Back to JJMFREAP's Profile JJMFREAP's Profile

Finally, I'm here. I've been ogling at Neon Genesis Evangelion for probably decades and being fascinated by it deeply. Yet somehow, never took the time to actually watch the darn thing. Took me so long that the timeframe of this sci-fi story happened 11 years ago as of writing this. Well, the time is here at last, and according to MAL it only took 99 other anime before it before Evangelion became No. 100. Woot! So, is this anime deserving of it's legendary status? Yes, absolutely. It's what you would call a "seminal" work, one that comes by once in a lifetime and changes everything. ... And it's just a really good series that is truly special. You'd be a fool not to experience this! Don't be like me, don't delay and watch this!

Right, what is there to say about Eva that hasn't been said a million times before? Here goes! First, let me start off by saying that it's just plain awesome! Mecha are automatically cool and make for a great watch, but few if any are able to have as much storytelling meat on its bones as Eva does! It has all the epicness of mecha anime, but with so much depth and profoundness to both story and characters that it just transcends any usual boundaries. I mean, taking that and combining it with heavy religious symbolism, social commentary and deep philosophy? Hell yeah! Literally never been done before. And if it's been done after, it's probably following in Eva's footsteps. Remember, seminal work. To an outstanding degree, the whole anime manages to be enjoyable on the surface level, yet full of so much depth that you can just dig and dig and keep finding brilliant little details all over! It's deliver philosophical quandaries, metaphysical bombshells, sci-fi brilliance of the highest degree and chilling cosmic horror, all while remaining entertaining, fun, cool and even sexy!

Through some very clever use of context clues, elegant exposition gracefully integrated into natural conversation, background elements like news broadcasts and secondary conversations and some really well executed flashbacks, Eva achieves two marvelous things. Firstly is the worldbuilding, which is exceptionally deep and detailed the more you analyze it. The system of government, the science behind what's happening, the timeline of events, all very fleshed out and told in very natural fashion without drab exposition dumps. Simultaneously, the depth of the characters is tremendous too. At first, they may seem plain and simplistic, cliches if you will. But with every interaction, flashback and inner monologue, we learn more and more about them. And we quickly discover that each one is incredibly profound, holding personal goals, history, trauma, issues, thoughts, personal mantras and more. The way this massive web of characters intersect is likewise truly phenomenal, it all feels like a properly interconnected system, like these are real people with real relationships and deep, messy histories with one another. This way, both the worldbuilding and the characters feel alive and believable, realistic in a tangible way. What's more, the world and characters are themselves an interconnected system that integrates perfectly. The world defines the character's actions and the actions influence the course of the world. It's all linked up and flows together as one. Each flashback manages to beautifully progress both. And another fascinating thing is that despite all the information presented, for both the universe at large and the people within it, you can still feel just how much you don't know! There's secrets of the world that remain undiscovered, mysteries about the characters and their motivations that remain unsolved. But this isn't a detriment, it's a positive that shows how there's even more, but for this you'll be left to your own devices to try and possibly figure it out!

On a technical level, I think the studio knocked it out of the park! The whole series has that definitive oldschool look of 90s anime that is just unmistakable. The visuals for the majority of it are truly stellar with that awesome hand-drawn traditional animation style! Characters are expressive and lively. The mechs and monsters look colossal and imposing, yet they move in a dynamic and fluid fashion that is never stiff and feels appropriate for their size. The backgrounds and settings look immaculate and immeasurably vast. All of the technology depicted looks just so cool and intricate, like real believable technology that seems incomprehensible in its complexity. Through the use of some amazing cinematography, unique visual storytelling and just creative pacing, the whole experience feels dynamic, intricate and captivating! It's not without faults though, as there are a few of the common cost cutting measures of the era - reused animations, some more stilted portions, extended still shots, characters shown from behind or with the mouth covered so they don't have to animate it, needless recaps to pad out runtime, etc. You could probably make this an episode or more shorter without losing any content by removing all the filler and fluff material. Regardless, these aren't too bad and never spoil the experience. Any visual shortcommings are compensated by the absolutely stellar voice acting (my condolenses to the poor souls voicing the main cast, they had to go through so much here!) and of course the music, which is phenomenal! Not to mention this probably has the most legendary anime opening of all time!

