I actually thought I would probably hate this anime after watching the first episode. I wondered how in the world they could possibly redeem Kyoya (who was an incredible jerk) and Erika (who seemed entirely empty-headed and grasping), but it managed to do it.
Also contains a few incredibly true moments, such as when Kyoya says "Just shut up and keep talking" to Erika because it's exactly right. And the comment about trash...really perfect.
I actually had to find the manga after watching the show, though I'm still not done reading that. Would love it if they make some more episodes of the anime, though it did end nicely and stands on it's own.
It works! (See what I did there?)
Oh, I really wish CR had season 1 available as well! But I'm happy enough that I can watch season 2 and 3 and even happier that I can watch them with my son. Masochist jokes aside and the ever-drunk sister, everything else is a joy. Lots of humour and gags, but also a lot of sweetness and small joys/triumphs. You can't help but root for the characters. It's a really nice ensemble cast. My personal favourite is Satou (the blonde chef) but, honestly, I like them all. Taneshima is completely adorable. Heck, the whole thing is. Nice little details as well (like Inami's ever changing hair pins). I'd love to see more anime like this.
1out of1 people found this review helpful:
So happy to find another show that I can watch with my son that we both enjoy. It's slice of life with a witchy twist and nothing much happens at all...there's no high stakes and everyone's nice (even the parents). It's just...sweet. Seriously, it's like taking a break from the world to watch this. There's a bit of humour, everyone is believably their age (including the little sister who is 9 or 10), and even the cats have a lot of personality.
That said, there is a bit of character development -- but it's slow. This isn't a show that's going anyplace fast. But sometimes, that's just what you need.
There's so much wrong but that makes it good
Okay...there's SO much wrong with this anime structurally and plot-wise. There's no conflict. Everything is easy and resolved within an episode. Everyone loves each other. As a writer, I know that it's terrible and it breaks all the rules. BUT! It's great because I can watch this one with my son and he loves it. He loves that the main character is so completely over powered and can do basically anything. He likes that they all get along. He likes the battle scenes where none of the good guys ever get hurt. And I like that while there's a little bit of innuendo, it's light.
See, I know my little dude would LOVE KonuSuba but there's NO WAY I'm letting him watch it yet because there's way too much inappropriate stuff going on. Compare the slime castle scene from this one with the succubus dream scene in KonoSuba. Yikes.
So I am grateful to this show and to this very kind but bland protagonist who can't figure out girls but is unfailingly good and helpful. I hope they make another season.
They could have made him look less like Kirito though...
EDIT: Ok, finished the whole thing now and had to edit this down to a lower rating because the last few episodes were cringeworthy fan-service-y. At least the MC still remained a nice guy...and it is still better than KonoSuba as far as the ecchi stuff goes. But yeesh, I wish it had had less in the end.
1out of1 people found this review helpful:
Seriously? I just can't even...maybe 2.5
Okay, I'd added this to my queue because I thought it was an actual show. And the art in the cover doohickey looked really nice (the art in the anime itself is a bit meh and periodically terrible -- we're talking skewed perspectives and giraffe necks).
Anyway, I started it and ... what even is this?
It's obviously trying to be like an anime of an otome game (which I recently started playing, so I get that at least) but it honestly comes off as more creepy than anything else, possibly because YOU as the viewer are the focal point and you don't say anything and have no agency (unlike in an actual otome game). So it plays as really weird. Like you're a doll with no control. How the camera/focal point magically swishes from place to place really underscores that.
Two of the characters are sweet. One is the tsundere masochist. You? You have no idea who you are. You apparently like to cook for them and you make a lot of coffee and tea. You put up with being pushed around and down and being called a dog. You are a wet dishrag of a protagonist. Which, okay, is a fairly common theme in otome games, so I suppose that kind of follows. But...meh.
