Anime Wrap-Up #19

Let's get critical.

This time, I am covering these shows:

I am changing a things a bit. Anime Wrap up will cover 15 random shows that woke something inside of me, and deserved a few words - for good or bad reasons.
So let's see what is on the table today!

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serial experiments lain

Let me start with a show that I absolutely despised.

I love psychological shows that are actually psychological and don't just pretend by taking existential crisis as their only means of psychological plot-heaviness.
What's worse, they even build it in a way where they play into "I never existed in the first place" trope that just... shouldn't work in psychological shows! It's not psychology! It's sci-fi, fantasy at best.

And the decline in psyché of Lain's whole family just doesn't make sense, because they're not playing into it at all. The real world is just a mirror of Lain's life disappearing into small pieces.

By the way, Lain is 14. 14 years old are NOT this chill. Ever. Especially when their bestfriend kills themselves, become a virus in their phone and definitely not when they witness a murder and cease to exist.

They played into this "exists between both worlds, becoming a god" and "if people don't know/remember you, you aren't real" so much, that the psychological became a philosophical anime. And those just...

I am not a fan, I am sorry, but I am not a fan and I do not think this show is nearly as good as people make it out to be.

5/10

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TARI TARI

Tari Tari is from the first episode the most underrated music anime ever. For a show made in 2012 it looks great, the animation is very nice, the music is BRILLIANT and the story has that drama edge that we love in school-based shows.

We are introduced to five people:

Taichi Tanaka who doesn't have other personality other than the guide for;

Atsuhiro Maeda, the transfer student who knows less about Japan and Japanese food/etiquette than a random anime fan,

Sawa Okita an incredibly supportive friend of the main character;

Konatsu Miyamoto who wants to sing on stage despite her stage fright

and

Wakana Sakai who pisses me off, because we know NOTHING about her, yet everyone looses their shit when they hear about her, just like she is loosing it at the mention of singing.

There are two more characters that I want to bring attention to: Tomoko Takahashi, their homeroom teacher that becomes the guidance councillor for their newly established choir club (and is so weirdly chill when asking teenage Sawa if she was pregnant) and Naoko Takakura who should have never become a teacher because she is just GOD, AWFUL.

Which works out perfectly for the show - because upon seeing who that woman really is, what ties her to Sakai and what are her own fears and traumas... she becomes someone very relatable and you start to feel empathy for her.

The plot moves smoothly but in two directions, at first.

One is pulled by Konatsu Miyamoto and it's about her trying to sing for people as much as possible. She and her friend go weird places and get used to music, together.

The other is Wakana Sakai's story, or better said, her mother's story. And it's so heartbreaking. From someone who we knew nothing about, the story in just 6 episodes creates a person, alive & breathing. 
We suddenly understand why Sakai is the way she is and what is up with all these people raising eyebrows at her. And why she is frowning upon singing, especially singing in front of other people.

Two two plots then get intertwined, through one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in any anime.

And even though the two main plots focused on two girls, it doesn't mean that the rest of their 5-member group are left behind. Some of them are fighting what they want to do, and what their future is. Some of them don't even know what their future hold and some of them are just confused and don't know what path to take. Each of the high schoolers has their own problems, and that's what's bringing this show one level higher - to a coming of age show that makes you able to relate to them all.

And just when you think that's all this show offers, a true villain emerges and dips us into a whole another story. Corporate greed, what can I tell you. And you know how Japanese students love their schools.

Needless to say, what follows is a tearful graduation with so much hope for bright future, that the show will left you feeling empty and wanting more, despite everything being resolved. 

What an amazing watch this was!

9/10

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Yuusha Party wo Tsuihou Sareta Beast Tamer, 

Saikyoushu no Nekomimi Shoujo to Deau

I hated this show from the first moment and only stuck around for the cat girl, as shameful as that is to admit.

It's your very ordinary, not unique at all Adventure-Fantasy where the main character is a lowly "this skill no one cares about" user, who get abandoned by his group (where the heroes are assholes, obviously).

He meets a Cat Tribe member Kanade, who is basically only one of her kind and gets tamed by Rein (the MC). Together, they go on adventures and... ugh.

