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May 10, 2024
+ As usual, Spy x Family's characteristic charm is on full display in this feature-length movie!
+ Some of the comedic gags (particularly those relating to Anya) got a great laugh from the audience!
+ It is a completely original story (i.e. independent from the manga), which makes it a viable entry point for any newcomers to the series. That said, I would personally recommend watching at least the first two cours (25 episodes) of the TV show before watching the movie.
~ There is a heavy reliance on cutaway jokes and shoehorned cameos from side characters, which significantly weakens the pacing and story structure because they add
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nothing to the plot.
~ All of the big spy action set pieces, while impressive and well-animated, are shoved into the last 30 minutes of the movie. This makes for an uneven experience where most of the movie is just comedy hijinks and slice-of-life moments.
~ Here's my biggest issue: the three main characters (Loid, Yor, Anya) each have their own internal conflicts and embark on their own separate adventures, but each of their subplots are also resolved independent of each other. They only work together as a family near the very end, essentially stumbling into one another after their personal subplot has been resolved.
= Code: White continues the Spy x Family trend of effortlessly executing lighthearted jokes with an undeniable cuteness, but the story is severely lacking in cohesion. The series' first movie fails to achieve the familial harmony of the TV series, wherein Loid, Yor and Anya were directly affecting one another through their actions. Here, the overreliance on cutaway gags and cameos results in a movie that feels like less than the sum of its parts.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 9, 2024
~ The story is a bit slow and uneventful, which is particularly concerning when the movie has a meagre runtime of under 74 minutes (even less if you exclude the end credits).
~ The movie begins and ends with a scene relating to the sequel, which makes the story feel less like a cohesive experience and more like a quick layover before a more important story.
~ Between the fact that he's both a supportive boyfriend and a caring older brother, I'm beginning to think this "rascal" isn't really much of an actual rascal. And no, being a bit pervy with your cute actress girlfriend is not
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an example of delinquent behaviour.
+ I gotta admit, the movie did give me a couple of good laughs.
+ Despite its languid pacing, it is thematically substantial. Without going into too much detail, the story involves Kaede, her goals for the future, and her struggles with identity.
= The Rascal Does Not Dream series is at its best when adolescent struggles are externalized into a conflict against a sci-fi/fantasy force, but this third installment/second movie somewhat flounders because most of this conflict is realized internally. Kaede is a serviceable central figure for this movie (since her story arc in the first season left a lot of loose ends), but her conflict, while relatable, is largely static and ultimately resolved through a shift in perspective as opposed to direct, tangible action.
That said, it's a nuanced character study on a character that desperately needed one, and gives us a deeper understanding of the sibling relationship between Sakuta and Kaede. While it's definitely tempting to ask for more, what we got instead was interesting in its own way, too. It doesn't exactly live up to the high points of the series, but it's far from outright awful.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 3, 2024
+ Simple, easy-to-follow story concept: a bucket list in a zombie apocalypse!
+ Like a cross between My Name is Earl and Zombieland, making a bucket list is inherently fun. It provides a thematic throughline for the whole show, and gives viewers something to look forward to in future episodes.
+ Easily the most joyful expression of zombie fiction, tied with maybe Shaun of the Dead.
+ Colourful, zany, explosive animation!
+ I love the sharp use of literary devices! For instance, I like how Shizuka's pragmatism serves as a foil to Akira's blissful hedonism. I also like how the bucket list naturally serves as foreshadowing for future episodes.
~
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The writing can be clumsy and facile; emotional plot beats often devolve into melodramatic monologues and protracted fits of screaming.
~ The (non-zombified) antagonists are always so cartoonishly evil that it becomes hard to take the conflict seriously (since I know that the villain equivalent of Dr. Evil will inevitably fail against our protagonists).
~ Zom 100 has a long list of production issues. This won't matter to people watching the show long after the season has already finished, but this has led to delayed releases, incomplete assets, and outsourced work.
~ One such production issue: it took them nine episodes to finally finish the opening credits sequence in full. NINE!! Before that, they simply rehashed scenes from the previous episode to fill the opening's runtime, which always felt lazy and unsatisfying.
+ On the bright side, the completed opening is wonderfully upbeat, perfectly capturing the spirit of the show and its characters.
~ Outsourcing animation to a different studio has noticeable drawbacks, chiefly tonal inconsistency. Early episodes are a lot edgier compared to the wackiness of later episodes, which can mislead audiences.
~ This tonal inconsistency extends to character facial expressions, which aren't always as silly as they need to be. Skimming through the early chapters, the manga seems to agree with this; the manga has a lot of silly, exaggerated facial expressions that aren't adapted into the anime.
