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Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray returns for part 2 of Season 1, focusing on the journey of Oguri Cap. Who is based on the horse of the same name that dominated in many races in real life. As Part 1 of Season 1 left off, you had Tama beating Oguri. This was the moment that Oguri had the goal of beating Tama, her new rival.

This part covers the rivalry between Oguri and Tama. Even with just 10 episodes, the anime does a fantastic job at illustrating that. As Oguri many times hits some low points, which were lower than any of her low points in Part ... 1. Which, to be quite frank, she really didn't have much of. Which shows how she truly has more ambition in this cour.

Though two characters stepped up big, Belno Light & Musaka. The latter we know stepped up big for Jou after he needed to step away to take the exams. Though for Musaka it is only how he coaches Oguri that is impressive, it is also how he coaches Belno. Essentially she acts as his assistant, but he is there to guide and support her. Of course, for Belno, doing everything in her power to help Oguri really shows she is Oguri's rock through this journey.

You also have some side characters who really made their presence felt. Those being Super Creek, Obey Your Master & Dicta Striker. All had performances that impressed and really showed them as viable rivals for Oguri going forward. Of course, when the chips were down, the anime offered an outstanding conclusion to the rivalry arc with Tama.

The Uma Musume series has been a series that you would talk about having stellar animation. While the animation isn't at the level of the films Road to the Top or Beginning of a New Era, the animation is really solid throughout. The staff knows when to crank it up for the big moments. However, the most impressive thing is the sound direction. Even when the animation wasn't at a high level, the sound direction noticeably elevated each episode. It can really make you feel the intensity of the races and what the characters are going through.

If you enjoy Part 1 of Cinderella Gray, then I am sure you will love Part 2. Now, if you haven't watched Part 1, I can say that this series is absolutely worth a shot. I will say that Cinderella Gray is the most sports-structured out of all the anime entries. So if you are a big sports fan and you haven't touched the series yet, Cinderella Gray S1 is the best entry point for those types of fans. While for CGDCT's fans, the Pretty Derby anime would be a better starting point.

With S1 completed, I do hope Cygames brings the staff back to do S2 since there is more to cover in Oguri Cap's journey.

Shuumatsu Touring. Shuumatsu has a bit of wordplay in Japanese. It can both mean "weekend" and also "the end." This fully demonstrates what this series is about. We got two girls, Youko & Airi touring. They are touring in a post-apocalyptic setting. You might think of many questions like, what happened to the world? Why is it like this?

However, the series also means weekend touring. This is the true atmosphere of the series. Weekends are meant to be relaxing and comfortable, and this is what this series tries to aim for. Essentially this show is what you expect in a touring show around Japan, just ... in a post-apocalyptic setting.

This is a show that will set up various things but isn't too interested in giving you many answers right away. So if the post-apocalyptic theme interests you most, then you may run into issues and may end up being frustrated in watching. But if you are more interested in seeing these various tourist attractions in a more SoL story, you may really enjoy this one.

As someone who read the manga, the anime is a notable step up in art direction compared to the manga. Which is a pleasant surprise. Also solid animation and music to boot. I listed this as a mixed review because I could see that not getting answers could frustrate some people watching this show. But if you are not intent on getting those answers, you can have a great time with this one.

I rate it 7/10.

People come in different shapes and sizes in terms of personality. We have people who are expressive and those who aren't. "Inexpressive Kashiwada and Expressive Oota" is a romantic comedy that headlines an expressionless girl and an expressive boy. The show has a simple premise but makes a lot out of it. How an inexpressive Kashiwada has trouble showing off her emotions. Meanwhile, Oota, who is overly expressive, truly has good intentions. Simply, you can just see how much they care for each other. In fact, even more so how they rub off on each other.

For those looking for a pure, wholesome RomCom this is ... the show for you. Though interesting enough, the inexpressive vs. expressive theme isn't just with our leads. The whole cast has their own particular quirks with their expressions. Again, simply, something simple done well.

In terms of visuals, the show doesn't have much animation, but it hides it well. Direction in the anime is good, and the sound direction really aids in that. Elevates both the wholesome and comedic moments in the show. If you want a pure fluff romantic comedy, this show is absolutely what you are looking for.

What does it mean to be a grown-up in society? This is a subject and theme that gets brought up in Sanda. As the series lives in a society where nobody believes in Santa anymore, there is a disconnect. One of the strongest parts of this anime is when it tackles those questions. As Sanda is a descendant of Santa and is turning into him, wonder what his role is. Also, the dynamic of finding Ono and her dynamic with Fuyumura demonstrates this theme pretty well as well.

One of the issues with the anime is how Sanda himself has little agency. The biggest thing from ... his perspective is becoming Santa to solve his problems. The issue is that he is forced to be a Santa to help others and basically become an adult. Forcing himself to become an adult. The problem is that his character becomes an afterthought so often that it makes you wonder, would it have been better if Santa was his own character? By joining the two characters you tamper with the most you can do with both Santa & Sanda.

