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Dec 27, 2023
There is literally only one bone I have to pick with this manga. I don't love that it opens with the main character's first relationship being an abusive one. By all means, that's something that should be discussed. I think there's even a conversation to be had about whether being desperate to fit in when you're questioning your sexuality makes a person more likely to fall for someone who's overly controlling, forceful, etc. But I would have preferred that storyline delegated to one of the minor characters' backstories. That it's the scene that opens the manga... I just feel like it perpetuates a stereotype.
Otherwise,
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this was a really great, quick little read. It does a great job of showcasing how asexuality and aromanticism isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. I happen to identify very closely with Chika-- how she sees herself and views relationships, so I connected with this one right away. But it also offered so many other perspectives and wasn't afraid to delve into the possibility that Chika herself wasn't perfect. There's a scene where the professor she befriends calls her out for judging a lifestyle one of her new friends is aspiring to, and she basically tells her flat-out, "You don't get to decide what should or shouldn't make another person happy." That even when you've been fighting that battle your whole life, you can still be guilty of making assumptions about other people.
That said, I don't want to give the impression that this manga ever came across as being preachy, because that really wasn't the case. If anything, it felt like a celebration of differences. The friendships she forms once she starts building her confidence could be complicated at times, but overall made me feel warm and fuzzy. It's an uplifting tale. As much about connecting with others as it is finding yourself.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 26, 2023
GT is not exactly impressive... but also not the absolute worst anime to ever exist, which is probably what you heard about it if you were a Dragon Ball fan in the early 2000s. It's been a goal of mine for a while to finally go back and watch it all the way through as an adult, form as unbiased an opinion of it as possible.
Long story short, GT was a tale with a lot of good ideas but poor execution.
The universe has an established afterlife where people retain their memories, consciousness, and the ability to continue to grow stronger. So the idea
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of all the past villains breaking out of hell, stronger than ever, to fight heroes who've gotten older and stagnated a bit in an era of peace? That could be a really great storyline. (It's generally a good thing when writers are able to manipulate the flaws in their own universe to their advantage.) Unfortunately, here it was delegated to what was essentially a 10-episode filler arc before the main event.
And I really love the concept of the final plotline. Evil dragons spawned from the abuse of the Dragon Balls over the years? If they ever decide to end DB for real... I would love to see that idea revamped with more emotion and just taken a bit more seriously. Because most of the dark dragons were jokes, but what sparked their creation is such a valid complaint. And accidentally abusing a power out of a desire to explore it, always needing to be even more powerful, is such a Dragon Ball thing...
I feel like this series could have been done well. Releasing it as a direct follow-up to DBZ may have just not been the right time for it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Aug 24, 2023
I actually ended up watching this season all the way through twice. Which ended up being a good thing, because it really hit different the second time around. I wasn't that impressed with it during my first watch-through. What really made the difference was that, going into it the second time, I was already aware that this would be Ash's farewell season. That gave me a different opinion on the way Journeys is structured.
So to get some of the initially negative things out of the way first...
Pokemon Journeys can feel pretty disjointed at times. The idea of Ash and Goh being research fellows
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and going on a different adventure-- visiting a different region each time-- every episode or so sounds fun. And it was at times. But I've mentioned countless times before that I'm not really one for episodic storytelling. I miss the long continuous journey through a region.
Now I'm a little torn about this aspect. On the one hand, I can really appreciate the opportunity it afforded them-- to go back and revisit all the people Ash had traveled with before. That helped contribute to a really beautiful sendoff.
On the other, I can't help feeling that, because it had to share the season with all the other places in the Pokemon world, the Galar region wasn't really done justice in Pokemon Journeys. That was another big thing that changed for me. The first time around, I hadn't played Sword/Shield yet. The second time, I was already familiar with this region. But I'm a big believer in an adaptation being able to stand alone. I don't feel like you should have to play the games to feel like you got the full experience. And the first time around, I felt little to no connection to the episodes that went into the main storyline of the game with Eternatus and the Darkest Day. We'd just spent too little time in Galar up until that point. It definitely clicked better the second time, but I'm standing by my 'blind' opinion of that particular flaw.
But aside from that one aspect, I really have nothing but praise for this season. Particularly, Journeys crafted some of the best characters Pokemon has ever seen. Chloe's story was a little weak, but Goh really impressed me. I can't remember another time a Pokemon character's backstory held such a clear influence over who that person grew up to be. There is such a clear pipeline from: Lonely kid whose parents didn't have time for him, so he comforted himself with solitary research... to Know-it-all kid who couldn't make friends and learned to get defensive and combative at the slightest hint of judgment after the first few bad experiences. It really makes his character growth-- watching him make his very first friend in Ash and becoming the open, well-adjusted person he is today-- kind of beautiful. Especially because you really get to watch him grow over time. It is by no means effortless. I loved the little details they threw in along the way-- how awkward and on edge he'd get the first few times he met some of Ash's older friends, having to acknowledge that other people had a claim on his new friend too. For a character I initially found annoying, it was really great.