I didn't watch all of it -- kind of skipped around -- and the ending scratch off the clothing credits thing was more laughable than sexy. It's probably not supposed to make you vaguely uncomfortable, right? And what was that at the end of the first episode with the climbing guy? Is he supposed to be doing push ups or...what, exactly?
I honestly don't know how you would make this better. The only reason I continued watching any of it after I figured out what was going on was because I was curious if there was a way to pull it off that would work. If there is, this isn't it. At least not for me. Your mileage may vary.
But, hey, could whoever did the artwork for the static image (almost watercolor-y) make something? That would be nice.
I have to admit that I have a weakness for deadpan characters and so I thoroughly enjoy Kazuma, the main character. I like his attitude in general, honestly. He's great. He's why I'm continuing to watch the show (about to start on season 2) even though this show definitely pushes my tolerance limits for jiggly boobage/fan service (Oi! The episode with the succubi and the bath with Darkness!).
It's really funny and even that episode, though it made me cringe, was still hilarious and more than made up for it. It's actually better than some fan service-y anime as Kazuma is played as such a straight man and even though he's technically got his own little harem going, he's not much swayed by them because he can clearly see their faults.
Plot-wise, okay, it's very straightforward but it's all played for laughs. This is a fun one and you definitely shouldn't take it seriously.
1out of1 people found this review helpful:
The Ancient Magus' Bride is a visual treat but that's not all there is to it. It's the most engaging new anime I've seen in a long while and bonus because I can actually watch it with my son (he's nearly 10), unlike a lot of shows that just aren't suitable.
It's the story of Chise, a teen girl who was abandoned when her mother committed suicide. She has always been able to see things that other people couldn't see. Things of ugliness and danger but also of beauty.
She is sold at auction (she signed up for it because she didn't care what happened to her) and had the (possibly/hopefully) good fortune to be bought by Elias. Elias is...something. Part fairy, possibly part human...we're not sure what. She becomes his apprentice and his potential bride.
There's more, but I don't want to spell it all out. You should watch it for yourself. It's the most magical of anime I've seen to date with heart and beauty and soul.
My son and I are off to find the books tomorrow as we're currently caught up and waiting on the next episode to be released.
I'm going back and reviewing things I've watched or given up on so I can clean out my queue.
Even though this has one of my fav quotes of all time in it, I gave up on this one. I first watched it about 2 years ago and got through most of the first season. There were episodes I really liked and others that fell flat for me. I recently re-subscribed to Crunchyroll and thought I'd try it again and picked up at the episode I'd stopped at in season one.
And I just couldn't finish it. Flicked through some of the other episodes and was just meh.
I'm giving it 4 stars because of the quote that I love and the episode that was in the library. Maybe I'll try it again someday but I kind of doubt it. I just didn't like the main character that much and I didn't see myself growing much fonder of him.
(sorry, my reviews are mainly for me)
Going back and reviewing things I watched but hadn't reviewed yet so I can keep track of everything without cluttering up my queue.
So.
I watched all of this (about 2 years ago). It was...kind of cute and romantic. But also one of those animes where there's randomly inappropriate humour around characters who are innocent to the extreme and not really a whole ton happens and things don't really make sense.
So why did I watch it all? I don't remember. So I'm giving it four stars though looking back I don't think it was actually all that amazing. But I did watch it all. I didn't give up halfway through or anything. And if you loved it, more power to you. I do remember it was generally sweet. If I had reviewed it at the time in whatever mindset I was in, maybe I'd be more complimentary. I just watched a few minutes to remind myself and I guess I've moved on?
4 Stars...though I gave up on it
(Kind of spoilery, so feel free to skip)
This is an odd one for me because I gave up on the anime but I still mostly liked it and think it should be rated fairly highly. Weirdly, I had started with the manga and was quite far into it when the anime came out (I think I was caught up to all translated issues? It's been awhile though, so maybe less...I'm just catching up on reviewing things).
