[WARNING: Brisk language]

OK, there are a lot of animes that I couldn’t fucking WAIT for the next episode to show up (or two episodes, in my case, as that is how I like it). They include “Attack on Titan” (until it got stupid), “Black Clover” (until IT got stupid), “Erased” (until the last two episodes, when it got stupid), and “Spice and Wolf” (until they decided NOT to have a third season, the fuckers; please excuse the salty language, as I have had to endure a lot of fucking stupidity from the fucking parent companies).

We can also argue as to whether “Spy X Family” is either having a ‘Second Season’ or ‘Season One, Part Two’ (but I JUST found out it is the latter). You know, marketing and whether or not you have the gumption to wait for a combined disk and not piecemeal it, right? It’s all corporate greed. Who the fuck cares on that part of it? I mean, this is one goddam fabulous show.

Now, the end of the first part of the season hinted at them getting a dog. However, I already knew this, as I went to a shitty manga sale at Barnes & Noble. (It was ‘shitty’ as they had, on the floor, Books 1 and 6 for this series, on a fabulous sale, but if you wanted anything else in the run, then you had to pay full prices, as it wasn’t on the floor. Again, corporate greed. I mean, fucking corporate greed!) and when I looked at Book 6 (as I wanted to see where I was in the show in relation to the manga) Bond, the dog, was already part of the family. And to resolve any issues, Bond (named for the character in the cartoon series that Anya watches, not the other guy) is a Great Pyrenees, so we learn of his story as we start the second half.

So, the plan, Operation Strix, hinges on Anya somehow getting in contact with Donovan Desmond. He is the president of the National Unity Party and is the former prime minister of Ostania, which is having a ‘conflict’ of sorts with the country of Westalis. He rarely makes public appearances, except at the important and somewhat festive gathering at Eden College, where his second son attends. And so does Twilight’s fake daughter, Anya. (For the series, he is known as Loyd Forger and how many parentheses have I used so far? There are more to come. Collect the entire set).

In order to get into the academy, he has a fake family. And is this family ever fake! So, Loyd is a spy, Yor, the wife, is an assassin known as the ‘Thorn Princess’, Anya is a mind reader and Bond, also known as ‘Subject 8’, was a test animal for experiments, so he has the ability to glimpse the future. Since Anya is a mind reader, she can ‘see’ this future through him, but since this is like the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, that ‘future’ can be changed. If nothing happens to cause a change, this is the future. If something affects the flow of time (remember, time is a river and not that cool time machine that Rod Taylor invented in the movie of the same name), the future can be altered.

Whew! That is a lot to try and digest, so let’s stop here for a restbit. Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. The second part of the first season contends itself with the arrival of Bond and the forging ahead with the operation. This also means having to deal with pressures from all directions: the school, the organization behind Twilight, numerous other sub-chores, potential in-office rivals and the feeling that Anya believes she is doing this all on her own. And it is an uphill climb.

Yor’s abilities are off the charts. I mean, she can leap from a pedestrian bridge, land on the roadbed with nary a concern and totally mess with some guy whom she thinks is making untoward advances on Lady Anya. Now, we never see Yor doing the deed of her assassinations; just the results (a blood stain here or there). And since Loyd is more than eager to cover up his own double life, no one is the wiser….except Anya, who knows the entire nine yards on everyone. Hell, she knows the entire fucking football field on everyone!

There is one little quirk that was not expected and kind of puts a damper on things, and it is in regard to Anya’s abilities. No, I’m not spilling the beans on this one; you find out for yourself, but it seems like an unnecessary distraction, but I guess it is meant to keep her humble. We also see a growth arc in Twilight, as he is being asked to demonstrably change his way of thinking about things. It’s no longer that cut-and-dried of situations and circumstances, regardless as to what he thinks.

OK, if you have NOT seen this series yet (and if you only watch one anime a year, you are not watching ENOUGH anime), I would boldly tell you to go where no man has gone before…I mean, chain this show! From stem to stern! Get your ass in that seat, make sure you have enough to eat and drink and start the marathon! This is one of those shows that come out once a year that is head and shoulders above everything else out there in that given year. It’s hard to be a ‘seven’ when you compete with a ‘ten’.

The charm of the show resides in the notion that we do not need to showcase the rather unpleasant aspects of being a spy (you know, you do have to kill people every so often). Things are played rather light and easy. The arc where they obtain Bond is both exciting and ridiculous. A real second season? Confirmed. (NOTE: Along with the ‘real second season’, there is also the announcement of a movie on tap and that appears to be a real movie and not a recap film.)

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           8 (Servicable artwork, but we want the story)
Plot                  8 (It is the intricacies that keep us tethered to it)
Pacing              8 (Especially the action parts)
Effectiveness   8 (It builds and builds and builds)
Conclusion      7 (It reaches a coupler point, but hasn’t ended)
Fan Service     2 (A similar show would be “Okamisan”)

Bingeability    10 (I said it before: Get. Your. Ass. In. That. Seat!)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. I ruined breakfast. Again.

