DGFischer

Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure is the celebratory 20th anniversary season I've been waiting for since Star Twinkle PC (17th season, so it's been a good wait).  For those who are making Hirogaru Sky! their first Pretty Cure experience, they are taking in a superior show, an anthem to the ideals of heroism, a salute to the antics of 77 magic girls ... and counting.  To those who have seen a few seasons, they could claim that Hirogaru Sky! ranks high among the quality pieces.  But for those rare diehard fans who have seen every episode of every season ... a treasure trove! The first decade of Pretty... See full review

Before bringing on the theological downers on Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence (Doga Kobo), please boil down this series to its essential basics.  It is, after all, a love story. It is a love story. A LOVE STORY!!! With this in mind, let's continue.  Being an unapologetic Christian, I was confused by the union of 'saint' with 'pastor.'  Pastor is definitely Protestant in tone, and Lawrence looks much the Anglican country parson.  Saint is bit touchier.  Cecilia is not a 'nun' in any respect of that word (though her shawl-wearing marks her as that type), and 'saint' is understood... See full review

Horimiya (CloverWorks, 2021) is perhaps the most brilliant and realistic portrayal of love living and dying at the high school level.  And the foundational relationship rests on people with diverse personalities.  Kyouko Hori is the trademark 'popular' girl in her class.  Izumi Miyamura is the shunned loner while in middle school now rising to avoid this sad trend while in high school.  He’s a warm heart trapped in shabby exteriors.  But each has his/her secret.  Hori avoids the clubs to devote to her little brother, due to an absent working mother and an absent estranged... See full review

It would take Silver Link two years to form such an intricate plot of revenge stalking love with Masamune-kun's Revenge.  The first season set up the story of a young lad's heart torn to shreds, leading to a conspiracy to get revenge on the callous girl who spurned him.  Yes, the backstory would be set, but how accurate would be that telling? Season two, called Masamune-kun's Revenge R, unravels the story and clears up the mystery that never should have happened.  Two seasons of misunderstanding.  But each year would have its love triangle that complicates Masamune's plan to get back at... See full review

Engaged to the Unidentified (Doga Kabo, 2014) is perhaps the edgiest, most borderline romance anime I've taken in.  It blends the idea of the arranged marriage (a token of the traditional Japanese society) with the mysterious element of who would be the prospective groom (a salute to the richness of Japanese folklore). Kobeni is your typical teen-age girl, coming of age, only wishing to be able to cope better with the high school regimen.  A natural home-maker, yes, but an athlete or academe ... hardly.  She is shocked to learn that she is a bride to be to the mysterious Mitsumine family of... See full review

I was surprised to discover that Street Fighter II: The Movie (1994, Group TAC)  appeared one year before the 26-episode season.  I was not quite ready for the contrasts in style and presentation as the movie was far darker than the series, which did have its goofy moments in that parade of beat-downs en route to the final battle twixt Bison and Guile.  I mean, the character designs of Guile in movie and series ... miles apart.  The movie Guile is downright mega hardcore.  It took time for Chun-Li to get the Colonel to co-operate in her investigation of Shadowloo. Actually, the... See full review

Anime has a way of telling quality love stories, but Tada Never Falls in Love creates a superb template of ten-year old backstories which present puzzle pieces which prove how complicated that 'boy meets girl' formula can get. Among these decade long incidents: Mitsuyoshi and Yui Tada have lost their parents in a terrible car accident.  At the funeral Kaoru Ijuin pledges his life-long friendship to Mitsuyoshi and works to commemorate the tragic day with a friendship party to deaden the loss to the Tadas. Princess Teresa of Larsenburg has lost a trinket and her friend Alec Magritte gets Sir Charles... See full review

