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Shoshimin is a nothingburger anime. It's hollow and leaves you with nothing other than the feeling of wasting your time.

Now don't get me wrong. The art is GORGEOUS. The cinematic style is beautiful. The character designs draw your attention whenever you get a close up. This anime oozes style in the simple and meticulous animation. But what more is there than to be a pretty wallflower, dangling such good quality without substance?

This anime boasts about being "normal" and solving mysteries. Mysteries, by the way, that are the biggest time wasters and all a part of the protag's imaginations as far as how something may have ... played out. Which is especially bad considering how few episodes this anime will have with a total of 10... and half way in, nothing appears to be changing or raising the stakes in regards to their mystery solving.

The mystery solving is all in their heads. Visually re-imagining a scenario before multiplying such scenarios to obscene amounts. How did this person make hot cocoa? A whole 20 irl minutes spent thinking about it when they simply could have asked. Why's this kid taking the bus to driving school? Another entire episode spent jotting down potentials on a school board. It's a -lot- of talking and what ifs before they finally decide to Do Something about it by episode's end.

No relationships are being forged. Nothing is being gained. Your entertainment is watching 2 highschoolers give you quiet asmr thinking noises and low whispering. Even when you think someone might show a hint of Doing Something of interest, the next episode it was all just for nothing. It's the most mundane nothingness you could be spending your time more wisely on than this anime right here.

This has a lot of potential.

Loser Rangers starts out with a pretty interesting plot in that this one insignificant monster of the week is done with the life he is living. He doesn't want to be just a monster living a sham of a life! Pretending to be beat up every week for a power ranger's show off as if they're actually still doing something for their people. No, he tries to escape this life and be as one with the outside people. But not in a living normally kind of way, because one slip up and he'd be dead. So after hatching up a ... plan and teaming up with a rogue ranger... it's time to get to work in ensuring his livelihood as a free person (or monster).

I quite enjoy the underdog nature that Fighter D is and how he struggles to get in a good place both for himself and the other fighters one day. He has many flaws, namely his pride as a monster as well as being super squishy. So much as a proper poke and his cover is blown, making fighting interesting and scary for this weak wonder. The stakes are high against him! And it's enjoyable to see just how he'll overcome these obstacles now and in the future.

The artstyle is lovely and clean. Animation is passable and has its moments. The OP and ED songs are bangers! This anime has such a good thing going for it and I well look forward to what is in store in the future, because some of these characters go wild. The dragon keepers are a definite enemy, but some of these rangers might just be willing to side with our little fighter.

An enjoyable anime with a fun kick-ass vibe! If you're looking for something to watch that is visually appealing, with fluid animation and fun characters-- look no further than Wind Breaker!

This is the sort of show you'd watch if you'd like to turn your brain off for awhile and appreciate something that's very upfront with what it's about. You've got the protag who's never been able to fit in with your typical crowd back where he was from, where things were normal and as such, he was one of your typical outcasts. But what happens when an outcast moves town to join a bunch of ... other outcasts? Well... he actually finds a group he can actually mesh with. Even if he's incredibly tsundere about it the whole time, he's starting to learn just what it's like to hang out with others who see him for who he is. Because they've all been through it just as he has and uplifts one another.

A personal favorite thing about the MC is that right out the gate he /knows/ how to fight. He isn't just any punk kid who's having to go through a bunch of growing and starting at the literal bottom rung. He actually knows his stuff and carries himself well in a fight. Which means no training arc necessary, we get right into the meat of things with fight after fight! And he gives his opponents a run for their money everytime. Not to mention his personality being a rough and tough, but a softie who easily flusters the moment someone gives him praise... poor homeboy has never gotten any till he entered this town and it shows.

Without going too much further into story, you're in for a treat when it comes to the fluid motion to comes with Wind Breaker's fighting sequences. Everything has weight and style! Constantly eye catching despite the occasional talking mid battle. It all makes sense. Not a single moment feels like a waste. It helps that the other characters, both main and background, all have some flair and aesthetic that makes you appreciate them too. Everyone has a story and you'll definitely be hearing about it, even if it just comes down to exchanging blows.

