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Dec 22, 2018
Please be aware that this is my own opinion and others may feel differently.
When I read that there was a Toaru Majutsu no Index III I was quite glad because I had enjoyed the first series, although the 2nd was not as good. I am afraid the 3rd is awful. To be frank I have no idea what it is about, who half of the characters are or what they are even trying to achieve by resurrecting the show.
To be fair the artwork is still very good and the OP is enjoyable and even Touma is pretty much the same as he was
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in the other series. However, Index has become a pain, all she does is irritate and seems to add nothing to the story. Story? there is one? I wish I knew what it was supposed to be about. I was hoping to oggle Misaka too while I was about it, but she is really just eye candy with no real definable role.
I will be honest and admit that this is a waste of time, I have watched up to the 12th episode and I am sure that if I watch the last episode and nothing inbetween I will not have missed much. The current rambling discourse is some mumbo jumbo in England, but what the back story to it is I have no idea.
Nope, I am dropping this one, it does not even come close to the first series all those years ago, this is really a dead horse that should have never been made.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Aug 23, 2015
I am not really a fan of the whole Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, however I will admit that I have enjoyed aspects of it and of course enjoyed the characters themselves. The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki -Chan evaded me for awhile so I was really curious as to what it was about. From what I saw it did not meet with rave reviews, but I still wanted to see it anyway, just in case Haruhi was not in it.
I have always enjoyed Yuki as a character, she was always overshadowed by Haruhi and at times seemed to blend into the background noise, and the Yuki in
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this show was very similar. A small timid, if somewhat clumsy girl who tries to find love amidst the usual high school rom-com atmosphere that seems to typify a lot of anime of this genre. Not a lot goes on during the first 10 episodes, in fact you could probably condense it into a third of that length because we have really seen it all before. Unfortunately Haruhi raises her head and that was where my hackles rose because that was the last thing I needed to see. I am not a fan of Haruhi as a character, but early in this series he does not seem to be that overbearing irritating main character that she was in everything else.
Artwork is simple, soft lighting and simple designs, and at times I really liked it, but I did find the overly white faces a bit jarring; what were they trying to convey? I also felt that there was a lot of skipping over detail, and rehashing of scenes. At times the story is boring, but I did like the Yuki I was seeing here, she was shy and soft and just that little bit vulnerable, missing the efficient, machinelike Yuki from the original series. Kyon was like he always was. A likable guy who seems to spend the time trying to appease and get along with the girls who he is surrounded by, and being used as a handy punchbag/scapegoat/skivvy by everybody except Yuki and Miss Asahina. Oh yes, she is there, and her character is pretty similar to what we are used to, although she just makes a token appearance when required to. I was pleased that Kyon's sister also makes an appearance too, she was always good for a surprise moment.
ED is wonderful, although I did not really notice the OP.
And then there is episode 11-13: and these three episodes were really what it was about, everything else was just filler. I especially liked the poignant moments in 13. I think you could probably get away with watching 10-13 without missing any of the earlier episodes. Everything after 13 seems like a rehash of something we have seen before.
The big question is: Why? Why did they make this in the first place? It really does not lend anything to the franchise and frankly it pales in significance to the original Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and is nowhere as good as The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. My guess it is to cash in on the popularity of the former and latter (and trying to deflect criticism of the woeful Endless Eight).
I rated it a 7 because I did enjoy it and I was feeling generous, but that was because I am a Yuki fan, but other than that? it was OK. Not great, just OK. There is a lot better out there, and I am afraid that any follow up will probably slip past my radar with nary a glimpse.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 29, 2013
I have to admit that I did not pick this series up when it came out originally, but only after it was almost finished. The synopsis did not make me curious at all, after all, Slice of Life is pretty generic and unless you do enjoy the genre you will rather look for something with more blood and guts and panty shots.
Thankfully Non Non Biyori has none of these. In fact at points almost nothing goes on. However the enjoyment factor is very large based on a solid set of characters that will leave you laughing and doing the Kawaii thing regularly.
I enjoy Slice
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of Life as a rule, and there is usually one character that shines over the rest. NNB is the opposite, all of its characters shine, and they are all fascinating. The young Renge dominates the story, although in reality it is about Hotaru who moves to the country from Tokyo and starts to attend a school with a bunch of kids that seem to be very contented with their lives.
Hotaru is wonderful, although she does not seem to fit into the 5th grader profile that they have slotted her into. If anything she is very mature and balanced and the calmest of them all. IMHO this is one failing of the series, Hotaru does not quite act her age. Did I mention she takes a shining to somebody??
I can't really point out any single thing that makes this show so enjoyable. It just is. There are no gratuitous upskirt shots or lingering images of busty school girls with sex on their minds. Even the requisite beach episode is calm and gentle and altogether innocent.
