Jeoffrey

When your impression of a show keeps oscillating between zero and five stars, you end up with a neat average of 5/10. The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses could be a pleasant romantic comedy, assuming that: 1) You find the main heroine's behavior endearing rather than resembling a medical diagnosis (like dementia or autism) 2) You enjoy the hero's inner monologues, even if they come off as awkward or painful, because you share his fetishes and insecurities. 3) You don't see a discrepancy between what the hero thinks and what he actually says. 4) You managed to sit through the first episode without feeling dizzy or needing motion sickness medication. 5) You don't know anything about animation techniques and directing. 6) You embrace the unconventional camera angles and see them as highly original, not just random shots from odd places. 7) You tend to overlook any perspective problems, especially when characters get a bit deformed in those crazy camera shots. 8) You're a fan of hyperrealistic backgrounds and interiors, where every frame could double as wallpaper, while ignoring how strange it looks when characters pop up in front of them. 9) You don't notice the robotic or unnatural movements of some characters, particularly when they're walking. 10) Repetition within the plot or in certain shots (hello hyperrealistic backgrounds) doesn't bother you. 11) The fact that the entire plot could possibly be resolved with a simple eyeglass strap? Well, that's just part of the charm. If you manage to tick off all these boxes, then perhaps the show will be an enjoyable watch for you. On a positive note, the music gets a pass from me.

The second season fell a tad short for me compared to the first, mainly because I'm not particularly fond of circuses, and the magic school didn't leave a strong impression on me either. However, the storyline unfolds nicely, with one couple finally getting together and another pair, whom I find charmingly goofy, forming a bond. Romance-wise, I'm definitely satisfied. I'm also intrigued by the gradual unraveling of the mysteries surrounding the curse on the main character, Alice's mother, and especially Sade. Most of the characters resonate with me, although I'm still warming up to the newer ones introduced at the magic school. The musical aspect adds an extra layer of enjoyment for me; it's become almost customary for the voice actors of the main characters to showcase their singing talents, resulting in several musical interludes (not to mention another catchy opening theme). Additionally, I've gotten used to the 3D animation of the characters, which seems to have improved slightly. The training and fighting sequence in the last episode of the second season, particularly Cuff's performance, didn't disappoint. Overall, I still find the series enjoyable and eagerly anticipate the announced third season. While the second season didn't fully live up to my expectations, it still delivered plenty of cheerful and playful romance, along with intriguing mysteries. 7.7/10.

This series wasn't particularly awful, or rather, out of all the shows I dropped this season, it was the only one that didn't actively annoy me. However, its main issue was that it was just plain boring and generic. I struggled to recall what happened in the previous episode from week to week, and nothing about it really grabbed my interest. Then there was the blonde loli dragon girl, whom the show used to tug at my heartstrings. But when the storyline shifted to the idea that everyone at school had to collectively fight her to earn her respect and friendship, I found myself completely disinterested. Frankly, if the dragon girl had eaten everyone, it might have actually piqued my interest. To this day, that's probably the only plot point I vividly remember from the series. Looking back at images of other characters from the anime, I can barely recall their traits. In short, this anime left no lasting impression on me. I dropped it after the fourth episode because it ceased to entertain or engage me, and continuing to watch it felt pointless. I have 3.5/10 written in my notes, but I can't recall what for. Perhaps the main character wasn't entirely useless, but going through four episodes again just to jog my memory - no thanks...

Banished from the Hero's Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside is a fantasy adventure that tries to sort of be a slice-of-life anime series and has a pretty believable love story. Still, somehow the atmosphere, the narrative style, and everything else, despite a lot of pretty good ideas, does not particularly work. I liked the subject matter and the whole reasoning around predestination and its meaning as opposed to free will. It is just that while this anime series knew the message it wanted to convey, it did not portray it in a compelling or interesting enough way. Somehow, I do not think it managed to combine that peaceful village life with the supposedly convoluted backstory (especially with its developments) or successfully convey the idea that you just cannot escape something inevitable. Plus, all the flashbacks felt kind of weird, and the narrative overall was kind of very shallow. That is kind of a bummer because of all the untapped potential that was there. I just think that in many ways, more could have been wrung out of it; it could have been fleshed out better. There are some interesting hints that there could be some more elaboration in a follow-up. After all, there are the odd remains of and some open-ended plotlines to expand on; however, thanks to the lukewarm approach to the narrative (and the conclusion itself, which just made my head spin), I am not sure I would watch it. Although I guess that actually I probably would, because I still subconsciously see the potential there. 5.5/10.

It's been a while since I last watched a harem ecchi anime series, so Tenpuru came as a pleasant surprise for me. In fact, I found myself quite enjoying the first few episodes. Sure, it's rife with clichés and the typical risqué coincidences you'd expect from the genre, but I somehow enjoyed it. Initially, the series exuded energy, which I found refreshing. Despite the numerous falls and awkward interactions between the hero and the heroines in the first episode, I found myself chuckling along — a rare occurrence for me lately. A big part of that enjoyment comes from the main character who breaks the mold of the typical bland harem protagonist. He's got a distinct personality, one that shines particularly in the more serious moments of the series. As I reached the end of the first season, I found myself eager to continue the journey to see if the local temple would be saved, if Akemitsu could resist worldly temptations, and who he'd ultimately end up with. However, I must admit that as the series progressed, it seemed to lose some of its initial charm. The second half, in particular, felt less amusing and more draining, leading me to give Tenpuru a modest rating of 6/10. Given my current opinion on harem ecchi comedies, it's almost like giving it 5 stars.

