Tigerkinney's Anime Reviews

Tigerkinney · January 22, 2014

Dilemma

So I'm about to watch Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood (picked up the entire series box-set for under £30, which is pretty reasonable in my book, considering it's 64 episodes long), but the thing is I've not seen the original FMA either. When the original FMA came out, I wasn't all that into anime (I know it's hard to believe, but there was a time ).

I tend to prefer the shorter (approx 12 episode or approx 24 episode) series, but I've heard Full Metal Alchemist is really good, and besides the shows length is the same as putting together 2-3 24 episode seasons.

Anyway from what I've read up on the series Brotherhood is a reboot of the original and not a sequel, with the original deviating from the manga and Brotherhood following the manga more closely. With the consensus opinion being that whilst the original is good, Brotherhood is the superior version.

If anyone has seen FMA, would you recommend that I watch the original series first or do you think it's fine to watch Brotherhood, without ever watching the original?

Thing is I think if I do watch Brotherhood (without seeing the original FMA), I won't have much desire to seek out the original series.

Dragonmack · January 23, 2014

I can't really compare, not having seen any of Brotherhood, but I did watch all of the first anime of Full Metal Alchemist and I quite enjoyed it.

I guess watching both kinda depends on how much of a fan of Vic Mignogna you are <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Since you will be hearing a lot of him with the English dubs.

You may not want to watch them back to back as if they are the same basic story, but with divergences, then that would probably ruin the enjoyment a little, but if you put some time between them, like a few months, then you would probably be able to appreciate and enjoy it more.

Jaysin · January 23, 2014

Brotherhood isn't a sequel to the original anime. It's a retelling based more on the manga. Brotherhood is absolutely fantastic though. Great storytelling.

Tigerkinney · January 23, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Brotherhood isn't a sequel to the original anime. It's a retelling based more on the manga. Brotherhood is absolutely fantastic though. Great storytelling.</div></blockquote> Well I did say that I was aware of Brotherhood being a reboot and not a sequel. My dilemma was on whether or not it would be worth watching the original version, after seeing Brotherhood. Anyway I think Dragonmack has put it in perspective for me....I think I'm just going to have to go ahead and watch Brotherhood and then watch the original series (but not straight after!) at a later date. Most people would have been comparing Brotherhood to the original, I'm just going to have to do it the other way round!

Tigerkinney · January 23, 2014

<div style="text-align:center;">Bakemonogatari

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</div>

Genre: Supernatural Detective, Romance

Studio: Shaft Director: Akiyuki Shinbo Source: Light Novels by Nishio Isin

Original Broadcast: July- September 2009/ Nov 2009/Feb 2010/ July 2010 Episodes:12 (+ 3 Web Exclusive/OVA episodes *)

* Bakemonogatari aired for 12 episodes on TV, and then 3 extra episodes were shown on Shaft's website- the 3 extra episodes are included with the DVD releases.

Synopsis : An abrupt meeting, brings high-schoolers Koyomi Araragi and Hitagi Senjogahara together, a meeting that would change their lives. Hitagi literally falls from the sky into Koyomi's arms, of which upon impact he realises she is weightless. Whilst Hitagi threatens to kill him, were he to expose her odd condition, he wins her over by revealing he is no ordinary human himself. Araragi survived a vampire act, and though he's nearly back to be a normal human, he has the ability to sense supernatural beings and heal quickly from wounds.

Koyomi introduces Hitagi, to the odd-ball Meme Oshino, a middle-aged man who lives in an abandoned building that has the knowledge and understanding to cure Hitagi of her problem.....

However Hitagi is not the only girl who will require (with Oshino's assistance) Koyomi's help in order to cure them of a supernatural curse.

Recommended Viewing Age: Older Teens and Up (approx 16+)- Whilst I wouldn't place Bakemonogatari towards the realms of being considered an ecchi, it does contain a fair amount of nudity, fanservice and sexually charged situations. Add the stylized gore into the mix and this is not a series you should be settling down to watch with younger viewers.

Action Level: Pretty Low- Bakemonogatari is not really an action series, but like Shaft's other well known work Puella Magi Madoka, it does occasionally feature some unique yet really quite grisly supernatural battle scenes.

Moe/Kawaii Level: High- Beautiful and/or cute girls with vulnerabilities.....Bakemonogatari may not be a 'moe' series in the same sense as K-On!, but it's still a 'moe' series.

Animation Quality/Art Style: Bakemonogatari has Shaft's or more particularly Akiyuki Shinbo's unique arty style splashed all over it. Despite the often minimalist detail, the background art manages to look striking, and at times complex even.There's always a real 'arty' feel to whatever Shinbo does, and though it's not everyone's cup of tea, one cannot accuse the art style of being safe. It's unique and it's very bold.

The character designs in contrast to the minimalist backgrounds, radiate with elegance drawing, immediately drawing the viewer to them. It's the characters that carry the story in Bakemonogatari, and it's only right that they are allowed to shine.

The animation has it's faults, the still screens with just writing on them, are probably an artistic choice as well as a budget saver, but are a bit irksome for the first few episodes (well it's either get used to it or continue to be irritated by it). The 'camera' work is also rather unconventional, with lots of odd angled close ups of the characters (even going as close as to just focus on a characters lips) and their are of course those trademark head-tilts.

Music: Bakemonogatari approaches the opening song, by giving each arc a different opening. It pretty much boils down to the character song for each girl being used as an opening song. Each song written and composed by Meg Rock and Satoru Kosaki, stays within the confines of J-Pop but each song feels unique and different, from the relatively straight forward and catchy Staple Staple (Hitagi Senjogahara's theme), through the 8-Bit computer game inspired hyperactivity of Karaemichi (Mayoi Hachikuji) to the darker edged Sugar Sweet Nightmare (Tsubasa Haneka).

The closing song 'Kimi No Shiranai Monogatari' by Supercell is an emotionally charged rock track, that ties together the general mood of the show. Kosaki's soundtrack ebbs,flows and at times sparkles amongst the series languid pace and precision sharp dialogue.

Plot and Characters: The plot of Bakemonogatari is somewhat of a rinse and repeat procedure, as we are introduced to a new girl within each arc.

Each arc in question will feature a girl that is affected by a supernatural curse (which will always have some connection to an animal be it a crab, snail, monkey etc). Once the girl has been cured however they are not discarded like some one off, and become an integral member of the cast- most when introduced have a strong connection to the central pair of Koyomi and Hitagi and within each case we learn that the supernatural occurrences manifest themselves, from the feelings of each character.. feelings such as jealousy or regret.

Each of the arcs are separate entities in themselves but come together to form, something that feels more complete, connecting the characters plights together and driving along the protagonist Koyomi to be more pro-active in his decision making towards the end of the series, which inevitably places him in grave danger.

The protagonist Koyomi is naturally a nice guy who wants to help his friends, but it's also his ability to heal from the kind of wounds that would render everyone else dead, that also gives him the urge to fearlessly place himself in danger, just in order to see his friends be cured of their predicaments.

Hitagi the first girl that Koyomi connects to, is spiky tongued and identifies herself as a Tsundere. Defensive around people, and with a rather sadistic sense of humour, she gradually begins to open up to others, particularly Koyomi, to the point that he starts to win not only her friendship but also her heart. We learn that her defensive and spiky attitude has been cultivated from traumatic events in her past, but I won't go into anymore detail here.