The post Ohana Means “Family” appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

So, the third season of this show is out, but it poses more questions than it answers and whatever charm was in the first two season has gotten washed away, as the show moves in a different direction for “Ascendance of a Bookworm” (“Honzuki no Gekokujō: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan o Erandeiraremasen”, or “Ascendance of a Bookworm: I’ll Stop at Nothing to Become a Librarian”). So, onto the story.

We are getting close to winter, and the town, for all intents and purposes, shuts down, as the snow is thick and deep and unnavigable. The decision is made that Mine is going to spend the time at the cathedral. This also means that a lot of projects are on hold, because of the weather. Oh, they are all still a go, but now, the area of interest is colored ink. Sadly, this brings her afoul of the Ink Guild. Now, it is bad enough that she had a really good ink, as it puts whatever the Guild does to shame, but to have it colored? Unheard of. Blasphemy! (Or is it heresy?)

She also has to prepare for the Dedication Ceremony, which will cement her status in the Church, as well as the enmity of the High Priest, who falls into the trope of the higher up you are in the clergy, the more corrupt you have become, as you wield that power to you own vile ends..

All kinds of changes happen throughout the tale: mom is pregnant with Child #3; a foundling with The Devouring is laid upon the doorstep of the cathedral; Delia becomes more craven in being a spy for the High Priest; the Ink Guild engages in naked, open treachery upon Mine and her colored inks; kidnapping is not out of the question (You know, no morals, no guardrails). So, the third season is about all of these dramatic changes afoot in Mine’s life and how it causes more situations and conflicts than anyone had imagined or anticipated.

So, we get this Big Menu of Problems. Now, things like this happen in life, and it can’t always be sunshine and lollypops, but the fascination and drive of the first two seasons is buried under political motivations and a desire to exact revenge against those who choose to upset the established norms that keep the haves in power. In fact, the last four episodes are as far away from what you have come to expect of this series as can be. And therein lays the confusion.

Mine has to make a decision that upsets the apple cart (nope, if you wanna know, YOU watch the series), but we are presented with the contradictory admonition. At about the 20-minute mark of the last episode (#36), it tells us “The story to be told is over…After that,” OK, so we have concluded everything, even though we haven’t really reached the end. Then, with an epilogue, she is challenged to “…spread the printing business as a new industry throughout this domain.” And with about 5 seconds to go in the episode, we are reminded “To be continued…” So, is there a season 4?

In any case, go ahead and binge. Because of the political machinations, it really supports the story flow and that the problems do not go away just by snapping your fingers, but get intensified by the unrelenting crush of time and the desires of people, both good and bad.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           7 (It still looks odd, but ‘twill suffice)
Plot                  7 (Heading in an unanticipated direction)
Pacing              8 (Builds nicely)
Effectiveness   7 (Sometimes it feels strained)
Conclusion      9 (PROVIDED this is a real end)
Fan Service     0 (A similar show would be “Honey and Clover”)

Overall            8 (It still is a good story)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. This is my daughter.

The post The “Worm” Turns appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

Historical drama in anime is few and far between, as there is always some kind of twist to it. You want real history? Go to the History Channel, OK? “Samurai Champloo” certainly is the king of AUHD (Alternative Universe Historical Drama) in that it takes modern sensibilities and imposes it on, in their case, the samurai era. The same thing goes on with the dramedy “Shine On! Bakumatsu Bad Boys” (“Bucchigire!”)

We are in Kyoto (for a change) somewhere around 1854 or so. There is evil afoot, with masked killers plying their trade, and the constabulary, the Shinsengumi, getting annihilated, leaving behind but one member, barely alive and badly maimed. A hard decision is made: recruit villains, condemned to death, to take the place of the deceased members, and bring to heel the forces that seek to destroy the city. Otherwise, it’s dogs and cats, living together. Mass hysteria!

It is a very capacious cast, led by Ichibanboshi (him pointing at you). He is joined by (counter-clockwise) Sakuya, a professional assassin; Sōgen, a doctor of some caliber; Suzuran, kinda sorta a monk; Bo, that huge piece of work; Gyatarō, a sneak-thief and skilled with a rifle; Akira, a girl disguised as a boy and the leader (and survivor) of the Shinsengumi, Heisuke Todo.

So, we have the mix of a bunch of misfits who cannot be fully trusted, to learn how to be better fighters and protect the city, especially since they can barely stand one another. The biggest clashing is between Ichi and Sakuya, as the former is a hothead and impulsive, whereas the latter is calm, cool and collected. Together, they have to exorcise a lot of personal ghosts in order to do their job. And everyone has them in spades.