I cannot comment much on OPS or EDS because frankly I never really noticed them, and the artwork is beautiful. The main strengths here are the characters and their interaction with each other and their environment. It makes for an enjoyable series that is easily rewatched in any order. and which is perfect to while away time with.
Recommend it? definitely! Second season? I hope so.
In fact if more shows of this quality were made I would be very happy because frankly I did not care much for the past season. There seems to be a lack of originality in a lot of anime lately, and much is geared towards pulling in fans through gratuitous panty shots. NNB can pull in fans through sheer quality alone, and in my book that is a good thing.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jul 5, 2012
I have to admit that I read many glowing reviews for Mahoraba: Heartful Days, and I can see why after watching it myself.
The story follows the usual format of "boy wants girl" while having to deal with a wodge of meddling, strange and very pecuiliar roomies. The girl, Aoba Kozue, has everything going for her except..... Yes, she suffers from MPD, and everybody around her knows about it, except for boy (Shiratori, Ryushi ).
What follows is a romp of enjoyment. The main characters are well developed (and all rather odd in their own way), and the story moves forward without loosing
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sight of the "boy wants girl" goal.
It is really funny at times, and tragic at the same time because Kozue is really a very likeable and amiable character, and everybody around her does their level best to protect her from falling into one of her alter egos.
I loved the ED ("Boku no SPEED de" by Chihiro Yonekura) and I loved the storybook like titles and the 4-koma strips in some of the episodes. In fact the only real failing as far as I was concerned was the ending, this one was just too good to stop at 26 episodes.
The MPD issue is a difficult one though, but it doesnt detract from the story on its own, and the alter egos are hilarious themselves, providing that extra bit of strangeness that works so well in the series.
Artwork is perfect, fitting into the mood of a particular episode. This is a 2005 series so the artwork does fit into the style from that period. Do not expect slick and shiney though, it would not work here. This is a playful series, at times you would think it is a storybook you are watching, but that just makes it that little bit more unique.
I would say that this was one of those unique finds that very few people every watch, but those who discover the series are very lucky, because this is probably one of the better anime of this genre around.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 2, 2011
As the blurb says, this standalone special features Miya Tachibana as the main character. As anybody that has watched Amagami SS knows, she does play a minor role in the series and is the classmate of Nakata Sae and Nanasaki Ai. I always enjoyed watching her interact with her brother Junichi and this special was a nice way to add more flesh to her character. If anything I would like to see her story made into a complete arc too.
As usual, artwork was soft and easy on the eye and each female protagonist from the Amagami SS series was briefly spotlighted as Miya tries
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to find out more about her brother and his interactions with girls. There is a lot of affection between the pair and the usual banter is present between the siblings as well as between Miya and those she interacts with.
Possibly the only real gripe I do have is: where does it fit into the overall story? my personal opinion is "somewhere inbetween" because as a standalone episode it works too.
The whole Amagami SS franchise was a very enjoyable watch and this makes a great addition to the experience. I just hope it is not the last we see of Miya though, she is a very likeable character and I expect Junichi will be very protective of her whenever she ventures out into the world of dating and male/female relationships.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 8, 2010
I was not too sure about this series when I first read the synopsis. It had one major flaw. Boy gets rejected by girl, gets wiped out by spaceship and is then made into a girl too! However, once I got past that, things got interesting.
The main character Hazumu definitely looked better as a girl, and it was hard to get over the fact that he was now a she. Tomari is cute, and a tomboy at that, but her connection with Huzumu was deep because of her childhood friendship. Yasuna was the girl who rejected him originally (although she has a valid reason
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too).
Once that is out of the way the story becomes a problem because who will Huzumu fall in love with? and did any of them notice he is really a girl now?
There is also the seemingly mysterious Ayuki who kept on throwing me off the trail. But, I am glad I stuck with it because its a bittersweet story with so much potential. Usually I watch the backgrounds for quality, but this time I was too engrossed in the characters and the nagging question of "how will they resolve this situation?"
I did feel that the alien and his sidekick Jan-puu were a bit odd, but they helped provide comic relief that really had a part in what was a very interesting situation.
It is a sweet story about friendship and fate and relationships, and yes, everybody lives sort of happily ever after, but there is still a hint of other things.
This story may not appeal to everybody, but its well worth sticking with.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 6, 2010
This is the third and final series that comprises the whole Koihime†Musou franchise. And, once again it did not let me down. Storywise is is really great, and not a lot of brainwork is involved to watch it, because it is light and fluffy with the occasional serious moments.
I like the change to chibi mode when things need to taken with many pinches of salt. And the series does climax in the final two episodes and it finishes off with everybody living happily ever after.
That catchy ending song is there, and everybody who has appeared in the series makes an appearence.
