kwesib-32179 Reviews

The Legend of Vox Machina (2022– )

Fantastical fantasy!

[10/10 · 12 October 2022]

From the first glance, LoVM basically follows the formula whereby an underappreciated group of protagonists rise up to prominence against all odds. This series however, is certainly more than that.

The voice casting was amazing. It felt so passionate and realistic. The comedy was spot on as it was very smart and well thought. The plot arc was straightforward and simple, yet so engaging. This is a dark and mature series thus, viewer's discretion is advised. I love how each character feel like actual individuals rather than stock character archetypes. This is great even if you're not into fantasy. The animation on the other hand is superb.

My Stepmom's Daughter Is My Ex (2022)

Surprisingly psychological

[8/10 · 8 October 2022]

So we have a young couple in deep love but as a result of the "usual relationship issues," they break up. Months later, they are reunited only this time as step siblings much to their chagrin. This anime basically revolves around how this unique ex-couple have to coexist peacefully as step siblings despite the past.

With such a synopsis, I didn't expect the series to be psychological at all. When I say psychological, I don't mean something as dark or deep as death note. This anime is similar to Kaguya-sama Love Is War minus the comedy. This is because the two main protagonists throughout the show try to get at each other for the past through absurd mind games. Overall, the anime isn't that deep at all for it is more on light hearted side instead. Fan service is surprisingly minimal.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)

Short of words

[10/10 · 2 October 2022]

Cyberpunk Edgerunners is such beautiful tale. The animation is sharp and elegant whiles the music is soothing. The voice actors did their job perfectly well. The anime's strongest points however, are its characters and plot. Each of the characters, even if we spend a brief time seeing them, feel so original and memorable.

The main protagonist was definitely more of a hit than miss. His background story is typical of several protagonists in fiction, but Martinez has a lot more depth and he exhibits different sides. The side characters appeared a few times in a span of like ten episodes, but they manage to leave a mark on you. The plot had everything from comedy to tragedy. In addition, it doesn't rely on tropes or clichés either. After the last episode, I've been craving for even more.

Don't Breathe 2 (2021)

Straightforward and simple

[8/10 · 2 October 2022]

Don't breathe 2 is a movie that gets straight to the point without getting overly complicated. You might not get something as unique as the prequel but this sequel is not as bad as some reviews are making it out here to be.

The acting is good at least. The action scenes and directing is far from sub par. The movie may be filled with some plot holes but such mistakes don't overshadow the film. The plot was not bad for it was fast paced with a simple premise. The movie never betrays this premise but it builds up upon it well, piece by piece. The plot twist was also unexpected to be frank. Like I said earlier, don't stick this sequel up a yardstick with the prequel by comparing the prequel's legacy with that of the successor. The first movie was definitely better but that doesn't mean this one is bad or worse. Don't breathe 2 is something good on its own with a simple and straightforward plot.

Osamake: Romcom Where the Childhood Friend Won't Lose (2021– )

Started great, ended not so great

[7/10 · 1 October 2022]

The best friend trope in anime is one of its largest. Typically, the childhood best friend in a romance anime turns out to be the loser in the romantic triangle. This series twists that trope by rooting for the "childhood best friend" to actually win. Initially, it was something fresh off the table, creative and fun. I like how they gave more flesh to each of the main protagonists by giving them additional purposes/goals other than romance. Along the way, the anime copied the typical harem formula growing less peculiar and more stale. The energy in the beginning obviously did not match the end. However, the animation was good along with the voice acting.

Love After World Domination (2022)

The romcom no one is talking about, sadly

[9/10 · 23 July 2022]

One of the most underrated romcom of the season. It's one of those rare romance anime that do not rely on tropes. This romance anime stands out in so many ways. For starters, it doesn't take place in the highschool which we've seen so many times but in the world of power rangers where a villain and a power ranger are having an affair despite being world apart. How peculiar is that? Every episode added something new and unexpected. The male protagonist is a break away from the traditional shy generic mc we are used to seeing in romcoms. The series is fun and cute. Do not take it too seriously. The two protagonist's affair was just lovely. It is one of few true reflections of actual romance, I've seen in a romcom for a while. Overall, deserves more recognition.

