Just want to say that the second cour of the anime was WAY better than the first. The show definitely started out very slow (which was compounded a bit more if you were watching it while it was airing like I was) and definitely had some pacing issues. However, about halfway through the first cour things started to get interesting and really picked up. After that, there was no more looking back and the anime series as a whole really hit its stride.
I enjoyed how the second season was able to touch upon a lot of different elements within the kingdom, especially later. In particular, I really liked the final episode and how things ended (not gonna spoil it). I'd love to see more from this series as the light novel and manga are pretty popular still, but they did stop at a pretty good point at the end of this season.
Not gonna lie. I watched the first two episodes of this on a whim and actually found it pretty damn funny so far. Llyod is quite a character. We'll see how far the joke of him being "OP and not knowing" can go, but it looks solid so far with the animation looking surprisingly good. The girls and other side characters are crazy as shit as well, which really helps fill out the rest of the show thus far. I'll definitely keep watching this as the season progresses.
"Loli-baba" and Marie for the best comedy duo thus far :D
This is THE anime that we've all been waiting and yearning for. Many of us hardcore Mushoku Tensei fans have been waiting years upon years for an anime adaptation to finally hit, and HIT it has. I was a little skeptical with a brand new studio undertaking this, but all the previews had looked great so I was cautiously optimistic. The source material is my absolute favorite isekai series (which says a lot) and the light/web novel will always hold a special place in my fandom. So how were the first two episodes so far (first has aired officially and the first two were previewed beforehand)?
AMAZING. I really don't know if it's just because the source material is that good, but this has been a SPOT ON adaptation so far. Right when I heard "Gintoki" as the NEET narrator, I knew shit was gonna be good. The sense of humor and pervertedness of Rudy is really well incorporated throughout the first two episodes, and makes this more than just a "another OP isekai". But even with that sense of humor, the anime has taken great depths to give solid (but not overwhelming) background info on the characters and highlighting particularly serious moments. This was especially evident in the second episode where the handling of Rudy's "fall into NEETness" and past trauma was interweaved perfectly into his current situation and setting.
I can't wait for the rest of the anime to air. It seems that a second cour has already been green-lighted so let's hope this can turn into one of those long-running anime series. If they can make it to the school arcs, I'll have lived a complete life...
Based upon from the legendary shoujo manga that basically defines the shoujo genre and any acting manga/anime, the 2005 anime series serves as a marvelous adaptation that far surpasses the original anime released in 1984. Over 51 episodes, we experience a tour de force journey of Maya Kitajima's rise (and fall) in the world of acting. The anime is a great way to get introduced to the source material and delve into the cutthroat and nuanced behind-the-scenes world of acting.
The various stories and arcs introduced are all handled quite well, but the true strength of this work lies in the three main characters: Maya Kitajima, Masumi Hayami, and Ayumi Himekawa. They serve as excellent foils for each other and their interactions serve as the crux for this fantastic series. Maya is an honest and resilient protagonist who really has to work her way through the world, but for me, it was the other two characters that allowed her to shine even more.
Ayumi serves as a sort of "antagonist" in the series, with her lavish and privileged upbringing, yet she faces Maya head on and acknowledges her as a legitimate rival. She is incredibly nuanced as the main "rival" to Maya and you at times root for her as well throughout the journey. Masumi plays the main male interest, but his relationship with Maya is quite dynamic as he tries to hide his good nature from her. He is the legendary "Man with the Purple Roses" for a reason!
Anyway, this is definitely a classic for all shoujo fans to experience, and delves into the harsher realities of the acting world with great detail and passion.
If I hadn't read the Light Novels already and been a fan of this series, I'm sure that I would have rated this show a bit higher, but I can't take back what I already know and have read. This anime adaptation is woefully inferior to the LN, and leaves us wanting more with so many details and explanations left unanswered. The pace is far too quick for its own good, and all developments and nuance from the original source are thrown to the wind due to that. 4/10 for the anime adaptation at best.
For any that enjoyed the show, I highly recommend reading a volume or two of the light novel. It's an infinitely superior experience for sure, and very enjoyable.