The most noteworthy thing is of course the deep themes that the story explores in such brilliant fashion. The religious themes are the most evident, especially the abundance of Christian iconography, and these are far from just some graphical flourish or something included for funsies. Whether you like it or not or would like to admit it or not, but religion and our relationship with God is foundational to the fabric of society and human civilization. Following the tenets of God, the teachings bestowed upon us and striving for a righteous path is both the fundamental objective of each individual and the guiding force that must be adhered to by people of power so that the progress of nations is just. At the same time, the allure of the heavenly, of the sacred is too much for many to resist. The prideful will always, secretly or not, dream of reaching towards God and either matching His power or usurping it for themselves. In history, there will always be those who think themselves equal to God and strive to be the supreme ones themselves. Evangelion illustrates these aspects and many more through the power of the religious iconography. It's a beautiful representation of how religion can define all of our lives. At the same time, the structure of the futuristic society and many of the unique aspects of the world serve as representations of religious aspects being applied in practice. It's quite brilliant honestly and it leaves much to think about in the best of ways!

But religion is but one aspect. Evangelion is known for it's dark subject matter and dealing with serious topics. Some of the darkest and murkiest corners of the human soul are displayed in full. Many gutwrenching topics like suicide, death, murder, trauma, war, etc, are presented without censor or filter and honestly, I love that. Reminds me that people weren't pussies back in the 90s and this kind of stuff could be depicted as it should. In the modern age of content filters and trigger warnings, seeing this kind of dark stuff in full is refreshing. Back on topic though, Eva does get pretty philosophical in many ways and things get pretty deep. The quest for personal purpose, the battle against loneliness and anxiety, the war with personal darkness, the desire to be loved, the societal woes, so much of it is explored and many different ideas are presented. I'm sure that no matter who you are and what life you've lived, some of this will hit very close to home. It does for me for sure. An aspect I've often pondered is how frustrating it is as humans to be trapped in such fragile bodies, full of flaws and issues. But then on top of that, our happiness is tied to one another, to the presence of loved ones and being able to find our significant other in this world. Is that not cruel? Maybe it is. In such cases, I can almost understand how the less moral among us can strive to reach a more divine state and transcend our pitiful limitations. Something to think about. I do personally enjoy and find it a good thing that for the most part, no definitive answer is given. Simply because for most of this stuff, no definitive answer exists. So the ideas and the stories are presented in front of you and you're left to think for yourself and figure out what your answer to all these things is. That's the way it should be with philosophy. Because anyone claiming to have the complete answer is either delusional or trying to deceive you.

To bring it back on track though, overall, I have been dreaming of Evangelion for very long and I have to say, it more than lived up to expectations. It's deserving of it's legendary status and the true extent of its legacy and influence is immeasurable! It's such a unique experience! It's some of the finest sci-fi in existence, it's militaristic mecha goodness and it's immensely profound and deeply moving. From religious dilemmas, to societal woes, to personal struggles, to parental and relationship trauma that prove that that coke snorting piece of shit Freud was frustratingly correct about a lot of things (and I say that as a Jungian), there are so many ideas explored here. One of the best things is that despite getting mad philosophical, especially towards the end, Eva never forgets that it needs to tell a good story with great characters above all else. All the themes are cool and all, but they can't make for a good anime on their own. You need a strong story to carry it all and Eva excels at that! It tells a dramatic and captivating tale of believable human struggles and complex relationships. It blends sci-fi, drama, horror, comedy, romance and more into one seamless experience, all presented through some of the deepest and most interesting characters you've ever met. There's many good reasons why these characters are still so relevant and beloved to this day! I should probably comment on the ending as well (spoiler free of course) - well, it's definitely something. I found it very interesting and thought provoking which seems to have been the primary goal. I applaud artistic expression and a free spirited approach to art. It's unique and leaves an impression for sure. But I won't lie it is a bit too artsy fartsy for my liking. It could've been a little less abstract and opaque and had the effort to resolve some more key plot threads and character arcs. One last tidbit I wanted to share about the philosophical aspects and general theming - despite Evangelion being an extremely dark story full of some of the nastiest and most depraved things mankind can do, thoroughly exploring some of the shadiest parts of who we are, there is still an underlying feeling of genuine hope. Above all things, the good in humanity is shown as well. It shows that there are people who choose good, righteous paths, that even flawed people can choose to be kind and even heroic. It shows that if we all work together and put our egos and personal desires aside, we can achieve many great things! We can endure unimaginable woes, we can rebuild after grand calamities and maybe, just maybe, we can even stand a chance to fight back against divine powers. On a more personal level, while the weight of struggle and its inevitability are shown, it's also made clear that a path to enlightenment and genuine happiness exists. You just have to find it and have the strength to walk it.