That's normally a good thing. But...I got to the point in the manga (far beyond where the anime ends) where the plot was so convoluted that it was ridiculous. I'm not even remotely sure how many witches there were at the point. And while I really liked Yamada and the other characters (at least, all the ones that were introduced early on), it had gotten to the point I couldn't care anymore. It was too much. The plot was all over the place. So many things didn't make sense and didn't even fit the rules that had been established in the beginning, like the writer was, like, hey, what about this! And this! And this! MOAR WITCHES!
If I had started with the anime, I probably would have finished the whole run and then thought, "hey, I should find the manga!" and then run out of steam. Instead it was the other way around.
I absolutely get the high reviews of the anime from people and still gave it 4 stars even though I didn't finish it. I just couldn't bring myself to go any further down the rabbit hole.
Really more of 3.5 stars for me
I thought this one had an interesting premise and before I started watching it, I had kind of imagined where it might go. It went none of those places. Another one with over the top boobage, though I suppose I can't really complain because it's very obvious about it and I still watched it. You know it's going there after just a few minutes in. It doesn't try to hide. There are boob jokes. Lots and lots of them. And a weird preoccupation with pigs. Lots of panties. Little sister to the extreme.
Slightly spoilery below...
I finished it partly because I was wondering where in the world it would go (though the obvious route that I imagine the manga must be aiming for is that he winds up with Furano--but it must be ongoing because by the end on the anime there's no resolution at all). So, basically, he's in exactly the same spot he started out the show in.
On the plus side, he's a relatively nice guy who tries to be kind even in the face of impossible choices. On the downside, I'm pretty sure I might be down a few IQ points from watching the whole thing.
It does have some funny moments, though I'm ultimately a bit disappointed because of the complete lack of character progress or plot resolution and the fact that it was a cool idea that didn't really go anywhere. And the whole thing with the gods and helpers was so muddled and unexplained that it didn't really work to carry the story forward. It just confused it. Your mileage may vary, of course. If you're looking for a harem-type show with lots of boobage and some laughs, this is for you.
Not really sure why I watched this, but I did. It was kind of sweet. Kind of borderline raunchy. A bit weird. A bit, did I say? No, I mean really weird. I was looking for a short and these are definitely that. I suppose I kept watching because I kept thinking "eh, really? What?" and before I knew it, it was done. I kind of want to meet the person who came up with this and I kind of don't at the same time.
That's not much of a review, is it? Well, it's about an office worker who falls in love (lust?) with a large marshmallow-addicted co-worker of hers who is oblivious to her advances. Cue the jokes. That's, eh, about it.
1out of1 people found this review helpful:
There are some really nice moments in this one, though it does suffer in a few respects... (slightly spoilery below, so feel free to skip).
One, that the main obstacle in the protagonist's path is such a contrived coincidence (yeah, I know that's common in anime and manga, but it did make me pause in this one and go "really?") which, once it is finally out in the open, turns out to be really not a big deal at all. That may partly be due to the shortness of the series in general as it is only half the length of a normal run. Two, the girl is so incredibly timid and constantly demeans herself but there's nothing we know about her past to give any reason for it. Why is she that way? It doesn't really make sense. We know much more about the boy's reasons for being who he is and very little about hers.
That said, I did enjoy it and there are some lovely moments. The art is particularly nice. As I think someone else said, this does feel very like Kimi ni Todoke in a lot of ways. It's halfway realistic, if that makes any sense. And at least it does manage to more or less wrap up the story and give closure to all the characters, even though there aren't many episodes. I think it would have been better longer so that more could have been explored.
And, seriously, they never texted or talked at all in 7 years?? They've even got smart phones (not the flip ones) and yeah, there's the time difference BUT STILL. Text, man. That was possibly the least realistic thing about the entire show. They had more or less confessed to each other (she told him she'd wait as long as it takes) so you'd think there'd have been something!
But, overall I liked it. It's probably just the writer in me that cringes and wants to tie up all the loose and frayed ends.
