Friday, 4 October 2019

Anime Spotlight : Summer 2019 Let The Good Times Roll

Summer 2019 has come to an end, and I'm glad to say it's been a pretty good season, sure there were a few stinkers, but generally the quality of shows was pretty good. As usual my writeup will only contain anime that have in fact ended with the Summer 2019 season, so ongoing shows won't be mentioned. As usual I'll start with the 5 Anime I found to be the best of the past season. And then I'll share my thoughts on the rest of the anime I watched.

Carole & Tuesday

Synopsis : Fifty years have passed since mankind began migrating to the new frontier: Mars. It's an age where most culture is produced by AI, and people are content to be passive consumers.

There's a girl. Scraping a living in the metropolis of Alba City, she's working part time while trying to become a musician. She's always felt like something is missing. Her name is Carole.

There's a girl. Born to a wealthy family in the provincial town of Herschel City, she dreams of becoming a musician, but nobody around her understands. She feels like the loneliest person in the world. Her name is Tuesday.

A chance meeting brings them together. They want to sing. They want to make music. Together, they feel like they just might have a chance. The two of them may only create a tiny wave. But that wave will eventually grow into something larger...
Thoughts : What do you get when you take a flawless Soundtrack, direction from acclaimed Watanabe Shin`ichirou, an all star cast with even Megumi Hayashibara, great story telling and loveable characters? A contender for Anime of the Year for sure. If by some reason you didn't watch Carole and Tuesday, Do yourself the favor and get to it.

Mix: Meisei Story

Synopsis : Thirty years after Uesugi Tatsuya and Kazuya brought Meisei High School to their only appearance and championship at the National High School Baseball Championship, a pair of highly talented stepbrothers, Tachibana Touma and Souichirou, bring the possibility of a return to the Koshien, as they learn of the Meisei High sports heritage of their fathers.
Thoughts : From the creator of the anime with the most memorable first episode "Cross Game" comes Mix : Meisei Story, a fantastic light hearted baseball and family anime. Not nearly as emotional as Cross Game but still worth every second. Fans of slice of life anime would also enjoy Mix Meisie Story.

Kimetsu no Yaiba

Synopsis : Since ancient times, rumors have abounded of man-eating demons lurking in the woods. Because of this, the local townsfolk never venture outside at night. Legend has it that a demon slayer also roams the night, hunting down these bloodthirsty demons. For young Tanjirou, these rumors will soon to become his harsh reality...

Ever since the death of his father, Tanjirou has taken it upon himself to support his family. Although their lives may be hardened by tragedy, they've found happiness. But that ephemeral warmth is shattered one day when Tanjirou finds is family slaughtered and the lone survivor, his sister Nezuko, turned into a demon. To his surprise, however, Nezuko still shows signs of human emotion and thought... Thus begins Tanjirou's request to fight demons and turn his sister human again.
Thoughts : Easily the most popular anime this season, and with good reason. UFOTABLE did a fantastic job on this action packed show. Let's face it, unless you live under a rock you've seen all the Nezuko memes as well as the all the cosplay at cons. If you crave some good shounen for once that doesn't get lost in filler episodes or suffer terrible production standards. This is for you.

Fruits Basket 1st Season

Synopsis : After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Honda Tooru takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Souma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tooru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Soumas have a secret of their own--when touched by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac!
Thoughts : I adored the original Fruits Basket anime but this remake of Fruits Basket blew my expectations and heart away. Having an even bigger emotional impact than the original many anime fans, myself included, loved. Took a lot of work, I'm also happy to know that they plan to adapt the entire manga this time around so we can finally see it all animated :D

Kanata no Astra

Synopsis : The year is 2061, when space travel is now possible and commercially viable, and the students of Caird High School embark on their Planet Camp.

But soon after Group B5 arrived at their planetary camp site, a mysterious and unforeseen sentient light sphere warps its 9 members into outer space, stranding them 5012 light years away from their home planet.

With the discovery of an old, unmanned spaceship nearby, the students must stay strong, manage their limited resources and remain united in the darkness of space, so that all of them can survive their long and likely perilous trek back home aboard the Astra.
Thoughts : Astra lost in Space got me hooked initially due to how much it reminded me of Uninhabited Planet Survive, a classic anime I'd easily recommend to anyone, but I stayed for the great story, characters and the twists. Oh the twists. So well done, It has a few flaws but what show doesn't?