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (2015–2023)

Good for the plot

[9/10 · 5 July 2022]

Despite the title, the anime is quite serious. Like several modern anime series, this one is also plagued by some tropes. As of July 2022, the main character is a generic anime protagonist. I don't dislike that but I'd prefer if future titles would add something unique to their protagonists. For instance, they could have gotten a voice actor with a unique voice for Bell whiles still keeping his kindness and naivety. That would have made him stand out in comparison with the cliché shy protagonists in numerous anime shows. I have nothing against Bell because he works well for the plot. However, after watching countless anime, Bell is just a shade of the several generic protagonists I've seen. As a result, he's forgettable.

The side characters, in contrast to the main protagonist, are rather complex. I enjoyed their moments. My only problem is some of the female characters. They don't all have to fall in love with the main protagonist. If you've watched lots of anime like I have, this forced harem gets too old and cliché. Look at Avatar the Last Air bender or Attack on Titan. The females in those shows are simply human. Not all of them exist just to fall in love with the main character.

The strongest point this series offers is its plot. In the first season, it felt like your typical plot where the low ranked protagonist climbs up the ladder and becomes powerful. From there the show becomes complex. It explores its world setting and introduces engaging arcs that are perfect to binge watch. The show isn't perfect or top tier. However, its plot makes a good argument.

Welcome to Demon-School, Iruma-kun (2019–2023)

Only regret is that I didn't watch this earlier

[10/10 · 2 July 2022]

The show takes a blend of some of the most common tropes in shounen. The setting is simply the typical highschool anime only this time, set in the underworld. Even better, welcome to demon school doesn't rely on cliché tropes like tsundere, harems and fanservice. Peculiar about this anime is the main character who is human but is able to somehow blend in with the underworld.

Don't take the show seriously. The anime is mostly comedic and it pokes fun at several shounen tropes. Personally, I enjoyed the show because of how smartly and ridiculously it tries to hide the true human identity of the main character. As a result, the anime got innovative; introducing new adventures each episode.

Skeleton Knight in Another World (2022)

Cliché done right

[8/10 · 24 June 2022]

Nothing new was introduced in this anime. The plot read out like your typical isekai fantasy. Even with that, the show worked well. The pacing was well done. Personally, the main character had a certain charisma which made me have an interest in the show. The female characters are not trophies nor fan girls for the main character. They all serve a purpose. The plot was simple but I appreciate the effort made by the creator to make the arcs emotional and deep. The only issue I have was that, the show depended on the "humanity is evil" trope a little too much. The world setting of this anime is large and diverse. It should try and be a bit more unpredictable and innovative.

The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (2022)

The Art of Machiavellianism

[9/10 · 4 May 2022]

This anime basically deals with politics between state leaders and the complicated issues Medival leaders had to go through in order to save their kingdoms. It showcases how people achieve their goals through cunning and manipulative methods. Our protagonist is a genius who uses his head to overcome any obstacle that his kingdom faces. He reminds me of Lelouch vi Britannia but with a laid back personality. This anime is one of those rare fantasy anime that do not run on clichés. I felt the last episode was a bit rushed but other than that it has been a solid first season.

Hunter x Hunter (2011–2014)

This anime is a good investment

[10/10 · 27 April 2022]

This anine is an investment that definitely pays off. The first season; the Hunter's exam arc, was great but not exceptional. It is however an above average anime introductory season in my book. The Hunter's exam arc was a peculiar experience with a decent animation quality and brilliant voice cast. It explored the fantasy world of Hunter x Hunter and brought something unique among other anime series. The second season, Heaven's Arena was a setback in my opinion. It's one that is worth it however, because that arc was essential to the entire amime. Get past that and you'll definitely enjoy this series.

