Several borderline masterpieces spotted - Kaichou wa Maid-sama! , Working!! and Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail with Working!! taking a tender place in my heart.
1. Angel Beats! Angel Beats!（エンジェルビーツ!） [P.A. Works] (Finished 13/13) Tags: School Drama, Supernatural Death is one of many mysteries that has left humanity in the dark since the dawn of time. However, the burning question of what happens to the soul after one dies is soon answered to 17-year-old Yuzuru Otonashi. Waking up with no previous memories in a dimension between life and death, he discovers the unsettling truth of the afterlife. Taking the form of a high school, this bizarre dimension is designated to shelter those who died unwanted deaths. Feeling wronged by God during their earthly lives, the school's residents have decided to form the Afterlife Battlefront—a rebellious faction determined to oppose their god-like student council president, Kanade "Angel" Tachibana. The group's leader, Yuri Nakamura, recruits Otonashi in their fight against Angel in order to take control of their own lives. However, questioning the morality behind their actions, Otonashi takes a step behind the enemy lines to understand the opposing side of their common fate. I had pretty good impression of Angel Beats when I watched it in the past. But now I can't understand how I could like it. Probably impression got mixed up with High school of the dead. The setting is totally wasted on SOL activity and rather ridiculous conflict with a small girl. It does not transcend the usual visual novel concept of getting emotional with the girls. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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2. Kaichou wa Maid-sama! Maid Sama! 会長はメイド様! [J.C.Staff] (Finished 26/26) Tags: Shoujo School Comedy, Romance Misaki Ayuzawa is a unique phenomenon within Seika High School. In a predominantly male institution, she became the first-ever female student council president through her honesty and diligence. Ever since Misaki got promoted to the position, she has been working tirelessly to ensure a better school life for all girls. Despite that, Misaki is very strict with the boys, which has earned her the title "Demon President." One day, after hearing a girl cry in the hallway, Misaki encounters Takumi Usui—the most popular boy in the school—as he rejects a love confession. Enraged at what she is seeing, Misaki reprimands him for making the girl cry. However, Usui is indifferent and brushes it off as nothing. Unexpectedly, Misaki soon runs into Usui again, but this time when she is working at a maid cafe! Embarrassed that someone has found out about her secret occupation, Misaki promises herself not to let Usui destroy her reputation. However, the mysterious boy now begins to visit the same cafe regularly to observe and tease Misaki. When push comes to shove, will Usui still be able to keep the president's secret? I referenced it so many times that it's evidently a masterpiece in my opinion. It takes a lot from His and Her circumstances and puts it on more modern rails. But this extension to 26 episodes makes the whole middle really episodic, and some episodes feel better than the others. Impression might be even better if I did not watch it all in two sittings. Overall Rating: 7/10 |
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3. K-On!! K-ON! Season 2 けいおん!! [Kyoto Animation] (Finished 26/26) Tags: CGDCT, Music, School Award Winning, Comedy It is the new year, which means that the senior members of the Light Music Club are now third-years, with Azusa Nakano being the only second-year. The seniors soon realize that Azusa will be the only member left once they graduate and decide to recruit new members. Despite trying many methods of attracting underclassmen—handing out fliers, bringing people into the clubroom, and performing at the welcoming ceremony—there are no signs of anyone that plans to join. While heading to the clubroom, Azusa overhears Yui Hirasawa say that the club is fine with only five people and that they can do many fun things together. Changing her mind, she decides that they do not need to recruit any members for the time being. K-On!! revolves around the members of the Light Music Club as they experience their daily high school life. From rehearsing for concerts to just messing around, they are ready to make their last year together an exciting one! Sequel. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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4. Kiss x Sis (TV) キスシス [feel.] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Seinen Harem, School Comedy, Romance, Ecchi After Keita Suminoe's mother passed away, his father promptly remarried, introducing two step-sisters into Keita's life: twins Ako and Riko. But since their fateful first encounter, a surge of incestuous love for their younger brother overcame the girls, beginning a lifelong feud for his heart. Now at the end of his middle school career, Keita studies fervently to be able to attend Ako and Riko's high school. While doing so however, he must resolve his conflicting feelings for his siblings and either reject or succumb to his sisters' intimate advances. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately for Keita—his sisters aren't the only women lusting after him, and there's no telling when the allure of temptation will get the better of the boy as well. OVA was way too ecchi for TV, so the only part that interests me here is how all those situations get normalized. And it indeed has become much more lighthearted with nudity shifted to undies for the most part. But at least it feels serious. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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5. Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou Demon King Daimao いちばんうしろの大魔王 [Artland] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Harem, School Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi Dreaming of changing the world for good, Akuto Sai transfers to Constant Magic Academy where he befriends a virtuous ninja clan member, Junko Hattori. On the way to the academy, they vow to make the world a better place together; however, the situation suddenly takes a turn for the worse upon his arrival—it is prophesied that he will become the Demon King! As word of his destiny spreads, the school begins to fear him, and Junko's trust in him falters. While Akuto is determined to not let his predicted future control his fate, it seems as though everything he says and does only serve to reinforce the fact that he is destined to be the Demon King. Moreover, he is surrounded by a harem of beautiful girls who each have their own plans for him, ranging from bringing him to justice to simply showering him with love. With his newly awakened powers, Akuto must cope with his constantly growing list of misfortunes and fight to prove that his fate is not set in stone. Concept and beginning are quite nice. But it gets more confusing and covered in ecchi and is followed by swift resolution, so I can't call it integrate or even amusing. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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6. Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei The Tatami Galaxy 四畳半神話大系 [Madhouse] (Finished 3/11)  Tags: Psychological, Time Travel Award Winning, Comedy, Mystery, Romance One autumn evening at a mysterious ramen stand behind the Shimogamo Shrine, a lonely third-year college student bumps into a man with an eggplant-shaped head who calls himself a god of matrimony. Meeting this man causes the student to reflect upon his past two years at college—two years bitterly spent trying to break up couples on campus with his only friend Ozu, a ghoulish-looking man seemingly set on making his life as miserable as possible. Resolving to make the most out of the rest of his college life, the student attempts to ask out the unsociable but kind-hearted underclassman Akashi, yet fails to follow through, prompting him to regret not living out his college life differently. As soon as this thought passes through his head, however, he is hurtled through time and space to the beginning of his years at college and given another chance to live his life. Surreal, artistic, and mind-bending, Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei chronicles the misadventures of a young man on a journey to make friends, find love, and experience the rose-colored campus life he always dreamed of. Wow, now I know where Sonny Boy came from. And I really detested Sonny Boy. Horrible art and characters designs, abstract story with pretentious and empty investigation of emotions blah-blah-blah. Praising such works is encouraging more of such works to show up. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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7. Working!! Wagnaria!! ワーキング!! [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Seinen Romantic Subtext, Workplace Comedy Due to his love for small, cute things, Souta Takanashi cannot turn childlike Popura Taneshima down when she recruits him to work for Wagnaria, a family restaurant located in Hokkaido. Takanashi takes particular joy in doting on the older Popura, which only fuels her complex over how young she looks. He also quickly learns he must stay on his toes once he meets the rest of his colleagues, including the katana-wielding floor chief Yachiyo Todoroki, the intimidating head chef Jun Satou, the dangerously well-informed and subtly sadistic sous chef Hiroomi Souma, the adamantly lazy manager Kyouko Shirafuji, and the waitress Mahiru Inami who has a "painful" fear of men. Powered by an eccentric cast, Working!! is a unique workplace comedy that follows the never-dull happenings within the walls of Wagnaria as Takanashi and his co-workers' quirky personalities combine to create non-stop antics, shenanigans, and hilarity. I watched everything from Wagnaria and quite enjoyed it. There are a lot of nice characters. But can't say it's especially memorable by humor or story, and I also would not want to rewatch it as I remember relations quite well, and there aren't many more incentives to repeat it all. I guess I'll set with score 7. Overall Rating: 7/10 |
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8. Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin Rainbow RAINBOW 二舎六房の七人 [Madhouse] (Finished 26/26) Tags: Seinen Delinquents, Historical Drama, Suspense Japan, 1955: Mario Minakami has just arrived at Shounan Special Reform School along with five other teenagers who have been arrested on serious criminal charges. All assigned to the same cell, they meet older inmate Rokurouta Sakuragi—a former boxer—with whom they establish a close bond. Under his guidance, and with the promise that they will meet again on the outside after serving their sentences, the delinquents begin to view their hopeless situation in a better light. The seven cellmates struggle together against the brutal suffering and humiliation inflicted upon them by Ishihara, a sadistic guard with a grudge on Rokurouta, and Gisuke Sasaki, a doctor who takes pleasure in violating boys. Facing such hellish conditions, the seven inmates must scrape together all the strength they have to survive until their sentences are up; but even if they do, just what kind of lives are waiting for them on the other side? I remember trying it at least twice and dropping both times as I was not interested in male prison friendship story. Having finished it now, can't say I like it. First half feels a lot as Ashita no Joe prison arc, second half is just personal stories getting development one by one. Some characters and stories are fine, some aren't. There's a lot of forced drama and unrealistic behavior done in very straightforward manner and therefore with constant stroke of luck involved. In my opinion, it lacks qualities for a masterpiece even though I welcome such unusual kind of story in anime. