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Reviews
Free! (2013)
Oh, Nostalgia
Oh, why did I ever pick this anime up? Why did I ever make myself suffer? Why did I let myself shed tears? Why did I ever make myself watch this?
These questions are the questions I ask myself every day after crying that Free! 1) probably won't be getting a season 4 soon and 2) is now taking place in college and Haru's new team CANNOT compete against his old HS team.
The moment I saw that Rei & Nagisa montage in season 3, I knew I had fallen HARD for this show. Like ouch - no longer will there be any Haru & Makoto & Rei & Nagisa. Makoto quit swimming, Haru's swimming with his team, and now Rei and Nagisa are left with the excuse of Iwatobi members (haha, yes, I am not fan of the new SC). But hey, that goes to show how well they developed their friendship!
This anime is NOT just fanservice. This anime is WAY more than fan service. It's about swimming, broken bonds, repaired friendship, and of course, true to every sports anime - the power of teamwork! It started out as "Free", changed into "For the Team", and lastly "For the Future". For the future indeed!
It's a heartwarming anime with funny side characters and an engaging plot.
Only complaint was that the MC was sorta repetitive and whinny. (But hey, the side characters and plot for season 1 & 2 more than cover it up.)
"Because I knew that you would start crying." Dang it, Sosuke, now I'M crying.
Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
Lacking... in too many ways
Demon Slayer (KNY) has a unique drawing style, pretty good animations (Don't kill me but I'm not so sure what everyone is raving about. The animations are good... but not so good that you need to kill my ears every time somebody brings it up), a few okay characters, good music, and some so-so ideas.
That's where the good stuff ends. (No, I don't understand the hype)
Rengoku was written okay. Muichiro has a lasting impression. Inosuke is tolerable. Zenitsu is borderline neutral leaning to dislike. All the other characters? Annoying, bratty, whiny. (That's not to say that Inosuke and Zenitsu can't be annoying or whiny. Trust me - Zenitsu is plenty whiny.) Tanjiro is the definition of a Mary Sue. He's got literally no flaws. We don't want to see that in a MC; we want character development.
Oh, right. Character development. Watching the show, I sorta forgot about it! That's right - there isn't a SPECK of character development in that anime. You don't like one character? Too bad; that's how they're going to say for the rest of the anime. That character's too loud/whiny? Too bad; they're going to be complaining a whole lot in the future.
So. A Mary Sue as a MC and no character development. What else could go wrong? Oh, of course, the relationships! We can't have cringey relationships, right? Well, never fear, KNY has one of the best siblings bonds in the world! They have such a perfect bond! It's not annoying at all, hearing the MC scream her name every two seconds! Not at all! It's so heartwarming hearing him scream every time she gets a scratch! What a protective older brother!
Of course, this could all be redeemed with an interesting plot! So, interesting plot, I'm waiting for you!
Waiting...
Waiting....
Waiting...
Okay, fine, after 37 episodes and a movie, I've given up hope. I don't except it to ever get better... better, as in, at least something except the MC yelling for his most perfect sister. Something besides get a new sword, fight, cry, etc. Anything besides that, please.
Oh well. All in all, Mary Sue MC, whiny/loud/annoying side characters, definitely annoying sister, bland/cliche plot, and none-existent character development.
Prince of Stride: Alternative (2016)
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
It's just beautiful. It's like extreme parkour, and let me tell you - I usually am not a big fan of watching matches (I know, please don't cringe.) Haikyu!! Is definitely one of my favorite anime, but besides the ones where the team I like wins (Aoba Johsai!!) I'm normally watching it half-heartedly. I still love the matches, but let's just say, I'd rather be watching something else. However, Prince of Stride made me VERY surprised. Instead of wishing that they would stop showing the matches, I wanted them to show me more. It's super interesting, and a very good concept.
The animations are awesome, beautiful, legendary. The music, do I need to say anymore? I love it when they play the "You've got to show me" (Idk, that's what I heard) during the "epic" moments.
The characters are also funny, relatable, and fun to watch! I do wish that it could've been longer and I think they rushed it a bit, but it's still great as is. I'm actually very surprised that is has such a low IMDB.
All in all, it's a great sports anime - something that could compare to Haikyu!! If it was just a bit longer.
Boku no hîrô akademia (2016)
Go Beyond! Plus Ultra!
(Spoilers for seasons 2,4,5,6)
My Hero Academia will definitely be remembered for generations. It might not be legend-level (Mineta, that's your fault), but it'll definitely be up there (I give Bakugo and a few others the credit).
First of all, let me just say - the animations? Legendary. Definitely legendary level. I mean, did you see Bakugo flying and taking Kirishima's hand in Kamino? And Shoto's ice? Awesome, perfectly drawn, and so appealing. Beautiful. Their animations and battle scenes (I appreciate MHA learning from Naruto and One Piece. Longest fight scene is probably two episodes and those two episodes were beautifully drawn and interesting as always.) are absolutely, undeniably 10/10. (Also, kudos to the studio that made the soundtrack.)
