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Apr 27, 2024
One of the anime accounts I am following on X featured 'Bartender: Kami no Glass.' It has awesome animation. I then learned that it's a remake of a 2006 anime, which is the subject of this review. So I decided to watch that first.
Is Bartender (2006) worth watching? It's a yes.
Sasakura Ryuu is the bartender manning Eden Hall. He is dubbed as 'the god of glass' for his ability, not only to come up with tasty cocktails, he is able to create profound changes in the people he serves. In effect, he is like a psychiatrist only that he doesn't prescribe psychiatric
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medications. Each alcohol has a rich history that he relates to whatever challenges his customer is facing.
Compared to the remake, the animation is lazy and has nothing to write home about. But at certain moments, it has good cinematography (good camera angles, framing, and lighting) that highlights the emotionality of the episode.
What it lacks in animation is carried by its good writing. It's a hidden gem. Without knowing of the remake, I might have missed watching it.
Each episode is episodic, and I recommend against binging it. It is best to watch an episode per evening.
I'll watch the remake next, but by itself, this one is worth watching.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 26, 2024
If you just want to continue watching the interactions between Laurence and Holo, watch this season. But be warned: it's bad.
The first episode starts boring, and it's not a good start to what is said to be the weaker season of the original anime adaptation.
The first arc is okay but an episode or two can be cut. On the other hand, the second arc ends abruptly. We don't know what happens to Eve, and we don't know what happens to the town, which suddenly finds itself in a revolution. Our pair just left it unceremoniously. In other words, it needs an episode or two
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to properly conclude the arc.
Whilst the first season is worth watching to understand why Spice and Wolf is a good anime, not to mention so we can meet the anime-original Chloe, the second season is a mess. Also, the original adaptation omitted a volume of the light novels.
Perhaps, instead of watching the second season, one can proceed to the new Spice and Wolf adaptation, which I hope will adapt the source material better and that episodes covering the same events in the original adaptation's second season be better executed.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Apr 21, 2024
If you like the anime TV series "Kimagure Orange Road" and would like some more, look no further than the OVA.
The OVA episodes come from content in the manga that was not animated in the main TV series. It feels like the typical anime episodes, except that some episodes have a more serious theme, one of them involving violence and abduction. The animation quality is superior to the main series.
Regarding watch order, some watch the entire OVA after the main TV series. But some watch orders estimate where exactly in the TV series you should watch a particular episode, but watch out for OVA episode
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8.
I watched it after movie 2. Its story is after episode 48 but before the first movie. So it's a bit jarring because I was watching an earlier point of the series, whereas the two movies have moved way past the TV series in terms of maturity.
There must be two reasons why some watch orders place this last. 1) Just in case you're disappointed with the second movie. I enjoyed movie 2, but not everyone does. It's a way of leaving one good episode as your last exposure to the Kimagure Orange Road anime. 2) minor spoiler: It's only in this episode that Ayukawa counted the steps on that fateful stairway where Kyouseke met her first. It's only here does she realise that Kyousuke's count of 100 is correct.
That said, there's nothing in this episode that negates your enjoyment of the movies if you watch this first.
Anyway, treat these OVA episodes as additional episodes to the main TV series. You can't go wrong watching them.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 20, 2024
'Shin Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning' is the second Kimagure Orange Road movie, which was shown in the mid90s. It's 90s æsthetic rather than 80s. It shows the characters when they were older, so there's changes in the character design. There were flashbacks as well as pictures that were similar to the original anime we love but with some small differences. It requires getting used to but it's not that bad.
Note also that Izumi Matsumoto's vision of Kimagure Orange Range [the mangaka of KOR] differs from that of the director and the screenwriter. That's why the manga ending is said to be different to the
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anime ending. Also, Matsumoto did not approve of the writing of the first movie.
This second movie, on the other hand, is not written by Matsumoto. Its source material is the Shin Kimagure Orange Road novels which are reportedly not as good as the original manga. It follows the events of the first movie.