That concludes the five anime I thought stood out as the best from the past season. Now my thoughts on the rest.

Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO : This anime took my by surprise, in a good way. Even though it has a lot of dimensional travel/time travel elements. It tied most of the loose ends up nice. A fair warning for sensitive people, it does contain some scenes you might find disturbing.

Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru : A great mix of training exercise and comedy, at first I wasn't sure what I was getting into, But I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Uchimusume : A fun fantasy anime about an adventurer that takes in a demon girl and gets a bit over protective of her ;) It's mostly an enjoyable anime except for that episode with the Sister....


Machikado Mazoku : I absolutely loved this cute anime about a demon girl that has to defeat the magical girl to free her family from the seal. A real feel good anime.

Symphogear XV : You know, I'm glad the Symphogear franchise has come to an end, not because I didn't enjoy it, But it did get a bit tiring with a "new hidden enemy" every season. If magical girls and idols are your things, be sure to give it a watch. It has good fight scenes, some emotional parts too.

Re Stage! Dream Days : Speaking of idols, even though the characters in Re Stage! are on the young side, the music isn't bad and the problems the obstacles they face seem fairly realistic. A fun watch all in all.

Cop Craft : Ever wanted a good ol Cop Buddy story with some isekai vibes thrown in? Cop Craft has you sorted, unfortunately it did suffer from some shoddy animation in parts

Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou : Speaking of isekai, although not as terrible as "Isekai Cheat Magician" Arifureta was still pretty darn bad, watchable at least

Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator : After the mess that was A Certain Magical Index III I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy Accelerator, turned out my doubts were misplaced. Fans of the "toaru" franchise will enjoy this.

Okaa-san Online : Is one of those isekai anime that takes all the normal tropes, mixes them up, adds a fair bit of fun and never takes itself seriously. Well worth the watch.

Bem : This anime is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, it's not really good in anyway, but I kept finding myself watching it...I'm unsure if it was the setting or just the entire premise of the show

Katsute Kami Datta Kemono-tachi e : Starts off with a civil war vibe, turns into your average revenge anime with people turned monsters. Forgettable for the most part.

Tejina-senpai : A short gag filled anime about a girl that can't do magic and her assistant that keeps getting dragged into her messes. Has a fair bit of fanservice and it's short episode length worked

Sounan Desu ka : Better than any Bear Grylls episode by far, and just as informative, with the added bonus of cute girls.

Joshikousei no Mudazuka : Gag anime of the season, also had the best OP. For people looking for laughs this is what you need.

Hensuki : I quite enjoyed this ecchi romcom anime. A bit predictable at times, but not at first, especially not for our poor protagonist.

Nakanohito Genome [Jikkyouchuu] : An anime about let's players/streamers stuck by some mysterious alpaca forced to take part in games to rack up a view count? Yes absurd but I loved it.

Lord El-Melloi II Case Files : A spin off from Fate/Zero and a great one at that, especially for fans of Iskander. I'm hoping they make more of this.

Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo : From the author of Kodomo no Jikan comes this powerhouse of an anime about a bunch of literary girls being thrust into the world of "adolescence" . It just gets better with every episode.

Danmachi Season 2 : A pretty good season of Danmachi, and even though some people will disagree. Hestia is still wurst grill.

Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san 2 : I was looking forward to the second season of Takagi-san, this second season exceeded my expectations. Also liked the added touch of the short "future" vision in it.

And that wraps up the Summer 2019 anime season, all in all I feel that the season was pretty good, and Autumn 2019 has a lot to look forward to. Which anime did you enjoy most this past season?
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Monday, 8 July 2019

Anime Spotlight : Spring 2019, It Wasn't The Best of Times but...

Spring 2019 is over and done with, and honestly I'm glad. Mostly due to how strong Summer 2019 seems. Even though Spring 2019 had some really lackluster anime. I do feel some really good shows did end with Spring 2019 and those will be on my list ;)

Karakuri Circus

Synopsis : Masaru has just inherited a big fortune after the death of his father. However, people are trying to get their hands on it by any means necessary, even if it means killing him. Narumi helped Masaru from being kidnapped after fighting some weird guys. He found out that they're not humans but wooden puppets with amazing strength. After a hard fight, Narumi was forced to admit that he's no opponent for them; and just when he started to think that Masaru would be captured, Shirogane, Masaru's watcher arrives from France with a weapon, the puppet Arlequin. Here, begins the story of Karakuri Circus.
Thoughts : Karakuri Circus started quite a few seasons ago, but the 36 episodes journey was well worth it, if you get freaked out by puppets or clowns AVOID! If not stay for a fantastic, grim, action packed, surprise filled story.