Secondly, the antagonists. I am FEELING it for Twice and Toga. It's a shame, honestly. Twice had to go and die :(( But, at least they didn't just kill a random guy and expect us to feel for them. Twice is probably one of the best-developed guys out there, topped only by maybe Bakugo and Tsukishima (Haikyu!!). His story is so tragic, so sad, and makes you wish so desperately that he and Hawks could've become friends. Of course, I don't blame Hawks for what he did and I respect Hawks for having the courage and the strength to kill Twice (I know some people do, but I think that it was the best option he had there. Really, the only option, but anyway!) but it would've been great if they could've become friends.
Also, let me just say - Shigaraki's backstory really made me cry. Even when I KNEW his family was going to die, I couldn't stop the tears when his sister came out to apologize, he ended up decaying her, his mother trying to hug him at the last moment, his father REMINDING ME OF ENDEAVOR, etc. You just feel it when they tell you. (Also did he really have to decay his dog??) Aaaaaaaand.... I never knew Dabi could dance so well ;)
Third and last, season 4. I'm not sure what people are talking about (Just my opinion though) when they say that the show goes downhill after season 2/3. I did get a teensy bit bored in some episodes of season 5, but it's still a lot better than the other shows I've watched (Ahem, Naruto). And My Villain Academia at the end more than covers up for the less-plot-driven episodes at the start of season 5.
BUT. Season 4 was (Okay, apologies for using the word again) LEGENDARY. ABSOLUTELY LEGENDARY. Mirio is a REAL HERO, and I'm so sad he didn't appear too much in the later seasons. But seriously, the soundtrack was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. They just know when to blast the song in your ears. Poor, poor, dear Eri finally getting freed, silently crying on Deku's shoulder when he said he was going to save her, just everything. All the little stuff, all the little details, all the big booms, and the big bangs. They were so, so, so nicely put in. And I really like Chisaki (Don't kill me), don't know why, but I do. Their Might + U song is wonderful, again, kudos to their music studio.
There are a few points I like about MHA too (Example, Bakugo's "In that moment... my body just moved on its own", great side characters - particularly Kaminari and Kirishima - and AWESOME season 6) but I'd probably write a whole essay about it soooo....
Probably the only few things I didn't like about MHA (Also the reason I didn't give it a 10) is Mineta and their view on killing. So Mineta is for obvious reasons, but another reason I don't like it is because MHA (And Deku) honestly has a very idealistic view on killing. It would be fine if Deku was the only one (And maybe he learned later) but the Pro Heroes also are against killing. Okay, don't get me wrong. I don't like killing. But in a show like THAT, I'd appreciate it if you took a Naruto/Demon Slayer view. Oh well though - there's no perfect show. (Whoops, forgot about Haikyu!! XD)
In conclusion, definitely, definitely give MHA a shot - I promise (Well, I can't promise. We all have different opinions) you won't regret it! If not, just watch it for that Bakugo moment in season 6 and then watch as he goes back to call Deku a you-know-what ;) But seriously, I really think MHA is worth it!
Nagi no Asukara (2013)
.... Waste of a great studio
So.... Yeah, it was okay, great animations, honestly. Beautiful drawing style, and GREAT soundtrack. The animations were all really smooth, pretty, and out-of-the-world. The background and scenery - oh my word- yeah. The characters all had stunning designs, and they were all unique. The soundtrack knew when to blast it in your ears, didn't it? Yeah, it did. Some of their songs were stunningly sad. If they had placed it during Neji's death scene, I would've cried buckets.
Yeah, there it is. IF.
IF they had put it in Anohana, I would have loved it. IF they had put it in Naruto, I would have loved it. IF they had put it in Haikyu!! Or MHA (Not that they need it) I would've loved it. IF, IF, IF. Yeah, that one word that makes all the difference. IF.
Yeah, sorry, Nagi-Asu, but animations and music isn't going to cover up your horrible characters, 24 episodes of whining and crying, and your horrible, horrifying, cringey drama/love (whatever shape it's supposed to be)
The MC is borderline abusive, doesn't care about Manaka (Not that I do, honestly), and only worried about himself and his feelings. Sure, sure, yeah, they're kids. Kids have crushes. Yah, you don't need to be borderline abusive about it. (And why the heck would you like that whiny brat?)
Tsumugu just sucks. He's the epitome of the "cool, calm, 'I don't care about a thing'" trope. I mean, what the heck? The day I admit he's a good character is the day I admit Sasuke's character development was awesome. And Manaka. WHAT THE HECK YOU LIKE HIM. I really don't know what's going on in these people's heads.
Chisaki does zero justice to Kai (MHA). And she's a protagonist, for Pete's sake. I'm actually admitting that I like an antagonist better than a protagonist. (Okay, fine, Overhaul was a pretty cool bad guy) And oh my word, you ALSO like Hikari? What is wrong with you? So you'd rather date a borderline abusive guy than a perfectly good - no much more than good - kind guy who's ALWAYS BEEN BY YOUR SIDE???
Kaname, I have no complaints on his personality (I love him, actually) but I do have to do a double check on his mind. Okay. So the near-perfect, selfless, kind guy is in love with the bratty girl who doesn't give a second thought to his feelings. Wow. Wow. Wow. Please, Kaname, go find a better girl.
Honestly, the only character I understand in this show (I love Miyu's character but I don't understand what she ever saw in Hikari) is Sayu. If a guy like Kaname came around, I'd totally fall for him. Proves to show how dense they characters are if the only understandable one is a literal nine-year-old.
So yeah. My conclusion? Waste of a great music studio.