Anime

Glasslip: Episode 01 Review

Not an awful lot has been revealed plot-wise thus far, but this is not a bad thing in this case. So far, the main character, Toko, goes to watch fireworks with her friends during the summer break of their senior year at high school.

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New in Japan

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun Episode 01 Review

You would assume, from its title and watching the first minute of the show, that Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun would be a something along the lines of your stereotypical shoujo romance anime. And you’d be right, in a sense. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun does kicks off with our high school girl protagonist, Chiyo Sakura, confessing her feelings for the titular schoolmate Umetaro Nozaki in the typical, blushy-blushy, “oh, I’m so nervous I hope he likes me back” way, but that’s about where the shoujo-ness of this series ends. Once Umetaro gives his response to Chiyo’s confession, you’ll know instantly that Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun isn’t going to be at all anything involving shoujo bubbles and sparkles (unironically, anyway).

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New in Japan

Persona 4 the Golden ANIMATION: Episode 01 Review

If someone had told me ten years ago that an niche genre video game series combining dating sim and dungeon crawl mechanics would emerge as one of the most-hyped Japanese role-playing game series since Final Fantasy, I would have thought said person was under the influence of some mind-altering substance (alternately I would have begged said person to join my scarcely-attended university anime club that I reigned over, but that’s another story).

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New in Japan

The Irregular at Magic High School: Episode 11–13 Review

I swear, this series is a serious roller coaster. I’ve gone from confusion to utter boredom to annoyance to mild interest twice now in full cycles. I won’t say things are spectacular, but the series is waaaaaay better than it was at the end of episode ten. Why, you ask? Well, we’ve finally advanced to the beginning of the Nine Schools Competition after three episodes of painfully boring filler. With the start of the competition, drama unfolds.

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The Irregular at Magic High School

The Irregular at Magic High School: Episode 08–10 Review

I’m starting to think The Irregular at Magic High School is fated to be an overall dull affair for me. At some points, it teases me by perking my interest for a few minutes—like in the last set of episodes I reviewed, for example—but then my hopes are crushed into dust. Sound excessive? Well, I’m sorry, but when I try to watch this anime three times and literally fall asleep during the first two attempts, we have problems.

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New in Japan

One Week Friends Episode 08 – 10 Review

One Week Friends remains sweet, but I’ve lost interest. The memory problem that defined earlier episodes has degenerated into a circumstantial plot tool and any weight it once held is gone; Yuki Hase reduces the progress he and Kaori Fujimiya have made together to acts that he is solely responsible for, and a grudge-holding boy from the past enters the scene and conveniently resets Fujimiya’s memory from the beginning. The more this series has progressed, the less and less it’s appealed to me, unfortunately.

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Captain Earth

Captain Earth: Episode 08-10 Review

There is a lot riding on this latest batch of episodes of Captain Earth, now that the second act is in mid-arc. The antagonists, having suffered major defeat by the newly-minted Midsummer’s Knights team led by “Captain Earth” Daichi, now seek to increase their own ranks by awakening more Kiltgang. Each episode introduces a new antagonist, as well as new challenges that put the heroes to the test and allow their individual skills to shine.

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The World is Still Beautiful

The World is Still Beautiful: Episode 08-10 Review

Princess Nike is forgiven by Livius and is back in his good graces. The rival for her affections, Prince Bard, is still imprisoned by Livius’s command. Seeing Prince Bard as an important figure from Livius’s past, Nike works to help both Prince Bard and Livius to see past the bad memories they have together and move forward. Nike is called back to the Principality of Rain due to her ailing grandmother.

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