Winter Anime Impressions: Part 1

My impressions of the winter anime continues, and despite everyone's initial skepticism, it is actually shaping up to be an incredibly strong season. For today's impressions, I will be reviewing, Saekano, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!, Absolute Duo, and Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha.

Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata (Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend)

Do not let the fanservice in the first episode fool you, Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata, translated as Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, or Saekano for short, is an ingenious commentary on Otaku culture and the harem genre that follows Tomoyo Aki, an Otaku, who, after encountering Megumi Kato, the most beautiful girl that he has ever seen, in a situation reminiscent of a dating-sim, decides to create his own dating-sim with Megumi being the basis for the main character. To create the game, he enlists the help of Eriri Spencer Sawamura, his half-foreigner childhood friend who obviously has feelings for Tomoyo, and Kasumigaoka Utaha, a cold and stoic literary genius, who is also the most popular girl in their high school. However, Eriri and Kasumigaoka are closet Otaku and famous for their doujinshi and light novels. When Tomoyo meets Megumi Kato again, he discovers that she is "not MC material," in that she has absolutely no presence and almost blends into the background, he but hopes to turn her into the model “character” for his game.

Thus far, Saekano a brilliantly written and witty series that points out the problems and tropes of anime, most often the harem genre. To sum it up, Saekano is to harem what Gekkan Shoujo Nozuki-kun is to shoujo. The series features many meta-jokes, with it even breaking the fourth-wall at times. The characters are even self-aware archetypes that frequently reference how their situations are similar to anime, light novels, ect, and the dialogue between the characters is written with so much wit that it is almost like that of the Monogatari franchise at times. 

After the first episode, or rather "Episode 0," which takes place towards the end of the story before rewinding to where it all begins in Episode 1, Saekano does not feature any fanservice, setting it apart from other satirical and commentary anime like Outbreak Company. Episode 0 literally opens with the four female protagonists discussing the wrongs of fanservice in anime while featuring fanservice shots, which makes for amusingly meta-opposing ideals. The rest of the episode parodies the cliché of the harem with each girl making a move on the male protagonist. However, after Episode 0, the following episodes feature zero fanservice with it focusing on the meta-humor and surprisingly interesting characters, so this is one of the only harems without much fanservice and that is a refreshing change of pace.

A-1 Pictures' animation is expectedly impressive with appealing character designs and detailed background art. At times, the movement of the characters looks oddly rotoscoped, but that seems to be fixed in recent episode.

Providing the brilliantly witty dialogue and commentary continues throughout the series, Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend has all the makings of a harem anime that actually breaks the mold to create something smart and well written. After watching the first three episodes of Saekano, I cannot recommend it enough to any Otaku, especially those interested in meta-commentary on the industry. 

Watch if you like: Meta-humor, Satire, Harems, Otaku comedy, 

*8.5/10*

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love! (Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!) 

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!, aka Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!, takes a typical magical girl anime and switches the gender of the characters to all high school boys, and the results are hysterical! Bouei-bu Love features the typical plot of a mahou shoujo anime with a magical animal, in this case a Wombat, giving the group of characters special powers to fight evil with the “Power of Love!” Bouei-bu Love is 100% pure parody of the mahou shoujo genre. From the characters' questioning why they must shout their magical powers in English to the absurdity of a transformation sequence when it features a guy instead of a girl, Bouei-bu Love is wacky satire at its finest. Surprisingly, after the first episode used a lot jokes about the genre, I entirely expected that the series could not keep up the laughs in the following episodes, and yet episodes two and three are just as funny. In addition, the innuendo and blatant corniness makes everything even more hilarious. Anyone that has seen mahou shoujo anime like Sailor Moon should find the jokes in Bouei-bu Love a blast, especially if you are a fan of the genre!

Of course, being a parody, Bouei-bu Love is obviously lacking in characterization and story. Each character is a humorous archetype and their reactions to the absurdity of the situation and magical girl tropes are certainly entertaining, but nothing special. 

As a satirical parody of mahou shoujo genre, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! is a success. It makes you laugh at the insanity of what is happening and if you are familiar with the tropes, you will enjoy it even more. However, if you do not find the first episode funny, the series is just not for you.

Watch if you like: Comedy, Mahou shoujo, Wackiness, 

*7.7/10*

Absolute Duo

In Absolute Duo's world, certain people have the ability to summon a Blaze, a weapon that is the manifestation of the user's soul. Typically, Blazes are offensive weapons like swords and hammers; however, Tōru’s Blaze is a shield, which sets him apart with the other Blaze users. To learn how to use a Blaze, Tōru goes to a special academy for Blaze users, and in the academy, every student must team-up with another student to form an "Absolute Duo," as they work together to graduate from the school while sharing a dorm room. Being an ecchi/harem, of course Tōru is paired with the white-haired and shy bishoujo, Julie Sigtuna. 