Dororo (2019)

Synopsis : Daigo Kagemitsu, who works for a Samurai general in Japan's Warring States period, promises to offer body parts of his unborn baby to 48 demons in exchange for complete domination of the country. When the baby boy is born, Daigo has him thrown into a river, expecting the boy to die. A kind sage, however, finds him and adopts him. The sage fits out his poor son with prosthetics.

Time goes by and the baby grows into a boy who calls himself Hyakkimaru. Every time Hyakkimaru eliminates a demon, he retrieves one of his body parts. Hyakkimaru rescues a boy thief named Dororo from a band of men whom the young boy tried to rob. Together they travel the countryside in search of the demons who possess Hyakkimaru's parts. Throughout their travels, they face a host of monsters and ghosts.
Thoughts : The 2019 animation of Dororo is well worth any anime fans' time and attention. Based on the classic manga by Tezuka Osamu, it's a prime example of how even really old manga can still be a joy to experience with fresh visuals and audio ;)

Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

Synopsis : Iwatani Naofumi is an uncharismatic otaku who spends his days on games and manga, suddenly finds himself summoned to a parallel universe! He discovers he is one of four heroes equipped with legendary weapons and tasked with saving the world from its prophesied destruction. As the Shield Hero, the weakest of the heroes, all is not as it seems. Naofumi is soon alone, penniless, and betrayed. With no one to turn to, and nowhere to run, he is left with only his shield. Now, Naofumi must rise to become the legendary Shield Hero and save the world!
Thoughts : I'm pretty sure no one is surprised to see this anime here...and if by some chances you haven't heard of it. I would have to ask "under what rock did you live?" Sillyness aside it's a pretty good anime most fans will enjoy just a shame that the anime deviated from the source material a bit so a sequel might be hard to make..

Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai

Synopsis : Yuiga Nariyuki tutors three genius of different subjects in highschool to get a scholarship. Furuhashi Fumino is a genius on literature but horrible in math, Ogata Rizu is a genius on mathematics and science but literature and arts are terrible subjects for her and Takemoto Uruka is a genius in the athletic field but really bad in all the others. Together, they study very hard and want to get better at their worst subjects while Fumino and Ogata wants to go to college and work on these subjects for life.
Thoughts : What can I say? I'm a sucker for absolutely fun romcom anime, especially when they are done as well as Bokuben. Looking forward to another season for sure!

Bungou Stray Dogs (2019)

Synopsis : The White Tiger and the Black Beast – Nakajima Atsushi and Akutagawa Ryuunosuke's fight against Francis F. brings an end to the great war against the Guild. Life goes on as normal in Yokoyama, thanks to the continued truce between the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia, who, together, saved the city from ruin. But there are still rumors of Guild stragglers and other crime organizations making their way in from abroad. Meanwhile, Dazai Osamu had premonitions of another impending disaster. Lurking in the darkness is the Fyodor D., leader of pirate organization Rats in the House of the Dead, his dreadful plans on the verge of execution.
Thoughts : The third season of the much loved Bungou Stray Dogs was as expected, Fantastic! If you haven't even seen the first season of this anime yet. Stop whatever you are doing and start watching it now!

As some of you may have noticed, the majority of the "top shows" from Spring 2019 was mostly anime that started in earlier seasons. But you are obviously curious about t
he rest.


Hachigatsu no Cinderella Nine : A super fun "origin" story of an all girls baseball team in Japan. A shame it didn't go the route of more traditional sports anime but hopefully there will be more..

Gunjou no Magmel : This is one of those almost guilty pleasure type anime, it's not great by any margin but it's a lot of fun to watch. Heavily flawed though

One Punch Man S2 : The most hyped anime for Spring 2019? EASILY. And I'll admit, there were plenty of times I was dying from laughter. My only grip is the way it ended, which mostly just left me feeling unsatisfied.


Shingeki no Kyojin s3 : Pretty much more of the same as previous seasons. At least it looks like this is drawing closer to an end.

Kono Oto Tomare! : Music anime is always a joy to watch, my only gripe with this beautifully animated show was the lack of romance in it.

Kenja no Mago : If you want a fun isekai anime with a stupidly Overpowered main character then look no further, just make sure to not expect too much plot wise.


Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san : A relaxing and adorable anime about a demigod foxgirl trying to rid an overworked guy of all his work stress. Well worth the time if you want to just unwind.

Nande Koko ni Sensei ga : I'll be honest, I was hoping for a modern take on "Happy Lesson" but unfortunately this wasn't it. Censoring was a bit rough so I'd suggest waiting for the Bluray's if you want to enjoy lewds.

Isekai Quartet : The chibi style grew on me...or rather I tolerated it for the jokes, glad to see a second season has been announced!


Fairy Gone : When PA Works is involved, I just know a show is either going to be amazing..or a miss. Fairy Gone was sadly the latter for the most part.

Midara na Ao-chan wa Benkyou ga Dekinai : A cute, comedy about a girl with too many lewd thoughts thanks to her dad's profession.

Nobunaga-sensei no Osanazuma : In all honesty, I have no idea why I even watched this load of bullcrap.


Senryuu Shoujo : One of those rare short anime that just made you feel good. I'd recommend anyone to watch it.

Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu : The moe show of the season, Lots of laughs, some tears. All worth it.

And that's my thoughts on all the anime series that finished with Spring 2019. For those of you still reading. I have few bonuses, in the form of OVA and Movie impressions. As always feel free to share your thoughts on the Anime you've seen with me!

Grisaia Phantom Trigger : Unfortunately not a continuation of the Grisaia series but share the same setting, Wished it was more than just 2 episodes though.

Monster Musume OVA : More MonMusume what more do you need to know?

Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san OVA : Another great episode from our fave hotsprings yokai...

Uma Musume Pretty Derby Extra Race BNW's Promise : It was great seeing the horse girls again, thoroughly enjoyed seeing more of the other horse girls...

Mobile Suit Gundam NT (Narrative)  : The PERFECT Sequel to Gundam Unicorn.

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha Detonation : Who doesn't like seeing more of Nanoha befriending the shit out of everyone?

Re Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu - Memory : Rem fans rejoice! More Rem, more Ram, more Emilia...that is all.
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Monday, 8 April 2019

Anime Spotlight : The Best Anime and the rest of Winter 2019

Winter 2019 had some memorable shows, some cute, some downright adorable, some epic as a really epic thing and some just plain average at best. It's hard to know which is which when you are planning to binge a newly completed show but no fear. I have you covered..as usual. I will only talk about anime I've seen and that has completed with the Winter 2019 season. To change things up though I'll add a few movies in the end ;)

Go-Toubun no Hanayome

Synopsis : One day, a poor high school second-year named Uesugi Futarou comes across a private tutoring gig with good pay. But his pupils are his classmates!! And they're quintuplets!! A-and they're all gorgeous girls, but they're also troublemakers who hate to study and are on the verge of flunking out! And his first task is simply gaining the sisters' trust?! Every day is a party! The curtain is rising on the Nakano quintuplets' quirky romantic comedy with five times the cute!!
Thoughts :  The Quintessential Quintuplets was a fantastic romcom with a slight twist on the normal cookie cutter formula that I enjoyed from start to finish, I know the manga is still ongoing so it's going to take a while till we find out who he ends up with but the journey is what matters most. 

Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken


Synopsis : Lonely thirty-seven-year-old Mikami Satoru is stuck in a dead-end job, unhappy with his mundane life, but after dying at the hands of a robber, he awakens to a fresh start in a fantasy realm...as a slime monster! As he acclimates to his goopy new existence, his exploits with the other monsters set off a chain of events that will change his new world forever!
Thoughts : If by some weird chance you haven't heard of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime you are probably living under a rock, or recently woken up from cryocynic sleep. Either way Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken is a fantastic show that reminded me quite a bit of Overlord. The second half did have some pacing issues though.

