Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai Review

At first I was really skeptical when I take a glimpse at this anime. It's probably just another ecchi trash that is just there to satisfy a certain target group carnal desire. But oh boy, I was wrong, very wrong indeed. Shimoneta is not your usual ecchi anime. It's taken ecchi comedy to a whole new level.

The story follows sixteen years after the "Law for Public Order and Morals in Healthy Child-Raising" banned coarse language in the country. Tanukichi Okuma enrolls in the country's leading elite public morals school and is soon invited into the Anti-Societal Organization (SOX) by its founder, Ayame Kajou. As a member blackmailed into joining by Ayame, Tanukichi ends up taking part in obscene acts of terrorism against the talented student council president Anna, for whom Tanukichi has a crush on. (Source: ANN)

The story itself seem overly ridiculous. There is so much nonsense that your brain just give up on logical thinking and just go on watching for the pure comedic factor. But after a while, you realise that it was actually a really clever anime. Behind the overly sexual theme, there was a hidden message  about fighting against the government's violation of freedom of speech and getting rid of all forms of censorship throughout society. It feels a lot like an author who had gotten fed up with the current system and who decided to write this story out of spite. The plot was really straightforward, but towards the end it feels like it doesn't really accomplish anything much. Nevertheless, it is a witty comedy full of satire and endless fun.

The characters in the anime is really enjoyable to watch. Other than the plain looking protagonist, the characters design fits the anime really well, to a point that one character does resemble to a male genitalia for some reason. Tanukichi, the main character is plain looking, but it is enjoyable to get him pushed around and transformed into some kind of hentai kamen. The main attraction of the show however is Ayame Kajou, or Blue Snow. Her personalities change are really drastic, and she is super crazy in the way she talks and act. She kept spouting suggestive words and cleverly makes random pun out of it here and there. There is also other character like Anna, who is just plain crazy when her switch is on, a gloomy mad scientist that help organization in secret, an artist that goes hyper when inspiration kicks in as well as many other crazy casts. 

The animation and art are pretty much average, just like what you would expect for the standards of anime nowadays. The OP and ED music are a joy to sing along to, giving a hint on how absurd the anime would be. The soundtrack and sound effect are spot on and just there when you would expect them to be.

Overall, Shimoneta is just a rollercoaster of pure crazy fun. If you want to find an anime for the hilariously absurd comedy with underlying satirical messages, this is the anime for you. It is refreshing, a totally fresh breath of air that takes comedy to another level. Not many anime is as 'innovative' yet Shimoneta does it jobs perfectly.

THE iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls 2nd Season Review

There are some charm of an idol anime. Perhaps because of the interesting cast, or maybe because the songs, or the straightforward story, or all of them altogether. iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls is no exception. It is fun to watch, listen and sing along to. It's not too great, but it is enjoyable.

The story is told when talent agency 346 Production started a new program, the Cinderella Project.They took girls leading normal lives and transform them to be aspiring idols and see another world for the first time in this Cinderella story. Can they all climb the stairs that lead to the palace? The magic begins now... (Source: Daisuki)

The first season is more like an introduction, telling a slice of life story for each idols as they get comfortable with their units. The second season however, started with all thing suddenly crumbles down. A bit of depressing start, but the each idols find their own light in the hardship they faced and keep going on as the story continue to progress. They had the right formula; there’s the evil step-mother, the prince and the multiple Cinderellas. The tales for each Cinderella is done decently, but feels rushed and bland at time. It does suddenly get depressing somehow near the end, which does feels kind of forced. And the way the end is executed are rather bland after all the tension built up previously. The story overall has a much darker tone compared to the first season, yet it fails to capture each idols development, making this whole anime more like an advertisement to the game rather a complete set of anime.

There are about 15 main idols, as well as some extra senior and junior idols from the same agency featured. Their character design are hit and miss. Some more notable idols like Ranko, Anzu and Anastasia are really fun to watch, looks better than the whole cast in design and personalities yet their appearance in the anime itself are minimal. The three idols in the New Generation units, who supposed to be the main cast by no mean are bad but rather generic, and took the spotlight too much at time. Some of the other idols just feel insignificant, and just there to fill in the spot. The main problem like stated previously is the lack of character development which could be justified because of the abundance of idols in the series. Some of the characters are memorable, while other feels left out.

The art and animation are above average. The usage of bright and vibrant colour keeps the anime overall tone to be on a lighter side. The animation are smooth, with no apparent problems. The usage of 2D drawing instead of using CG during the concert are much appreciated, keeping the quality constant throughout. As for the music, there is not much to complain since most of the time it is really good. I do enjoy the different music used for each idols units, but I wish it could be extended more.

The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls 2nd Season is a decent anime, with so much potential yet feels rather inferior compared to its predecessor. It does have its own enjoyable moment, and it is fun to watch each idols doing their best to climb the stairways leading to the promised palace, a stage where their job is to make people (including the viewers) smile. Do pick it up if you enjoy idol anime, but you won't miss much by not watching.

Ninja Slayer From Animation Review

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAARRRTTTT!