= The show can feel juvenile at times, and zombie fiction was already considered passé a decade ago. But unlike so many other mediocre anime, Zom 100 is actually *about* something. It's a response to Japan's unhealthy work culture, with a simple yet universal message: life is short and cruel, and you should seize the day by doing the things you love and being with the people you care about. Otherwise, how are you any different from a zombie?
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 26, 2023
+ Cute, silly and easy to enjoy!
+ SPY X FAMILY's best quality has always been its accessibility. Whether you are new to anime or even a fan of a different genre, there should be something about the show that appeals to you.
+ Season 2 finally gives us our first long-form story arc, with six consecutive episodes that immerses us in a larger plot.
+ The ED is VERY catchy and extremely comforting to watch!
~ Despite its comedic hijinks and spy action fun, the show can still feel insubstantial. I wish the show was more willing to lean into its natural conflict and develop a more compelling
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plot out of it (for instance, how do the main characters risk disclosing their own secret identities? What would happen if they were found out by one another?)
= The best and worst aspect of Season 2 is how it really is just more of the same. After two seasons (or three cours) of SPY x FAMILY, the larger plot has not moved beyond its initial concept (three individuals working in secret to preserve peace while maintaining a second life as part of a fake family). In the end, it's a sitcom; regardless of where the plot goes, everything eventually returns back to normal. There is nothing inherently wrong with this; the fact that it's still enjoyable is why I recommend the show. But as it stands, SPY x FAMILY is just a good comfort show when it could have been an emotionally enriching experience.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 23, 2023
+ The show is very funny! I'd forgotten how funny this anime was since the initial season came out two years ago.
+ The character writing is great all-around, but I love Shu in particular; every time he's on screen, the scene is guaranteed to be comedy gold.
~ As a compilation of all the stories that weren't adapted from the manga in the previous season, it can be a bit hard to follow. The show often dips in and out of chronological order, jumping between months, even within the same episode.
~ Definitely for fans of the series, people who already know and love the characters. If
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you didn't enjoy Horimiya before, you're unlikely to find anything to like about it now.
~ The final episode doesn't really earn its sentimental ending; the monologue comes off as didactic, and puts an emotional damper on what would've otherwise been a cathartic, lively conclusion.
= It's basically Horimiya DLC, an expansion pack to the first season for those who want a bit more. Obviously, since it's just a collection of leftover side stories, Horimiya: Piece is a relatively low-stakes affair, composed almost entirely of silly comedy bits and filler arcs involving supporting characters. But Horimiya fans will have little to complain about; it's a show that maintains the same sweetness and humour that we've come to expect from the series.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 5, 2023
~ My Tiny Senpai is a textbook example of why drama requires motive and conflict to thrive, and what happens when they aren't there. The characters never have any explicit goals, and the resulting story feels aimless and monotonous.
~ This is the most generic slice-of-life anime I've ever seen. The protagonist is an unremarkable everyman, the female lead is lovable and buxom, and the two have clichéd romantic encounters where they start blabbing about how embarrassed they are over nothing. There is no thematic hook or selling point to this anime; what makes this show different from every other workplace anime?
~ The character design is
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completely flat. Outside of the tiny senpai herself, none of the characters have any striking visual features, existing only to populate the background.
= Slice-of-life can have a reputation for being boring, but the point of the genre is to heighten the drama of everyday situations. Yet even by the metrics of slice-of-life anime, My Tiny Senpai is insufferably dull. It's an anime we've seen before in shows like "Wotakoi" or "My Senpai is Annoying," but without the character focus of the former or the comedic highs of the latter. I usually try to finish the entire season before I write a review, but I truly can't sit through any more episodes.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Jun 29, 2023
+ The production value alone is astounding. With the massive advertising campaign ahead of its release and an 80-minute movie as its de facto first episode, you can practically feel all the money they poured into this anime. While a high production value doesn't always guarantee a good final product, Oshi no Ko puts that lavish budget to good use.
+ Naturally, because of the high production quality, the art and animation is absolutely stellar. There's an obvious focus on sparkling gemstone eyes, but the facial expressions, bodily movements and detailed environments are all wonderfully realized too.
+ The quality also extends to the music! Not just
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the OP and ED, but the idol songs inserted briefly into the anime are also quite catchy.
+ The voice acting is superb, and arguably the best part about this anime. The VAs inject life into the characters in a way that the manga is never really able to capture -- particularly true of Ruby, Kana and Mem-Cho!
+ The anime really elevates the source material, improving on the manga's staging, framing and storyboarding in a multitude of ways. It truly is a fantastic adaptation. As a manga reader, the improvement is quite noticeable.
~ Oshi no Ko can be incredibly wordy, which means a lot of onscreen text and, for English viewers, a lot of subtitles.
~ It's a bit of a genre and tonal mishmash -- a revenge thriller with elements of comedy, romance and fantasy, alternating between goofy, dark, serious and exciting.