The reason for the AU portion of this is that Sogen makes a portable electric generator, so Suzuran’s weapon staff can discharge bolts to stun his opponents. Just a tad too modern. Also, the swords are cursed or imbued with some kind of soul power, which makes them a formidable weapon, indeed. You can see our heroes and their weapons, glowing with the spirit of its previous owner. And what started out as simple patrols becomes a desperate bid to keep the city from being burned down by forces that they were not fully prepared to confront, and who have crateloads of these spirit weaponry.

I saw Episode 1 of this at AX22 and I really wanted to see this fully. Yes, it plays fast and loose with things, but it exudes a charm and commitment that requires you sit down and watch all of this. Will you learn anything that looks like history? Huh? This is just a show about what it means to be given a second chance and how to make the most of it. History allows us to look at another era and that’s it. It certainly would not work in the Modern era.

Binging is on the menu. In fact, not only can this tale take it on, it really helps with the story telling, as they have to go out, day after day, to try and find out what is really going on in Kyoto, as evil rarely rests. You might find the clash between Ichi and Sakuya wears thin and the flashbacks for Ichi get repetitive, but the interactions with the other members more than make up for that. And the ending arc is both compelling and exciting to watch.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           8 (Huge, broad strokes with this one)
Plot                  8 (History, meh. Action, yeh!)
Pacing              8 (The fight sequences)
Effectiveness   8 (There is a firm degree of commitment)
Conclusion      7 (It reaches a coupler point, but hasn’t ended)
Fan Service     2 (A similar show would be “Okamisan”)
Bingeability     9 (Like Bo, it’s strong enough to take it)

Overall             8 (Less about history, more about relationships)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. Not again, Dumboshi!

The post I’ve Taken a “Shine” To You appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

How many does it make for this year? How many for this month ALONE? Every time you turn around, there is another isekai, staring at you from the shadows or behind a tree or underneath the floorboards. Much like the cooking shows craze of a couple of years ago, this is one genre that just does not seem to be able to run out of steam and it can get quite tiring. How much more can you do with this, without it looking like a retread or a rip-off of some other isekai, which was already a retread or a rip off of another isekai? You have to bring something new and/or different to the table, OK. Well, perhaps that has happened with the entry of “Skeleton Knight in Another World” (“Gaikotsu Kishi-sama, Tadaima Isekai e Odekake-chū”).

Our initially unnamed hero awakens in this strange world, which was an online game for him. He sees that it is a game that he has played, but ponders how he came to be in it. Now, his gaming character was an 8-foot tall knight, with the body of a skeleton, and was a rather powerful force in the game. Realizing that people would freak out if they saw him as he is, Arc (as that was the name of this knight in the game) decides to keep his helmet on at all times, and will eat in seclusion. (Can a skeleton eat? I know they can’t drink booze, as it goes right through them! Hahahahaha!)

On his first day as an adventurer (as when you are plunked into these new realms, you haven’t got a gald to your name, so you need to get some scratch), he encounters bandits ready to attack and kill two maidens in the forest. Arc dispatches them and learns that the lady he saves from a grim fate is royalty. Declining any real reward (as he would have to remove the helmet and it all goes south), he gets a special travel pass, so he can traverse the country with little resistance. In doing his knightly duties, he rescues a green-tailed fox (atop his shoulder) and heals him. The fox is now twined to him and is dubbed ‘Ponta’.

Next, he meets that elfin lady, Ariane Glenys Maple, as she is trying to find her kind that have been kidnapped and are going to be sent into slavery. Since Arc wants to do good and help people, they join forces to try and discover who is/are the forces behind the trafficking and rescue whomsoever that they can.

Now, Arc is ridiculously overpowered for this game/life and dispatches people like Joey Chestnut polishing off a plate of hot dogs. A real caliber of humor happens when he is compelled to remove the helmet and people (as he feared) absolutely go bananas when they see him. One person thinks that he may be under a curse, but the magic they possess cannot overcome this issue.

The bulk of the story is him and his elfin friend saving kidnapped elves from trafficking, restoring their freedom and putting the bad guys to flight. All in all, a somewhat typical plot for these shows.

There is a caliber of charm with Arc and his issue. He WANTS to be seen, but he can’t, and so, he must remain hidden. Even those who know still find it jarring when the helmet comes off. This isn’t a bad isekai, and at some other time and place it might have scored higher, but these shows are underfoot to the point that they are starting to drag heavily, despite what is done to make it fresher. So, if you decide to chase after this one, go for the full binge. It can take it and it really helps the story along.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           8 (Good artwork, even if Maple is that busty)
Plot                  8 (A small change of pace)
Pacing              8 (Gets a bit bumpy in parts, but effective)
Effectiveness   7 (He seems too good for his own good)
Conclusion       7 (It reaches a ‘coupler point’, but hasn’t ended)
Fan Service      2 (A similar show would be “Okamisan”)
Bingebility       9 (It helps the pacing)

Overall             8 (A bit of a change-up)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. Am I cursed?

