Back to Sakurai_Aoi's Profile Sakurai_Aoi's Profile

*Minor spoilers ahead (Nothing too big though)*

I will begin by saying…that the anime surprised me. But it surprised me in an undeniably great way.

The art in the anime is very good, although I believe that, in some instances, it’s better in the manga. But I must admit that the goofy faces are so well done. It’s hilarious in the manga but just straight up weird and almost eerie in the anime. But the psychological aspects…I believe they’re better done in the anime. The usage of color and all these interesting effects… It’s just *chef’s kiss*. The jarring imagery is just so powerful in this ... anime. Really unsettling. It honestly brings out so much more of the emotional nature of this show. The art, when combined with other elements of the show, triggers something really visceral in me with how uneasy things get.

As for the camera direction, it’s absolutely phenomenal in this series. The scene where the cashier is talking to Yoshiki was absolutely nauseating to watch. All those odd angles, the non stop dialogue from the woman, her voice fluctuating in volume as her words go in and out of focus… GEEZ! You could just FEEL the suffocation he must feel living in that town. The art and style of this show is honestly so interesting. (I just HAD to elaborate more on the art here.) As a manga reader, it wasn’t what I expected. For a horror manga with these psychological, coming of age themes and some comedy here and there… I was NOT expecting the adaptation to have such jarring yet somehow effective imagery. The way they combine the anime's art style with realistic objects and settings... It's unique. Really grabs your attention while still keeping you immersed in the narrative.

I also believe that the sound design is well done too. The series has a great ambience. And the most intense moments really hit hard. I will admit that the theme song hasn’t grown on me, but I do think it matches how odd this series is. From the odd, intentionally jarring visuals to the show’s difficulty being categorized, the opening theme really conveys that this show is a mess in the best way possible. (Mess as in lots of emotions, heavy themes, etc. It’s a pleasantly disturbing amalgamation of things, with plenty of beauty and intensity to go around.) As for the ending song, it is SO good. And it’s also very fitting of how sad the show really is. There are the bittersweet memories of friendship and love… And then grief over how that love never came to fruition… And just…loss. Of a friendship. That hope for more, even if it might not have been possible… Every time I hear that ending song…it makes me feel for the characters all over again, especially Yoshiki.

Of course, the story itself is the best part of the show imo. The Summer Hikaru Died isn’t just a BL. It’s a coming of age story of a young man who loses his best friend, who he later developed feelings for. When this spirit inhabits his friend’s body, his life begins to get stranger and stranger. He’s dealing with grief while figuring out what to do with this mysterious being in his friend’s body. The relationship between Yoshiki and the entity in his friend’s body is NOT the same as the relationship he had with his friend. But that’s what makes it interesting; there is a lot going on there, and the series explores it with so much love for the characters. With the grief and the remnants of everything Yoshiki felt before the death of his friend…these two have such a striking and memorably tragic chemistry.

The voice actors convey this pain so authentically. As a manga reader, I had voices in my head for both main characters already, and the voice actors chosen for the anime suit them so well. The other characters are also voiced quite well, so everything’s generally great in the voice acting department.

I think the pacing might be a little fast for the show, but perhaps that’s just me as a manga reader. The manga has a slower pace, giving it that slow burn psychological feel. The anime is faster paced and feels almost surreal. Not that it's wrong to execute it this way. The anime is just a different experience from the manga, and I honestly think that’s really cool and interesting. (Please note that the pacing of the anime may not necessarily be THAT much faster than that of the manga. In my experience, the manga just felt slower. The difference between the two in terms of pacing is probably negligible anyway, but I felt that I should mention it in case you’re looking for a specific vibe from the series. However, I do believe that this series is one that can be consumed in either format. Both are a pleasant experience.)

Overall, I believe that if you genuinely want to watch something deep and haunting, I say to give this series a shot. Its queer themes are central to the story in a very important way, but I believe that a lot of people can relate to the story even if they aren’t queer themselves. It’s the sorta story…that has a strange grip on you. Even when you’re done watching it or reading it, it doesn’t quite leave you. The Summer Hikaru Died is a series that resonates with you so deeply that you might not even realize it until you’re suddenly hit with a flood of emotion. It’s like… the memorability of the series itself mirrors the nature of grief and loss. Not knowing how much something means to you until you lose it.

So, as one of the most moving shows I’ve seen in a while, this anime is definitely getting a 10 from me!