I liked this one more than I thought I would. It's a pretty standard set up -- lonely gamer nerd suddenly thrust into the spotlight, romantic entanglements, mass confusion. The sheer amount of angst is a bit much (these people seriously need to talk to each other a little!) but the fact that they all did care about each other made up for that. It's definitely one where there obviously is more going on than in the episodes covered, though it appears to be complete-ish at 12? There's a lot left unresolved. I do wish they got rid of the constant sweat drops on their faces...I understand that the characters are constantly under extreme (of their own making) mental duress but I kept thinking, "geez, get this guy a hankie" because they were constantly dripping to the point it was ridiculous. Still, if more episodes appear, I'll watch! And if I find the manga, I'll check it out. You're ridiculous, Amano-kun, but I'm rooting for you.
Almost perfect but perfectly charming
It's shows like this that make me realise that I am either a) too old or b) too female to be the true target market for most anime but it hasn't stopped me yet. This is actually a really lovely show which manages to avoid some of the cliches you would expect it to fall to. The characters are engaging and nice (even Schwein, who at first glance was going to fall into the ultra tsundere type) and their interactions and growth are great. Yes, there's actual character growth! It's lovely!
The only thing I would change is the excessive amount of ridiculous watermelon-sized boobage that's literally in your face every few frames. Oh, and the up the skirt shots. You may disagree but the show doesn't *need* that. It's good on it's own (better, in fact, than I had any hope it would be). Glad I watched it anyway as there were some really nice moments.
But, yeah, I'm old.
Very sweet (what's the lightning for?)
I needed this one. Lovely and sweet with a brilliant child character that's just adorable and NOT sexualised like in Listen to Me, Girls, I’m Your Father! She's realistically her age and so cute. The relationship with her father is lovely too and some of the most brilliant moments of the show are watching him find his way as a newly widowed father.
I started the manga (once I had hit the next to last episode and realised there wasn't much left) and it has even more to it, which is lovely. Looking forward to exploring that. Already seeing more of Kotori-chan and what makes her tick.
That's the only complaint about this sweet adaptation -- so much is taken up with the cooking portion that they wind up leaving out some of the character/plot building bits from the manga. But, I can't really complain as it's very well done and happy-making. I needed that this week.
Definitely recommend this one.
EDIT: I've gone on to read all of the manga that's currently been translated and it really is lovely. There's more character development in it (though the same amount of cooking) and it's so nice to see the characters go. At this point, as she approaches graduation, I wonder if it's going to push Kotori-chan towards sensei or away from him to a love interest closer to her age and circumstance (he's never evidenced any inappropriate attraction to her other than realising that she's pretty). Kind of refreshing.
Not at all what I expected
This one wasn't what I expected somehow. I think it was the "children" part in the title and the fact that the animation style looks quite sweet/innocent in many ways, but I didn't expect quite so much of a sexual nature. Not that much, if any, of that actually happens, but when one of the early episodes was talking about the girlfriend finding her boyfriend's porn, I was a bit like "eh....what?" Didn't expect that.
That said, these short episodes are quite sweet and the pairings are interesting and not completely typical: you've got the classic pair at the top who can't quite connect, but then you've got the student body president (boy) and the delinquent (girl). And you've got the two who can't stop joking with each other and have been going out for a year...though the boy didn't realise it somehow.
Anyway, I liked it. Would like to see more. The only part I don't get is the weird "Dating God" blonde character prince dude who randomly blows into scenes and says weird things and then dances his way back out. What is the point of him? He seems unnecessary. Why is he there?
1out of1 people found this review helpful:
Really enjoyed this one and found it imminently relatable. I'd love to see more like this! Liked everything about it -- the fact that they were adults, not kids (though the two main characters were still seriously innocent and shy), the MMO/gaming part (not overdone and tied in nicely with the real life parts), the characters, etc. The coincidences were a bit (ok, a lot) ridiculous but I didn't mind at all because the whole thing was just lovely.