When I was doing up my review of Stellvia, I mentioned an interest in turn of the millennium/century anime that I had viewed on Retro Crush/Roku Channel.  It turns out that Street Fighter II V (1995 - Group TAC) was one of the other two.  FYI, Case Closed - Detective Conan was my third Retro-blast (review coming some years down the line; 75 episodes down and just a wee bit over 1000 to go). Other than my arcade memories of watching game-masters beat each other up, my only other link to Street Fighters was Hi-Score Girl.  Guile was Haruo’s hero Zangrief Akira’s, a true sign of... See full review

When one heard that BanG Dream! It's MyGo was beginning to air, the anime heart leapt for joy, for once again you shall experience those wonderful girl bands interacting and striking friendly bonds of comradery.  Poppin' Party.  Afterglow.  Pastel Palettes.  Roselia.  Hello, Happy World.  Morfonica.  Argonavis.  All under the spirit of dokidoki  of Kasumi Toyama, whose cheerfulness breathes  ... Whoa!!!! Hold your horses, cowboy.  If you go into It's MyGo with that mentality, you go out disappointed. BanG Dream! It's MyGo is a story of girls... See full review

In some previous reviews, I was critical of the use of kawaii-cuteness to hide ugly or non-existent plotlines in some animes.  So, one recommended School-Live for its use of the 'cute factor.'  I caught the point right away.  There were four pretty high school girls plus one gorgeous teacher.  There was the typical fanservice of shower scenes and bikinis donned by poolside.  But, beyond this kawaii was irrelevant.  For kawaii = zombie chow.  School-Live is a curious blend of two different premises jammed into twelve episodes, the exploits of four girls enjoying their high... See full review

I took an interest in animes produced around the turn of the millennium and in particular Stellvia (Xebec, 2003).  I caught these shows on Retro Crush and other Roku Channel networks.  Twenty years separate, but the visual quality was outstanding, pairing the vastness of the cosmos and the angst of those high school years. Stellvia was a neat blend of boy meets girl and humanity meets killer space anomalies (I counted three, including bizarre space invaders who threaten the Space Foundation on a lark (what were those cicada-like knockoffs up to?  I couldn’t figure).  The key... See full review

I don't know if it was because I viewed Mitsuboshi Colors (Silver Link, 2018) too soon after Too Cute Crisis.  The powers of kawaii exploited to cover up a minimal plot.  Syrupy sweet resolutions to what should have been near insurmountable odds.  And with Mitsuboshi Colors, cute is to cover for some sketchy personalities, even if they be aged seven or so.  It's not so much kawaii succumbing to the forces of darkness.  It's more like cute emerging from the shadows (like some renowned witch arising from the well ... shudder!). Maybe it's just that, as a former teacher, I have been... See full review

The 'cute girls doing stuff' genre offers great informational opportunities.  The world of golf.  Travel via touring bicycles and small versions of motorcycles.  Rock climbing.  Even crafting pottery.  And Takunomi (2018, Production IMS) ... what is this series of twelve short episodes (13 minute shots ... pun intended) contribution to the educational appeal of CGDS? How one can with polished elegance and urbane style get soused? I wouldn't go this far for two reasons.  First, each episode begins with the warning that the consumption of alcoholic beverages for people aged... See full review

Many romance genre pieces in the world of anime use the 'hard road leading to true love' theme, but Suzuka (2005, Studio Comet) inches closer to the psychological drama.  And this arises from the major disconnect between the girl and boy targeted for Lovers Lane. TC Suzuka Asahina is a dedicated track star in the making, her forte, the high jump.  Her zeal to surpass herself makes her a bit hardcore (tsundere, so they say), but her aloofness comes from a tragedy in her life.  Yamato Akitsuki is an irresponsible lad who has the tact of a rock (sometimes even the IQ), but has seen Suzuka... See full review

The neat thing about the romance genre in anime is that there is always a fresh take, a unique angle each series offers.  When it comes to Masamune-kun's Revenge, I see it as a rendition of Teasing-Master Takagi-san with a mean and vicious twist.  We still have the boy breathing out threats against the girl, with the likelihood that the boy will go down in flames.  But the Masamune-kun's Revenge advantage is found in the background in the two key characters. Makabe Masamune was a heavy-set boy growing up, leading to several incidents of being bullied.  But the scarring memory of little... See full review

