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Imagine a comic book that tries too hard to be a novel, and a novel that struggles a lot to be a comic book. Then, mix these two concepts. That's what type of manga "Koukaku Kidoutai" is, I feel.

The visual layer is very pleasing to the eye. The designs are well thought out, the characters stand out from each other in terms of appearance, and the illustrations are full of detail. The numerous color pages are especially good. Unfortunately, this is where the positives regarding the art end. The detail-rich illustrations are often very crowded, which makes it hard to follow what is happening in ... a given scene. Additionally, the paneling is inconsistent, leading many times to sequences that are simply chaotic. There are also several sex scenes depicted in this manga. While lewd jokes or remarks fit the overall vibe of this manga, these scenes felt forced, as if they were added for the sake of including more spicy content. They were drawn very well and from an artistic point of view they did not bother me at all. It's just that their placement felt weird.

The writing has similar pros and cons to the art. Good concepts, rather well-written characters with their own distinct personalities and ambitions, nicely handled dialogues among certain groups of people featured in the story, and a lot of care put into small details and explanations... To the point (and here starts, as you've guessed right, the less optimistic part of this section) of dialogues feeling stiff, as if characters were reading their lines from a prompter filled with overly long technobabble, to make the whole scene feel like a chore to read. To make things worse, there are a lot of author comments in the form of text. Some might see this as an advantage and a sign of attention to detail, however, as someone who likes comics and does not mind lengthy descriptions, as you can see in for example many graphic novels, I did not like this way of narration. Here you can see why I started this review by mentioning that this manga seems to want to be too many types of literature at the same time. The downside of such a scenario is that, in essence, this manga ends up not being a very good manga. Not a bad one either. Just closer to something average, despite its complexity and overall vibe.

While I respect its cult status and understand why "Ghost in the Shell" has become an iconic work of art representing the cyberpunk genre, I don't think it's for everyone. It's hard for me to recommend it in general. I can imagine even mild cyberpunk enthusiasts getting tired of reading it at some point. Not because it's intellectually challenging, even though it has a lot of thought-provoking moments and technology-oriented elements. It's because you don't feel like you're reading a manga, but rather a bizarre hybrid; a work of art dedicated to a specific group of readers (huge, devoted fans of cyberpunk), all while forgetting about the technical aspects of a manga that make it both enjoyable to read and capable of offering its own atmosphere with all its uniqueness and depth. That's why I don't recommend it in general, unless you are someone who is really, really fond of everything related to cyberpunk.

"Kizuoibito", also known in English as "Wounded Man", is truly a rollercoaster of emotions. I will keep this review spoiler-free, but keep in mind that very basic info, such as the one available in the synopsis on this anime's page on MyAnimeList by the time of writing this review, will be featured a little without treating it as a spoiler.

Going back to the reviewed show, it tells the story of Keisuke Ibaraki, whose life turned upside down one day, got ruined, and turned this young man from a talented athlete into a revenger - a man seeking revenge for the awful things that not only ... affected him, but also people who were dear to him. Who did it? Why? What kind of people suffered alongside Keisuke? Viewers will find all the answers in this anime.

This anime likes to play with contrasts. When we meet Keisuke, he is already long past his "mental transformation". He seems mysterious, emotionally drained, almost wild, but it's only a facade meant to allow his vengeance to proceed according to his plan. We learn his true story only a bit later, which is why the "bad first impression" (let's call it that to avoid spoilers) may change, perhaps not so much into sympathy or an attempt to fully understand him, but into compassion. A human approach toward, as the title suggests, a wounded man. This applies only to the viewers, as the characters within the anime not only may sympathize with Keisuke, but also become his friends and help him carry the burden of revenge. Depending on a character, that is.

A wide range of different characters, each with their own pasts or dreams, standing shoulder to shoulder with Keisuke, is a very well executed element. It blends perfectly with the individual parts of the story, regardless of whether they are more action-centered story arcs, or slower ones. This OVA consists of only five episodes, so I wouldn't expect too much complexity that can be seen in, say, much longer anime.

As for the visual layer, "Wounded Man" is executed properly. Good still shots, pleasant animation, and very solid direction appropriate for the weight of specific moments. Musically, it is also without major flaws. Despite the fact that this anime is not particularly "full of sakuga" like some OVAs from that era, I believe it is simply made in a solid and competent way.

