JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – ISEKAI CHEAT MAGICIAN – MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Isekai Cheat Magician

Genre: Isekai, fantasy

Studio: Encourage Films

Hello mis amigos.

Welcome to another entry

Here I am, putting myself to date, reviewing isekai that I should have reviewed months ago. And now, it is time to seal this old wound.

This entry here is a bit special, because I read some other reviews, giving a pretty low score to this anime I am reviewing now. But, since it is always important to have your voice, I decided to watch this anime anyway, and have my own thoughts,

Having said that, here is…

And before I continue, I want to always remind you to keep yourselves safe, do not forget to have good hygiene and eat well, because COVID-19 is still out there, being a very dangerous and unpredictable disease you must be always careful about.

Now, let’s go with Isekai Cheat Magician.

PREMISE

Based on the light novels written by Takeru Uchida, and illustrated by the renown Nardack, Isekai Cheat Magician follows the adventures of childhood friends Taichi Nishimura and Rin Azuma, who, in allisekai fashion, are transported to another world by a magical circle that appears beneath them, the new world is called Altia. Immediately they are attacked by a dark unicorn with an obsidian horn. And after being rescued by some adventurers and register as such, they realise that they have an amazing power unlike anything seen in Altia.

Now, with the help of Magicians Muller and Lemia, both Taichi and Rin must become great magicians in order to find answers of who transported them to Altia and why. Isekai Cheat Magician was released in 12 episodes, on July 2019, by Encourage Films, the studio behind Senki Zesshou Symphogear, and as June 2020, there is no news of any OVAs or second season. Nevertheless, one thing that I really want to point out is that opening song, Panta Rhei, performed by Myth&Roid, is wonderful.

Now, there is something to keep in mind about Altia. There are two types of Magicians, one are the normal magicians, who cast spells based in the elements of earth; Fire, Water, Earth and Wind, and must form a pact with the spirits in order to make spells. The other types of magicians are the Unique Magicians, who, aside from using the force of the spirits directly, can also alter Time-Space and make summonings. From what I saw in the second episode, the Unique Magicians are also considered sorcerers.

While Rin is able to manipulate all of the elements, being a Quad Magician, Taichi can «cheat» these rules.

There comes the name… Isekai Cheat Magician.

The series is directed by Daisuke Tsukushi, who directed some episodes of series like Amagami SS and Date A Live.

STORY

Now, as much as I adore the art of Nardack, I am not going to mention her or the novels, for if there is anything that I learn from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and its novelisations, is that the movie must always be self-reliant. And as such, I must focus just in the anime.

And this is where I started to struggle, because indeed there is a lot to say about Isekai Cheat Magician… and most of it is negative. If you read my previous entries about Hamefura, Tensei Slime and Princess Connect: Re Dive, you will remember that I said that isekai genre will always surprises us with its creativity, as long as it is in the right mind. Well, there is hardly anything that stands out in the first episodes of Isekai Cheat Magician. Both the story and the isekai troupes are in autopilot. I found it pretty standard, taking every single element we already have seen from other isekai anime.

1. There is a big danger in another world.
2. One hero from Japan is summoned.
3. He/she joins to a Guild.
4. There is a mentor that trains the hero, or a goddess for that matter.
5. Turns out that the hero is overpowered.
6. He/she is an harem.
7. Some adventures defeating evil, or the Demon King

Honorable mention – Idilic soundtrack and the multiple races.

Isekai Cheat Magician follows this scheme pretty well, but aside from the rules of the magicians, there is nothing that makes it unique, even the main characters are so baisc, but I’ll talk about that later.

Another problem is that when the episode needs to go slow, it goes fast, and when it needs to go fast, it is slow… SO DAMN SLOW. Case in point, when Taichi and Rin start their training; at the beginning, it goes well, it is well-paced and you start to root for our main protagonists; however, the next scene, you feel like…

Am I missing something?

Perhaps I am being too harsh, but after seeing stories like The Rising of the Shield Hero, and Arifureta, you appreciate more the possibilities of isekai, the multiples perspectives; but I feel that Isekai Cheat Magician is not one of them, and I quote a very important sentence from Angry Video Game Nerd from reviewing Tom Cruise’s The Mummy with Nostalgia Critic:

«It follows every modern trend without creating anything unique.»

I don’t know if the light novels are the same. I sincerely doubt that, but I wasn’t very satisfied with this adaptation, even the animation feels like a copy from Danmachi or Goblin Slayer, in lightning, in colour scheme, the night feeling, the day feeling. Also, the battles are pretty boring.

Ok. I am not saying that every isekai has to leave an everlasting impact on us. I am saying that it should try to do something to stand out, in either characters or story. Well, Isekai Cheat Magician at least has some coherence and world-building, unlike In Another World with my Smartphone. (Seriously, that concept is kind of ludicrous.)

But like I said, I am being very harsh. I will watching the other episodes… or die trying.

CHARACTERS

Furthermore, I wasn’t very invested with Taichi and Rin. They are so boring. We know that they are childhood friends, but we don’t know anything else about them. I think Rin is part of the tennis team, but that is really never explored. I have to admit that their design is pretty decent, both look good, in both school uniforms and magicians uniforms, but sadly, we never got deep in their pasts. If the series didn’t any mention about them growing together, I will be happy with that.

Many will argue that Subaru, Kazuma and Naofumi were similar; they are layabouts, otakus and shut-ins from their families, but even before being transported to their worlds, we have a solid glimpse of who they truly are in the real world, and they evolve physically and mentally. I don’t think Taichi and Rin will have the same construction.

Also, Muller, in terms of design, is not different from any mentor or adventurous blonde elf, with green-themed clothes.

Yeah. I know that the High Elf Archer has green hair, but you get the idea.

But, if there is one character that perhaps I say stands out… its Lemia.

Aside from her relaxed personality, very reminiscent to Vanessa, from Black Clover, her outstanding beauty makes her interesting. But, makes me feel guilty for praising her looks like that.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Isekai Cheat Magician might be entertaining if you are looking for a pretty standard isekai adventure who definitely follows the troupes of the genre and ensures some fun, but if you are looking for a story like The Rising of the Shield Hero or Arifureta, perhaps this is not the one for you.

Or try to read the light novels; the art from Nardack will never bore you.

Well. Review is finished. And you know what that means… Time for me to disappear.

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME – MY OWN IMPRESSSION

That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime

Genre: Fantasy, Isekai

Studio: Eight Bit

Hey guys.

And welcome to another anime reviews. I apologise for not writing for a long time; the issue is that I have been in a very important project. One that has took me years. Honestly, I hope I can have it ready by the end of this 2020.

But anyway. Here I am again. with another impression of an anime. I really wanted to talk about, in my opinion, one of the best isekai ever done. The title says it all, but I will repeat anyway…

THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME

Furthermore, there is another reason of why I am reviewing this anime now; I knew that a second season was going to be released in these days, unfortunately it was postponed to January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes me worried about other second seasons, or remaining seasons for that matter, due to a high possibility of a new moving date.

Nevertheless, that reminds me…

Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy and safe?

If the answer is yes, then I am very happy. Because remember…

COVID-19 IS STILL DANGEROUS

Especially after the news from New Zealand, and new confirmed cases in Australia.

Anyway… let’s go to the east… to the west…

PREMISE

I also want to cuddle that slime

Based on the light novels written by Fuse and illustrated by Mitz Vah, That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime (Or Tensei Shitara Suraimu Datta Ken for its name in Japanese), tells the story of Satoru Mikami, a single 37-year-old salaryman who, during a meeting with a co-worker and his fiancee, gets stabbed to death. Shortly after his demise, he gets incarnated into apparently the weakest creature of this new world, a slime. Or is it? Not really! Because after his awakening, he got a really powerful ability, «Predator», which allows him to absorb every power and mimic it. During his first days, the slime befriends a sealed dragon, called Veldora. After releasing him from his prison, Veldora allows the slime to absorb him and grant him his power.

