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+Beautiful, heart-wrenching story with excellent character work
+Contains several poignant messages about the human condituon
+Highest production values ever seen in an anime: gorgeous animation, sound, and themes
-Lack of action beats may not suit everyone’s taste
-Doesn’t leave viewer with “feel good” emotions

Sousou no Frieren is not a feel good story. By the end of the last episode you will feel hallow, defeated, and on the brink of tears. Frieren, our titular MC, spends most of her days wandering the world aimlessly, greeting new faces with a stoic expression. She is so old, wise, and powerful that there’s practically no conflict. There are lots of monologues ... and flashbacks with little exposition or action beats. By the journey’s end we are left with more questions than answers. Why, then, is this tale about a lonely girl wandering the planet so captivating?

Just as her party follows her despite her shortcomings, we as viewers can all relate to Frieren. Sousou no Frieren is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story with poignant messages about life that no one wants to hear. The story cleverly weaves messages of about the human condition by showing, not telling; as Freiren’s life flashes before us, we see her struggling with big emotions such as grief, lack of love, and understanding her place in the world. This story is so timeless because we have all been Frieren at some point in our lives; as humans we struggle to face our true selves and how it holds us back from living in the present. The production values are just simply incredible, with gorgeous animation, music, and character work by studio Madhouse.

This lovely piece is truly one of a kind; a slow burn to be sure, but one of the brightest flames in anime.

+Unique spin on the vanilla “will they won’t they” story
+Solid plot twists that keep viewer engaged
-Shallow character interactions can be a turn off for some
-Certain plot threads are tied up prematurely
-Supporting cast distracts from main couple in a negative way

Have you ever suffered a broken heart that drove you down the wrong path? Masamune-kun’s Revenge on the surface seems shallow, but underneath there are some decent character beats. One can’t deny the aggravation in watching high schooler Masamune Makabe attempt get revenge on his childhood sweetheart, whose shallow, egotistical, and idiotic behaviors drive a wedge in all his relationships, but the ... story’s hook comes from watching these charismatic fools and the hope that they will change for the better. To its credit the narrative has some juicy plot twists the keep the viewer guessing and it’s effective at teasing the “will they won’t they” in a cliched, if not enjoyable, way; but its shortcomings are also equally glaring, with immature character interactions and plot points conveniently tied up off screen.

While nothing extraordinary, Masamune-kun delivers its promise at being a vain, bittersweet romance. It’s sure to satisfy the hopeless romantics in us all.

+Unique spin on the vanilla “will they won’t they” story
+Solid plot twists that keep viewer engaged
-Shallow character interactions can be a turn off for some
-Certain plot threads are tied up prematurely
-Supporting cast distracts from main couple in a negative way

Have you ever suffered a broken heart that drove you down the wrong path? Masamune-kun’s Revenge on the surface seems shallow, but underneath there are some decent character beats. One can’t deny the aggravation in watching high schooler Masamune Makabe attempt get revenge on his childhood sweetheart, whose shallow, egotistical, and idiotic behaviors drive a wedge in all his relationships, but the ... story’s hook comes from watching these charismatic fools and the hope that they will change for the better. To its credit the narrative has some juicy plot twists the keep the viewer guessing and it’s effective at teasing the “will they won’t they” in a cliched, if not enjoyable, way; but its shortcomings are also equally glaring, with immature character interactions and plot points conveniently tied up off screen.

While nothing extraordinary, Masamune-kun delivers its promise at being a vain, bittersweet romance. It’s sure to satisfy the hopeless romantics in us all.

+Likeable male lead that continues to grow positively from S1
+More organic conflict between central relationship
+Great animation, score and musical themes
-Female lead continues to be too perfect
-Certain themes remain unexplored due to lack of conclusion

Ah! My Goddess! Flights of Fancy picks up the pace from the first season with the endearing cast we know and love. Keichi Morisato continues to shine as the MC and this season significantly improves the character interactions between himself and Belldandy. Instead of magic causing the conflict, the couple is forced to examine their internal struggles which is resolved more organically. S2 also has more action which ... helps with the pacing and the tighter story arcs don’t drag. Issues from S1 are still present, however, such as Belldandy being too perfect and a lack of direction with her character arc. Thankfully that is not enough to distract from the overall experience. The only major disservice is the studio not adapting the manga’s full story.

Despite the studio missing the mark on a full anime adaptation, Ah! My Goddess continues to shine in the sea of classics. Those who loved season one will enjoy Flights of Fancy even more.

+Fun world-building, character designs, and OST
+Ensemble cast has great chemistry
-Takes bold risk by exploring adult themes, resulting in choppy narrative
-Uncomfortable romantic undertones between members of the same family
-Poorly written female lead that’s presented as token girl

What happens when you die, metaphorically or physically? .hack//legend of Twilight, despite its fluffy and whimsical exterior, attempts to tackle this theme when a bunch of rouge children playing a popular video game experiment with the human consciousness.

Based on its predecessor in the .hack franchise, there’s a lot to like about Twilight. It features a solid premise, adorable characters, a killer soundtrack, and an ... entertaining “World”. Unfortunately, the show is equally littered with problems. A major issue presented is the romantic subtext between twin siblings Shugo and Rena. The show uncomfortably focuses on over-sexualizing its female lead, a preteen no less, with awkward camera angles and cringeworthy fan service. From a broader story perspective, there is not enough time spent on exploring the cast beyond the game world, preventing any sort of deeper character arcs. The resulting story beats lack substance and the viewer is left with more questions than answers.