Other girls we are introduced to are Mayoi Hachikuji (a bolshy elementary school girl who appears to be lost), Araragi's class representative Tsubasa Hanekawa (introduced in the first episode, but the feature character of the final arc), underclassman Kanbaru Suruga (the school's star female basketball player and an acquitance of Senjogahara from Junior High) and Junior High Schooler Nadeko Sengoku (a friend of Araragi's younger sisters from back in Elementary school). The final key character within Bakemonogatari,is Shinobu Oshino, who has an appearance of an 8 year old girl, but is in fact a Vampire, a Vampire that has a strong bond with Araragi.

For the sake of keeping things unspoiled, it would be foolish of me to go into too much more detail in regards to Bakemonogatari's cast, because after all this is primarily a character driven story, with the mysteries regarding each girl tieing Bakemonogatari's various arcs together.

Analysis: I'm going to cut to the chase here and say that Bakemonogatari isn't going to be for everyone and no matter how good the characters/storytelling is throughout the unique/odd art choices and direction, will be too impenetrable for some to get used to.

Amongst what can sometimes feel like a see of conformity, the works of Shaft (particularly with Shinbo at the helm) stand out for their bold risk taking, but even I a fan of their work found myself somewhat bemused by some of the art direction.

Each episode begins with being bombarded with a wall of text (excerpts from the light novels), that increases and comes at you at a faster rate- it's nigh on impossible to read this without pressing the pause button. Then there is the constant still screens with just text, that give the flow of the animation a very stop start feel, and does take some getting used to. Simply put there are time's where the series is being too arty for it's own good.

The pace of the series whilst not sludgy, is also rather languid, and those looking for something with more urgent pacing will perhaps become bored or not willing to invest in the series. The series does however gradually lure the viewer into it's stylized world, but if you are not taken with this after the first arc, then you're never going to get used to Bakemonogatari.

Another sticking point for some people could be that some of the fanservice could be deemed inappropriate. The arc involving 12 year old Nadeko Sengoku, features her developing body virtually naked and the protagonist Koyomi appearing to get turned on by the fact. Whilst we're not talking about some old man here, Koyomi is quite a few years older than Nadeko- plus the fact that naked 12 year old is just not right in itself. It wasn't a deal breaker for me, but it's understandable if it will put some off continuing with Bakemonogatari.

One cannot also help but compare the Monogatari series (Bakemonogatari is only the start), to<a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum...&postcount=455" rel="external nofollow"> xxxHolic</a>....Both are grounded in oriental mythology, feature a not quite normal protagonist, who can't resist being helpful, that seeks the help and guidance of an over-priced adviser, have a languid episodic pace and feature marmite art styles (though in xxxHolic's case that's more to with the character art, where as in Bakemonogatari it's more to do with the general art direction).

There are notable differences too, the sharp tongued oddball female, does not happen to be the advisor but the main love interest, and whilst both Bakemonogatari and xxxHolic do feature comedy, there is more emphasis on sharp witty dialogue in Bakemonogatari, where as much of xxxHolic's comedy is in the Tsukomi/Bokke style. Both are similiar, but there is enough differences between the two, that Bakemonogatari is able to stand out on it's own and not come across as a shameless ripoff.

What holds Bakemonogatari together however, is not all the supernatural mysteries/dilemma's that are solved throughout each arc of the series, but the interaction and relationships between the central characters, particularly that of Koyomi and Hitagi.

Koyomi and Hitagi's relationship can draw comparisons and contrasts with that of <a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum...&postcount=242" rel="external nofollow">Kyon/Haruhi Suzumiya from the Haruhi Suzumiya series</a>. Here you have a guy that falls in with the socially awkward girl, with a rather blunt way of speaking. The difference here is that Koyomi is no where near as cynical as Kyon and more willing to admit that part of Hitagi's charm is her unique personality. Plus the fact that both Koyomi and Hitagi actually open up to one another, and admit their true feelings, where as with Kyon and Suzumiya it largely remains unspoken/speculative.

The development of Koyomi and Hitagi's relationship is very well done, a sweet and at times understated budding romance. Though the series is divided into 5 separate arcs based around supernatural occurrences, the central relationship between Koyomi and Hitagi is never far away, even when Hitagi is not on screen, and her presence consistently influences Koyomi's decision. Each arc deals with an aspect of their budding friendship come romance, from first contact, through jealousy through to the temptation of being unfaithful. One scene in particular that features Koyomi talking to Hitagi's father in the 12th episode (the final episode of the TV broadcast), was particularly touching and well handled.

Hitagi begins the series as a cold and bitter girl, and though she doesn't exactly do a complete 180 with her character by the end of the series, she slowly opens up to Koyomi, developing confidence and trust in her new found friend, feelings which eventually blossom into something more. Hitagi manages to retain her personality, and does not compromise anything for Koyomi, and though she does develop emotionally, Koyomi learns to love and appreciate and Hitagi for who she is, rather than attempting to drastically change her.

In Koyomi's classmate Tsubasa, you also have a realistic alternative,intelligent, nice and with a good-body, it's clear that she would be a good catch for Koyomi and less troublesome than the more demanding Hitagi. Inevitably she does have her own issues and the question throughout with her, is if she really is just keeping up appearances with being fine with Koyomi suddenly being interested in another girl, and thus placing Tsubasa into the friend zone.

The rest of the supporting characters, the lost girl Mayoi, underclassman Kanbaru and childhood friend Nadeko, all have unique and interesting arcs, that help enrich the story and also support the central relationship between Koyomi and Hitagi. The Oshino's, occult expert Meme and vampire Shinobu do feel a bit underdeveloped,but the fact that we know little about them, does somewhat add to their enigmatic charm.

Now if Bakemonogatari was just a one off, I probably would be more critical of the ending which feels incomplete and obviously hints at more to come. But the final episodes both in the TV broadcast and for the series as a whole, feature satisfying key development points for both the main protagonist Koyomi and his central relationship with Hitagi. As a stopping point for this particular chapter of the Monogatari series, it works perfectly fine. The only criticism I will level at the ending, is that the sudden appearance of a certain character was rather too convenient in helping to get Koyomi out of a critical predicament.

Closing Verdict: Bakemonogatari (and to be honest the Monogatari series as a whole) won't be for everyone, it's an idiosyncratic series with unconventional and dialogue heavy storytelling, arty animation techniques (that some may well view as being 'pretentious') and perhaps the biggest stumbling block of all, morally questionable loli fanservice.

However if none of the above prove to be a stumbling block for you, then you will be rewarded with an engaging supernatural series, not necessarily for it's quirky scenarios, but for it's characters, dialogue and delicately handled relationships.

Recommended

Is the Dub Any Good?: Despite being licensed by Aniplex, Bakemonogatari has not received a dub and probably never will. The issues here are not do with it being too niche a series to warrant a dub, but the fact that a lot of people feel it's too difficult to adapt into a dub version. There is a lot of word play involving the Japanese language, and that is an element which would get lost in a dub adaptation.