I'd love to find the manga too, but can't seem to locate it anywhere in English, which is a shame! I would definitely read this one.
I liked this one so much I went out and bought the manga too. It's just sweet; candy for the mind (like one of the things Yamato bakes). Takeo is a gentle giant with the biggest heart. Sunakawa is the best wing man ever. Yamato is so cute you just want to squish her up in a big hug.
It's basically the best antidote for whenever you're having a bad day.
(I'm going back and adding reviews to things I watched last time I had a Crunchyroll subscription, so it's been about 2 years since I saw this?)
I'm not entirely sure why I watched this one all the way through. Maybe because I'm super short and people were always thinking I was far younger than I was. So I did identify with the sister. That said, these were so completely unbelievable. The comedy was okay with the expected jokes.
Very short...basically, long enough that you start getting into it and then BOOM, it's over. And nothing really happens. But I suppose that's the point.
I was frustrated with this one on a personal level because, let's be honest, I like stories that end happily and that was never going to happen with this one.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
But perhaps the most frustrating thing for me is that the characters have a problem -- a serious problem; namely, one of them is going to die. She has an expiration date. And they don't attempt to FIX that problem in any way. Maybe it's the writer in me and the fact that I studied science fiction at university, but for heaven's sake, at least make an ATTEMPT.
Sigh. I know. It's not that kind of story. It's a doomed romance tearjerker. And this is why I don't normally watch/read these kinds of things, because I am left frustrated at the end. But that's more on me than the story. You do come to care about the characters, so it did it's job.
The comparisons to Your Lie in April are apt.
Not normally a fan of harems but...
I actually had started the manga of this ages ago and quite enjoyed it and had been meaning to renew my Crunchyroll subscription to watch the anime. Finally did and don't regret it! This one has a good heart overall.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
Mutsumi was always my favourite with Igarashi a second (they were, after all, the only two that were kind to Kae before she got thin -- well, that's not totally true as Shimi was also, but she was introduced a little later). I went on to catch up with the manga after finishing the anime and was so glad to see that she does wind up with Mutsumi -- he's such a lovely character-- even though the anime doesn't take you all the way through to that resolution. In fact, that's my only complaint about the anime...as far as character arcs go, it essentially winds up in exactly the same place as it begins, which is a bit rotten from a storytelling perspective unless they were going to do a second season.
Even Nana and Shinomiya were fleshed out enough that you like them in the end as well -- especially the relationship Nana has with his little sister. I wish they had been able to include the whole Thor arc in the anime as it would have done a lot for Shinomiya's character development.
I recommend this one if you like Monthly Girls Nozaki-Kun or Love Stage.
Only other quibble -- the "fat Kae" voice acting was ridiculous and unnecessary.
Wanted more, but that's not a bad thing
I watched this after I caught up on episodes of Recovery of an MMO Junkie as I was just looking for something quick -- and this is definitely quick. Too short, actually, but I found it fairly charming. Was a little worried from the reviews that it might be homophobic but I didn't find it that way--though it's also so short that there's not much time to develop things either way, so your mileage may vary.
That said, given the length, there was a surprising amount of the character's personalities conveyed. It would have been nice to see it all explored, especially the main character's best friend (the guy with the long purple hair). I found it to be good natured (no one, for instance, expresses any surprise or horror at the one character's cross dressing or at the main character's overwhelming obsession with BL manga). They all just seem to accept each other as they are.
1out of1 people found this review helpful:
It's...funny. Does it need to be more?
This is a ridiculous little anime with no real point or plot or anything like that. Just little shorts that are ridiculous (I said it again), funny, perverted (but not in a disgusting way...well, mostly), and definitely silly.
Do not watch if you are looking for something deep or meaningful. It's a harem-type thing about a manga artist who loves panties. And his co-workers. And women. And panties.
I said silly, right?
