Your Lie in April

I think I put off this anime for far too long because I was afraid of its ending. I'm sure you know the types I'm referring to; the endings that make your eyes puffy and your noses' stuffed. The type that makes you curl up at night and replaying the scene over and over and hearing your heart break into pieces. But even so, I implore you to watch Your Lie in April.

The story revolves around Arima Kousei, a washed up ex prodigy who used to play the piano. He had been the stuff of legends, but when his mother passed away, everything came crashing down. On the day of his most important piano recital, Kousei suffers a mental breakdown and becomes unable to hear the sound of his piano.  And now, he's stuck in a monotone- colourless world, and unable to move forward. Everything changes when he's roped into accompanying his best friend on a blind date as a 'wingman' of sorts, and there he meets...her. Miyazono Kaori.

The story begins from there, and it's a beautiful yet tragic ride and shows that it is possible for an anime to be funny, yet heartbreaking. Cheerful yet sad. I can draw these parallels all day.

Story : 7/10

For the most part, the story has good pacing, and follows kousei on his journey back into the musical world. The anime sells itself on the romance between him and Kaori, but I feel that is much deeper than that. At it's core, Your Lie in April is a story of self-discovery, and reminds us that we are only human. That it's okay to fall and skin your knees, because what matters in the end is that you pick yourself up and keep going. Kousei's journey was much better than I thought it would be, and watching his journey was like watching a close friend of yours trying to pick themselves up from that dark, dank hole they've fallen in.

Your Lie In April deals with the topic of death, and our darker sides fairly well. It doesn't preach and picks apart the topic tastefully. The only bad things I can nitpick about the plot would be the large amount of foreshadowing. There are many, many scenes where the foreshadowing becomes a little too obvious, and it feels like the creators aren't giving us enough credit to figure it out. Toward the middle of the anime, the plot becomes slightly more predictable, and because of all the foreshadowing, you already know how it will end. Fortunately, none of these takes the excitement out of watching it, and it was still very enjoyable.

Characters : 8/10

The character development for Kousei is phenomenal. He grows from a meek, mild mannered boy to a confident and matured individual. His growth is handled beautifully, and by the time the anime was over, I found myself wishing the best of luck to him. He tries to give up numerous times, but the people around him won't allow it, especially Kaori. And it occurred to me that she's like that friend who constantly pushes you to challenge yourself, to excel, and shows us that sometimes, what we really need is not a a comforting hug, but a great big shove.

As for Kaori, I didn't find her character development as great as Kousei's. But this has more to do with how the anime presents her, an 'mysterious' and 'enigmatic' figure that Kousei can't figure out no matter how hard he tries. And since Your Lie in April plays out from his perspective, we only get to see certain sides of Miyazono Kaori.

There's no supporting character worth mentioning more than Tsubaki. She gets a fair amount of development as well, which is great!. Tsubaki had me rooting for her for almost the entire length of the show, and for good reason. Unlike most of the 'childhood' stereotypes in rom coms of today, she actually takes a stand. Yeah you heard me, she takes a freaking stand. She acknowledges that Kousei is head over heels for Kaori, but she doesn't give up. The best part about it, is that she wasn't horrible about it. Tsubaki didn't try play saboteur to the budding romance between them, and deals with her own set of confusing feelings. There were a few heartbreaking scenes of Tsubaki just trying to deal with the lowest point in her short, teenage life, and it was fan-fucking-tastic.

Music : 10/10

One of the best parts of Your Lie in April was the music score. Oh god the music. There is nothing much to say other than that it was an absolute treat to my ears. Classical music has always been a soft spot for me, and hearing the recitals, piano/violin performances in the anime reminded me of how good this genre could be. It also worked extremely well for setting the mood. One of my favourite songs would be 'Love's sorrow' and it's been on replay ever since I first heard it.

Animation : 10/10

Your lie in april was a feast for my eyes. I have never been more grateful for a good computer monitor until now. The scenery in this anime was glorious, all the colours come to laugh and become more than just that, and how the creators used it here is a testament to how good animation can really be.

The anime had a interesting way of using colours, For example, the character's mood or state of mind were conveyed were conveyed using a brilliant colour palette that just made me go 'wow, I never knew they could do that' with every episode. Overall it was very imaginative and very impressive.

Overall : 9/10

A definite must watch for music lovers, romance enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a anime with a good plot, solid character development and great animation. I will definitely be coming back to watch this again.

Recommended: 5/5

Crimson Peak - The movie with an identity crisis

When I walked out of the cinema this morning, I spent almost ten minutes in the toilet pondering on what I just watched. I had a mixture of emotions roiling inside me, which made me stop to think about what I just saw. And around nine hours later, I sit here, still not quite sure of what I did watch.

I was tremendously excited to watch this movie for several reasons. (a) It was a gothic romance, (b) The trailer made it looked superb, and (c) The cast of the movie looked freaking awesome. But strangely enough, it wasn't quite what I expected it to be. Could it be because my hopes for this movie were ridiculously high? Maybe. But Crimson Peak has some rather glaring flaws which might have attributed to how disappointing this film turned out to be.

Let's get this straight. Crimson Peak is not bad. In fact, I wished it turned out to be some stupid romance horror flick that I could just walk out of the cinema and say "Meh. That was awful." and go on my merry way. But it wasn't. And that, is what makes me torn. The problem, is that Crimson Peak isn't bad, but it is definitely not good either.

For starters, the plot was quite lackluster. It's straightforward, and plays out like one of those point and click adventure novels which makes it, unfortunately, quite predictable. You know how it will play out, thanks to the ample amount of foreshadowing, but it uses a straight forward formula that takes much of the 'mystery' aspect out of it. And we have to keep in mind that Crimson Peak isn't marketed as a 'Mystery' movie, so we can't really blame the darn thing for having such a lackluster mystery.

But on the other hand, Crimson Peak isn't a horror movie either. I'm no expert, but it doesn't really feel like a 'horror' movie would. Like Edith, our main female character, says at the beginning of the movie. It's not a ghost story. It's a story with ghosts in it. Well, okay. And therein lies the problem.

Crimson Peak does not know what it wants to be.

It's not scary enough for horror fans, It's doesn't have good enough plot for mystery fans, and while the romance makes the movie interesting, it isn't enough to save it. Crimson peak can't be classified by a genre, because it doesn't even know it should be classified as. The story goes from 'mystery' to 'romance' to 'horror' and then shockingly, ends with a sequence that seems like it would be a better fit in a slasher movie than in this one.

Pros:

+Movie is stunning and very beautiful
+The cast and its acting is brilliant
+CGI is well done and doesn't feel cheap
+Sound effects are good

Cons:

-Weak plot
-Unsatisfying payoff
-Movie is stuck between a smattering of genres
-A little too bloody despite being marketed as a gothic romance


Did I enjoy Crimson Peak? Yes.

Would I watch it again? No.

Seraphina - To be or not to be?

I think  most of us have read fantasy books about dragons at least once in our lives. There is something very intriguing about scaly, fire breathing reptiles that make them such an interesting subject to read about. Dragons have played many different roles. Villain, victim, hero. As time has gone by, they no longer have a fixed set of powers. Now they don't merely breathe fire, they can a wide variety of powers ranging from shape-shifting to healing, and are no longer just painted as beastly brutes who plunder the lands in search of their next meal.