Jaysin · January 23, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Tigerkinney" data-cite="Tigerkinney" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Well I did say that I was aware of Brotherhood being a reboot and not a sequel. My dilemma was on whether or not it would be worth watching the original version, after seeing Brotherhood. Anyway I think Dragonmack has put it in perspective for me....I think I'm just going to have to go ahead and watch Brotherhood and then watch the original series (but not straight after!) at a later date. Most people would have been comparing Brotherhood to the original, I'm just going to have to do it the other way round!</div></blockquote> Not sure what I was thinking <img alt=":o" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/redface.png.900245280682ef18c5d82399a93c5827.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"> I saw Brotherhood first as well. I tried getting into the original because of how much I loved Brotherhood, but I just couldn't. I plan on going back some day, but Brotherhood was a tough act to follow for me. I've tried to start a few other animes after and nothing sucks me in like Brotherhood did. I even tried a few of my childhood favorites(Gundam Wing, Big O) and Big O has not aged well at all. At least dialogue wise it hasn't. Kinda wish it would get a redub.

Dragonmack · January 23, 2014

Not sure what I was thinking

I saw Brotherhood first as well. I tried getting into the original because of how much I loved Brotherhood, but I just couldn't. I plan on going back some day, but Brotherhood was a tough act to follow for me. I've tried to start a few other animes after and nothing sucks me in like Brotherhood did. I even tried a few of my childhood favorites(Gundam Wing, Big O) and Big O has not aged well at all. At least dialogue wise it hasn't. Kinda wish it would get a redub.

Hard as it is to believe , stuff like Gundam Wing and Big O is actually approaching 20 years old. While they are classics and were big deal animes at the time, anime as a whole has come a long way in the past couple decades. If you want a Gundam fix that is more current, I'd suggest Gundam 00. Its more recent ( only about 5 yrs old) done in hi res style and features the standard gundam story of a small elite group going up against the world.

Timber · January 24, 2014

Bakemonogatari is one of my stand out finds on Crunchyroll. I just watched the series over again not that long ago as well as the follow ups. It's an amazing show and i agree with your detraction for it, it's something i would recommend for everyone. It's got a style all it's own and for once, the simmering romantic tension isn't just left to stand in the background. (one of my pet peeves is the do they/will they, pensive love stuff that never comes about in most of the shows i watch.)

You need to do a review of Nyarko-san: Another Crawling Chaos. I just want to see that. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> if it melts your brain, know that we'll miss you. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

The Final Countdown · January 24, 2014

I'd suggest watching the original before Brotherhood, personally. Maybe that's just because that's the way I saw them, as I watched both of them shortly after their English releases. Either way, I do think the original would be worth watching even after going through Brotherhood; the second halves are completely different.

fullMETAL · January 26, 2014

Tigerkinney, thanks to you, I'm also gonna get Good Luck Ninomiya-Kun to watch later on.

Rickymex · January 26, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="fullMETAL" data-cite="fullMETAL" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Tigerkinney, thanks to you, I'm also gonna get Good Luck Ninomiya-Kun to watch later on.</div></blockquote> Gave it a try but just gave up after feeling sorry for they guy. Sure he gets put in a lot of sexual situations but he's basically a plaything to everyone. I rather the main character get in those situations by himself through his own actions rather than what happens on the show.

Tigerkinney · January 26, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rickymex" data-cite="Rickymex" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Gave it a try but just gave up after feeling sorry for they guy. Sure he gets put in a lot of sexual situations but he's basically a plaything to everyone. I rather the main character get in those situations by himself through his own actions rather than what happens on the show.</div></blockquote> The fact that Shungo (the male lead) is forced into these situations, rather than being the typical accidental perve/bumbling virgin that these characters usually are, is what makes it a relatively refreshing take on a tired genre. Though I can fully understand someone not taking to it/liking it as much as I did, and placing it more in the D (Mediocre) range. However I would question someone accusing it of being one of the worst series they ever seen (not that Rickymex did just there) but I did see a review for Good Luck Ninomiya-Kun which completely slated it, and just came across as though the writer was a prude, elitist and had a complete humour by-pass.

Tigerkinney · January 26, 2014

<div style="text-align:center;">Modern Magic Made Simple

(aka: Yoku Wakaru Gendai Maho)

http://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/yokuwakarugendaimahou2.jpghttp://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/yokuwakarugendaimahou15.jpghttp://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/yoku-wakaru-gendai-mahou-2483-2.jpghttp://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/yoku-wakaru-gendai-mahou-2483-5.jpg

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Genre: Magical Girl

Studio: Nomad Director: Yasuhiro Kuroda Source: Light Novels by Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Original Broadcast: July- September 2009 Episodes:12 (+ 1 OVA)

Note: The OVA episode was released in June 2009, prior to the TV broadcast, rather than being an extra added to the DVD release of the series.

By the way good luck finding the prequel episode (Episode 0) on the internet, because Crunchyroll who I watched this series from, don't have it on their website. I then searched for it on the web, clicking on the various fansub sites (it's not something I encourage, but when your options are out, then it's the only option) but anytime I clicked on it the link was dead...well accept for one which was really poor quality and had no subs!

So I can only base my review on the 12 TV broadcast episodes.....

Synopsis: Slow, clumsy and vertically challenged high school student Koyomi Morishita, just want's to be good at something. Everything she tries, she fails at. Koyomi see's a flyer for the Anehara Cross School of Magic (selling the idea of magic being easy for anyone to learn), so Koyomi seeing this as her chance to finally be good at something, goes to check it out.

Koyomi meets Misa Anehara, a modern day mage that uses computers to cast spells (or codes at they are referred to throughout the series). Misa agrees to teach Koyomi 'Modern Day Magic' but all Koyomi is able to summon are wash basins. But even Koyomi's limited ability with magic, may be needed to ward off the threat of the evil classical mage Jean Jacques Guibarthez, who is targetting Misa's friend, classical mage Yumiko in order to get this hands upon the devastatingly powerful Sorceress' Library.

Recommended Viewing Age: Teens (approx 13+) and up- This one's a little odd, as there's fan-service there, and some quite odd fanservice too but it doesn't constantly bombard you with it. There's a scene early in the series, where an elementary school age Yumiko is naked (which I ain't defending), and there is also a scene where she throws her panties into the face of a boy.

Beyond that we get comparisons between the high school age Yumiko having bigger breasts, than Koyomi...though it's more talk than anything else. Honestly there's more innuendo here, than actual concrete fanservice.

Action Level: Medium- It's a magical girl show, so you get the usual fantasy violence, that involves people summoning spells and throwing flameballs at one another, well in this one it's normally people summoning imaginary swords that then turn into flameballs on impact. There's really not more to the action that that, it's pretty one dimensional when it comes to the mage battles.

Moe/Kawaii Level: High- It's got a cute, clumsy girl in the lead role, that's all you need to know that this series was made with moe appeal in mind.

Animation Quality/Art Style: I'll be honest here, there's not really much to be said about this show's art and animation*. The character designs are attractive enough (if you don't mind typical visual novel style moe appeal character designs) but unremarkable, and the background art is solid enough but hardly spectacular. It's not the worst show in terms of it's art and animation, it's hardly the best either....it's firmly in the middle ground.

* Actually I'll just ended up typing more words than I need to, telling you that something is decidedly average.