The second round of Haruka Nogizaka's Secret, ironically called Purezza (Italian for pure) has the pair of would-be (doubtful, yet sincere) lovers Haruka and Yuuto push closer and closer to 'the act.'  In short, fanservice does what it can to cancel the innocent young love theme to lace the whole enterprise with the steamy (the more steam, the better, particularly for those hot springs bathing episodes), sordid side of love-life. The episodes are typical of what you've seen in season one.  Younger sister Maki takes Yuuto to her school as 'fresh meat' in her version of show-and-tell at her... See full review

I always like animes with a bit of instructional content built in.  In this case of Too Cute Crisis (Kawaisugi Crisis, Synergy-2023), the relationship of pet owners and their pets (and their secrets ... er, that of the pet owners, but don't underestimate the power of the pet!) seems to be the series strong point. It surely wasn't the plot. In short, the Azatoth Empire which spans the cosmos is set to invade and dispatch planet Earth.  And the world's saviors ... those courageous and down-right cute kitty-witties, puppy-wuppies, and bunny-wunnies, with an assist from those understated alien... See full review

When considering Girlish Number (2016, diomedea), you wonder if it is just Shirobako going to the dark side (GN's Kuzu is far more despicable compared to Shirobako's ego-mad slacker Tarou Takanashi).  And, while Sore ga Seiyuu! was a tribute to all those wonderful voice actors and actresses creating all that anime magic ... well, Girlish Number has voice actresses too, and the series seems more like an expose' of the lack of quality in some series which play fast and loose with the project's budget. Ah, what one can hammer out while boozing it up at the local tavern! The Girlish Number project seemed... See full review

How to explain the story concept of Gakuen Alice (2004, Group TAC)?  Think of hiring the cartoonist Chas. Addams, whose bent toward the bizarre and weird gave us characters as Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester et. al., and coax him to add the ideals of sweet and cute and seal it with shojo magic.  And, voila!, Gakuen Alice. It is hard to see any friendship forming between introverted studi-aholic Hotaru and perky and bumbling Mikan.  Their personality-styles are miles apart, and matters are made worst when Hotaru is scouted to attend the prestigious Alice Academy (Gakuen Alice).  After all... See full review

QPlayer made an important point in the review  I read before offering mine ... Tomoko Kuroki is a character that would deserve our sympathy and perhaps empathy (some might even go so far as to identify with the MC).  The struggles of the girl who wishes to escape the world of the mojyo makes Watamote: No Matter ... Not Popular an intriguing watch.  You cheer for her, and yet you wonder why you'd support a lost cause.  That is, if Tomoko persists in being herself. For Tomoko is best when she gets her Sadako on.  The season is laced with references to the more sordid episodes of... See full review

At the end of Teasing-Master Takagi-san Season Three, Nishikata was on the verge of expressing a confession of love to Takagi, except after chasing Takagi's taxi (dropping and smashing the White Day present meant for her), Nishikata was too gassed to utter much of anything.  But Takagi could understand the thought behind the intent, and so the season could end with a semi-happy ending. Teasing-Master Takagi-san the Movie continues the story in the direction that one might expect, but with a richness of story-telling and animation excellence that makes for full satisfaction over the shaky relationship... See full review

Haruka Nogizaka's Secret (Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu, 2008, Diomedea) is the story of a sweet and innocent teen romance ... drowning in a sea of fanservice.  I mean, when you meet most of the female cast through the time-honored anime technique of pantyshot ... Haruka, first, though it was done most discreetly, as she modestly wears leggings.  But she is a girl who is easily embarrassed, so enjoy these moments of discomfort.  But Haruka’s younger sister Mika comes on the scene panties first, and prospective love triangle third-wheel Shiina holds the record, four indiscrete peeks in 12... See full review