In the end, I'm very happy to have finally experienced Neon Genesis Evangelion like this! It was everything I wanted it to be and more. It's epic mecha action, it's dark and twisted as Hell, it's full of overt philosophical themes and borrows extensively from Christian iconography. As a sci-fi obsessed brooding edgy boy who loves philosophy and is a devout Christian, yes to all of that please! It's basically five or more of my favourite things mashed together in beautiful fashion. To all who like me are still dilly-dallying and haven't watched this yet, do yourself a favour and do it! To all who already have, I'm overjoyed to finally stand among you! And to all of you - Congratulations!

I had found this manga by accident and it had piqued my interest, so when the MAL challenge came about, it was the perfect excuse to check this out! I went in expecting a simple, fun, humorous series to enjoy casually and just have some fun with. It definitely succeeded at that, but at the same time it surpassed all expectations! Furyou Taimashi Reina is far more than meets the eye, a true hidden gem in every sense of the word. It’s really enjoyable on the surface level and delivers great comedy, sick action and cool characters with just the right amount of fanservice, but ... it’s so much more beyond that too! Seriously, check this out, you won’t be sorry!

What really stands out is the story. Now, students being exorcists and fighting against demons while at school is a super common trope in manga and anime, sure, but Reina does things a little differently. It combines it with a stereotypical school delinquent story and forms a comedic supernatural adventure that keeps swerving in unexpected ways. It delves with a lot of tropes, especially when it comes to ghosts, demons and yokai. If you’ve read or watched Dandadan, Toilet Bound Hanako-kun or anything of the sorts in recent years, you’ll see many familiar ideas. But the way these are executed is different and refreshing. Fighting ghosts is the meat and potatoes of the story and that much is always fun and engaging, especially with all the shenanigans around it. Fundamentally, this is a comedy series with a supernatural flavour. It’s genuinely funny and got plenty of laughs out of me. The characters are all fun, charming and very enjoyable to spend time with. They have great chemistry and the interactions never get boring. Many scenes are based on misunderstandings, which is usually a very annoying trope, but here it’s used purely for jokes and it lands very well! The obliviousness of background characters never gets old.

More importantly though, as the manga goes on, it becomes much more than just jokes. The characters get fleshed out, their motivations become clear and we get to know them as people very well. The story also swerves in many different unexpected directions. At times, the humour subsides and it can get pretty scary and disturbing if possessions, demons and uncanny creatures freak you out. You’ll never be allowed to forget that there is a horror element to this. Moreover, the story really comes together over time and it’s clear this isn’t just a series of loosely related gags, but a very well constructed tale with well thought out characters who really grow on you and with each other. Reina herself goes from a weird comedy character only there to cause chaos to a really well executed protagonist that shines bright and carries the whole thing confidently. She’s overpowered in a way, yet feels sympathetic and enjoyable, you can’t help but root for her. And yet, all the other characters are full of charm and intrigue on their own, so even in chapters where Reina barely appears, the experience is still just as strong. I was genuinely not expecting this manga to go where it went, but I’m damn glad that it did. It became one of my favourite kinds of tales – a silly, fun comedy that openly indulges all of its own ridiculousness, but also has a very strong emotional core with characters that feel real and believable. The kind of series that can make you laugh and giggle, yet also make you feel the good feels in back to back chapters. Where you can both have your heartstrings tugged, while still chuckling at silly gags.