When it comes to the music itself, it is also of good quality. It includes tracks and motifs that even a larger live-action action movie production from the same decade (1980s) would not be ashamed of.

Since both the script and the audiovisual layer are good, it is worth considering the final score. While I do recommend this anime, after reading the manga it is hard for me to give it a higher rating for the sake of this review (even though it is still slightly higher than the one I gave "Wounded Man" on my list). Some scenes may feel a bit confusing or overly simple, while in the manga they are not only more fleshed out, but also given proper context. This OVA captures the spirit of the manga, but one needs to be aware that story-wise it is simply inferior.

Oh, and of course, this anime features scenes that might be considered too disturbing for some viewers, so be warned. It is dedicated to adults who do not mind seeing certain types of content that modern viewers may find too offensive to watch ("trigger inducing", I believe it's called like this). So if you don't like that kind of thing, I recommend either passing on this show, or just watching the first episode and seeing if you're fine with that kind of content.

It’s always refreshing to watch a fantasy anime that isn’t yet another isekai, but instead takes a more old-school approach to the genre. It’s even better when you already know the source material and see it adapted not only faithfully, but also with real attention to detail and clear respect for the original story. The Clevatess show truly belongs to that rare and humble group of anime adaptations that get everything right.

This review is spoiler-free, so for basic details about the story, I recommend checking out the synopsis. Now let’s go over a few key elements of the show.

Visually, Clevatess stands out with a unique, ... painterly art style that adds to the fairy-tale atmosphere and highlights the fantasy setting. The vibrant colors and illustrations, which look a bit like painted artwork, help build the world and create a strong visual identity. This lets viewers really feel like they’re entering the fantasy world of Edthea. Both indoor scenes and wide landscapes keep the same high artistic quality and consistent style throughout. But this doesn’t mean the anime looks sweet or light. Actually, it’s the opposite. This is a dark fantasy. Luckily, the art style works just as well when showing darker, more violent, or even tragic moments. The show does not hold back from gore or intense scenes when the story calls for it, and these parts are made with just as much care as everything else.

The animation offers a good balance between slower, character-focused moments and faster, action-filled scenes. This makes it easy to stay immersed, whether the episode is focused on emotional dialogue or intense battles. The action scenes are not constant, but when they happen, they are well-animated and include a fair number of sakuga moments. I wouldn’t call it a "sakugafest" because it’s not always on that level, but overall, it looks strong across all types of scenes.

The music fits the anime very well. It matches the dark fantasy mood and emotional depth, always paying attention to how each track affects the feeling of a scene. Composer Nobuaki Nobusawa created a soundtrack that shifts smoothly between dramatic orchestral pieces and softer, more thoughtful ones. This helps support both the large scale of the story and the more personal, emotional parts. One thing I found especially cool is how the opening theme sets a strong tone with its high energy and emotional weight, while the ending theme brings in a softer, more reflective feeling. This contrast fits the show perfectly, as it also moves between intense conflicts and quiet, human struggles. The music lifts the story even higher and supports the same kind of contrast I mentioned earlier when talking about the art.

As you’d expect from a high-quality anime, the voice acting is excellent. Clevatess keeps that standard. All the voices feel well-matched to the characters. In fact, many of them sounded exactly how I imagined when I was reading the manga. I was especially impressed with Clen, Alicia, Nelluru, and the rest of the cast, because they all sounded just right.

The characters themselves are well-written and full of personality. Each of them has their own goals, fears, and wishes. This includes both the main characters and the villains. It fits perfectly with the dark fantasy setting and adds depth to the already interesting, well-written story about a powerful being, often seen as an apex evil creature, who ends up taking care of a small, powerless child. This makes the show even more enjoyable to follow.

I really can’t recommend the Clevatess anime enough. I know that perhaps my score might be seen as too high by many, but as a fan of the Clevatess manga I think this anime adaptation is simply perfect. It’s also truly one of the hidden gems among anime released in the early years of the Reiwa era. :)

One of the worst things a fan of any manga series can experience is an underwhelming anime adaptation - not just one that fails to meet expectations, but one that completely misses the essence of the original, even making it look unintentionally laughable at times. Saint Seiya: Saintia Shou is exactly that kind of adaptation.

