Anime of the Year 2016-IV Fall - 3-gatsu no Lion

3-gatsu no Lion takes the upper hand as the new title over sequel Gantz:O . But I also enjoyed Keijo!!!!!!! and Shuumatsu no Izetta .

1. Haikyuu!! Karasuno Koukou vs. Shiratorizawa Gakuen Koukou Haikyu!! 3rd Season ハイキュー!! 烏野高校 VS 白鳥沢学園高校  [Production I.G] (Finished 1/10) Tags: Shounen School, Team Sports After the victory against Aoba Jousai High, Karasuno High School, once called “a fallen powerhouse, a crow that can’t fly,” has finally reached the climax of the heated Spring tournament. Now, to advance to nationals, the Karasuno team has to defeat the powerhouse Shiratorizawa Academy. Karasuno’s greatest hurdle is their adversary’s ace, Wakatoshi Ushijima, the number one player in the Miyagi Prefecture, and one of the country’s top three aces. Only the strongest team will make it to the national tournament. Since this match is the third-year players’ last chance to qualify for nationals, Karasuno has to use everything they learned during the training camp and prior matches to attain victory. Filled with restlessness and excitement, both teams are determined to come out on top in the third season of Haikyuu!!. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

2. Yuri!!! on Ice ユーリ!!! on ICE [MAPPA] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Performing Arts Award Winning, Sports Reeling from his crushing defeat at the Grand Prix Finale, Yuuri Katsuki, once Japan's most promising figure skater, returns to his family home to assess his options for the future. At age 23, Yuuri's window for success in skating is closing rapidly, and his love of pork cutlets and aptitude for gaining weight are not helping either. However, Yuuri finds himself in the spotlight when a video of him performing a routine previously executed by five-time world champion, Victor Nikiforov, suddenly goes viral. In fact, Victor himself abruptly appears at Yuuri's house and offers to be his mentor. As one of his biggest fans, Yuuri eagerly accepts, kicking off his journey to make it back onto the world stage. But the competition is fierce, as the rising star from Russia, Yuri Plisetsky, is relentlessly determined to defeat Yuuri and win back Victor's tutelage. Dropped it once, still can't understand the appeal here. And it has enough of boys love vibes which is not represented in the tags, of course.   Overall Rating: 5/10

3. Bungou Stray Dogs 2nd Season Bungo Stray Dogs 2 文豪ストレイドッグス [Bones] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Detective, Organized Crime, Super Power Action, Mystery, Supernatural Despite their differences in position, three men—the youngest senior executive of the Port Mafia, Osamu Dazai; the lowest ranking member, Sakunosuke Oda; and the intelligence agent, Ango Sakaguchi—gather at the Lupin Bar at the end of the day to relax and take delight in the company of friends. However, one night, Ango disappears. A photograph taken at the bar is all that is left of the three together. Fast forward to the present, and Dazai is now a member of the Armed Detective Agency. The Guild, an American gifted organization, has entered the fray and is intent on taking the Agency's work permit. They must now divide their attention between the two groups, the Guild and the Port Mafia, who oppose their very existence. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

4. 3-gatsu no Lion March Comes In Like a Lion 3月のライオン [Shaft] (Finished 22/22) Tags: Seinen Childcare, Strategy Game Drama Having reached professional status in middle school, Rei Kiriyama is one of the few elite in the world of shogi. Due to this, he faces an enormous amount of pressure, both from the shogi community and his adoptive family. Seeking independence from his tense home life, he moves into an apartment in Tokyo. As a 17-year-old living on his own, Rei tends to take poor care of himself, and his reclusive personality ostracizes him from his peers in school and at the shogi hall. However, not long after his arrival in Tokyo, Rei meets Akari, Hinata, and Momo Kawamoto, a trio of sisters living with their grandfather who owns a traditional wagashi shop. Akari, the oldest of the three girls, is determined to combat Rei's loneliness and poorly sustained lifestyle with motherly hospitality. The Kawamoto sisters, coping with past tragedies, also share with Rei a unique familial bond that he has lacked for most of his life. As he struggles to maintain himself physically and mentally through his shogi career, Rei must learn how to interact with others and understand his own complex emotions. Really enjoying this series. Memorable characters and interactions. But in the end it's just SOL with some ups and downs in chess, so can't rate it too high as it can't be called intellectual or unique as a story.   Overall Rating: 8/10

5. Drifters  [Hoods Entertainment] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Gore, Historical, Isekai, Military, Samurai Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy At the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Toyohisa Shimazu is the rearguard for his retreating troops, and is critically wounded when he suddenly finds himself in a modern, gleaming white hallway. Faced with only a stoic man named Murasaki and hundreds of doors on both sides, Toyohisa is pulled into the nearest door and into a world completely unlike his own. The strange land is populated by all manner of fantastical creatures, as well as warriors from different eras of Toyohisa's world who were thought to be dead. Quickly befriending the infamous warlord Nobunaga Oda and the ancient archer Yoichi Suketaka Nasu, Toyohisa learns of the political unrest tearing through the continent. Furthermore, they have been summoned as "Drifters" to fight against the "Ends," people who are responsible for the creation of the Orte Empire and are trying to annihilate the Drifters. As the Ends grow more powerful, so does the Empire's persecution of elves and other demihumans. It is up to Toyohisa and his group of unconventional heroes to battle in a brand-new world war to help the Empire's subjects, while protecting the land to claim for themselves and challenging the Ends. Trashy action comedy that feels bland and silly to me. Reminds me of JoJo the most.   Overall Rating: 5/10

6. Keijo!!!!!!!! 競女!!!!!!!! [Xebec] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Shounen Combat Sports Sports, Ecchi Japan's latest competitive sport, keijo, is dictated by a simple set of rules: female-only participants must stand on circular platforms floating in a pool—referred to as "lands"—with the goal being to knocking off opponents using only their breasts and butts. Despite this outlandish premise, the sport attracts millions of viewers across the country and boasts a lavish prize pool. Many aspiring athletes take up the challenge in hopes of becoming the next national champion. After graduating from high school, the lively 17-year-old Nozomi Kaminashi enters the world of keijo, hoping to bring home a fortune to her poor family. As a gifted gymnast, Nozomi quickly proves herself a tough competitor after stealing the spotlight in her debut tournament. Meeting new friends and rivals as she climbs the ranks, Nozomi discovers that the path to stardom as a keijo player is filled with intense competition that will challenge not only her body, but also her soul. It's a pretty hilarious ecchi, second one that I can call a masterpiece and probably first among spokons. It's inventive and intriguing even though kind of silly.   Overall Rating: 7/10