Among the season's ecchi anime, Absolute Duo manages to set itself just ahead most of the pack. While the set up is as clichéd as they come, Julie is not the typical archetype for the main harem girl. She is shy and cute, and much like Chaika from Hitsugi no Chaika, she sometimes speaks in adorable broken Japanese since she is from Eastern Europe. Julie also references Norse mythology since Tōru's name sounds similar to Thor, the Norse god of thunder. With all that said, Absolute Duo is still a trope filled ecchi/harem with several random tropes, like the bunny-ear-wearing teacher, and medium fanservice throughout. Unfortunately, after featuring high quality animation in last season's Fruit of Graisa, Studio 8-Bit's work on Absolute Duo, while above average, is nothing special. The character designs are simple yet effective and the action sequences are surprisingly entertaining though. 

Three episodes in, Absolute Duo is riddled with the flaws of a typical ecchi/harem. However, it is just amusing enough to keep me watching; granted, I am a completionist, so I do not drop shows easily.

Watch if you like: Ecchi/harem,

*6.0/10*

Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha

The anime opens with Toujo Basara's father telling him that he is going to remarry and that his two new step-sisters, Mio and Maria, will move in with them. However, as events unfold, it turns out that Mio and Maria are not normal girls, but rather the daughter of the Demon Lord and her succubus! To the girls' surprise, Basara is not a typical high school student either. In fact, he and his father are members of a hero clan that fight monsters and other supernatural beings. With his father going overseas, Basara decides to take girls under his protection as other evil clans try to take Mio's Demon Lord powers, and that is the set up for Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha, aka The Testament of Sister New Devil.
Thus far, the series is an entertaining watch. As is now becoming the norm, the main character is not an oblivious oaf, but rather a variation of Fruit of Graisa's scarred protagonist, except with a lot more humanity and less stoicness. Mio's character design is much like the redheaded vixen, Rias Gremory, although she is far shyer and more easily embarrassed than Rias, and her succubus companion, Maria, seems like a familiar archetype, although I cannot remember the term typically used.
Production IMS' animation, while not amazing, is above average and generally appealing to look at, with the magical powers being colorful.
Of the winter's ecchi anime, The Testament of Sister New Devil stands just above the rest in its genre. It might not be particularly original, with it featuring elements reminiscent of the infamous Highschool DxD, but the world and characters are just charming enough to make it a fun ride. Do not expect anything groundbreaking or original, but if you want to watch a fantasy ecchi series then this is the one for you. 

Watch if you like: Ecchi,

*6.4/10*

What winter anime are you watching? Are you interested in any of the series that I have reviewed today? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Death Parade Episodes 1-3 Review

To kick off my winter anime impressions, I am reviewing the one anime that everyone should be watching, Death Parade. 

"Welcome to Queen Dekim," a bar where two people mysteriously appear, not knowing why or how they arrived. A white-haired bartender, Dekim, greets them with the statement, "From here you two shall begin a battle where your lives hang in the balance." The two people compete in a randomly selected game, ranging from darts to an arcade game, where their fates hang in the balance. However, not everything is as it seems as the true nature of the Death Game is slowly revealed often resulting in a thrilling and emotional ride from beginning to end.

Based on the Death Billiards OVA, Death Parade is a series that takes the concept presented in Death Billiards, and after watching Death Billiards, Death Parade became my most hyped anime of the winter season, and it does not disappoint.

Death Parade's first episode is one of the best pilot episodes of any anime that I have ever seen. It is suspenseful, shocking, emotionally gripping, and thought-provoking. Everything from Madhouse's stunning visuals to the voice actors' performances made the first episode a truly intense experience. Throughout the first episode you will begin to question which character is in the right and the motivations for their actions. Despite having seen the OVA, which reveals the concept, the big reveal in the first episode still gave me chills. In fact, if you have the choice, watch the pilot episode of Death Parade before watching the Death Billiards OVA for the maximum experience. 

Episode two provides a different view on the events of the first episode as it essentially tells the viewer the entire setup and reason for the series. Despite not being suspenseful and gripping like the first episode, it provides the necessary exposition and set up, so that the following episodes can focus on the individual stories. However, at the end of the second episode, even more layers are added to the complexity of the first episode. 

Episode three takes an entirely different angle to the format of the series with a more calming tone, opposed to the thriller of the first episode. However, the payoff is still effective.