Shortly, the slime comes to see the world, with a new name… Rimuru Tempest.

Yeah. I know. It is a really long premise, but somehow this gives the impression of what we are going to see in this isekai series. Firstly, when I read about the premise, I ask to myself…

How is possible to do an isekai with a slime as a protagonist?

Of course, on those days, I was absolutely ignorant about the genre. By then, I just have seen Re:Zero, Konosuba, Youjo Senki, Log Horizon, Magic Knight Rayearth, so I still have no idea of how powerful was the isekai genre. But then I saw Overlord, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Overly Cautious Hero, and my knowledge about isekai improved.

But I will continue talking about of their respective versions. For now, I will say that the anime of Tensei Slime (Yeah, that is how I will call it now), was released on October 2, 2018, and this first series consists of 24 episodes and apparently five OVAs. The first opening, «Nameless Story», performed by Takuma Terashima, is one of the best songs I have ever heard, and its second intro, «Another Colony», performed by True, is also extraordinary; I recommend both songs.

And regarding the second season… Fingers crossed that the pandemic will be solved too. And before I move on… there will an anime based on the spin-off, The Slime Diaries, will be released in April 2021.

And now…

STORY

After Rimuru Tempest starts travelling around this new world, every single episode is a big introduction to many of its elements, especially in landscape and in races; we see goblins, ogres, lizardmen, humans, fairies, spirits, demon lords., and all of these races are among many of the elements that moves every episode. Because, at least for this first season, we are witness of how the actions of Rimuru influences a lot of the plot. Ok. I will go with this details later. But the story is basically about how Rimuru adapts to this new life, not just with the help of his powers, but also with the help of his wit. Those who know me, already know that this is one of the elements I really like about a protagonist; To be a man of action, and Rimuru uses every talent available to defeat his enemies and overcome his obstacle, reason of why I believe it makes Rimuru Tempest one of the best protagonist on the anime season of 2018. But again, I will talk about that later.

In this sense, everything evolves; while Rimuru becomes stronger, the rest of the story also evolves. And of course, there is always a very important enemy that Rimuru must defeat so often. And let me tell you… those battles are epic, and the scale of the enemies is so big that it makes for a great experience when the occasion arrives.

So yeah, there is a true evolution of the world and in the characters. And that is precisely the idea of this story. As the title states, it is about how someone has a new life as a new lifeform, in a new world. And in that sense, Tensei Slime delivers a charming, engaging story. And it is delivered with notorious imagination, and memorable animation, that it immediately makes Tensei Slime really unique.

In other words, it succeeds in making us live the life in a new world, just like Youjo Senki and The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Furthermore, the animation is pretty wonderful too. I have to admit that I didn’t see much of the previous work from Eight Bit, except for the two seasons of Infinite Stratos, but now I see the resemblance; after all, Infinite Stratos has a great balance in managing of colours; when it is day, you really feel like it is day, and when it is night, it feels like a pleasant night. But in Tensei Slime, the palette of colours is more varied, something that makes this new world more vivid.

CHARACTERS

GABIRU!!! GABIRU!!! GABIRU!!!

Oh wow!!! The characters in Tensei Slime are just fantastic. Rimuru Tempest, is without a doubt, one of the best anime protagonists of the 21st century, because he has such a great development in every aspect; appearance, powers, knowledge, friendships. No wonder he was voted as the Best Male Protagonist at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2019. Also, the rest of its cast has a neat evolution, from both their experiences with Rimuru Tempest, and the great difference we noticed between episodes.

And aside from Rimuru, I got some personal favourites, including Gabiru, and ….

Benimaru

Souka

Gobta

Shion…

YEAH!!! WOW!!!

And finally…

Demon Lord Milim

Who, I think, got the same fashion adviser from Jack the Ripper, of Fate:Apocrypha.

As you see, each of the characters have a really nice design and personality, adding a great flavour toward this isekai.

And actually, it makes me feel why isekai genre would hardly age, due to the great possibilities in everything.

CONCLUSION

Let’s be strong guys!!! Season two will come!

To sum up, That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime is a very entertaining series and a great addition in the isekai genre. One of my favourite series. And who knows what we will find in the second season.

Overall, this is one of the reasons of why I really like fantasy anime a lot, because it proves that a mixture of quantity and quality, and of course, a lot of imagination, makes for a really great experience.

Wow!!! I have talked about a series about a very unlikely hero in the isekai, now, it is time for me to show in another proposal, a dark, petite girl with a very dark reputation that will cause to feel fear and makes you think you are facing a demon.

That’s right…

Time for Catarina Claes to shine.

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – GeGeGe no Kitaro (2018) – First Impressions

GeGeGe no Kitaro

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural

Hey Guys.

Welcome to another anime review.

And today, I am going to make a review of another anime that I really wanted to do from the very beginning. And I mean… since it was released in April, 2018.

From Shigeru Mizuki (Showa: A his tory of Japan, Hitler), here comes…

GeGeGe no Kitaro (Sixth series)

But before I continue, I must ask you guys, the typical question…

Are you guys Ok? Feeling healthy? 

If the answer is yes, then I am happy, especially because in these times, the coronavirus is still creating so much misery and death around the world. So please… I beg you… DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE CORONAVIRUS!! Because the consequences will be disastrous.

With that said, let’s go with the review.

PREMISE

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Shigure Mizuki (1922-2015), GeGeGe no Kitaro (In English Kitaro of the Graveyard), tells the history of Kitaro, a yokai boy and one of the last members of the Ghost Tribe, who takes care of the balance and peace between humans and yokai.

And, only for those who don’t know, Yokai is the name of some ghosts, monsters and spirits from the Japanese Mythology (Kappa, Oni, Kitsune, Bakemono, Obake, etc.). 

Now, many consider GeGeGe no Kitaro as the series that introduced Yokai to both Japanese and Western audiences. Furthermore, this version of 2018 (that’s correct) had another previous series since its release in 1968.

Let me give you the roster.

1. 1st series (1968-1969)
2. 2nd series (1971-1972)
3. 3rd series (1985-1988)
4. 4th series (1996-1997)
5. 5th series (2007-2009)

Also, it has two live-action films, released in 2007 and 2008, and an anime film, from 2008 as well. And all of the series have been animated by Toei Animation. In other words, it is a landmark Japanese franchise (Like Godzilla, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Devilman, Mazinger Z, etc.). But, to be honest, I am surprised that it has not been more popular with Western audiences.

At least, from my perspective.

Anyway. This new series has already got more than 90 episodes. (90 episodes!!!). It kind of reminds me of Black Clover, in the sense that it has completely got such a big presence with almost no effort.

STORY

Forgive me guys, but I must repeat myself.

The story is all of these wonderful characters trying to get the peace between humans and yokai. And the sixth series adapts many of the original manga written by Shigeru Mizuki (Vampire Tree, Miage-Nyudo, Yokai Castle, Electric Yokai, etc), with some anime-exclusive story arcs.

To those unfamiliar to GeGeGe no Kitaro, perhaps it will be hard to locate some of these stories, especially since the original manga was published between 1960-1969, by Kodansha; however, I want to assure that the tone, along with this beautiful animation, are enough for hooking up the fan with some of these interesting stories, along with the beautiful characters, but I will get to there later.

Back to the story, there is a great balance between comedy, fantasy, horror, and mystery…. A GOOD ONE, NOT THE MONSTROSITY THAT IS…

GHOST STORIES DUBBED BY ADV FILMS

All of these stories are self-contained, but they contribute in an amazing way to all the mythos of the work of Shigeru Mizuki, along with the understanding of the Japanese mythology. Now I see why GeGeGe no Kitaro became so popular. And I apologise with all of those for being so harsh with Ghost Stories, but I still can’t believe that that English Dub even exists.