Music: Opening 'Programming For Non-Fiction' by Natsuko Aso is euphoric dance orientated J-Pop, whilst the ending theme 'Made In Wonder' by Aki Misato is an up-beat, lightly rocking pop song. The opening does grow on you and becomes quite infectious, whilst the ending is fun but forgettable. The background music relies too much on plinky synths, but isn't terrible enough to be a major distraction.

Plot and Characters: The story centres around the relationship between the three main characters, Koyomi the keen but struggling student, Misa the practioner of Modern Day Magic (using computers to cast spells, or in the language of this series- create codes) and Yumiko a wielder of classical magic.

Misa and Yumiko's relationship goes back several years, as does Yumiko's and Koyomi's (though there is a twist in how long they have known each other). Yumiko often gets irritated by Koyomi's incompetence at magic and at times urges for her to give up on the idea, but behind the sometimes cold treatment she gives to Koyomi, she clearly cares for the pint-sized high schooler.

Supporting the main trio are Koyomi's deadpan high school friend Kaho , who also happens to be a genius level hacker and picks up the skills to use Modern Day Magic a whole lot faster than Koyomi (but cannot see magical occurrences, which Koyomi despite being hopeless at casting magic is able to see), Misa's skeptical younger brother Soshiro and finally the cat Katanagi (who sort of serves as the series mascot).

Threatening our happy bunch, are the evil mage Guibarthez, who seems determined to open a pandora's box of evil known as the Sorceress' Library, and it turns out that he's not the only one who want's to subject earth to proverbial hell.

The main protagonist of the series, also happens to be the comic relief....because clumsy Koyomi, is rubbish at magic and all she can do is summon wash basins and they milk this joke for pretty much the entire series.

Analysis: Modern Magic Made Simple has an interesting premise, with the idea of people being able to cast magic via computers, which sets up the notion that even normal people can trigger extraordinary events, which does give an interesting twist on the typical magical girl genre. It's also interesting that there are still users of classical magic techniques such as Yumiko, which could well set up an interesting conflict of ideas when it comes to practicing magic.

It's just a real shame that this potentially interesting concept, isn't executed particularly well. Whilst I don't demand that all stories should start in a straight forward linear fashion, the fact that this story throws you into the story out of sequence really does not help it's case. It takes half of a 12 episode series, to reveal why there are is a younger and older version of Yumiko in the story, and that's just too long for that length of series. Then there are the other examples of lazy writing, such as Koyomi's friend Kaho, accompanying her to Misa's, and then learning modern day magic too without explanation.

Later on there is an incident where Yumiko and Misa go up against one another, without any explanation- we do get an explanation after but in a 12 episode series, those story telling risks should be avoided and the writing should be a lot tighter to keep the viewers interest. What it comes down to here is that the lack of information at times does not come across as missing pieces of a puzzle for a viewer to fix into place, but rather just plot-holes through lazy scripting. At the end of the day it's a magical girl series, not a mystery.

It also has to be said that the main plot of them having to stop the villains from re-activating a powerful source of evil magic, wasn't all that interesting. That's because the villains, did not really have any motivation to them, than 'hey we're evil!' Sure I hated Guibarthez and wanted to see him get his ass-kicked, but the more engaging villains have more to them than 'I'm evil'. It also has to be said that the mage fight sequences got very repetitive after a while, with little variation in the mage's attacks, whether they were casting codes from modern day methods or classical methods.

Also when a series relies on a running gag (Koyomi's summoning of Wash Basin's) that gets old after the first few episodes and misplaced fanservice for it's comic relief, then it needs to try harder in that regard. Modern Magic Made Simple is one of those fantasy series that pitches itself at that semi serious level, splitting it's time between being light-hearted fluff and trying to be more dramatic and serious. Whilst comic relief/lighter moments can work in a longer series, in a series of this length it needs to focus on being ridiculously funny or emotionally engaging and Modern Magic Made Simple, doesn't really succeed at either.

Now all that being said, I didn't hate Modern Magic Made Simple, at times the series did show enough charm and enough hints at the potential it could have had to be a better series. I actually liked the relationship between the three main characters, and though Koyomi's incompetence does come across as being frustrating at times, she isn't so annoying that you want to see her fail.

Modern Magic Mader Simple is also a lot better, when the focus is more on Koyomi trying to overcome her struggles with learning/getting better at magic than the generic stop the evil guys from destroying the world plot, unfortunately the split in focus is the wrong way round.

There was also one scene where a giant teddy bear is put to good use to prevent a plane crash, if there was more of that kind of quirkiness in Modern Magic Made Simple, it would have ended up a more interesting watch. It also has a lot of cats, and well everything's instantly better with cats!

Closing Verdict: If someone asked me what the definition of a mediocre anime is, I would probably show them this. It's not the worst thing ever created/adapted via this form of entertainment but it's far from being good. In all honesty the concept (a twist on the magic girl genre) is interesting, it's just not executed well and part of that poor execution can be leveled at the series being short-changed by the one cour length.

Perhaps the story is much better delivered in the light novels, but it's the anime adaptation I'm judging here and whether that's down to adaptation decay (due to being short changed on the episode count) or the source material not being all that good in the first place is neither here nor there. At the end of the day Modern Magic Made Simple was mediocrity in a nut-shell.

Mediocre

Is the Dub Any Good?: Sentai filmworks licensed the series, but did not do a dub, and seeing that this is now a few years old and a relatively obscure anime, it's unlikely there ever will be one.

Rickymex · January 26, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Tigerkinney" data-cite="Tigerkinney" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The fact that Shungo (the male lead) is forced into these situations, rather than being the typical accidental perve/bumbling virgin that these characters usually are, is what makes it a relatively refreshing take on a tired genre. Though I can fully understand someone not taking to it/liking it as much as I did, and placing it more in the D (Mediocre) range.</div></blockquote> It really isn't about the rating or review but more of just hoping the dude took control for once. Probably the reason why I love games like KOTOR and Dragon Age where you have the choice to be Mr. Good Guy, The Villain or that dude who just kills stuff until the problem is fixed. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

Tigerkinney · January 27, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rickymex" data-cite="Rickymex" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It really isn't about the rating or review but more of just hoping the dude took control for once. Probably the reason why I love games like KOTOR and Dragon Age where you have the choice to be Mr. Good Guy, The Villain or that dude who just kills stuff until the problem is fixed. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div></blockquote> Oh I know you weren't bashing the review or my opinion, I was just engaging in a bit of discussion. I actually appreciate the fact, that you've gone and watched the show, and come back with your own opinion on it. And sure your opinion differs from mine, but you've done it in a respectful manner which I really appreciate. Now I don't know at what point you dropped Good Luck Ninomiya-Kun, but I would say it's one of those shows that you'll know whether or not you like it after only a few episodes, so I wouldn't expect you to continue watching. I only continue watching shows I don't think are particularly great, because I've been committed to reviewing them and well you can't give a proper review, if you have only seen part of the show. Difference of opinion is always welcome and apart from some trolls when I started this project, I would say that the respectful responses I get in this thread (even when someone disagrees with my review on an anime) is why I really like posting my reviews here. <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> There's none of the elitism, fanboy ranting or tedious sub vs dub debates that have plagued anime forums on the internet. I really didn't think this thing would take off as well as it has on here, but 38,000 plus views and a handful or two of regular commentators, shows that I must be doing alright. To be honest I look back at my first batch of reviews, and think they aren't all that good. Apart from some editing/formatting the very early reviews are one's I knocked out during my lunch break at work, and e-mailed to my friend. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