I finished The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and really enjoyed it. Another great production from "Amazon Studios". Very solid acting all around and I loved how it delved into (aka made fun of) the rich New York Jewish community/stereotype in addition to the standup comedy scene from the late 1950's. The episodes are a bit long at times coming in at a full hour, but the writing and delivery of all the characters is very well done. Rachel Brosnahan who plays the main character, Midge, is hilarious, and plays the Jewish housewife entering a life crisis to the T.
The only disappointing thing is that this show was obviously written as a two season order from the get-go (which it was). Season 1 definitely ends at a pretty big cliffhanger moment with a lot of things kind of hanging in the balance and more story to go, but that's more natural since a second season was already green-lit when this ordered. I would have preferred to get a little more resolution during the season finale, but it does have me wanting/begging for more. I also really wish that it was based on a true story, but alas...
Really looking forward to the second season coming ASAP.
Very surprisingly, this was one of my personal favorites from last season. I've always been a fan of an OP MC with a massive harem, but this one really hit all the right notes especially since he actually gets balls deep in there. If you enjoyed the anime at all, I highly recommend checking out the Web Novel/Light Novel source material. It is fantastic and one of my favorites to read for some unadulterated fun. They add a lot more details and some missing story elements from the anime, so I would actually recommend re-reading the whole thing even if you did watch the show. It's a pretty easy and fun read, so you'll definitely enjoy it either way.
The official Light Novel translation is 4 volumes in (5th is coming out in a few days) and is the best version so far. The Web Novel also has a pretty good fan translation done by RaisingTheDead, and goes pretty far ahead as well. Albeit, it is still only at 205 out of 450 chapters translated, but they are pumping out about 2-3 chapters each week.
http://raisingthedead.ninja/current-projects/in-a-different-world-with-a-smartphone/
I just finished bingeing Mindhunter as well and really enjoyed it like many others here. The show definitely had the whole David-Fincher-Zodiac-vibe going along with it (for obvious reasons), and I really enjoyed the pace of it all. The incarcerated killers were brilliantly acted with the portrayal of the killer Ed Kempfer as the star of it all. I really loved getting into the psychology of "serial killers" especially during a time when the field and knowledge around "serial killers" wasn't even really established or properly understood yet. Each different killer gave off their own unique and distinct vibe (with no copying of Hannibal Lecter), which only further added to the excitement in the show.
The first episode is pretty slow and doesn't give you a great sense of where the show is going, but the series really starts to take off in the second episode and I couldn't stop myself after that. Please give me a second season ASAP!
After marathoning this amazing show and praying that the HBO adaptation somehow gets resurrected from the dead, I just have one thing left to say...
"Where is Jessica Hyde?"
Wow. GLOW is such a fantastic show with a lot of unexpected depth to it. I didn't know what to really expect (other than Alison Brie wrestling other women) after just skimming some reviews online and trying not to spoil myself, but it was very well made dealing with a myriad of different social issues and themes. I never thought that so much drama and intrigue could come out of making a female wrestling league/show.
There are definitely a decent amount of feminism and SJW vibes, which can usually turn me off to a show/movie if taken overboard. However, I thought the tone of the show struck a very nice balance to those themes with wisely timed comedic dialogue and chose not to go too overboard on stating some of the "obvious". I really liked the emphasized theme of "things don't just happen; people make choices" that is expanded upon. There are some times you can't just blame society and everyone else for everything, and at times, you have to just take some responsibility yourself.
Alison Brie did a great job as the lead in this one, and hit the humorous parts quite well. She definitely doesn't play the typical spunky girl who never gets down in order to overcome all obstacles in this one. Lots of bad shit happens to her constantly in this show (some of it self-inflicted), and she has to eventually deal with the consequences. Some are dealt with better than others. She really developed her character throughout the course of this season, but she never really crossed into that "totally likeable" realm for me.
However, this is alright because the other supporting characters in GLOW were fantastic in their roles as well. I was pleasantly surprised that the show was really able to flesh out almost every single character/female wrestler introduced and give them all some plot lines and conflict to overcome (even Sheila the wolf girl!!). My favorite girl/wrestler was probably definitely Debbie, played by Betty Gilpin. She is just badass and goes totally YOLO at times. The end of episode 1 was just pure f'n gold. I could watch that entire scene over and over again. It was so well acted out between Alison Brie and herself. I also really enjoyed Marc Maron's character, the director Sam Sylvia, who adds a ton of crass humor into all the dialogue that he's given. He could have just mailed it in as the sleazy coke'd out director, but he completely owns the role and adds so much to the show.