Here are the bad parts of the movie. The drama of movie 2, which is 22-year-old Kyousuke and 19-year-old Kyousuke getting trapped in a time loop, is not really anything to write home about.
The original anime TV series was inconsistent in its rules on time travel. In episodes 47 and 48, it finally decided that every time travel is accounted for and that there's nothing you can do to change the past. Apparently, KOR: Summer's Beginning follows the rules of episodes 47 and 48. Hence, there was no actual tension.
The future Madoka might have been emotional over what's happening to Kyousuke, but as viewers, we know that it will end well.
(Minor plothole: How is it possible that 22-year-old Kyousuke wasn't able to avoid being trapped in the first place given the fact that he also travelled into the future?)
That said, even though fans of the manga did not like movies 1 and 2, I like it. And even some fans of movie 1 aren't exactly keen on movie 2. But as far as I'm concerned, it's not really bad despite reading many naysayers.
The heartbreak of the first movie was necessary, but it was not well received in Japan, which is why some say movie 2 was produced. It provided space for the reconciliation of the three characters while at the same time taking Kyousuke and Madoka's relationship to the next level. And future Hikaru is gorgeous. I think this is a satisfying conclusion to the franchise.
Movies 1 and 2 aren't actually necessary if you think about it. The TV series ended at the right moment when Kyousuke and Madoka kissed offscreen, and coming out as a couple and Kyousuke breaking Hikaru's heart could've been left to our imagination. If we insist that moving to maturity is one of Kimagure Orange Road's themes, both movies satisfy this. Movie 1 is about confronting and breaking from the toxic love triangle of the original anime. Movie 2 completes the cycle with the reconciliation of the three and their renewed friendships standing on a firmer and more realistic foundation.
The story of movie 2 can be any random time travel episode from the anime but given cinematic weight. It's better than the TV series but falls short of the emotionality of movie 1.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 14, 2024
This movie's narrative follows the TV anime storyline (as the manga and TV anime differ in many details, e.g. Jingoro the cat is not in the manga).
The TV series concluded with Madoka and Kyousuke finding out that they love each other. The story could've ended there, but what about the aftermath? Did Kyousuke make it clear to Hikaru that he doesn't love her? This movie fills that in as the highlight of this movie is Kyousuke breaking the love triangle and the emotional ramifications of it.
The TV series is mostly comedy, but this one is drama and pure emotion. It doesn't even use
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background music during the most intense verbal exchanges. For comparison, the final act feels like 1/3 of the intensity of Perfect Blue, but it is still intense nonetheless. It's raw.
The word kimagure (気まぐれ) means 'capricious; fickle; whimsical; impulsive; changeable; temperamental' (Jisho.org). This word has also meant to be indecisive. In the case of Kyousuke, he had prolonged the love triangle in the TV series. Ironically, what was charming in the TV series meant stagnation in this movie, and so Kyousuke had to stop being kimagure and confront Hikaru and that he actually doesn't love her.
In other words, this movie is about maturity and the pain that's necessary to attain it. Prior to this, the three were in a love triangle that meant for them comfort. Kyousuke wasn't sure if Madoka liked him back, and he couldn't afford to break Hikaru's heart which would mean anger from Madoka. Madoka liked Kyousuke, but she had to give way as she did not like to break her then-lifelong friendship with Hikaru. They were all smiles but suffering from a quiet desperation.
Different people will have different reactions to it. Some may even sympathise with Hikaru. Others fault Madoka. As far as I'm concerned, this has long been overdue. It would not have been so painful had Kyousuke been truthful to her right from the start. It's emotionally satisfying, though I can understand the pain that Hikaru felt.
Anyway, if you've ever felt that the main series is going in circles, punctuated only by Episodes 47 and 48, this movie is the necessary break out of that circle. (not recommended if you're suffering from a romantic rejection)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 14, 2024
One day, whilst browsing an anime group, I chanced upon one of the most beautiful female characters — Ayukawa Madoka from 'Kimagure Orange Road.'
I grew up as a 90s kid with Ranma ½ but, unlike in the USA, it's unknown in my country, so I decided to check it out. It turns out to be one of the beloved 80s series.