Dragonmack · January 27, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Tigerkinney" data-cite="Tigerkinney" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai</div> <div style="text-align:center;">http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRQo_WLEfFFliZ4UU9bf-0j7UjjEnc-Na5bmJiW5ZlKa7xECvpLhttp://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQX5vlvT9hLiKHC64qyxgauThE9JsKE_cg5ZLvtvVM_Y1N8SWnjjQ</div> <div style="text-align:center;">http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgqNlfayE2zlvyLHEnzeI4c68pxjd5JPRv31A9zbX9H5FG4Bw6pAhttp://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQQmzqVm-Em1NKRRhrNR0RjpFhv_Zkeeft6Jf6Rb1ZDJKGr5R_u4Q</div> Genre: Comedy, Romance, Parody Fantasy Studio: Kyoto Animation , Director: Tatsuya Ishihara, Writer: Jukki Hanada Source: Light Novel by Torako Original Broadcast: October-December 2012, Episodes: 12 Notes: This series is often referred to as Chu-2 for short. Ni is the word for the number two in Japanese. Plot: Yuuta Togashi used to suffer from chuunibyou ("eighth grader syndrome")- sudden outbursts of hyperactive imagination and delusions of grandeur amongst Junior High schoolers- calling himself the 'Dark Flame Master' and causing him to become a social misfit. Togashi having now snapped out of this phase in his life, is so embarrassed by his past delusions, that when it comes to choosing his high school, he decides to transfer to one far away from his middle school (hoping no one from his old school will attend) in a bid to start afresh and proceed with a normal life..... That is until the day he meets a strange girl with a medical eye patch over her right eye climbing down into his apartment's balcony from the one above. The oddball girl- Rikka Takanashi, who has just moved in with sister in the same apartment block as Yuuta- believes her right eye to be cursed explaining that as the reason for the eye patch. Come the next day at school Yuuta, finds out that Rikka has become his classmate and all of a sudden he is forced to come face to face with the delusions he thought he had grown out of, whilst trying to snap Rikka out of hers. Animation Quality/Art Style: The art style is very similar to that of K-On!- Which given that both series were produced by Kyoto Animation, shouldn't come as much of a surprise. It's an art-style Kyo-Ani are very comfortable with and do well. Whilst I wouldn't say that the animation in Chu-2 surpasses previous efforts by Kyo-Ani, they do managed to maintain their high standards with this series. Music: Opening song Sparkling Day Dream by Zaq is an energetic/dancey J-Pop number, whilst the ending song Inside Identity sung by the seiyuu for the four main female characters in the series (under the group name of Black Raison d'etre) is another J-Pop number but with a bit more a rock edge. Both songs probably won't be considered for greatest anime opening/ending songs but both are listenable enough and suit the mood of the series- whilst the BGM soundtrack is forgettable but unobtrusive. Opening Song ; Sparking Daydream:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeiIS4AVa-k Ending Song ; Inside Indentity: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRj4_i-eUPU" rel="external nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRj4_i-eUPU</a> Action: Now you would be thinking that a series that would be considered to be a comedy/romance would probably feature little action- but here is where one of Chu-2's unique storytelling selling points comes in. When Rikka is fantasizing about being in a fight with magical powers- it will show the fight from her over-imaginative perspective- with all the effort put into the magical girl-esque fight sequences you would expect from a series actually from the fantasy genre- these sequences are hilariously interspersed with the real perspective (such as showing Rikka pretending that her umbrella is a weapon). Drama: The early episodes are about establishing the main and supporting characters, Rikka who is a Chuunibyu and Yuuta who used to be one. Other key characters are Shinka - a girl like Yuuta who is trying to escape from her Chuni past and Sanae a Junior High girl, who as another Chuni looks up to Rikka and is a follower of someone called Mori-Sumner. Their relationships all become interconnected when all four become part of Rikka's club (hey what's a Kyo-ani series without a club involved!). As the series progresses, the relationship between Rikka and Yuuta begins to subtly grow- but more significantly around the mid-way point the series has a tone shift from being a comedically focused series, to more of a dramatic one- revealing that there is a much deeper reason for Rikka's 'cloud cuckoolander' persona. Comedy: Rikka and her cloud cuckoolander personality is pure comedy gold, especially during the first half of the series. In general the series has a great fun, with the delusional behaviours of Chuni but the comedy never feels like it is taking the piss out those with the condition, as much and to be honest it equally pokes fun at those desperately trying to be normal and put on a facade such as Shinka. Moe/Kawaii: Main character Rikka is bonkers in a really cute way, rather than bonkers in an utterly psychotic way and when the series takes a more dramatic turn, her character becomes even more 'Moe'. Probably the next most 'Moe' character in the series, is Kumin a nice-girl who loves to nap- that is dragged into joining Rikka's club. Adult Content (Fanservice et): There's some mild fanservice with the girls in swim-wear during a beach episodes (and some of this can even be seen in the opening credits...the most fan-servicey character would be Shinka (who bears something of a passing resemblance to another buxom Bishojo character in another Kyo-Ani series- Mikuru from Haruhi). Analysis: Chu-2 manages to grab your attention with a uniquely hilarious/cute co-main protagonist in the form of Rikka. In fact the relationship between her and Yuuta is similar to that of Haruhi and Kyon- in the fact that you have a girl who is off in her little world (so to speak) and a straight-man who has somehow got dragged into being involved with them. But whilst it's easy enough to make that comparison on a certain level, the Rikka-Yuuta relationship does not feel like a total redo of Haruhi x Kyon. However had the series just carried on it's comedic vein, eventually the initial charm of the series probably would have worn a little thin had their not been any actual depth to the story. So the shift to a more dramatic tone in the second half is a welcome move- with the focus turning from the co-main protagonists wacky behaviour to 'here is why the co-main protagonist behaves like she does'. The tone shift for the series mid-way through was also handled rather well, in the fact that it felt jarring enough to make an impact but not suddenly feel like you are suddenly watching a a completely different series. Where Chu-2 does very well after the tone-shift is that it still retains some of the comedic charm it established early on but the more comedic elements have fading more into the background, whilst the drama and romantic elements of the series coming to the fore as the series progresses. Throughout Chu-2 whether the focus is on comedy, emotional drama or romance- the series manages to maintain an easily likeable charm throughout. As charming as Chu-2 is, it's not an series without flaws- with the biggest flaw being a final episode that whilst a charming final message can still be interpreted from it's conclusion, the events during the episode feel shoe-horned into finding a resolution to the plot. All in all the ending episode isn't so bad that it completely undoes the enjoyability of the previous 11 episodes, but the final episode is inconsistent enough in it's execution to notch it down from a series of unquestioned excellence to one that is still very enjoyable but one that I could only recommend to those who like Kyo-Ani's brand of Moe charm. In fact I would say enjoyment of Chu-2 is very much dependent on if you're already a fan of Kyo-Ani's style and their penchant for Moe. Closing Verdict: Chu-2 does share elements from previous Kyo-Ani series, as well as the moe charm it's productions are becoming known for- but it has a story unique and strong enough to stand on it's own and in Rikka the series has a hilarious/charming and memorable co-main protagonist. The series does rather feel like a showcase of what Kyo-Ani are good at, and unless you really don't like their style, that's no bad thing. Grade: B- Is The Dub Any Good?: Being a very new series (it only finished airing at the end of 2012), there isn't a dub yet. To be honest this is the sort of series where an English dub, would struggle to to match-up to, yet alone better the original Japanese dub recording. Sentai filmworks have picked up the license for this series.</div></blockquote> For anyone that liked this series ( surprisingly enough I did, even though its outside my normal action anime range) season 2 is airing on Crunchyroll now.