Anyway, I really enjoyed GLOW and I'm hoping for confirmation of a second season ASAP because the creators definitely left a few loose-ends hanging and we still have a lot more potential story to unfold. Looks like Netflix has another hit on their hands. Watch/binge it if you can at least before GoT owns all our lives starting in July.
The great "Archie" getting a live-action adaptation?!?! THERE IS A GOD!!! If it is anything like the new Archie comic reboot (which is fantastic and a must-read), then I will be hooked. All I know is that one can never have enough Betty and Veronica, that's for sure... ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
EDIT: Well, after watching the first episode of Riverdale, I don't quite know what to think of it all yet. Riverdale seems to be more heavily influenced by the CW's style turning this into more of a darker mystery driven show than I had been anticipating. We'll see how everything shakes out as the first episode already had its hands full just introducing the myriad of characters here. I really liked what was done in the recent Archie comic reboot but perhaps this mystery-story based approach is better suited for TV vs the lighter affair of the comics.
Also, we need more Jughead!!
I have no idea how in the world this got a televised anime adaptation but... THANK YOU BASED ANIME GODS!!
Be forewarned though: this series isn't for the faint of heart. Buckle-up your NTR seatbelts and get ready for one hell of a ride ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
As a pretty big fan of Seo Kouji's works (Suzuka, Kimi no Iru Machi, Fuuka), I can't hate too much on any of his works getting an anime adaptation. However, I would definitely recommend to read the manga before watching this anime (and OVAs) as this adaptation rushes through the plot points at light speed. It also skips the first part of the manga in Hiroshima and instead presents it in broken up flashbacks in the various episodes. This actually doesn't work too bad for a previous manga reader as it put a different spin on the material and we are able to get through a lot of the important manga content, but you definitely don't feel quite as connected and invested in the characters and their relationships if you only watch the anime at its fast pace.
I definitely recommend checking out the OVAs though as they cover different parts of the manga not really covered too well by the show. The 4th/last OVA in particular covers the events of the final manga chapter from the point-of-view of Yuzuki and offers anime-original material that complements the story quite well.
tl;dr Read the manga first before watching this.
This show was a mASSterpiece. No other words could possibly describe the glory that is Keijo!!!!!! This is only series that has made me seriously reconsider converting to an ASS-man (other than Prison School). That alone should cement this series in the Top 5 rankings of all-time.
Season 2 when?
Only one word could possibly describe this show:
"AMAZING"
Greatest anime of all-time. ALL-TIME.
Mother of God... This was so f'n good. I was planning on just watching the first episode for kicks today and getting to studying for my Summer Final Exams, but I ended up marathoning all 13 episodes in one night. Holy shit. Arata is the f'n man and all the chicks in this series are soooooooo cute. Honestly, I could ship any of them. The ending is a bit inconclusive but the manga is still ongoing so I can give it a pass as I pray for a second season/OVA/anything more. Anyway, manga continuation here I come!!!
Skip Beat! is one of my absolute favorite shoujo anime and manga series out there that seamlessly integrates comedy, drama and romance into one unforgettable story. Skip Beat! and Glass Mask (Glass no Kamen) are two of the best anime/manga series imo that give us a compelling story and set of lovable characters that really have been able to tackle and effectively portray something that wouldn't normally interest most: the world of "acting". While Glass Mask takes a more serious and reserved approach to its story and characters, Skip Beat! loves to embrace the "craziness" of the industry and infuses humor at just the right times. Kyoko is a great female protagonist (flaws and all) that carries the show with her energy, passion and joy. The secondary characters are no slouches as well as you eventually end up loving almost everyone (even the antagonists).
The only downside of the anime was that things were left incomplete at the end of the first season with no second season in sight... However, if you delve right into the manga afterward, the magic continues especially as we learn a lot more about the secondary characters of Ren, Shou and many others. I highly recommend watching this show even if you aren't normally interested in the "idol" or "acting" genre of anime as the humor, characters and relationships are so well-done that it serves as a great introduction into this genre of anime.