7. Nanbaka ナンバカ [Satelight] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Action, Comedy, Drama  Nanba is the world's most formidable prison, built to incarcerate criminals who are too slippery to stay in ordinary confinement. The four inmates who occupy Cell 13 are particularly cunning on that behalf, having escaped every other prison with a perfect success rate. There is Juugo, a specialist in locks who has spent the majority of his life in prison; Uno, a gambler with great intuition; Nico, an otaku whose body reacts strangely to drugs; and Rock, a bruiser with a love for food. The daily shenanigans of the four prisoners always cause trouble for the building supervisor, Hajime Sugoroku, who desperately tries to prevent them from breaking out of Nanba. Nanbaka follows the comedic, sparkle-filled exploits of these prisoners and their guards. From three square meals a day to sports festivals, prison life in Nanba isn't actually that bad—and it is the closest these four have to a home. This looks even more like Jojo... and it's difficult to watch anime where every second episode is titled idiot or its synonim. Full of nonsense.   Overall Rating: 5/10

8. Ajin Part 2 亜人 第2クール [Polygon Pictures] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Seinen Gore Action, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural After escaping certain death, Kei Nagai and his new companion Kou Nakano plot revenge on Satou, their fellow Ajin who is hellbent on world domination. As Satou embarks on a string of public executions, the human race rushes to come up with a solution to stop the immortal villain. Kei discovers unlikely allies in the form of two former adversaries: high-ranking government official Yuu Tosaki, whose extensive research on Ajin gives him a tactical advantage in the fight against Satou, and Tosaki's Ajin assistant Izumi Shimomura. As his faction continues to gather allies, Kei races against time to put a stop to Satou's crusade before it brings about an end to civilization as he knows it. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

9. Hibike! Euphonium 2 Sound! Euphonium 2 響け！ユーフォニアム2 [Kyoto Animation] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Music, Performing Arts, School Drama Following their success in the qualifying round for the Kansai regional competition, the members of the Kitauji High School concert band set their sights on the next upcoming performance. Utilizing their summer break to the utmost, the band participates in a camp where they are instructed by their band advisor Noboru Taki and his friends who make their living as professional musicians. Kumiko Oumae and her friends remain determined to attain gold at the Kansai competition, but trouble arises when a student who once quit the band shows interest in rejoining and sparks unpleasant memories for the second-year members. Kumiko also learns about her teacher's surprising past and the motivation behind his desire to lead the band to victory. Reaching nationals will require hard work, and the adamant conviction in each student's commitment to the band will be put to the test. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

10. Occultic;Nine Occultic;Nine －オカルティック・ナイン－ [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Mystery, Sci-Fi  A blog disproving the supernatural, co-run by NEET teenager Yuuta Gamon and his enthusiastic best friend Ryouka Narusawa, becomes the catalyst that would bring together a group of people who supposedly have nothing to do with each other. These individuals include high school fortune teller Miyuu Aikawa, who joins Yuuta to work on the blog; realist Sarai Hashigami, who is stunned when tragedy strikes his family; doujin artist Ririka Nishizono, who has an uncanny ability to predict the future with her art; black magic practitioner and local curse expert Aria Kurenaino and her ghostly friend; Shun Moritsuka, a seemingly childish otaku detective; and reporter Touko Sumikaze. As this unlikely group, bound only by the strings of fate, find their way to each other, they are confronted with murder and other events that are shrouded by the presence of the supernatural. They must band together to solve the mysteries interlacing the city and their lives. Tried it in the past, but could not stand occultic detective mystery.   Overall Rating: 6/10

11. Flip Flappers フリップフラッパーズ [Studio 3Hz] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Mahou Shoujo Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi Cocona is an average middle schooler living with her grandmother. And she who has yet to decide a goal to strive for, soon met a strange girl named Papika who invites her to an organization called Flip Flap. Dragged along by the energetic stranger, Cocona finds herself in the world of Pure Illusion—a bizarre alternate dimension—helping Papika look for crystal shards. Upon completing their mission, Papika and Cocona are sent to yet another world in Pure Illusion. As a dangerous creature besets them, the girls use their crystals to transform into magical girls: Cocona into Pure Blade, and Papika into Pure Barrier. But as they try to defeat the creature before them, three others with powers from a rival organization enter the fray and slay the creature, taking with them a fragment left behind from its body. Afterward, the girls realize that to stand a chance against their rivals and the creatures in Pure Illusion, they must learn to work together and synchronize their feelings in order to transform more effectively. Dark mahou shoujo is always welcome. Pretty strange, but not in a good way.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Natsume Yuujinchou Go Natsume's Book of Friends Season 5 夏目友人帳 伍 [Shuka] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Shoujo Iyashikei, Mythology Drama, Slice of Life, Supernatural Blessed with eyes that are able to perceive the otherwise invisible youkai, Takashi Natsume hides his ability from his newfound family and friends to protect everyone's peaceful daily life. Nonetheless, Natsume never fails to show the same kindness to the benevolent youkai and happily returns their names by using the infamous Book of Friends he inherited from his late grandmother, Reiko. Meanwhile, the exorcist clan Matoba still wishes for Natsume to join their ranks due to his overwhelming gift. However, Natsume firmly rejects the clan's invitation since not all exorcists are as reasonable as his friend Shuuichi Natori, and many improperly and indiscriminately seal away every youkai in their way. Unsatisfied with Natsume's answer, Seiji Matoba blackmails Natsume into attending a grand gathering of powerful exorcist families. Natsume soon finds himself in the company of dangerous people and youkai alike. But even then, he continues to defy the exorcists' hard-handed methods and believes that peace between both worlds is possible. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