The best part might actually be the mascot character Branya -- a cat with a bra on his head who is always dapper and has the best comedic timing of any of them. And the art work is good, even though it is one of the ones where they wear the same clothes every single day.
This was a lovely series, full of colour and depth and nothing cardboard cutout about any of the characters. Also tears. It was really well done, from the music to the art to the development of the storyline. For anyone that thinks all anime is fluffy or silly or violent or just about sex...show them this one. Really well done.
I often go on to read the manga that an anime is based on but I don't think I can do it in this case (though I'm sure it is lovely) as this one really needs the added dimensions of sound and movement.
While there are cliches (school romance, love triangles, etc.) it's done so well that you don't even notice.
Can't quite bring myself to finish it
I made it through about half of the episodes. I like the premise and the main character is actually a good guy BUT I just couldn't sit and watch anymore of the ecchi/sexy stuff with all these really young girls. The middle one is like 9 or 10 and it's constant panty shots and cleavage and short skirts.
It sounds like there's a fairly good story underneath but I couldn't do it anymore. Enough was enough. That's just me. (And the only reason I'm leaving a review is so I remember it for myself -- your mileage may vary).
I wanted more out of this
I guess if I had realised going in that this was some sort of tie-in / promo thing for a dating sim I wouldn't have expected much out of this (and probably wouldn't have watched it). I give it 3 stars simply because I did finish it (hey, they are all really short episodes so...).
It's kind of like sweet candy -- full of fluff and pretty, but ultimately not filling at all. Basically, nothing happens and nothing gets resolved. A lot of beginnings of romance that go nowhere. That's apparently on purpose as I suppose they want you to go pick up the dating sim and play it and resolve it for yourself.
2out of2 people found this review helpful:
"Bang" she says... and down you go
Overall, I enjoyed this one. It's a bit lacking in some areas (er...mainly in plot, background, and reconciling the starting off "real world" type setting with the magical elements that soon overwhelm all else) but makes up for it with the deadpan grace of Kagari (the female lead). She's pretty darn awesome.
There's a lot left unexplained (SPOILERS FOLLOW) like who the heck the White Princess is and why she's somehow inside Takamiya and...well, so many things that I can't really go into them all. But it's still a fun and interesting show to watch.
Some unnecessary "fan service" that makes this inappropriate for my 7 year old to watch (which is a pity because he'd dearly love to see giant teddy bears and robotic bunnies fighting it out in a bloodless fashion). Also, I really don't understand the apparent Japanese fascination with little sisters who *really* love their brothers. What is up with that? It pops up all over! Why? Why?
But, at any rate, some great moments in this one. And you have to love heroines who seriously kick butt.
Excellent fun. Don't take it seriously.
Don't expect plot or character development or anything fancy. This is just a little short series that's purely fun and silly. It was strange that the animation style was changed mid-way through but overall, it's great for a quick laugh or pick me up. I wish it were longer. I'd like to see Salou-San kick more butt.
Another one I find hard to rate...
This is another show that I find really hard to rate, but am going to go on the high end of what I actually feel as it did hold me and I watched until the end (and then looked up the manga to see if it had the same issues or was different).
So, spoilers abound below as these reviews are mostly for me so I can remember what I was thinking about shows (and I'm removing this one from my queue as my young son uses my account to watch Shugo Chara and this is definitely one I wouldn't want him accidentally stumbling on).
Biggest issues...
On a purely cosmetic level, the character design is ridiculous. They all look alike. You can barely tell which couple is which and then only by the color of the eyes. That's just lazy. Same face shape, same hair, same body types. That feels like it makes a statement that they're all just interchangeable characters when they aren't (and shouldn't be).
I haven't watched a lot of Yaoi and apparently from my reading this is a common thing but...dude, rape is not cool. "I couldn't help myself because you're so darn amazing" is not a reason to have sex with someone when they are actively resisting you. In the anime, there is SO little give and take. It's all TAKE TAKE TAKE to the point you feel like you're watching a crime being committed. A lot of it is not remotely romantic at all. Takano in the show is the worst offender and, strangely enough, actually quite a bit softer in the manga as there's much more development of him actually courting Ritsu. And, you know, character development.
