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Apr 26, 2013
If you're watching this expecting plenty of Alucard and young Walter slaughtering Nazis, be warned: there's not much of that here. I gave this a 7 because seeing Walter in action is truly a sight to behold - in fact, any scene with Walter in it is basically pure, unadulterated awesomeness.
Unfortunately, there's not enough of Walter, the rest having been replaced with seemingly pointless humor sequences and some exposition. There's also no resolution to the battle sequence, and Alucard is on screen for a disappointingly short time (in a very interesting form, however!)
Overall, it's fun to watch as a little bonus to the Hellsing OVAs,
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but don't expect much in terms of ghoul-slaying and Alucard's screen time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 26, 2013
Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro is a very entertaining anime. Most of the arcs (initially, at least) are episodic, wrap up quickly, and have a fun mini-mystery to solve. So if you're looking for something light, fairly humorous, and quirky, encased in a decent mystery, this is something you should watch.
That being said, there are several points that led me to give this anime the rating that I did.
First, the characters. Neuro (obviously) and Sai are, hands down, the best things about this show. I've only mentioned two. That's because these two are, sadly, the only two really memorable characters in this series. While Yako is
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cute, and has a tiny bit of development, it's very clear that Neuro and his sadistically adorable quirks are carrying the show. The other characters desperately needed attention to gain some three-dimensionality, and they didn't really get any.
As I've said, the plot tends to be episodic, except in the more serious and better-written Neuro vs. Sai arcs. However, the conclusion and final explanation of events were way too bizarre for me. In an anime about a parrot demon eating mysteries, this is really saying something. My main concern was that the conclusion felt like they picked the absolute craziest set of circumstances that they could imagine and used it to form the basis for the story, which gave prior events a far less awesome spin than I thought they could have done.
Also, in everything but the Sai arcs, Neuro's fighting style consists of employing a tool of the demon underworld and completely curbstomping the outmatched criminals. It's very entertaining, but, until the Sai arcs, where these are used intelligently and to superb effect, it's also very repetitive.
With all that said, I wanted to give this anime a solid 7 for the amazing Neuro and Sai. But there's one thing that I really, actively disliked about this show, and it's that the criminals are shown to be distorted animal-like monsters when their crimes are exposed. It's not just a stylistic thing, either - they actually acquire strange powers, and other characters comment on the change.
This really didn't work for me, because it seemed to be dehumanizing those who commit crimes and saying that the distorted mental state of a criminal is something that is separate from the actual person. In other words, it's not really people committing crimes, because they turn into monsters by doing so. I disagree with this view fairly strongly - to me, the most terrifying and sobering things about criminals is that they *are* people, just like us, and we might conceivably do the same things at any time. The design choice was also pretty jarring. I respect their artistic vision, but for that, I had to give this anime a 6.
In conclusion, if you're looking for an entertaining, light anime, with a quirky and unique demon character and fun mini-mysteries, definitely watch Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro. Just be warned - don't expect much at all from the other characters, and be prepared to really embrace the bizarre (*not* including the parrot demon!) where the plot is concerned.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Mar 26, 2013
At first glance, the first episode of D.Gray-Man looks like it has a typical setup - a young hero with special powers saves innocents from a demon, complete with strange, clownish monster designs and an inspiring mini-speech. At this point, you might think that D.Gray-Man would turn out to be an average monster-of-the-week shonen with stock heroism and cardboard villains.
You would have been utterly and completely wrong.
D.Gray-Man is a show that is made truly great by the strength of its characterization. Sure, the main characters have strong, multifaceted personalities (with still more to discover, even after 103 episodes!), but even the side characters are given
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excellent three-dimensionality, depth, and development. You can never really know *everything* about a person, and the show's exploration of both physical and metaphorical masks hiding the truth is nothing short of superb.
The characterization of the villains is something else that makes this show really shine. Don't be put off by the Earl's cartoonish appearance and demeanor in the first episode! The antagonists, their motives, and their natures are among the most interesting aspects of this series, and manage to both be genuinely terrifying and yet sympathetic all at once.
The plot takes a while to really get going, but once it does, it's absolutely astounding. For the first forty episodes or so, there's a lot of well-executed buildup that is very entertaining to watch. Unfortunately, it is suddenly bogged down for about ten episodes with a moronic and largely pointless, frustrating arc. Luckily, skipping or skimming through these episodes will lead you to the second season, which is nothing short of incredible. Tightly plotted, unbelievably emotional, and complex, the second season absolutely blew me out of the water and turned this anime into one of my favorites.
The art is beautiful; scenery and fights are lovingly and carefully drawn out, and the unique character designs for the demons and antagonists are part of what draws viewers in. Sound, especially with the opening and ending themes, is also very well done.
If you enjoy your action with strong character development, a complex and multilayered plot, and plenty of inspiration and tragedy with just the right amount of comedy, watch D.Gray-Man. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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