At first, it didn’t seem all that bad. A great source material and an anime style reminiscent of the original series (evoking the iconic works of Shingo Araki and Michi Himeno), yet with its own soul and distinct visual identity. Saintia Shou managed to develop its own, unique look, despite the ... clear inspiration. The first episode wasn’t terrible either (though not amazing). I remember feeling cautiously optimistic about the series. Well… I was wrong. As for the rest of the episodes? Overall, they ranged from mediocre to outright bad.

First of all, the visuals. It’s hard to watch characters whose proportions change at random moments. Heck, the heads, especially the heads, look completely off in relation to the rest of the body in way too many moments. You can see this even in the opening, in that scene where Shouko is looking up at the sky. It's just painful to look at. In most anime, openings tend to be visually impressive - often better animated than the series itself. In Saintia Shou’s case, the OP actually reflects the overall quality of the anime and doesn't even try to hide it (see the aforementioned example). Is that a good thing? Yes and no. Yes, because at least it’s honest (I know, it sounds like I’m trying to find something positive where there really isn’t anything, lol); no, because... well, the anime looks the way it looks. Sure, it’s colorful, full of vibrant tones, and it technically has animation when it needs it... but when push comes to shove, the animation is extremely limited (in one scene, an entire action sequence is reduced to a slideshow of stills), and the art style can go from beautiful stills to a frame showing Saori with a wildly disproportionate head.

As for the story, it’s adapted more or less faithfully up to a certain point. After that, the plot starts to fall apart, and the gap between the manga and the anime-original content becomes very apparent. Putting aside its obvious inferiority to the source material, from a purely neutral standpoint, it wasn’t that bad. Don’t get me wrong - it wasn’t good either. But it did a passable job wrapping up the story in a way that felt… acceptable. It could have been worse. If the show was always meant to last just one cour, then this kind of rushed closure was inevitable. It couldn’t be helped, and I genuinely believe the writers tried to craft an ending that was at least serviceable.

That’s not to say the show has no merits. Credit where credit’s due: the attempt to emulate the original anime’s character designs was admirable; there were some nice, detailed still frames; the soundtrack was fairly solid and fit the show’s atmosphere; and the opening theme was a total banger (and it was sung by the voice actresses who voiced Shouko, Kyouko, Saori, and Mii, which was a really cool thing to hear). And… that’s pretty much it.

To sum up, Saintia Shou is an anime I’d recommend only to the most dedicated fans of the Saint Seiya franchise - whether they’re familiar with the manga or not. And believe me, it pains me to say that. Everyone else? I’d recommend reading the manga first, and only then deciding whether this adaptation is worth checking out - even if just out of curiosity. I mean, sure, you can watch it, but honestly, there are plenty of other one-cour series out there far more worthy of your time than Saintia Shou.

Slice-of-life anime, stop-motion animation, and Pokémon? Sounds quite amazing and unusual, but Pokémon Concierge proves that this mix can absolutely work. From the character designs to the landscapes (that resort island looks so comfy!), and all the way to the writing and the soothing soundtrack - everything just fits together perfectly, resulting in an entertaining story full of heartwarming and funny moments. It’s all balanced in a way that gives the anime a smooth, natural flow. Speaking of natural elements, the characters, while the Pokémon understandably and obviously take center stage, also feel realistic, with no overly exaggerated reactions or forced, artificially distinct personalities. Just ... pure realism and authenticity.

Pokémon Concierge is an adorable, lighthearted slice-of-life show that’s suitable for just about any viewer. It also proves that the Pokémon franchise, though typically focused on battles between trainers and their Pokémon, is rich enough to support a variety of anime styles, even ones you might not expect. It’s a fresh and charming addition to the franchise, and definitely worth checking out—whether you’re a longtime Pokémon fan or not.

Cowboy Bebop might be one of the best anime that I can't wholeheartedly recommend, simply because of its imbalance in various structural elements. This lack of balance causes great elements to coexist simultaneously with visibly underwhelming ones, which look even worse when placed next to the former. I'm talking here about technical aspects. They'll be addressed the most in this review, so no worries. This review is spoiler-free.

