Anime Wrap-Up #11

Anime Wrap-Up is a section of this blog, directed to anime I've consumed in any way during the previous month... I will address fun details, pinpoint some important notes, and give my overall feeling about these shows:

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LOVELESS

Ok, yaoi warning. This will be... this will be hard. To be even more specific, old yaoi.

Apparently, the most important thing in this universe is pet ears - a sign of virginity. Kill me now.

When the mysterious sexy adult long white haired man appears, the first thing he does is kiss Ritsuka, confess his love and says he will take Ritsuka. Which basically means, "I want to fuck your ass, but I swear it's love".

I thought Loveless would be a pun for some kind of relationship... but turns out it's Ritsuoka's real name. Just like the blonde's (Soubi's) name is Beloved. 

I have just one question. What? It really doesn't make sense.

The kid is 11, by the way. While the mysterious man is in college. And they are kissing and building the illusion of a relationship, built on Ritsuka's brother wish.

I would like to doubt that Seimei actually asked Soubi to fuck with his brother.

For what it's worth, the visuals are really pretty. It's no 2024 quality, but for anime that is almost 20 years old, it looks really great.

The story though, is awful. Adults drooling over 11 year olds, adults having a trauma of having their back whipped (while looking like they were moaning about it)

If you are someone who chooses to ignore shit like age gap, dubious consent, and doesn't mind absolutely annoying characters... then I guess you are free to do how you want.
It's an occurring problem, but it's not heavily focused on this shit. So... idk. Story was pretty interesting but as a whole... It was bad bad bad.

    

But I wish I watched something else. If it wasn't for AWC Challenges, I would have dropped this at the first episode.

Another of my problems is, that the story was all over the place and did not exactly get resolved in a way that would show me what the main plot was. Disappointing on all fronts.

3/10 saved by the plot-idea and art style

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ReLIFE

Again! This is just the same! (That is a lie..)

ReLife is an interesting story about people getting a second chance at life, going back to their high school times and making stuff work better than previous. It's an experiment that might help you face yourself, your problems and get a second chance at life, love, fate...

But.

    

And while it isn't a big part of the story here too, I just don't get the pedo jokes in anime. Why do they keep doing this?? How is this funny? How is this important to the characters? 

This man is 27.

As the story progressed, we it opened more problems than just the initial plot of "going back in time". It's not perfect, but it's a very decent, interesting show and I would recommend it if you don't know what to watch and aren't looking for something too heavy, but not too light either.

The ending gives us an expected-unexpected twist and a romance that is left to look into, so I am assuming that's what the 4 OVA episodes are about. I wish the two lovebirds luck and I hope they will end up together.

Traditional 7/10 will surely do it justice. Catch me watching the sequel in the future.

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Uramichi Oniisan
(Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan)

The only thing saving this is Mamoru Miyano's laughter. (This is the same guy voicing Kei from the baseball seasonal). I am absolutely dead. His character Iketeru Daga is so me.

    

Apart from that, the humor is... well. It looks and sounds like my type of humor. But it's kind of missing the mark for some reason.

    

It does carry that humor to the other episodes, which became old very quickly. And since the comedy or puns didn't work all that well, I didn't laugh much. Which is crucial with comedy anime.

    

[Pretty boy]

[Two bros, chilling in a hot tub, five feet apart cuz they're not gay]

[He is me]

I don't have much to say about this show... unfortunately. I was very excited about it, but it gave me nothing, it disappointed me and while I don't regret watching it, I don't think I would ever rewatch it.

The finale was a whole episode of the cats talking about how perfect the finale of the anime should be - kidnapping, getting fired, something awful or something amazing happening. 

Well, mostly drama that would get resolved by the end.

But this screenshot from the anime sums up what really happened:

Meh.

7/10

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Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)

Do you remember W.I.T.C.H? Totally Spies? WINX? Any of these magical girls animated series? That often got shitty live action remake? But made up a big part of our lives? (At least for the girls. Boys usually had Power Rangers, and Pokemon.) (Usually, I said.)

Well, Sailor Moon is just like that - like it or not.

Adorable teenage girls that became magical overnight, fighting the evil person/organization NO ONE ever mentions as if they did not even exist, while dealing with everyday "girly" troubles of liking pretty clothes and loving handsome boys.

In this case, Sailor Moon is generic girly show. That being said, it's not bad! 

The animation is extremely good for 90s show, the art style is one of the prettiest ones I've seen and the music and soundtrack are very catchy and memorable and the transformation aspect is very well thought through.

One thing that I noticed is that shows from this era have... sometimes questionable voice acting. But that is just me.

It is however episodic - which means we see the same thing over 40 times - while trying to make it original.

Usagi is having fun with event that is happening on that day, while others enjoying that event are made into evil minions, which she then fights and gets help of a secret, masked Tuxedo Mask.

In the end, we will learn a life lesson about how we should act or treat the others and that is it.

Still, it's a classic, so maybe give it a shot. It is worth it.

A little issue I had with Tuxedo mask: he kissed drunk Usagi. Just because you are "soulmates" or whatever doesn't mean you can kiss drunk girls??? 