Similarly, there was a lot of depth to Leon. Even not having as much time to explore him, that's one place I felt the anime did one-up the game. I loved the episode where he spent one-on-one time with Ash and revealed that, as much as he loved being champion, that stress of being known as 'unbeatable' was starting to get to him. I don't feel like it's talked about enough that the Galar region's presentation of the Pokemon League is a very modern one. Its stars are celebrities in an age of social media. Their fans are constantly watching. They never get a break. There's this really great little scene, when our heroes first meet Sonia and she's talking about how she grew up with Leon and watched him become the star he is today. It's this still-shot of a much younger Leon, surrounded by adults aiming to capitalize on his early success, and just looking totally overwhelmed, almost fearful even. A picture is worth a thousand words, indeed. That really tells the whole story, right there.
Which all goes towards making it so satisfying to see him hand over the crown at the end. Those last few minutes of the Pikachu v. Charizard battle genuinely gave me chills. And overall, I think this was the best tournament arc Pokemon ever had. I don't think there's ever been another League where I felt connected to all of the competitors and everyone felt like real competition.
Pokemon Journeys got off to a questionable start but bloomed into something beautiful by the end. I thought I was ready to say goodbye to Ash years ago. Now I'm sad to see him go.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this one... but it does need to be mentioned that the enjoyment largely came from the spectacle of it all, rather than some of the elements that are usually of the most value to me...
This movie looked absolutely amazing. (I've gotten into this franchise really late, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this was around the time it was getting majorly, mainstream-ishly popular. Because holy shit, hello, animation budget, where have you been?) And it sounded fantastic. (Love the fact that the first movie to come out since Brook's inclusion in the crew also got this great soundtrack upgrade.)
But
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the story was a little weak. I'm not really a fan of the storylines that try to shove Nami into damsel in distress roles. (And even Robin had a moment where she had to be rescued here that I really wasn't feeling.) It's smoothed out a little by the fact that they never truly succeed. She would have to be entirely out of character to genuinely need to be rescued. Aside from a few scenarios where a much stronger opponent was guarding her literally every second of the day. But in most cases... She is plenty smart and competent and even getting strong enough to where she can escape on her own. And she does. My complaint isn't that she felt out of character here... It's more the overarching intention to try and force that role upon her in the first place.
Like I said, Strong World is a spectacle. It's actually kind of wildly out-of-character for a lot of them for the crew to burst into the villain's lair in suits and all wielding guns, all mafia-esque... But I can't deny that it sure was cool to look at. The crazy animal combinations and the amount of time spent on those fights felt like the animators were really taking an opportunity to flex their creativity and just have fun... and probably could have been skipped in lieu of capitalizing a bit more on the emotions of the original crew trying to save their islands back home. But they were also fun to watch at times.
By no means would I say this one was bad. The storytelling was just a little weak. I think the creators lost themselves a little in just how cool they could make it all look, rather than focusing on strengthening the story it revolved around.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 25, 2023
Well, there's no hope of this one being spoiler free, because what I mainly want to talk about is the linchpin that holds the plot together. This Despair Arc is a great example of how brainwashing is an acceptable answer sometimes... but not in all cases.
First things first, I've really been enjoying these 2 season threes so far. But enjoyment isn't always enough for a recommendation. I have to classify this one under 'Mixed Feelings,' because the Danganronpa franchise has always had one big issue... That issue being that you really can't enjoy it properly without going all in. You have to play the
...
games AND watch the anime to get the whole experience. And I believe an adaptation should be able to stand alone, so that's a failure on its part.
You can technically get the whole story of the first game through the season one adaptation... but in a way that's really rushed and unlikely to endear you to the characters the way the game does. (Made a whole separate review for that season, so I'll try not to repeat myself here.)
But the second game never got an anime adaptation, and I really don't think you can properly enjoy this arc without already knowing these characters through the game. Feel how poignant it was to step back in time and see the happier days where they all started, knowing that it all falls apart... But the reveal at the end of game two that the flawed but loveable group of kids we'd gotten to know through the simulation was actually our main villains spurring on the world's destruction out in the real world made them super intriguing. It definitely got me excited to see exactly HOW it all falls apart. Which brings us back to the brainwashing.
So. When is brainwashing okay?