= With its glittering animation and expressive style, Oshi no Ko is easily the best anime of 2023 so far. Detractors of the show argue that the show isn't very realistic, but I disagree with that sentiment. Oshi no Ko isn't trying to be a real life exposé on the entertainment industry; it just wants to be an idol anime with darker themes to complement the bright visuals, like an edgier version of Love Live. With its massive popularity, we can probably anticipate a lot more to come for Oshi no Ko: merch, more music, maybe a live-action TV drama. And while I have my doubts for Season 2 (knowing where the story goes in the manga), I will wholly admit that Season 1 has thoroughly exceeded my expectations.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 28, 2023
+ Shoujo fans will enjoy how this anime uses close-ups and gradual camera movements to accentuate the tender romance within kind words and small gestures.
+ The jokes can be surprisingly funny, especially those involving Akane or Eita!
+ The OP and ED themes are bright, catchy, and really fit the atmosphere of the show.
~ The visual quality isn't always consistent, and there are plenty of scenes where the art/animation dips dramatically (especially early in the season).
~ Yamada-kun at Lv999 only uses video games as a superficial story device -- there is hardly any nuance to its depiction of competitive gaming, MMORPGs, or online guilds. Not that
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a shoujo rom-com anime needs to have a realistic depiction of games, but it's a missed opportunity to add depth to our characters, especially since it's such an integral part of the story.
~ There's a suspicious focus on Yamada being extremely attractive. Yes, pretty boys are a common shoujo anime trope, but there's something artificial and inorganic about the heavy emphasis on Yamada's looks.
= Despite all my griping, I do think Yamada-kun at Lv999 has a strong and simple premise: an outgoing girl recovering from a bad breakup falls in love with an introverted kuudere boy. The anime's biggest highlights all involve introspective conversations where characters discuss their own baggage. However, the emotional highs of the show are undercut by its aimlessness and superficiality. In the end, the show is not as consistently funny, visually stunning, or emotionally powerful as it should be.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jun 22, 2023
* It's a Konosuba prequel focused primarily on Megumin and Yunyun; other key characters from the main series only make small cameos near the end of the season.
+ The art and music is pretty good! This is especially impressive considering it was made by a relatively new studio.
~ As a comedy duo, Megumin and Yunyun are nowhere near as funny as the usual Konosuba cast (Kazuma, Aqua, Darkness, Megumin), let alone funny enough to carry an entire season.
~ The plot begins at Megumin's hometown, and stays there for half the season. The story does pick up once we leave the Crimson Demon village, but it
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makes the first half of the show incredibly dull.
~ The show's jokes start and die with its premise alone. Jokes are supposed to have a structure: setup, bait, punchline. Sure, a village populated by chuunis sounds like a funny premise, but where's the punchline?
= Prequels usually struggle because we already know how the story is going to end, thereby removing any tension from the whole story. A good prequel succeeds by making the journey to that predictable ending as interesting as possible. Unfortunately, this Megumin-centered spinoff just isn't very fun or interesting. The problem is the lack of meaningful conflict; Konosuba's main characters (Kazuma in particular) had selfish, often perverted goals that naturally led to conflict and comedy. Yunyun's motives, by comparison, all revolve around Megumin; her sole purpose as a character is to be Megumin's ineffectual voice of reason.
The show is far from unwatchable, but the jokes are forgettable and the characters are bland. You could give it a watch if you really enjoy Megumin, but you won't miss anything by skipping it either.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Mar 20, 2023
+ The show is always good at drumming up the sexual tension between the two leads, Naoto and Nagatoro.
+ A romance anime where you want them to kiss is always a good sign!
+ The comedy is solid! Some jokes really caught me by surprise, particularly those involving Nagatoro's friends.
+ Season 2 introduces some new, colourful characters, and they all do something to push the plot forward.
+ The ending theme is great! A catchy blend of energetic rock instrumentals and cutesy J-pop vocals.
~ The story is cliché at its best, and predictable at its worst. Think of any stereotypical anime rom-com plot, and you are bound
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to find it somewhere in this show.
~ Naoto can be a frustrating protagonist to watch, especially because he often resists his own desires and slows the plot down.
~ I know the show is supposed to have a masochistic edge, but Nagatoro physically hitting Naoto is, uh... not very funny or romantic, to say the least.
~ This show is EXTREMELY trashy, loaded with embarrassing encounters and fan service. Admittedly, Nagatoro is trashy by design; the clichés and fan service are a big part of its appeal. But viewers looking for something more substantial will be left disappointed.
= Season 2 slightly improves on its predecessor by leaning into a softer romance story, but retains Season 1's lack of originality and blatant fetishism. That said, I *did* enjoy this season! It is the anime equivalent of sugary junk food. While it's hard to outright recommend to everyone, Nagatoro S2 is definitely a fun guilty pleasure.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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