13. Shuumatsu no Izetta Izetta: The Last Witch 終末のイゼッタ [Ajia-do] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Historical, Military Action, Fantasy After Germania invaded a neighboring country in 1939, Europe spiraled into a devastating war. During the war, Germania set its sights on the weak alpine country of Elystadt. Boasting a far superior military and having achieved profuse success earlier in the war, it was expected that Germania would conquer Elystadt with ease. Matters are only made worse for the small country when Germanian soldiers capture their princess, Ortfiné "Finé" Fredericka von Eylstadt, as she is heading to a crucial meeting with Britannia. Yet, when a concurrent Germanian transport mission goes awry, Izetta, the last witch alive, escapes. When she recognizes Princess Finé from her childhood, Izetta rescues her from the Germanian soldiers by making use of her magical abilities. Now reunited with the princess, Izetta pledges to protect Elystadt from Germania, and with the last surviving witch on their arsenal, Elystadt hopes to turn the tides against the imperialist war giant. I remember being quite impressed with the setting and story. Having rewatched now, it still has a lot of charm. And I don't want to forget this anime title again, so for me it deserves a small masterpiece status.   Overall Rating: 7/10

14. Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku Magical Girl Raising Project 魔法少女育成計画 [Lerche] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Gore, Mahou Shoujo, Survival Action, Fantasy, Suspense The story begins with Izumi Hayato running to be student council president. But when a beautiful girl swings in promising the liberalization of love while flinging condoms into the audience, he ends up losing to her and becoming the vice president. At the student council meeting, the newly-elected president invites herself over to Izumi's house, where she promptly announces she is to become Izumi's wife thanks to an agreement—facilitated by alcohol—made between their parents when they were only 3. A decent dark mahou shoujo with obvious Madoka trail following. But characters are too simple here. And story is just duels, so it suffers a lot from such simplification.   Overall Rating: 6/10

15. WWW.Working!! WWW.WAGNARIA!!  [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Workplace Comedy  Daisuke Higashida is a serious first-year student at Higashizaka High School. He lives a peaceful everyday life even though he is not satisfied with the family who doesn't laugh at all and makes him tired. However, his father's company goes bankrupt one day, and he can no longer afford allowances, cellphone bills, and commuter tickets. When his father orders him to take up a part-time job, Daisuke decides to work at a nearby family restaurant in order to avoid traveling 15 kilometers to school by bicycle. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

16. Kidou Senshi Gundam: Tekketsu no Orphans 2nd Season Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans 2nd Season 機動戦士ガンダム 鉄血のオルフェンズ 第2期 [Sunrise] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Mecha, Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi Tekkadan has now become a direct affiliate of Teiwaz after procuring a new trade agreement with Arbrau. With its newfound funds and prestige, Tekkadan finds both its list of allies and enemies growing. Meanwhile, the flames of the Gjallarhorn power struggle continue to rage in full force. As a part of her efforts to make Mars financially independent from Earth, Kudelia Aina Bernstein founds the Admoss Company and enlists Tekkadan as her business partner. The stakes are getting higher as the Tekkadan family continues to grow. Will Orga, Mikazuki, and the rest of the Tekkadan faction be able to keep up, or will Kudelia's dream of Martian independence die out? Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

17. Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari Poco's Udon World うどんの国の金色毛鞠 [LIDENFILMS] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Seinen Anthropomorphic, Childcare, Iyashikei Slice of Life, Supernatural Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Souta Tawara returns to his hometown in Kagawa. Though his parents are no longer around, his former home and family-owned udon restaurant reminds him of the times his family was still together. Reminiscing about his childhood, Souta enters the udon restaurant and discovers a grimy young boy sleeping. At first, Souta thinks nothing of the chance encounter and provides the boy with food and clothing. However, to his surprise, the boy suddenly sprouts a furry pair of ears and a tail! Souta soon learns that the nameless boy is actually the rumored shapeshifting tanuki that has been inhabiting Kagawa for many years. Thinking that the boy has been living a lonely life, he decides to take him in and name him Poko. Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari follows the heartwarming relationship between Souta and Poko, and through the time they spend together, Souta recalls his own past, the place he left behind for the city, and the relationship he had with his father. Wow, it manages to recycle ideas from all the notable previous childcare anime - Usagi Drop, Wolf Children, Sweetness and Lightning and even Barakamon. But there's a reason only Usagi Drop got masterpiece from me - it had a realistic and likeable protagonist. But this time protagonist is generic and surface-scratching so that he does not stand in the way of cuteness and liveliness - he's not genuine or trust-worthy. And all its tricks are evident to me, so I just can't enjoy this anime.    Overall Rating: 6/10

18. Fune wo Amu The Great Passage 舟を編む [Zexcs] (Finished 4/11) Tags: Adult Cast, Workplace Award Winning, Drama, Romance Kouhei Araki, a veteran editor of the dictionary editorial division at Genbu Publishing, plans to retire in order to better care for his ailing wife. However, before retiring, he must find a replacement to complete his latest project: a new dictionary called The Great Passage. But no matter where he looks, he cannot find anyone suitable, as making a dictionary requires a wealth of patience, time, and dedication. Mitsuya Majime works in Genbu Publishing's sales division, yet he has poor social skills and an inability to read the mood in most situations. In spite of this, he excels at having an enthusiasm for words thanks to his love of reading and careful personality. It is these skills that draw Araki to him and prompt him to offer Majime a position in the dictionary editorial department. As Majime accepts his new position, he finds himself unsure of his abilities and questioning whether he will fit in with his new co-workers. Yet amid the vast sea of words, The Great Passage will bring them together. A good SOL with a solid cast of adult characters. But seriously - publishing a dictionary? It's one of the most boring ideas that I can think of. Can't enjoy it as it has no real story, and I found no special treat in conversations.   Overall Rating: 6/10

19. Trickster: Edogawa Ranpo "Shounen Tanteidan" yori Trickster TRICKSTER -江戸川乱歩「少年探偵団」より- [TMS Entertainment, Shin-Ei Animation] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Detective, Psychological Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi Kogorou Akechi is the founder of a private investigation firm known as the Boy Detectives' Club. Together, this group takes on cases both great and small. One of their junior members, Kensuke Hanasaki, is out solving a case one day when he happens upon Yoshio Kobayashi, a mysterious amnesiac boy with an inability to die. After seeing his abilities in action, Kensuke offers Yoshio a deal: join the Boy Detectives' Club and help them solve cases, and in exchange he will find a way to help Yoshio die. The apathetic Yoshio accepts this deal begrudgingly, unaware of how different his life will become. Although he does not have much use for people, he gradually begins to acknowledge the group as he spends more time with them while solving cases. Trickster: Edogawa Ranpo "Shounen Tanteidan" yori follows Akechi and the rest of the Boy Detectives' Club as they solve the various cases they are given, all while combating a hidden threat from the shadows—"The Fiend with Twenty Faces." Detective mystery is not my thing at all.   Overall Rating: 5/10