The third season (Phantom truope) is where HxH begins to shine above others. The series completely evolves with a complex theme and philosophy and it introduces one of the best anime villains of all time. This third season shall make you wonder if it's the same HxH you watched from season 1. Season 4 (Greed Island) gets even better. I must admit that season 3 and 4 do contain some fillers but they don't ruin the experience. Season 5 which is the Chinera Ant arc, is one of the best arcs in anime history. The story takes the good from all previous arcs and combines it into something completely different and beautiful. This season was darker and more engaging. It's during this season, that you'll realize the worth of endurung season 1 & 2. The downside to this arc is that it's unnecessarily long and slow paced which might be a turn off for some. Also, the series remains incomplete until now as of 2022 ever since it's inception in 2014. Other than that HxH is a sumptous show.

The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace (2021– )

Weird, strange and very peculiar

[8/10 · 17 October 2021]

This anime is very different from your traditional seinen. It is extremely dark and mature. The plot is unique. Rather than the traditional plot whereby the villain hunts the protagonists, it was the other way round with the protagonists pinning the villains in a tough corner. The fights and action scenes are phenomenal and the animation quality was nothing but high class. It is definitely 18+ in terms of the highly mature content it contains.

Full Dive: This Ultimate Next-Gen Full Dive RPG Is Even Shittier Than Real Life! (2021– )

One of the much better isekai anime

[9/10 · 17 September 2021]

This isekai anime is one of the more interesting kind from a genre that barely offers much these days. Let me start with the positives; the story and characters are well developed. The main character, despite being your typical loser isekai protagonist is far from being a generic material. His failure at his favorite sport resulted in him seeking pleasure from video games. I loved how the anime detailed that pretty well; so much it felt relatable. Even his sister, who appears like your typical isekai sister tsundere has depth. She was heartbroken by the possibility that her brother will no longer be the cool big brother she used to boast about. I wasn't really a fan of Reona despite her being the major source of comedy in the show. That doesn't mean she was a bad character either. The funny thing is how unpredictable the anime is, despite the fact that the plot is an overused format in isekai. Even the harem that appears in this anime is very different from what you see in typical Isekais.

To the negatives; I didn't give this a full 10 because of how whiny the protagonist is. At first, it was understandable but later on, it just became so frustrating. He was just too loud and annoying sometimes. I get it that they wanted to slow down his character growth until the last episode but it was unbearable.

To sum up, the story was actually good considering it was somewhat different from your typical cliché isekai anime. I really dislike anime with loser MCs. I nearly quit watching after the main character got fooled by Reone in buying the video game because he was enchanted by her. However, I did enjoy watching him overcome the struggles he went through and how unpredictable the plot was. Over all a very decent anime.

Tokyo Revengers (2021– )

Undoubtedly, one of the very best of 2021.

[10/10 · 16 September 2021]

Tokyo Revengers tells a very unique storyline. Time travel in a work of fiction can go badly if handled poorly but this anime handles it quite well. The first thing that impressed me was the animation. It is very smooth and well done. In addition, the plot is unpredictable and the characters, both the protagonist and side characters, are well written. Each episode highlighted the struggles of the main character perfectly. The next season is highly anticipated.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012– )

Emperor of Shounen

[10/10 · 13 September 2021]

I first heard of Jojo's bizzare adventures from anime critics who taunted anime lovers that Jojo is the pinnacle of a terrible shounen anime. According to them, jojo is the reason many bad shounen anime exists because they were mostly inspired by this anime. Some years later, I decided to give it a try myself and I went into the show with no expectations. The show was so good I used 2 weeks to complete all 4 seasons.

Jojo is one of the most unique, intriguing and brilliant anime to have ever existed. The story is unpredictable and the characters, be it protagonists or antagonists, are so well written. I love how the story takes a gradual step right from the beginning in the 19th century until the 21st century. I also love the way the characters fight battles using their brains and experience as opposed to the "power of friendship" or some silly power up. I can't put to words how perfect this anime is. All I can say is that the Jojo is the emperor of all shounen anime.