The post I Think the “World” of You appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

It doesn’t matter what kind of organization you are in, whether is it something as simple as an office setting, where you may have a dozen or so employees, to something more complex like running the First Order, where you have billions of employees, you are going to get gummed up by the bureaucracy. It’s always the same complaints: not enough money, not enough manpower, not enough creative thinking, not enough money, lamebrains messing up your projects, diffident co-workers and not enough money. And if you ARE trying to take over the world, the logistics can get out of control. Such is the world we visit when we come to the enormously-titled “Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department” (“Kaijin Kaihatsubu no Kuroitsu-san”, “Kuroitsu-san in the Superhuman Research & Development Department”).

In this Japan, there are actually a number of evil, secret organizations, each of which are not only bent on world domination, but bent on their particular brand of it. One of these groups is Agastia, which operates out of a nameless, soulless building in Tokyo. However, their marvelous plans are continually thwarted by the magnificent superhero, Divine Swordsman Blader (that’s him, from the back, in the splash panel bottom.) What is needed is a caliber of monster that can defeat said superhero, but not too strong that the monster decides to take over the world for themselves.

To this end, Tōka Kuroitsu (her to the left of the middle) has to come up with monsters that fit the bill. And her monster designs are pretty fierce, indeed. However, no good deed (or bad deed) goes unpunished, and her designs are cut and pared and whittled and negotiated down, owing to a lack of budget, a need to justify the cost (that pesky ‘return on investment’ junk), the thought that the monster doesn’t need all these bells and whistles and the mercurial nature of the leader of Agastia, Akashic (her looming over it all) which causes last-minute changes that actually drive up the costs and reduces the effectiveness of said creature.

An example is Wolf Bete (to Kuroitsu’s left). She was supposed to be a he, but Akashic wanted this wolf monster to be ‘cuter’, which then undercut his/her abilities. This is never more seen in his/her first fight with Blader, as s/he gets sent packing and now is a member of the development staff. The show follows these escapades, as the development team tries to create a vicious series of vicious monsters to help with their goals, but they end up with just another employee on the payroll, who is a day late and a dollar short where it is needed.

If you have ever had to deal with management types, or folks who can’t think outside the box, or are always bottom-line driven, this show will strike close to home. Your wonderful ideas, a silk purse, if you will, get transformed into a sow’s ear. And it appears that Blader doesn’t really have to work all that hard to defeat these minions. The only ‘good’ thing about this is that the other evil organizations are equally hamstrung and frustrated in their attempts to take over the world, so none of them are any closer to succeeding than anyone else.

Normally, shows this goofy usually play up the Stupid Card to the point that it loses its charm. This show manages to avoid that pitfall, just because not everyone is stupid, but sometimes lacks vision or, more to the point, there just is nothing in the budget to support it. Not any of it. It’s hard to have Cadillac Dreams on a Kia Budget. So you end up with the woefully underpowered Melty, the committee-designed Cannon Thunderbird and the rushed-to-production Hydra. And each and every one of them is sent home with their tail between their legs after another humiliating defeat at the hands (or sword) of Blader. Is it too late to find another job elsewhere? Is it OK if I call him ‘Bladder”?

Yes, you binge. There is a concern that it is more of the same every day, but it’s not. There is enough personality differences between them all that is it not the same thing every day (although, in the larger scheme of things, it IS the same thing every day).  And they throw in an after-work drinking party and a recruitment drive episode, and it is all just enjoyable to take it all in.

Look, you go to work every day, right? You see, more or less, the same things every day, but it’s not really the SAME thing every day, right? So, you binge this show. You let the ludicrous nature of it wash over you, as you commiserate with the people who HAVE to do the work get sabotaged by those who know nothing outside their tiny sphere of influence. Art isn’t easy; neither is management.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           8 (Those are some bizarre monsters)
Plot                  8 (Interesting theme taken to extremes)
Pacing              8 (The fight scenes are a joy)
Effectiveness   8 (It’s how ineffective everyone is)
Conclusion       7 (It reaches a ‘coupler point’, but hasn’t ended)
Fan Service      2 (A similar show would be “Okamisan”)
Bingeability     9 (It can take it easily)
Overall             9 (This is why nothing gets done)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. Two pork bowls on rice, please.

The post A “Monster” of a Time appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

Another example of having a bad capsule description, this had two things going against it when I first glanced at it, in that it was sports (Wrestling? Really?) and it was the next in line for isekai tales (What? Really?) But since I was in my ‘what-CAN-I-watch?’ viewing distress, I took it on, and, boy howdy, this is one deliciously stupid show that takes both of these genres and gives it a major German suplex, and a real mat slam. Welcome to the high-octane world of ”Kemono Michi: Rise Up”  (“Hataage! Kemonomichi”).