When I reached the end, I realized I had become strongly emotionally invested in the story. Now, I was no longer just along for the ride to enjoy the gags and fights and look at boobies. I was enthralled with what was unfolding and wanted to know what happens next. As I reached the last chapter, I realized I had grown attached to these characters and was bummed out I didn’t get to spend even more time with them. One important thing to note, is that this series was actually axed midway, so if the final part feels a little rushed, it’s because it was and the author scrambled to wrap things up with very limited time. Honestly though, the fact that he was able to write such a satisfying ending under these circumstances is a fucking miracle. Basically all loose ends were tied up and he stuck the landing handily. I applaud the effort. I’m sad it had to be like this though, because things really came together by then, had me properly hooked and all and I definitely would’ve wanted for there to be much more to read.

Other than that, the artwork is really nice! It’s super clean and well executed, no sketchy lines or roughness (unless done deliberately as an artistic choice). Visual clarity is excellent and while the paneling or flow won’t blow your mind or anything, it does the job very well and there’s never a point where it’s unclear what’s happening. It’s an effortless and pleasant reading experience. The characters look really cool and are super expressive, the action feels fluid and dynamic, the backgrounds are solid and the more detailed, grotesque ghosts look really unsettling, especially next to the cute characters. There is fanservice, but it’s measured, just the right amount to spice things up, but never getting obnoxious or in the way of the story. Overall the visuals are super pleasing to look at and executed to a high standard of quality. While it’s nothing revolutionary, the artwork is still distinct in its own way and makes for a great experience overall!

Honestly, I’m a bit shocked. I went into this series thinking it would be just a casual, fun read that you can blast through quickly given that it’s not particularly long. And it still was that. The comedy, action and horror were all done well and it absolutely did what I wanted it into do in that department. But it absolutely exceeded my expectations in terms of story, characters, writing and emotional weight. I was already enjoying myself from the start, but by the end, I was hooked, invested and even moved. And I believe you would be too. Apologies if the review seems a bit vague at times, but I simply want to avoid all spoilers. You need to experience this for yourself. Furyou Taimashi Reina is a hidden gem and an underrated manga for sure! I’m so glad that circumstances lead me to read this, it was so so worth it! I would definitely love to see an anime of this some day, I think it’ll go pretty hard. But regardless, give this a read, you won’t regret it!

What a magical adventure awaits! I've heard all the hype surrounding this one and was eager to dive in. And it's not hard to see why there was so much praise! Witch Hat Atelier is one of the most interesting and engaging classical fantasy adventures in anime today and the start is very strong! If you enjoy fantasy in any way, shape or form, I highly recommend this one!

Firstly, the anime itself is just amazingly executed on a technical level! The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, with a beautifully vibrant colour palette being used to make the world feel truly whimsical and magical. The animation is ... lively and dynamic, with tons of fluid movement and lots of subtle details to really bring everything to life. At no point does anything feel stiff, rigid or half-assed. Of course, with a series like this, you have a ton of special effects needed to sell all the magic spells and the like look truly, well, magical! And they absolutely do, as they look super imposing and truly spectacular, as one would expect! A special kudos must be given to the music! It uses lots of lutes, flutes, panpipes and other medieval/traditional instruments to really create that oldschool fantasy theme. It captures the vibe and fits the aesthetic perfectly and I absolutely love it! Overall, the studio absolutely killed it, the quality is very high all throughout and I can't think of a single thing that could've been done better!