So I'm a Spider, So What? (2021– )

Do not get fooled by the comical storyline

[9/10 · 13 September 2021]

This anime begins like your usual isekai anime. The only difference is that; after the first 2 episodes, you might fall for the comedy story line since the main character is very funny and hilarious. But the story is very deep, very mysterious, and dark. Is been a while since I saw an isekai anime with a well written plot. However, the storyline of the humans in the anime was poorly written. It was a little boring and full of clichés. I believe if that part of the storyline was written much better, it would have sent the anime past a milestone. According to light novel readers, many important aspects of the original light novel were removed from the anime and this affected the human storyline. Also, the animation regresses after episode 14. Personally, I did not have a problem with that.

Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma (2015–2020)

Ignore the haters

[10/10 · 23 August 2021]

Before I watched Food wars, I was influenced to add it to my list of "unimportant but must watch anime". This is because of how a certain group of netizens over dramatised the show's fan service as well as their hate for the season 5. I went into the show expecting nothing. After watching all 5 seasons, food wars is definitely a top tier. First of all, the only weird moments of fan service are the foodgasims, just that. If you can get past that, you'll find out that Food Wars is a very serious show.

The plot is unoriginal. It has the shounen highschool story with a determined protagonist. If you are familiar with highschool anime such as My Hero Academia, you'll notice similar themes in Food Wars. The major unique trait of Food Wars is that food forms the abstract and most important feature of the show. But what makes Food wars great is how unpredictable it is. The anime offers something anew and fresh off the table. Each season gets better and better. The 5th season which people hate the most wasn't that bad. In fact, it was a good ending although it could have been better. The English Dub is also as good as the Sub although some have complained about Erina's Valley girl accent.

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU (2013–2023)

The cognitive type

[10/10 · 28 July 2021]

This is the kind of slice and life anime that deals with the usual high school plot sequences with more complex lines. That does not mean the series is difficult to watch. Actually, it means the anime is rather fun because there is never a dull moment. Instead, of using the same highschool drama we see in anime everyday, oregairu takes a different, weird approach and I love it. The backbone of the series is Hachiman. He is one of the best anime characters ever. This guy takes realism to another level and he does not bow down to the Disney Princess-like romance animes with Romeo and Juliet characters. Instead, he uses facts behind every action he takes. He's cunning, sharp and so intelligent. Basically, he's very relatable. As a guy myself, I was really impressed by the perception of Hachiman over his society.

Odd Taxi (2021)

Believe the hype for this anime is pure gold

[10/10 · 25 July 2021]

I just can't express how good Odd Taxi is. It is something fresh and unique and probably deserves to be in a category of its own. Going into odd taxi, I underestimated the show because I felt like its animation style was childish but after watching all 13 episodes, this is one of the best anime of 2021. The whole show revolves around mystery but not in the way of a detective series type. I'm impressed by how odd taxi mimics humanity and potrays humans being humans best. Every little detail is important. As if that were not enough, the climax was full of one plot twist and another. After the ending, you can't help but want more. Over all an exceptional series.

86 (2021–2022)

Slow first season, but good none the less.

[9/10 · 24 July 2021]

I do admit that this anime could have been better. There was a difference between the climax and beginning. The ending was sharper whiles the early and midway episodes were too slow. The first half of the anime relied too much on emotional scenes and shock value which became repetitive without advancing the story any further. However, the show managed to turn tables around in the second half by having a faster pace and unpredictable storyline. The ending calls for more. The first season might have started slowly but it shows potential.

Knights of Sidonia (2014–2015)

Season 1 wore real steel amor, Season 2 was just cosplaying

[7/10 · 17 July 2021]

I have watched some mecha anime and although I'm not a guru in this field, I've come across this plot of "humanity is under threat from some creatures" in anime so many times. Going into Sidonia no kishi, I had no expectations but the anime proved me wrong. Season 1 was pure gold. There is weight behind the series as your favourite character can die anytime soon. The drama among the humans was so good as equally as the action against the monsters. Like all series, there are flaws. For instance, the main character might come off as the generic shy guy but by a little into the series, he gains a 3 dimensional growth.