20. All Out!! オールアウト!! [Madhouse, TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Seinen School, Team Sports Rugby is a sport where anybody can be a star when they hold the ball. The rules are simple: one player has to carry the ball past the goalposts across the field while avoiding the other team, who are allowed to use all their force to knock the enemy down. However, the player can pass to a teammate behind them or kick the ball before they are tackled. Unlike other sports, the game continues even when the person holding the ball is taken down. Kenji Gion is a short but feisty high school freshman at Kanagawa High School. Right after the school's opening ceremony, he meets the tall and timid Sumiaki Iwashimizu, and the two of them get an invitation to observe the rugby club. When Gion watches the match, he realizes that even though big and tall guys have an advantage, there are positions for people of all shapes and sizes. Immediately convinced that he has found a sport he can excel at despite his short stature, he signs up, though Iwashimizu declines. Gion is unable to accept Iwashimizu's excuses and drags him back into the sport. Their training becomes intense as they aim to become the champions of Hanazono, the national high school rugby championships. Don't really see seinen here, feels more like another shounen spokon. And I'm not willing to investigate further to find out for sure.   Overall Rating: 6/10

21. Bloodivores  [Creators in Pack, Namu Animation] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Survival, Vampire Action, Mystery, Supernatural 60 years ago, a strange case of insomnia struck the population, forcing them to stay awake for more than a full week. The victims, completely sleep deprived, all went mad. To cure this illness, a new medicine was produced, but the side effects turned the patients into vampires. Humanity went to war against this new species and triumphed, but some of the vampires managed to survive. Born from a Human and a Vampire, the main character Mi Liu, "The Child of Hope," is to represent the new hope that will connect the two species. Ringleader of a bank robbery, Mi Liu is arrested and transferred to a special prison of the National Defense Agency that monitors Vampires. Trying to break free with Anji, Mi Liu is attacked by strange monsters and he finds out that the prison location corresponds to the birthplace of Vampires, the old capital "Blue Town." Why are Vampires trapped in Blue Town? What are those strange monsters attacking them? Our heroes must fight to solve those mysteries. Feels like compilation of elements taken elsewhere and not fused together properly.   Overall Rating: 5/10

22. Gi(a)rlish Number Girlish Number ガーリッシュ ナンバー [Diomedéa] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Adult Cast, Showbiz Slice of Life College student Chitose Karasuma is determined not to do boring things as she enters the adult world. To this end, this bad-mannered beauty barges into a facility that trains would-be voice actors and actresses, somehow landing a job at "Number One Produce," a seiyuu agency managed by her older brother, Gojou. In Chitose's mind, she's poised for greatness, but finds herself at a loss when she continues to only get minor roles. As she clashes with other girls in the agency, including a cunning airhead and a girl with a Kansai accent, Chitose is about to learn that there's more to succeeding in this competitive industry than she imagined. In one profession SOL like this characters are the only thing that matters, and characters here are rather plain and typical.   Overall Rating: 6/10

23. ViVid Strike!  [Seven Arcs Pictures] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Martial Arts Action, Drama The aggressive Fuuka Reventon often finds herself in fights as she struggles to make a living. One day, she gets into an altercation with gangsters that leaves her with injuries; luckily, martial arts champion Einhald Stratos finds Fuuka and brings her to a hospital. Seeing potential in Fuuka's skills, Einhald encourages the girl to become a martial arts athlete and offers her a job at Nakajima Gym, where Einhald trains. Despite the kind gesture, Fuuka initially declines the proposal due to the bad memories it brings. She was once childhood friends with the now prominent martial arts athlete Rinne Berlinetta, but the personality of her fellow orphan shifted from kind and gentle to cold and cruel after being adopted by a prosperous family and starting martial arts. Nonetheless, Fuuka soon accepts Einhald's offer and begins training under her—not only out of necessity but also out of the desire to defeat Rinne and make her realize how hurtful her behavior has become. Despite Fuuka's inexperience, Einhald and the other members of the gym have faith in her talent and efforts. It's just about duels with some personal drama. Not the kind of story I can appreciate.   Overall Rating: 6/10

24. Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru 刀剣乱舞-花丸- [Doga Kobo] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Historical Action, Comedy, Fantasy  In the year 2205, a special sage known as Saniwa has the ability to breathe life into inanimate objects. At the same time, dark forces have initiated a plot to travel back in time and change the course of history—and the only ones capable of stopping them are the Saniwa and their strongest animations: historical Japanese swords, in the form of handsome young men. Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru opens on the life of Yamatonokami Yasusada, Souji Okita's beloved uchigatana, as he begins his first day at the Saniwa's citadel. Soon reuniting with his old friend, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, the two are caught up in the daily antics of their fellow sword warriors. They never miss an opportunity to have fun, whether it be through wild snowball fights or introducing their newest comrades to the citadel. Of course, when the government calls, the swords are always ready to fulfill their mission of protecting history. I don't care for otome games and their adaptations.   Overall Rating: 5/10

25. Cheating Craft チーティングクラフト [Blade] (Finished 1/12) Tags: School Action, Comedy  In a world where academic success decides your entire future, the exam room becomes a ruthless battlefield. Passing the exams guarantees a successful future. Failing dooms you to live a cruel life, tormented by suffering and despair. Only the most intelligent—or cunning—students make it out alive. These are the two strategies of combat: spend your entire life studying for the test, or perfect your cheating strategy. The students who dedicate themselves to studying are called “Learning Type” students, and they are forced to collaborate with a “Cheating Type” student in order to battle their rivals for the top grades. The cheater Zhuge Mu Ming and studious academic Qiao Yi Huang decide to team up against the exams. However, the allies are soon divided, becoming bitter rivals. Will they be able to make it on their own? And if so, who will survive the challenge and emerge victorious? Such artificial setting with half length episodes can either be just silly as you expect it to be or something outstanding that you never expect. This one definitely goes into the first category.   Overall Rating: 5/10