I'm honestly a little surprised that this series doesn't have a better rating.

But then again... I saw some of what people complained about with this series and it's honestly quite silly.

For starters, this is an anime about YAKUZA. Don't go into this series thinking that these characters are going to be pure of heart, morally upright, or even sane or healthy. This series is a bit more adult and, in a way, more realistic; some people can't seem to handle that. Some characters sleep around, many are violent, and a lot of characters have their own crazy agendas and motivations that fuel their actions. ... Kind of like real life, people cheat, get hurt, and aren't always mentally healthy to be around. This anime isn't very dark, but it does seem to have irked some people. To any who may be offended by its subject matter, I say this: a romance isn't always GOOD, and the people involved may not be either. In fact, some shows categorized as "romance" are MEANT to focus on toxic character dynamics. You're not necessarily supposed to root for the main couple all the time. Sometimes, you just go with the flow and observe their journey to see where the people involved end up. Yakuza Fiance is one of those series.

With that out of the way, I can delve a little bit deeper into the characters themselves.

The female main character, Yoshino Somei, seems to be a generally good person with a bit of a dangerous side that she ends up indulging in when a member of a different yakuza group comes into her life. I think with this yakuza anime the sides of the characters are actually supposed to come out as if being activated by a switch. They switch between their usual personality and their darker one, sometimes in quite abrupt ways that people may find jarring. However, I found it to be quite refreshing and even humorous. Yoshino is a tough girl; she just doesn't seem like it in the first episode. Perhaps her general niceness hides this. Yoshino's switch though...Kirishima Miyama. Once she figures out that something weird is up and that this new guy is interested in her, we get a fuller image of who Yoshino is. She's quite the fiery to say the least.

As for Kirishima Miyama, he's ridiculously toxic. It's obvious that his upbringing or something in his past scarred him in some ways, although this isn't explored very much. I can only assume that they'll get around to that in a second season... If not, I guess they'll leave it at "He never learned basic decency due to his background". His interactions with the people around him, especially Yoshino, are the highlight of the series. I've gotten a good laugh out of the many ways they try to get ahead of/maneuver around each other's tendencies and the lengths they'll go just to show that they mean business. Kirishima is awful, and he hides it all behind a smile. And even that doesn't quite do the job. It almost feels forced. Their facades definitely make for an interesting show though. For one reason or another, those two have a compelling chemistry that I think even they aren't quite sure of.

As for the other characters, they serve their purpose, often adding to the somewhat episodic nature of the show. They have a bit of mystery and humor to them as well, but don't expect very fleshed out characters.

The plot, as I mentioned before, is mostly episodic. I personally found it difficult to keep track of the little details from previous episodes that came up again in future episodes, but maybe that's just me. The show is mostly just yakuza fights with some foreshadowing of a power struggle that the main characters find themselves involved in. It's also just a lot of crazy situations jam packed into a show with the plot used as a mere means for those situations to occur. The story is not perfect by any means, but it is enjoyable if you just want a crazy ride. It's a ride revolving around impulsive decisions, plain crazy decisions, hedonism, and simply the joy of a challenge. The amount of fun and glam in this show is more than enough to make up for the areas where it's lacking. And a warning: a large part of this show's appeal is IN its ridiculousness. A lot of characters, scenarios, and dialogue would obviously not be acceptable in real life, and the show does not promote it; it merely depicts it, and says "Look at how insane this is!" It's pretty much daring you to keep watching and see how things escalate.

Anyway, back to the glam I mentioned earlier... I'm absolutely in LOVE with the art style. The opening and ending themes are a good example of the best that the show has to offer, but there's plenty in the show itself that looks stunning. Although it can be a hit or miss for some people, especially with certain characters, it can be absolutely beautiful. I love the vibrant colors, the highlights and shadows in the hair, and even the eyes. The emotional intensity of the characters is expressed wonderfully in their faces. It leans into those Yakuza vibes perfectly, especially in the way the character's faces contort and appear ominous. There are a lot of "What did you just say?!" faces that scream "There's gonna be a murder" so that's a plus if you're into that. There is a scene where the clothes look weird on Yoshino, but I think that was a one off. The art is usually well done. The animation is just...fine. Not spectacular, but fairly good.

The soundtrack is fine as well. It's quite effective for the moment, though I can't really say that it's memorable. The opening and ending themes are the best samples of music in the show.