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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9. B-gata H-kei Yamada's First Time: B Gata H Kei B型H系 [Hal Film Maker] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Seinen School Comedy, Romance, Ecchi Most people, including the girl herself, would say that first year high school student Yamada is beautiful and perfect. Despite this, she is working towards a peculiar goal: to have sex with one hundred men by the end of high school. Trying to put some sense into her head, Yamada's best friend, Miharu Takeshita, points out a major flaw in that plan—she is completely inexperienced with men. However, the reason behind this is that Yamada thinks her lady parts look strange and believes others will judge her for it. As a result, Yamada decides that her first time must be with a fellow virgin, since they will not hurt or scare her. After a fateful encounter, she sets her sights on the shy and average Takashi Kosuda, an aspiring photographer with a heart of gold. With contending rivals for his affection and her own raging hormones, Yamada must find ways to seduce Kosuda and take his cherry. However, as she gets closer to Kosuda, she finds herself increasingly enjoying their time spent together. The concept is set in stone, so only situations are going to multiply the further it goes. And I like contemporary ecchi comedies not tied by one concept more as there's more depth in them. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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10. Arakawa Under the Bridge 荒川アンダー ザ ブリッジ [Shaft] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Seinen Comedy, Romance Kou Ichinomiya is the son of a wealthy businessman who holds a firm belief in his elite status. As such, he is determined to avoid becoming indebted to anyone; but one day, after a run-in with some mischievous kids on Arakawa Bridge, he ends up falling into the river running underneath. Luckily for him, a passerby is there to save him—but now, he owes his life to this stranger! Angered by this, Kou insists on paying her back, but this may just be the worst deal the arrogant businessman has ever made. The stranger—a stoic, tracksuit-wearing homeless girl known only as Nino—lives in a cardboard box under the bridge and wants only one thing: to fall in love. Asking Kou to be her boyfriend, he has no choice but to accept, forcing him to move out of his comfortable home and start a new life under the bridge! I tried to watch everything seinen, so of course finished this one, and I got no strong feelings towards it. It has strong comedy start and some amusing inhabitants with protagonist presenting a rationalizing look on all this weirdness. Overall, humor is good, but not conceptual enough - more of reactional one. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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11. Hakuouki Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom~ 薄桜鬼 [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Josei Historical, Samurai Action, Drama, Supernatural In 1864 Japan, a young woman named Chizuru Yukimura is searching for her missing father, Koudou, a doctor by trade whose work often takes him far from home. But with no word from him in months, Chizuru disguises herself as a man and heads to Kyoto in search of him. Attracting the attention of ronin, she tries to hide and ends up witnessing a horrifying sight: the ronin being brutally murdered by crazed white-haired men. In a startling turn of events, members of the Shinsengumi arrive to dispatch the creatures. But Chizuru's safety doesn't last long, as this group of men tie her up and take her back to their headquarters, unsure of whether to let her live or silence her permanently. However, once she reveals the name of her father, the Shinsengumi decide to keep her safe, as they too have been searching for him. But Koudou is more connected to the Shinsengumi than they let on, and soon Chizuru finds herself embroiled in a conflict between the Shinsengumi and their enemies, as well as political tension in Kyoto. It's adaptation of long-standing otome visual novel series. As for me, it's bishounen reverse harem and thus can't stand it. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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12. Mayoi Neko Overrun! Stray Cats Overrun! 迷い猫オーバーラン! [AIC] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Harem Comedy, Romance Takumi Tsuzuki is a high school student who attends the Umenomori Private Academy, free of charge, alongside Fumino Serizawa, a childhood friend of his whom always says the opposite of what she feels. He spends most of his time at school fending off Chise Umenomori, the granddaughter of the board chairman and a pampered princess, who is constantly roping him into her eccentric hobbies. After school, he goes to work at the "Stray Cats" confectionery, a cake shop run by his adoptive older sister, Otome Tsuzuki, until it's time to go to bed. This is the average routine in the day and the life of Takumi. Mayoi Neko Overrun follows another seemingly average day in the life of Takumi. With his sister away from the shop, having gone to save someone else in need of help, Fumino takes it upon herself to wake him up so that he won't be late for their usual walk to school together, giving him a glimpse of her blue and white striped panties in the process. What a nice way to start the day. When Otome returns home, she brings with her a girl named Nozomi Kiriya, whose hair and mannerisms resemble that of a large cat. It turns out that she is a runaway that Otome can't help but take in. Takumi's ordinary days are transformed into splendid chaos as he tries to unravel who this mysterious beauty is and what she's running away from... Pretty random SOL harem with various tilts and several archetypes. Can't say it's worth the time spent. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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13. Saraiya Goyou House of Five Leaves さらい屋 五葉 [Manglobe] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Historical, Samurai Drama Masanosuke "Masa" Akitsu is a wandering ronin adrift in Japan's peaceful Edo period. Despite being a skilled swordsman, Masa's meek personality has netted him the label "unreliable," and he is often abruptly dismissed by his employers, leading him to question his resolve as a samurai. As Masa reaches his lowest point, he is approached by Yaichi, a carefree man draped in pink who seemingly hires him on a whim as his bodyguard. Unbeknownst to Masa, the job is not as innocent as it seems, and he is drawn into the illicit activities of the group spearheaded by Yaichi. As he becomes further entwined with the gang known as the Five Leaves, Masa struggles with his own principles. Still, his curiosity spurs him forward to uncover the past and motivations of this mysterious band of outlaws. This early seinen starts to be synonym for suffering. Why drawing has to be so ugly each time? So expect a slow dull pathetic development done randomly by unmotivated people. If it's not synonym to waste of time, it's quite close. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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14. Giant Killing ジャイアントキリング [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/26) Tags: Seinen Team Sports Drama, Sports East Tokyo United (ETU) has been struggling in Japan's top soccer league for the past few years. It has taken everything they have just to avoid relegation. To make matters even worse, the team has lost five matches in a row, leading to abysmal team morale. Even the fans are beginning to abandon them, and rumors hint that the home ground municipality is going to withdraw their support. With countless coaches fired and poor financial choices in hiring players, it is a downward spiral for ETU. The board of directors, under pressure from general manager Kousei Gotou, takes a gamble and hires a new coach—the slightly eccentric Takeshi Tatsumi. Though considered a great soccer player when he was younger, Tatsumi abandoned ETU years ago. However, since then, he has proven himself successful as the manager of one of England's lower division amateur teams. Tatsumi's task won't be easy; ETU fans call him a traitor, and the team is pitted against others with larger budgets and better players. Yet even the underdog can take down a goliath, and Tatsumi claims he is an expert at giant killing. Don't want to block Sports tag as it's a very broad concept and is often involved with girls who do things in a cute way, but don't expect me to enjoy pure spokons. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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15. Bakugan Battle Brawlers: New Vestroia Bakugan: New Vestroia 爆丸バトルブローラーズ New Vestroia [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/52) Tags: Strategy Game Adventure, Fantasy After the final downfall of the rogue Bakugan Naga, peace was brought back to Vestroia. With the help of Danma Kuusou, his companion Pyrus Dragonoid, and other Battle Brawlers, the Infinity and Silent Cores were combined and the realm was recreated. However, New Vestroia will not be given any respite as humanoid alien invaders, the Vestals, arrive and conquer the Bakugan world in one fell swoop. Armed with a fearsome machine capable of restricting Bakugan into their ball forms, they aim to enslave the race as a form of entertainment. Now, the only force standing in their way is the Bakugan Battle Brawlers Resistance—a group of humans, Bakugan, and Vestals who oppose the idea of annihilating a sentient race. Led by Danma, they must venture into enemy-occupied New Vestroia and repel the invaders, to assure the survival of the entire world. Sequel. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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16. Major S6 メジャー 第6シリーズ [SynergySP] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Shounen Team Sports The intense Baseball World Cup has reached its conclusion. Gorou Honda has regained his passion for baseball and is once again back in full gear. He has secured a team position with the Hornets and has travelled back to America to prepare for his spectacular debut as a Major League pitcher. However, Gorou encounters a sudden series of unexpected issues and devastating events follow, crushing his motivation and potentially reducing the baseball career that he has worked tirelessly to maintain into crumbs. In the final season of Major, Gorou must yet again overcome immense hardship in order to save his baseball career. This time there is no simple solution, as the problem is deeply rooted within his own mind... Sequel. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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17. Ikkitousen: Xtreme Xecutor 一騎当千 Xtreme Xecutor [Arms, TNK] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Martial Arts, School, Super Power Action, Ecchi Life gets crazy for Hakufu when she takes on a pupil that acts just like her! A tournament between the school heads start, but due to Hakufu's negligence, her pupil ends up taking her place. The tournament isn't what it seems, and the girls find themselves in the middle of a plot to take over the clans. Sequel. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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18. Senkou no Night Raid Night Raid 1931 閃光のナイトレイド [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Historical, Military, Super Power Action The year is 1931. The city is Shanghai. Ten years before America will enter World War II, the hydra's teeth planted by the first great global conflict are beginning to germinate. Hatching like spiders, they weave the complex web of plots and conspiracies destined to inevitably draw entire nations to the brink of destruction. Caught in the heart of these webs, desperately seeking to separate lies from truth, is "Sakurai Kikan," an ultra-secret intelligence agency staffed by extraordinarily talented individuals with abilities far beyond those of normal humans. Their duty: to stop the darkest plots and eliminate the greatest threats. But in a city built on intrigue, can even a team of clairvoyants, telepaths and espers stand against the ultimate forces of destiny? I have prejudice against espers with superpowers, especially when team of such espers investigates some case or mystery. Only some outstanding cast could save it, but of course it did not happen. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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19. Ookiku Furikabutte: Natsu no Taikai-hen Big Windup! 2 おおきく振りかぶって 〜夏の大会編〜 [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Seinen Team Sports Picking up where the original series left off, Ren Mihashi, the ace pitcher of the newly-formed Nishiura High School baseball team, and his teammates face the Sakitama High School team in the next round of the High School Baseball Invitational Tournament as they aim to play in the finals at legendary Hanshin Koushien Stadium. Sequel. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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20. Heroman ヒーローマン [Bones] (Finished 3/26) Tags: Shounen Action, Sci-Fi In California's Center City, shy but kindhearted Joseph Carter "Joey" Jones lives with his grandmother, working in a coffee shop. Though his family is financially burdened and he is bullied at school, he remains cheerful. A robotics enthusiast, he wants a top-of-the-line toy robot called a Heybo more than anything. One day Joey and his friend Simon "Psy" Kaina come across a destroyed Heybo discarded by a group of rich kids. He takes it home and repairs it himself, excitedly naming it Heroman. However, one night Heroman is struck by lightning and comes to life, growing several times its size in the process. That same night Center City is attacked by aliens called Skrugg whose attention was brought to Earth after Joey's acquaintance Professor Matthew Denton made attempts to contact them. Along with Joey, Heroman quickly heads to the scene of the attack, where he finds people in trouble, including his friend Lina Davis and her father. Using an arm-mounted controller, Joey is able to command Heroman to use superpowers to fight off the Skrugg and rescue civilians. As the aliens continue their invasion of Earth, the duo are the only ones separating humanity and destruction. I facepalmed several times just while reading the synopsis. I was absolutely sure it was story from some 70s as it's too simple to be modern. Being put to modern rails, story still has a lot of limitations. Execution and characters are ok, but in the end it's just a boring shounen that has little to remember it by. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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21. Shin Koihime†Musou: Otome Tairan 真恋姫†無双 ~乙女大乱~ [Doga Kobo] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Historical Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi The third season of Koihime Musou. Han's high court general Kashin (何進) was forced to swallow a cursed pill from Chou Jou. The effect is slowly turning her into a cat, which she dislikes. Chou Jou also made use of the emperor's name to dispose her from the Han court as a traitor. She met Kada during her escape while Kada brought her to the Touka village, whom he believes they would help her. Sequel. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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22. Jewelpet Twinkle☆ ジュエルペット てぃんくる☆ [Studio Comet] (Finished 1/52) Tags: Shoujo Anthropomorphic, School Fantasy In Jewel Land, Jewelpets, creatures who has the natural ability to use magic lived in harmony with the Witches, attending the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn to use magic with their Jewel Eyes. However for Ruby, a white Japanese Hare whose magic sometimes fail, is appointed to go to the Human World to search for her partner. But when she used the card the magicians gave her, she was sent to the Human World by accident. In the Human World, A girl named Akari Sakura met her on the beach on her way to school. At first, Akari can't understand her due to her Jewel Land Language until Ruby took a special candy so she could speak and understand human language. As the day passes, Ruby knew about her problems and later apologized. A Jewel Charm appeared on Akari's hand and she realized it that she's chosen by Ruby to be her partner. After that, she decided to enter the Jewel Star Grand Prix, on the prize is that any wish that they wanted will be granted. Will she be the Next Jewel Star and her wish be granted in the end? Or It'll just end in one big disaster... Sequel. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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23. Hime Chen! Otogi Chikku Idol Lilpri Spellbound! Magical Princess Lilpri ひめチェン! おとぎちっくアイドル リルぷりっ [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/51) Tags: Mahou Shoujo Fantasy The Fairytale World is in trouble. Its princesses and their respective worlds are disappearing, causing a ripple effect in the human world where their stories are popular. In order to save the Fairytale World, the Queen sends three magic animals, Sei, Dai, and Ryoku, to the human world with magic gems to find three girls who can become the "Super Miracle Idols," the princesses Snow White, Cinderella, and Kaguya-hime. Those "princesses" end up being three little girls: Yukimori Ringo, Takashiro Layla, and Sasahara Natsuki. But the gems transform them into older singing superstars, and after their accidental debut at the singer Wish's concert, they become known as "Little Princesses," or "LilPri." Now they must collect Happiness Tones from humans in order to restore the Fairytale World. Mahou shoujo for younger audiences. I see only cringe stamps here. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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24. SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors SDガンダム三国伝 Brave Battle Warriors [Sunrise] (Finished 1/51) Tags: Historical, Mecha Action A Romance of the Three Kingdoms retelling using SD Gundams. Well, I'm fond of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so I had to sample it... but it's the worst and most artificial version that I've ever seen. I'm puzzled of why it can exist at all. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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25. Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou Second Collection The Best!! Extremely Cool Student Council President Second Collection 極上!!めちゃモテ委員長 セカンドコレクション [Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment] (Finished 1/51) Tags: Shoujo School Comedy, Romance The continuation of Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou with a new title. Episode numbers continue from 51. Sequel. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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26. Saikyou Bushouden: Sangoku Engi The Legend of the Strongest General: Romance of the Three Kingdoms 最强武将传·三国演义 [Hisashishi Videos, TOMY Company] (Finished 5/52) Tags: Historical Future Planet, Beijing Huihuang Animation Company Chinese-Japanese anime adaptation of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" classic novel. Lui Bei embarks on a journey to quell the chaos that plagues his homeland, bringing with him his sworn brothers, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. With only a small army and no land Lui Bei is forced to take a subservient role to other Generals, in order to keep him safe from those who continually come after his life. It might be the best version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but only five episodes are translated, so there's a limit to the score I can give in such state. I'll definitely bookmark it to check the rest later. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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27. Ring ni Kakero 1: Kage Dou-hen リングにかけろ1 影道編 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/6) Tags: Shounen Action, Sports After defeating Black Shaft's makeshift Team America, the Golden Japan Jr. team returns to training for the World Tournament that will be held in Tokyo. But during training the Shadow Clan, which uses boxing as an assassination technique, kidnaps Kiku in order to lure Ryuji and the others into a fight to see who's truly the better representatives of Japan's junior boxers. Sequel. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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28. Choegang Habche: Mix Master Mix Master: Final Force 최강 합체 믹스마스터 [Sunwoo Entertainment] (Finished 1/39) Tags: Adventure, Fantasy Mix Masters Final Force is the second season of the original mix masters show. In this story, Ditt forgets that he was a mix master. But when the time comes to save the world once again, he finds new friends to help him in his battle against Eva and Babel, the two new antagonists. Sequel. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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29. Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail [Madhouse] (Finished 5/5) Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Organized Crime Action Crime never sleeps in Roanapur, and neither does Roberta—a devoted maid and skilled guerilla soldier in service to the Venezuelan Lovelace family. After the assassination of her superior by the US Secret Service, Roberta returns to the city of debauchery in search of vengeance and his killer's head. Meanwhile, young Fernando Garcia Lovelace, the new heir to his father's estate, tails Roberta to Thailand alongside his bodyguard, Fabiola Iglesias. He enlists the help of the Lagoon Company, with the objective of deterring Roberta's warpath and bringing her back to the family. However, with the continued bloodshed and mounting tensions between Roberta, island crime factions, and the US military, it will take a significant amount of strategy—and weaponry—to stop her relentless quest for revenge. A worthy Swan Song for Black Lagoon. Overall Rating: 7/10 |
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30. Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu Today We Start Our Love 今日、恋をはじめます [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/2)  Tags: Shoujo School Romance Hibino Tsubaki is a shy, kind, and slightly old-fashioned girl who has always been the top student in her class. She always did everything her parents wanted her to do. She loved to do other girls' hair in trendy and cute styles, despite always wearing plain braids herself. On her first day of high school at the opening ceremony, she is astonished to see that the top student giving the opening speech is not only somebody else, but also the rudest boy she has ever seen. This delinquent turns out to be her new classmate, Kyouta Tsubaki. Kyouta teases Hibino, drawing attention to their similar last names. The two are both top of their class, but are different in every other way. Even though it seems that they cannot stand each other, fate has something else in store for them… Total ripoff as only some culmination moments are cut into two not even full episodes. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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31. Gintama Movie 1: Shinyaku Benizakura-hen Gintama: The Movie 劇場版 銀魂 新訳紅桜篇 [Sunrise] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Shounen Historical, Parody, Samurai Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi Gintoki and his Yorozuya friends (or rather, employees suffering under labor violations), Shinpachi and Kagura, continue to scrape by in the futuristic, alien-infested city of Edo. They take on whatever work they can find while trying not to get involved in anything too dangerous. But when Katsura, the leader of the Joui rebels and Gintoki's long-time acquaintance, disappears after being brutally attacked by an unknown assassin, Shinpachi and Kagura begin an investigation into his whereabouts and the identity of the assailant. Meanwhile, Gintoki takes on a seemingly unrelated job: the blacksmith Tetsuya requests that Gin recover a strange and powerful sword called the Benizakura which was recently stolen. As the two investigations gradually intersect, the Yorozuya crew find themselves in the midst of a major conspiracy that hinges on the sinister nature of the Benizakura sword. Gintoki resolves to take the fight directly to the enemy headquarters, and together with a few unexpected allies, sets out on one of his most perilous jobs yet. I do value at least one Gintama movie over the series, but definitely not this first movie. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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32. Trigun: Badlands Rumble Trigun - Badlands Rumble [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Shounen Adult Cast Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Vash the Stampede is a contradiction. He has a notorious reputation as "The Humanoid Typhoon," laying anything he comes across to waste on the desolate planet of Gunsmoke. However, Vash is in fact very non-confrontational and kind-hearted, living by a code of pacifism. Twenty years ago, a high-profile bank heist went sour. The ringleader, Gasback Gallon Getaway, swore to get back at his backstabbing crew and the man who stopped him from killing them: Vash the Stampede. In the present day, the traitorous crew has been living the good life as successful entrepreneurs and politicians. Although two decades have passed, Gasback's bitterness has not waned as he aims to take them down one by one, by any means necessary. Just in time to foil Gasback's plot, Vash has arrived in Macca City. Teaming up with the mysterious Amelia Ann McFly, along with the insurance agents Milly Thompson and Meryl Stryfe, Vash is ready to rumble. Just wanted to recheck, maybe I missed something in Trigun. And that's not the case as I see now, because Trigun was never too deep - it's just action, humor, cool characters. This time there are more varied bandits than usual, a new female acquaintance and more colorful environment. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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33. Break Blade Movie 1: Kakusei no Toki Broken Blade ブレイク ブレイド 覚醒ノ刻 [Production I.G, Xebec] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Shounen Adult Cast, Mecha, Military Action, Fantasy Rygart Arrow is different compared to the other people in the continent of Cruzon: he is unable to control quartz, branded an "un-sorcerer." Despite this, he still befriends the future king and queen of Krisna—Hodr and Sigyn—as well as Zess, the younger brother of the Athens Commonwealth's Secretary of War. Several years later, Rygart discovers that there is a war brewing between Krisna and Athens. While visiting Binonten, the capital city of Krisna, he learns that his misfortune as an un-sorcerer enables him to pilot an ancient Golem, a unique ability that quartz-wielding users lack. As Zess leads one of the Athenian strikes upon the capital, Rygart joins the battle with his newfound power in hopes of mending the schism between the two nations. I don't like mecha and fantasy fusion, and all the mecha that I appreciate are mecha vs stronger powers like Bokura no and Evangelion, not some eternal civil war powered by revenge and misunderstanding. And Break Blade fails to impress so far as it has not gone far from Gundams yet with magic hardly having any meaning. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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34. Break Blade Movie 2: Ketsubetsu no Michi Broken Blade 2 ブレイクブレイド 訣別ノ路 [Production I.G, Xebec] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Shounen Second Break Blade movie. Bleak continuation with development of usual rival/friend ties etc - basically a filler. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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35. "Bungaku Shoujo" Movie 劇場版“文学少女” [Production I.G] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: School Drama, Mystery, Romance The protagonist of the story, Konoha Inoue, is a seemingly normal senior high 2nd year student. His high school life, other than a hinted incident 2 years ago, can be summed up as normal- if one can dismiss the secret fact that he used to be a female bestselling romance author. Due to that incident, however, he has now vowed never to write again. This continued on until he was forced to join the literary club by the literary club president, the 3rd year female student Amano Tooko, a beautiful girl who has a taste for eating literary works. Now he has been tasked with writing her snack every day after school. Just introduce a memorable concept and can slack on the rest - that's basically what happened. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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36. Hetalia Axis Powers Movie: Paint it, White Hetalia Axis Powers: Paint it, White! 銀幕ヘタリア Axis Powers Paint it, White (白くぬれ！) [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Historical, Parody Comedy One day, aliens from the planet Pict launch a devastating invasion on Earth. Their sole purpose is to transform all of humanity into "Noppera"—featureless creatures with plain white skin, glowing antennae, and no face. This prompts the world's nations to counterattack, but they are all ultimately defeated, as they each launched their offensives separately. And so, both the Allied and Axis nations of Hetalia Axis Powers Movie: Paint it, White must band together and unite their powers to stop the alien invasion and save their planet. I can't stand anime with episodes of approximately 5 minutes long, so could not bring up series, but I can get acquainted through a movie. Wide use of 3D. Concept of just getting together to withstand aliens is terrible. Characters representing states and reproducing stamps are super cringy. I'm glad I skipped the series. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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37. Crayon Shin-chan Movie 18: Chou Jikuu! Arashi wo Yobu Ora no Hanayome クレヨンしんちゃん 超時空！嵐を呼ぶオラの花嫁 [Shin-Ei Animation] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Seinen Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi Comical action adventure film set in the future world, like a dystopian science fiction. Shinnosuke's future fiancee, Tamiko Kaneari comes from the future via the time machine. She says her father Masuzo Kaneari captures adult Shinnosuke in the future world and they needs the power of Shinnosuke at age 5 to rescue him. She takes Shinnosuke and Kasukabe Defense Forces members to the future big city Neotokio, which is the world ruled by Masuzo Kaneari, the president of the electric power company Kaneari Electric. Time travel to future is rarely a good choice. So after main intrigue of how old Shinnosuke looks like there's nothing to look forward to. It was actually nice to see the future versions of kindergarten kids. But enjoyment is not enough for a masterpiece. Overall Rating: 6/10 |