26. To Be Hero  [Haoliners Animation League] (Finished 5/12) Tags: Comedy  For Uncle, a lecherous but handsome toilet designer, it is just an ordinary day of neglecting his duties as a single parent to hit on women and talk about his "superpower": his ability to tell a lady's hip size at a glance. But when he is sucked down into a toilet, the Space Peace Republic Alliance Hero Committee gives him real superpowers, and he becomes the hero of Earth. There is only one problem—he has become an ugly, unrecognizable fatty who is unable to reveal his real identity. Uncle's beloved daughter Min-chan does not believe that such a vulgar fatty could be her father, and casts him out of his own home. Distraught and homeless, he joins up with his perverted neighbor Yamada-san, a small man with a fondness for streaking, and sets out to convince Min-chan that he is her father. Full of sexual innuendo and slapstick humor, To Be Hero follows Uncle as he befriends bizarre allies and combats even more bizarre foes, fighting for the future of earth against aliens and—more importantly—his future with his daughter. Half-length episodes inevitably mean that it's random gags for comedy, and I don't like its humor.   Overall Rating: 6/10

27. Brave Witches 第502統合戦闘航空団 ブレイブウィッチーズ [SILVER LINK.] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Military Action, Sci-Fi, Ecchi As humanity's war with the Neuroi—a mysterious, hostile alien race possessing weapons of unparalleled power—continues being fought across Europe and Africa, a new fighter squadron is formed. The 502nd Joint Fighter Wing, also known as the Brave Witches, operates on the eastern front, scouring the icy vastness of Orussia in search of alien invaders. However, one of the Brave Witches' members suffers severe injuries on her way to the squadron's headquarters, rendering her unable to participate in any operations. As a result, her sister, Hikari Karibuchi, volunteers to take her place. Though not possessing any special abilities or significant magical powers, she is determined to live up to the expectations of her new comrades and prove herself worthy of the name of a Witch. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

28. Lostorage Incited WIXOSS  [J.C.Staff] (Finished 1/12) Tags: High Stakes Game, Psychological, Strategy Game Suspense Having moved away due to family circumstances, Suzuko Homura returns to her hometown, nostalgic about the cheerful childhood she shared with Chinatsu Morikawa. Forever sealed with a promise of friendship, those days remain a bright memory to Suzuko, yet she has lost contact with Chinatsu during their time apart. Ready to start anew, Suzuko endeavors to put the past behind her and make new friends at school, but she struggles to do so. Meanwhile, Chinatsu is working multiple shifts to support her family as she continues her studies, and the mounting pressure to meet high expectations soon becomes overwhelming. Amid their respective situations, both girls begin playing the popular card game WIXOSS and discover that they have been chosen as Selectors—players whose memories are now represented by gold coins and must battle other Selectors to earn five of them. Guided by their LRIG avatar cards, which are created from the user's memories, the two learn that inconsistently partaking in duels or losing all their coins will result in a grim outcome. Resolved to protect what they hold dear, Suzuko and Chinatsu prepare for the battles ahead and fight for the chance to reclaim themselves. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

29. Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume Scorching Ping Pong Girls 灼熱の卓球娘 [Kinema Citrus] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Sports In the world of Japanese ping pong, a mighty king has fallen. An underdog team suddenly breaks the indomitable Oudou Academy's nine year winning streak, creating a power vacuum as players everywhere are given hope that they too can reach the national tournament. Suzumegahara Middle School is home to a small-time team: Hanabi Tenka, who has a rapid attack style; Hokuto Itsumo, who can predict the ball's most likely path; Agari Kamiya, famous for her signature backhand smash; vice-captain Mune Oomune, who has an aggressive playstyle; and team captain Kiruka Ushirode, who possesses an impenetrable defense. Despite their skill at ping pong, the team has never made it further than the local city tournaments. But everything changes when transfer student Koyori Tsumujikaze arrives in town. Filled with an intense love of the game, she quickly makes a name for herself as another top player on the team. Koyori's positive attitude towards ping pong lights a fire in each of the girls' competitive hearts, and together they embark on a mission to win the national tournament. There's some tension, but I fail to care as it's half CGDCT with simpleton talks.   Overall Rating: 6/10

30. Stella no Mahou Magic of Stella ステラのまほう [SILVER LINK.] (Finished 1/12) Tags: CGDCT, School, Video Game Comedy Upon enrolling in high school, Tamaki Honda joins a club for making doujin games known as the SNS Club. Joined by programmer Shiina, writer Ayame, and composer Kayo, Tamaki begins working as an illustrator for the club's next game. Amateur game creation in the club is a lot worse than professional game creation in a company by adults. As a result it's awkward and quite plain.   Overall Rating: 6/10

31. Show By Rock!! # Show By Rock!! 2  [Bones] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Isekai, Music Comedy, Fantasy Metropolis of music, MIDICITY. A kitty girl wearing gothic lolita clothing named Cyan is scouted by Maple Arisugawa, the president of a music agency. From there, she meets Chuchu (a pun off of the sound that rabbits make) the honor student rabbit girl, a net geek dog girl named Retoree (from "Retriever"), and an alien sheep (?) girl named Moa. Together, they form the band named "Plasmagica," and aim for the top of the world. However, the path there is long and tough, and keeping in high spirits is important. By battling against other strange bands, Plasmagica slowly grows toward a top-grade band. In the end, they'll be a band that becomes the driving force of MIDICITY's music industry... Maybe? Gonna be a music millionaire! Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

32. Long Riders! ろんぐらいだぁす！ [Actas] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Shounen CGDCT Comedy, Sports Falling in love at first sight with a collapsible bicycle outside the station, Ami Kurata, first-year university student empties her account without a second thought and buys the bicycle. Now she enjoys weekend cycling trips with Aoi, her childhood friend, and Hinako, a senior at her university. "Owning a road bike may change your view of the world completely." Prompted by the comment, Ami purchased a road bike, and she is really impressed with the traveling performance. As soon as she places her feet on the pedals and presses down, everything about riding a road bicycle—the lightness of the pedal, the speed, the acceleration—is nothing like she has ever experienced. Ami's cycle life gets going with the new road cycle as her partner! CGDCT spokon failed to impress.   Overall Rating: 5/10