The dragons in Seraphina are one such variation of dragons and are intelligent, sentient creatures. And I think this is one of the reasons that make Seraphina such a interesting read. That is not the only thing the book has to offer of course, they are certainly many other factors that make it such a good read as it is.

The story follows Seraphina, or Phina for short, as she tries to navigate through the waters of high society while trying to keep her 'heritage' under wraps. I confess that I didn't expect it to be part-murder mystery, part-self discovery, but thankfully it was done pretty well. The other characters in the book like Lucien and Glisselda were likable in their own way, and the interactions with Seraphina were so lively, and the way they contrasted with her just made those scenes come to life in the best possible way. The romance this book comes out of nowhere, and while I'm not really bothered by it I feel that it could have done without.

Unlike in some books, the politics in Seraphina did not bore me to death. The power play between Dragons and Humans is a source of tension for both races, and our dear protagonist is caught between the two worlds (literally) and desperately tries to keep herself from being washed away by the hostility between the two races. Her path of self-acceptance doesn't play out like one of those cliche fairytale types, it is much more intense and emotionally disturbing in a way.

Overall, it was a nice read and I look forward to picking up the next installment in the series.

7.5/10 - Would read again! 

Recommended to those who are okay with/like:

-Fantasy

-Politics

-Dragons

-Slight incestous vibes (Lucien and Glisselda are cousins and are engaged, but this is only referenced sparsely throughout the book)

Sword Art Online 2 (Mother Rosario arc)

                 

And now, onto to the Mother rosario Arc.

I suppose that most SAO fans hate Alfheim online is because of the somewhat incestuous relationship between Suguha and Kirito. They're cousins, so maybe the interest she has in him is deemed somewhat 'disgusting' in a way, but honestly I don't really care about that. The reason I disliked it was the fact that it was just pure filler; it was obvious that they were trying to milk the show till it was bone dry. But not only that, the addition of that nasty new villain just left a bad taste in my mouth, especially with him threatening to rape Asuna every scene he was shown in.                                        
I don't find that particularly good as a plot device, and not forgetting this scene where Asuna escapes her cage and gets caught by these blob-like tentacle monsters. I half-expected it to transform into some tentacle hentai, and that is juts...bleh. No thank you. The story and action sequences were decent, but the characters were just largely annoying, whiny and plain creepy. But enough of me whining about ALO, let's get to the real meat of things.

Story - 8/10

The second Arc of SAO 2 is extremely well done, though the build up to the main story of that arc was kind of slow. Kirito and his harem- ahem, I mean team, set out on a fetch quest, and though that part was somehow lacking in logic whatsoever, the excalibur part ended on a rather decent note. There's also a few Kirito X Sinon scenes littered throughout the episodes, and you can't help but wonder why Asuna isn't feeling even the tiniest bit jealous.

And then comes the true meat of the story, where Asuna meets Zekken. I was pleasantly surprised and a little shocked at how the story panned out. Asuna (finally!) steps into the limelight and the rest of the arc plays out from her point-of-view. Asuna finally gets some long awaited character development in this season, and it reveals her strict upbringing and militaristic mother who's hell bent on living a new game plus through her daughter. Don't worry if you don't catch my meaning, you'll find out when you watch it. No sense in me spoiling it for anyone!

And besides Asuna having to worry about her real life problems, she is also 'recruited' by Zekken and joins their small guild named 'The sleeping Knights'. There, she tries to help the guild with a seemingly impossible wish, to defeat a level boss by themselves. For the most part, this part of the story was generally likable, tragic, and quite touching. The anime ended on a brilliant bitter sweet note with a good message to be had. Awesome!

Characters - 8/10

Step aside Kirito, and say hello to the new stars of the show. Zekken, also known as Konno Yuuki, is the most interesting character to have been in the SAO franchise. I remember when her character was first revealed, and it made some pretty big waves. She was fleshed out, likable, and like Sinon, has had a harsh childhood. That's all I'll reveal for now, but I can almost guarantee you that Yuuki will bring life to every scene she is in, and bring out feels that you didn't know could exist in SAO.

On another note, I also want to say that I think it was quite a brave step to show the 'OP' Kirito get beaten by Zekken (aka Yuuki) In a way, it humanises him and makes him seem less like the badass, godlike player he was portrayed to be in season 1 and GGO. It doesn't give him any better or worse, but it does manage to knock him down from the pedestal that most characters seem to have placed him atop off.

Asuna finally, finally becomes more like the Asuna of the first season, and god am I happy to witness it. Her dynamic with Yuuki is a delightful one, and there are definitely some yuri vibes between the two ladies. Those moments were decidedly cute and endearing, and it made the Yuri fan in me squee with unsubtle delight. But despite me saying this, I think that their relationship would probably never delve into the romantically involved type of relationship for obvious reasons, but hey. It would make a good fanfiction I guess?

All in all, I was very pleased by the character development in the second arc, and would be right to say that it surpassed my expectations.

Animation - 8/10

One thing about ALO, is the absolutely gorgeous scenery. It did a good job in improving the atmosphere of the anime, it was bright and cheerful when need be and dull and melancholy when it wasn't. I wouldn't have expected less.

The opening and ending for this arc did not impress me much, but it was probably because it wasn't my type of music. The final ending song though, did hit me particularly hard. But that was also the by-product of the last episode so I can't really comment much on that. I think I still much prefer 'Ignite' and 'Startear' from the GGO Arc.

Recommendation - 3/5

As a whole, SAO 2 doesn't break any barriers like SAO. But, it was extremely entertaining and deserves credit for being a decent sequel. If you didn't like sword art online, I doubt that the second season would change your perception toward it, but SAO 2 is a definite must watch for fans.

Sword Art Online 2 (GGO arc)

Ah, SAO 2. You were much better than I had expected.

I took quite some time to finish this sequel, and I attribute this to somewhat bad pacing. Not horrible, just bad. The first few episodes were quite interesting, but there were definitely some things I hated about SAO 2.

I'll be talking about sao 2 in two seperate arcs, the GGO Arc and the Mother Rosario Arc. Cramming all that into one post doesn't seem like a good idea, anyways.

Story: 7/10

Firstly, the story. For the most part, it keeps the audience shifting nervously in their seats but like the first season of sword art online, the best scenes are often the action sequences. Despite having a bad impression of the show due to how they portrayed Asuna, I think they did a nice job of the GGO arc. Sinon was a fantastic character, and I am quite embarrassed to admit that I was one of those SAO fans who hated on her without even watching the show. But thankfully, I was able to set aside my bias and enjoy the anime, and Sinon has become one of my favourite female characters other than Asuna.