We are at the Wrestling Match of the Century for this year. Getting ready to step into the ring is Genzō Shibata (find the wrestler, eh?). Normally, he is masked and also has animal paws and goes by his nom de wrestling, Animal Mask. His only real friend is his dog, Hiroyuki (arf, arf!). He is fighting for the World Championship against his wrestling rival, Macadamian Ogre, AKA MAO (and that’s him in the upper left. Yes, he DOES have pointy teeth.) But hidden from all is the fact that once Genzō wins (and he WILL win), he is going to retire and open a pet shop, as he looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooves ALL animals. However, in the middle of the match, as he does a flying diving crossbody move, he is spirited away to another world. He has been summoned to be their hero!

Princess Altena Elgard Ratis (blondie, upper center) has found the strongest man in another land and asks Genzo to join in their quest to destroy all beasts in the kingdom. Well, this does not go over well with Genzō, who puts a German suplex on her majesty, allowing all in court to see the Royal Buttocks. Sad to say, this maneuver does not play out too well with those in charge and he has to flee the castle, still in his wrestling outfit. In trying to figure out what is going on, he is attacked by criminal beastman siblings Misha and Wolfgang (lower right). Genzō physically defeats and emotionally destroys Wolfgang by…..petting him, so he is no better than a dog. How embarrassing!

Shopkeeper Edgar (the last of that little trio) is planning on selling wolfgirl Shigure (off Genzō’s left), who is a bit of a greed pig. Well, they both are, OK? She had a dream, but it fizzled. Together, Genzō and Shigure go on quests to earn money so that Genzō can still realize his dream, but in this land, it is a bizarre kind of pet shop. He wants to tame these evil beasts, show that they are really nice creatures, present to all that these divergent types CAN live together in harmony and sell them off to the humans as pests….I mean, PETS! The series is about all of these tales surrounding the mono-minded Genzō and his quest.

Now, for a wrestling show, they do keep the wresting to a minimum and that helps a lot. I don’t need to see a full match. Besides, Genzō smashes people right and left whenever they call him “Beast Killer”. (He doesn’t kill those beasts he quests after; he can convert them to being nicer beasts by just his will.) And if he dislikes something you have said, you are in the Boston Crab or the Pretzel Lock and, thusly, you have been chastised.

The only real drag in the show is Carmella (that busty number atop Genzō’s head). She is such a loaf and is the punching bag of the show (literally and actually), that she gets tiresome really fast. In fact, the show is played too much for laughs. I mean, I am certain that one or two of those beasts would be immune to Genzō’s approach to things and just might trample him instead. But that’s not going to happen, OK?

I vote for a split binging. If you took the whole thing in, the last four episodes might work against you. I would go the first eight, take off the rest of the day, then the last four. It won’t cure Carmella’s worthlessness, but it will slow it down to acceptable levels. And since this really does follow the idea that the plot finally shows up for the last for episodes, anyway, it may work out better for you.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           7 (It functions, but nothing spectacular)
Plot                  7 (Rather typical, despite the pet shop)
Pacing              7 (Slows down last two or three episodes)
Effectiveness   8 (It does built to its main point)
Conclusion      7 (It reaches a coupler point, but doesn’t really end)
Fan Service     2 (A similar show would be “Okamisan”)
Bingeability    5 (Too much potential sameness)

Overall            8 (Its silly charms do have an effect)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. Are you throwing rocks at me?

The post It’s Just Over That “Rise” appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

The thing about this show is that it slid right into the second season with nary an introduction to it. Well, in a sense, but there was the two OVA side stories, but it really is more of a second season than a mere extension of the first season (more on that later), so we are continuing with the isekai of “Ascendance of a Bookworm”, (“Honzuki no Gekokujō: Shisho ni Naru Tame niwa Shudan o Erandeiraremasen” or “Ascendence of a Bookworm: I’ll Stop at Nothing to Become a Librarian”).

Our daring, young heroine, Myne (or Mine, again, whomsoever is doing the subtitles, her of the blue robes), has managed to become a Blue Robe. This is very important, as it signifies that she is a noble (although she isn’t). Needless to say, she earns the enmity from the older Blue Robes (who still see her as a commoner and, worse, a pretender to nobility) and the gray robes (people who are in the faith, but are treated worse than dogs in the streets). All Mine wants to do is read her books, and she does this to the detriment of her pernicious retainers (that’s them in the lower right-hand corner).

Once confronted with the grim realities of being in a position of authority, and all that responsibility, she works very hard to win them over to her side. You see, good food tends to soften the hardest heart, and she always shows her kind nature. She also embarks on a series of money-making projects to help the orphans (that’s the grouping in the upper left corner with those retainers.) The shock on both sides is how rigid and inflexible everyone is, a deeply entrenched society where upward mobility is a pipe dream at best and actively fought against at worst.