33. Soushin Shoujo Matoi Matoi the Sacred Slayer 装神少女まとい [ White Fox] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Supernatural  Matoi Sumeragi wishes for nothing more than to lead a normal life away from the spotlight. She is quite satisfied alternating between school and her part-time job at her best friend Yuma Kusanagi's family shrine. But this routine life is permanently disturbed when a Night—an evil extra-dimensional entity—attacks the shrine. Matoi is able to drive it off after unwittingly calling upon the powers of a god, the natural enemies of the Nights. Matoi and Yuma are soon joined by Claris Tonitolus, an experienced exorcist from the Vatican, and agent Haruka Luciela, who works for the secretive Night defense organization IATO. Despite not knowing the perpetrator behind these attacks nor their motive, Matoi must come to master this newfound power in order to protect both the people around her and the once normal life she holds so dear. Mahou shoujo that comes as close to normal SOL as possible, but has to react against threats. Story is too simple to catch the stars.   Overall Rating: 6/10

34. ClassicaLoid クラシカロイド [Sunrise] (Finished 3/25) Tags: Anthropomorphic, Music Comedy Ever since her father used up the last of the family fortune and skipped town, Kanae Otowa has lived in her family's ancestral mansion, Otowakan. With no way to pay off her father's debts, Otowakan is being foreclosed and Kanae must oust the remaining residents—her friend Sousuke Kagura, and two strange people who claim to be her father's acquaintances, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. After somehow being resurrected, Mozart and Beethoven have started going by "Motes" and "Beethes" respectively, and begun to indulge in a variety of idiotic, non-musical pursuits. While stubbornly refusing to leave Otowakan, Beethes unlocks the hidden power of Musik, saving Otowakan from demolition and delaying his eviction. With this discovery, other Musik users are drawn to Otowakan, including Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, and Franz Schubert. However, not all Musik users have innocent desires. Across the city, the enigmatic Johann Sebastian Bach sits atop a tall building, plotting how to use his Musik. What I see is reverse harem in very strange environment.   Overall Rating: 5/10

35. Bubuki Buranki: Hoshi no Kyojin BBK/BRNK: The Gentle Giants of the Galaxy ブブキ・ブランキ 星の巨人 [SANZIGEN] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Mecha Action, Drama, Sci-Fi Sequel of Bubuki Buranki. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

36. Tiger Mask W タイガーマスクW [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/38) Tags: Shounen Action, Drama, Sports Two young wrestlers face each other in a recently revived underground wrestling organization, the Tiger's Lair, which destroyed the wrestling dojo they grew up in. One took over the training facilities of Naoto Date at the foot of Mount Fuji, as well as the mask he left behind. The other dared to enter the Tiger's Lair and won a fierce competition, receiving a jet-black tiger mask. One tiger walks the path of light, while the other walks the path of shadows. Neither one knows the other's face. On the ring, they are natural enemies, but they have the same purpose—destroy the Tiger's Lair! Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

37. Soul Buster 侍霊演武[ソウルバスター] [Pierrot] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Samurai Action Keishuu, China. The history books say that in the era of the Three Kingdoms, this land was a place of never-ending war. A young high school boy, Sonshin, who hates his city's history, is troubled by a certain dream. When he wakes up from the dream, strange things begin to happen one after another, and without understanding what's going on, he suddenly finds himself facing Gien, one of the generals from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, who's trying to kill him! Just before Gien's blade strikes home, a mysterious beautiful woman appears in front of Sonshin. What trials await Sonshin, as he witnesses this terrible battle between two generals of the Three Kingdoms? Just half length episode reactive fighting action without any real interest.   Overall Rating: 5/10

38. 12-sai.: Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki 2nd Season 12歳。～ちっちゃなムネのトキメキ～  [OLM] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shoujo School Romance The story begins with Hanabi, a sixth-grade girl who is neither an adult nor a child. She deals with issues such as accidentally witnessing her homeroom teacher kissing, and worrying about experiencing physiological changes before her friends. The series depicts a 12-year-old girl's innocent worries and first love. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

39. Monster Hunter Stories: Ride On モンスターハンターストーリーズ RIDE ON [David Production] (Finished 2/75) Tags: Fantasy  This is a world where both men and monsters exist. Those who hunt the monsters are called Hunters. But in a small corner of the Hunter's world, there are those called Riders who bond with and coexist with monsters. With their Kizuna Ishi (Bonding Stones) that allow them to awaken the hidden power inside monsters, Riders live in secrecy together with their Otomon, the monsters they formed a connection with. Ryuto, a young boy living in the Rider village of Hakum, dreams of becoming the world's best Rider. Having just turned 12, he sets out to find his own Otomon for himself before the ceremony where he is given his own Kizuna Ishi. Together with his kind-hearted childhood friend Cheval, his inquisitive childhood friend Lilia, and his partner Naville, he sets out deep into the forest, and has a miraculous encounter with a Rathalos. Childish shounen around monster hunter world, not far from Digimons.   Overall Rating: 5/10

40. Idol Memories アイドルメモリーズ [Seven Arcs Pictures] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Idols (Female), Music  The story of Idol Memories is set in the near future, where live idol music performances in virtual reality have become commonplace. Against this backdrop, a pair of rival idol groups compete for the coveted "tiara," which represents the number one spot in the "Idol League." Average idol show, but over half of each already half-length episode is live talk of seiyu...   Overall Rating: 5/10

41. Koneko no Chi: Ponponra Daibouken Chi's Sweet Adventure こねこのチー ポンポンらー大冒険 [Marza Animation Planet] (Finished 2/51) Tags: Pets Slice of Life The combined 22nd and 23rd issue of Kodansha's Morning magazine, which will go on sale on April 28, has announced a new 3D CG anime of Kanata Konami's slice-of-life manga Chi's Sweet Home. Full CGI cat SOL.   Overall Rating: 5/10

42. Time Bokan 24 タイムボカン24 [Tatsunoko Production] (Finished 1/24) Tags:  Mecha Adventure, Comedy Tokio is a junior high student living in the present time who is recruited to be a member of the 24th century's Space-Time Administration Bureau. Together with his partner Calen, their mission is to uncover the "True History", the part of history that the textbooks doesn't tell. But in their way is the Akudama Trio that intends to prevent the True History from being revealed for their own personal gains. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

43. Bishoujo Yuugi Unit Crane Game Girls Galaxy Crane Game Girls Galaxy 美少女遊戯ユニット クレーンゲールギャラクシー [Kyotoma] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Space, Strategy Game Comedy Second season of Bishoujo Yuugi Unit Crane Game Girls. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

