurant front-door shows up in various places in a parallel world every seven days.  And folks in the parallel world can open that door and step into the restaurant.
    The door may appear out in the middle of the desert, or in a wizards chamber, or in a dragon's hoard.  Wherever it appears, one need only open it and walk into the restaurant. And then, presumably, sit down and order a meal.
    Now, what I described above does sound pretty cool, I think, but it is not a plot.  It is a concept or a premise.  A plot is how the story unfolds and, honestly, I would be hard pressed to say there was any story to unfold here besides how these fantasy characters want their meal prepared by the chef each week.
    There is no conflict. There is no villain. There are, occasionally, some challenges getting to the door of the restaurant to have that fine meal but that's about it.  Occasionally, the fantasy world characters will discuss which dish in the restaurant they think is best but conversation rarely strays far from the menu... or getting to the menu.
     
    My Verdict:
    The show is like comfort food.  It is relaxing to hang out with comfortable characters, having a comfortable meal.  It's a fairly low-stress, chill kind of show.  There are some fun moments as mythical creatures like fairies, beast-men and dragons find this door and walk into the Japanese restaurant.  Then they are just handed a menu.
    The focus is very much on the food and every episode centers around a specific dish.  You will get hungry watching this.  You may find yourself wishing for a plate of what they are having.
    I've watched this 12 episode series a couple times. I enjoyed it equally both times.  It's very much a mood piece to chill out and relax to, tune out the world, and watch fantasy creatures blunder through the restaurant door and have a fine meal.
    SCORE:  4 out of 5
    Review Rating Scale:
    5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.
    4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.
    4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.
    3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.
    3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.
    2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.
    2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.
    1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.
     
     
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