The only minuses here are the obviously faults in its world building. Cool they're in a gang school. What else are they doing besides sitting around hanging? No teachers or adults at all apparently. No police either, for all the gangs rule the streets as though this were some small time village. What does the rest of the world think about this city and how it runs things!? Where are the parents even? The plot revolves around the characters and their fighting, sure, but it certainly feels like you're missing a piece of some sort of regularity that should come with moving to a completely new city and a busted school of all places.

Beyond those gripes, I thoroughly enjoyed this watch. Wind Breaker is one of the few anime that truly caught my attention this season and I can't wait for i's return!

Kind of a mixed bag at first, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed over time. I’ll admit that, with the first cour of episodes, I was thinking this popular anime maybe just wasn’t my cup of tea. It was the same old formula it started with at every episode: A DnD party explores the dungeon, fights some monsters, makes food out of their enemy, continue onwards! With a nice Trigger twist because of its fantastical designs, excited and fluid animation, the things Trigger is known for and great at.

But around the half point is where the anime /finally/ has everything turned on its head. Finally ... there’s some interesting story elements that get injected into the plot and it becomes something much more than eating random monster of the week on the way to save one’s sister. Now there’s much more at play and the stakes become high. A large cast of characters are introduced and interact. You start to learn more about Laios’s party over time and start to get connected to them proper. And while you still have those same elements from the beginning as the season nears its completion, you know there’s exciting things awaiting around the corner!

You become endeared to the main cast as you watch them grow. Each and every one of them has their specific quirks, humorous qualities, and equally heartwarming moments. While you might assume them a typical gimmick character or trope at surface level, you will eventually learn their reasonings for coming to the dungeon to begin with, their goals, why they are the way they are. It’s fascinating to see how much they grow and reveal of themselves as they get closer to one another.

The structure of the dungeon itself is the most interesting. It’s not /just/ your basic run of the mill dungeon. It’s a whole other world of its own, forged by the dungeon master who breathed life into its ecosystem and floor levels. Different races have come to live in this place and consider it their home. Monsters of all kinds reside in its depths of varying danger levels and have their own mechanics or way of life. As the party tries to reach the bottom of this dungeon, they’ll find out just how much this world truly is one of a kind.

I could go on and on about the story elements, its characters, the fluid animation… the only thing that never really gets at you is the music. It doesn’t grab at you or catch your attention at any given point. It kinda is just there existing to add ambience. Which is fine. The OP and ED songs are kind of the same in that they add a little bit to the fantastically animated openers but otherwise are forgettable.

But otherwise? It’s worth giving Dungeon Meshi a shot. Especially if you’re a DnD enthusiast like me who can envision the whole journey arc akin to that of a DnD campaign with the same goofy party members! Just a fun time all around.

This is one of those anime where you know by the first 1-2 episodes if this show is for you or not. After all, the same joke is essentially overplayed throughout the entire season: That Hime's "torture" is just a joke to see what simple thing she'll cave to next. And she always caves. That's it, that's the show.

Except the characters are full of life with their own personalities and ideas. Every character is interesting in their own way believe it or not. Torture/Tortura is our main torturer and typically goes with good food. She's the most mature and quite the joy as the spotlight ... is on her about as equally as Hime. The actual demon lord is a completely different spin from what you'd normally expect. He might be looking for secrets, but truly he's nothing more than a weeb otaku. The rest of the cast have their own gimmicks such as beast demon with cute animal companions, a giant invested in making Hime relax and chill, the two gal pals who take her out to places like the teens they are, so on so forth.

It's cute and has its own quirky charm to it, but you'll learn rather quickly how repetitive it gets. It really depends how much you can stomach the same thing over and over again! Because it doesn't change aside from later episodes displaying their growing friendships throughout. But its also a fine chill thing to watch especially if you're here for the overly animated food that makes you yourself crave that exact food how dare--

Look, if you're looking for a chill anime with good vibes and fluffy moments, look no further than A Sign of Affection!

This anime is a pleasant watch for someone who wants an easygoing shoujo that doesn't involve a whole lot of convoluted unnecessary drama. Sometimes you just want a show that's simple and to the point of a sweet romance! And boy the two main couples of this series are sugary sweet in different ways. Yes, there's a little of the typical shoujo drama here and there, but it's hardly the focus. If anything, those drama points help to expand on background characters who are ... living their own lives.