To be honest, Mine has the potential to be just as horrible as the nobility (pretty advanced for a six-year old, but remember, in reality, she is in her early 20s), as she uses the orphans as a caliber of ‘free labor’ to help harvest the plants necessary to make her paper and then have them create the paper. But they are rewarded with a decent place to sleep, good food (OK, anyone who wants to say ‘Three hots and a cot’, go ahead) and acknowledgement for their efforts, which culminates in the creation of picture books of their faith, taken from the more denser tomes.

However, her efforts do not go unnoticed, nor unpunished, as the Upper Tier Snobs try to ruin her and impede her progress, especially the High Priest (gray hair, lower left). But with an ally in the Head Priest (blue hair towards the right), she is shepherded through the intricacies of both the religious order and the ranks of nobility.

This, however, runs through treacherous territory, when, called upon to cleanse the land, is betrayed by the very soldiers detailed to protect her (like the two on the left side). Although I am loathe to give spoilers, the incident that you saw at the very, VERY first episode is linked back up and we now leave circular time (as this is all seen as a caliber of flashback) and the third season will be the linear story.

Although it gets better and better as it progresses, no one seems to question how this mere slip of a girl comes up with all of these ideas, as if these original thoughts never came to anyone else before, although Head Priest always had his suspicions. And most of the people here have the Kicked Dog Syndrome (if you treat a dog badly, they are wary of anyone, lest they be hurt again), so they are defensive and stand-offish. Most are won over, certainly not all.

The third season holds out promise for more conflicts and conundrums, as the Head Priest is, at best, a cypher, as we know very little about him and his ambitions and how Mine will go forward with her excess of mana.

Binging? The only reason I do not give the full OK for a full binge is that you do need to take a break, but it can certainly take on binging, adding an immediacy to what happens to her, especially with the ending arc of this season and the set-up for the next one.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           7 (Nothing spectacular, but serviceable)
Plot                  8 (Building steadily)
Pacing              7 (A bit spasmodic at times)
Effectiveness   7 (Motivations are almost too well hidden)
Conclusion      8 (It reached a coupler point, but hasn’t ended)
Fan Service     0 (A similar show would be “Honey and Clover”)
Bingeability    8 (Plays out well, but could get tiring)

Overall            8 (Still some slack points)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. Keep her safe.

The post By the “Book” appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

We have always viewed dragons as proud and dangerous creatures. They breathe fire. They crush people underfoot. They lay waste to those around them. They hoard gold. They can fly. I mean, THEY CAN FLY!!! You do not want to mess with them. Even the bravest of the brave have second thoughts when they have to go up against dragons, even if it is a ‘little’ dragon. (Hahahaha! You said ‘little’ like it makes a difference! Hahahahahaha!). Well, what if the dragon was as big of a doofus as the rest of us? (Look, I believe in recycling. Just think of this intro as the return visit). We meet another less-than-meets-the-eye dragon in the mile-long titled “A Herbivorous Dragon of 5,000 Years Gets Unfairly Villainized (“Yowai 5000-nen no Sōshoku Dragon, Iwarenaki Jaryū Nintei”, or “A 5000-year-old Herbivore Dragon Was Recognized as an Evil Dragon For No Reason”).

We have the Great Evil Dragon Ravendia, who has been living in the mountains, atop a village, for a long, long time. Many maidens have been sacrificed to protect the village from the wrath of this Demon Lord. To this end, Lingzi (her of the barrel; she may also be known as Reiko) presents herself to Ravendia, to be eaten, to save everyone. Except…..Ravendia is meek and cowardly and is an herbivore. There is nothing he enjoys more than munching down a field of grass and sleeping for a few hundred years.

In order to placate the vociferous Lingzi, who will not go away, Ravendia tells her that he has devoured her soul, and so the sacrifice has been made. You may go home now. Lingzi, however, sees this as that she is now his disciple and will do his bidding. No matter what Ravendia says or does, he cannot get rid of Lingzi. In trying to return her to her village, they are beset by Dark Wolves.

Lingzi now believes that because she has no soul, she has unlocked talents and abilities she does not know of and she dispatches the wolves. However, Ravendia earns the enmity of Raiotto (that panicky blond), who has feelings for Lingzi and he will stop at nothing to wrest her soul back from the soulless dragon. The series details their adventures as they leave the village.

This is a series where no one listens to anyone and if they do, they glom onto the key words and completely misinterpret what is being said. And the harder Ravendia tries to extricate himself from this mess, the deeper down he goes. Look, he’s the Great Evil Dragon, OK? Fear and respect him! In this series, everyone is a few sandwiches short of a picnic. The people of the town of Selianen are joyfully stupid, as they always see the silk purse instead of the sow’s ear. The brave knight Aliente (red hair), is wary of the dragon’s intent. I mean the real intent, as, well, it’s the Great Evil Dragon. You don’t just get that title from a Cracker Jack box.