Well. At least it brings hips of amazing guilty laughs.

Anyway. every episode from GeGeGe no Kitaro has a good rhythm and a character development that is solid enough that helps you to sympathise with each of these characters, especially, because there are not bad guys or good guys… No! I will change my words!

There is no black or white in GeGeGe no Kitaro, there is always… grey. Of course there are bad guys and good guys, but with most of the cast, there are many complex issues that you can say.

«Wow! This is the kind of problems that the yokai would face in real-life, especially in the 21st Century.»

And that’s one of the best qualities of this sixth anime. It will be hard to tell, for this is my first GeGeGe no Kitaro experience, but indeed is one I will always remember.

Nevertheless the story is not the only element that makes GeGeGe no Kitaro so endearing.

CHARACTERS

GeGeGe No Kitaro has a lot of memorable characters, including…

Neko-Musume

Medama-Oyaji (The picture speaks for itself)

Nezumi-Otoko

Mana Inuyama

And of course…

OUR HERO… Kitaro

All of them with their own personalities and qualities, something that makes them so interesting. There are also others, like…

AGNES, THE SCARLET WITCH… (HAHA, JUST KIDDING)

There are still many things to say about them. But it is better to watch the series, for it is a very compelling ghost anime that teaches you so much about folklore and mythology. And yes, we have Inuyasha, In/Spectre, Jigoku Shoujo, but GeGeGe no Kitaro offers its own vision.

If you don’t believe me, just ask Neko-Musume. She will say…

CONCLUSION

GeGeGe no Kitaro is a beautiful story that will hook you from the start. And with almost 97 episodes, just imagine all the fun that will give you. Ok, I have to admit that this is not for everybody, but if you are those who enjoy this weird balance between comedy and horror, then I suggest to take a look.

It is available on Crunchyroll.

And remember…

Ge, Ge, GeGeGe no Ge…
Slumbering in bed in the morning
Zzz-zzz-zzz
It’s so fun,
It’s so fun,

 

 

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – Beastars – FIRST IMPRESSIONS

BEASTARS

Genre: Romance, Drama, Thriller

Hey guys, and welcome to another review.

And this time, I am going to do a review that I should have done a long time ago, especially because I suggested this series on my entries What to Expect This Summer 2019, parts 1 and 2.

And that anime is…

BEASTARS

So, this is definitely going to be one hell of a ride. But first, I must ask you guys the typical question.

Are you ok? Keeping fit? Having a good time?

If the answer is yes, then I am happy.

Having said that, let’s start with Beastars.

PREMISE

Before I start, this might be one of the most difficult reviews I have ever done, for I have being watching some episodes, and clips, from Beastars, and I have tried to organise my own thoughts about it in a coherent way. Personally I consider it a very solid anime, but for me, saying that alone is not enough.

And I wanted to figure out the right words for this little gem. Hopefully, by the time I write this review, I will figure out.

Anyway…

Based on the manga written by Paru Itagaki, and published by Shuiesha, Beastars takes place in a world where anthropomorphic creatures, both carnivores and herbivores, are trying to live in peace with each other, mostly with very disastrous results, especially, because some herbivores are hunted and eaten by the carnivores; that is the case of Tem, the alpaca; this crime makes all of the harmony go awry, while it ignites the inner turmoil suffered by Legoshi, a grey wolf and student of the Cherryton Academy, who is struggling with his urge to devour a dwarf rabbit, called Haru, while coping with his own feelings for her.

It is a very peculiar premise, especially because I never thought that I will eventually see an anime like this. And, as I said before, I want to make sure I write a proper review before Netflix releases it.

STORY

I don’t know if you guys remember, but on my entries of What to Expect This Summer…, I mentioned Beastars as a much darker version of Zootopia, or perhaps like a urban fairy tale, mixed with all the sensitivity, social commentary, and wit that only Japanese anime can deliver to us. And by the time you see the first three, or two, episodes of Beastars, you will think the same; for that is one of the best qualities of Beastars.

From my perspective; it delivers the question.

«What if anthropomorphic creatures live as we do, dealing with their instincts and with the social problems we face on a daily basis?»

I know it is a very long question, but that’s the one that Beastars focuses on. Along with Bojack Horseman. In fact, Beastars and Bojack Horseman have a lot in common, primarily because we see a lot of real-life problems. Loneliness, sexual promiscuity, crime, murder, violence, and perhaps… mental illness. And in the case of Beastars, it does that with an honesty and awareness that never comes as either cheesy or patronising. The story simply makes sure that, with every character, it unfolds itself in the most organic way possible.

And that is another strength regarding the story. Each of these characters helps the story to develop in the best way possible, and through them, we see how complicated the world of Beastars is, and, through the interactions between all of these characters, that we understand, while, at the same time, trying to sympathise with all of these characters.

WHAT DOES BEASTARS MEAN, JAIME?

Once again, I apologise, my friends, for jumping all of the sudden like that so quickly. Before I forget, Beastars is an individual, either carnivore or herbivore, who has an amazing talent, reputation and recognition; who is deeply respected inside the Cherryton Academy. And that is exactly what many of our characters are trying to achieve, an status within this complex world.

This is my own interpretation, but I would say that the word Beastars is not just an status, it is also the symbol of everything that happens in the story, and all what makes its universe so attractive.

Anything from the story is open to interpretation, which is already a deep strength, and the inner conflicts of each of its protagonists absolutely helps.

But I will get there in a minute.

And before I forget… That opening (Wild Side, by ALI), really rocks!!! (LOL)

Finally, all these elements are perfectly combined with a beautiful CG animation from Studio Orange (Black Bullet, Land of the Lustrous), that is also careful with both lightning and cinematography, being one with the storytelling.

CHARACTERS

Like I said before, Beastars also has very memorable characters, for one reason. Each one of them has a inner struggle that makes them unique, along with their design. Legoshi trying to control his instincts for the sake of Haru and the herbivores; Haru re-defining the promiscuity that she though gave her status; Louis protecting his humanity after, as an herbivorous Beastar, he became arrogant; Juno trying to prove, with his love to Louis and Legoshi, that harmony is possible.

And let’s not forget the Labrador Jack, who looks like this…

What? OH! SORRY!! STUPID ME, I mean…

Fans of Bojack Horseman… Anyone?

But seriously…

These are some of the most realistic and human anthropomorphic characters I have ever seen. And also the most original, you want all of them succeed, to get over the pain, because you easily identify yourself with them, with any one, especially with the most despicable ones.

I guess this is one of the things that you will end up loving from Beastars. There are no good guys or bad guys, just normal people, trying to survive in a world only them can stand.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, Beastars is one of the most interesting anime from 2019, and definitely one of the best I have ever seen. And I am glad I wrote this review, because it indeed help me to appreciate its story and characters even more. Nonetheless, I kind feel bad, because there is still a lot I wanna say about Beastars, but so little time, perhaps after I rewatch it, I will be able to organise better my ideas and share them properly with you guys.

Furthermore, I feel happy that Beastars made me feel the same good, just like Dorohedoro, and not like Magical Girl Site. Come to think of it, the series with anthropomorphic characters are the one that are reflecting our humanity better.

Perhaps Legoshi and Bojack Horseman can help each other.

And before I go, I would like to say…

 

 

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – Carole & Tuesday

It was a miracle. Yes. It would go down in the history of Mars as The 7-Minute Miracle. This is the story of the two girls who were the driving force behind it.

Gus Goldman

Hey guys. Welcome to another review.

And as I promised, here is one that I was absolutely looking forward to make now.

One of my favourite anime of 2019, and of the century so far.

CAROLE & TUESDAY

Which I think we can consider a little masterpiece for this 2019.

But before I continue with my review, my friends, I must ask you… The Question.

«Are you guys ok?» «Feeling healthy?»