While we're talking about this stuff - the weight loss episode?? Naru falling for a grown-ass man??

Now let's rank some shit.

Sailor Soldiers:

1. Makoto
2. Ami
3. Rei
4. Usagi
5. Minako

Transformation:

1. Makoto
2. Usagi
3. Rei
4. Ami
5. Minako

Sailor Outfits:

1. Makoto
2. Usagi
3. Rei
4. Ami
5. Minako

Powers:

1. Makoto
2. Rei
3. Minako
4. Ami
5. Usagi

Attack animation:

1. Makoto
2. Ami
3. Minako
4. Usagi
5. Rei

Background characters:

1. Naru Oosaka
2. Yuuichirou Kumada
3. Mamoru Chiba
4. Gurio Umino
5. Motoki Furuhata
6. Queen Serenity

Seven Monsters:

1. Yumemi Yumeno
2. Ryou Urawa
3. Red Butler
4. Reika Nishimura
5. Rei's Grandpa
6. Crane Game Joe
7. Priest

Villains:

1. Nephrite
2. Jadeite
3. Zoisite
4. Queen Beryl
5. Kunzite

Sailor Moon is old but it looks incredible. I think I said that already. The number of screenshots I could make... But I don't want to flood this post just with that.

The girls are pretty, funny, diverse and here are some of the screenshots I could not help but take:

    

        

[This episode was terrible, but at least we got this]

    

[The typical 'I'm evil' sign]

    

    

[You just know they'll add more characters]

    

[first ever Pansexual icon]

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

[I am very ashamed to say I enjoyed their love story.]

Towards the end, the story takes a confusing time.

We have more arc (4 to be exact) in this season, but the last arc that was supposed to wrap things up gives us many confusing episodes that have no explanation and seemingly throw us in the middle of something that was (not) happening prior to that.

Like episode 42 when the girls were fighting the whole episode, but it wasn't clear why they had a falling out.

Besides. The whole Mamoru is evil subplot was silly.

8/10

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Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
Ren: Saisei no... Jaou Shingan Mokushiroku
(Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions - Heart Throb -: The Rikka Wars/ Apocalypse of the Wicked Lord Shingan Reborn)

This was the funniest episode ever. 

I am very unsure about the series as a whole, I just can't get into it properly. And I am often bored.

But this episode was ridiculously hilarious, it gave me everything I wanted and I do recommend it - if you like Chuunibyou, don't ship this.

The good/sad news is, that after all of this... The only thing left is the final movie and Chuunibyou is over.

8/10

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Secret bonus: Zoku Zou no Senaka: Baton Touch

Remember the cute animation from last month about the elephant family? It's in this wrap up: Here.

Well, this is a sequel I almost didn't find. It was weaker than the first part, because we knew what happened already, but still it was sweet.

I could not shake the feeling that the girl's elephant husband was not a good person... But I guess the eyebrows were just a poor choice.

5/10

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Kimetsu no Yaiba: Yuukaku-hen

(Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc)

I loooove Demon Slayer. To the bits, actually.

It's interesting, dramatic, filled with action - yet extremely funny, adorable... it had one of the best character design ever, the CGI is tastefully done to the point where I always notice it but never mind it... and the animation and art style are simply perfect.

I gave the first season a whooping 9/10 and I was so sure it will only get better...

Well. This was my reaction on AniList:

I mean... this best rated series was complete and utter bullshit. What the hell?!

Spoilers ahead, and I will not warn anyone again.

So first, the demon that had an amazing build up and almost killed Tanjiro and the others gets herself beheaded and doesn't even notice it. I don't care that they foreshadowed it the whole season, brought attention to Tengen's quiet movements that cannot be heard.

It's shit writing.

Then, another demon crawls out of her back and reveals that they are in fact two demons of the same status, so you need to behead both of them. I can forgive that, but it was almost too convenient.

Because come on, you couldn't have a hashira behead an upper six so fast. Not even when you foreshadowed it.

Bad bad execution.

Then we have Nezuko, who evolved by growing her boobs, and  bit through her bamboo... which made her go crazy once she tasted human blood. She had veins all over her body and in her eyes. It was like she couldn't be calmed down by anyone, even going as far as attacking Tanjiro...!

What calmed her down? A lullaby from her childhood. 

Shit writing. And absolutely disgusting ruin of a perfectly tense moment.

Jumping forward, the boy-part of Upper Six basically kills Inosuke. Stabs him straight to heart, ends him.

Ahaha, you believed me? Come on! "Rearranging [my] internal organs is a child's play!"

Convenient and shit.

The whole time, when Tanjiro was fighting the boy Upper Six demon, I was asking my brother if it was a real thing. I was telling him, that I think he is imagining it, that he will wake up, that something else was going to happen.

No. 

The awful cut and second, final part of their fight was real and I want to vomit.

And when they beheaded both demons? Their heads rolled towards the other, and they ended up facing each other upside down.

Oh Jesus, give me a bucket, I will vomit.

IT WAS SO BAD. I mean, I do still love it and it will get a decent score... but there is no way people can like this without actually thinking about the story.