Overall, it's a pretty good anime. Just watch it if you want a good laugh. Or maybe if you want to see some wacky character dynamics. It put a smile on my face for sure despite everything. It's hard to not enjoy it. For some people, it's a guilty pleasure, but for me... It's just a show of extremes. Stylish, extravagant, and excessive while also generally lacking depth and seriousness. It's a balance I find to be intriguing. Maybe you will too.

This is the first hentai I've watched completely. And honestly, it was kinda good. I love the BDSM and shibari theme and how they tie into the character's relationships and development. I particularly enjoyed the first episode. It was interesting to see how Miyuki changed from start to finish.

Episode Two, as enjoyable as it was, had this really weird "It's not incest but it almost is" type of story. It goes back to delve into Seiichi's life a bit, which I appreciate, but some people would definitely find the way they fleshed out his character to be off-putting. I sure did...

It also has ... some possibly surprising visuals that may literally act as a turn off for viewers. Then again, idk if it can be surprising considering that this is a hentai. Anyway, the series has a good combination of humor and sex. Matter of fact, it was the humor that made me keep watching. I initially felt that the themes and concepts they dealt with could've been expressed in a more tasteful manner. And...they certainly could have been. Part of me still wishes that they did things a little differently. However, the back and forth between humor and crazy kinky sex remained consistent throughout the show so I would assume that this was the tone they set out for.

The art and animation are pretty much what you would expect from the early 2000s. (Both are fine, nothing spectacular.) The music is effective in the moment but not very memorable. The voice acting was well done but beware of the high pitched moans (if you aren't into that).

Overall, it's a good, silly hentai that will definitely catch your attention in one way or another.

I've been meaning to watch Mnemosyne for a while now. And it was exactly what I thought it would be. And more.

I'll start off by saying that almost every episode is a bit repetitive--from the alcoholic beverages that the characters' drink to certain phrases that characters say to the endless deaths. BUT I believe this is intentional; It's done in order to emphasize the pain and monotony of being immortal. That's one thing that the series does well. And I must say, the story overall is quite interesting. A seemingly unrelated series of events all lead up to something HUGE. If you're even remotely ... interested in philosophy or exploring the meaning of life, you'll like this series. Also, it's just as gorey and sexual as you heard it was. To some, it may be excessive but, for me, it was PERFECT. However, some scenes are a bit laughable. It's not in a "Oh my gosh, it's so bad" kinda way; it's more like "Did they seriously just do that?" kinda funny. I won't spoil anything through because we all need a good laugh. Oh, and the pacing is well done for a 6 episode series but there's a bit of an issue. A LOT happens in the last episode and, BECAUSE it happens in the last episode, some scenes aren't as effective as they could've been.

The art is, at times, absolutely beautiful. The especially applies to the opening and ending animations. Other times, it's average. But the animation is good from start to finish. In some scenes, you can even say that it's great.

The soundtrack is really good too. Galneryus did absolutely amazing with both the opening and ending songs. Both are memorable and suit the series well. They are arguably two of the best metal songs used in an anime. The OSTs kick in at just the right time and they're especially effective during fights and emotional moments.

The characters are moderately interesting and likable. You'll probably find yourself attached to them in some way. I personally really like Rin and Kouki. I highly appreciate the themes about life that revolve around them and they serve as reminders of things that we sometimes take for granted. The characters experience some degree of change, though some weren't around long enough to develop very much.

Overall, this anime was very enjoyable. It's a dark and mature series and it's even helped me reflect on my life. At the same time, I was able to take in and ponder the crazy amounts of violence and sexual content that I'm drawn toward. It's pretty short and interesting and definitely deserves a watch or even a rewatch. I'd say that Mnemosyne deserves a 9.

Nakanohito Genome is a pretty laid back high stakes games kind of anime. How does that work, you ask? Why, just throw in lets players, a guy with an alpaca mask, and crazy challenges!

The story is done pretty well. The show makes sense and doesn't take itself too seriously. Despite the fact that they've all been kidnapped and forced to participate in games, it's still a light-hearted anime for the most part. I love how they combine the mystery surrounding the games with comedy and character drama.

The characters are the best thing about this anime. Well, to be specific, it's the way they interact ... with each other. At times, they can be quite intriguing and, other times, they're just freaking hilarious. They aren't flat characters but they aren't well rounded either. They each have varying levels of depth and some do receive development. I really enjoyed learning about Anya and watching him change over the course of the series. Makino's development near the end was good as well. They would all benefit from having a second season though since there is room for improvement.