If you are happy, then I am happy too.

Now. Let’s start with the review.

STORY.

Ah!!! Shinichiro Watanabe. No matter how many decades past, you will always remain the same genius as you were when you released Cowboy Bebop.  And your masterpieces are still coming in the forms of…

Samurai Champloo – Space Dandy – Terror in Resonance.

And now we are absolutely delighted with your new masterpiece… Carole & Tuesday. 

Set in the future, during a fully conquered Mars, we follow the story of two young, beautiful aspiring musicians; Carole Stanley, a young orphan who struggles to maintain a job, and Tuesday Simmons, the second child of a renowned politician who is trying to find her place in this world, which is why she runs away from home. Both meet on a beautiful evening at one of the biggest cities of Mars, starting a path that will change their lives forever.

Aside from Carole and Tuesday, we still have a delightful roster of equally wonderful characters, including Gus Goldman, a former drummer who quickly becomes their manager, Roddy, a sound technician that works with one of the best DJs of Mars, Ertegun, Tao, a music producer who composes songs with the help of Artificial Intelligences, and of course…

One of the greatest antagonists of anime of 2019.

Angela Carpenter

And of course, how could I forget Dahlia, Angela’s… «guardian»; Spencer Simmons, Tuesday’s older brother, as well as their mother, Valerie. And many other artists, fictional, of course, who show their own talent to this wonderfully crafted story, Flora, Ezekiel, Skip Collins, Joshua, Ertegun… everyone.

Personally, this anime could be released in a better time, for we just got really entertaining movies like Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody, and an upcoming Beatles documentary by Peter Jackson, Let It Be, so this is a perfect opportunity to include a musical anime.

And who better director than a really great fan of music like Shinichiro Watanabe? And of course… the same studio that produced such wonderful masterpieces, such as Fullmetal Alchemist, and My Hero Academia… Studio Bones!!!

Furthermore, despite being a series about two young musicians, Carole & Tuesday deals with many themes that are relevant nowadays; corruption; immigration, politics, poverty; reality shows. It is an amazing mixture of science fiction, adventure, drama and comedy that develops its characters with great pace and interesting ideas, making each of them as relevant as all our leads; also, despite being an anime taking place in Mars, it is not an over-the-top and ridiculously glorifying franchise like High School Musical, or an average TV show that includes characters based on cliches in a plot we used to see on mainstream, like Glee. 

No. Carole & Tuesday stays very down-to-earth, which makes the story more believable, and the overcoming of the trials of Carole and Tuesday more relatable. In the end, the songs are extremely enjoyable. My personal recommendation are The Loneliest Girl, Unbreakable from Crystal, Move Mountains from Angela, and…

THE GREATEST SONG OF 2019, FROM… THE MERMAID SISTERS. LOL

Better to hear it than to describe it.

it is very hard to explain the feeling of hearing those songs. But from the genius of Mocky, it is like being in front of a kaleidoscope of poetry, lively animation, and relaxing atmosphere, which is the intention of the creators.

Speaking of animation, Carole & Tuesday is co-directed by Motonobu Hori, who directed great anime like this.

GANKUTSUOU, THE COUNT OF MONTECRISTO

Just take a moment to check this beautiful key visual.

Well… the same style of animation and cinematography are included on Carole & Tuesday, with a great combination of bright colours that really is compatible with the respective atmosphere. What do I mean with this? Simple!! That when an episode has a bleak moment, the animation has more opaque colours; and when the story wants to be joyful, the colours are the most vivid.

Personally this last element makes sense if we keep in mind that, not just Motonobu Hori, also Shinichiro Watanabe has a lot of experience in making colour and lightning help to both tell the story and reveal the mood of the characters.

Pay attention to Cowboy Bebop, for example.

Do you feel the mood of the scenes with the animation?

Or even Terror in Resonance.

There is a different atmosphere in each of these stills, one darker than the other. But the mixture helps to tell us something of either the characters or the setting.

And Carole & Tuesday is not the exception.

Lastly, every episode has the name of a popular song.

«Every Breath You Take» «Dancing Queen» «With or Without You»

«Walk This Way» «God only Knows» «Don’t Stop Believin»

As you can see, all the anime is a complete ode to pop songs, music, stars, and the importance of determination of how to make your dreams come true.

CONCLUSION

I cannot stop recommending you, my awesome friends, to experience this incredible beauty called Carole & Tuesday, because I don’t think you will recognise anything like this. And even though is not as good as Cowboy Bebop, definitely Carole & Tuesday is something that you will always want to repeat, again and again.

Indeed, Carole & Tuesday is truly a miracle… Not just because of the wise voice of Crunchyroll.

 

«Can you feel the teardrops of the loneliest girl?»

I definitely can. 

 

 

 

 

 

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – In/Spectre – First Impressions

Hey guys.

And welcome to another anime review.

Today, I will be giving my first impressions about this new jewel Crunchyroll has sent to us as a gift.

IN/SPECTRE

But before that, guys, I must ask you… The Question.

Are you guys ok? How are you feeling?

If you are happy, then I am happy.

Now… let’s get to the review.

PREMISE

Based on the novel from Kyo Shirodaira, In/Spectre tells the story of Kotoro Iwanaga, who was turned into a «Goddess of Wisdom», that keeps the balance between humans and yokai; basically the latter came and asked her to help them with her powers, always accompanied by college student Kuro Sakuragawa. Now, Kotoro lost her left leg and her right eye because of her power, while Kuro has a very sinister secret, one that has made his life a living hell.

Case in point, he broke with his girlfriend because of a kappa (Sorry buddy, I know how it feels. Even though I didn’t break up with mine due to a kappa).

Anyway. The roster includes police officer Saki Yumihara, Detective Terada, and TV idol Karin Nanase.

Now. Let’s do something, my friends. I will show you the cover of the novel, and please take a minute to see what kind of feeling inspires you.

Do you think it was dread? Uneasiness? Like this is going to be a horror anime?

Well, that was exactly what I thought from In/Spectre the first time I saw it. But after watching the key visuals, and the first episode, I was surprised that the tone, apparently, is lighter than I excepted (Or shall I say… Espectred?), perhaps to the point of being kid-friendly (Not really).

Furthermore, every time I read In/Spectre, I can’t help myself but to think in the last James Bond movie, Spectre. Don’t worry; that will be fixed when No Time to Die is released.

Now. I have no problem with a supernatural anime with a light tone. In fact, I think I can enjoy this anime, for I enjoyed its episode. It adds a bit of variety, especially after watching Boogiepop and Others and The Promised Neverland.

STORY

Kotoko Iwanaga (Akari Kito) was kidnapped when she was 11 years old by the yokai, who ask her to become a Goddess of Wisdom, which she accepted. She is waiting in a hospital bench for Kuro Sakuragawa (Mamoru Miyano), who keeps visiting his cousin Rikka. Once they meet, Kotoko reminds him of that time where she «saved» his life when Kuro tripped in the same hospital, two years ago. She confesses her feelings toward him and, as bold as brass, asks him to be her boyfriend.

Afterwards, Kuro reveals that the reason  he broke up with Saki was because he was «terrified» of that «terrifying» kappa, so much that he run away, in the end,  he was called a «coward». Nevertheless, Kotoko discovers the truth; firstly, kappas are peaceful, and it was Saki the one f&*king scared of seeing a yokai out of nowhere, ultimately realising the kind of power her fiance has. (Sorry, they were engaged), and unable to continue with him.

Of course, Kuro rejects Kotoro, but she does not give up; and then she returns to Kuro asking for his help, because a very scary yokai is attacking a nearby library. Kuro reluctantly accepts to help Kotoro defeating the monster. During this mission, he got his arm ripped apart, but he doesn’t care. Then it’s revealed that…

SPOILERS ALERT…

 

KURO’S BODY IS POISONOUS FOR THE YOKAIS

 

For the first time, the conflict, motivations of the characters, tone and setting of the series are established. And the animation, under the hood of Brain’s Base (Durarara!!, Princess Jellyfish, Endride), is pretty endearing, and despite being ordered for 12 episodes only, I think In/Spectre has a lot to offer in terms of story. They even can have a second season. Who knows?