The least developed couple in the show is actually the sweetest story -- Yukina and Kisa. And they are even better in the manga. Maybe it's because Kisa is the ONLY one out of the plethora of gay/(bi?) guys that has never considered himself straight and because Yukina, though obviously the "alpha" in the relationship, is focused on making things work, not...well, you know. They have issues but it's an actual relationship they are developing.
The last couple is really a bit of a love triangle and the character desired by the other two is so incredibly dense that I just wanted to strangle him. In the anime, Hatori (the "alpha") is relatively unforceful compared to Takano but in the manga, he's actually got some extra cringeworthy scenes. Either format, they are my least favourite pairing all the way around.
So. I dunno. On the one hand it held my interest even though almost every show had a moment in which I wanted to turn it off. It did make me look up the manga, though I haven't read the entire thing. The manga is a lot more, er, explicit so I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart. Some of the scenes actually are almost ridiculous with the added "noises" honestly BUT the character development is much better than in the anime so there's that.
And I did learn that I'd never want to work in manga publishing (saying this as someone who does work in traditional publishing). Ye gods. And the whole thing makes me feel serious sympathy for gay Japanese men if this is truly the cultural stuff they are up against (disclaimer: I come from a Chinese background, not Japanese, but am American by birth). It would be hard developing a relationship with the kind of baggage these characters carry around.
2out of2 people found this review helpful:
First time for everything
SPOILERS BELOW.
I didn't have any clue what "BL" was before I watched this, having never heard the term. Didn't even realise going in that's what this was, as it was kind of a random click for me. As long as the characters grab me, I don't care what orientation the characters are. And, for the most part, all these guys are pretty darn adorable. Only problematic things are a) that first scene where Ryoma barges in on Izumi and basically attacks him in a frenzy. Definite rape-y overtones that went a little too far (and would have gone farther if big brother hadn't stopped in).
Yes, he does apologise for it later and proves himself worthy, but it makes the viewer wonder how these two previously straight guys move on from that initial violent introduction. And b) given that Ryoma had believed himself in love with a girl all these years and is at first completely taken aback that Izumi is in fact a boy, he seems to give in to it awfully easily/quickly. But that may be an issue with the format -- maybe it takes him longer to come around in the manga? I don't know. It just seems fast.
But all in all, very enjoyable show with characters that you want to get to know more about.
Edit: I did, in fact, go on to read what's out of the manga so far and feel the anime follows along pretty well, though there are (of course) some differences. The more I know about this one, the more I like it. I hope they make a second season as there's some good stuff in the later chapters. So much more satisfying than "The World's Greatest First Love" because of the growth of the characters.
Edit 2: I just watched / read this one again because I was having one of those days where I didn't feel like trying anything new but needed something distracting that I liked (waiting to hear back from an editor on a book is the WORST especially right before Christmas because I know that chances are I won't hear back until January). Still like it. Though the more I think about it, the less I'm sure Ryouma would stay with Izumi. It's easy to see why Izumi falls for Ryouma (even after a horrible introduction) as everything R does after that is very caring. But, from R's perspective, is the only thing he has for Izumi physical? Because, let's face it, Izumi is very immature and until much later chapters in the manga (the whole rather ridiculous drama arc with the hypnotism and the sexist director), he doesn't show any character growth.
But, eh, I still enjoy this one. And Izumi is darn cute.
I was surprised by this one. It goes far deeper than the fluffy description indicates it would. However, apparently the manga is still ongoing and the anime has no further plans for continuation -- and it ends with so many things dangling that there's absolutely no resolution to ANYTHING. So that's disappointing. But it's worth a watch and then you'll find yourself going out to find the manga (I just ordered the first 22 books via Ebay). I'm hoping that the manga will answer all the questions the anime leaves you with.