Now that the revised second run of Tokyo Mew Mew New has submitted its results, it all boils down to how it compared with the original 51-episode 2002 event.  There are pros and there are cons.  When it was apparent that the storyline made a grand shift with the revealing of Deep Blue's complex background (I mean, Ichigo attacking the four Mew Mews in a confusing effort to rescue Aoyama ... ouch!).  The 2002 TMM resolved this in the last two episodes; the 2023 TMMN got down to emotional meltdowns through the last three episodes.  And all to get that ‘satisfying&rsquo... See full review

A long time ago in my fondly remembered and much too distant youth, my schooling included something called 'literature,' an ordeal which insisted that I read a book or two that semester for 'enrichment.'  My sophomore English teacher advised that if you wish to dismiss a book, at least read the first two chapters before doing so.  This was the case with this one book I was struggling through.  Chapter one was two men in conversation eventually leading to chapter two where they were joined by a third coming to talk about this problem he was having with his family.  Too boringly sluggish... See full review

The reason that I panned the first season was that all too predictability of an invincible Yuna in that ridiculous bear uniform.  Monsters were swept away with ursine powers unimaginable.  This made the series boring after a while.  Kuma x 3 Bear Punch (aka season two) tried to tweak this a wee bit, but in the end, woe betide the monsters and stuffy aristocrats that run afoul of Yuna.  A winner is a winner. But winners sometimes get on people’s nerves. The wee tweak was one episode with Yuna having a nightmare of being vanquished.  She wakes up in time, but she reveals the... See full review

Due to HIDIVE's selective offerings, I could watch only seasons one and this third, entitled My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: Climax.  I will offer due diligence to find that season in between, seeing that much has happened, almost to the point that the main characters were slightly altered.  Well, not so much Hachiman Higigaya.  He remains the cheerless curmudgeon.  He seems to be love-resistant. Leave it to season three to finish off the cynic.  Well, maybe, maybe not.  But the guy definitely is reeling. The plot of the third go-round is a tale of the Service Club doing... See full review

The premise that drives Eternal Boys makes it a unique contribution to the idol genre.  There are aspects that suggest that EB could go beyond its first season run, and equal clues that point out that the theme has been resolved and there is no more need for a second season (I could go for an OVA, but what the six-man idol group needed to achieve was achieved ... nix to season two). For the persona of this idol group runs counter to everything this tribute to the performance arts.  The Eternal Boys group is made up of middle-aged men.  The other idol groups in the series are more appropriate... See full review

In most anime of the romance genre, it is the usual path of two unlikely people learning to fall in love with each other.  Or two contrasting personalities.  Or two extremely different social types.  Or two of diverse appearance or height.  JC Staff's Clover and Honey approaches the notions of the lovey-dovey from a whole new angle ... in the lives of the basic insecure artistic types. Such a plan creates two unique love triangles.  First that of Takumi with longtime friend wishing for promotion to love interest Ayumi, and this against Takumi's client Rika Harada, a young disabled... See full review

Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts 2 moved into two direction changes which hampered the storyline.  Season one pitted the genius classes against the idiots, and it is traditional to root for the underdogs and have this feeling of satisfaction when the idiots overcame all obstacles and got the big win in episode last. Season two now pitted the sides that were more basic, the boys vs. the girls ... and we know better which side would be designated the idiots.  And the second goof was a massive cranking up of the sophomoric humor spiced with the vulgar and insensitive double entendre.  The... See full review

What's up with the anime genre of melancholia?  I mean, the first thing I thought of when I read the premise of Looking Up at the Half-Moon and noted that the whole project ran for six episodes, I only thought of one other anime series. Planetarian. The parallels are striking.  Both deal with hopeless situations, one a planet that is dying (this one ... gulp!) with no hope for recovery.  Girls (okay, one is a gyn-droid) that are doomed to die (and both would rank as 'hotties').  The lead male working up against the hopelessness of the situation and finding the best (one by laying claim... See full review