Hinomaru Zumou

Synopsis : It is a divine ritual, a martial art, a combat sport—it's sumo!!
A "small" new student, Ushio Hinomaru, appears before the weak little sumo club of Oodachi High School! The words "big" and "heavy" are the rules to this sport, which does not fit this newbie any inch, but this guy goes and does what...!? Ushio and the small sumo club climbs its way to the top! The goal is Hinoshita Kaisan, a title for the highest rank in professional sumo, equivalent of Yokozuna.
Thoughts : It's no surprise by now that I'm a huge fan of sports anime in general. Hinomaru Sumo is a great example of a sports anime that doesn't waste too much time on unnecessary drama. The protagonist stops at nothing to achieve his dream even if the gods of sumo have forsaken him, and he does it with a great mindset as well. Also you get to learn about Sumo :D

3D Kanojo: Real Girl (2019)

Synopsis : An emo otaku like Hikaru managed to get a girlfriend. It's been a real whirlwind. His love skills are so pathetically weak that after starting dating he kept making her mad, making her cry, hurting her feelings... the most worthless boyfriend. But... somehow they still manage to stick together.
Thoughts : 3D Kanojo Real Girl really doesn't have a lot going for it based on first impressions, the name is stupid, the synopsis sounds dumb as heck and the first season had almost no budget for animation. That being said the story and the characters were great. So good that the second season had a significant better budget and I'm so glad it did. Really a powerful high school romance anime with a hint of "your lie in april" mixed with "golden time" nearing the end.

Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue.

Synopsis : The story of Mikazuki Subaru, a novelist who is shy and struggles in relationships with other people, and a cat who was dumped by humans and lived a tough life on the streets. Through a twist of fate, the two of them end up living together. This heartwarming tale illustrates day-to-day life through the eyes of both man and cat. These moments seem trivial, but as they build upon themselves, the two become family and find happiness in their life together.
Thoughts : Yes this anime is adorable, yes I love cats, but that's not my sole reasons for loving this anime. It had some surprisingly good emotional moments, especially as Subaru realized what his parents were really doing for him and he was facing his regrets.

As always that's my personal top 5 anime from the Winter 2019 season, I'm pretty sure a lot of people disagree with my choices and are curious where their shows of choice are. Read on!


Date a Live Season 3 : The latest in the Date a Live franchise, lots of cute girls but the story as always is lacking. Also Kurumi needed more screen time... that being said it's still enjoyable to watch.

Sword Art Online : Alicization : Easily one of the better arcs since the first SAO, unfortunately we have to wait for some time to see the rest of it. Though there was some trickery with breast sizes between Asuna and Suguha

Endro : An adorable fantasy adventure anime that starts off at the end. A good mix of gags and some yuri undertones. If you want something fun to watch to destress with, You can do far worse than Endro.


Boogiepop and Others : More than a decade ago I found Boogiepop Phantom, it goes without  saying I was overjoyed to see a return to the Boogiepop world, it's not a show for people expecting to be spoonfed information, but not overly complicated either. Has a fair bit of gore in it and the origin of Boogiepop is kind of explained for once. 

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War : The gag anime that birthed the most memes this past season for sure, it;s a fun watch when you get past the kinda iffy first episode. Has plenty of laughs and  some cute moments.

Radiant : Radiant is what Black Clover could have been if ASTA STOPPED YELLING. A good magic based shounen anime in an interesting settings where the lines of good and evil are a bit blurred


BanG Dream! Season 2 : I was surprised to see BanG Dream! getting a sequel, which surprised me even more was the use of CGI, which took a while to get used to. Other than the animation choices the second season had a lot better music in it and generally a much better pacing as well. Where in the First season I just wished the show to be over, in the Second I found myself enjoying all the episodes.

Yakusoku no Neverland : Ah the Promised Neverland, one of the more popular shows from the Winter 2019 season with it's very strong start and great end. Just some of the early episodes were a bit lackluster. 

Grimms Noted the Animation : An interesting take on The Brother's Grimm's tales, but unfortunately a lof of the episodes felt uninspired and the monster of the week formula got old fast.


High Score Girl Extra Stage : With the announcement of a second season and the release of the three High Score Girl OVA's I was over the moon, as you know by now I loved the original series and the OVA's were  everything I hoped for, Now I'm left wanting more!

Ikkitousen Western Wolves : I'm glad to report that in Western Wolves, Ikkitousen is still the lewd uncensored martiall anime we knew and enjoyed ;)

Ueno-san wa Bukiyou : This anime was surprisingly sexual in nature, considering the animation style. It was a decent watch when I had a few minutes available. 

Rage of Bahamut Manaria Friends : a More relaxed almost slice of life series in the Rage of Bahamut franchise, a very pleasant watch. Especially if you like dragon girls...

Kaze ga tsuyoku fuiteiru : The best(and only) anime about marathon running I've seen to date. But more than that it's just a fantastic anime in general, which works well to break down stereotypes in it's story telling. Well worth the watch

To Aru Majutsu no Index III : The third season of A Certain Magical Index, this anime has a lot of mixed feelings from anime fans. I was a bit confused why they kept throwing in all these side stories instead of focusing on Kamijou, index and misaka. Luckily in the last arc it all came together and the pay off, for me at least, was worth it.


