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Jan 1, 2026
First of all, I want to make it clear that romance in general,and romcoms in particular—is my least favorite genre. However, Love Is War is one of the very few romcoms that I never get tired of watching.
This movie has many strong points, but it also has aspects that I personally find bad or confusing. As for the good points, I think anyone who has watched the film already knows them well, so I won’t dwell on that. Instead, I want to focus on what I find confusing in this movie.
Because the film cuts out too many manga chapters, viewers who haven’t read the manga
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may not understand how the relationship between Kaguya and Hayasaka changes through various events. Secondly, the removal of Ishigami’s drama arc after being rejected by Tsubame,one of the best-developed drama arcs in the series,takes away much of Ishigami’s growth and character development.
Furthermore, the progression between Ishigami and Iino feels very awkward to me. There is almost no development at all, which makes Iino feel like a random “reward” Ishigami gets after contributing to the story. Why is there no proper drama arc for Ishigami, or a meaningful journey showing how his feelings for Iino develop? And why does Iino suddenly break her arm? Honestly, I don’t know either.
The movie ends with Shirogane leaving for the USA, which if I remember correctly,means the family arc was cut in order to rush the ending. I understand that the family arc is often considered a weak drama arc that doesn’t quite fit the tone of the series, but by rushing the ending and removing the development of side characters, how exactly is the story supposed to conclude?
Overall, I think this movie is still decent, but it becomes confusing when viewed purely through the anime’s adaptation flow. There may be mistakes or inaccuracies in this piece; if so, I hope you’ll understand and feel free to point them out.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 15, 2025
I think this is a truly “subversive” anime. The setup at the beginning, where the protagonist wants to become the prince instead of the one who gets saved, already creates an different. She wants to be strong, yet her idea of strength is based on an “ideal prince.” The more she tries to prove herself, the more she realizes that she, too, longs to be saved.
She is a character trapped in the role of “the hero” imposed on her by society. Meanwhile, Anthy is labeled a witch simply because she resisted violence and tried to protect her brother. She is hated because she is forced
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into the role of “the one who ruins everything,” but if you look closely, she’s merely trying to survive that world.
Utena wants to save Anthy, but Anthy isn’t a princess, she’s someone society has crushed to the point where she can’t trust anyone anymore. Ohtori Academy is like a miniature model of society: everyone is stuck in the role they’re expected to play.
What I like most is that breaking fate doesn’t happen through a typical “rescue the princess” storyline, it happens when Utena abandons the role of the prince altogether.
The series does contain disturbing elements like incest or NTR..., but these are used to critique power structures, emotional and the process of growing up; they are not included for fan service or fetish.
"Only those who dare to leave the stage, to give up their role, can find their true self."
This is timeless value.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Dec 3, 2025
Kingdom is a manga based on history, but its depiction of military strategy feels somewhat “romanticized” to me. Ideologically, it’s actually quite weak, because it applies a modern Western philosophical framework onto the mindset of ancient China. The characters in Kingdom basically have a very “shonen” worldview, good guys vs. bad guys, “our side righteous, their side evil,” ...
But during the Warring States period, everyone was essentially the same. Every ruler believed they were the “Son of Heaven.” The problem is that the series approaches morality in a Christian-like binary of good and evil, instead of using a Confucian perspective, where legitimacy comes from loyalty
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to the ruler.
Of course, in the modern world Christianity is arguably better than Confucianism in terms of values, but a historically grounded work like Kingdom must rely on Confucian concepts to explore these themes. Because in that era, every state had the same ambition to unify the land, and every king believed himself to be the rightful “Son of Heaven.”
If you want a series that truly dares to dig deep into those themes, I think you should give "The Ravages of Time" a try.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Nov 30, 2025
I don’t even know where to begin. If the TV series serves as the foundation, then the movie is where every conflict and emotion reaches its peak. The story takes place as the girls are about to graduate and walk their own paths, and the Revue battles become the stage where they confront their fear of growing up. It’s the moment when the struggles of youth surface: "Should you leave your comfort zone, or cling to the past?"
What I like is how brutally honest the film is. It never says, “Everything will be okay.” Instead, it tells a harsher truth: to keep chasing your dream,
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you have to let go of a part of yourself. Each character feels like a reflection of youth, someone fears time, someone fears losing friendships, someone fears change. But the movie shows us that sometimes accepting loss is growing up; sometimes drifting apart is how each person becomes a better version of themselves; sometimes loving someone means letting them follow their own path.
The symbolic imagery is beautifully done:The train represents a future that keeps moving forward. The red ribbon between Karen and Hikari symbolizes a bond that won’t disappear even if their paths diverge.