I also loved the art for this anime. It's actually sort of refreshing to see characters with such a simple yet cute look. The animation was good too. I never saw anything that was weird or inconsistent.

Both the opening and ending songs are nice to listen to. They're chill so they match what the anime itself is like most of the time. There are also a few insert songs and those sound nice as well.

Story: 9
Art: 9
Sound: 9
Character: 9
Enjoyment: 10

Overall, it's the ideal anime if you want a break from dark anime or if you're just trying to have a good laugh. I'd say this anime deserves a 9.

Yakusoku no Neverland is the anime I was waiting for... I just never knew it. Let me tell you why.

Ok, the story is done in such a great way. It's consistent and pretty much each episode leaves you wanting to know more and more. Also, each episode has some pretty good pacing in my opinion. Nothing seems rushed and nothing seems too slow. They know exactly when to slow it down and when to speed it up a bit in order to increase suspense. That one scene with Norman walking down the hallway was done so well! The suspense is almost perfectly built up ... and then, at a certain point, watchers are finally able to let out a sigh of relief. I also really like the use of flashbacks, especially in the later episodes.

The characters are interesting. There are positives, negatives, and contradictions with all three of the main characters. And they also seem somewhat realistic but the way they are does match their environment...and the circumstances... Anyway, we're exposed to the characters' surface level personalities and then we get some insight into who they really are beneath all of that. I also guess I could say that they're developed. As the series progresses, certain events begin to have effects on the characters. Even characters like Sister Krone and Isabella received backstories and weren't treated as your typical creepy and/or villainous character.

The art is somewhat of a hit or miss. Based on the bits and pieces of the manga that I've seen, I think the anime has done a pretty good job. Ever since the start of the series, I had liked the art anyway... But I do understand that the art may make the characters appear a bit odd. Overall though, the art is really pretty and the animation is great as well.

The sound is amazing. The opening song makes you so hyped to begin the episode and the 1st ending song is less energetic but still really nice to listen to. In my opinion, the 2nd ending song wasn't as good as the first but it suited the anime's atmosphere.

Story: 10
Art: 10
Sound: 10
Character: 10
Enjoyment: 10

Yakusoku no Neverland is a must watch for people (such as myself) who love psychological anime with mystery and suspense. It also has some horror elements in there so horror fans may enjoy it. Overall, I believe that this anime deserves a 10.

Not once did I think that I would watch a boxing anime. Until Megalo Box, I hadn't watched any sports anime and I thought that I wouldn't for a long time. But I'm glad that I didn't wait because this one was actually pretty good!

So, the story is basically about Joe and, later, his last opponent being able to live in the moment and experience that one event that they, up until a certain point, didn't know that they were waiting for. The way the story weaved in those themes is basically flawless and I love that. Each episode is closely connected because it's simply ... Joe's journey to Megalonia. This also includes some additional information about the characters he comes across. Each fight is nice to watch but, somehow, lacking in intensity so it decreases the enjoyment a bit.

I also liked the characters as well for the most part. Joe, Nanbu, and Sachio are very likable characters. Joe wants to get into Megalonia, Nanbu wants to see him get there, and Sachio is the kid they meet who supports them in more ways than one. Along the way, they meet other characters who have their fair share of development. The less important ones...not so much. I think even Yukiko got some development thanks to the backstory and her relationship with Yuuri. Speaking of him, he also changed a lot. He's mysterious but we learn little bits and pieces about him through backstory and his interactions with other characters. Basically, most of the characters are interesting and/or likable.

The art is really nice looking. The characters all look cool but the environment and background is what really stands out. Everything just feels so urban (despite the location) and that's not a feeling you get with most anime. The animation is great as well. I don't remember a single awkward movement.

I also really like the sound. I wasn't a big fan of the opening song but it fits Joe so I don't mind it. I prefer the ending song though. The soundtrack is just amazing. I love when they incorporate rap into the anime. Any other dramatic or exciting music was well timed.

Story: 10
Art: 10
Sound: 10
Character: 9
Enjoyment: 9

Overall, this is a great anime. It has made me slightly more eager to watch more sports anime. It deserves a 9.