Non Non Biyori Vacation : The Non Non Biyori movie was everything we wanted. Except it left us wanting more Non Non Biyori so I guess that's a negative. But it had everything that made the series such a joy to watch.

Mirai no Mirai : It's hard to place Mirai no Mirai, it's a really well made movie, with a good lesson. I guess you could call it a family movie with some fantasy. Either way great stuff.

Trinity Seven: Heavens Library & Crimson Lord : The second Trinity Seven movie thankfully was a big improvement over the First movie. I do feel the movie format works well for the Trinity Seven franchise.



Mob Psycho 100 Season 2 : I'm fairly sure that everyone will agree, the second season of Mob Psycho is a huge improvement over the first. Personally the first season felt like people were trying to capitalize on the success of One Punch Man, but season 2 really made me go 'WOW"

Egao no Daika : Price of Smile is one of those anime that I wish something happened quicker, I mean sure the countless death scenes of main cast were sad, but in the end I never felt quite satisfied watching it. 

Fukigen na Mononokean Second Season : Another anime I was surprised to see get a sequel but I'm glad it did, and I'm also glad they focused on deepening the world and main characters for a change. Still no Zenko romance though :(


Kakegurui XX : The second season of gambling and crazy faces, I'm glad to say, was just as good and outright weird as I expected. Still no Akagi though but still pretty good.

Mahou Shoujo Tokushusen Asuka : Magical Girl Spec Ops Asuka kind of took my by surprise, I mean sure it's another twist on the magical girl anime, But the enemies that massacred humanity look like plush toys and then there is the levels of unexpected gore in this anime...not bad :D

Girly Air Force : I went into this anime with absolutely no expectations, it kind of reminded me of Aoki Hagane meets Strike Witches, but with no shimapan and not as good. Still enjoyable watch though and it does grow on you.


Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita! : Initially I thought Wataten was just a Uchimaid-lite, Luckily that was not the case at all. Granted parts of it was still goshdarn disturbing, but those aside it's a enjoyable watch

Kouya no Kotobuki Hikoutai : Easily the anime this season that had the best use of audio, those plane battles were such a treat to experience. Thoroughly enjoyed this anime, I just wish they would have shared the secret as to how the "holes' came to be.

And that covers all the anime I watched that ended with the Winter 2019 season. How do you feel about the season in general? Did you enjoy a fair bit of shows? Or was it more "meh" for you?
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Thursday, 17 January 2019

Anime Spotlight : Best Anime of 2018

This list took me a bit longer that I would have liked, mostly due to other priorities in life. But the wait is over. 2018 had some really great anime, much like most other years and it was hard choosing the best 5 for me. As always the list only contains anime that have finished in 2018.

Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho

Synopsis : Our first step was always curiosity. For unseen sights, unheard sounds, unsmelled scents, untouched textures, untasted tastes, and unfelt excitement. We travel to find the bits and pieces that we’d forgotten at some point. Howling at 40 degrees, going mad at 50 degrees, screaming at 60 degrees, to the primordial lands beyond the great oceans, at the edge of the earth, far removed from human civilization. This is the story of four girls who travel to the Antarctic, further even than outer space.
Thoughts : Place further than the Universe was an amazing coming of age anime filled with oodles of character development, some really funny scenes and a really emotional one as well. Highly recommended anime!

Sangatsu no Lion 2

Synopsis : This is a gentle tale about people trying to regain something. And it is a tale of battle.

Kiriyama Rei had lost his family in an accident when he was young. Now he is a 17-year-old pro shogi player who is burdened with deep loneliness. Rei lives alone in an old town in Tokyo, but after becoming acquainted with three sisters, Akari, Hinata and Momo, he begins to change little by little...
Thoughts : It's no secret that Sangatsu no Lion's first season was one of my favorite anime from 2017. The second didn't disappoint one bit. Though I'm sure the issues surrounding Hina was rough for everyone watching it. A fantastic anime everyone must see at least once in their life.