One of the most crucial things that Witch Hat Atelier is known for is the worldbuilding, especially the magic system! While we've merely scratched the surface, it's clear this is a very well thought out approach unlike anything else out there! It's a well defined system of rules that uses drawing, symbols, geometry and effectively calligraphy for each spell. It's a very unique approach that allows magic to be a ubiquitous thing that anyone can tap into, you don't need to be special or have some unique trait, if you follow the right steps, the magic will happen. Strength then comes from mastery, knowledge and pure skill, not innate talent or the obtaining of magical McGuffins. It really ties into the "Atelier" part of the name, as there's many elements of craftsmanship and mastery of physical skills that go into the use of magic, which is a great way for characters to showcase their unique skills and distinguish themselves. An added bonus of this is that whenever fights occur, it's not some raw contest of strength or spamming of powerful destructive attacks. Instead, it feels more like a puzzle, like you need to look for the specific spell that can be fine tuned using the established rules in order to become the solution to the problem at hand. When someone overpowers someone else, it's not because of some arbitrary power scaling or whatnot, it's because that person knows more than the other and has more experience to draw from or has some other strategic advantage. And in order to beat them, you have to figure out the logic and process behind what they're doing and find something to counteract it. Really fun and engaging stuff!

And what really shows that this isn't just system porn is the fact that the way this magic system works ties perfectly into the entire worldbuilding. The entire verse is geared around how magic is integrated into daily life and how witches fit into society. They aren't some novelty or mysterious entities that people fear. They're essentially specialists with unique skills that are used to solve problems. Magic is also used in the vein of how we use technology today - integrated into as many aspects of daily life as possible in order to simplify, automate and empower them. But then there's also the moral repercussions. How do you deal with magic if anyone can do it? Surely it must be regulated? What do you do when potentially anybody on the street can just create a nuke sized explosion by just scribbling the right thing on some paper? This and more are the core themes of this story and it's clear that things will only get deeper with time!

This leads me perfectly into the last vital part - the story. Initially, it starts out a bit basic, as we have our endlessly passionate girl Coco who wants to be a witch, but can't because reasons, but then a calamitous event leads her to getting this special chance. We're then quickly introduced to the rivaling factions of witches and their opposing philosophies, thus establishing the main conflict of the series. The beginning isn't too different from other things we've seen before, but as time goes on, things start falling into place nicely. The world starts to expand before you and you begin to understand the scope of what is at stake. The learning process that our main cast go through as they learn sets a clear flow of progression that will help both them and us grow into the world and explore everything it has to offer and all the mastery that goes into the spellcasting. The characters themselves are an excellent subversion. Each one is presented initially as a type of cliche, an archetype common in anime. But as we spend more time with them, we learn more and the nuance and richness of their character begins to show. They have layered personalities with motivations, personal struggles and unique strengths and weaknesses. Each one presents a different facet of the story and I can already see the growing web of connections and unique interactions that is being built up before us. You also get this strong dynamic between the kids vs the adults. The kids are all struggling against their upbringing and trying to rise above their circumstances. They have strong ambitions and motivation to grow. They want to be something big, somebody important, but they're not there yet. And each one's personality defines their approach to growth, while they simultaneously greatly play off of each other and learn new outlooks on life by looking at how others approach the same issues. On the other hand, the adults are entrenched in the established systems and rules of the world, each one seems to have an agenda they want to enforce one way or another. Some strive to follow the rules to the dot, others scooch around them. Main mentor Qifrey in particular is a wonderfully crafted morally grey character with lots of depth and conflicting emotions about him. Every scene he's involved in is intriguing and unpredictable because of this. There's lots of moving pieces going about in this world and the interactions have felt thoroughly engaging already, with lots of evident promise for things to get more and more exciting as time goes on.

Overall, this is a really strong start for Witch Hat Atelier and I'm personally hooked! I can see the initial sparks of what's to come, but am left with no way to reasonably predict what could possibly come next. So I just want to know more! I want to see what happens next! Really, this is the only real criticism one can leverage against this anime - that this is clearly only the beginning and we're barely getting started! We've only established the basics and are just starting to get into deeper waters. There's going to be juicier things to come, but we're just not there yet. This season also does the annoying Dandadan thing where it ends abruptly mid arc. So a lot of ongoing conflicts we just established are left unresolved for the time being. This is a bit frustrating and now we'll just have to be patient and wait for the next season to actually get things properly moving again. This of course is only an issue at the moment when this season is still new (or unless you jump straight into the manga, which I will definitely do sooner or later). In any case, it can feel like a backhanded compliment when the only real critique is "I wish there was more of it!"