From the beginning, Death Parade reminded me of another episodic series with a white-haired main character, Mushishi. Much like Mushishi, Death Parade features an episodic structure with each episode focusing on new characters with themes of the human condition. Of course, Death Parade is thrilling while Mushishi is calming, but if Death Parade's episodic writing holds up throughout the series, we are in for one of the season's best anime. 

Madhouse's animation is absurdly high quality with realistic character designs and detailed background art, even the touch of 3D animation blends well. Also, the opening song, "Flyers" by Bradio, is easily the best of the winter season, while also being misleading to the series tone (watch it below).

With its insanely high production values, riveting drama, and thought-provoking themes, Death Parade is an absolute must-watch that everyone should be watching! 

Watch if you like: Drama, Supernatural, Suspense thrillers, Episodic stories, Stunning animation, Mushishi,

*9.0/10*

Have you seen Death Parade? Do you plan to watch it? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Your Lie in April (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso) Review

More fall anime reviews continue with Your Lie in April!

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April)

From episode four onwards, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April) was an early standout as one the season's premiere anime. 

After the death of his mother, piano prodigy, Kousei suffered from a mental breakdown that prevents him from hearing the music as he plays and makes him view the world in monotone, which leads him to quit playing the piano. However, after his childhood friend, Tsubaki Sawabe, introduces him to Kaori Miyazono, a beautiful and free-spirited violinist with a style that reflects her personality, Kaori's music helps Kousei see the world of music in color once again. What follows is the makings of a beautiful drama with elements of romance and a touch of comedy.

No better word decides Kimi no Uso than beautiful, simply beautiful. Even though the first three episodes did not have me hooked, episode four the introduce story elements that would be the driving force of the entire series. More than halfway through the series, Kimi no Uso is one of the most compelling dramas since Nagi no Asakura and Golden Time. Despite using some of the most standard romance cliches, like the childhood friend, the series manages to set itself apart with a surprisingly dark backstory that is all too realistic and believable that covers a topic not often discussed in anime. Even though the series is a romance, the romance element is not the main draw, but rather the drama between the characters and Kousei's struggle to play the piano again. Kousei's struggle is also surprisingly emotional. In addition to the dark drama and romance, Kimi no Uso throws in some humor. While it is misplaced in the first few episodes, the humor actually makes the characters and world feel real. Even if someone has a tragic past, life can still be fun and humorous at times, and the humor in the series, for the most part, reflects this sentiment. 

What makes the drama and characters even more compelling is the presentation of the series. Being a music anime, Kimi no Uso's pieces of classical music played by the piano and violin, my favorite instrument, are charged with emotion and simply stunning to behold. To complete the package, A-1 Pictures' animation and visual symbolism is positively sublime! From the character designs to the visual style, A-1 Pictures are at the top of their game. Throw in one of the best opening songs of the year and you have one of the most stunning visual and audio experiences of the year. Providing the series does not take a complete nosedive in the next final episodes, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso should turn out to be one of the best anime of 2015, so expect to see an in-depth review when the series ends.

Watch if you like: Drama, Classical music, Stunning animation, Romance,

*8.7/10*

More Fall Anime Reviews:
Fall Anime Review: Part 1
Fall Anime Review: Part 2
Fall Anime Review: Part 3

The Fruit of Grisaia
In Search of the Lost Future
Terra Formars
Rage of Bahamut: Genesis
Wolf Girl and Black Prince
Yona of the Dawn
Yuki Yuna is a Hero

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Avengers: Age of Ultron: A Discussion about Trailers

This is going to sound crazy, but I have not watched the new Age of Ultron trailer, but hear me out. The first Avengers film had an incredibly exciting trailer that showed us a glimpse the World's Mightiest Heroes finally coming together on the big screen for the first time. However, there was one problem; it showed a relatively big spoiler for the film: the Hulk catching Iron Man as he is falling. Sure, it might have been the big effects shot, but did we really need to see it? The trailer did more than enough to make everyone hyped, so that one clip only served to spoil a big moment, and that is exactly what I am trying to avoid the problem again. Right now, I know everything that I want to know about the movie, and obviously I am going to see it in theaters, so what's the point in watching the trailer? On the other hand, even though I am obviously going to see the Star Wars film, right now, I want to know more, which is why I plan to watch its trailer when it comes out, and the same goes for Ant-Man. Unlike Age of Ultron, I do not know enough about either Star Wars or Ant-Man.  However, for something as big as Age of Ultron, I want to watch the movie knowing as little as possible so that I can have the best experience possible. Other movies have had trailers that spoil way too much, to the point of even ruining the movie, so my policy with certain movies is complete avoidance. What is your opinion of avoiding trailers and the spoilers that are contained within them? Are you also angry that studios release trailers with such big spoilers? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Gugure! Kokkuri-san Review

Gugure! Kokkuri-san, possibly the funniest anime of 2014, maybe ever....