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38. Planzet プランゼット [Sentai Filmworks] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi In 2047, an unknown, alien life-form descends upon the Earth, destroying all the major cities in one fell swoop. The survivors unite and build a Diffusor to stop the Februus, the invaders the military would later codename the FOS, and a temporary peace is achieved. Jump forward to 2053, the present. PLANZET: The final plan, Plan Zed, to retake Planet Earth. A last, desperate counterattack against the enemy. Hiroshi Akishima, soldier in the Planetary Defense Forces Alliance, would like nothing better than a shot at the aliens responsible for his father's death six years ago. However, the new offensive requires the Diffusor to be dropped, leaving the entire planet terribly vulnerable once more. Will humanity regain the stars or lose everything in the final, ultimate gamble? It's full CG and graphic feels imperfect - slightly above average compared to Advent Children. Concept is pretty much mecha against UFOs. All mecha have one weak side - they have ammo for like x3 shots and they never know how much ammo is left - it repeats over and over to absurdity. Deus Ex Machina is on the rise by the end, so impression is severely dented. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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39. Junod Dr. Junod ジュノー [Studio Hibari] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Historical, Medical Drama Mii and Yuko, two junior high school students are visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on a school trip when they come upon a monument dedicated to Dr. Marcel Junod standing forlornly in a corner of the park. They wonder who Dr. Junod was and what he did. Just then they are bathed in a strange light and transported back to Europe, more than 70 years before. It is 1935. The young Dr. Junod, who has been working in a hospital in Mulhouse, France, is heading to Ethiopia as a delegate of the ICRC. Time travelers Mii and Yuko set off along Dr. Junod's path of hardship and turmoil. In Ethiopia, Dr. Junod witnesses attacks on Red Cross workers and the use of poison gas. One after another people are felled. The young doctor sees firsthand the horrors of war, but buoyed by an indomitable spirit he willingly offers a helping hand to those who are suffering as a result of the war. Dr. Junod's work takes him from Ethiopia to Spain and across the European battlefields of World War II. He works to improve the treatment of prisoners of war and arranges prisoner exchanges. He establishes a method for prisoners and their families to write to each other. He secures routes for the delivery of relief supplies. As a humanitarian, Dr. Junod offers moral support to the weak. Seeing that, Mii and Yuko reflect on their own lives and problems. Red cross SOL is quite boring, and two time travelling girls don't really help. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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40. Piercing I 刺痛我 [-] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Drama Due to the financial crisis, many factories in China are forced to close their doors in late 2008. Zhang Xiaojun loses his job in a shoe factory. One day, a supermarket guard beats him up, thinking Zhang is a thief. In vain, he asks the supermarket manager for financial redress. Zhang’s dearest wish is to return to his village and become a farmer. But right before his departure, the police arrest him. The supermarket manager also has his problems. On a moonlit night, the storylines converge in a teahouse near the city rampart. Chinese amateur movie, so visual quality is non-existent. Social commentary on 2008 crisis hitting China is unwelcome. Can't find any appeal points in here. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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41. Chao Wa Zhanshi AniMen: Triton Force 超蛙战士 [Shanghai Hippo Animation] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Action, Sci-Fi Over time, the people residing on Swampland began to take on new forms, their modified DNA altering their physiology to better suit their new environment. Generations passed and their original forms were forgotten; these humans had evolved into a new race: the Frogmen. If history (and genetics for that matter) shows us anything, it is that there is always variety. The genetic "success" of the Frogmen was also mirrored by the "achievements" of another group of human descent: the Cockroaches, otherwise known as the T-zhu Alliance. The brutal T-Hy poured out into the galaxy seeking new territories, resources, and the data crystals left by the original human explorers. The T-Hy's material driven hunger broke the peaceful lives of the Frogmen forcing them to take up arms in order to stop the T-Hy's insatiable ambitions. So began the MALO war. Full CG, reminds PS2 when deals with characters. Rebel nation challenges empire. Space mecha fights don't have exposition, so look confusing. It all feels like a boring computer game. Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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42. Jianzhen da Heshang 鑑真大和尚 [-] (Finished 1/1)  Tags: Educational, Historical In 742 A.D., the first year of Xuantianbao in Tang Dynasty, Japanese monks Rongrui and Puzhao heard of the reputation of Monk Jianzhen, and they went to Daming Temple in Yangzhou to meet with Monk Jianzhen and invited him to Japan to teach the Dharma. The Great Monk Zhen carried forward the Dharma for Dongdu. After five failures, including the death of his disciples, the obstruction of the government, and even blindness in both eyes, etc., he still did not change his ambition. He combined the then prosperous Chinese Buddhism with Chinese medicine, art, and architecture, literature, etc., were transmitted to Japan by water. Monk Jianzhen not only introduced precepts to complete the Japanese Vinaya sect, but also indirectly influenced the rise of two masters in the history of Japanese Buddhism—Kukairen of Shingon and Saicheng Master of Tendai Sect, and thus developed the development of Japanese Buddhism in the Heian and Ikura periods. Heyday. In terms of cultural influence, the architecture, sculpture, calligraphy, painting, medicine and even people's daily necessities introduced by the master Dongdu left the Tang culture with a precious and rich heritage in Japan. That is why Monk Jianzhen was praised as the "giant of balance culture" in Japan. Through the presentation of animation, this film hopes to introduce the public to understand the life of a generation of masters. Not translated. Ancient monk biography bringing Buddhism from China to Japan feels really bleak Overall Rating: 5/10 |
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