Cowboy Bebop's greatest strength is definitely its audiovisual side and direction (both combined). Everything is refined to the smallest degree. Beautiful backgrounds, character designs, vehicle models, locations, attention to detail and exposure. To this day, it can easily ... be considered one of the best-looking TV anime that was ever released. Good visuals can not be enough in an animated series if they are not followed by decent direction and proper animation. Cowboy Bebop offers such elements in an impressing way. Superb direction allows viewers to immerse into various types of scenes, let them be slower or faster; and smooth animation makes each sequence, dynamic or static, feel extremely organic and natural, without losing that unique visual feeling and touch. In short, they were brilliantly harmonized. Not to forget the "show, don't tell", elements, which work extremely well and contribute to the overall experience. Their weaker usage, in my opinion, is during scenes related to the main plotline, but even then, they do their job really well.

When it comes to the soundtrack, I need to mention one thing beforehand. I'm not a fan of jazz music, so I did not like many tracks playing in the background during a decent amount of episodes. But putting my subjective music taste aside, again, it cannot be denied that the soundtrack itself is also a strong point. A diverse mix of various music genres (jazz, blues, rock), fitting the moments during which it played, at least for most of the part. Sure, some tunes could feel generic or repetitive at times, but it's not easy to make that well-done and consistent soundtrack. Be it to the anime or any other show.

Another thing worth noting that was absolutely fantastic about this show (even more than its audiovisual aspects) is the creativity in the implementation of popular culture's references, and addressing issues typical for futurology. This anime was made in the late 1990s, but managed to address a lot of things that are still contemporary, or are still debated as probable challenges in the future. Junk food, environment's devastation, gender roles, pollution, extreme consumptionism, and many more.

I could write a lot about the aforementioned elements, but it'd be too boring and without any substance to this review. "Substance" is a good word to use here. I saw some people referring to Cowboy Bebop as "anime that is style over substance", praising its value, but complaining about the show kind of ruining many opportunities to be way better than just "a beautifully animated action series on display". I agree that it is indeed "style over substance", but I don't consider it something negative. It's just the main concept for a show. One might like it, one might not, but it's still there and I don't think that the studio trying to execute said main concept as good as they can is anywhere close to a con.

No, that's not the biggest issue one can have with Cowboy Bebop. For me, its biggest problem is its episodic nature. With episodic storytelling, some episodes are great, and others are so boring it seems like they were made solely to meet the planned episode count. Such discrepancy is normal. Not all episodes need to be near perfection. Heck, many episodic anime are repetitive. I dislike that, but accept it as a pivotal element of episodic shows. That being said, Cowboy Bebop struggles with writing consistency. Messy and chaotic storytelling makes you worry whether the next episode will be as boring as the one you've just finished, or whether an extremely good one will be followed by something visibly inferior.

All of these cons could've been weakened to a certain degree if the main cast was decent enough to make viewers invested in tracking their adventures. The thing is... I found most crew members unlikable, bland, and annoying at times. "Most" is imprecise, so I'll just say: all but Jet. Getting episodes elaborating on their backgrounds in the second cour of the series was a nice touch, but didn't change my mind about them. You'd expect, if not better written, then at least characters with more dimensional personalities.

Speaking about the second cour, one more thing I'd like to note: I found it hard to get through the first part of this show. If it weren't for the high production quality, I would've dropped it for good, not just for several years until I randomly thought of giving this anime a second chance. Episodes in the second half are significantly better written, and their episodic structure isn't a problem by any means, since the writing quality is simply improved. The fact that those episodes are self-contained only makes them more intriguing to watch. Weird thing to hear from someone who complained about Cowboy Bebop's episodic nature, eh? Well, not quite. I'm aware that it could have felt different if, for example, the first cour had those episodes and the second cour had the first cour's weaker episodes. I'd have complained about the second half instead, though perhaps I wouldn't have dropped this show. Who knows?

"Episodic this, episodic that", but what about the main story? Cowboy Bebop has one. Cowboy Bebop has one. It's scattered throughout the whole series in the form of present action, flashbacks, and exposition, but it's there. It's mediocre, and I'm not just talking about it being clichéd. Not only that. It's just an average story that's more like a break from "your weekly episode", with a dull, generic villain and underwhelming writing. Mind you, I'm saying this with the understanding that this anime was released in the 1990s. Even then, its writing left much to be desired. But hey, it's extremely solid-looking, beautifully directed, and emanating a grand atmosphere. Kind of like "style over substance", no?