The emotional scenes are really well done, and it was a joy to watch whenever I was given a chance to watch from Sinon's POV. We also get to see how she helped Kirito in his moment of need, and while I wished it had been someone else, she did a pretty swell job of helping him out. The search for the mysterious killer 'Death Gun' was very good in introducing intense scenes and a few nail biting moments. Much like season 1, Sword art online 2 has little to no re-watch value, Most of the action scenes rely on shock factor. The bursts of adrenaline will only come once, and I can guarantee you that with each consecutive replay of a fight scene, you'll be less impressed than you originally were. But for the most part, the GGO Arc was decent. Though you'll be wondering how the heck Kirito's deductions hit so close to home. Maybe he should quit playing games and start working as a detective instead.

Characters: 6/10

Kirito has little to no growth from SAO. He still remains his usual lackluster self, and while he does have a few good moments, I do wonder what others see in him at times. But still, he is a fun and interesting character, and keeps the anime from being 'enjoyable' to 'boring'.

Sinon has brilliant character development, though she did have a cliched tragic backstory, her cool personality was likeable and paired nicely with Kirito. I can only thank my lucky stars that the two had good chemistry because of their 'rivals' dynamic.

Asuna on the other hand. Ugh. I just...ugh. They reduced to her to nothing more than a Kirito fangirl, and had her cheering for him on the sidelines while he was out gallivanting with another girl. I know it sounds bad and many people would defend him with stuff like 'But he was just trying to protect her!' but I don't believe in any of that crap. First of all, Asuna isn't some damsel in distress, is everone forgetting that she was in the death game, Sword art online? Or the fact that she was prominent figure of said game? As a Asuna Fan, I am very saddened to see her acting...so unlike herself in SAO 2. Instead of helping Kirito, or at least doing something to help him, she sits among their group of friends and sighs to herself, praying for 'Kirito-kun'.

I hated how her voice sounded here, so air-headed and lacking of depth. She sounded so 'fake' and the forceful cheer of her voice did not really help matters either. It pained me to watch the scenes she was in, always inwardly cringing at how she sounded. I would have given characters a 7 or a 8, if they had portrayed Asuna properly.

The rest of the cast were pretty much just there for the sake of being there. The story wouldn't have changed regardless of whether they were there or not. They could have been replaced by completely different characters, and sad to say, I couldn't have cared less.

Animation: 8/10

The ending song is one of my favourites.The opening and endings had amazing color schemes, and were honestly quite creative.  It goes the same for the rest of the arc too. Gun Gale has a pretty grungy colour palette, but it was not drab or boring at all! The fight scenes especially, it just got my blood pumping so well. Even minor details, like Kirito having to push aside his long bangs, stood out really well and added a nice touch. The quality did drop a little in the last few episodes of this arc though, but that's about it.

All in all the first arc was pretty entertaining.

To be continued in Mother Rosario arc review. 

The Guest Cat - Takashi Hirade

It took quite a long time for me to finish this book, due to the sudden onset of laziness and usual procrastination. It wasn't a bad book, not at all, but it is definitely a book which would appeal to certain types of people.

I like Japanese prose, they have a certain sense of detachment and hint of melancholy, but at the same time the stories told have a certain warmth to them. I would describe it as thoughtful, and depending on the books, feel as though they are grounded in reality despite the 'spiritual' elements. I'm no guru of course, this is just my own opinion. I have a strange preference for books in which the main characters evolve, come to terms with something, or have a mysterious charm about them. And in this case, the titular cat in this story, named Chibi.

Through the eyes of the writer, we see how this mysterious cat influences the lives of our main characters. In the story, she is described at charming, yet at times seem otherworldly, but she has a very profound effect on those around her. She comes and goes as she pleases, and though she already has a family of her own, Chibi is not held down by such titles and regularly traipses the line between the two houses, the line being a fence with a hole big enough for her to slip through.

The Guest Cat is not a story which can be understood through a review in my opinion, the writing of Takashi Hirade is very enjoyable as well. Through the eyes of the characters, the beauty lies in how they experience the events which they encounter. The emotions that could be interpreted by the reader range from many different types, like wistful and nostalgic, sadness, and fear.

One thing that might put people off, is the parts where financial and property related jargon is thrown into the story. There were quite a few chapters where things such as property values, job hunting and economy were included, and they were boring to me, since I'm not interested in such things. However, these parts do not subtract any enjoyment I felt while reading the book.

Recommendation: 3/5

The story has a very slow pacing, and concept of 'time' moves according to the events which happen in the main character's lives, and not by the day and night cycle. Some may dislike it, but don't dismiss it until you try it!

Why I dropped Lord Of Magna : Maiden Heaven

Don't be fooled. The blue haired cutie is NOT going to be the main attraction. 

Okay, so I first pre ordered this game when I caught a glimpse of the cover art. The beautifully drawn characters plus the title 'Maiden Heaven'  was what pushed me to buy a copy of the game. The summary sounded pretty interesting too.

Summary: Residing on the outskirts of town as the proprietor of a quiet, rustic inn, Luchs has lived through much of his life proudly clinging to a code of honour passed down from father to son for generations:

"When our cherished guests finally arrive, think of them as nothing less than family."

Unfortunately, the inn has not yet had even a single guest since its foundation, leaving Luchs no choice but to excavate and sell crystals - the islands most valuable fuel source - in order to make ends meet. It is during one such routine excavation that he happens upon a beautiful maiden encased inside a massive crystal, and her abrupt awakening triggers a series of unexpected events that include foul fiends, astonishing abilities, and miraculous mysteries... 

So fast forward like one or two months later. Yippee, the game was here! The limited edition set was better than I'd even imagined, consisting of a nice OST cd and the 3ds box actually had the chibi characters instead of the usual plain, white background. I was pretty pumped, to be honest.

The opening was so - so, the animation was fairly well done for a JRPG. The track which was played at the title screen, however, was FANTASTIC! Everytime i booted up the game up, I'd always spend two or three minutes listening to it at least. Now, with where this is going, readers are probably wondering why I'm clearly praising the game when the title of the post says differently. Whelp, the only reason I'm starting off with the good points is that this game wasn't that bad. It has a 3.5/5 score on Metacritic (a decent rating) and for what it was worth, the time I had spent with the game was not soul shatteringly horrible.

The game's selling point (what they kept advertising about) was its unique combat, namely, striking down your enemies by 'bowling' them over (aka. knock them over like a stack of dominos). The gameplay is quite good, in my opinion. Its fun and challenging, you really have to plan your movements before hand so you don't get stuck in a pincer attack, or getting into trouble when one of the characters in your party dies.

But unfortunately, Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven experience is bogged down by its tedious cut scenes. I don't like how the game shoves the plot down your throat. I had thought that it was just the prolouge kind of thing, but after continuing with the game, I realized that it wasn't. Its like reading a book which throws a large chunk of exposition at you. What was originally interesting and fun suddenly became boring and downright frustrating. It got so bad that i actually searched for a 'SKIP' button, which I used all too often.

Something is definitely wrong if you continuously skip about 2/3 of the dialogue.

This feature did nothing help the plot, either. The premise and story was very generic to begin with, and having to sit through 10 minutes of doing nothing but stare at the 3ds screen makes the story seem MUCH more idiotic. I give the game props for trying to be all 'foreshadowy' and dramatic by having these segments where a narrator asks rhetorical questions, but that brings me to another reason why I ended up dropping it.

The main character (Luchs) is about as interesting, as a piece of cardboard.

