Jeoffrey

Meiji Gekken: 1874 ends up being a bit of a letdown, especially for someone like me who has been intrigued by the beginning of the Meiji period ever since the first Kenshin. Unfortunately, this series fails to deliver anything particularly memorable. The story lacks those powerful, standout moments it seems to be striving for, leaving it feeling rather lackluster overall. The quality of the action scenes is, at best, average. I didn't feel that gripping tension or excitement during most of the battles, making it hard to become invested in the fate of those in combat. What did I ultimately glean from this experience? Perhaps just the reaffirmation that "A traitor is worse than an enemy" Or the realization that even though one hand can't clap, it sure can shoot a bow flawlessly... Okay. In essence, I found myself with very little to take away considering the number of characters and the scope of the story compressed into ten episodes. To make matters worse, many twists were easily predictable, like how Sumie would end up which I called from the get-go. The main protagonist, unfortunately, came off as rather unremarkable to me. Instead, I found myself more drawn to characters like Kyoushirou and his group out for revenge. The most likeable character for me has to be the sword master Koto, even though her role in the story was somewhat limited. On the flip side, I don't have many outright criticisms either. The series isn't dumb; it just falls far short of the interesting and epic tale it aims to be. I'll give credit where it's due — there's nothing that particularly annoyed me. Mostly, I just see wasted potential, especially in those lackluster battles. It's a bit of a grey, mediocre, at best slightly above average series. I made it to the end, but I doubt it'll stick with me a month from now. 5.2/10.

Fluffy Paradise was a delightful treat for me. I really enjoy these cute and pleasant series that don't require much effort and are perfect for unwinding (especially appreciated during the gloomy winter days when it gets dark early and my overall mood tends to be - well, let's say - dismal). The main heroine is incredibly endearing; her efforts to protect all these "misunderstood" monsters (Goblin Slayer would probably lose his mind with Nefertima) really struck a chord with me. I mean, who wouldn't love a cute little girl whose main goal is to help everyone and pet every furry creature in sight? As for the story, on the one hand, I don't want to think too deeply about it because it seems like the pseudo-serious drama clashes a bit with the adorable and friendly vibe of the series. Sometimes I also think that some problems could have been solved much more quickly. Plus, the heroine's monster reservation plan hasn't entirely convinced me yet (hopefully those monsters end up better off than Native Americans in America). On the other hand, at least during the final battle, I appreciated that the author tried to resolve the issue relatively satisfactorily for both sides, kind of a win-win situation. I'm still curious about what lies behind the migration of creatures to the north and what the main driving force is. Despite some plot holes and things that could have been handled better, the show managed to captivate me, which is quite a success for a series that's primarily about cuteness, fluffy creatures, and a little girl trying to befriend every monster she encounters (though sadly, I don't have high hopes for another season, these types of series don't often get follow-ups). The animation is very charming, the music as well, and most of the characters were quite likable, nobody really bothered me... So, for me, this first completed anime of the season earns a solid 7/10. It was like a slightly more dramatic, but still very good and adorable bedtime story that worked perfectly for those Sunday winter evenings.

After watching these nine minutes, the burning question I had to ask myself was whether this short left me eager for more from this world, and unfortunately, the answer is a clear "no, thanks." While the setting does have its charm, showcasing impressive colors and introducing a few original animals and plants, it all falls flat when the main hero comes across as rather boring and unremarkable - just your average protagonist. The main heroine fares somewhat better, with the short film attempting to sell her to the audience, alongside the big monster she battles (as one might expect from a film with "Kaiju" in the title), but the attempt falls short, and the heroine won't get more than a 7/10 from me for character design. Perhaps contributing to my lack of enthusiasm is the average 3D animation which is watchable but not eye-catching except maybe for the vibrant colors. However, what really didn't appeal to me was the plot itself, or rather the lack of clarity in these brief nine minutes. It seems to revolve around exploring a strange world, scanning peculiar eggs, and battling colossal monsters...but beyond that, it's hard to discern much substance. For me, this warrants a maximum of 4/10. Available in Japanese with English subtitles on the official Toei YT channel.