Rickymex · January 27, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Tigerkinney" data-cite="Tigerkinney" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Now I don't know at what point you dropped Good Luck Ninomiya-Kun, but I would say it's one of those shows that you'll know whether or not you like it after only a few episodes, so I wouldn't expect you to continue watching. I only continue watching shows I don't think are particularly great, because I've been committed to reviewing them and well you can't give a proper review, if you have only seen part of the show. </div></blockquote> It was the episode after the blue hair's militia take over the beach house so I think i got half way? I'll probably give Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai a try next along with .hack on Netflix. Watching H20: Footprints in the Sand and just getting more pissed off as each episode goes on. Read some spoilers on TvTropes and depending on how it occurs as I watch the main character will replace Suzaku from Code Geass as my second most hated character in anime. The kids who kill the puppy in Elfen Lied are my #1.

Infernalmiko · January 27, 2014

Meanwhile, I've watched Higurashi Outbreak and Rei. Outbreak is an interesting one shot alternate world. Rei is something else. Depending on who you listen to the Higurashi people have moved fully on to 1. Milking the franchise for all it's worth. 2. Just having fun with OTT slapstick and alternate worlds. Rei fits the second of those pretty well. As Tiger says the first and last ep are pure comedy and so over the top it can't be taken seriously as canon. But they are alot of fun. The Dice Killing arc is an interesting alt world with an ending that's pretty dark. There are suspense elements and the horror is subtle in a "I can't believe they did that" sort of way.

Next, Higurashi Kira.

Tigerkinney · January 27, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rickymex" data-cite="Rickymex" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It was the episode after the blue hair's militia take over the beach house so I think i got half way? </div></blockquote> I'd say you gave the series a fair crack <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> Watching H20: Footprints in the Sand and just getting more pissed off as each episode goes on </div></blockquote> Well I did warn people in my review, that it's not a particularly good show. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> the main character will replace Suzaku from Code Geass as my second most hated character in anime. The kids who kill the puppy in Elfen Lied are my #1 </div></blockquote> Good call on the puppy killing douchebags from Elfen Lied being your most hated character- you rarely see them pop up on most hated character lists, because they're only in it for one flashback scene. The only thing I will say about those kids for most hated character, is that you are supposed to hate them, so at least in that sense they are doing their job. I can't imagine anyone watching that scene and cheering them on for killing the puppy, unless they're wrong in the head! Personally my most hated character is Naru Narusegawa from Love Hina. She's the lead heroine in the series and you're actually supposed to like the character, but I just hated the way she would irrationally beat up Keitaro (I also kind of hate Keitaro too for putting up with it). Not saying that anyone will here, but I've seen this comparison be made: Kaname x Sousuke from Full Metal Panic!, which is a similar Tsundere based relationship, where the guy gets whacked. However I really liked that relationship. So why do I like/tolerate that one and hate Naru x Keitaro. Well the difference is that Kaname never whacked Sousuke any where near as much as Naru did with Keitaro and Sousuke did some genuinely idiotic stuff, which would elicit Kaname being annoyed at him. All it ever was with Naru and Keitaro, was Naru getting the wrong end of the stick and reacting like some irrational psycho bitch. I'd genuinely like to find out what other readers most hated anime characters are, and their reasons why.

Rickymex · January 27, 2014

Personally my most hated character is Naru Narusegawa from Love Hina. She's the lead heroine in the series and you're actually supposed to like the character, but I just hated the way she would irrationally beat up Keitaro (I also kind of hate Keitaro too for putting up with it).

This is the similar to the way I feel about the dude from Good Luck.

Not saying that anyone will here, but I've seen this comparison be made:
Kaname x Sousuke from Full Metal Panic!, which is a similar Tsundere based relationship, where the guy gets whacked. However I really liked that relationship. So why do I like/tolerate that one and hate Naru x Keitaro.

Well the difference is that Kaname never whacked Sousuke any where near as much as Naru did with Keitaro and Sousuke did some genuinely idiotic stuff, which would elicit Kaname being annoyed at him. All it ever was with Naru and Keitaro, was Naru getting the wrong end of the stick and reacting like some irrational psycho bitch. .

I will also say since Sousuke is a soldier and a badass there really nothing Kaname can do to really hurt him compared to Keitaro who is just a nerdy college student who has never learned to knock on doors.

Infernalmiko · January 30, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Tigerkinney" data-cite="Tigerkinney" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I'd genuinely like to find out what other readers most hated anime characters are, and their reasons why.</div></blockquote> This is not easy to answer. If I don't like a series I rarely watch it long enough to really start to dislike a character. I started out with some bad heat with Black*Star in Souleater but he was easy to ignore until his development started to make him more interesting and thus less annoying. It's just that his first appearance was very annoying. Excalibur is annoying but in a funny way. I could not hate him because everyone else in the series hated him, so it made it funnier. The only real case of hate for any character is actually in a web comic called Wapsi Square. There was a shaggy sideburn guy (Alan?) who made an appearance and came off to me as smug, condescending and subtly negging. I disliked him enough that I would quit reading the strip for a week when he appeared so there was time for him to go away. Once I realized this, I quit reading the strip entirely. There's more to it than just him, but he was a big part of it.

demondragonking · January 30, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Tigerkinney" data-cite="Tigerkinney" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I'd genuinely like to find out what other readers most hated anime characters are, and their reasons why.</div></blockquote> oh you asked for it... <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />:p at the top of the list is Shinji Ikari, I don't think I need to tell you why really it should blatantly obvious. I tried to give EVA a chance but the fact is the characters themselves are just NOT likeable, none of them are for me. Shinji though takes my top spot in all animedom. Nipping at Shinji's heels however is Naru of Love Hina and Asuka from Eva and any character of that type. I know there's a cultural thing going on here, but any Tsundere character is almost instantly on my 'hate' list. Abuse is abuse, no matter the genders involved and to me it's not funny. Special mention is the victims of these characters and the fact that they allow it to happen. repeatedly. Third on my list believe it or not is the Ranma 1/2 cast. Akane ends up in category above, but everyone else is here with Ranma himself leading the pack. I just don't get why people like these characters at all. I tried, I REALLY tried to watch and like them. But I couldn't do it. Some of this I will freely admit is the anime fanfiction community's almost absolute love affair with using Ranma and generally treating him like he can do no wrong and is the ultimate at everything he tries and does. No, sir. I do not like 'em. Fourthly is any character,particularly side character, that utterly dominates the spotlight. Sasuke from Naruto is a BIG offender here for me, to the point where I considered him the lead of the story for a lot of it before I up and stopped reading/watching out of disgust.