In the end, this is a great opening to what is shaping up to be a great story. A classic fantasy tale that crafts a genuine sense of adventure for what is to come, a world that begs to be explored further, a universe that feels magical and whimsical in all the right ways and a power system you just want to know more and more about! There's genuine intrigue from the central conflict and there's clearly much more than meets the eye when it comes to the characters, so can't wait to learn more about them! By all means, if you love classic fantasy adventures, dive into this series as it's exactly what you've been looking for!

AssClass has always been one of the best journeys in anime and getting more out of it is a surprise for sure, but a welcome one. Here I am learning that there was a bit of content cut from the main anime, but the studio decided to give it to us still! So now, we truly have the full experience. This is an anime that can make you laugh, cry, get excited, get heartbroken, yet feel hopeful, all within a single arc. It has a little bit of everything and it excels at all of it! So if you already love the series, it's a ... no brainer to watch this too.

There really isn't much to say in great detail. The quality of the original anime was already really good and it remains such here. It's visually awesome, the music is great and the voice actors kill it every time. It's just a blast from beginning to end. The interesting bit is in the story. Now, it is a downside that this movie is essentially an anthology of scrapped material that didn't make it into the anime. This leads to the whole thing flowing like a series of only tangentially related events (because that's exactly what it is) and not really following a singular coherent plot like a movie usually would. Also, this is material that was deemed not important enough to be omitted from the seasons, so you already know that this isn't the pinnacle of what the series has to offer, because we already got that. It can feel a little bit filler-y at times, especially with how we introduce minor characters that appear in these singular arcs and are never relevant again. However, this isn't to say that what we got is bad, far from it! Assassination Classroom is peak, so much so even the Z-plots are amazing! Several of these arcs fully demonstrate the unique qualities that only this series has. The way fun action, hilarious comedy bits and serious life lessons all blend together in a beautiful way. It balances it's silliness and sincerity in a perfect manner, managing to be entertaining and thought provoking at the same time. It can feel goofy and wacky, but there's a really strong emotional core that just pulls everything together and makes it feel so special! Koro-sensei will make you laugh and simultaneously teach you something vital just like one of his students and you won't even realize he did it because it would go over so naturally and smoothly! That's on full display here and several of the plot twists prove incredibly poignant, so while the story isn't linear in a traditional sense, it's still awesome to experience and worth the time!

Overall, this little movie was really fun! A nice little bonus for fans that really appreciated the original anime and wanted the manga to truly be adapted in its entirety. Most of all, it just felt really nice revisiting this story and these characters! AssClass has always had one of the best casts of any series, a large and deep roster that offers a lot of variety and is a joy to spend time with. And as you experience their stories, you feel like you're part of the class too, like they're your classmates and you're rooting for their success as they root for yours, that Koro-sensei is taking care of you and teaching you right there alongside them. So this movie really felt like catching up with some old friends and having a good time with them just like before. All the wonderful feelings from the past come back and they feel just as good as they used to! This took me back to years ago when I originally watched this and it felt nice to do so!

I suggest you watch this too and I hope you feel the same way!

I've been mulling this one over and over in my head since it ended, and it just makes me smile every time! Way back in the beginning when I watched the first season, I said in my review that Dr. Stone is one of those rare gems that you can have absolutely zero complaints about, since everything is done the the highest degree and at top notch quality. Well, it has now become an even rarer gem by virtue of the fact that this level of quality didn't dip for a single moment throughout the entire series! It remained damn near flawless from beginning to ... end. After all these years, Dr. Stone stuck the landing (moon landing that is) and delivered a satisfying payoff to such a unique and powerful story. TLDR: Do yourself a favour and watch this anime!