Even the Water Saint of the city (lower left) has her doubts as well, especially when the city is put into peril and our herb dragon must do battle to protect the populace…sorta.

If you are like me and enjoy taking the wind out of the sails of dragon epics, this series is a hoot. The only one with anything coming close to smarts is the dragon and even he gets overwhelmed by events and circumstances. And any decision that is made is the wrong decision. You will not be able to choose anything that will help you. All of a sudden, a secluded cave is looking really cherry.

The only point of concern is that the episodes are only about 13 minutes long. Is this good or bad? Would the series have lost something if it was 10 minutes longer? Hard to say, as it does compress the dopiness of the show, which might get tiresome at 23 minutes. There is also a very loose interplay with the artwork. Kind of chibi, without really being full chibi, but still chibi. And when the GED is completely at sea, inundated by not being in control, his blank expression and panic is delicious.

You can binge this show, but I would approach it slowly, as you want to enjoy these pointless encounters and useless conversations, as the characters just do not understand anything. Even at 13 or so minutes, you want to savor all that is presented.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           8 (Rather wild and uncontrolled)
Plot                  8 (Marvelous misunderstandings)
Pacing              8 (Builds nicely and consistently)
Effectiveness   7 (Mistakes can get a bit tiring to hear again and again)
Conclusion      7 (It reaches a coupler point, but does not end)
Fan Service     2 (A similar show would be “Okamisan”)
Bingeability    9 (But do take it slower)

Overall            9 (He ain’t never gonna win)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. Old me just wants to take a nap.

The post Short Pull Series XXXIII – Lacking “Reason” appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

We have always viewed dragons as proud and dangerous creatures. They breathe fire. They crush people underfoot. They lay waste to those around them. They hoard gold. They can fly. I mean, THEY CAN FLY!!! You do not want to mess with them. Even the bravest of the brave have second thoughts when they have to go up against dragons, even if it is a ‘little’ dragon. (Hahahaha! You said ‘little’ like it makes a difference! Hahahahahaha!). Well, what if the dragon was as big of a doofus as the rest of us? What if instead of soaring through the skies, blotting out the sun and inspiring fear and trembling, they are just as hapless as mere mortals? Thus is the idea behind “Dragon Goes House-Hunting” (“Dragon, Ie o Kau” or ”Dragon, Buy a House”.)

Up there is Letty, a red dragon, famed and feared for their viciousness. Except for Letty, who is timid, weak and unsure of himself. Through his bumbling, one of the family dragon eggs is stolen right out from under his nose. Father, completely disgusted by this, kicks him out of the house and now Letty must make his way in the world, cold, alone and unloved.

He is eventually directed to find the renowned elf architect, magician and real estate agent, Dearie. Together, they go on a quest to either find or build for Letty an abode suitable for his needs, wants and desires. The series details the multi-faceted adventures and struggles they both go through in planning for the future.

Kermit the Frog once told us it’s not easy being green. Well, being a red dragon ain’t no cakewalk, neither. Letty is overwhelmed as to what is needed and required of him to make it in the outside world and he is ill-prepared for this. Since dragons live a long time, he is a callow, sallow teen-ager who knows next to nothing. Dearie tries to do his best to help him, but there is so much that is unknown to Letty, he is paralyzed by indecision, uncertainty and genuine immaturity. And the houses he sees!

They are fabulous dwellings, but they are too extravagant for Letty’s simple tastes. And if this wasn’t bad enough, he is dogged (dragoned?) by four heroes who want nothing more than to complete THEIR quest and slay our young neophyte. And dragon scales fetch a nice price.

If you have ever gone house hunting or searching for an apartment, you know the feeling of being shown great places that you could not afford, or affordable places that are located in a war zone of a neighborhood. Dearie, to his credit, is fully committed to helping Letty, but with Letty having to grow up fast, it can get wearisome. Still, with the level of dedication they have to get the job done, they forge on.

The real champions of the series are the locations they check out. They are absolutely hysterical in their presentation. Care for an abandoned castle loaded with booby traps? No? A gladiator dungeon where you will have to fight all the time, but they have big rooms? No? A cave inhabited by friendly witches? No? Build a house from scratch? No? A tremendous igloo? No?

But it’s not all The House of the Week approach. Letty is challenged numerous times to go beyond what he thinks he can do, to really care for others. You do see a caliber of emotional growth throughout the arduous travails. There is a very intriguing closing arc, but the hunt goes on, as we await a second season.