I really liked the strength in Kyoko and how her character grows and changes. In fact, I pretty much binge watched it all in two days.
EDIT: So,I picked up the manga and while the anime stays very true to it, the manga has SO much more. One of my favourites now though it's driving me nuts that there's no end in sight and it is going to take forever to get the next books... Really surprised at this one.
So insanely bizarre that you have to like it
I read a review of this somewhere online and so had to try it, especially since the episodes are so short. It's insanely bizarre and I've never seen anything like it. There's really not much of any kind of plot or character growth or really any kind of story going on, but it's enjoyable to watch even so.
Merman & friends take over the life of an unassuming and kind guy and hijinks follow. That's really about it. But it's worth a watch just for the bizarreness. And the snail guy's voice. You have to love something this weird.
There were parts of this I really loved and I would probably recommend it to anyone looking for an anime suitable for josei viewers. But...SPOILERS FOLLOW... (my reviews are primarily for me, so I can remember, not necessarily for other people)
Storytelling-wise, there are some issues with pacing and character development. Not enough time was spent on the burgeoning romance between Hazuki and Rokka. A throwaway line late in the episodes indicates that more than 6 months have passed since Hazuki began working at the shop, but by that time the viewer is already confused at why he is so in love with Rokka. There's not enough to show the progression of their attraction. Most of the development of it, on both sides, takes place as internal monologues. Given that the other characters can't hear it...why are they in love?
So, then when the ghost of her husband takes over Hazuki's body and KEEPS it for far too long, the episodes seemed to lengthen as the viewer is left frustrated. While one has some sympathy for Shimao (the husband), especially in the beginning, you grow to detest him quite a bit even though you understand his motives. Meanwhile, Hazuki is left stranded with absolutely no forward progress and no way to do anything other than spin in circles. There's no opportunity for him to prove himself.
Then, the resolution happens far too quickly. Bam! Shimao finally gives up (sort of) and H and R are together. Then BOOM -- they're dead and we see their daughter and grandson. There's no payoff for the viewer, other than a very quick pan over memories in a photo album wherein Rokka isn't even smiling.
Not to mention Rokka's seeming wish to have been killed so she could join Shimao. Perhaps Hazuki was okay with being second best, but it leaves me feeling disappointed in their romance. As a writer, I would have done many of these things differently or at least expanded on some things so that it is easier for the readers to see WHY things turned out as they did.
But -- it has good moments too and is quite gorgeously animated.
It's hard to give a rating
I both love and hate this one. It was the first anime I ever watched and there are things I really love about it. There are also things I really hate.
(Spoilers below, so don't read on if you haven't seen it)
I enjoy the epic sweep of it and Kirito and Asuna's relationship. Hate that it took the kick-butt Asuna from the first part and turned her into the damsel in distress/hero object/quest in the second part. Annoyed at the ever-growing harem aspect (ok, I get it, Kirito is awesome but give me a break!). Do not understand at all the whole brother / cousin love thing that seems to have no real bearing on the plot other than to add to the harem. Love the art. Like the pacing (most of the time). Seriously annoyed at the gratuitous cleavage and butt shots. Honestly, all of that could be removed without impacting the story/show at all (unless, I suppose, you're a guy and that's all your were watching for). My young son wanted to watch it but I'm glad I watched it first before letting him (especially after they get out of Aincrad).
There's a lot of potential here. But it's bogged down with things that make me want to scream. I still give it 4 stars because it made me want to check out more anime, so there's that.
I was even going to read the light novels until someone told me about the chapter where Kirito and Asuna...um, physically express their love while still in SAO...and I checked it out and it was so horrendously awful that I knew there was no way I could read the books without pitching them out a window. Granted, maybe it isn't all like that but it was this weird wish-mash of romance and clinical detachment...anyway, anime-wise, I see why this one is so popular, even though I also want to Hulk smash it.