You know how stories like these go. He keeps meeting more and more cute girls (that are half some kind of a monster) and he tames them and creates a bond, that makes them slightly in love with him.

The story didn't get together, but it was continuously saved by cute girls that he kept taming and that actually had a personality.

 

?/10

There is something strangely adorable and interesting about this show. It's not great in any way, and it's definitely not the best thin

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Seishun Buta Yarou wa Yumemiru Shoujo no Yume wo Minai

g that ever happened to the world of anime, but it's decently entertaining and witty about showing us what puberty does to kiddos.

The first of the movies follows where the series left off, with Shouko Makinohara, whose puberty symptom makes her change ages from 4th grader to a highschooler. Her 4th grade self has a dream of growing up, and out of fear that she will not make it, she uses Sakuta (or well, his help) to fulfilling her "childhood" dreams.

But because Sakuta is her childhood crush, things can get messy, steamy and even more heartbreaking.

Playing into the awful trope of child's non-curable sickness and love triangle, they are creating a story that is heavy on feels in just one hour, that will pull you in just like the series did. I was a bit worried that the movies wouldn't work for Seishun Buta, but it turns out the movies work much better than the series, because they are able to wrap up a story of certain people in a good paced manner.

9/10

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A KITE

This was actually fire. This is how you make a story that is heavy, deals with child abuse and still manages to give a message. Sure, this was aimed at mature audiences and a lot of scenes did not have to be there - however, the suffering made sense, it was an actual trauma and it ended up being heartbreaking.

The universe was very interesting, the way guns work is insanely cool and the question of morale and right and wrong kept me on the edge of my seat.

At the same time, it was so stupid! The way Sawa was almost invincible was pretty ridiculous.

What I want to praise is the gunshot to the dick's dude. 

9/10 

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Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru.

(all 3 seasons)

Thoughts on this series:

- the animation changed with time, not trying to stay consistent

- the drama was usually redundant, and overstretched so it would create a lot of conflict for no reason at all

- virtually nothing happened during the second season

- the male MC is an absolute ass who thinks he has to handle the suffering of the world, and even though half his life could be easier if he just said something, he decided to look like an asshole

- brother sister relationship in here is awful, just another nail to the coffin

- Yui is disgusting - threatening her best friend to steal her man is NO GIRL'S GIRL APPROACH. You bitch, you lost the love triangle war, suck it up and move on

- Yu's mother is also disgusting - stop thirsting over a high school boy

- Saki Kawasaki deserves better. Justice for her, someone bring her to better series

- the "everything everywhere is connected because our fates were destined to overlap" is so boring (yes, I am talking about the dog)

- Hina Ebina's character could have been so good, but they completely messed up the comedy part of her personality. Which btw is the case for Yoshiteru Zaimokuza as well. The weakest comedy relief character ever.

- while I'm at it, they could have taken Rumi Tsurumi so much further

- and last but not least. who even is Kakeru Tobe.

TL;DR

The hours I put into this were not worth it for the weak ass 3rd season, and it's rated highly only because it made my brain rot so much, I cannot even tell good shows from bad anymore.

 

6/10 

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Oshi ga Budoukan Ittekuretara Shinu

My review can be found here: Link!

Story: 8/10

At first, I expected so much. Then I got disappointed, because I didn't think it would go the way it chose to go... and then I absolutely fell in love.

It's so simple, yet it works so well. It's almost an allegory on idol culture in Japan (as a lot of people said too), bringing a bit of comedic (almost ridiculous) moments and a bit of backstage information (with few scenes about the idols themselves).
For example, Eripiyo getting hurt and sick all the time from overworking herself, or her & Kumasa waiting for a 16:00 o'clock even at 4 am. Pushing herself until she breaks her throat multiple times...
And then rumors - like with Sorane and her alleged boyfriend; which costs her her fanbase.

But at the same time, we see devotion - supporting one favorite and being loyal to them. We see respect - like when Maina gets on a train next to Eripiyo, who tells her with a smile that she will change "rooms".

There is so much charm about everything this story offers, in it's simplicity it's not only a great time-killer, and inside look into Japan's culture, but it's also a great piece of art.

What I'm saying is - you will get much more than what the story initially seems to offer.