Now Sanda does have a few problematic things going on. The first is the plot point that Santa can't fall in love with a child. Which should be obvious, but why is this a major plot point? As it doesn't add anything and, if anything, makes Sanda's character more distant. The other part is Ono & Fuyumura's relationship when Ono turns into an adult. We now have an adult-kid relationship. While it illustrates the differences between a kid and an adult in how they look at things well. Just having this relationship feels too problematic because, of course, in society this behavior would be deplorable. Essentially it forces the author to kill off Ono because keeping her would make things too taboo and treat the subject of "what it means to be an adult" with not enough seriousness.

From a production side, Science Saru did an outstanding job here. Pretty solid animation & OST with some outstanding art direction. Should you watch Sanda? Hard to say. A lot of the mysteries really didn't get explored enough, granted they are interesting. If you are a fan of Science Saru as a studio, it might be worth a look. But given how the ending to S1 went, it ends in an awkward stuff if you don't want to read the manga.

It is definitely an interesting show if nothing else.

Very few anime you can classify as bad. But how many can you classify as a waste of time? Towa no Yuugure is an example of both. Episode 0 gives a solid foundation for the series, and everything after does nothing with it. The world-building after episode 1 is barebones as it goes. The whole main story is absolutely pointless.

The only thing to note is the concept of elshea, which essentially is having multiple partners. Which could be decent, but even the show doesn't really make any use of that, and its relevance to the main story (which is pointless.) is nonexistent.

Even if you are ... a fan of PA Works, skip this and watch something that doesn't waste your time.

It had been 7 years since S1 aired. For many longtime fans, Kakuriyo getting an S2 is a wish come true. The biggest notable change is the art style, with the studio changing from Gonzo to what is officially a collaboration between Gonzo & a new studio named Makaria. But given the 7 years since S1, it is clear none of the old staff is here at the very least.

With that being said, the characters are still quite charming. With the focus in this season being Kasuga & Takechiyo, both of their arcs were solid in this season. If you loved the cast in S1, ... then I could see you enjoying this season.

Sadly the season ends in 1 cour and while the individual arcs were good, you have too many unresolved plot points regarding Oodanna, where the ending to this cour just sucks. Maybe it is planned as a split cour? But no news. At the very least, if you are a fan of the series, I would urge you to hold off watching S2 until another cour for S2 or S3 gets announced.

RomComs are one of the most populated genres each season. They come in all different forms. Here with Yano-kun's Ordinary Days, the theme that it starts with is a gimmick: Tsuyoshi Yano is prone to getting hurt. I illustrate what many people may be concerned with: will this anime rely on this gimmick too much? Thankfully the anime does not, and it is something it eases with.

In fact, what the series really is about is what the title says. It is about Yano's Ordinary Days, or essentially Yano learns how to live for the first time. This aspect the anime does well, and it is ... quite charming. In fact, what really helps is Yano's dynamic with Kiyoko Yoshida where their relationship becomes more than just her patching up Yano when he gets hurt. How their relationship evolves is really sweet.

To add even more, the cast and each character have their own charms. As the cast grows, you will learn to love each one of them. This RomCom even better avoids one of the common pitfalls and uses it to its advantage. Ajia-do did a good job animating this series and made a fun anime to follow.

Now, if you're wondering whether you should watch this show, well, if you enjoy wholesome RomComs then I can safely say you will enjoy this one too. This won't do anything you haven't seen in the genre, but it executes it well to make it worth watching.

If you are coming to watch Golden Kamuy S2 after enjoying the first season, then most likely you enjoyed the first season. More than likely you will enjoy this season as well. It continues to build on the big cast as we have 3 main factions in this series: Sugimoto & Asirpa, Tsurumi & Hijikata. These sides battle for the gold, and what makes this anime great is that, outside maybe Asirpa, nobody here is purely good or evil. Everyone has their clear motivations for aiming for it. There is a clear humane side to these characters, which is great.

One huge strength of this anime ... is its mix of comedy with the various hunting and gourmet scenes while also having some mature, deep themes mixed in. The anime does an outstanding job blending it. It makes you fall in love with the cast. Even the characters on the side of the antagonist of the series. The anime does a fantastic job with its voice direction and music, which enhance various scenes. Animation could be better, but it's decent enough.

There is much less of that ugly CGI work that was used much more often in S1. Partially it comes from some of the cut content. If you only watch anime, then I fully believe that this anime is a must-watch. With that being said, it's hard not to compare Golden Kamuy with the manga that it adapts. The anime doesn't dive into the Ainu culture with its world-building that it does in the anime. But for some people this could just be the cherry on top. The art direction, much like S1, doesn't compare to the manga, but if you made it this far, I doubt that would stop you.

As a manga reader, Geno Studio did much better in this S2 than S1. S1 cut Sugimoto's backstory, which is an essential part of the story. S2 covered everything they needed to adapt, and the pace felt better as they cut some side arcs. Of course the anime cuts the fat here, as mentioned, less world building, but that is more acceptable.