The main charm points comes with the fluid animation, the lovely art style, and the fact they put such special care into Yuki's disability and sign language. Rarely ever do you see a show focus on such aspects, especially to the lengths they go in making sure nothing is slipped up in that regard. The style is very modernized to the current age in how we live, between smartphones and current fashion trends. The art is also soft and warm which gives such an inviting and cozy feeling.

All in all it's a worthwhile watch. As some have mentioned in other reviews, nothing goes incredibly too in depth for this particular genre. But honestly? We need more shows like this. Just some good-feeling fluff that makes you smile after a long day.

Well, its better than most mid stories in that it actually tries very hard to keep the viewer entertained, regardless of its lacking in certain areas.

If you can get around the blatant CGI, the animation nosediving the further along we go, and the outright unnecessary death toll of "beloved characters" by the end... Ragna Crimson has a fairly enjoyable story in theory. From the very get go, everything is stacked against Ragna and the humans in general. It has such a strong start in introducing you to the world and the state that it's in-- namely dragon hunting being such a main staple for how ... much havoc they wreak against humanity.

Ragna has suffered the dragons plenty throughout his life, despite being weak he survives. He counts on Leonica more times than not. Until the moment he can't. Suddenly there are superior dragons in the picture and they're on a whole other level. Catastrophic world ending kind of level. And suddenly Ragna realizes this is in fact a loop world. And that his future self had entrusted with him everything to right his future wrongs, with power that took lifetimes to achieve.

This is when Ragna leaves everything he knows behind and instead partners up with Crimson who was his partner in crime in the future. They both know the true enemy at hand and are prepared to take them down once they're strong enough.

...Except you'll soon find out that Ragna goes against reason constantly. He could be on death's door and still stubbornly do the dumbest actions you could possibly conceive with given circumstances. All bones broken? So broken every orifice of your body is bleeding? Nah, he just keeps on going! And Crimson has to have pulled their hair out at least a thousand times for everything that's gone wrong because clearly his future self knew better.

Won't go into too much more detail regarding later parts, but just know that the whole second cour stagnates to an unbelievably slow snail's pace. For an action-focused anime, you'd really think they'd put more love and care into the fighting. And they do to some extent. One can only guess the budget was low but they did what they could. Just like any other shounen though, they fight at the same location for multiple episodes. Long and dragged out. There are star moments where they truly shine when it matters, but those moments are few and far between.

It's not an amazing story, but it's not a terrible one either. Ragna and Crimson are easily the most interesting characters, considering their future selves and the way their personalities bounce off one another. Crimson especially is just... this wild character of so many schemes and mischief that constantly gets ruined by Ragna's idiocy and protagonist syndrome of fighting literally anything that smells like a dragon. You might find yourself enjoying the enemy's stories more than you enjoy the 'good side', because they get equal screen time if not more sometimes. If you can make it through the first couple of episodes, you may as well buckle in for the ride.

This anime right here is a feast in terms of storytelling, drama, fun shenanigans, you name it-- it has it all.

From the very start, Apothecary Diaries grips you with an interesting cast of characters. Maomao, an eccentric apothecary who gets abducted into the role of a maid forced to pay off a debt for freedom. She keeps her head down and plans to silently get through her term without bringing focus to herself. But she just can't help poking her head into mysteries that only she has a knack for solving... leading her into meeting Jinshi, the head eunuch in charge of the inner palace ... and its head consorts. Someone who immediately took notice to her apothecary knowledge and just as swiftly put her in a position to work under one of those very consorts-- in a much more risky field of work, yet interested her nonetheless with her penchant for poison.

Every day thereafter is a new day full of mystery and intrigue. Every character vibrant with personality and stories of their own. Yes, there is a bit of a "new mystery every episode" kind of thing going on at the start. But overtime you can feel there is so much more at work going on as time passes. There are deeper, heartier secrets hiding in these inner courts. So many higher politics and juicy gossip that gets you wanting to learn more. Gyokuyou especially is a fun consort you can't help but laugh along with!

I especially would like to highlight the relationship between Maomao and Jinshi. It is a fun one and they bounce off each other so delightfully well. The misunderstandings between the two are hilarious. Sometimes I wonder if I don't watch this anime solely for these two, but its hard not to love the whole cast from start to finish. These characters are just so well-written. Maomao especially is one of the few rarely well-written women characters I've seen, and she's so fun to watch and interact with the world around her. In a very real and realistic way in the times that she holds back in favor of keeping her morality and safety.