That's pretty much it. Did I enjoy this anime? In general, yes. It was a fun ride, despite many boring episodes that were hard to go through. Do I recommend it? It's complicated. That's why my final verdict, despite relatively good score, is "Mixed Feelings". I mean, it's worth checking out and it's great, but if you don't feel any nostalgia towards it, hate episodic anime, or dislike space stuff no matter how well it looks, then I think it'd be better to just pass on it. It's good, but not as good as some of its hardcore fans try to make it look. It is a classic and will be remembered in the future, that's for sure. But is it essential to watch? Is it a life-changing experience (if watching an anime can be one, lol)? I don't think so.

Thank you for reading. ;-)

Dragon Ball Daima is truly a love letter not only for all Dragon Ball fans, but also for all fans of the works created by the late Akira Toriyama. You can feel the original author's touch throughout the anime. He had a huge influence on it, after all. It is full of references and fanservice from various manga created by Toriyama-sensei's, but all of those elements blend so well with Daima's setting that it should not be an issue for viewers less familiar with either non-Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball works.

As for the story, Dragon Ball Daima offers a fine mix of adventure and gag ... humor (known from the original Dragon Ball anime), and epic action with flashy transformations (that are characteristic to Dragon Ball Z). By that, Daima balances well-known tropes and themes, mixes them, and offers an experience previously present only in the decades-old Dragon Ball GT. What's more, it allows viewers to discover more details about the Demon Realm - a part of the Dragon Ball universe that many fans wanted to see more of in an original storyline. With its cast of interesting brand-new characters (whether they are friends, foes, or neutral) and new, unseen-before lore details being revealed in many episodes, we get a fine example of nostalgia meeting innovation.

The awesome visuals and fluid animation, especially (though not exclusively) during action sequences, make Dragon Ball Daima a pleasure to watch. The good soundtrack, especially the "banger" songs from the opening and ending themes, further elevates the viewing experience. I won't mention voice acting, because it is superb, as it has always been in Dragon Ball (or, more specifically, in the anime industry). Masako Nozawa's performance as Goku in Daima might be one of the best out of all Dragon Ball anime.

I had a lot of fun watching this show. It had its cons here and there. Yeah, it was not perfect, and surely there will be fans who would not be happy with the new stuff or rich, sometimes over the top fanservice, which this series is abundant in. But you know what? I loved this show despite its flaws or shortcomings. Dragon Ball Daima works extremely well both as a Dragon Ball anime and as a fun animated series telling a cool story.

Rest in peace, Toriyama-sensei. Thank you for Daima, Dragon Ball, and all the other works you have ever worked on.

B'T X Neo is a great sequel to the original TV series. It not only has better writing but also offers an upgrade in the technical side of this animated series as a whole.

About the writing, B'T X Neo is darker, grittier, with a more dramatic atmosphere, compared to the regular B'T X. I totally liked that change. It fits the overall tone of the later arcs and the climax itself. It also allows for a better portrayal of things that, sadly, were not present in the TV series, I mean many significant characters' backgrounds or motivations.

The soundtrack has improved over the TV series. The ... greater variety of songs and their matching to the scenes they accompany makes the whole thing more comfortable and immersive to watch. Just like in B'T X's opening theme's case, Neo's opening theme is a total banger of a song. Not better than the previous one, but still awesome.

When it comes to art style and animation, the OVA series is also an improvement. Art style remains pretty much the same. It doesn't have drastic changes, but that's good. What felt underwhelming when watching the TV series was the animation. It was not bad, but not good either. Just average. Luckily, B'T X Neo has better animation in general. That also includes the direction and dynamism of both action scenes and more timid ones.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. A brilliant conclusion to the show and a visible upgrade in many aspects of the prequel series. Sure, it is not without any cons and some things could've been done better, but for 14 episodes, I think B'T X Neo is packed with very decent content coated with well-done audiovisuals. In short, different types of shortcomings are covered by elements that are polished and simply properly made.