8/10 

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Ganbatte Ikimasshoi

This one is pretty simple. A school club about rowing hiding a ton of coming of age problems and difficult relationships between five classmates. 

Etsu-nee who has troubles dealing with her feelings; Rii who panics when it comes to actually pushing through with her dream, Hime and two rivals Dakko and Imocchi.

We're following their story (in full CGI) about what it means to chase your dreams and first of all, finding out why you're chasing them and what your eventual goal is.

It doesn't always have to be a happy end, with stories like this. Not on paper anyway - but when you think about it, the story offers everything important and you can, but don't have to take anything from it.

I definitely recommend Ganbatte Ikimasshoi. In it's simplicity, is one of the better slice-of-life movies out there. And the CGI is bearable.

10/10 

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Fureru.

I've seen someone describe Fureru as "grown men discover communication" and "women are always just sluts in their eyes, aren't they". At first, I thought people were crazy and missed the point. But... they weren't.

Fureru is a mythical creature of an island where our three main protagonists grew up. Aki, who cannot communicate for hell; Ryou who seems to have muscles for brain; and Yuuta who never really fit in. These three weren't always friends - but they got connected thanks to Fureru - being able to read each other's mind, understanding each other that way.

Connected and always touching in some way, the three of them spend their entire lives together. Moving in and taking care of the little spiky creature, everything seemed like it would work out.

Until one day, Aki's goodness brought into his home (against his best wishes) two girls - way too confident Juri and Nana, who confined in them that she has a stalker.

Our boys basically ignore this fact and do their own thing. Thinking that the men are in a relationship, Juri suggest they move in with them for a while, just to keep Nana safe.

But you can never just help out a girl/boy without the friendship deepening, I guess. Aki and Ryou fall for Juri, while Yuuta kisses Nana. Terrified girl doesn't push him away and the boys throw a "hey! you're in a relationship!" party - which completely backfires.

What follof ows is a mess - relationships break, people stop talking, they never admit to their faults and they just hope it will all go back. Until Fureru confronts them and the boys have to decide: Are we friends, or are we just connected with something unique?

Fureru starts out amazing. With the arrival of girls character, it goes to hell and the last 30 minutes are insufferable. I tried to like it, but I ended up disappointed and the moral of the story didn't quite reach me.

6/10 

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Ongaku

ON-GAKU: OUR SOUND starts out extremely strange. And I love it. It gives me major Doukyuusei vibes. 

It starts out with a highschooler Kenji, who is a part of "Three Musketeers". He doesn't talk much, and in combination with his unusual appearance, he is very feared. Rumored spaggheti fist of his makes anyone run away when he appears. It cannot be helped. But somehow you know he is not a bad person.

By the way. When i say highschooler... these boy look like adults, smoke, have punk hair... who lets them act like that??? XD I also think they don't blink... ever.

Anyway. The boys decide to start a band, and lay off their fight with another school. Obviously, it's a rough start. Two bases and not complete drums, in combination with them having no idea how to play... it's ridiculous to listen to them. 

So they go to advice to a fellow school band - and unlikely friendship starts - leading them to a music concert where our three musicians are supposed to play.

Ongaku has a very specific art style and a unique animation, that makes it stand out from other anime movies. It's pleasant and entertaining to just look at, and the characters add spice to it, in a way where you cannot believe what's happening in front of you.

It has a subtle comedy, and distinctive camera movement that add a special atmosphere to the way the story is told.

The whole story is told around Kenji, so we see the world through his eyes, ears and other senses. There are scenes where the camera is focused on him for the purpose of seeing how enounters shape him - despite dialogue happening between different people, off camera.

All in all, it's 10s across the board and noticing little details make it such an experience. You don't see that everyday. I wholeheartedly recommend everyone to watch this one.

10/10 

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Kimi no Iro

 

The colors Within is a coming of age story about two girls from all-girl christian school and their newfound friend.

The main character is Totsuko, a girl who sees colors, or auras around other people. She falls in love with the color of her schoolmate Kimi, whom she cannot stop seeking.

 

The two girls chat a bit, and get approached by Rui, a music enthusiast. Together, they form a band and secretly meet up, writing their own songs. Music is but an escape to an endless pile of lies - about dropping out of school, about being sick and meeting up with a guy friend, about not wanting to follow parent's step in life.