And of course, the soundtrack elevates everything, making the film feel even more grand and emotional. Youth always requires leaving something behind, but everyone will eventually step onto a stage meant just for them in future.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Nov 17, 2025
This anime is a portrayal of the conflict between intellect and belief, where truth comes at a heavy price in a society that refuses to accept it. It raises a fundamental but painful question: “How does the world truly operate?”
The series highlights two core themes:
the desire for knowledge and the fear of facing truths we don’t want to accept.
The early arcs are nearly perfect, each character is given enough time to leave a strong impression, and the themes are presented with sharp clarity. They explore questions such as “Is knowledge worth risking your life for?” and “Should we live for understanding, or for faith?”.
The later
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arcs, though still good, don’t quite reach the same impact. However, they expand an important message: knowledge does not belong to a select group, it belongs to everyone.
The ending is simple yet complete: truth will always prevail, no matter how long it takes. It is understated, but deeply satisfying.
This isn’t an anime for everyone, but for those who appreciate contemplation, philosophical weight, and thematic depth, it is absolutely worth watching.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Nov 4, 2025
After finishing S1, my expectations for S2 were sky-high, but the show didn’t quite deliver in terms of logic. Right at the start of S2, Lelouch has his memories erased, yet instead of being tightly monitored or even executed, he’s allowed to live freely at an academy? And when he regains his memories, it happens far too easily, almost unconvincingly.
The political and military events also feel inconsistent. For instance, Lelouch manages to retake Area 11 with a ridiculously small force, even though he’s up against a massive empire. To put it in perspective, and I know it’s not a perfect comparison, think about how much
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sacrifice it took for Vietnam to reclaim and unify its land bit by bit. That’s how implausible it feels.
The battles this time are mostly resolved through tricks or sudden twists rather than the carefully planned strategies that made S1 so brilliant. The first half of S2 introduces many new characters, but almost none of them are developed meaningfully. Take Rolo, for example, meant to replace Nunnally, yet his emotional shifts feel abrupt and unconvincing.
Even the Geass itself turns into a sort of plot device that can be bent however the story wants, just to raise the stakes. The Zero Requiem plan also feels too convenient, it’s hard to believe how easily everyone accepts Lelouch’s rule or buys into the “tyrant Lelouch” persona without much resistance.
That said, if you watch S2 with the mindset of seeking emotional intensity rather than logical consistency, it absolutely delivers. And despite its flaws, if you view the story through Lelouch’s lens, a man who used lies to protect the truth, then this season still offers a tragic yet powerful conclusion. It may not be perfect, but it’s certainly unforgettable.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Oct 24, 2025
When I first watched S1, I couldn’t understand why the final season of Aria was rated as high as 8.47 on MAL. I honestly thought it was an “overrated” series.
But the more I watched, the more I grew attached to this world. And by the time I reached the end of season three, I finally understood why people hold it so dearly.
If season one was an invitation into the tranquil world of Neo-Venezia, then season two was a journey of growth, not only skill, but in heart.
As we live long enough in that world, we begin to feel its quiet rhythm. The bonds between people
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deepen, and Neo-Venezia slowly becomes a true home.
Season three, then, is a gentle farewell.
Here, joy and sadness, parting and maturity, blend together in a strangely beautiful harmony. The city remains as poetic and serene as ever, yet it no longer serves merely as a backdrop for peaceful lives, it becomes a farewell in itself.
The girls who were once apprentices have grown up. The series leaves you silent, with that tender ache of saying goodbye to those you love.
Every smile, every gondola ride, every small conversation seems to whisper:
“Nothing lasts forever, and that’s why this moment matters.”
As the juniors become Primas, the seniors move on. Neo-Venezia stays the same, but its people have changed. They keep walking forward, carrying the memories of those who once shared the same blue sky and the same waters.
Thank you to the author for creating a world so human, so serene, and to the studio for bringing it to life with such delicate music and warmth.
Aria isn’t for those in a hurry. It’s for those willing to slow down, to listen, and to truly feel the quiet beauty of everyday life.
The ending feels like a gentle reminder:
Thank you, for letting us meet kind souls,
for teaching us to treasure fleeting moments,
and for showing that growing up doesn’t mean losing something,
but learning how to smile when it’s time to say goodbye.
Thank you, Aria.
I hope one day, we’ll meet again…
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Oct 20, 2025
If S1 was merely the opening act of a still-fragmented club, then S2 of Hibike is where human emotions and conflicts reach their peak. This is the part where each character not only faces music, but also confronts themselves, their passion, their pressure, and their most intimate fears. Kumiko is no longer the girl who simply drifts along, she’s now placed in situations that force her to choose between personal feelings and collective responsibility. She grows by learning to listen, to empathize, and to face the unspoken struggles within others, and within herself.