For the nameless, faceless lackeys who jumped on board? Sure. The story's plausibility was always a bit of a weak point in the games. They literally just brush over it when the apocalypse is introduced at the end of the first game, don't even try to give you an explanation, because they clearly couldn't find a way to make Junko's followers make sense. Mass brainwashing kind of makes sense. (Though, for the other members of the reserve course specifically, the school's attitude and policies were truly fucked up. I feel like there was enough fuel on that fire that brainwashing wasn't exactly necessary but... Nameless, faceless. Enough said.)
For a character like Chisa, who really embodied hope? Okay. There was no believable way that Junko was going to win her over. And it became important to the rest of the story even happening that Chisa be convinced to defend her to Munakata, convince him that she wasn't behind it after all.
But for the rest of the class, the Remnants of Despair? Absolutely not.
It's really important to note that the group of kids in the second game felt more openly flawed than the kids from the first game. For a lot of people, that just made them more relatable, was part of the reason why the second game was so well-loved. The characters were more rounded and just more interesting overall. But they were flawed as hell, practically bubbling over with their various insecurities. Many of them had been abused so regularly throughout their lives that they didn't even realize that they deserved to be treated better. I have never seen a group more ripe for being manipulated. So to fall back on a deus ex machina like brainwashing for THEM? Unforgivable. I get that they probably didn't have time to show Junko winning each of them over... but the material was there. They should have made time for it.
That aside, I did really enjoy the Despair Arc as a whole. There were a few other flaws. The way they chose to characterize Mukuro was really disappointing. And I'd really hoped to see more of Junko and Mukuro interacting with their class but... not enough time. I get that. It was satisfyingly brutal. I liked seeing the drama with Fuyuhiko's sister's death play out and learning how it influenced Hajime's actions and mindset. And Chiaki's death was wonderfully horrifying. The Danganronpa franchise may have its flaws... but it's never been one to pull its punches, and I love that about it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Feb 21, 2023
I don't know if there was any kind of bandwagon to get this show to end... But these past few seasons, I've definitely been on it. I felt like Aggretsuko had lost a lot of what had originally made it special: A harsh, realistic look at the woes of everyday people trapped in the 9 to 5 grind. As the seasons went on, Aggretsuko drifted away from the things that made it relatable to ordinary people and continued to put her into situations that were more and more extreme. But I'm really glad we made it to this season.
The harsh realness returned with a
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vengeance, tackling new issues like unemployment, homelessness, and just how hard it can be to get back on your feet when something has struck you down. This flowed really naturally into a focus on politics. And though running for office is still in the realm of being a little too extreme for the average person to relate to... It elevated this season into being a story about doing something more meaningful with your life, in a way that the previous upgrade plotlines like dating a billionaire or becoming an idol just didn't. It became a story about dealing with complicated, nigh-abusive family relationships and not giving up on your own potential in an unfair world.
The story diving into real-world politics probably sounds like a nightmare to some people. And maybe it's because this particular series isn't one that's ever felt suited to escapism, but I felt like it actually really worked here. And it certainly didn't hurt that we finally got a season without the wishy-washy, will they-won't they relationship drama. That was a huge improvement.
I enjoyed this season a lot more than I was expecting to. To the point where, though I've been ready for this series to end for some time now... and it would serve as a really good ending... I wouldn't mind getting the news that a continuation was in the works.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 6, 2022
It's pretty rare to see a perfect 10/10 score from me. But it needs to be understood that it's almost impossible to overestimate just how emotionally attached I am to Fruits Basket. I fell in love with the manga as a kid, I experienced the first anime adaptation... And then I spent 15 years asking for a remake that did the series justice. There are no words for the joy I felt when I found out it was actually happening.
And this first installment has been everything I asked for. A recreation of the manga down to the tiniest details-- along with a few added
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scenes that only served to improve the overall experience. (I really enjoyed seeing Kagura get a little more time to bond with Tohru, for example.)
It's been interesting to see Fruits Basket come back up in anime discussions again, having generated interest in new viewers with this remake. I've seen a lot of people go into it for the first time with the mindset that it's a love story, and that's never felt quite right to me.
As I saw someone else put it recently, "Fruits Basket isn't a love story; it's a life story." Believe me, I remember the shipping wars with the main trio the first time around... But if you're here looking for a typical old school shoujo love triangle, you're really in the wrong place.
This story is so much more about every single character growing as a person... and finding love along the way, but that's not the primary focus for a good long while. If anything, the conflicts are more about the characters learning how to better love themselves. The romance aspect of this tale doesn't really come up until we're much later in. So if you go into this first season expecting that, you may be disappointed. But it's filled with so many heartwarming moments, great friendships, and life lessons that it's genuinely hard for me to believe that anyone could leave this series disappointed overall. (Even if I know I'm biased about this one.)