Gugure! Kokkuri-san follows Kohina Ichimatsu, an expressionless elementary student, who lives alone and proclaims herself to be a doll, and she only eats instant cup noodles. 

"One day, she plays the Kokkuri game by herself and summons the fox spirit Kokkuri-san who, upon seeing her unhealthy lifestyle, takes it upon himself to become her guardian and raise her properly." What ensues is a hilarious series full of wacky antics, hysterical characters, and a surprising amount of heart.

The Good: Hysterical from beginning to end, Unforgettable characters, Fun art style, Surprisingly emotional ending, Hilarious movie and anime references, Superb voice cast, Insanely entertaining, Clever comedy, Fittingly wacky opening song, Brilliant foreshadowing,

The Bad: 

Plot: 8.5/10- Gugure! Kokkuri-san's premise is certainly out there, even for an anime, and yet it manages to take its wacky concept and make it work. Where the series' plot excels is in that among the absurdity, there are several episodes that feature stories with a surprising amount of emotional weight and tragedy, while still retaining the superb comedy. Not every episode is like this, and even the tone of the sadder storylines is still rather lighthearted, but it is effective to adding another layer to what could have been a pointless comedy.
*Possible Major Spoilers* However, what rises the series above most other comedy is how it foreshadows a certain element that is not revealed until to the end, and yet, even after the reveal, it is not entirely obvious, so you have to actually think about to fully understand. In retrospect, there is a lot of foreshadowing in almost every episode, and yet you do not realize what it is trying to say until the end, which is just brilliant. Among comedy, few have better endings. *End Spoilers*

Characterization: 9.1/10- Much like the summer's premiere comedy, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, Gugure! Kokkuri-san's main source of humor comes from the entertaining interaction between the characters.

Kohina is the elementary student, who proclaims that she is a doll. Kohina emotionless-doll persona is a large aspect of her character, since she almost never shows any emotion, but rather causes trouble for Kokkuri-san, which, in turn, creates humor. As a character, Kohina does not necessarily change; however, Kohina is the centerpiece to which the rest of the cast revolves around, so the lack of true development is not an issue.
The titular character, Kokkuri-san, tries to be a responsible guardian to Kohina. He continually conflicts with Kohina, which has hilarious results! Of the characters, Kokkuri-san is easily the most well developed, thanks a certain plot point at the end.

The other two main cast members are Inugami and Shigaraki. Both of these characters produce a lot of humor through their interaction with Kokkuri-san and Kohina. In addition to those characters, the series features many side characters, who are usually introduced in one episode that heavily features said character and then are used later in the series in a smaller capacity for hilarious effect.

Acting: 9.5/10- The series' features my favorite Seiyuu (voice actor) from 2014, Daisuke Ono, who also starred other series like Barakamon, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Black Butler, and obviously, he is fantastic in the role of Kokkuri-san! The rest of the cast is perfect for their roles as well, with each playing off of each other to great comedic effect.

Animation: 8.0/10- TMS Entertainment's animation of the series is quite good overall. Being a comedy, there is not a lot of need for fluid animation, but rather humorous expressions, and it hits the mark in that respect. It also uses bishounen character designs well.

Soundtrack: 7.1/10- Despite being a comedy, there are several tracks that are quite good.

Humor: 10/10- Gugure! Kokkuri-san, along with Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, are the funniest anime that I have ever seen. Only Gekkan has made me laugh more while watching it! Of course humor is subjective, but Kokkuri-san’s perfect blend of slapstick, parody, and wacky humor produces a ton of laughs! In addition, there are quite a few references to movies and anime, including a few Hollywood classics that everyone is bound to catch. Also, it almost never relies on fanservice humor.

Opening and Ending: 8.5/10- The opening theme, "Welcome!! DISCO Kemokemoke," performed by the voice actors, is a fittingly wacky and hilarious song for the series, and the ending, "This Merry-Go-Round Song," is a very good song on its own right.

Entertainment Value: 9.9/10- The anime's sense of humor never ceased to entertain! 

Overall: 9.0/10- Gugure! Kokkuri-san is a comedy anime done right. While your personal taste in humor will decide whether or not you will find the series entertaining, thanks to the varied cast of characters and surprising character depth at the end, Gugure! Kokkuri-san is a unique and unforgettable comedy that will be among my favorites for years to come.

Closing comments: Hopefully, a second season will come, because we all need more Gugure! Kokkuri-san!

Recommended for: Comedy fans, Parody fans, Fantasy fans,
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.