He was so generic and cheesy that I really couldn't stomach much of him. Okay fine, just because he's that way doesn't mean that he's a bad character. Fine, I agree on that point. But come on, why would I play this game, when I could play a thousand other games just like this one?! How are is LoM going to keep its players engaged, when the main character is so predictable, so boring, that made me skip most of the cut scenes? Heck, even his best friend was much more enjoyable to watch! Luchs has almost no character traits outside of  being 'Kind hearted' and 'Nice' and that is why I find myself yawning when he comes on screen.

I know this sounds quite harsh and may seem like I'm bashing on him, but to be honest, Luchs is not the main reason that I dropped LoM. Everything bad about the game culminates into one giant, glaring con and it was what turned me off.  Another thing I noted, was how the game was trying to 'pair' up Luchs and Charlotte. And let me say this, I would rather watch paint dry than watch Charlotte being awkwardly forced to bond with Luchs. Their conversations are not interesting, or even remotely witty. By the time the prologue was over, I found myself desperately wishing to shut off my 3DS. Not liking her is just my personal gripe, however, because many people have expressed that she was quite the cutie. I guess that this is just a personal preference thing.

+Nice art
+Soundtrack
+Visuals
+Gameplay

-Cut scenes are too long
-Voice acting is tolerable at best
-Characters were too one-dimmensional for me
-Bad pacing

I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy the game, but I would recommend getting it when the price drops on when it goes on sale. I wished I liked it, but unfortunately, nothing ever goes as planned.

First Episode Mayhem - Gun Gale Online (SAO II)

After an insane amount of time spent writing fanfiction and generally lazing around, I finally got around to watching the sequel to one of my guilty pleasure animes: Swort Art Online II.

The episode starts off with a scene from some 'seedy' bar in Gun Gale Online. After some brief exposition in the form of a guy getting shot on screen and THEN dying offscreen, I liking it so far. What I was worried most about was the lack of stakes in GGO. What I mean is that Sword art online made things interesting because of its permadeath and it makes viewers more interested in what will happen through out the show.

This was clearly SAO's selling point, in that it makes fans scared of the fact that their favourite characters can be killed off. Alfenhiem online didn't have that, and as such fans of SAO were more inclined to be bored because seriously, what happened to all that exciting 'I'm gonna die' stuff we were promised? In my opinion the second arc was pretty okay. It's the fact that they try to fatten up a series clearly fit for 12 episodes into 26 (or was it 24?) episodes that makes me kinda mad, Have some self control people!

Ahem. I got off track there.

So yes, at this point i was rather liking the whole premise of the anime. It had the potential to be very very interesting and I just sat back and relaxed as the episode continued on its merry way.

And then I saw this .

Let me go bleach my brain. 

Wow. What a fucking train wreck.

That picture over there marked the end of the scene I am dubbing 'The Duitful Waifu' because that is what it literally felt like. What happened?! Where was the Asuna of SAO? What happened to that brave, determined, smart girl which we all fell in love with in sword art online? The character in this scene is NOT Asuna. It felt like a two dimensional picture copy and pasted into the scene, while a voice recorder just played "Omg Kirito-kun I wove you so much!! Look at us so fab!"

Haha, oh hey, remember when Asuna had a PERSONALITY??

Just....wow. The first episode and it's already making me angry with how they portrayed Asuna. There is no longer any depth to her. She feels and acts like a literal piece of cardboard who had merely took the form of Asuna. Yeesh...what a rude awakening. Kirito is still his normal standoffish self and even I felt that he had much more character! Are you kidding me? And this is only the first episode! Sufficed to say, I am not looking forward to see how much they destroyed Asuna's character and what kind of nonsense inducing headache they'll be giving me in the episodes to come.

The fact that they make references to SAO gave me a whole bucket full of sarcastic musings too. No really. It was just that upsetting.

And of course, I leave you all with this joke :

Er...is it just me?

Is this one of those hints that eventually come true? Because you know, canon and cannon. Great jumping jellybeans. The KiritoAsuna couple is fucked.

When Marnie Was There - Omoide no Marnie

Studio Ghibli's last film is a coming of age story. I can't say I'm exactly surprised, they seem to like making films revolving around self-discovery and growing up mixed with fantasy or supernatural elements. I think that's what I love about them. They take one look at the norm and go 'Psh. Normal is boring.' and the fact that they excel at their jobs makes anime fans like me feel all the more grateful.

The feel of this film was pretty similar to that of Kagurashi no Arrietty. Or more specifically, the similarities can be found in the main protagonists in that they both suffer from life threatening illnesses and are sent somewhere to recuperate.

One thing i truly admire about When Marnie was there is how wonderfully Annie was portrayed. She begins as a cynical, angry teen who eventually becomes more understanding and more open with both others and herself. The movie makes us sympathize with her, and at the same time, allows us to see her flaws. She's not perfect. Though her problems may seem minute to us, in the end, they are pretty big from her perspective.

Plot gets a 6/10 because let's face it; an angst ridden teen trying to find herself isn't exactly an original idea. The plot twists fails to be surprising because the foreshadowing and hints the movie dropped were a little too good. At one point in the movie I went 'Oh. I think i know where this is going.' and though the ending was heartwarming, it was hardly spectacular. The supernatural aspect of the story was pretty okay. It gave us exposition, background, and made me care for the characters. But they relied too much on using it as a plot device so the novelty of it wore out soon enough.

Characters gets an 7/10. While Annie had a good character development, Marnie still remains somewhat of a mystery. Despite the film's attempts at trying to make her more than just a cut board cutout, Marnie doesn't really get any memorable development. I do appreciate the dynamic between Marnie and Annie though, it's interesting to see them bringing out the best in each other while simultaneously bringing out the worst as well. There seems to be an undertone of Yuri (or shoujo ai) but the ending pretty much kills off that sentiment. As a Yuri fan, I feel decidedly upset but ultimately I think it was for the best. Instead of trying to make a relationship that would never happen to work, it was just better to direct that effort into making the characters and story better.

OSTs are well...meh. The ending did strike a cord with me and there were several scenes where the music stood out well. But overall, not very striking. They did their job of suiting the atmosphere but once the credits roll, I could't recall having remembered anything. 7/10

Recommended: A nice, enjoyable movie best saved for those rainy days. It is ultimately enjoyable, butt does not fall in the same vein with Studio Ghibli's previous works. 3/5

Fire Emblem Awakening

Alright, so I decided to try my hand at one of the most highly rated 3DS games of all time. What caught my attention was not because I'm a hardcore follower of the series, but because of the MARRIAGE SYSTEM. Yes, I'm shallow I know. But how many JRPGs have a marriage option? And oh goodness, you get to choose who you want to be with?

Anyway, moving on. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect with Fire emblem awakening. It was my first ever fire emblem game, and served as a gateway into the franchise. Fire emblem games are notorious for their perma death and difficulty level, and that was the only part which kept me from getting this game. Until I found out about the casual mode, that is. For a beginner like me who stumbled through FE:A, it still lasted for a solid 20 hours give or take.