But in 2024 going forward, is it still worth watching this anime? It depends.
It's a story of a 15-year-old teenager, named Kasuga Kyousuke. He has supernatural powers, and for many years, his family has been moving from place to place once their powers are
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revealed.
Once he moves to a certain town, he meets a beautiful but mysterious girl named Ayukawa Madoka. Eventually, her friend Hiyama Hikaru came to like him. As a result, Kyousuke got entangled in a love triangle. Hikaru is sweet but not the girl he fancies. Madoka might have some form of attraction to Kyousuke, but she gives way to Hikaru
How will this mess end?
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Let's go over the negatives first:
***Ayukawa is criticised as Mary Sue.***
She can play the trumpet and guitar very well as well as sing so well. She can speak English. She can compete in skateboarding. She can fight multiple thugs bigger than her and lots more.
I don't disagree, but I don't think you should dismiss this anime just because she is presented as perfect.
This anime is a teenage boy's fantasy. Madoka's beauty and perfection might not exist in the real world, but every boy who has admired a lady perceives his lady as perfect and beautiful as Madoka.
***The characters are one-dimensional.***
Except for some changes in Madoka, the characters have been the same. Kyousuke is an idiot all throughout. Hikaru has the emotional age of a 5-year-old, and Madoka always has to give way. Hatta and Komatsu are funny at the beginning because they're horny. But depending on your tolerance, they become more and more insufferable. Yuusaku, who likes Hikaru, are just there to threaten Kyousuke or sometimes beat him up, but there's nothing really interesting going on for that character.
I think this is done for comedy's sake and putting them into funny situations. The comedy is mostly slapstick and therefore dated, but it has its charm. There are horny sex jokes that are no different to what is available today.
***This anime is consistent in its inconsistency.***
There are a few occasions when Madoka sees Kyousuke using his powers but she does not question him so she shrugs it off, and the next episode goes as if it didn't happen. It's worst in the few episodes leading to the finale.
There's also the time travel element. Sometimes, it assumes that a certain event in the past can be changed. But sometimes, it assumes that events in the past are fixed and that any time travel you do has already been taken into account.
KOR was created during a much simpler era when the idea of binging a series was unheard of. The 48 episodes of KOR are in many tapes: VHS or Betamax.
Unlike today where KOR can easily be seen on an online streaming platform, you can rent one or two tapes at a time, provided they are available. Or buy these tapes, which can cost quite a considerable sum.
Therefore, it's not something meant to be binged. Otherwise, you will be annoyed by the inconsistency.
The writers did not bother with keeping things consistent because it's just a weekly affair where you turn your brain off.
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The positives:
***Madoka is quite the waifu.*** Her character design is top-notch. She is awesome despite being unrealistic.
Ironically, the negative point of being a Mary Sue becomes a positive point if you happen to like her. I could say the same for Yamamoto Yohko in 'Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko' but not for Rey, whom I dislike, in the sequel trilogy of Star Wars.
Incidentally, she is often referred to as one of the first tsundere. I couldn't believe my eyes when I first read it. I have long thought that the tsundere archetype comes from Asuka Langley Soryu. Too many of the tsundere I know are abusive to the male character, either physically or verbally. Not so with Madoka. She satisfies the definition of initially hiding one's feelings, at least in the second meeting. She does not abuse Kyousuke as a gag. The only time she does this is when Kyousuke does something really dumb.
That's why I dislike Taiga from Toradora. I'm not that keen on physically abusing the main character for gags. Madoka on the other hand feels refreshing.
***Stunning animation and 80s music***
The animation is stunning, especially the colours. Its level of detail is impressive.
Though I am not a fan of 80s music, the music in the opening, the endings, and the background music are impressive. They give a feel of nostalgia while simultaneously seducing you to give other 80s music a listen.
***What is it like to be young again?***
I haven't watched this back in the day, and some of the things in this anime are not realistic. Yet, this anime can make you connect to your younger you. It gives you some space to imagine what is it like to be young again.