Ninja Slayer works just because it's straight up ridiculous. Ninja Slayer isn't just anime. It's art.

In the future where the universalization of cybernetic technology and electronic networks are God, suddenly, sinister ninja souls, resurrected from thousands of years past are unleashed on the dark shadows of Neo-Saitama. Fujikido Kenji, is a salaryman whose wife and child were killed in a ninja turf war. In a brush with his own death, Fujikido is possessed by an enigmatic ninja soul. Fujikido cheats death and becomes Ninja Slayer. A Grim Reaper destined to kill evil ninja, committed to a personal war of vengeance. Set in the dystopian underworld of Neo-Saitama, Ninja Slayer takes on Soukai Syndicate ninjas in mortal combat. (Source: Animanga wikia)

Plot? What plot? Just kidding. There is a plot, but a very non-linear plot, jumping randomly to different perspective from time to time. What matter most is not the overall story however, rather than the satirical view that the anime itself try to convey to the viewer. One important note that has to be taken about this anime itself: It is a parody of a parody. This is not an anime that could be understand by comprehensible logic alone. It is an acquired taste. It's like a mysterious piece of art. Some people may find it unsettling, while other may regard it as a masterpiece. 

The is TONS of characters/ ninjas in this anime. They introduced about 2-5 ninjas each episode. The ninjas design are outstanding. They possess unique superhuman power, from super strength to the ability to control explosions and many more.  Most of them however, along with thousands of clones yakuza thugs got killed in one episode. The main character is Fujikido aka Ninja Slayer, a plain looking ninja with super speed and strength, along with the ability to spam unlimited shurikens. You know the bad guys will get their butt kicked the moment he showed up, no matter how though they might be. Other important side character include a loli ninja with origami controlling power that is just there to add in the plot, a useless amnesiac girl who is the granddaughter of Ninja Slayer master, and Nancy; useful but most of the time just there for fanservice purpose. 

One most striking feature about this anime is the ART. It's beautiful. The shading, high contrast colour and visual effects are just outright perfection. The visual representation of Neo-Saitama is just spot on, littered with neon light, dirty urban feels and tall dark skyscrapers. The animation however, is something else. Before you complain that the animation is awful, let me remind you that this is a parody anime. It is done on purpose. The fake looking explosion, the paper cut and paste character and repetitive fight scene are there because it is ridiculous, and fun. The soundtrack consist of techno and eastern music mash up, which is just perfect for the setting. The OP is good and they include different ED music for every single episode (which is impressive considering this is a very short anime). The voice acting consists of shouting and punch line, which I find really amusing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this anime. It is hard to actually watch it if you don't understand that it is a parody. This whole show is basically a piece of art. It just works because it is honest and plain ridiculous. Absurdity kills reason. This is this anime power.

Until then....

YEEEAARRT! 

AUUUUAAAGHHH! 

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAARRRTTTT! 

AUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAGH! 

RECITE YOUR DEATH HAIKU! 

SAYONARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ore Monogatari!! Review

"When you fall for someones, everything about them becomes beautiful." This is an anime about loves. It shows that loves come in many different forms, regardless on how you look or personalities. And believe me, you will love it.

The anime  features Takeo Gouda,  not exactly your average high school freshman with his muscular build and tall stature. However, behind his intimidating appearance hides a heart of gold, and he is considered a hero by the boys for his courage and chivalry. Unfortunately, these traits do not help much with his love life. As if his looks are not enough to scare the opposite sex away, Takeo's cool and handsome best friend and constant companion Makoto Sunakawa easily steals the hearts of the female students—including every girl Takeo has ever liked. When Takeo gallantly saves cute and angelic Rinko Yamato from being molested, he falls in love with her instantly, but suspects that she might be interested in Sunakawa. With his own love for Yamato continuing to bloom, Takeo unselfishly decides to act as her cupid, even as he yearns for his own love story. (Source: MAL Rewrite)

The story explore the aspect of love in many different way. The most notable one is how loves can even bloom with two people with contrasting features shown between the huge gentle giant Takeo and small, fragile looking girl Rinko. The anime overall does not shown a clear, straightforward plot, but tackle the story in a slice of life feature most of the time. Each of the arc however addresses the issues of loves; from how hard it is to confess your love to a person, how sometime your feeling would not get returned but you must move on nevertheless, how loves is maintained between a mutual trust for each other, to a simpler form of loves between family. The overall pace is somewhat slow, but brilliant comedic act and hilarious scenes makes up for it.