Story wise, nothing I haven't seen before. It starts of well, and keeps you intrigued until you get through at least half of the game and realize: Oh wait. Is this what i think it is? It made the ending predictable, but I still enjoyed the game immensely. Thus, plot gets a 7/10. I'm sure anyone who ever played a JRPG knows how it goes. Main character is the destined one who would slay evil and or help to put an end to the time of evil bla bla bla and even finds love along the way, I didn't think the story was anything special, but it was barebones enough to keep me going to the end.

Gameplay gets an 9/10. Despite not being a huge fan of tactic games, I found that the causal mode helped immensely. The great thing about the game is that, you're not just controlling your main character. You are also responsible for each move your 'group' members make, and ultimately, are responsible for their deaths. On casual mode, you just get upset and move on since they'll be back after the battle anyway; but playing on normal mode, it takes a certain amount of planning and cunning to win. Not to mention, you'll be having emotional backlash when your favourite character gets killed off by a stupid decision.

The large cast of characters allows you to experiment with different weapon types. There is also a weapon triangle which allows you to take advantage of the weakness in different types in order to give you more advantage in battle. What I loved were the cutscenes that were shown whenever your characters engage in battle with the enemy. You don't merely just see the picture of the enemy get cut down! It plays out right in front of you!

The music of FE:A was fabulous. The background music during support conversations change according to the mood. A catchy little jingle is played when the interaction is humorous, a somber tune is played when the mood turns serious as the characters speak about their painful past. The battle scenes were accompanied by intense, fast paced music and differs between the places/continents. There is alot of thought put into this, and I for one wholly appreciate how well done the music really is. It deserves much of the praise it has received. 9/10

Animation gets 8/10. I wasn't a fan of the particular sprite style the game used, because it made the characters less than lifelike. I mean, it was good, but not so good that I couldn't take my eyes off of it. But I can't blame the game, since it's has to work on a hardware like the 3ds. It's obvious that the limitations of the console play a factor in this. But still, there were no lack of wow moments whenever they showed the animated cutscenes and introduced new characters with splendid artwork and managed to display them up to their knees at least. Many a waifu was born that day, and I'm sure fans of the game had their favourites.

Recommended to everyone who enjoys JRPGs and tactical, turn based combat. It's suited for a more wider variety of players due to the addition of casual play, and almost everyone will be able to enjoy it. It is a definite must have for the 3DS console. Doubtless, Fire emblem Awakening is a timeless gem that has been capturing the hearts of players ever since its release. 5/5 

Death Parade

Right, so Death parade caught my eye when it first came out, but i mostly put it off...until now. All-nighter's are an Anime Fan's best friend.

Death parades strength lies in its characters. Episodic in nature, the story gradually unravels itself as you continue watching. The first episode was extremely intense, and I think it must have turned off many anime fans or casual watchers. I would compare it to the first episode of Psycho Pass, but with no rape and less blood. But I guess it’s just a way of grabbing the potential anime watcher’s attention, though it was a little too intense for my liking. Bottom line is, the first episode was too intense, its characters were little but two dimensional cardboard characters and the only thing keeping you watching, is the mystery surrounding the plot.

Thankfully, some of your questions will be answered in episode 2. Everything is not as it seems and mistakes are made, giving us insight into the main characters. Despite being tasked with judging the souls who come into his bar, Decim is not just some godly character. As the episode wears on, it is shown that these ‘shinigami’s of sorts are able to make mistakes.

I think that this was a great twist to what seems to be an overused and clichéd plot. It allows the fans to connect with Decim in a way, because you’re both simultaneously learning about the guests whose souls are sent to be judged, and there is a palpable risk that Decim may make the wrong decision and send the wrong souls into oblivion.

Plot gets a 7/10 because as much as I like the setting and premise of death parade, the ending does not answer several of the answers it brought up during the course of the anime. Like who exactly are they working for, if ‘God’ no longer exists? And what about the woman in black? Why was she special? The ending was pretty okay. But one thing I disliked  was the addition of Nona snooping around and ‘hinting’ to the viewers that they were part of some overarching scheme, and all that buildup led to nothing in particular. It tricks the viewers into a wild goose chase, and I’m not sure I quite like that.

In addition, Death parade excels more in getting the viewers to sympathize/understand the guests and thus, capturing their attention. Or rather, the story is able to go forward because of how well the anime is able to get the character’s emotions across, and makes the viewers question if Decim’s choice was truly the ‘right’ one.

Characters gets a good 8/10 because when the credits finally roll, I just sort of sat in my chair, stunned. ‘Wow’ was all I could say. I was glad to have been part of the journey Decim and the woman in black partook in, because at the end, they have clearly changed for the better and come to terms with themselves. The anime does a great job at fleshing out the main characters, though the side characters seem just sort of…there. It doesn’t go deeper into their motivations or whatsoever. Partly why I gave it an 8 instead of a 9.

Music gets 8/10. The opening was amazing, and I can confidently say that I never skipped the opening whenever I watched a new episode. ‘Flyers’ sung by Bradio is one of my favourite openings to date, though it greatly contrasts the overall mood of the anime. The ending was less to my liking, but it did fit some episodes pretty well, particularly the more dark ones. The soundtracks on the other hand were just so-so, nothing that really stood out for me. It went well with the mood and did its job, is all I can say.

Recommended: 4/5 while it may not be for everyone, people who are looking for something borderline dark and enjoy dipping into the shallow end of psychological genre will like this. Its exploration of humans was simultaneously fun and sad to watch and one can definitely relate on a much baser level. You may see bits of yourself in the characters and while jarring, it does give you an interesting perspective. 

999 - Nine hours Nine persons Nine doors

999 proves that games can be a good story telling medium. What cannot be done with books can be done with games, as it allows one to interact with the characters and move the story forward. Another name this would be ‘visual novels’. Personally, I’ve never really played visual novels outside of the Sono Hanabira series and some indie ones.

The game starts with your character waking up in a room on a ship. Discovering that you are locked in, you try to find your way out when BAM. Disaster strikes. The only window in the room begins to crack, and water streams through the opening like an unending waterfall. At that point, I got a glimpse of what playing 999 was going to be. This game could easily have fallen flat on its face if it wasn’t fun and gripping. But it was.

And I’m glad. The puzzles are surprisingly enjoyable. Some are easy while others require a bit of thinking to get you going. Sure, the puzzles were irritating sometimes but mostly, I felt that they complimented the game perfectly. The puzzles weren’t just a means to an end. And the best part is that when trying to complete a puzzle, your character slowly discovers the truth behind the Nonary game or the backstory of game’s characters.

It may seem totally random, but as you play on, you begin to realize that every bit of info is important. Every piece of seemingly unrelated information are small scraps of cloth. Once you get enough, you begin to piece them together to try and see the whole picture.

One the first play through, I can almost guarantee that the ending will be a sucker punch to your gut. You’ll go ‘wtf?’ and end up with more questions than answers. Personally, I recommend that you play through two or three times in order to at least understand what the hell is going on.

But boy will it be worth it.

Story gets and gameplay 10/10 because honestly. It is mind blowing yet fun. That’s a difficult combination to achieve in visual novels. This is strictly speaking based on my personal experience though, so feel free to think whatever you want. People with more experience with VN may not agree and that’s okay. I’m simply stating what I think in any case.