When I first started Zombieland Saga, I wasn't sure what to expect. About halfway through it, I almost dropped it. But I'm glad that I finished it. And here's why:

Zombieland Saga is full of comedy and that's why I stuck around for as long as I did. Some of it is repetitive and abrupt but it's this which makes it even funnier (sometimes). The story itself is simple though and some may find this boring. But it's easy to get into even if idol anime isn't your thing. (Trust me, I'm one of those people.) Also, the anime's use of flashbacks near the end of ... the 12th episode made the episode more powerful that it already was.

And the characterization is good. Not great but good. You learn more about the characters and their backstories as the anime goes on. Unfortunately, some characters weren't very explored. This is kinda obvious considering that we find out more about two of them naturally and the later episodes explore a few other characters in a noticeably episodic manner. This isn't necessarily bad but, because of how the backstories are done later in the series, it's pretty obvious when some of the characters aren't covered. The timing of the main character's backstory was done well in my opinion and I really enjoy being able to notice and learn one thing at a time about a seemingly blank but funny character.

The art is pretty good; it's bright and looks really nice. The animation is great most of the time but some may not be a big fan of the CGI. The transition between the normal animation and CGI is very noticeable and the speed of it is kinda slow. The characters themselves don't look too bad in CGI though.

The sound is great. The opening is funny and catchy. The ending song is sweet and nice sounding but it's slow and lacks energy. That's normal for ending songs but it's not something I listen to every episode. The songs they sing together are really good though. It's nice being able to hear the voice actors' singing voices.

Story: 9
Art: 9
Sound: 10
Character: 8
Enjoyment: 10

Watch this anime from start to finish. It's comedic but becomes inspiring later on. The anime turned itself around and became something I didn't expect. Overall, this anime deserves a 9. I'm going to miss this series a bit.

Honestly, Goblin Slayer was not an anime that I planned on watching. For a while, I just thought it would be a boring fantasy anime.

But, clearly, I was wrong. Goblin Slayer is a slightly darker fantasy anime with action and you should at least feel entertained while watching. As the name suggests, the anime is about slaying goblins. Along with that though is watching the main character's progress. And that goes for a lot of things such as his social circle, his personality, and the way he expresses his emotions. Overall, the story is a bit repetitive. I admit that. It's basically just them ... fighting goblins over and over again. Each fight is a little different though because of the use of strategies and the turn of events. (Also, just so you know, you don't have to worry about anything too graphic. That certain scene everyone was talking about isn't all that bad. Trust me. It's for the sake of setting the show's atmosphere.)

The art's not all that unique looking. It's pretty much like your average anime with a few exceptions. I like the character designs and backgrounds though. The CGI wasn't too bad. It was noticeable but not an eyesore. The overall animation was pretty good too.

The opening and ending songs are great. I feel like there was some wasted potential with the opening animation but it's ok the way it is. And the OSTs are never oddly timed. They always make the fight scenes better when they're used.

The characters didn't really gain any noticeable development. They were basically the same from start to finish. The only thing that could be easily pointed out is the main character's development and his relationships with others. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though if you don't care about development.

Story: 9
Art: 10
Sound: 10
Character: 8
Enjoyment: 10

Overall, I think it deserves a 9. If you're into short, medieval-ish action anime with something a little different then you may enjoy Goblin Slayer.

Sirius the Jaeger is yet another vampire anime to add to the list. But, in this case, it's a good vampire anime that does a lot of things right.

So, as far as the story, it's pretty good. There's a group of Jaegers (vampire hunters) doing their job plus some related drama with the main character and a hometown relic. At first, some things don't really seem to be closely related. It starts out with somewhat of a broad story line and then things become more connected.

Most of the characters don't really change. Yuliy is somewhat of a copy of Yuuichiro Hyakuya (from Seraph ... of the End). Both of them are apart of a group that kills vampires and they start out with revenge being their only reason to live. Also, that reason to live changes as the series progresses. There are some differences though. Yuu is more of a tsundere while Yuliy is simply a more mature, nice guy struggling with some things. Ryouko changed as well but she simply matured with age. So, while the characters are consistent, there isn't much development.

The art's nice. I love the character designs and the animation is pretty good as well. The fight scenes are done well. There aren't any choppy scenes or anything that looks weird to look at.

The sound's great. Both the opening and ending sound nice and the OSTs were actually kinda memorable. They were timed well and were effective.

Story: 10

Art: 10

Sound: 10

Character: 8

Enjoyment: 10

Overall, Sirius the Jaeger is a good watch, especially for people who prefer short, action anime. I believe it deserves a 9.