Binge? Yes and no. It can take it, but I do not feel it needs to be shoved out in a day. I would take the 3-4-5 approach and break it down that way, viewing it over three days, as that is how the arcs break down. You get a good sense of the show and not feel like you are blitzing through it, missing a lot of what Letty is going through.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           8 (Good artistic decisions were made)
Plot                  8 (The side story is of a greater interest)
Pacing              7 (Moves along hysterically)
Effectiveness   8 (Good use of flashbacks)
Conclusion       7 (It reaches a ‘coupler point’, but hasn’t ended)
Fan Service      0 (A similar show would be “Honey and Clover”)
Bingeability     8 (It can take it, but you want to savor Letty’s distress)

Overall            8 (Life is a workout)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. How can I afford this?

The post In the Dog “House” appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.

It’s time for another episode of “Anime Wheel of Fortune”, so let’s spin the wheel and see what theme of show we’ll be getting. Round and round it goes, as you spin me right ‘round, baby, right ‘round, like a record, baby, right ‘round, ‘round, ‘round. And it stops on……isekai! Is that wheel broken? This is like the fourth isekai we have looked at. Well, actually, it’s a lot more, but who’s counting? And we will be looking at another ungodly long-titled show, “My Isekai Life”, short for “My Isekai Life: I Gained a Second Character Class and Became the Strongest Sage in the World!” (“Tensei Kenja no Isekai Raifu ~Daini no Shokugyō o Ete, Sekai Saikyō ni Narimashita”).

And now, time for a commercial break. Have you thought about extending your car’s warranty? Care for a time share? Perhaps a job at an Amazon sweatshop warehouse.

Seriously, I can’t swing a broadsword about without smacking into another one of these shows. Hasn’t the tank run dry yet? Well, down to brass tacks.

That guy up there, jabbing his cutlery at you, is Yuji Sano. When he was a Tokyoite, he was a corporate drudge, working all of the time, ALL of the time. What small breaks he got, he was on-line, playing video games. One evening, he sees a message on his PC, about being summoned to another world. Yeah, I get junk like that, but it’s more like a spam risk for me. He clicks on it to remove it, but instead, he has accepted the challenge and now, and now, and now, he is a Monster Tamer and tries to bring calm and peace to this new land, which has neither. With his main friends, Proudwolf (who can be a bit cowardly) and the endless slime buddies, he uses his incredible powers to be the greatest sage ever, ever, to save this world!

The big problem he faces is a cult, the Blue Moon of Salvation, who are bent on fulling the prophecy that will bring around the destruction of the world and allow them to arise as the new power broker and faith source. To this end, they use a kind of control crystal, to have a variety of monsters do their bidding. But our mage is made of sterner material. What people don’t realize is the amazing breadth and depth of his powers and abilities, so he can conjure up things on an unheard of scale. This show details all of his battles in trying to save this world.

Part of the show is undercut by the slimes. Yes, they are a very helpful and important aspect of his fighting abilities, but they come across as rather non-serious and almost whimsical in their approach to problems. Proudwolf is at least a bit more honest with his feelings, as he would rather not get involved, if he doesn’t have to. And some of what they encounter is vicious to the point that you could easily die. However, everyone has the utmost confidence in Yuji’s abilities. He doesn’t like attracting attention to himself, but it happens all the time, which is why he is always on the move. His only real friend is Father Steyl, a priest who gives him a special holy weapon, which was prophesized, so he can save this world.

It’s not a bad series, as Yuji has really attuned himself to this world and those who help him. Much is asked of him, at times, but I am impressed that he doesn’t lose the members of his staff, especially the slimes. Most people would carve up a slime like they were nothing, but these guys all hang around, even in the most arduous of battles. Yuji is very confident in his abilities and this rubs off on those around him, so THEY have confidence. This is never more put to the test with the Monster Invasion arc that concludes the series and challenges his ability to save this world.

It’s not a good series in the sense it’s another isekai, the IPA of anime. And since I was watching a show that is similar at the same time, I did have some blender issues in keeping them apart. Just remember, this one has the GROUP of annoying slimes.

As to binging, yes. This is a show that can handle it. As a paladin or a wandering mercenary, the stories are kept fresh enough, as he battles a multiplicity of villains and evil-doers. And those Blue Moon morons keep him on his toes. The ending implies a second season, but we will have to see the results of that. Hasn’t he saved the world yet?

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           8 (An interesting decision in portraying the slimes)
Plot                  7 (Isekai playbook)
Pacing              8 (Strong battle sequences)
Effectiveness   7 (What does Yuji get out of this)
Conclusion       7 (It reaches a ‘coupler point’, but hasn’t ended)
Fan Service      2 (A similar show would be “Okamisan”)
Bingeability     9 (Helps with overall pacing of events)

Overall            8 (An interesting tale to relate)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. I will lend you my power.

The post Show Some “Class” appeared first on AniRecs Anime Blog.