Hinamatsuri (2018)

Synopsis : One night, a strange object falls on the head of Nitta, a member of the yakuza. Inside the box is a strange young girl named Hina. She has tremendous supernatural powers, and Nitta finds himself reluctantly taking her in. Her powers can come in handy for his yakuza business, but he also runs the risk of her using them on him! Not to mention, if she doesn't use her powers, she will eventually go berserk and destroy everything around her. Nitta and Hina's strange life together is just beginning...
Thoughts : Most laughs this season for sure! A show I'd easily recommend anyone and everyone to watch! NEED MORE!

Yuru Camp

Synopsis : Rin likes to go camping by herself along the lakes that provide a scenic view of Mt. Fuji. Nadeshiko loves to take cycling trips by herself to places where she can see Mt. Fuji. After they meet, Rin and Nadeshiko take camping trips, eat cup ramen together, and enjoy the scenery.
Thoughts : Yuru Camp has everything in it that makes the Slice of Life genre such a joy to watch. Absolutely fun characters, relaxed pacing, fantastic scenery and music. And of course, scenes that just make you smile. The perfect anime to forget about the hard day at work/school you had.

Golden Kamuy (2018)

Synopsis : As winter melts into spring, Asirpa and Sugimoto take a break from their hunt for the lost Ainu treasure to gather delicious herbs for her village, meditating on all the revelations they've absorbed over the past snowy months. But they can't relax for too long, because Tsurumi is still hot on their trail, and he's found a new ally in a most unusual taxidermist for putting the Abashiri skins he's collected into a complete treasure map. The long and winding road ahead is overflowing with allies and enemies alike as the change in seasons changes the game.
Thoughts : The much awaited continuation of Golden Kamuy was well worth the wait, there was quite a few shocking scenes this season. It's just a shame it didn't reach an end to the adventure, then again this means there is Another season to wait for :D

And that concludes my best of 2018 Anime list. I have to say so far I am enjoying Winter 2019's anime quite a bit. Let me know your thoughts on this list and please share yours.
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Tuesday, 8 January 2019

Anime Spotlight : Fall 2018 Wrap up Write up

It's taken me a while but I've finally finished catching up with the anime I was following from the Fall 2018, and with the new season already here. It's time to look at the anime that ended with the Fall 2018 anime season. As usual I'll share my top 5(as the format I tried last time seemed to confuse people) and then talk about the rest.

Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume o Minai

Synopsis : There is a rumor about a mysterious phenomenon call "puberty syndrome." For example, Azusagawa Sakuta is a high school student who suddenly sees a bunny girl appear in front of him. The girl is actually a girl named Sakurajima Mai, who is Sakuta's upperclassman who is also a famous actress who has gone on hiatus from the entertainment industry. For some reason, the people around Mai can no longer see her. Sakuta sets out to solve this mystery, and has he spends time with Mai, he learns her secret feelings. Other heroines who have "puberty syndrome" start to appear in front of Sakuta.
Thoughts : I'm sure Bunny Girl Senpai was a firm favorite for a lot of anime fans! A fantastic cast, expert use of audio and the fantasy/sci-fi aspect really worked well. This show has a fair bit of emotional impact, watch it, even if you don't usually watch Romance you won't regret it.

Double Decker! Doug & Kirill

Synopsis : The city state of Lisvalletta. Two suns rise above this city, and the people here live peaceful lives, but in the shadows crime and illegal drugs run rampant. Among them is the dangerous, highly lethal drug "Anthem" which casts a dark shadow over the city. The SEVEN-O Special Crime Investigation Unit specializes in cracking down on Anthem. This unit operates in two man "buddy" teams in what's called the "Double Decker System" to tackle the problem. Doug Billingham is a seasoned investigator, and joining him is Kirill Vrubel, whose abilities are mysterious and unknown.
Thoughts : As a fan of Tiger & Bunny I was hyped for this anime, and I was not disappointed. It's short at only 13 episodes, but it's filled with a great collection of characters and the same type of comedy/action mix that made Tiger & Bunny so damn good..as a side note if you haven't seen Tiger & Bunny..what's wrong with you?

Yagate Kimi ni Naru

Synopsis : Yuu has always loved shoujo manga and awaits the day she gets a love confession that sends her heart aflutter with bubbles and hearts, and yet when a junior high classmate confesses his feelings to her... she feels nothing. Disappointed and confused, Yuu enters high school still unsure how to respond. That's when Yuu sees the beautiful student council president Nanami turn down a suitor with such maturity that she's inspired to ask her for help. But when the next person to confess to Yuu is Nanami herself, has her shoujo romance finally begun?
Thoughts : Am I biased when it comes to Yuri? duh. But Bloom into You is a really good example of yuri done right, It reminded me of Marimite and Strawberry Panic to some degree, but it had it's own unique flair. I WANT MORE!!