What really brings up S2 is how well they adapt the final arc. And boy, did they nail it. Again, voice direction and music nailed the big scenes. Even with my criticisms of Golden Kamuy as far as the adaptation is concerned, the anime is worth watching if you read the manga, as S2 is a step up from S1. The voice acting and music are worth watching for it alone. If you are anime-only, you would probably realize the things I am pointing out and would love the series. Once you finish S2, you will be wanting more and jump straight to S3.

Over the course of the last several years, we've seen more childcare-themed anime. In this anime called "Alma-chan wants to be a family". The title essentially shows what the show is about. But who is Alma? Alma is an AI who has the body of an elementary school-aged kid. Where Enji designed Alma's software and Suzume designed her hardware/body.

The focus is on these 3 individuals; we get to see how Alma grows by interacting with those around her. At the same time, Alma's creators also go through a change as well in their interactions with Alma. If you are looking for a feel-good SoL comedy ... with themes surrounding family, this is the perfect show for you.

On the technical side of the anime, it's decent enough. Nothing notable, but there is nothing that would put you off from watching it. This show has a lot of charm to it that makes it very enjoyable in the SoL comedy genre.

If you are interested in Golden Kamuy, you might be coming across this 2nd season OVA. There are 3 stories.

The first that takes place between S1 and S2 is titled Monster. Unlike with the events of "The Bodyguards of Barato" which are shown at the end of S1, the actual events of this arc are used in the OVA. This is an event that happens directly after S1, but S2 starts with the Yuutaro arc, so it feels clunky watching it between S1 and S2. Still, it is important, as the Yakuza boss having tattooed skin was part of the main story, which is ... why it ended up being adapted in the OVA.

So is this worth watching? Well, outside the acquired tattoo skin, there is not too much to note. So you could skip the OVA and be absolutely fine. Still, if you love the cast of characters and their dynamic, then you will also really enjoy it. If so, I would think you would also enjoy this.

In relation to the manga, it adapts chapters 63-69. So for manga readers, it does cover the ground between episodes. Though the parts in chapter 63 are skipped and basically overlooked, as Asirpa seeks to get back the treasure that her great-aunt gave to her daughter, whose husband lost it gambling to the American we see at the beginning of the episode. Again, the main flaw of this adaptation is that it cuts out on the world-building and Ainu culture stuff.

The 2nd one is called "Love Made Me Escape from Prison/The Terrifying Battle of Deadly Poison! A Massive Snake Deep in the Hokkaido Wilderness!" takes place in two different parts in the anime. The first half takes place after S2 episode 2, but the last half takes place after S2 episode 5. So essentially, if you want to watch this, it's best to watch after S2 Episode 5.

The first part goes over how Shiraishi became known as the Escape King. This covers chapters 84 and 85 and is very well adapted. While the 2nd part introduces the Saksomoayep from Asirpa talking about Ainu culture. This one adapts chapter 104, but the issue with this one is that it served as a great piece alongside what will be in the chapters that cover the 5th OVA. By itself, it is fun. However, it loses the reason for Noda writing it in the first place without the contents of the 5th OVA.

Is this worth watching? I do think this episode is a huge improvement over "Monster" As I mentioned, it talks about Shiraishi's origin story. Which is very fun and definitely worth a watch if you love the characters in the anime. Now, do note that Kumagishi is cut out of the main anime since they cut out the Fake Ainu Village Arc. This side story is fully skippable because of that, but if you have loved the series so far, you should watch this episode of the OVA as well.

Now the final OVA is probably the best completed of the OVAs, called "Shiton Doubutsuki". One of the criticisms of the Golden Kamuy anime compared to the manga is how it cuts out the world-building and Ainu culture elements, which are a core piece of the manga. This OVA is likely the first time that aspect was nailed.

As we are aware, there are tons of stories of humans and gods being married. For Golden Kamuy, Ainu refer to them as Kamuy. As Asirpa points out in those stories, the Kamuy has a human form. It is because humans can only marry humans. Kamuy/animals can only marry Kamuy/animals. It is an ingrained part of their culture.

One of the more interesting parts of the OVA is in the aftermath Sugimoto feels bad for Anehata. Of course, everything that he did to those animals and then proceeded to kill them, Asirpa has no sympathy for him. As killing them would imply what he did to those animals was wrong. Her reasoning is very on point. It is very interesting to see the switch of roles where we see Asirpa feeling bad for the prison convicts and Sugimoto knowing they are awful people.

So should you watch this final OVA? If you love the cast, comedy, and the Ainu culture elements, then yes. This OVA did cover chapters 108-113 of the manga, but the beginning of the episode is actually what happens at the end of episode 18. As the end of episode 18 is anime original. If you only care for the main story, it is skippable since the only notable thing to remember is Sugimoto collecting another skin. The anime doesn't keep track of the skins like the manga doesn't, so that might not be as big of a deal. Also, to add, the Golden Kamuy experience is more about the adventure and the end goal with how it is written.

In general, if you are a fan of the Golden Kamuy anime, I would say to definitely watch these OVAs, but they are skippable.