You laugh and cringe at Kyousuke's foibles and recognising a part of you in him, that you were once a fool.
Hatta and Komatsu are cringy from an adult's perspective, yet perfectly normal (though perhaps an exaggeration) for a teenager with raging hormones. Again, it makes you remember that part of your life in bygone days.
**Added Benefit: you might want to explore other 80s anime***
Kimagure Road is a gem, though not without flaws. If you like it, it may prompt you to explore other 80s anime. I'm thinking of other works by Rumiko Takahashi not named Ranma ½ (though a rewatch someday is in order). Or perhaps works by Mitsuru Adachi.
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Conclusion:
Whilst I love Kimagure Orange Range and think you should give it a chance. Let's get real. I don't think 4 cours' worth of anime, especially an episodic one, would fly today.
But if you decide to watch it, I don't recommend that you binge it. It's best watched and savoured slowly.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 13, 2024
Kimagure Orange☆Road: Tanabata Special is nothing more than a recap episode of the first cour. Moreover, it's a video only made available to Japanese viewers. (Thanks to the kind soul who have made this video available.) That's why I cannot recommend it to all but the dedicated fan of Kimagure Orange Road. There's no English subtitle available, just their Japanese voices.
On the other hand, if you're a fan of KOR, you might not mind as, by this point, you've already seen the episodes. So you can understand the context of what is being shown despite not exactly recalling the script.
Anyway, the net effect of watching
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this video is a trip down memory lane, so to speak: on how Madoka and Kyousuke met, how Hikaru saw his power and fell in love with her, entangling Kyousuke in a love triangle, etc.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 13, 2024
As a pilot, it was okay but not amazing. Back then, I didn't know who Yuusaku, Hikaru, and Kazuya were. I only know that Madoka is this beautiful waifu.
I watched this first so I could experience it without watching the TV series. It gave me a good enough motivation to watch the TV series, but nothing to write about. Had I watched the TV series first before watching this, I might have had a different opinion as I would have had some context as to who these people are and their relationship dynamics.
It is essentially an earlier of version of Episode 46, an episode
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where Kyousuke and Madoka are in a life-threatening situation.
As I am writing this, I checked some of the clips and the animation is stunning. As mentioned earlier, it's not complete unto itself but can be a motivation to watch the main series.
I won't recommend that route right now. Just watch episode 1 and see for yourself if you like this anime. The only reason the studio created this is to test the market if there are viewers who would be interested, sort of like a beta version.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Apr 11, 2024
'Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso: Moments' is the OVA episode that was released after the final episode. Whilst me and everyone else is expecting some sort of aftermath, it's somewhat of a disappointment. We don't have a clue if Kousei pursued someone not named Tsubaki. It's only left to our imagination.
Instead, we are given what's technically a prequel. I like it, and if you like Kimiuso, you would probably like it.
Whereas Kimiuso is mostly from the perspective of Kousei, I think this Kimiuso: Moments seems to be from the perspective of an adult.
* We see how the picture of a younger
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Kaori and Kousei was taken.
*We see the lives of the younger Kosei, Takeshi, and Emi. We get to learn what motivated them to play the piano, and what makes them continue trying to improve.
*The cliche of putting the hours of deliberate practice is exemplified when Takeshi learned how many hours of practice Kosei does.
*We also learn that in pursuing our goal, we should not forget to have fun.
*Emi's playing reminds me of how Kaori played the violin: off-tempo and focusing on the performance. She has a crush on him, and she could've been his girl given another set of circumstances.
*Tsubaki and Watari are probably meant for each other. They were briefly shown, and they seem to have better chemistry.
Interestingly enough, this OVA uses the first opening and ending songs. Now when I listen to the opening song, it feels rather optimistic, which is exactly the tone of this OVA. It returns to the feelings of the idyllic childhood when all our desires were simple.
It's a level below the main anime series but worth a watch nonetheless as far as I'm concerned.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 11, 2024
'Your Lie on April' seems to be one of those big anime in the last decade that I missed out on. From some of the screenshots, it seems to be a beautiful anime albeit it's also described as sad, something equated to Anohana and Clannad — two anime that I haven't watched so far, but their reputation precedes them.