It's awful, the writing is SO AWFUL.

Spoilers over.

But, to praise it a bit - it looked great, it was very funny at times, I loved the facial expressions and the plot of pretending to be a woman.

I liked the flower form Nezuko, I think it's a great start to showing Tanjiro's true potential, Zenitsu was brilliant and I enjoyed the three wives.

A huge plus is that me hating Tengen in the beginning turned into a small platonic crush, which is how you do characters. Great job on that one.

Entertaining, pretty, good backstories... And I will keep watching.

My opinion though stays firm and Demon Slayer moves down by 2 points, and it gets SHAMEFUL

7/10

Enjoy some screenshots:

    

And this powerful quote. 

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Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-hen (TV)

(Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc)

I'll let you in on a secret... I only watched the first episode.

I watched the movie of the same name with my brother a year ago or so, and I remember absolutely loving it.

But... I did not feel like rewatching it all. Apparently, it's not different than the movie anyway, I just had to watch the first episode for the extra content.

To be honest, it was not that important. I love my boy Kyoujurou Rengoku, so I lived for those 28 minutes, but otherwise I don't feel like it changed the story at all for me.

So far, this is my favorite arc of the series and just like with the movie, the score I am giving it is:

9/10

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Yami Shibai 7
(Theatre of Darkness)

One o the best looking seasons with pretty good ratio of scary and stupid. Good season for Yami Shibai!
If you are looking to get into it, this is the season to choose!

One of the episodes had the weirdest dialogue:

    

    

And the 13th last episode was sad and fked up, which made me want to start season 8 right away. Some brilliant episodes this season!

6/10 as per usual.

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SPY×FAMILY Part 2 

The second cour of Spy x Family is just as funny, just as witty, looks just as sharp... Everything we loved in first part came back. And the opening and ending are even better this time around!

I love Spy x Family and I can't wait to get started with the manga...

    

One of the episodes was focused on their backstory (by them I mean Twilight and boss lady Sylvia) which kept me awake for a while.

I don't know much about them, and I am still a bit lost in their world and how it works... but the part when Sylvia met Anya broke my heart into pieces.

    

    

But the second cour gave me sweet moments too, and even more than I asked for.

While I am not a big fan of future-telling dog, their relationships getting firmer and stronger  are absolutely what I am after.

Seeing Yor and Loid in love makes my heart beat happily, and Anya being grateful for her parents it's very adorable.

[That man... that man!!]

Fiona, thought interesting, was a pain in my ass.

I do feel for her, unrequited love is no laughing matter. And I feel her pain. But Jesus, scram, and let Yor and Loid be happy. Those two are made for each other.

I was disappointed (but not surprised) by Twilight's reaction during the "honey trap" scene at the bar, when he figured out that Yor has feelings for him.

I wished and hoped for more... human approach, maybe understand that using her feelings for his mission is wrong - because he's gotten to know her better during all that time.

But I got just "I am a spy. Spy does not do feelings." talk which set them and us and me like 10 steps back...

Overall, a very nice series with a good wrap up that teases next season.

9/10

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SPY×FAMILY Season 2 

The second season has the worst opening ever. Hate the visuals, hate the song, hate everything about it. The ending isn't any better.

It didn't matter for too long, as Yor got shot in her butt and with that kind of pain she went on her first date with Loid. I was smirking like crazy.

It's such a dumb idea but work so well!

I got what I was silently hoping for - realizing their feelings. Yor thinking about what her "fake" family means to her was so incredibly important to me, and the way she realized them was very true to her personality.

I wish Yor happiness, and I wish those tree could stay together until the very end.

I keep worrying about Loid, though. I know I said it already, but I don't know what that man is thinking! Though... I could swear at one point he said "my family" without realizing they are not his real family...

I know it isn't fair to omit things that I call other shows on, so here goes:

1. Becky's weird crush on Loid (her maid says she "mustn't commit adultery"
2. Becky watching romance telenovelas that sometimes sound like porn ???
3. Yuri's unhealthy obsession with Yor, that borders on romantic feelings

Overall though, the season did what we wanted from it - action, comedy, bit of romance and weird things that you can't explain.

It was weaker than Cour 2 (and I don't remember season 1 all that well) so I am going to give it a 7/10 which is my worst rated season.

I cannot find the movie CODE:WHITE anywhere yet, so I will get back to that sometimes in the future.

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Watashi no Shiawase na Katachi

Again, just a short story set after the events of main series, focused on Miyo being adorable, attending a social gathering and meeting a price who will answer questions we were left with after the first season ended.

And then there was this moment:

[Can you guess what they almost did?]

9/10 

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To conclude.

The month was supposed to go differently, but since I choose to watch Sailor Moon this month, I changed a lot of my choices to not overwhelm myself as I am supposed to be writing my bachelor thesis right about now.

The good and bad ratio this month goes to my favor, unlike the last month. I enjoyed most of the shows, and the specials were pretty okay too. ReLife surprised me, Uramichi Oniisan lived up to it's expectations and other shows were decent at least.

How was your June?