In terms of characterisation, I’m am pleased and shocked to find that the reactions from the people in 999 (main character included) are extremely realistic, and to some extent, very accurate. You cannot take anything at face value, and if you do, you’ll best hope that the character you trust doesn’t stab you in the back.

Everyone has their motivations and selfish reasons for getting out. And the worst part is; none of them are care about stepping on toes to achieve their goals. Thankfully, Junpei is a somewhat enjoyable character, flaws and all, though there were some times I wanted to scream at my 3ds and say ARE YOU INSANE? June on the other hand, I have mixed feelings about. Sometimes, June is an independent woman. Other times, she follows Junpei around like a lost puppy. So yep, mixed feelings.

I don’t want to touch on the other characters, because it is best to get a feel of it yourself once you’ve started the game.

Characters get an 8/10.

The music is pretty brilliant as well, though I didn’t particularly notice it during some scenes. But they managed to convey the heaviness and creepiness very well, so I have nothing to dislike.

Music gets a 7.5/10.

At the end, what 999 is, is up to you. Is it a tale of friendship? A tale of star crossed lovers? Or simply just a good old fashioned revenge story, or even perhaps just a mere coincidence caused by the pickings of a madman?

It’s up to you to decide.

Recommended: 5/5

Legend of Zelda Ocarina Of Time 3DS

It would be crime to say that oneself is a gamer, without having played a single Zelda game. Or so  the internet claims. From  personal view point, Ocarina of time is interesting but definitely not for me. I liked it, no doubt about that, but I don't really feel that it is the 'Best Game Ever Made' or that sort of thing. It was a greatly unique experience, but I don't think I'll be playing through it again anytime soon, because it wore me out a little.

The story was great, much like a cinematic movie (only with you controlling the main protagonist) and it kept me forging through it to see what came next. It must have been mind blowing when it first came out on the N64. Despite not being a fan of puzzle based games, I have no doubt that I would have been mesmerized. I mean come on, time travel, exploration and a heck ton of puzzles to spend countless nights with? I imagine that it was a magical experience for everyone who played OOT back then.

Animation wise, this Zelda remake looks really beautiful. I've seen screen shots of the N64 and doubtless, the 3ds one takes the cake. While galloping through the Hyrule fields with cutie Epona, I found myself just going in circles just to admire the lushness of the grass and the ridiculously blue sky in-game. Playing on the 3ds Xl was a treat, but the gameplay on the 2ds was just as good, only less immersive.

It surprised me though, that what I loved about this game was not the game play nor the story. It was the soundtracks. Some of the songs captured my heart, and I find myself putting on my HD 598s just to enjoy the game, while Link just stands idly in-game. One of my favourites was the Minuet of the Forest and the song of the storms.

As for the gameplay, it took some time for me to get used to. It was challenging at first, but after getting out of the Deku tree, I sort of got a hang of it. Let me just say now that I dislike puzzles intensely. I didn't even get through the first game of God of War before I threw my hands up and called it quits. The puzzles in the OOT were amazing, but were hair pulling and I cannot describe how frustrated I was. But...the feeling of utter satisfaction that filled me after I completed a difficult puzzle, or finished a temple was pure bliss. A sense of accomplishment that I never knew I would feel, always raised my spirits without fail. My guess is that many players have felt similarly, back in the day of the release.

I really do want to love this game. But unfortunately, it is not a game that I would claim to be my absolute 'favourite' although it has left its mark on me. I can say that I would be picking up Majoras Mask sometime in the future, though i doubt it would be so soon.

And I have to say that this game is something that everyone should play through at least once, just to experience what captured the hearts of gamers back in the day, and still allow the current generation of gamers to reminisce fondly on when they nearly broke the hinge of their ds while playing through OOT. I wouldn't call myself a 'gamer' in that sense  as I like playing for fun. Curiousity got me to buy a copy of OOT and I was not disappointed.

Plot : 9/10

Gameplay : 8/10

Animation : 9/10

Soundtracks : 10/10

*keep in mind that i am rating this based on my personal opinion and does not mean that what i feel represents what others think of the game.

Recommendation: 5/5

Nagi No Asukara

There are just some Animes out there, that can just make you...feel. It's a challenge to stand out in a market saturated by stereotyping and more emphasis on 'moe' 'shonen' 'harems' and 'ecchi' than good story telling and characterizations. Now, I am not saying that there are no good animes, but rather the disappointment that Animes like Nagi No Asukara are few and far between. And its even harder to find such series with impeccable animation, so beautifully animated that you literally feel like you're in it.

First, let's begin with the plot. Goddamn, this series reminds me of why i dislike romance animes with love triangles. The drama never stops (I kid you not) even after several plot twists or revelations. But surprisingly, this is more of a good thing for Nagi No Asukara. The anime is really brilliant in its pacing, and the plot keeps you far more intrigued then you'd ever thought it would. It sure did for me!

I love the setting, and the way they created such a world. The underwater scenes were absolutely breathtaking, and there was just the right amount of folklore and backstories inserted into it, so that it didn't feel dry, nor did it feel like an info dump. The ending wasn't much to speak of, i would say that it clears up some things, but personally, i felt that it wasn't all that satisfying. It varies with different people, so I wouldn't let something as minor as that prevent you from watching it.

Plot gets an (8/10)

Characterizations are well done and go hand in hand with the plot. Although the ending was sort of meh, I must admit that the message Hikari sends is a rather good one, and not to mention interesting. I can't mention it for the sake of spoilers, but I must say that I wholeheartedly agreed to what he said.

One of my favourite characters from Nagi No Asukara would be Chisaki and Hikari. I feel that Chisaki is the embodiment of how love affects people in real life. She is shown to be in love with Hikari at the start, and even after coming to a revelation years later, she delivers a profound message, in that you never really stop loving someone. Even if you are separated, or you begin loving another, ultimately, you will never forget those feelings. Bittersweet yet hopeful, is the words I would use if I had to describe the ups and downs of Chisaki's characterization throughout the anime. Ultimately, I feel that she is a character that people can relate too.

On the other hand, Hikari shows his continuous growth through out the show. From a narrow minded and sheltered boy of the sea, he tries to put aside his resentment gleaned from the older generation toward those who live on the land while trying to come to terms with his feelings for Manaka. Despite not being very realistic, Hikari's growth was by far the most interesting out of the four childhood friends. Of course, the side characters also play an important role in our main character's development, but overall, I loved Chisaki and Hikari's development the most.

Characters get a whopping (9/10) and the only reason it doesn't get full marks from me, is due to the fact that while Manaka was an interesting enough character, i felt that her character development was next to zilch, other than certain revelations and some tinny scenes where she showed how much she had grown.

Animation gets a (10/10) and the score is pretty self explanatory. Just watch one episode, and you'll realize how good the crisp, quality of the scenes are. I felt like this anime was spoiling me, with the amount of beautiful scenes it threw at me at 1080p.

Soundtracks and OSTs also get a (10/10), the openings and endings were phenomenal and there were scenes in which i would close my eyes just to listen to the bgm. If I had to choose, I would say that Nagi no Asukara's soundtracks would top Madoka Magica on my list.