These are like little bits and fragments from the original manga that didn't quite make the cut for the anime adaptation. Yet, they've been expertly woven together into individual episodes, each following a common theme. This addition to the original series maintains its quality; it had me laughing heartily, it felt pleasantly realistic at times, and delightfully quirky at others. It's still that wonderful, heartwarming romance that I adore. Once again, the animation and music are executed excellently. For me, much like the original Horimiya, these 'missing parts' also deserve a solid 9/10.

The main character gets dropped into this world from slime, and while he's not the most overpowered guy among the generic isekai heroes, he still manages to outshine them all with his unique skill. The author seems to have a soft spot for him, so he has everything dropped on a silver platter. No, scratch that, it gets even more absurd... Ryota has this ability to get bigger drops than anyone else, turning ordinary encounters into a jackpot. Where a regular adventurer gets a bamboo sprout dropped from a monster, Ryota gets ten, instead of a regular carrot, he gets Bonduelle quality, and while a regular person drops just shit into the toilet every morning, Ryota drops golden eggs....(Ok, I might have made up the last one). It's like he's living in a world where the loot is customized just for him. And if that weren't enough, suddenly there's a dungeon where only he gets things from monsters, and he's the sole recipient of items after a monster attack on the town. It's like the author is going out of his way to make Ryota seem super special, but it comes off as absurd. And all of this at level one! The obsession with levels in Japanese storytelling reaches new heights here, as they keep emphasizing how great Ryota is because he's only level one and yet can do all of these amazing things. It's like they're setting him up for an even more incredible power-up when he eventually reaches level two. It's ridiculous, really. Moreover, the characters are just one-dimensional clichés, at least the ones I've encountered so far. I'm not one to waste my time on something so predictable. I can see where it's all headed — the hero will keep getting more exaggerated rewards, a harem will inevitably form around him, and they'll keep reminding us that Ryota is still at level one - Wow! Isn't he amazing? I haven't seen something so dumb and lazily written in a long time. Maybe there's some depth to the story buried somewhere, but if it couldn't hook me in the first three episodes, I doubt it's worth sticking around to find out. Since I have a knack for spotting bad anime and dropping it within three episodes, I decided to bail out early. It's not worth the risk of losing more brain cells over. I'm giving it a generous 2/10 and dropping it after three episodes— one point for the animation and the other for the bunny girl who reminded me that my Playboy subscription has expired. I had initially considered a 3/10, but the more I think about it, the more it irks me, so there you have it.

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale lives up to its name as a charming fairy tale. It does touch on deeper themes like prejudice and slavery, and it doesn't shy away from blood with some grittier moments adding a layer of complexity to the narrative; however, at its core, it's a heartwarming story about a girl overcoming challenges with the help of a cool elf prince. It's clear that the target audience is younger, and as a seasoned viewer pushing forty, I might not be the prime demographic. Yet, I found myself enjoying the series nonetheless. I rooted for the main character's success in both her work and love life, appreciating her determination and kindness. I was also intrigued by the lore surrounding fairies — how they came into existence and their history. However, the constant focus on baking sweets didn't quite captivate me. While the series attempted to showcase the power of kindness through sweets, it fell a bit flat for me. I found myself wishing for more exploration of the fairy uprising and other compelling storylines. Despite this, the animation was pleasant, and the music added to the overall ambiance. While the first half of the series felt somewhat predictable, the latter half picked up momentum, keeping me engaged. Even as I reflect on it now, I'm torn between a weak 4-star or a strong 3-star rating. After some deliberation and comparison with other anime shows I've seen, I settled on a rating of 6.4/10.

I was eagerly anticipating the second season after the gripping finale of the first, and I'm pleased to say it lived up to all my expectations. The battles in this season were some of the best I've seen in anime, particularly the ones without weapons. The drama was intense, especially in the portrayal of a family tragedy that felt raw and incredibly realistic, sending chills down my spine. The finale was nothing short of breathtaking, with well-chosen music enhancing every scene. The series showcased incredible creativity throughout, even in the ninth episode, which some may consider weaker. Personally, I found it to be a brilliant display of innovative storytelling techniques. I appreciated how the opening reflected the essence of the entire series. While one storyline reached a conclusion, the creators left two significant hooks that left me eagerly awaiting more episodes. They clearly know how to craft an engaging atmosphere and captivate viewers. While I initially felt the second season wasn't as strong as the first, particularly missing the multiple storylines, these were minor quibbles in the grand scheme of things. The almost perfect impression I have now after the last episode easily warrants a rating of 9.5/10.

After watching the final episode today, I was considering a four-star rating. It's refreshing to see a hero who isn't an overpowered protagonist from the get-go, one who doesn't defeat everyone with a wave of a magic wand. Luciel truly earns everything he gains; the entire first season depicts the 4 years the hero spends in the new world, so his growth doesn't happen overnight. He's constantly training and improving throughout, yet in the end, he still can't defeat his master, leaving room for further development. Everything unfolds believably over a significant period, making sense in many ways, with several interesting storylines that make me want to continue with the series. Moreover, Luciel is quite likable; he possesses a well-defined moral compass, making it easy to root for him. I also found myself drawn to other characters, particularly Brodo, but also Cattleya and Rumina. However, the main reason why the series falls short of 4 stars is its humor, which simply didn't resonate with me. It felt silly, repetitive (enough with the substance x jokes and Maso-zombies), and cringe-worthy at times. The series could have done without the whole substance x subplot, as it seemed like a cheap ploy to boost the main character, something I felt he didn't need. Humor is subjective, but when it doesn't align with your tastes, it can significantly impact the viewing experience. Unfortunately, this was the case for me, leading to a rating of 6.4/10.