I finally got around to finishing this classic shoujo romance. The first season was superb and I loved Sawako's hilarious interactions and realistic growth throughout it. On the other hand, the second season was a bit of a letdown during the first half especially with some of the horrible miscommunication and confusion between Sawako and Shota that just seemed a little too over-the-top. However, the last 4 episodes really end the series on a great note and you feel the "magic" (of love) again.
All you need to know is that Sawako/Sadako = love. Watch it. Enjoy it. Love it.
I really ended up enjoying this fun and quirky harem a lot more than I thought I would. While parts of it are a bit generic (as all semi-ecchi comedy harems can be), I really thought that each character had a nice unique spin to her. I'd love to get a second season for some more Miyuki and Eri goodness.
And, of course, we have the best saying/fad/sign-off of the season here: "Gets!"
Prepare to have your mind blown. This is "food porn" at it's absolute best. A must-watch for sure.
The Twelve Kingdoms is such an absolutely amazing and breathtaking fantasy series. I recommend anyone looking for superb and detailed world-building and character development to watch this ASAP. Youko is kind of cringe-worthy the first few episodes but that just makes her growth in the series all the more satisfying. The third arc is one of the best 18 episodes of anything that I've seen. Even though things are left a bit incomplete with the series being canceled, this is still a worthwhile experience and gets a 9/10 even with these flaws. It's just that good.
I just wish that there was someway to finish this series (in anime or LN form). I'll always hope for a reboot/sequel for this.
Dank show. Pretty good adaptation of the manga so far with the conclusion of the first season. The story and characters are a bit generic while the animation quality is subpar at times, but I've enjoyed the show nonetheless. It's a fun watch if you're not expecting a masterpiece.
Also, Shinoa = love.
I finally finished the last 12 episodes in the past couple days after putting this on-hold for a few months. It was a solid show overall, 7/10, but the last quarter/third of the show was definitely not up to par with the beginning. I didn't really like how the show got so preachy at the end about "environmentalism" and precious Mother Earth. I felt like I was getting preached to by Miyazaki for the last few episodes and you could definitely tell that the manga material was a bit dated from that. Anyway, I had fun and enjoyed it but it failed to live up to the hype and the excellent start imo.
This was a dank show with a dank ending. A very well-done shounen imo. I'm looking forward to the OVAs and hopefully an announcement for a second season.
Touch is the original masterpiece that came from the mind of legendary sports mangaka, Misturu Adachi, of H2 and Cross Game fame. While Cross Game is what first attracted to me to this series, Touch stands on its own as one of the best sports anime ever created. Much like Cross Game, I consider Touch more of a romantic slice-of-life that happens to have an emphasis on baseball. This style of Adachi’s is very familiar to his fans and he invokes similar themes, such as childhood friendship, struggle, competition and, of course, loss, just like in many of his works. However, I found the main male MC Tatsuya to be the one of the most unique of his main characters in this series and the one that I could relate to most. This is the true story of an outcast finding his way and purpose in life and love. This is a classic that deserves to be watched by fans of all ages.
The Major series is one of the most complete journeys that I’ve seen in an anime series. Over 154 episodes in 6 seasons, 2 OVAs and a movie, you really get to experience every bump and victory along Goro’s incredible baseball career from when he is just a small child till he is an adult near the end of his career. This is tied with Touch as my second favorite baseball series ever created (Cross Game is first by a LARGE margin). Relationships spanning years upon years are constantly tested, challenged and renewed throughout and along with the riveting baseball action help define this as an instant classic. The Major series is a must-watch for all whether you like sports anime or not.
I'm absolutely loving this show so far. A great Rom-Com with a premise that does actually deliver imo. It may be slightly rushed compared to the manga but it still works well. Plus, Shiraishi = love.
The show that invented the "tit ribbon". Need I say more? A must watch.
Oh yes sir. The second series of Sailor Moon Crystal has been confirmed to be premiering in the summer after this first original set of 26 episodes concludes. I'm ready to be milked, Toei. Bring it on.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-10/toei-europe-2nd-sailor-moon-crystal-series-coming-this-summer/.86989