Have you ever imagined yourself staring at a freshly painted wall, watching the paint slowly dry, and occasionally getting disturbed by the interesting world outside? If not, then you can just watch MF Ghost Season 2. It offers a similarly tedious experience.

The race itself was promising, but in the end it turned out badly. The long racing sequences effectively reduce the enjoyment of watching all the participants' actions. Sure, they are interrupted from time to time by a good-looking moment with eurobeat playing in the background, but one or two brief epic moments are definitely not enough to save the whole episode.

Speaking of the participants' ... actions, one important problem with the characters in this anime is their colorless personalities and monotonous dialogue. The repetition of the same sentiment, expressed in slightly different ways by numerous competitors at similar points in the race, became increasingly irritating over several episodes, especially when spoken by characters who lacked distinct personalities. The dialogue became so irritating that I eventually lost interest in the race itself. Expert commentary on the cars, driving techniques, and technical aspects offered a glimmer of hope, but, as with the race presentation, these moments were insufficient to offset the annoying dialogue. Combined with a boring race, this gives a rather negative mix. It's puzzling, because the race itself had potential, and similar dialogue issues weren't as bothersome in the first season.

The plot follows the typical MF Ghost formula: races, bizarre moments involving "angels," and even stranger slice-of-life scenes that feel completely detached from reality. While some might say it's similar to MF Ghost S1, the first season at least delivered more engaging races. Ironically, while these bizarre moments were annoying in Season 1, they almost felt like a relief in Season 2, given the tedium of the racing sequences.

Visually, Season 2 is on par with Season 1, perhaps with slightly more complex effects due to the weather changes during the races. The music is also consistent, with the same level of eurobeat intensity and a great selection of tracks.

I consider MF Ghost Season 2 a definite downgrade from the first season. While it might offer some entertainment if you can overlook its flaws, I personally can't recommend it. It has completely dampened my interest in future seasons. This is disappointing, because the Lake Ashinoko GT arc initially seemed promising and had the potential for a strong season.

Interesting and unique premise that mixes two different cultures, and totally awesome visuals with stunning animation encoated with a good-looking art style. One would think that a show with these two elements couldn't be bad. Well, Afro Samurai is a model example that they're not enough to make an anime good or even mediocre. Not when all other elements are significantly underwhelming.

All characters, no matter whether we are talking about the main character, Afro, or any other side-characater, were one-dimensional and dull. Those who weren't dull were annoying enough to make a regular viewer cringe and wish they'd just shut up. Going back to the ... characters in general, they felt more like background noise in a pretty much empty story. Their designs were good, but everything else felt shallow and usually was, aside from a few characters with more prominent roles. But even then, they seemed to serve no purpose beyond being another obstacle in Afro's journey of revenge, without offering any real substance.

Here's another issue with Afro Samurai: revenge stories usually follow a well-known model scenario that's pretty basic. This makes them generic and simple, but also safe, as it's hard to make such a story terribly bad. Sadly, this anime falls into the category of badly told revenge stories. Was it even a revenge story to begin with? To avoid spoilers, I will just say that I'm not a fan of messy writing that can't decide on what kind of core element should be pivotal for the story, even if one can find something that can be called as a dominant storytelling element of a plot.

The music is catchy and pleasant at first, but later on, the soundtrack becomes a boring, repetitive symphony of similar beats. I wanted to like it; it wasn't a bad soundtrack by any means. However, it couldn't elevate the other underwhelming elements, despite the marvelous animation and generally decent soundtrack.

Are there any other positives? Apart from what I mentioned in the first paragraph, no, I can't think of any. Are these positive elements enough to watch the show? I don't think so. Even when I tried to just enjoy the setting and brilliant sakuga animation, I still felt bored and unamused. Unfortunately, scenes full of gore and magnificent swordsmanship, as good as they were, weren't enough to elevate the overall enjoyment. Yes, I tried to "turn off my brain and just enjoy the action scenes", but regardless, it still was not enough.

You can't expect much from a short five-episode series, but that doesn't excuse the completely hollow cast of characters and shallow direction that make the whole show a chore to watch at times. So, while this short series offers a visually striking experience with fantastic-looking action sequences, pretty much everything else ultimately leaves much to be desired. Too bad. I really tried my best to enjoy it.