My only
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real gripe is that there were too many characters and often it was not easy to tell who was who. But, it also has the biggest collection of cute anime girls in any one place at one time. If you like boobies then this one is for you, and if you enjoy a lot of laughs and a mildish plot you may enjoy it as well. But, if like me you were just looking to have some enjoyment and to pass the time then I do recommend all 3 series.
Would a 4th season work? no. But I would like to see some sort of closure episode where everybody goes home.
Characters to watch? there are just so many, but Mouki Bachou, Gentoku Ryuubi, Shiryuu Chouu, and Unchou Kan'u stood out from the herd. And, if you look at it rationally, the story is really about a group of 3 girls who go out on a journey to find themselves and to kick bandit ass!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 9, 2010
I wasn't too sure about this 4 parter when I started watching it, in fact the dated look of the artwork put me off quite a bit and I was in two minds whether to drop it or not.
The story revolves around a boy, Hirosuke, who sees a girl on the train on her way to school. Ajimu is pretty and one of those girls who you can only admire from a distance and who is seemingly unattainable. A series of events throws the pair of them together and the rest of the story revolves around their hesitant relationship and those around the couple.
Its
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not a great story, in fact there really isnt much of a story at all. The music has its moments and the feel of the surroundings is of a seaside resort that is experiencing a quiet season. What kept me watching was Ajimu who is not the usual pink haired moe anime girl, but rather an almost level headed person who is suffering the pangs of a lost love. In fact most of the characters had a sensible feel about them that was a refreshing change.
By the end of episode 3 I was considering that this was an anime that lost out. There is so much latent potential in it that could have been explored had there been more episodes, characters could have been fleshed out more and the story could have been given more substance. By the end of the series I was wishing it had been because I was actually enjoying it.
It is worth a watch, but dont take it too seriously because its just a light and fluffy 4 episodes and you wont be crying or rooting for the characters. But, do consider what could have been done here with a bit more work.
One of my favourite voice artists Chiba Saeko was responsible for voicing Ajimu and singing the OP and ED and that was an added attraction.
I do feel that there is merit here and in spite of its low rankings this is one of those animes that left me thinking, "this is one of those that needs to be redone."
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Mar 1, 2010
When I watched the last tragic episode of Mahoromatic so long ago I secretly hoped that one day they would bring her back. This 2 parter, Tadaima◇Okaeri, is hopefully the start of many more new episodes in the life of Mahoro, Miniwa and Suguru.
The story takes place between day 270 and day 267 of the remaining days left for Mahoro and involves the old gang coming together to create a maid cafe for the local shopping district festival. The show has a slightly different feel to it than the original series, this one feels glossier, brighter and it affected a lot of more panty
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shots and hints of Mahoro's hidden sexuality. However, Miniwa is still falling over, and Chizo is still enjoying her food. The much disliked Miss Shikijo is still overbearing and thoroughly irritating, while Slash and Ryuuga make an appearance too.
Unfortunately Feldrance is also in the show and the extreme dislike I felt for him when I saw him again did ruin the show for me a bit. Those who have seen the original series will understand his significance in the story
There are the usual scenes of Mahoro and Suguru trying their best to grab that quiet time together and their affection for each other is blatantly obvious. Mahoro was always a very sweet character when she wasnt tackling giant mecha and I am glad they never took that away from her. They also didnt take away her distaste for ecchi, and Suguru's love of ecchi.
Do I recommend the show? of course I do. Any chance to see one of my favourite characters is welcome and I hope that many more of these specials are created and slotted into the series. However, I do hope they will relook the ending of the series and one day create an alternate ending.
Lastly, to see Mahoro sing and smile and watch her facial expressions has alway been fun, and she doesnt let me down, and while it's not quite the Mahoro that I really enjoyed from the original, it is still her, and frankly that is good enough for me. Long may she be with us.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 23, 2009
I have to admit I did not really enjoy this special as much as I did the series. The artwork seemed to be very different to what I had seen previously, and they did use some strange techniques in the special. Gladly the characters were still recognisable, except for Seiji who seems to have aged considerably.
There were some odd moments, especially with grandfather and Elfried and an octopus (dont tell anybody), and poor Haiji gets the short end of the stick from Art. I did like Haiji as a character throughout the series and I had to admire her pluckiness once again.
The Twinns are
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still complete opposites and if Hazuki had not overshadowed everybody else in kawaii factor they would easily have come out tops.
Hazuki... what can we say? still a brat, still cute and still precocious but she seemed so much different to the anime and manga in this special. I did feel she matured a lot from before, and she was very likeable. But, being Hazuki she does drift from one extreme to another.
The story is medicocre, the ending lousy, and there is very little that makes this a closing of the series. When viewed on its own it is barely watchable, when viewed as episode 26 of the series it is pretty poor.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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