Jeoffrey

Sand Land feels like the anime version of Mad Max, infused with a dash of fantasy and sci-fi from the mind of the late, great author of the Dragon Ball series, Akira Toriyama. Toriyama's signature humor style and overall atmosphere are unmistakable, reminiscent of the original Dragon Ball. Despite its simplicity, the series never loses its charm, keeping viewers engaged with straightforward yet intriguing storytelling. The characters, particularly the seasoned fighter and current sheriff Rao, are compelling and likable. However, the animation, especially the CG character animation, leaves much to be desired, like a sort of 2.5D. While it occasionally shines, it often feels heavy-handed and unnatural (such as Ann's hair), detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, the world's potential feels underutilized, failing to captivate enough to warrant further exploration or rewatches. Overall, Sand Land is a pleasant watch, earning a 6/10 from me. For fans of Akira Toriyama, it's likely a must-watch, but I suspect they will appreciate the series much more than I did.

Because of the strong main female protagonist (Aoi) and the prevalence of charming male characters, this is definitely an anime series aimed more at a female audience, although it is far from boring. As I mentioned before, the big draw here is the very appealing Aoi, who is mostly the driving force behind the plot and the one who provides the solution to most of the problems. I guess it is rare that it is fortunate that a main female protagonist in an anime series, who is surrounded by so many charming and capable gentlemen (all right, well, it is the ayakashi anyway), so intensely and sweetly gives a helping hand and gets down to work herself (because all too often the main female protagonists in such productions just sit around waiting to get rescued). Plus, the way Aoi does it (through food and kindness) can be very attractive to a male audience in particular. Also, the way Aoi approaches the issues she faces within the interesting and magical setting of the world the show is set in, there is a very pleasant atmosphere that warms the heart. Of course, it is not just a nice walk in the park, the anime’s creators sometimes manage to conjure up some kind of suspense, to set up an intense situation that Aoi has to get through and overcome either on her own or with the help of her companions. It has quite an interesting narrative, even if it may give some people the impression that it is merely going to repeat the same story twice (SPOILER ALERT Aoi is taken somewhere against her will, to gradually win everyone over and save everything END OF SPOILERS). Anyway, if I add to that, in my opinion, good animation, and an appropriately chosen soundtrack, I am going to award a nice 8/10, which is actually an excellent result from someone for whom this anime series is probably not primarily aimed at.

Imagine being tasked with writing a fairy tale about a young witch and an evil sorceress for kids aged 8-12, but you're not particularly inspired. The result? A tale that's simple, predictable, and brimming with the most basic lessons about the power of friendship triumphing over evil. At times, viewers might find themselves scratching their heads — like pondering the origins of the evil sorceress, or questioning the necessity of certain explanations (did we really need a detailed account of the princess's relationship with her brother?). On the bright side, the animation holds up decently, and there are a few imaginative touches, like the amusement park scenes. However, the film lacks the enchantment one would expect from a story about witches and magic. Elements like game consoles and the oddly dressed Chitose (T-shirt, shorts) feel out of place amidst the traditional fairy tale setting of princesses, knights, and castles. Romance attempts fall flat, and many characters, including the protagonist, fail to charm. While it might entertain some kids for a single viewing, it didn't leave much of an impression on me. It's a passable watch once, but I doubt I'd revisit it or seek out more stories from this world. 4/10