In/Spectre is directed by Kenji Gotoh, who, believe it or not, worked in Thundercats, Transformers and Ronin Warriors as animator, and directed Endride as well, so we can at least say that there is a very experienced people in charge. Furthermore, the opening song, Mononoke in the Fiction, is performed by Uso to Chameleon, and the ending, Last Dance, is performed by Mamoru Miyano.

CHARACTERS

Well… since this is only the first episode, there is not too much to say about character that was not already mentioned. Firstly, I think both Kotoro and Kuro are very interesting. For the record, I find Kotoro’s perseverance regarding her feelings toward Kuro very cute. And the more I read about Kuro, the more I want to know about him.

Their design is pretty nice, especially from the kappa. It is funny, because both Kuro and Kotoro has their own vision of the kappa, and the episode show us that with both comedy and suspense, marking the own perspectives of both of them.

Like I said, it is just the first episode, so there is a lot for us to see of In/Spectre, and for those who haven’t read either the novel or the manga, some interesting surprises might come.

Anything can happen.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, In/Spectre has a lot of potential, I enjoyed this first episode, as much as I enjoyed Keep your Hands off Eizouken!!. I have to admit it is disappointing to me to realise that this anime is only of 12 episodes. But if it is successful enough, we might see more episodes delivered to us. That makes me really excited.

And with an animation like this, I think this is going to be a really worthy trip. Hey!! Boogiepop and Others surprised me too, so perhaps I should stick with this little jewel.

And you should too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-Kun!! First Impressions

OH MY DEVIL!!!!

Hey Guys, this is Jaime again.

Welcome to another anime review. And this time, I am focusing in a little entry that has kept my attention since last October, but that only I was able to see carefully right now.

And that is…

WELCOME TO DEMON SCHOOL! IRUMA-KUN (Mairimashita! Iruma-kun in Japanese).

But before I continue, I must ask you… The Question.

Are you ok? Feeling happy today?

If the answer is yes, then I am happy as well.

Having said that, let’s go with the review.

WELCOME TO DEMON SCHOOL! IRUMA-KUN

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Osamu Nishi, the story is about Iruma Suzuki, a 14-year-old boy who, incredibly, is sold by his own parents to a demon, called Sullivan, who, again incredibly, welcomes him into his family and adopts him as his grandson. Much to Iruma’s surprise, he is also enrolled into the Babyls School for Demons. And despite having adapted so quickly, Iruma-kun must fight not to let the other students discover he is not a demon, otherwise, he will be eaten. That’s right!!!!

But he is not alone, he has very special friends, like the popular Asmodeus Alice, the wacky, yet adorable Clara Valac, and the imposing and shoujo manga fan student council president, Ameri Azazel, with whom Iruma-kun will live all kind of wacky situations.

Iruma-kun is produced by Bandai Namco Pictures (Aikatsu!, Gintama)

Ok. First things first. As I said before, while i was watching a lot of anime through Crunchyroll and YouTube, I met a lot of references of a new anime series, from which I could only get the words, Demon School,  and then I thought:

Wow!! Is this a spin-off of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba? Awesome. I’ll watch it.

NAH!!! Just kidding! I didn’t thought that. But I decided to leave it for later, for I was watching other anime and focusing in reviewing other stuff. Nevertheless, the more I was into winter/summer anime, the more I was finding clips from Iruma-Kun, so I decided to do my best to watching it. And then, finally, at the beginning of this 2020, I was able to see some of the episodes of Iruma-Kun.

Now, I am more eager to watch it complete, because I really loved the animation and the character design, as well as the characters. Especially this adorable, sweet thing…

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you…

CLARA VALAC

Let me tell you, I got the great feeling that this waifu (Yeah, she has the standards of an amazing waifu!!) will bring a lot of energy and life to Iruma-Kun with her antics and personality, especially because, according to Raim-sensei, she is, and I quote…

«More innocent than a baby, with a 2% of sexiness»

From the moment I saw her face, and read this, I immediately LMFAO to death, and I currently do every time that she says… IRUMA-CHI or AZZ-AZZ. From the beginning, I knew that this character will be a breakout one, and of course, I was right. Every time you see her, she is so simple yet so childish that you want to see and know more from Clara. But the best part is that she is never obnoxious. There is a purpose in everything she does, believe it or not, and there is some cleverness on her character… Kind of.

But I can assure that you will indeed love her. And don’t let the excitable girl trope fool you.

Speaking of interesting female characters, we also got…

Ameri Azazel

Before I start with her, you must know that she is voiced by Saori Hayami, the same seiyuu of this lovely lady.

YUMEKO JABAMI, from KAKEGURUI

I immediately fall in love with everything related to Saori Hayami. I am kind of her Number 1 Fan!

Anyway, Ameri is the textbook representation of the student council president; strict, stern, doing things by the book, and of course, insanely well-endowed; think about either Eri Ayase or Dia Kurosawa from Love Live!!! But deep inside that authority, she is actually a fan of shoujo manga, but there is a problem… She can’t understand Japanese, so she get Iruma for…

You get it.

And we got…

Asmodeus Alice. 

The best student at Babyls and the son of the noble Asmodeus family.

Of course, he is the pretty boy that begins as the rival of Iruma-kun, but then they become best friends. And just like with Clara and Ameri, as soon as the story established the kind of relationship Alice will have with Iruma-kun, you get to love this character, because the story gives him a motivation, and, combined with his powers and design,  you get a great male character.

One thing that I could not stop wondering is that neither Alice nor Ameri wear the school uniform. This is only mere speculation from me, but it’s because their respective position that both are required have very imposing design, and, honestly, after imagining themselves with the school uniforms, I don’t think either Ameri nor Alice will give the same impression.

Any way…

Naturally, I will not forget our male protagonist, Iruma-kun,

There is something very interesting I noticed about him. I mean, 14 years old, average teenager, very gentle personality, excitable, and blessed with a great power.

You know who I am thinking about?

Izuku Midoriya

And their facial features are very similar.

NOW!! I am not saying Iruma-kun is a rip-off of Midoriya. He is not. But that, for me, both have so much in common that I simply could not let that pass. Nonetheless, I think both are really wonderful protagonists, and their journeys to become something amazing from the opportunities they are granted is what make them more enjoyable to watch.

BRAVO!!!

My apologies. I know I talked too much about the main characters, but that’s because they are great, at least from my perspective, and all of them make Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun more entertaining. I love this series, and I deeply regret not to include it on my What to Expect this Summer/Winter 2019 entries.

Perhaps I should say:

OH MY DEVIL!!!!

Finally, the art is beautiful, the backgrounds are cute and badass, and for me, more is about to come.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun is a worthy entry for you to watch this 2020. Regardless or not you like this high school drama stories, you can definitely take a couple of hours to see it by yourself.

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-Kun is currently available at Crunchyroll

 

 

 

 

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – SAOnline: Alicization – War of the Underworld – LAST IMPRESSIONS

Hey Guys.

Welcome to another anime review. But first….

HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2020

It’s still unbelievable that a new decade has just started. And I am ready for all the new great amazing surprises for this age of 2020s. And I want to start my reviews with something different.

I want to talk to talk about the third cour of SAO: Alicization – War of the Underworld.

But first, let me ask you guys the question:

«Are you guys ok? Do you have a good new year’s eve?

If the answer is yes, then I am happy. Now, on to the review.

Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of the Underworld – SPOILERS ALERT

Alicization – War of the Underworld takes place the battle between Kirito, Alice & Eugeo vs. Quinella, in which Kirito’s fluchlight is damaged, provoking him to be in a catatonic state, and to Alice to take care of him weeks before the war against the Dark Empire. Meanwhile, in the real world, the Ocean Turtle is being assaulted by Gabriel Miller, Poh, and his corps, who want to bring Alice to the Real World for military purposes. Now, Alice must protect Kirito and prepare the Human Empire for the upcoming War of the Underworld, especially now that Eugeo is dead.

And of course, Asuna, with the help of Rinko Kikuoka, and the staff from Rath, must log in the Underworld to save both Kirito and Alice before Miller, logged as Dark Emperor Vector, and Poh, logged as his right man, Vassago, extracts the latter into the Real World.

Ok. First and foremost, for those who read my previous review, or first impressions, from SAO: Alicization, I mentioned that I liked Sword Art Online, but is not the best anime of mine. However, I felt this necessity of watching both Aincraid Online and Fairy Dance Arc again, especially in Latin American dub; and of course the first two cours of SAO: Alicization.

And I loved it. For better or worse, I think Alicization is the best story arc from Sword Art Online ever done, second to Alternative GunGale Online (I don’t include Clover’s Regret, yet). Even from the moment in which Kirito gets injected with that substance that leaves him in coma, and the exact second he wakes up again in Underworld with the STL, you see how slowly the story creates these characters – Kirito, Eugeo, Alice, Tiese, Ronie, and everyone from the Underworld, and of course the Integrity Knights; when both Eugeo and Kirito are taken to the Cathedral, the series not only introduces us to the most important members of the Integrity Knights, but also takes its time to let the audiences understand them.

All of them – Bercouli, Eldrie, Fanatio, Alice… everyone. So by the time we finally reach the episodes from Alicization Invading, you are familiar with them, and you root for them.

And not just in the Underworld; if you have seen the first two cours of SAO: Alicization, you have a clear idea of what STL, Rath and Underworld are; what is the purpose of Project A.L.I.C.E.. In other words, we have something that, unfortunately, all the previous arcs of SAO lacked – World Building. And no. Just because Aincrad online has nice visuals  does not mean it has good world building; the same goes for Fairy Dance and GunGale Online. Yes. there are cool elements in all of these stories, and in the settings, but I think those from Alicization are better. You see both Reki Kawahara and A-1 Pictures put all their effort in creating a great story, one that, I think, is uniting fans.

Another thing that stands out is the animation. It is a huge improvement. I think that’s mostly because of the new staff. The first two seasons of Sword Art Online were directed by Tomohiko Ito, and produced by Kazuma Miki and Shinichiro Kashiwada, and SAO II included Yosuke Futami as producer. But in SAO: Alicization, the director was Manabu Ono, and have a bunch of producers who now work with Futami, including Masami Niwa, Takaaki Yuasa, Misato Aoki,  Kaoru Adachi, Ryūtarō Kawakami, allowing a major budget injected into Alicization. And does it show!!! The colours are more fluid, and the settings are more beautiful, when you check the illumination inside Ocean Turtle, you can feel that is how it feels to be inside a military base in the midst of the ocean. Also, the design of the characters gives them their own identity.

ASUNA

I don’t know you guys, but me, since Asuna was released from the World Tree in Fairy Dance Arc, I wanted to see her being as awesome as she was as the Vice-Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath. And we got to develop Asuna in Excalibur and Mother’s Rosario, but I wasn’t really satisfied with what I saw. Now! I am not saying she was a bad character. She wasn’t. She was nice, especially accompanied by Kirito and Yuuki, but I never felt that the series allowed Asuna to really shine the way she deserved.

And I thought SAO: Ordinal Scale will be that moment. But it wasn’t.

That is, until Alicization. I think this is the best representation of Asuna I have seen. Why? Because she is so badass… in both the real world and Underworld. Think about it? She uses her wits to reach the location of Kirito by her own means, she manages to understand what is Underworld, she takes the initiative to log in and rescue Kirito, and when she becomes Stacia, the Goddess of Creation in Underworld, he shows all her power against the Dark Empire, takes the lead, and convinces both Alice and the Integrity Knights that both the real World and Underworld are equally precious.

Every single layer of Asuna is present – courageous, smart, caring, determined, strong, beautiful. She is motivated by her love to Kirito, but she does not depend on him all the time. She plans her strategies with her knowledge and evolution, and even though she gets hurt, she stands up by herself and fights.

Finally, in the visual department, she has an amazing design. Of course, it’s the one from the light novels, but she looks good and smart with her armour and her casual clothes.

Many will disagree with me. But I think Asuna is at her best from the beginning to the end in Alicization, even better than she could be as part of the Knights of the Blood Oath. I believe you have to see it to believe it, especially if the first season of SAO is your favourite. Or if that is the case, you might love her even more.

SINON

Before there is any confusion, I want to clarify… that Sinon is my favourite heroine of SAO,  even more than Asuna. I am very aware of her background and her abilities in GunGale Online, and that is why I identify with her the most. In fact, every time I think about Sword Art Online, I am thinking about Sinon. It’s hard to explain.

And when Sinon appears at the very end, to save Asuna and the Integrity Knights from the Dark Empire. it’s so epic. One of her best moments. In fact, even though, until episode 36 of Alicization, the role of Sinon is so small, all her moments are equally fantastic. For instance, the dream sequence from episode 27 was freaky and entertaining.

I don’t know. I think it’s because the impression that I got of Sinon from the beginning,

Overall, I am happy because Sinon really started to shine.

But I must admit that Leafa didn’t appear as much as Sinon in Underworld, and is a shame, because, personally, I prefer her as much as Sinon, and better than Asuna; despite having the worst development due to her crush on Kirito (YUCK!!)

I hope that Leafa becomes as great in Alicization as Sinon.

CONCLUSION

Of all the story arcs from Sword Art Online, Alicization is the one that I will definitely watch over and over again. Ok. I am not going to say it’s perfect, it’s not. There are so many things that can be improved, but I find it pretty solid and interesting. I can’t wait until April to see how both War of the Underworld and Alicization end. And I know that many fans and animegoers will agree with me.

Also… I am not feeling anxious about SAO anymore. Long story.

 

 

What To expect from This Summer/Winter 2019 anime season – PART II

Hey Guys. And welcome to the second part of my list of… What to expect from this Summer/Winter 2019 season. And I apologise for not writing in a long time. I was very diligent doing a lot of work and writing from apart. So I only have time to write my second part right now.

But before I start, let me ask you a question… How are you guys doing? Happy? If you are happy, then I am happy.

Having said that, let’s continue, and welcome to…

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS WINTER/SUMMER 2019 – PART II

AZUR LANE

I must be honest with this one. At first, I have absolutely no idea of what I was getting into the first time I get immersed in Azur Lane… Until now, where I read the synopsis and I saw…

«Set in an alternative timeline, in World War II, where warships are represented as cute girls, fighting for the survival of humankind»

This is KANTAI COLLECTION… Or kind of.

Okay, I am not precisely the person who is obsessed with Japanese warships from World War II, especially after some… «issues» from that country on such a inhuman conflict, that goes for Kantai Collection as well. Nevertheless, I cannot deny my twisted interest on this premise. Furthermore I think the anime of Kantai Collection was a pretty wonderful feel-good anime that you can enjoy, regardless of how bizarre its premise is, especially since, according to Wikipedia, Azur Lane has become as popular as Virtual YouTubers and Fate/Grand Order. 

Anyway, I cannot really tell too much because there are so many characters here, similar to Kantai Collection, but if you guys want something new, something to challenge your expectations, or something from which you can discover a new experience within yourselves, you can try Azur Lane.

Produced by Bibury Studio Animation, Azur Lane was released on October 3, and it will consist in one cour (12 episodes).