Season 1 was a good introduction to the series but Season 2 was just unacceptable. First of all, they exchanged the beautiful serious plot for a lighthearted harem like fan service. I'm not a fan of harem or fan service but that is not the reason alone why I did not like the second season. The first season was dark, mature, psychological and sad. As a result, the transition into this bright romance like harem sequel was just weird and executed wrongly. Imagine an alternate Attack on Titan season 2 turning from a seinen into an anime where Sasha, Mikasa and Historia are after Eren. Silly right after that beautiful and serious first season? In knights of Sidonia, the second season did not further the entire story anywhere. It became repetitive and dull. I just hope the 3rd season will be far better than what we have now.

Classroom of the Elite (2017– )

It is actually good

[8/10 · 17 July 2021]

This show is really underrated but it is understandable. First off, the sequel has taken very long. Also, the anime has so many generic tropes that makes it predictable especially in the early episodes. The series is like a mind game series that rests on intelligence and brains throughout the first season. It would have been better only if they did not implement some of the usual high-school clichés we've seen in anime so many times. However, the anime managed to turn things around halfway through. It became brilliant, fast paced and mysterious. The cliffhangers left me anticipating for more and the plot became unpredictable. Its such a pity the sequel never came when the ending of the first season was so impressive.

Charlotte (2015–2016)

Dull first half, very good second half

[8/10 · 17 July 2021]

This is a very good short series. The major problem with Charlotte is the first half. It was very dull despite the interesting main protagonists. The second half was saved by a visionary plot twist that was well worked upon to its full potential. This totally changed the storyline into a banger. It becomes darker and unpredictable. If you can get past at least 5 or 6 episodes without dropping, you definitely won't regret it.

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song (2021)

Nothing short of brilliance

[10/10 · 5 July 2021]

2021 has been a good year for some anime. We've seen potentials like 86, Tokyo Revengers, Edens Zero, Odd Taxi, To your eternity and Mahokou sensei. This anime is just insane. Written by the writer of Re zero, animated by Wit studios; the guys behind Attack on Titan's first 3 seasons and Vinland Saga. It was also produced by Aniplex who have seen to great works such as Demon Slayer, Full metal Alchemist and Monotagari. Would you expect such an anime to be subpar? Of course not! The funny thing is that it uses the plot of "Ai takeover"/"humanity must coexist with Ai" which we've seen so many times for so long yet still, this show handles it better because of the well written characters and plot. The plot may not have a sophisticated political story with plot twists but it is great and interesting in its own way. I can't tell if there'll be a sequel but yet so the anime is satisfying and well made although it was not based on any manga or light novel. The animation is just gold. The action, voicing, music, pacing, is just so professional. On top of that, the female representation here is brilliant unlike certain garbage female characters you get to see in some anime. The side characters are very small and although they appear once or twice, are pretty memorable. Masumoto on the other hand is a great character; funny, intelligent and a jerk but yet so very caring of his comrades. This is definitely an anime to recommend.

Re: Zero, Starting Life in Another World (2016– )

The greatest psychological anime-at least so far.

[10/10 · 28 June 2021]

Re zero has some isekai tropes right from the first episode but do not be deceived. This series is one of the most complicated, complex and dark work of fiction I've ever encountered. Some people gave this series up because of the main protagonist. That is a shame because apparently, they want an OP shounen superhero who grows tremendously by gaining newer combat styles and abilities every episode whiles shouting them so loud as if we can't hear. (I'm just kidding, I love shounen, some shounen) On a serious note, our protagonist Subaru is not the brightest either and midway through season one, he'll make you hate the show but hold on and be patient because that is where the show gets better and better through out to the second season. Basically, this show has a protagonist who is perfectly human throughout just like you the viewer. His decisions are not perfect but after an entire 50 episodes, his character growth is massive because of the horror he has been through. I'm warning you, this series will hit your mind so hard you'll be asking questions like why?who?where?when?how? The only problem I have with the show is that, Subaru's relationship with Emilia feels forced and could've been written better (I'm not a fan of Rem). Either way, the show is still great and maybe it will not be every one's cup of tea. But give this a try and even if you do not like it, you'll admit it is a psychological work of art.