I was prompted to watch this due to a tweet saying to the effect that now it's April, watch this.
Is it worth watching?
Yes, indeed. It's not perfect and there is some annoying stuff there, but overall it's well done.
Arima Kousei was dubbed as 'the
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human metronome', for he would play each piano piece perfectly, according to the timing set by the musical score. He was a mechanical player.
However, the death of his mother caused him to dislike playing the piano. So for two years prior to the start of the story, he was in retirement.
Enter Miyazono Kaori. A bubbly girl who plays the violin as she sees fit. She is loved by kids, and despite not playing according to the tempo set by the score, she is charismatic and her manner of playing inspires the applause of audiences.
She asked Kousei to be her accompaniment, and so began this journey of healing and 'tragedy.'
It's useless trying to keep this spoiler-free. The synopsis itself calls this a tragedy and most of the description calls this a sad story.
So here's the spoiler. Kaori died in the last episode. The question now is how should we appreciate this anime in light of this knowledge.
Firstly, her meeting inspired Kousei to go back to playing the piano.
Secondly, the lie in the title led to some misunderstanding and drama that Kousei struggled a bit. Kousei has fallen in love with Kaori, but but but....
Lastly, her death in the last episode coincided with the best piano performance that Kousei has shown so far. Whereas before, he played sloppily, driven by the trauma that he was trying to overcome.
In other words, Kousei is the hero of this story while Kaori is the destabilising element. Without meeting Kaori, he would have stayed the same traumatised boy who is not willing to maximise his potential as a pianist, which is one of the reasons why I dislike Tsubaki for Kousei — though she is supportive of Kousei, she represents his comfort zone and is therefore not an agent of change unlike Kaori.
Kaori prompted him to take this hero's journey of playing the piano again and finding his unique sound that would charm audiences. And from the beginning until the final episode, he has shown the most growth.
Even though I think this story is primarily about Kousei's growth, I reckon a lot of the appeal of this anime is due to Kaori. People generally like Kaori as a character. (I dislike her being violent like Taiga from Toradora, but she has other redeeming qualities.) The death flags in the anime are so painfully obvious it's not even funny, and this is why a lot of people find her death tragic.
I don't think this should be the case. Though the death flags were obvious prior to her death, there was no weeping at the end. Her funeral was barely shown.
Why?
It's revealed that she knows right from the start that her days are numbered. So she had to live her life as best as possible, and this included fulfilling her lifelong dream of playing alongside Kousei on stage.
There is this quote often attributed to Marcus Aurelius: 'Live each day as if it were your last.' And I think Kaori has embodied this quote. We should not think of Kaori's death as tragic; instead, we should see her life as inspiring us to live our lives to the fullest.
It is also for this reason that I like this anime as much as I like the Korean drama 'Uncontrollably Fond.' It is similarly structured in that the main character, in the face of death, actually chooses to live the remaining days of his life to rectify what was wrong, which was causing him unhappiness, and pursues justice for the sake of his beloved.
That said, it's not perfect. You can nitpick here and there if certain episodes can be cut. Tsubaki is annoying, and Watari is lightweight as a character. If not for Kaori's charisma, I would not have put up with her abusive behaviour.
The animation which is beautiful can sometimes feel like overwrought. There are repetitive flashbacks. They are necessary but nonetheless annoying. You just want to see the character improve and you are on the edge of your seat if he will fumble once again.
Just some observations before I end this review. In many ways, Kousei's mother is similar to Kaori. Both have been loved by Kousei, both are implied to have the same illness, and their deaths affected him greatly.
But there's one crucial difference. Her mother's abusive behaviour and death coincided with him losing his way and being covered with darkness. On the other hand, Kaori is Kousei's light that helped him find his way, a light that continues to shine long after her death.
It's barely a year that Kousei has known Kaori, but we can only imagine that that one year is something he would cherish for a lifetime.
Have you met your Kaori?
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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