Your mileage of .hack will vary. At times it’s too ambitious and other times it’s not bold enough.

+Fun female lead that keeps the viewer engaged
+Teaches positive messages that are true to everyday life
+High production values: polished animation, sound, and camera work
-Slow plot progression
-Simple character work that doesn’t fit all tastes

My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 is like drinking a soda on a hot, sunny day. Its premise and characters are so sugary sweet and refreshing that it will leave the viewer with bubbly feelings.

What’s nice about the presentation is that it’s a straightforward story about exploring new relationships. With very little plot progression during its runtime, however, Yamada-kun may too slow for some. Yet it is that simplicity that ... effectively captures the show’s charm. Our heroine Akane steals the spotlight with her cheerfulness, positivity, and eccentric demeanor, along with a colorful supporting cast. Studio Madhouse offers crisp animation and the opening and ending themes are a bop. Yamada-kun sends the positive message that finding courage isn’t always about facing demons or winning wars, it can be simple as learning to accept yourself in everyday life.

Give it chance and it’s guaranteed you’ll leave with a big smile on your face.

+Heartwarming, mature romance that resonates with adult viewers
+Solid Animation, score and musical themes
+Likeable male lead deserving of positive change
-Underdeveloped female lead that is too perfect
-Some supernatural elements lose credibility with the viewer

What if your wish actually came true? Poor, hapless college student Keichi Morisato can’t seem to catch a break, until he’s suddenly bestowed with a wish-granting goddess. While the premise itself is completely unrealistic, this empowerment story based off the 1988 manga offers a fun setting, a diverse cast, and one of the most heartwarming, mature romance seen in anime.

Unlike many heroes presented in this genre, Keichi’s personality embodies the positive change in ... us all. Despite his shortcomings, he’s hardworking, he’s not a coward, and he’s kind. His actions in the series prove he is the hero deserving of the goddess Belldandy’s divine intervention. That said, the show does a poor job of following its established magical rules, and Belldandy herself is far too perfect. Most episodes use supernatural elements to create conflict instead of organically progressing the couple’s relationship. Technically, classical artist Yoko Ishida delivers a soft, breezy ballad for the show’s opening/ending themes, and the character designs remain iconic to this day.

Despite its issues, Ah! My Goddess! is so likable that the viewer will easily forgive its overall presentation. Don’t miss this feel-good classic.

+Unique protagonist the viewer will have fun rooting for
+Setting is a hilarious satire of itself
+Colorful cast, if not cookie-cutter
-Borrows too many themes from other series
-Average animation and sound

Harry Potter meets One Punch man in this feel-good comedy. The setting is one we’ve seen before: a misunderstood hero must rise up and become the greatest magician of all time. The only catch is he can’t use magic; his muscles are his magic! The concept is hilarious and what makes Mashle fun is its titular protagonist, Mash. At the same time the story borrows too many familiar elements from popular fiction resulting in ... too many cliches mashed together (pun intended). Mash’s classmates also suffer severely from stock personality syndrome. Technically the animation is choppy and the OST is forgettable which is par the course with the genre. What’s nice about Mashle though is the character designs are unique enough to make it stand out.

If you’re looking for a turn your brain off classic shonen romp with a bit of a twist, give Mashle a shot. You’re in for a fun time.

+Funny, likeable couple with great chemistry
+Plot is simple and doesn’t take itself too seriously
+Great story beats with satisfying conclusion
-Certain side characters felt shoehorned in
-Animation and sound are nothing exceptional

The childhood friend trope has become commonplace in anime—but what if you thought your childhood friend was the opposite gender than you? Adapted from a 4-koma style manga, Tomo-Chan is a Girl is a fun lighthearted comedy about a young couple who have friendzoned each other romantically because of perceived gender. The series allows itself to have plenty of fun with this by poking holes at defined gender roles. Compared to its source material ... the anime has done a great job fleshing out the original story from manga. The relationships are so endearing that you can’t help but root for them. Animation and sound are about average from what you would expect from today’s standards for this type of show, but for what Tomo-Chan sets out to do, you’re in for a great time.

Relax, kick up your feet and enjoy this heartwarming rom-com.

-Unclear theme and muddled plotting
-Sloppy, dues-ex-machina world building
-Resulting conclusion has no meaning or consequence
+Relatable heroine with interesting backstory
+Fun, colorful cast of characters

Upon first glance, Lonely Castle and the Mirror sets itself up as a fantastical adventure—seven lonely children get whisked away to a magical castle where their wishes can be granted. The initial concept is promising as it opens the door to discuss themes of escapism vs reality, finding courage to face adversity, self sacrifice, etc. Unfortunately the movie’s plotting and story beats are not well defined, with the end result leaving the viewer scratching his head.

The plus side ... is our heroine Kokoro is sympathetic and easy to relate to. With three fourths of the movie surrounded by a large cast, however, the pacing is uneven, leading to a rushed climax. What’s worse is the resulting conclusion has no payoff and ultimately prevents Kokoro from growing as a character and learning her theme, which wasn’t clearly defined to begin with. Is her lesson learning courage to face reality? Is it be careful what you wish for? Even the fairytales the film attempts a nod at (with their morals) are shoehorned in without effectively tying them to the narrative. Animation and sound is about on-par with a TV-episode, nothing extraordinary, but nothing bad, which is questionable as this is supposed to be a feature film.

Lonely Castle has a lot of great concepts which unfortunately were poorly executed. What could have been a compelling coming of age film ends up being a muddled joyride.