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Oct 5, 2022
I saw this movie for the first time when I was maybe 13. Throughout that two-hour experience, literally all I could remember was that scene in the backseat of the car... and melting into my couch for what felt like at least 3 hours, just waiting for it to finally end. This was a movie I've always wanted to revisit, because I've definitely made an effort to better appreciate this kind of quieter, subtly beautiful storytelling as I've gotten older. But even now, I'm not sure I can recommend this one wholeheartedly.
Make no mistake, it's stunningly beautiful to look at. And the music in
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this movie has made me want to go track down everything else Kenji Kawai has ever worked on. But the storytelling leaves something to be desired. If I hadn't read the summary on here ahead of time, I fear I'd still only have a vague idea of what exactly the Kildren were, how they came about, why and what they were fighting... I just needed a little more of a balance. I can appreciate the time spent showing us the monotony and hopelessness of their existence... But we're literally 20 minutes from the end before any sort of conflict with those story points are really brought up. It's a huge exaggeration for the summary to describe Kannami as "endeavoring" to understand their situation, because he really couldn't seem to care less. There are maybe three scenes in the entire movie where any of the important characters show any emotion at all.
It's an interesting idea... but the way it's presented in this movie is just really fucking boring. And personally, I just can't get past that.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Sep 27, 2022
Oh man, it occurred to me as I was watching this movie that a lot of kids these days have probably never seen the actual Tarzan. That's what they might as well have called this movie: Pokemon Tarzan. But I really don't mean that in a critical way at all. I'll admit I was judging it at first, but unoriginality isn't that big a deal to me, in the grand scheme of things. I do believe the same idea can be done well multiple times, in multiple ways, etc.
This movie is beautiful all around. I've seen anime where the fights are a central part of
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the story that aren't animated this fluidly. The story isn't any less moving for being centered around different characters and shoved into the shapes of a popular kids' show. The music was no Phil Collins, but it was catchy, not overly cheesy like it definitely could have been.
This is the first standalone Pokemon movie I've watched in a while, but it was a pleasant surprise. Like I said, it's nothing super original. If you've seen Tarzan, you're sure to recognize certain scenes that were recreated almost exactly. But I think they did a good job with the idea. I enjoyed this movie.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 2, 2022
I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical about this one. Just reading the description... A new Mew Mew addition (after the world's already supposed to be saved and the girls should have lost their powers) who gets to be extra special and have the DNA of TWO animals? At first glance, Berry sounded like someone's Mary-Sue OC. But, though I know it sounds almost blasphemous to say it... In a lot of ways, A la Mode was actually better than the original manga.
Mia Ikumi's skills as an artist grew a lot over the course of Tokyo Mew Mew. Throughout,
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this sequel just looks better. Cleaner, more detailed. (In some of the early Mew Mew volumes, I was genuinely surprised she'd even gotten published at times.) Story-wise, it wasn't great... but I felt like it Could have been something really good. Every plot point just feels half-formed. Having the new villain group turn to brainwashing and subliminal messaging in the media to turn the public against our heroes is actually a really cool idea. The villains themselves felt like they could have been interesting characters... if only the story didn't end before it took the time to explore them.
There was a lot of talk of Berry taking over as the leader early on... but that never really happens. (And I'm not sure why anyone would want her to. Way to shove in our faces how inconsequential the other girls ended up being in the original. If anyone ought to take over when Ichigo's away, it should have been Mint.) She never really escapes that feeling of being a little sister character, but that feels like the way it Should be, and I enjoyed seeing her accepted into the group so wholly.
And I honestly felt more attached to the Berry/Tasuku romance than I ever did to Ichigo and her connection to Masaya. Our original couple is just so... bland, even with the plot twists they throw in about Masaya near the end. Ichigo's attraction to him felt really shallow. Berry and Tasuku had what felt like a real connection. Their childhood friends vibe was sweet. The little flashback in volume two of how they grew to be so close, in the aftermath of Berry's mother's death, was actually more than I've come to expect from Mew Mew's writing. It was a nice surprise. (Every single volume has had so much space dedicated to mini stories like bonus manga and the Mew Mew Kindergarten segments... I really wish they would have scaled that back and poured a little more of that effort into the main story-- in both the original and the sequel.)
So yes. It doesn't seem to be a very popular opinion, reading some of these other reviews... But I actually felt A la Mode was worth reading. It was a decent follow-up to the main story. And some things were definitely improved upon.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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