RADIANT (SEASON II)

After a very exciting travel along with Seth, Melie, Alma and the rest of the gang toward the amazing world of Radiant, Studio Lerche (Scum’s Wish, Danganronpa The Animation, Assassination Classroom) decides to give us a big surprise with this new product. Probably we will know more things about the amazing adaptation of the same comic book series written and illustrated by Tony Valente; the downsize part is that, for the newcomers, Radiant will probably require them to watch the whole first season so they can make themselves an idea of what is happening right now, especially since the former comprises 21 episodes.

To be honest, I am still watching the first season. Available in Crunchyroll by the way.

Speaking of Crunchyroll, that is in fact another problem; you really need a subscription to get into the series. But that’s it.

And for the rest… Get ready of a great joyride of great animation, hilarious moments and likeable characters, the perfect recipe for a great winter/summer of 2019 with this second season of Radiant, especially if you are a true fan of Black Clover, such was myself.

But hurry up!!! The second season was released in October 2nd.

CAUTIOUS HERO (SHINCHOU YUUSHA)

Making isekai these days has become such a trend, just like Twitch or Joker, but it is also becoming compulsory for you to use all your creativity, hard work and imagination to create a timeless isekai classic, regardless the genre or tone. That is why we have great stories such as The Rising of the Shield Hero, That Time I got reincarnated as a slime, Re:Zero, and Konosuba among others.

Ironically, we also have some divisive series like Arifureta and Okaasan Online because of the opposite.

With that said, I was very interested in this premise, which I found by sheer luck. And the story goes like this.

«Another world, Gairbrunde, is in danger, and the goddess Listarte, must summon the perfect hero in order to save this world from ultimate destruction. And then she ends up summoning Seiya Ryuguin, the strongest man, the perfect saviour of Gairbrunde. Our hero!»

There is a big problem though… HE IS RIDICULOUSLY CAUTIOUS, TO THE POINT OF BEING VERY INFURIATING. Which leads to many comical situations, and a lot of misadventures for Listarte. One fun fact, Seiya is voiced by Yuichiro Umehara. Don’t know who he is…

«GOBLIN FREAKING SLAYER»

Like I said, it is still too soon to see if this is going the next Danmachi, the next Tate no Yuusha, or just a big disappointment. But…

«ONE CANNOT BE CAUTIOUS ENOUGH»

Based on the light novels written by Light Tuchihi, and illustrated by Saori Toyota, Shinchou Yuusha was produced by White Fox, and was released on October 2nd.

 

Okay guys. I hope you enjoyed these delight entrées… Because I am going to reveal the main dishes.

Speaking of which…

FOOD WARS!! SHOKUGEKI NO SOMA (THE FOURTH PLATE)

Of course there was no way I could forget the anime where food gives you orgasms.  And now Soma Yukihira, our favourite student of Totsuki Saryo Culinary Institute, along with the Divine Tongue, Erina Nakiri, and our sweet, wonderful chef from Tohoku, Megumi Tadokoro, will face new challenges in which we will see if they finally earn their well-deserved plates (PUN INTENDED) at the Elite Council of Ten.

And of course we cannot forget the other wonderful chefs, from Alice to Ryo, from Hisako to Akira, from Rindo to Rentaro, from the Aldini brothers to Nao, from Yuki to Zenji. Nonetheless, one thing is for sure.

«We will never have enough from both Satoshi and Urara.»

Let’s be honest!!! If you are a real fan of either anime or food, or both, this is a must-see, especially because J.C. Staff has done a pretty wonderful work in the animation and in adapting the story. With the path of the years, we all have learned to grow with these wonderful students on the quests to become the next Gordon Ramsay of anime (More or less). And also their own cuisines.

And every single season is as amazing, or better, as the previous one, so we can all agree that this is some great buffet we all want to be a part of. So let’s all get ready, skip every food (EVEN BREAKFAST DAMN IT!!) and give yourselves the greatest Oktoberfest with Food Wars. The Fourth Plate!!

Tomorrow, October 11th, is the big day. See you at the closest restaurant.

SWORD ART ONLINE: ALICIZATION – WAR OF THE UNDERWORLD

After that unexpected cliffhanger from the very last episode from SAO Alicization, and the latest victory of Kirito, it is now time for Alice Zuberg to reunite all the remaining Integrity Knights to assemble an army strong enough to defeat the Dark Empire, which will bring the complete destruction of the Underworld.

But they will not be alone; this time, Leafa and Sinon will join, with Asuna of course, who must fight to defeat Gabriel Miller and the evil Dark Empire, and save her love, Kirito, from a terrible destiny, once and for all, in the culmination of the greatest story arc of Sword Art Online so far.

And yes, I said before that Sword Art Online is only for watching it once. But Alicization, under the works and caliber of A-1 Pictures, has proven to be the most solid of all the entries of the masterpiece from Reki Kawahara.

This is one of the anime I need to see so badly. I think I might not be able to sleep well until I discover what is going to happen to Kirito, Asuna, and the Human Empire. Are they going to survive this impending invasion? Will Asuna see Kirito ever again? Will Alice finally recover her life?

And most importantly… Will we ever see our beloved Eugeo?

The answer of all of these questions will appear from this October 12th, unless you count the recap released on October 5th, which for me… No need to watch.

Asuna… Kirito… please find happiness once and for all.

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS: WRATH OF THE GODS

YEAH!!! AFTER ALMOST ONE YEAR AND A HALF.

Some time has happened since our favourite cursed demon, Meliodas, defeated the nefarious Fraudrin and the infamous Ten Commandments, but there is no time to waste. The Holy War is about to start! And once again, Meliodas and Elizabeth must assemble Ban, King, Diane, Gowther, Merlin, and the all-mighty Escanor, along with the still infamous Holy Knights, once more to survive, and protect the Kingdom of Liones and Camelot at all cost.

In almost no time, the first two seasons of Nanatsu no Taizai has become one of my favourite animes, especially since both were produced by A-1 Pictures. Do you which other great series produced them?

«Your Lie in April»

Well, Wrath of the Gods is produced by Studio Deen, but I do not think that is a problem, especially since I am watching the first episode, and it looks great. I mean… is not A-1 Pictures or anything, but the care is still there.

And there is something I must say… please let me see more of Zeldris and Derieri. And perhaps Melascula? I know they are from the Ten Commandments, but… Come on!!! They all have a place in our hearts.

Don’t you guys agree?

 

Ok Guys… Now let’s go with the ultimate upcoming anime of this season.

Are you ready? And the winner is…

 

MY HERO ACADEMIA (SEASON FOUR)

Come on my friends!! Was there really any doubt about it?

Once more, the Heroes, as well as the greatest students of the UA High School, must fight together to face the terrible and feared Tomura Shigaraki and his League of Villains, as Izuku Midoriya, a.k.a. Deku, still tries to master the amazing Quirk of One for All, especially after the forced retirement of All Might. But he is not alone. At Deku’s side, he has the Big 3 of UA, the top ranked students; Tamaki Amajiki, Nejire-chan and the great disciple of All Might, Mirio Togata.

Without forgetting the adorable Ochako-chan, the powerful, yet caring Tsui (Froppy), the short-tempered Bakugo, our favourite class representative, Tenya (Ingenium), the awesome anime version of Prince Zuko, Shoto Todoroki, and the rest of the Class-1, Deku must face Shigaraki and the dreadful Eight Precepts of Death.

Produced by Studio Bones (Fullmetal Alchemist, Carole & Tuesday), and based on the manga from Kohei Horikoshi, Boku no Hero Academia quickly rose as one of the most popular shonen anime of the recent years, and despite BNHA is now facing competition against awesome opponents such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Black Clover, is still one favourite from all anime fans all over the world.

And things are going to get better with these great season four.

There is no doubt of that.