The art and animation style for this anime goes hand in hand with its bright and vibrant style. Everyone is full of life and the style reflects this incredibly well. You can see emotions plainly laid out, even those that are more subtle and on the secretive side which is especially important for the amount of intrigue that goes hidden in the background. The OST fits every situation perfectly and lets you feel exactly as you should in the moment. I have no nitpicks here, everything just meshes together so well!

This is easily one of the best gems that came out between this and Frieren! I was hooked on every episode and so too were my watching partners who kept begging for the next episode after each week. There's hardly a dull moment and I cannot wait for season 2 to astound us once more!

I feel so catered to.

It feels like an eternity since I've been given such a phenomenal anime with a well thought out plot, great art and animation to accompany it, emotional thought provoking moments... more than that, it feels so mature in that it doesn't baby me with your typical anime tropes. No obnoxiously screaming kid protags, no overly ecchi scenes meant purely for fanservice, no moments where I have to groan and just deal with whatever stupidity is put before me-- Just a fun and emotional journey that is pure story and human feelings.

I'm not going to go into too incredible detail, but if ... you're a fan of fantasy and pure story elements, this is the anime for you. It focuses on the after story of Frieren, who has already well and finished her main quest to defeat the demon lord that plagued their lands. We join her at the end, celebrating the accomplishments of her and the party she traveled with. Time passing ever so swiftly as her party aged while she does not as an elf. She's always known that she will easily outage everyone surrounding her and did not think twice of how she spent her time in those many years till next they met. And then she had to come to face with reality-- The hero she'd traveled with would die. Her compatriots would surely soon follow. Uncaring as she was before, she now realizes just how much she should have bothered to care.

Thus does she go on a journey to find herself and to meet up with the others in their older ages. Thus does she take on an apprentice and decide to try and reunite with the hero waiting where they last felled the demon king.

What anyone may appreciate most will go into just how well these characters are written. Especially the women! Rarely have I seen a well written woman character that I could fall in love with... and I had just about given up hope in such a male protagonist dominated field. You'll come to appreciate that they're their own characters, with their own thoughts and emotions, with varying personalities and things that get to them in a very human way. Sometimes our emotions don't make sense and occasionally you'll see these characters on their bad days, acting out of sorts and it's interesting to see.

Everything from the art, to animation, to music, to details... all of it is wonderful on the eyes and ears. When the going gets tough and the fights begin, the battle choreography is just so gorgeous to watch. So much detail and weight goes into everyone's movement. I think my only possible gripe could be that sometimes the characters can come off as a little stiff, their faces of emotion not as exaggerated when it comes to anime standards. Maybe that's a good thing and we're too accustomed to over the top facial expressions after all this time-- but occasionally, one wonders if it's not just a little too lifeless at times.

Other than that nitpick though, I can't help but recommend this anime to all of my friends and share in all its glory! My group of friends were particularly entranced and just so pleased to have a more adult show that felt appropriate for our older age. Just don't go into this expecting it to be fast and getting into this for that quick hit of awesome epic moments. This is a slow ride and an enjoyable one as it builds its world and relationships at a relaxing pace.

You really can't go wrong with Spy x Family if you're looking for a fun and wholesome experience. I'm going to keep it short and say that if you liked the previous season, then no doubt you'll enjoy this season too.

While it starts out weak with a few episodes of slice of life nothingness (And nothing wrong with that, we're here for those silly little bits too), we do inevitably hit the cruise ship arc that more than makes up for the wait. At long last, we're given what we lacked in the first season and that is more Yor-centric content. A spotlight is shined ... down on her own responsibilities, her growth, and how seriously she takes her job. Loid and Anya are there for the ride too as they earn themselves a spot on this summer vacation-- and even then, Loid can't help but lend his expertise when the situation presents itself. It's a fun time all around and a generally enjoyable season.

The only complaint I find myself having is that most of the episodes are filler content. Aside from Yor's arc, nothing of import happens that relates to the story that has been setup from the beginning. It's a step back from what season 1 was and you can definitely feel it's lacking something or another. What that is, I hope we see it in future seasons. Greatly looking forward to the movie as we might have some true stakes on hand!