Reina, though less in the spotlight than before, shows remarkable maturity. Her journey
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of overcoming her feelings for her teacher and moving toward her own future is quiet yet deeply meaningful. And Asuka, arguably the soul of this season, stands out as a brilliant but lonely genius. Her story of family, pressure, and her relationship with music invites deep reflection. Asuka and Kumiko mirror each other: one uses music to escape, while the other uses it to find herself.
A small yet striking detail is when a student says before going on stage, “I hope we’re not the first to perform.” It made me laugh because it felt so real, that genuine nervousness of school competitions, when everyone secretly dreads going first. That’s the beauty of Hibike!: its emotions are so ordinary, yet portrayed with such authenticity and grace.
I was also deeply moved by Kumiko’s sister. Her story raises the question: should we pursue our own passion, or follow the path our parents wish for us? It reminded me of my final school year, standing between two roads, one leading to my dreams, the other to my family’s expectations. The series doesn’t judge or moralize; it simply presents this dilemma with quiet empathy, letting us feel and reflect on our own.
From a technical standpoint, Kyoto Animation once again proves their mastery. The visuals, lighting, and character expressions are beautifully crafted. The sound design remains stunning as ever, though to be fair, this season leans more toward emotional introspection, making the pacing slower and the music slightly less central than in S1. Yet that choice feels intentional, shifting focus from the joy of performance to the weight of personal growth and reality.
In that sense, Hibike S2 is no longer a rose,tinted story of youth, but a more honest portrait of growing up, where people must learn to face conflict, failure, and loneliness. And that’s precisely what makes it profound.
If S1 was the prelude to ambition, then Season 2 is the symphony of emotion and maturity, a season where every note breathes with human warmth: imperfect, fragile, yet sincere and beautiful in its own way.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Oct 18, 2025
This is one of the highly rated series on MAL, so my expectations were quite high. And it delivered… but only in terms of visuals and sound. The show raises a big question: “Can an AI act out of love rather than just following commands?” It’s a very interesting theme, but the way the anime conveys it is truly questionable.
Vivy simply uses its visuals and music to mask its completely “empty” narrative. The series constantly tells us, “AI sings for humans, AI can have emotions,” yet it rarely lets the audience actually feel these things. The protagonist is built as an AI learning to love,
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but throughout almost the entire show, she is “emotionally paralyzed.” This is a basic flaw in “show, don’t tell”, the series keeps telling us things but shows very little.
The 100 years journey sounds grand and epic, but it’s just a series of mini-arcs. When the supporting characters haven’t had enough time to make us care about them, they disappear, making the journey feel like random, loosely connected segments. The big questions introduced at the start, “Does AI have a soul?” or “What is the meaning of death?”, vanish without a trace.
Vivy and AI make an interesting pair, but their journey is unconvincing and flat. In short, if you’re looking for a story where the protagonist truly explores emotions, I’d recommend Violet Evergarden. If you want a philosophical anime, Vivy isn’t for you. But if you just want to sit back, enjoy stunning visuals, music, and action, then this anime might be worth your time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Oct 16, 2025
First, I want to clarify that this review covers the entirety of Attack on Titan Season 4. I’m not a hardcore fan, so if you are, you might disagree with my perspective.
Overall, Season 4 story retains some positives, such as coherent connections to the previous seasons, and it serves as a reasonably satisfying conclusion for the series. However, the build-up to the climax and the ending itself have several issues.
Mikasa’s character could have been a brilliant medium for Ymir to reflect on herself, but in reality, it feels rather loose. The idea of a slave “falling in love” with the king, her oppressor, is both
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illogical and uncomfortable.
The biggest weakness is the ending: when Mikasa kills Eren, Ymir is freed and the Titans disappear without any logical explanation. The entire sequence feels like a deus ex machina, resolving the climax through “emotional magic” rather than decisions or actions grounded in the characters. No one understands the mechanism of the Titan powers or why Ymir had to “wait for Mikasa to kill Eren” to vanish.
This undermines the message the series tries to convey: “Free people must take responsibility for their actions.” If the ending relies on Ymir, freedom and responsibility no longer truly belong to anyone, making many questions across all four seasons, such as “What are we fighting for?” or “What is freedom?”, difficult to answer.
Still, Season 4 succeeds symbolically and emotionally. The final scenes are beautiful and deeply touching, providing a sense of closure in terms of imagery. While there are lingering issues with logic and character development, the ending retains emotional value.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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