Tigerkinney · February 2, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="demondragonking" data-cite="demondragonking" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>oh you asked for it... <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />:p </div></blockquote> Well I can't say I did not ask for it <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> at the top of the list is Shinji Ikari, I don't think I need to tell you why really it should blatantly obvious. I tried to give EVA a chance but the fact is the characters themselves are just NOT likeable, none of them are for me. Shinji though takes my top spot in all animedom. </div></blockquote>I did ask for most hated, rather than worst character, and I have no issue with anyone that has Shinji as their most hated character, he is after all the poster child for wangst. I don't however feel that he's a badly written character and Evangelion wouldn't have worked with your typical brave and confident hero in the role. For better or worse Evangelion is a polarizing anime. Personally I liked EVA (I will post up a review one day) but I do understand people not liking/relating to the characters. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> Nipping at Shinji's heels however is Naru of Love Hina and Asuka from Eva and any character of that type. I know there's a cultural thing going on here, but any Tsundere character is almost instantly on my 'hate' list. Abuse is abuse, no matter the genders involved and to me it's not funny. Special mention is the victims of these characters and the fact that they allow it to happen. repeatedly. </div></blockquote>Whilst I'm not going to completely dismiss the Tsundere character type, I do know where you are coming from and well anyone who has been reading this thread, will know that I cannot abide Naru from Love Hina. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> When played more subtly though, and without the hypocritical physical abuse, the Tsundere character type isn't so bad. One of the better written characters that could be considered a Tsundere is Makise Kurisu from Steins;Gate (there's no physical abuse from Makise towards Okabe, just the trading of insults, most of which are a lot wittier than the usual Baka!)

Tigerkinney · February 2, 2014

<div style="text-align:center;">Rio: Rainbow Gate

http://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/riorainbowgate1.jpghttp://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/riorainbowgate7.jpghttp://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/rio-rainbow-gate-3481-1.jpghttp://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/rio-rainbow-gate-3481-2.jpg

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Genre: Fanservice, Comedy, Supernatural

Studio: Xebec Director: Takao Kato, Writer: Mayori Sekijima Source: Anime Original*

Original Broadcast: January- March 2009 Episodes:13 (+ 1 OVA)

* The anime is based upon a series of Pachinko Games developed by Tecmo, featuring the titular character Rio Rollins.

Synopsis: With her attractive looks and ability to bring luck to any customer just by walking past them, Rio Rollins (nicknamed the Goddess of Victory) is the star employee of the gambling and entertainment Island paradise that is the Howard Resort.

Rio however is no ordinary card dealer, she is also a Gate Holder. Whoever collects all 13 of the mystical cards, shall be bestowed the title of MVCD (Most Valuable Card Dealer) and will gain the ability to grant wishes. Soon enough enemies are challenging Rio to Gate Battles, in order to win her Gate Card, enemies that are determined to humiliate Rio and bring down the Howard Resort.

Recommended Viewing Age: Mid Teens (approx 14+) and up- Rio: Rainbow Gate, features plenty of fanservice. We don't get much in the way of full nudity/nipple shots, so I wouldn't say this ever gets towards full blown ecchi levels, but there is a constant stream of cleavage revealing outfits and partial nudity, with Rio in particular being put into compromising situations where her clothes suddenly start coming off. In comparison to some other series the fanservice in general is pretty mild but it's consistently put at the forefront enough to only really be suitable viewing for teens and upwards.

Action Level: Medium- Rio:Rainbow Gate does feature some action during the Gate: Battles. These Gate: Battles don't just end up being simple Card or Casino Games. Whilst the early Battles are essentially over-sized versions of a card game or roulette with the drama and tension turned up to the max, later games introduce skill elements such as shooting targets etc.

Each Battle is presented like some over dramatized head to head and essentially come across as an 'adult' (fanservice laden) version of trading card anime such as Yu-Gi-Oh!

Moe/Kawaii Level: Medium- In an anime chock full of raunchy fanservice characters, Mint is essentially the series token mini moe character- and is essentially there to be the cute kid.

Animation Quality/Art Style: Rio: Rainbow Gate is a visually attractive series and I'm not just referring to the fanservice heavy bishojo characters. The background art, is noticeably attractive, with a bright but not garish colour palette and effective lighting that helps bring the Howard Resort of life.

Inevitably it's during the fanservice scenes, that the animation really shines. When Bishojo's with back breaking racks are your main selling point, you may as well sell it and Rio:Rainbow Gate certainly does that. That being said the characters often have a slightly odd sheen around their considerably large assets, like they've been waxing them. The animation quality does get a bit sloppier, outside of the meticulous fanservice but overall the visuals help make Rio:Rainbow Gate an attractive series.

Music: Both the opening, Let's Spin The World Together (sung by the seiyuu's for Rio, Mint, Rina and Linda) and the ending, Miracle Chance by Ultra Prism are very generic, very forgettable, high energy J-Pop, straddling that fine line between cute and annoying.

The incidental music however was in fact pretty good, and really added to the atmosphere of the Howard Resort being a fun place, whilst also throwing in enough foreboding themes for the antagonists, whenever things got more serious. Rio's carnival tinged theme during scenes where she in control of the game, blended well with her perpetually happy outlook.

Plot and Characters: Rio Rollins is the sort of person who wants to see everyone be happy and practically lives by the rule of 'As The Customer Wishes'....she's willing to put up with being put into skimpy outfits just to please her boss 'Tom Howard' and will accept the challenge of a Gate Battle, even if she isn't really ready. She has a perpetually positive outlook and that positivity radiates throughout the 'Howard Resort'.

However it's that 'make everyone happy' attitude that is effectively the driving force for the opponent that ends up becoming her greatest adversary. This opponent is determined to show Rio that they are better than her, and not just because Rio let them win. This antagonism towards Rio's 'please everyone' attitude, also leads to Rio questioning herself later in the series.

Rio comes from a family of card dealers with the ability of a Roll Ruler (A Gate Holder with the ability to change the battlefield to their liking), with her mother Risa Rollins being the previous MVCD. During her childhood Rio, would play with a game called Rina, who essentially became adopted by Risa following the passing of her mother. Years later and Rina has been employed by Tom Howard as the latest recruit to the Howard Result. Rina shows herself to be a skilled card dealer and becomes a major part of the story.

The major antagonist of the series if Cartia Goldschmitt, a manipulative Casino owner from Germany, who is determined to bring down the Howard Resort and sends a series of Gate Holders to challenge Rio. These include the stuffed toy collector Orlin, the narcissist Elvis, the cowboy Bullhard, the sniper Queen and telekinetic Jack. Their loyalty towards Cartia and her schemes range from loyal henchmen to gate holders that have simply been manipulated into doing Cartia's bidding. Whilst most of these Gate Holders, fall by the wayside pretty easily, the 'ace' that Cartia has up her sleeve does end up providing a major psychological and emotional challenge for Rio.

The other character with major screen time is Mint Clark, an elementary school aged girl that has come to the Howard Resort with her super rich grandfather and carries around a stuffed bear named Choco. She ends up 'adopting' Rio as her surrogate big sister, whilst staying at the resort and also ends up striking up a friendship with Jack (who is one of the gate holders that challenges Rio, but is also a boy around the same age as Mint).