 

The kids need to face those lies... but instead give us the most banger music I have encountered in a while in music. Seriously.

The movie sucks. It's bad, the story is weak and they don't even address important plot points.

 

But the animation is great, and the music is amazing, so I am giving it a pass.

 8/10  

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Chainsaw Man: Reze-hen 

Sound design, good.
Subtle comedy, good.

Overall, does not live up to the hype and stays behind the original series by a mile. Reze was a good character tho. In the end I was just so bored.
The ending was okay tho.

6/10

 

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Zetsuai 1989 + BRONZE: ZETSUAI since 1989 

 

 

This one was supposed to be me going back to oldschool yaoi for nostalgia. You know, old animation, old quality, a simple story with deep characters and a story that will make you think.

 

I got something I didn't ask for and regret watching this. In hopes the sequel would bring new light on he situations of the first "movie" I risked getting burned again, and I did.

 

Choosing a good boy love show seems to be hard now and it was hard back then. The variety of LGBT+ love is not wide, which is why people go after Super Lovers, Loveless, Citrus or Netsuzou Trap: NTR which... still baffles me.

 

I'm sure there are better pieces out of there. We just need to find them and not waste time with shows like these....

 3/10

 

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Tengoku Daimakyou

This was a rather pleasant surprise in a giant mess of shows I needed to watch for challenges. And I am glad I stuck around and got over my initial bored-ness and unwillingness of watching something I didn't have much faith in.

 

(For some reason) translated as  Heavenly Delusion, the story follows a pair of individuals - Maru with a goal, and Kiruko, who works as his bodyguard. Together, they embark on a journey to find "heaven", which is a place they will only recognize when they get there.

 

Meanwhile, in a series of flashbacks, we follow a bunch of kids, held in a facility resembling a day care, dorm, and luxurious orphanage all in one. The kids there seem weird, having special abilities or attributes that make them stand out. A good eye will notice that Tokio looks a lot like Maru and your mind begins to spiral and connect the dots since the very beginning...

 

As we learn more about each character and their past, present and possible future, we also learn about the post-apocalyptic universe they live in. Man-eaters, laser guns, modern technology that might never work again, little villages that desperately try to rebuild the normal life they used to know... That and more Maru and Kiruko have to navigate, while walking through Japan and learning more about the darkness that stands behind this heaven place.

 

The anime ends in a lukewarm end. It doesn't feel hurried, it feels calculated. The exact situations and scenes they used for the last 2 or 3 episodes make you long for more, while knowing the manga is still releasing and second season is not in works. So it's really a you choice.

Will you pass up on this great show... or will you go down the rabbit hole and try to solve the mystery?

 8/10

 

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Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugenjou-hen Movie 1 - Akaza Sairai  

  

 After a long long wait we finally managed to get our hands on Kimetsu no Yaiba movie. And it was more than I deserved.

 

The animation was stellar, the colors and the design were SO BEAUTIFUL, CGI less subtle than ever when it counted... The story progressed nicely, at a fair pace, making the two hours feel like two seconds. I enjoyed everything - the heartbreaks, the surprises, the backstories and new possibilities... Everything worked for this movie exactly as the creators wanted.

 

I am already biting my nails waiting for another movie, just so I can learning how far Tanjiro gets, how will they work through their losses and what happens to everyone's ever after.

 

Since I found out we're getting two more movies, My theory is we're going to see the hashira fighting number 2 and Tanjiro fighting number 1 for more backstory, and in next movie we might be getting hashira fighting number 4 and Tanjiro getting on Muzan. We will see!

 

Anywho! While it's still fresh so I don't want to go into details, I really really want everyone to see this. It was too good to miss out on. So for now, I guess I am just going to show you how serious I am about my feelings for this movie:

 10/10

 

(I am sure my bias is not messing with the ratings. But I did watch it in person with my boyfriend and that made the whole experience even better.)

 

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Well, wouldn't you know it! It is over for another part of my Wrap-Up. I have seen more stuff, but none was worth talking about, or trashing. So this was a showcase of what really stuck with me on my list.

I am working on more seasonals and watching movies, so maybe that will appear someday soon....