44. Elsword: El-ui Yeoin 엘소드 엘의 여인 [DR Movie] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Action, Fantasy  Nexon recently announced an anime called Elsword: El Lady and will be done by DR Movie and written by NZ. Nothing else has been announced. Never played Elsword. But judging from story alone, anime is seriously subpar.   Overall Rating: 6/10

45. Guomin Laogong Dai Huijia 国民老公带回家 [B.CMAY PICTURES] (Finished 3/12) Tags: School Drama, Romance Lu Jin Nian and Qiao An Hao are a newly married couple—unfortunately, neither of them are willing participants. Now husband and wife, Qiao An Hao establishes a few ground rules: no one can know that they are married, their cohabitation is top-secret information, and under no circumstances is Lu Jin Nian permitted to touch her. As a result, their marriage remains strictly superficial. Behind their broken union, however, there is a long and complicated history. A chance encounter while seeking shelter from the rain led to the lives of Lu Jin Nian and Qiao An Hao getting intertwined. But as fate would have it, the date also marked the moment Qiao An Hao's sister fell madly in love with the stoic and mysterious Lu Jin Nian. With emotional stakes flying high, the years leading up to this marriage have been long and complicated—but never boring. And even now, despite their long-standing friendship, the newlyweds are no closer to understanding each other. Very awkward cliché romance with blush at every single action or word which makes it painful to watch.   Overall Rating: 5/10

46. Closers: Side Blacklambs 클로저스 : SIDE BLACKLAMBS [Studio Animal] (Finished 6/6) Tags: Strategy Game Fantasy After the invading dimensional monsters were beaten back, Seoul was rebuilt. This is the story of Closers in New Seoul. Mysterious dimensional gates opened all over the planet and unleashed a worldwide invasion of dimensional monsters. No monsters and tactics had any effect on the waves of dimensional monsters pouring out of the dimensional gates. City after city was mercilessly destroyed. But the opening of the dimensional gates did not only cause damage and destruction. The psychokinetic power that it awoke also enabled a tiny minority of humans to gain extraordinary psychic powers. With these psychic warriors, governments around the world were able to turn the tide of the war with these monsters. After unspeakable losses, the people of earth at least succeeded in closing the gates. Since they had closed the gates, these psychics began to be called "CLOSERS," and the invasion of the dimensional monsters was named the First Dimensional War. With the dimensional monsters vanquished, peace returned to the world, and the cities were rebuilt. Through dedicated research into the dimensional gates and psychokinetic power, humans learned that the gates open when there is a singularity in this mysterious power. However, their understanding of the gates was still incomplete. The CLOSERS who survived the First Dimensional War became part of an organization called UNION. Together, they researched the psychokinetic power in all over the world, working to prevent another dimensional war. And that's when the dimensional gates all over the world started shaking again - as ever stronger outbreed creatures renewed the attack on earth. Never played the game. Six not full episodes mostly present fighting action which is ok, not more.   Overall Rating: 6/10

47. CMFU Xueyuan: Wangzi Peng Peng Qiu CMFU学院：王子碰碰球 [Foch Films] (Finished 3/24) Tags: School Romance, Sports Qin Xiaolu is a problematic girl. Her parents divorced. She was raised by her grandmother. She went to work at a young age and later she started playing billiards. Now she is playing gambling and kidnapping becoming a superb female gangster. One day, Qin Xiaolu touching the porcelain, escapes from gangsters and it the end she blackmail a BMW owner. She didn't expect that the owner to be the prince of the CMFU Academy. Can't find anything good in this gambling spokon with a tomboy and usual for Chinese silly repeating things that are supposed to be funny or something.   Overall Rating: 5/10

48. Dongguo Xiaojie 东郭小节 [Haoliners Animation League] (Finished 2/15) Tags: Historical, Mythology Adventure, Supernatural Dongguo Xiaojie, a young girl, has lived together with her mother ever since she was little. On the year she turned sixteen, her mother suddenly contracted a "Grave Illness". To save her mother, Dongguo Xiaojie set foot into the unknown on a dangerous journey. Accompanying her on this journey is her sworn elder brother Mo Zixuan and the mysterious youth, Life's Hardship. However, danger arises again and again as they are continuously attacked by people they meet on their journey. Just what conspiracy is hidden behind this journey? One more wuxia, at least not CGI this time. Journey and reactivity mean no good. Result is average at best.   Overall Rating: 5/10

49. Junlin Chengxia The Man From; The Arrival of the Monarch 君临臣下 [Haoliners Animation League] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Comedy, Fantasy  In a day like any other, Cao Xiao Man's brother, Xiao Bei, is stabbed by a man after defending a mysterious girl. Due to the incident, and to buy medicine for his brother, Cao Xiao Man decides to earn money in a rather strange way: cross-dressing as a girl and seducing men. When he arrives to his client's house everything seems to go as planned, but the client soon discovers that Cao Xiao Man is, in fact, a boy. He decides to put Cao Xiao Man in a game where he is turned into a girl. In order for Cao Xiao Man to go back to being a boy he needs to complete the game and find the 7 Loyalties located all over the country. Some horrible trap game with terrible realization.   Overall Rating: 5/10

50. Shengsi Huifang 生死回放 [CG Year] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Mystery, Supernatural Young man Wei Sisi worked hard to support himself after losing all his memories. One day in an accident, he somehow obtained an ability with which he could see the memories of the dead. A series of events coming right after it made him aware that he had been involved into a well-designed conspiracy. His past was also gradually uncovered... Full CGI detective mystery is something I can't enjoy.   Overall Rating: 5/10

51. Qiang Ling Jihua 枪灵计划 [-] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Action, Comedy - Not translated. What I see is full CGI nonsense fighting action, no sense anyway.   Overall Rating: 5/10