The anime centres around three main characters; Takeo Gouda, Rinko Yamato and Makoto Sunakawa. Each of them are vastly different for each other, yet they share unbreakable bond. Takeo is a huge guy with giant heart. He is very nice to people around him, yet he does not speak his mind and always misunderstood what others feels. He tried his best on what he could do best, by working hard and using his muscle all whilst accepting his weaknesses. He is deeply in love with Rinko, and kept repeating "Suki da!" over and over again to a point it looks more like a punchline. Rinko meanwhile is a complete opposite is appearance. She is small, petite yet had a great smile that warms up everyone around her. She tries her very best to be a dedicated and hardworking girlfriend, baking food and provide support to his lovable boyfriend. Unlike Takeo who could be dense most of the time, Rinko is the one who takes the initiative in their relationship to propel it even further. Finally, we have Sunakawa, a handsome and cool looking guy with a lot of wisdom to share with his friend. He is not a third wheel, but rather a gear that connect both Takeo and Rinko together, supporting him as much as he could. Everytime Takeo or Rinko had troubles regarding their relationship, Sunakawa is there to help, and do it not because he feels obligated to, but to show how much he treasures the bond between his friends. The other side characters are also fun to watch, each with their own mini loves story that expand the overall narrative.

The art for Ore Monogatari is bright and cheerful, perfect for this light-hearted anime. Animation is fluid and pleasant, with little to no quality issue. The usage of variety of different sceneries are definitely a plus, each accompanied with vibrant colouring. The way they exaggerate characters expression are very enjoyable, and it never fails to amuse me to see how silly Takeo can look each time. The OP and ED music are cheerful and complement the overall theme. The soundtrack used are mostly violin and other classical feels that fit perfectly with the mood if needed.

Overall, this is a surprisingly great anime that manages to capture the theme of romance and loves perfectly. It is an enjoyable anime that surely warms up your heart even if you are still single (me) and captures the beauty of love in many different way. Ore Monogatari is a highly recommended anime for the season if you enjoy romance anime or just a person who kept wondering "what is love?".

Shokugeki no Souma Review

It is not a first time an anime central around cooking, but this anime captures it perfectly. Shokugeki no Souma is not just foodporn. It is food with light porn. And let me tell you: It is amazing. 

The story is about Yukihira Souma, whose dream is to become a full-time chef in his father's restaurant and surpass his father's culinary skill. But just as Yukihira graduates from middle schools his father, Yukihira Jouichirou, closes down the restaurant to cook in Europe. Although downtrodden, Souma's fighting spirit is rekindled by a challenge from Jouichirou which is to survive in an elite culinary school where only 10% of the students graduate.  The institution is famous for its "Shokugeki" or "food wars," where students face off in intense, high-stakes cooking showdowns.
As Souma and his new schoolmates struggle to survive the extreme lifestyle of Tootsuki, more and greater challenges await him, putting his years of learning under his father to the test. (Source: MAL Rewrite)

One quality of the anime itself is that it is full of hype. Each arc follows the same basic rule; the crisis, the cooking and the reactions afterward. It starts with a slow suspense feeling, with tension and pressure (and hype) building up as they start to cook and finally end with over the top reaction during the judging session. The formula is used repeatedly but creatively, with different situation mixed up for every single arc, from the intense shokugeki to a toned down smaller scale cooking brawl. It is ridiculous, but that is why it is so good. It manages to make food, a seemingly mundane object that we just take for granted in our every day life to sustain ourself, into an object of pleasure and self-satisfaction. The way they describe the food is impeccable, from the general view down to the tiniest little non-important details. It is relatively different from the manga version where the manga just shown a static, greyscale picture while the anime showcase a fluid, colorful workflow where you can just listen to the characters rambling enthusiastically about the ingredients and how the food was made instead of just reading/ skimming through it. The anime does end up in a cliffhanger, but it is done so that the hype would still continue for the upcoming second season.

The cast for this anime is huge. There would be at least 20 important characters, and it is not fair to broadly expand their character development given the time and episode constraint. However, each character design are unique in their own way. Each and every one of them had their own cooking styles, that mostly matches up with their personalities and appearance. For example, we have the lovely country bumpkin Megumi, where her cooking style focuses on trying the best to take care of the person enjoying her food, to a more aggressive meat master Nikumi, coincide perfectly with her appearance that exposes as much skin (and meat) as possible. The list could go on and on. For the main character, Yukihira Souma himself seems to be a fun and carefree guy, but can get serious if he had to. He is not totally infallible, shown from his defeat to his father yet one can expect that he would win every single important match with confidence. He is by no mean a bland character, but his development is rather static as the story goes on. The same problem happens to other (supposedly) important character like Erina, which most of the time used as a comedic relief or convenient plot device.

The art and animation are above average. It is satisfactory, with brilliant and bright color palette and fluid animation. Some of the intense scenes were dramatically portrayed with high energy transition and special effects to elevate the mood. The foods however, is the main attraction for this anime. It is exquisitely displayed, down to the very last grain of rice. It looks so beautiful to the point that it is downright mouth-watering. As for the sound, it is well-done. From the memorable high paced OP songs to a merrier ED, it is pleasant to the ear. The soundtrack for each scene was highly diverse. The orchestral+opera music that envision how heavenly the food would taste like for example perfectly captures the mood.

Do I enjoy the anime? Heck yeah I do. Watching how each food is prepared the reactions followed after the first bite was taken was very, very satisfying. I would definitely nominate this anime as the anime of the season for its brilliant presentation and engrossing story, with memorable and fun to watch casts. It is an extremely fun anime, with a lot more to offer in the second season. A must watch anime for this season for sure.