Sharing the Howard Resort, with Rio, is her cigar chomping boss Tom Howard, the Hollywood actress Rosa Canyon (who finds herself possessed by a ghost called Misery), the bunny girls Tiffany Abbott and the twins Ille (Talkative) and Elle (quiet) Adams, the clumsy new recruit Anya, Linda an android in charge of the new Sky Resort attraction and Dana the magician.

Whilst the plot starts off comedic and fluffy, their is a tone shift following a major heel turn during episode 8, with the antagonists turning from comedic and obviously set up to fail to being more threatening.

Comic relief is primarily provided by the clumsy Anya, the malfunctioning robot Linda (who is always losing her head), Carlos Tanaka an Afro-Samurai that is guesting at the resort and always seems to run into bad luck, and the general failings/personality quirks of the various Gate Holders that challenge Rio.

Analysis: If Howard Resort was ever run as a casino in real life it would be bankrupt and the owner would probably be in prison/facing a lawsuit from one of his employees. Why would a casino employ someone that would be bringing luck to their patrons and helping them win all the time...surely that dealer would be seen as a liability and not only be sent packing from that casino but from the gambling industry all together, add in the elaborate and over the top attractions at Howard Resort and surely the only way this thing can be kept going is if the owner is running a money laundering scam on the side.

Then there is the owner himself, Tom Howard is a cigar smoking lech. It's bad enough that the girls who work for him have to breathe his stinky guitar smoke every day but they're also forced to put up with what pertains to daily sexual harassment. The titular Rio, being Tom's favourite, puts up with this the most, like the proverbial doormat that she is.

But looking at the world of Rio:Rainbow Gate through the eyes of logic and reality is a fruitless exercise, after all this is a show where a game of Poker or Blackjack are turned into ultra-intense Supernatural battles, and a game of Roulette is played by throwing Bowling Bowls down a chute that resembles a giant version of Mousetrap. The Gate Battles, essentially don't boil down to luck or skill in the end, they pretty much boil down to someone's ridiculously named supernatural ability (Roll Ruler) being more powerful than the other, and there's only a handful of Gate Holders who are capable of fully utilizing that power and we all know that the titular character is going to be one of them.

You can forget about learning anything off this anime regarding casino games and gambling, and besides the casino games theme gets thrown out of the window fairly early. Since when has clay pigeon shooting and human pinball had anything to do with the casino world?! Then again Pachinko is basically pinball with gambling, and this was based off a series of Pachinko games.

The first half simply throws up a Loser of the Week, before the series decides to get 'serious' after a heel turn that most people with any ounce of sense, could see coming from the moment this character and their backstory is introduced. To be fair the series does at least gain a plot, the previously unflappable Rio does gain some vulnerability and her strongest opponent comes across as having valid reasons for wanting to beat Rio but also comes across as whiny and butt-hurt enough for you never wanting to side with the villains. The manipulative big bad Cartia is also enough of a bitch, that you actually feel that the lecherous Tom Howard is practically a saint compared to her. At the end of the day though as much as they tried to interject drama into this thing, it came down to Yu-Gi-Oh! with fanservice with the final Gate Battle utilizing the over-used Rocky formula.

Rio is a likeable enough protagonist, she starts off as walking fanservice but her character does actually evolve with the story and I actually like the fact that even when things got tough for her that her character didn't end up doing a complete 180. Most of the supporting cast however operate at various levels of being utterly useless to the show and/or it's paper thin plot. These range from one-shot villains of the week (Orlin, Queen, King etc), walking comedy cliches (Anya- the clumsy girl) or why are they even there? (Any of the three Bunny Girls). Even supporting characters with a little more screen time such as the ghost possessed 'Hollywood Actress' Rosa or the magician Dana, don't really add much to the show.

If you discount the thinly veiled racism towards the shows token black guy (Afro Samurai Carlos Tanaka, who gets treated like the village idiot of Howard Resort), the comedy for the most part is inoffensive but cliched, and whilst some gags may raise a smile, they're rarely going to induce a bellyful of laughs.

Rio: Rainbow Gate is at least attractive to look at, which does save it from being a complete disaster and I would say that on this occasion the fanservice actually adds something to the show, rather than detracts from it. There isn't any great potential here with a plot, that was probably written on the back of a Pachinko game prize ticket, so they may as well fill in those gaps with fanservice and it has to be said that Rio: Rainbow Gate has well animated fanservice.

Even if well animated fanservice is not exactly high on most people's agenda of what makes a a great anime, it at least shows that Rio: Rainbow Gate was good at something and it essentially takes the show from disaster to forgettable.

Now this isn't going to spoil anything but the very final scene of the televised episodes, shows two characters not even seen at any point in the anime, staring out and looking like a pair of future antagonists for a possible season two. Why, even show this? Because there isn't a chance in hell that this is ever going to get a second season.

Closing Verdict: Was anyone ever going to expect a fanservice heavy anime, based off a character from a series of Pachinko games to be any good?! Whilst Rio: Rainbow Gate isn't a charm free disaster, it's not exactly going to be winning any accolades anytime soon or in the future.

Mediocre

Is the Dub Any Good?: New York based Media Blasters licensed the show, but decided against doing a dub for this. Given the generally tepid reaction to this series, that does not come as a surprise.

Trivia Note: Rio appears as playable guest character in the fanservice heavy PSP game Dead or Alive paradise.

demondragonking · February 2, 2014

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Tigerkinney" data-cite="Tigerkinney" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="33970" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Well I can't say I did not ask for it <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> I did ask for most hated, rather than worst character, and I have no issue with anyone that has Shinji as their most hated character, he is after all the poster child for wangst. I don't however feel that he's a badly written character and Evangelion wouldn't have worked with your typical brave and confident hero in the role. For better or worse Evangelion is a polarizing anime. Personally I liked EVA (I will post up a review one day) but I do understand people not liking/relating to the characters. Whilst I'm not going to completely dismiss the Tsundere character type, I do know where you are coming from and well anyone who has been reading this thread, will know that I cannot abide Naru from Love Hina. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> When played more subtly though, and without the hypocritical physical abuse, the Tsundere character type isn't so bad. One of the better written characters that could be considered a Tsundere is Makise Kurisu from Steins;Gate (there's no physical abuse from Makise towards Okabe, just the trading of insults, most of which are a lot wittier than the usual Baka!) </div></blockquote> oh I don't begrudge anyone for liking EVA or it's characters, I mean who the heck am *I* to deride someone's choices in anything, yeah? For me to enjoy an anime I need someone ANYONE to either identify with even superficially or root for. For me EVA has NONE of either. There is literally no one in that anime I can look at and go 'yeah, I hope things turn out okay for them.' And yes, Shinji's wangst makes me want to beat him within an inch of his life, it's THAT annoying to me. I DO make a distinction between angst, which is fine for drama and story's sake, and wangst, which just makes me want to commit violent acts on said person just to make it stop. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> I actually agree with you in that Tsundere done RIGHT can be rather entertaining. The Blonde in the Nisekoi/False Love is the archtype, but she neither physically assaults the guy and the guy snarls right back at her, which is a breath of fresh air considering we had a string of what I call the hyper violent Tsunderes there for a while. Oh and if you don't like Naru, you'll be like me and absolutely LOATHE the little pink haired cockroach from Familiar of Zero as bad as Naru is THAT ONE is worse in ways, IMO.

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