52. Nengli Youxian Gongsi 能力有限公司 [-] (Finished 0/12) Tags: Comedy - Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

53. Kubikiri Cycle: Aoiro Savant to Zaregotozukai The Kubikiri Cycle クビキリサイクル 青色サヴァンと戯言遣い [Shaft] (Finished 1/8) Tags: Drama, Mystery, Supernatural Due to a mysterious disease, the genius Iria Akagami has been forced by her family to stay in a mansion on the isolated Wet Crow's Feather Island with only a handful of maids. To keep herself entertained, Iria invites a variety of fellow geniuses to stay as guests in her home, including computer savant Tomo Kunagisa and her unnamed assistant, skilled fortune-teller Maki Himena, famous artist Kanami Ibuki, academic scholar Akane Sonoyama, and renowned cook Yayoi Sashirono. These visits progress as normal until one of the guests is found gruesomely murdered in the night without a single clue as to the identity of the killer or a possible motive. Tensions rise between those on the island as the killer remains at large, and Tomo's assistant takes it upon himself to uncover the culprit's identity before the murderous events progress any further. Detective mindscrew mystery...   Overall Rating: 5/10

54. Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni In This Corner of the World この世界の片隅に [MAPPA] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Seinen Historical Award Winning, Drama Suzu Urano is a pure and kindhearted girl who loves to draw and keep her head in the clouds. Growing up in the outskirts of Hiroshima with her family, she is more than happy to help with her grandmother's nori business. However, when she becomes of age, Suzu leaves her beloved home to marry Shuusaku Houjou, a man she barely knows. As she integrates into her new husband's household, the homesick bride struggles to adjust to the unfamiliar environment as the war effort extends far beyond its point of no return. When the war reaches Suzu's own backyard and peace gives way to brutality, how will she support herself and those she comes to love along the way? Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni paints a colorful yet haunting depiction of everyday life in the years before and after World War II, showcasing the perseverance and fortitude of ordinary Japanese during one of the darkest periods of modern history. Again auto-biography, very lousy and brainless SOL followed by war hardships... nothing outstanding here for me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

55. Suki ni Naru Sono Shunkan wo. Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai The Moment You Fall in Love 好きになるその瞬間を。～告白実行委員会～ [Qualia Animation] (Finished 1/1) Tags: School Comedy, Drama, Romance Following Natsuki Enomoto's confession rehearsals with Yuu Setoguchi, their younger siblings Kotarou and Hina struggle to confess their own love. Despite a disastrous first meeting in middle school with her upperclassman Koyuki Ayase, Hina’s heart is captured by his warm smile. Initially confused by these newfound feelings, Hina soon realizes that she has fallen in love for the very first time. Chasing after her brother Yuu and her crush Koyuki, Hina also enrolls in Sakuragaoka High School; but the threads of love are far-reaching, and they entangle Hina and her friends. Boisterous but sensitive, Hina hopes to confess her feelings to the tender-hearted Koyuki. Meanwhile, Kotarou, oblivious to his own feelings for her, is determined to always keep Hina smiling. Suki ni Naru Sono Shunkan wo.: Kokuhaku Jikkou linkai follows Hina, Kotarou, and Koyuki in high school. Their youthful love forges new relationships, but also threatens to break others. The key word here is "moment" as after typical school SOL it happens momentarily and spontaneously. Trying to push it all in less than hour length work was futile from the start.   Overall Rating: 6/10

56. Gantz:O  [Digital Frontier] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Seinen Gore, High Stakes Game, Psychological, Survival Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi Death does not have to be the end; one can live again, but only through beating the game posed by the black ball called Gantz. On his way home to celebrate his younger brother's birthday, brave and kind-hearted student named Masaru Katou is stabbed to death. He awakes in a small room with a cityscape view in the heart of Tokyo—and he is not alone. To his surprise, it is not the afterlife, but the waiting room for a high stakes game with their lives on the line. Before he has the chance to process the situation, Masaru is handed a gun and teleported into the center of Osaka to carry out one simple task: eliminate any alien on sight. Accompanied by the aged Yoshikazu Suzuki, the stunning idol Reika Shimohira, and the cold but experienced Jouichirou Nishi, Masaru must overcome his fears in order to survive the game and return home to his waiting brother. I enjoy Gantz:O immensely even though it's full CGI. The scale of Osaka team blows my mind. A very memorable journey for every Gantz fan.   Overall Rating: 8/10

57. Chain Chronicle: Haecceitas no Hikari Part 1 Chain Chronicle: The Light of Haecceitas Part 1 チェインクロニクル〜ヘクセイタスの閃（ひかり）〜 第１章 [Telecom Animation Film, Graphinica] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy  Set in the land of Yuguto, the people thought that the land they live is the size of the world, but it’s actually divided into several areas, each with a respective king. Even though there were small wars among areas, the kings had roundtable meetings to maintain peace and balance. It was until a dark group of dark monsters appeared... It feels that anime is based on a game as there's a vivid fantasy world with interesting looking characters, but story is overshadowed by action. At the same time, no real exposition is given, so it becomes a chaotic whirlpool of events. It's only four episodes and not a finished story, so it's too early to make conclusions here, but so far I'm not impressed.   Overall Rating: 6/10

58. Pop in Q ポッピンQ [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Isekai, Music Fantasy The story begins the day before the graduation ceremony. Five middle school girls each are preoccupied with their real everyday lives. These girls meet each other in a fantasy world after being sent there through a sudden occurrence. There, they learn about the impending crisis that this world is facing. The way to avert this crisis is for the five to collaborate and bring their five hearts together as one through dance. However, the five cannot come to love the world, and cannot tell their true feelings to one another, so their hearts are unable to unite. The time limit is fast approaching. Can the dance of the five girls save the world? And will they be able to graduate? There has been no shortage of mahou shoujo duels or vocaloid CGI dances recently. This movie has all that and nothing special to stand out.   Overall Rating: 5/10

59. Joleobban The Senior Class 졸업반 [Studio Dadashow] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Adult Cast, Visual Arts Drama, Romance Joo-hee, a perfect student and the hottest girl in school, is majoring in pure arts and dreams of going to France. She's a role model for everyone as she is beautiful and talented. Jeong-woo, her fellow schoolmate and a web-toon writer wannabe, and has a crush on Joo-hee but he doesn't dare approach her. One day, Jeong-woo finds out that Joo-hee is a student by day, but a "ten-pro" call girl at night. They become close now that they share a secret. Materially and emotionally, Jeong-woo helps Joo-hee as she wants to graduate with lots of money and with high grades. However, Jeong-woo's first girlfriend, Dong-hwa, also finds out about Joo-hee's secret, leading to all sorts of rumors and X-files about Joo-hee spreading. It's what I call hentai with a plot, and actually, a good one. Not that I call any hentai a masterpiece...   Overall Rating: 6/10

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