5/5 : Recommended for EVERYONE, regardless of whether you like romance or not. Give it a try, i think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatte Iru Light Novel

Since the amazing experience that was season 1, I started on the first few episodes of season 2. To be completely honest, I had hated the new character designs at first. It was all so...bishonen like. Not that I have anything against bishonen, it's just that it looked wrong on Hikigaya Hachiman. His face was previously full of sharp lines, dead fish eyes and had sharper facial features. Now, it seems to have been sanded off, into a round pretty looking face.

I guess that i felt that it was going against his character, who was said to be unattractive in a sense. Thankfully, the change in designs did NOT change other character's reactions/interactions with him. You could say that it sort of grew on me as well.

With the usual pace of release for subbed episodes, I got impatient and started on the light novel.

Yes. From the very first one.

It was kinda painful to read about all the events that i had already previously seen, but it was a good refresher as well. I loved reading about all the events in first person perspective (Hikigaya's) and it made me enjoy the novels all the more.

The first few novels have a rather cheery and light hearted atmosphere, focusing more on comedy. The interactions between members of the service club were stellar, and I could really see why this novel is as popular as it is. At first glance, I felt that the writing was too 'simplistic' or 'amatuerish'. But that is just me being a lowlife, so ignore that.

But as I continued reading, the writing became a thing of beauty.

 The way the sentences melded together, the flowery but hard hitting paragraphs that conveyed the emotions the characters felt...it was absolutely wonderful.

After the first few novels, the atmosphere starts to take a rather different turn. I think it was the sixth or seventh novel maybe?

The problems of our main characters (namely Hachiman, Yukino and Yui) begin to surface. Their problems were always there, but it was at that point where things started to change. Wataru Watari brought another level to writing that I've never seen before. The novel began to show their true colours, their beliefs, what drove them to act as they did. It was addicting, to see the them try to fix themselves, piece by piece and for them to admit their short comings.

There were times the novel made my chest clench in pain, and flutter with unbridled joy at others. Wataru Watari's writing is truly a thing of beauty. I look forward to seeing how season 2 does the anime justice, and what happens on vol 10.

The Wolf Among Us

Well, my plans for watching two animes in a month have gone down under. With the looming presence of school and temptation of games, it's difficult to prioritize i guess. But without further ado, let's get on with it yeah?

I was expecting great things for this game, and i have to say that i am NOT disappointed. The story was thrilling, each twist and turn was nicely done and without the use of horrible cliches while still making it feel original. Based off an award winning comic series, it's great that someone managed to do it justice.

This game works as a standalone, and since i haven't read Fables yet, I can't really say how this game compares to it. But after poking around the internet for some time, I found that The wolf among us is set several years before the first issue of Fables. So basically, it's a win win situation for the fans and newcomers like myself.

I really like games which let you have the freedom of choice, i.e how you choose to let your character react to situations and interactions with people. It definitely makes you feel much more 'connected' to the characters and the story which is a good thing, because you KNOW that the choices you make will affect what happen in the end,

The game graphics are really splendid, the noir look with a palette of dark and neon, it certainly fits the overall somber mood. Its pleasing to look at, and you can even gauge whether certain characters are lying by their facial features. It made me feel like a real detective on the scent of a criminal sans suspect, I try to read between their words and actions, and nothing is as it seems. The question i ask myself most frequently while playing this game is without a doubt:

Who's lying?

Overall, it is definitely a game all vita owners should try at least once. Unfortunately, one bone i have to pick with the game would probably be the exhausting loading times and the lag during action scenes. Or maybe the Vita just lacks the horse power to fully push the game to its full potential. Often times, i find myself thrown off during the game when i am about to make a decision. The game stutter to a halt, and leaves me panicked and angry, since there's always the chance that even a split second would render me unable to decide my character's fate.

I would second the Vita game, ONLY if you don't have a computer strong enough to handle the game. If you do have one, then i would suggest getting that instead of the vita version, as fun as it is. However, those who lack a good computer or just prefer consoles, then The Wolf Among Us is a must buy.

Naruto The Last Movie

With a title like 'The Last' Naruto movie, you can be sure that even non-naruto fans would watch it. After all, the final movie following the end of the super popular shonen manga is something that anime fans cannot miss, even if you dislike shonen. For many, Naruto was a gateway to the anime world, and for others, it may have been the one and only anime series they have ever watched. No matter, you can be damn sure that everyone would be there to experience 'the end' of the naruto anime franchise.

I doubt that the end'll be so soon though, because seriously. Who can forget Naruto, as an anime or a manga? It's left its mark so deeply in the anime world that it seems unlikely that it would be going away any time soon.

The story is set two years after the end of the manga/anime, and shows us an older cast of characters. They more or less have the same personalities, but with longer hair (or less hair in Naruto's case) and more mature faces.

The movie kicks off with a scene of a time before any ninja villages were born (as if everyone didn't know already!) and unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, you'll be hard pressed to not understand it all. Fast forward, and I was suddenly seeing an older Naruto teaching a small group of students, whilst being bombarded by hero praise from the rest of the students in school. It seems that he has been pushed into hero status, something I was clearly shown to the start and to the end of the movie.

And from there, the ball gets rolling. Surprisingly, the plot gets pushed to the back burner in favour of showing the budding romance between Naruto and Hinata. The NaruHina ship has sailed folks, and fans will be drooling all over this new movie, featuring 90% more fluff and romance than the entire Naruto anime combined. As the movie goes on, you can tell that this movie is not a closure of any sort.

It's fanservice. The highest quality kind.

Most things Naruto fans wished they could see on screen are present, a Kakashi baring his usually hidden eye for the world to see, romance (fucking finally), older characters and konoha citizens wetting themselves over Naruto himself.

Yep. Who cares about the villian, we know he's going to lose anyway. But i do have to say that the scene where the villian and heroes resolved everything was angsty, especially his sentence as he was walking away. One liners have always been a personal pet peeve of mine anyway.

7.5/10 and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Akuma no riddle

I am having mixed thoughts about this.

Plot: 6/10

I really wanted to like the story. Honestly. It had plenty of potential to succeed, but unfortunately, the anime was hindered by too many stupid plot twists, a rather 'cliche' setting, and an overall very disappointing ending. I can tell that the show is trying to be profound and philosophical, and while it was interesting for the first few episodes and relevant to the episodic nature of each episode, it slowly became somewhat of a joke.

The riddles which previously held meaning in letting me dechiper the characters' motives became extremely relevant. And for that I am sad and disappointed. There's a large amount of foreshadowing in Akuma no riddle, but the sin is that non of these little 'hints' even mattered because it did not contribute to the ending AT ALL! So much potential, wasted. And to add insult to injury, despite it being a show revolving around death and killing, there sure is very little of it. Knife? The main character was more likely to die by strangulation than by bullet wounds or knife wounds.

Characters: 6.5/10

There is too little known about the characters. And there are alot of plot holes, and i mean A LOT. Why is Haru being targeted by people of the same clan if she wasn't part of the main family; aka. the heir? That's just one of the many questions that will be rolling around in your head after finishing the last episodes.