Zombie Land Saga

Synopsis : A typical morning. The usual music. Their normal lives. The peace these seven girls experience will suddenly be destroyed. By the living dead... zombies. A reality that they never wanted a part of, an amazing and terrifying zombie world. They all share one wish: "We want to live." These girls will struggle through this saga, in order to achieve a miracle.
Thoughts : Zombieland Saga took me, and a lot of other anime watchers, by surprise. It was not what I was expecting, but I absolutely loved every damned second of it. From the headbang concert I was hooked.

Golden Kamuy (2018)

Synopsis : As winter melts into spring, Asirpa and Sugimoto take a break from their hunt for the lost Ainu treasure to gather delicious herbs for her village, meditating on all the revelations they've absorbed over the past snowy months. But they can't relax for too long, because Tsurumi is still hot on their trail, and he's found a new ally in a most unusual taxidermist for putting the Abashiri skins he's collected into a complete treasure map. The long and winding road ahead is overflowing with allies and enemies alike as the change in seasons changes the game.
Thoughts : The much awaited continuation of Golden Kamuy was well worth the wait, there was quite a few shocking scenes this season. It's just a shame it didn't reach an end to the adventure, then again this means there is Another season to wait for :D

And that ends my top 5 anime from the Fall 2018 season, I'm sure a lot of you are wondering why Goblin Slayer or SSSS.Gridman isn't in the top 5. You'll just have to read on :p. Keep in mind that as usual I only mention shows that ended with the season which is why slime for example isn't here. 

Goblin Slayer : Ahh yes, the anime that had a notorious first episode which spread like wildfire on social media. A pretty good fantasy anime in general with a good ending. Manga fans will complain that it wasn't as "br00tal" as the source material..

Senran Kagura Shinovi Master - Tokyo Youma-hen : A sequel in the Senran Kagura franchise, for those looking for a mix of fanservice, ninjas, and more lewds. This is it..

Gaikotsu Shoten'in Honda-san : A funny short anime about a Skeleton working in a manga store, had a lot of laughs

SSSS.Gridman : This anime was only popular due to Rikka's thighs...which weren't even as good as Futaba in Bunny Girl Senpai's thighs....a bit of a let down from TRIGGER. Though the references to the original Gridman was a nice touch.

Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet : A Romcom take on Romeo and Juliet...in name mostly. Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet was a lot more than just another adaptation of the Shakespearean tale, had a lot of fun watching it.

Conception : An absurd premise, the main charagter has to sleep with 12 girls to save the world...you could call it bottom of the barrel isekai, and yet it had a better end than SSSS.Gridman..


Release the Spyce : A cute spy/ninja anime about girls protecting a city from an evil organization. Some good action scenes. 

RerideD : As a Yoshitoshi ABe I had high hopes for RerideD, unfortunately this wasn't on the level of Niea_7 and Haibane Renmei

Otona no Bouguya-san : An extremely short comedy about a fantasy Armour shop where girls buy lewd Armour sets. Used quite a bit of classic JRPG references.

Beelzebub-jou no Okinimesu mama : An adorable anime about Pandemonium but not as you'd imagine it. The moe anime of the season for me. Highly suggested if you want to have a cute overdose 

Akanesasu Shoujo : This was a surprisingly good anime, especially with how it ended. It had a good mix of adventure, drama, comedy and action.

Anima Yell! : A silly pure anime about high-school girls getting into cheer-leading. A good mix of jokes and a perfect watch if you want to unwind after a hard day at work/school/college
Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san : Another fun moe anime involving vampires and high-school girls. Has a few suggestive jokes but nothing over the top. Found myself smiling quite a few times while watching it.

Uchi no Maid ga Uzasugiru! : What a fantastically fun anime. Highly recommended! One would expect it to be a super perverted show judging by the premise but far from it. Give it a try

Sora to Umi no Aida : Cute girls catching giant fish in space what more could you ask for? Danger? Corrupt Government Officials? A big selection of dialects? It's all here...

And that concludes my thoughts on the Fall 2018 season, in general it was a pretty good season. Sure it had it's share of dog shit shows. But none of them mentioned here. What were your top anime from Fall 2018? Now I need to start working on my Best Anime of 2018 post..it's going to be tough..

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