CONCLUSION

There you go my friends. All the amazing anime that we can expect on the rest 2019. WOW!!! This was a bigger shock that I expected. Like I said, there are many sweet anime I am looking forward.

And I am sure you guys are as well.

For now, let’s put ourselves comfortable, turn on the TV, or go to Crunchyroll and habve together one hell of a ride.

ありがとうございます

MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!!

 

 

 

What To expect from This Summer/Winter 2019 anime season – PART I

Hey Guys. Welcome to another entry of my blog.

But now. I am going to do something different. This time, I am going to do a quick review about what to expect of the upcoming anime in this Summer 0f 2019 (Or Winter for those who are in US or Latin America).

Before I start… How are you guys feeling? Are you all healthy? If you are happy, then I am happy.

My thoughts about 2019 season

First and foremost, this 2019 has been a true rollercoaster for anime, with great wonderful entries such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Boogiebop and Others, Dr. Stone, Fire Force, Carole and Tuesday, Dororo, Isekai Quartet. And others with very mixed reception or disappointment, such as Wise’s Man Grandchild, Arifureta, Fairy Gone, Knights of the Zodiac, etc.

Sincerely, I have never been this excited about anime since… ever!!! I definitely will remember this year as a Golden Year for Anime (along with 2018). And the best part is about to come.

In the next three months, we will definitely see how anime will blow our minds with great entries that will end this 2019 in a golden note. I am pretty optimistic. It;s like we got a great Christmas gift from Japan.

Having said that, let’s see what we got from the rest of the year.

BEASTARS

Have you guys wonder what will be Zootopia adapted in an anime and with a darker and grittier tone? Well… The answer is Beastars!!! Based on the manga written and illustrated by Paru Itagaki, the story takes place in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic people, both carnivores and herbivores, and one of the best places of this place is the Cherryton Academy, where the most talented students are present, from where the term Beastar comes from.

Legoshi, a werewolf, is one of this students, and his best friend is a Labrador, called Jack, but soon his life will change when he meets the beautiful Haru, a dwarf rabbit. Immediately when a crime puts the harmony between carnivores and herbivores at stake.

Personally, I was not too excited about the concept, particularly when I saw the design of a character. Mainly from my encounter with some yaoi doujinshi with anthropo… (Ok. I spoke too much). But after watching the trailer and the synopsis, I am definitely give it a watch, especially because I loved Zootopia, and the animation is pretty good. It’s something you would expect from a drama about differences.

Produced by Orange, and distributed by Netflix, Beastars will broadcast from October 8.

PSYCHO-PASS (SEASON 3)

 Yep!!! Psycho-Pass. Needless to say that this is one of the greatest anime of the 2010s. I remember all of the characters, from Akane (having one of the best character growth in all anime), to Shinya, who I really missed during the second season. I still got the impression that the first season left on one, as a wonderful gem of cyberpunk, and a dystopia that possibly is not as far from reality as you will think.

And I know what most of you are thinking. Season Two was a disappointment!!!! And yes, It sure was (The absence of Kogami alone was the secret for a decrease in quality). But that doesn’t change the fact that both Psycho-Pass and Gen Urobochi (Saya’ song; Madoka) still have a lot to say.

Produced by Production I.G., Psycho-Pass 3 will be released on October 24.

HI-SCORE GIRL (SEASON 2)

Ah!!! Nostalgia!!!! You will always sell, no matter how many years will pass.

And not just that, I’ve been looking for another delightful romantic comedy for many months since I saw Your Lie in April, and I think I found it in the first season of Hi-Score Girl, which by the way, I am still watching… mainly due to the video games. (LOL).

Be as it may be, I am convinced that the adventures and misadventures of Haruo Yaguchi and his passion for video games will leave us a big impression, especially for the shippers, in a great season where Haruo might finally choose between the quiet, yet dearing, Akira Ono, and the beautiful and feisty Koharu Hidaka.

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Rensuke Oshikiri, Hi-Score Girl – season 2 will run for 9 episodes, starting from October 9.

And speaking of Romantic Comedy…

WE NEVER LEARN (SEASON 2)

I have to admit that I really need to update myself with what happened with the first season of Bokutachi wa Benkyō ga Dekinai, a.k.a. We Never Learn, especially since I found the premise quite interesting, for a Romantic Comedy. I mean… one with a male protagonist and a group of beautiful and interesting female leads desperate for the best tutor. We already have seen this premise in The Quintessencial Quintuplets, so what can possibly go wrong?

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Taishi Tsutsui, the story follows our protagonist Nariyuki, who is still focused on tutoring the beautiful Fumino, good in arts, terrible at math, the stern Rizu, gifted at math but mediocre at literature, and the passionate Uruka, a prodigy in sports with poor English skills.

I think we can all expect something really entertaining and enjoyable from these wonderful characters and their quest of both improvement, both academically and romantically. And who knows? Perhaps soon we will see which of these lovely ladies will be the chosen one of Nariyuki for being the person he loves.

We might never learn… BUT WE CAN ALWAYS DREAM.

Season two will be released on October 6.

CHIHAYAFURU (SEASON 3)

Man!!!! I still can believe that there is actually an upcoming third season for Chihayafuru. On the other hand, it should not really surprise me, for most of the sports anime are really entertaining, from Hanebado!!!, to Harukana Receive, with some great stops, such as Kuroko’s Basket, March Comes in Like a Lion and Free!!. 

It is been a while seen the last time I saw Chihaya Arase, along with her best friends, Taichi and Arata, competing against the best opponents of this interesting and beautiful sports known as Karuta, and even though Chihayafuru was never one of my favourite animes, especially since I watch Free!! and Hanebado!!, but the fact that there is a third season of Chihayafuru really inspires me to visit the first two season even more.

And of course… this upcoming third one.

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Yuki Suetsugu, Chihayafuru – season three will be released on this October 22.

FATE/GRAND ORDER – ABSOLUTE DEMONIC FRONT – BABYLONIA

Oh my goddess!!! Just when I thought that the Fate series could not be any better. (Oh! Who am I kidding? Fate will always find a way to surprise us.) I mean… Fate? Babylonia? Cloverworks?

Sold! Where do I sign?

Regarding Fate/Grand Order, I still do not know what surprises me the most. The video game itself, or the fact that there are more versions of Ritsuka Fujimaru and more Servants that I can count in this life. Anyway, I am very willing to wacth another entry of the Fate franchise, especially with everyone’s favourite Shield Heroine (with my respects to Naofumi-sama), Mash Kyrielight, a.k.a., Shielder.

In this new entry of the Fate franchise, Ritsuka and Mash travel back in time to Babylonia, to the year 2655 B.C. in order to protect Uruk, the city ruled by Gilgamesh, our beloved Servant, from three powerful gods, in order to preserve the existence of humanity. And while they fight to protect the heritage of the civilisation, Ritsuka learns more about the intentions of these three gods and the invasion that it’s about to come.

To be honest, i though that no one could ever surpass Ufotable regarding the quality of the adaptations of Fate, that is until I saw Fate/Apocrypha (A-1 Pictures). And now since we finally got our adaptation of Fate/Grand Order, I just cannot wait to see the true power of Ritsuka and Mash, and of course the type of relationship we will have in the future.

That being said, I am also very excited of what to expect from Ishtar. And the other two gods who are threaten Babylonia and humankind.

Anything can happen regarding Absolute Demonic Front – Babylonia, especially at the hands of Cloverworks.

Written by Kinoko Nasu, and directed by Toshifumi Akai, Absolute Demonic Front – Babylonia will be released on this upcoming October 5.

CONCLUSIONS

Sorry guys, I am afraid I will leave this blog here, because there is still a lot of great anime to be released for this winter, especially because I still to do a lot of research. I think we all know this.

Nevertheless, I hope that I gave you a proper foresight of what is about to come.

Stay tuned for Part II.

Have a great week.

Arigato Gozaimasu!!!