Other than being there to move the plot forward, the other assassins are pretty much useless. You could have replaced them and not even blinked an eye. Tokaku could have been switched out with any one of these characters and voila, the show would have had the same outcome/ending. It pretty much says alot about the importance of characters here.

Animation and OSTs: 9/10

The fights scenes are splendid to watch and the characters are all animated beautifully. Sharp features, the way the characters killer intent were shown through the eyes was just wonderful. Another thing the anime had going for it was the music. Twelve different endings for twelve different characters. The way the music managed to make me scared or excited is also a plus point. It's too bad the cons outweigh the pros.

Recommendation: 1/5

Some forgettable characters and a very unsatisfying ending. Unless you like animes wherein the main character cannot be killed (she fell of a building for pete's sake) and are just there to appreciate the amazing character visuals, I advise that you not watch this.

Thoughts: Selector Spread Wixoss (contains spoilers)

So this post will round up my feelings for the second season of Selector, while trying to digest all the revelations made by the last episode.

It was a pretty amazing and satisfying ending for the characters. For the fans, maybe not so much. There is still too much left unknown by the anime, especially since Spread occasionally broke its own rules thus causing confusion. I think the creators of the show did a great job for what it was worth. Stuffing all that into 12 episodes must not have been a easy feat.

Its hard to believe all this spawned from a card game isn't it?

The title is actually a bloody reference to the whole show. Can you believe it? Mind blowing actually. As if the revelation of the real meaning of LRIG wasn't mind blowing enough in the first season.

'Selector' actually refers to the ability to select, or in simpler terms, make a choice. The girl in the white room, Mayu, had no options to choose and thus, born out of jealousy she names the girls 'selectors'. Pretty nifty thing to do if you ask me.

Wixoss makes a lot more sense when you think about the whole thing. Pronounced 'We-cross' I think it actually refers to the birth of an eternal girl, where the LRIG and the selector trade places. Again, when you think about the title of the anime, it feels like a veil has been lifted. I was literally wowed by this. Seriously. First LRIG and now this?? Whoever made this anime deserves to get the award for this.

Speaking of the anime (it looks like i went off track), there were definitely MORE yuri moments. Ulith and Akira? Yeah, the sexual tension between them is fucking insane (pardon my french) and I got some similar vibes from Yuki (Iona) and Ruko as well. Not to mention the appearance of Midoriko HOLY SHIT that girl deserves a damn award for being able to find Hitoe. Again. That's dedication if I ever saw it.

On the other hand, i think that while they handled the ending for Yuzuki, Mayu and Chiyori well, the rest of the characters were sort of left hanging. How did Iona get back to her own body? I mean, if she was 'between' two cards/bodies, and was able to enter back, wouldn't it mean that some other LRIG could do the same thing? Yeah, they kind of glossed over that part.

My favorite characters this time were surprisingly, Chiyori and Eldora. The playfulness of the two plus their amazing dynamic was just pure gold to watch. Despite rooting for Ruko and Tama, i couldn't help but hope that Chiyori managed to fulfill her wishes too.

The ending was satisfying and sort of bitter sweet. But the overall message was nice. I liked the positive vibes, especially with Ruko's monologue and the appearance of Tama at the last end. Other people may have been upset that it didn't end up like they expected (namely in tears and tragedy with a smidge of angst) but i thought it was pretty great. I'm glad I started this series. I now have something to obesses over. Good job creators.

Rewatch value is there for the second season. First, maybe not so much. Bah, who cares I'll be coming back to rewatch it anyway.

Selector Infected Wixoss

Motherfucking plot twist. That's all i can say.

The basic premise of the show is that the main character, a girl by the name of Ruko, gets a deck of cards from the recently popular card game, WIXOSS (pronounced we-cross) and finds a LRIG in one of the cards. Henceforth, Ruko becomes a 'selector' and is able to battle other girls in order to fulfill their 'wishes'. However, as the show goes on she starts to discover the darker side of this card game and the consequences that follow.

I quite enjoyed the anime, despite the irregular pacing. Many accuse the show of being a Madoka Magica ripoff but let's face it, most animes are never original. Usually, they're inspired by other shows of the same genre, so there's no point in pointing out how X and Y parts of Selector Infected Wixoss have the same vibe/psychological theme as Madoka Magica. But enough of my rambling and let's get on to what I liked about the show.

PLOT: 7/10

It started off as your usual generic magical girl anime (but replace magic with LRIGs) with Ruko coincidentally finding Tama, an adorable white haired girl, amidst her deck of Wixoss cards. From then on, the plot begins to take shape. However, the ball doesn't start rolling until episode 2 or 3, not surprising as it only has 13 episodes. Overall I liked how the story defied my expectations. The plots twists were well executed and not so unrealistic that it made you go 'wtf' while watching.

The ending was extremely unexpected as well, one would've never thought that the anime would end in such a way. Though i should be angry at the cliffhanger the show left off with, I think it made me more hyped for the second season. Though the story had many good twists, there were also many unanswered questions, due to the show breaking some of it's own rules.

Satisfying? No.

 Enjoyable? Yes, definitely. 

CHARACTERS: 6/10

Look, I love the cast of characters. I really do. But there's a fine line between being 'generous' and 'stupid' (Yes Hitoe, I'm looking at you). I felt that Ruko didn't have much development. I mean sure, she eventually realized what she wanted and etc. but overall, it was predictably generic and i could sense what was coming from a mile away. Not only that, they focused much of the development on the supporting cast instead of their own main character.

Yuzuki's development was brilliant, and honestly, it was heartbreaking. Her fiery and determined personality makes a nice balance to Ruko's occasional airheaded moments and serves as a good contrast between them; Ruko having no wishes and Yuzuki with a wish that she's willing to do anything to fulfill. I loved the dynamic. She's my favourite character in the show, with Ruko right behind her. At best, Ruko's development was sort of meh. Some small flashbacks here and there, but not much. Although, the relationship with her grandmother really shines through. It was flawlessly executed, and i found myself wishing to see more of those heartwarming scenes.

Hitoe on the other hand...

I felt that the spotlight was focused on her. I didn't particularly like it or hate it, but i wished they had concentrated more on Ruko instead. Yes, I sympathized with Hitoe and her position, and yes i do respect her wish, but i felt that she was a pretty generic character. Her development was pretty predictable, and it was what it was. The plot was also quite heavily centered around her, which can be a good or a bad thing based on how you feel about her.

All i can say is that I hope Ruko gets more development in the second season. And also, that cute little chibi at the extreme left of the poster? Yeah, she only appears in one episode so you can forget about watching Selector Infector Wixoss if you want the spotlight to focus on her. Yet another 'silica' if I have to compare her to someone.

OSTs: The ending really suits the somber and dark theme of the show. The music at times can be forgettable, but the more intense scenes is where it shines. Opening was enjoyable, but the ending really takes the cake for me.

ENJOYMENT: 7.5/10 

Some parts shined through while others just sort of flew over my head. It's a good anime to pass time but  not especially spectacular. It was a fun and mind bending ride and i would watch again if I'm in the mood for angst.