By now, I've really hammered home the strengths of the series, but here it goes again, one more time with passion. One of the biggest strengths has always been the large and varied cast of characters, all of whom prove incredibly interesting and thoroughly engaging, demonstrating an incredible chemistry with each other that is natural, heartwarming and so fun to indulge. They mesh together in all sorts of interesting ways, even the antagonists with the opposing ideas that they bring to the table. Speaking of villains, by the end we get this interesting situation where essentially all characters have aligned their goals towards a singular cause, a common enemy that they all must conquer and they realize they can only do it together. So it's really interesting to see these differing viewpoints and strong personalities come together and how the whole becomes so much more than the individual parts. All of the ideas and concepts built up throughout the story finally reach their zenith and get the deserved payoff of it all in a way that is both distinctly "anime", if I can put it that way, while also being unlike anything else! And it succeeds as always in making science look immensely fascinating and cool without being cheesy, condescending or confusing. It's genuine passion that is so infectious, you can't help but get drawn in and cheer for the success of these bold ideas!

On a purely technical level, the anime remains as it always was - absolutely stellar! The visuals are crisp and dynamic, with lots of vibrant colours, beautiful backdrops and great cinematography. Especially at the end, the animation really dials in to look properly stunning for the biggest, most important moments! Sound design, music and voice acting knock it out of the park. I said it many times, it's nigh impossible to have any real complaints when it comes to Dr. Stone. Really the only things you can mention are that the opening, while nice, is a bit too chill for a dramatic story climax and for me personally, I wish we got to spend time with all the other new cities founded across the world just like we did before. But I guess the only complaint being "I wish it was longer and we spent even more time with it" is essentially a compliment at the end of the day.

Since I mentioned voice acting, I want to bring something up simply because this is literally the last opportunity I will get to do so. I couldn't help but notice how almost all characters have some phrase or quirk of their speech that keeps getting repeated a lot. Senku has his "he he he" and his nonchalant "aaah" agreement, Kohaku has her energetic "Ha!", Ryusui has the iconic "HA HA!" with the snap, Chrome uses variations of "Yabeeee" for at least a dozen different emotions, Suika ends every single sentence with "Dayo". Magma has his "Dahahaha", Yo has his "Ueeeeeiii", etc. Feels very One Piece coded in a way. I'm not saying this as a complaint, not at all, just something quintessentially Dr. Stone once you pick up on it.

In the end, in terms of story, I believe everything came together and wrapped up really nicely! The conclusion served the overarching themes and gave a real proper sendoff to a grand journey unlike any other. The central plot twist is also something anyone could hardly predict. The fact that it's essentially the beginning of something new that we can fill in with our own imaginations is a perfect sendoff! One vital thing I want to say is that from the very beginning, one of the best aspects of Dr. Stone was its genuine feeling of hope! I love a good dystopia and I enjoy stories that revel in darkness, but Dr. Stone is a rare breed that manages to shine a light that is warm and comforting in a genuine way. It strived to see the best in humanity, appreciate the beauty of us without trying to hide any of the flaws. It shows how when we work together, we can achieve greatness and accomplish things that defy logic. The fact that we had this cast of characters each with a unique, overexaggerated strength was a way of showing how, knowingly or not, each of us is amazing at something, your own passion, talent, specialty. However if you're so good at one thing, it means you fall behind in others. But when we work together, we can cover each other's weaknesses and utilize our strengths to the max, becoming a singular all-mighty organism that conquers anything and everything. It's a powerful message and most importantly of all - Dr. Stone's hopefulness feels real and honest. It's not sugarcoated, not deceptive, not some dumb forced positivity. It's a truly rare form of genuine optimism that is infectious and gives you faith in a bright future of mankind. And that's maybe the most valuable thing of all. Lord knows we could use a bit of a pick-me-up in the times we live in.

So here we are, it's all over. But only in terms of episode count. For Dr. Stone's parting message was that progress continues forever onward and we must all take part in it. Our lives go on and maybe, with the strong mark that this anime has left, we can do so with hope in our hearts and a drive to make things better and keep working towards brighter futures. Dr. Stone remained, throughout its entire runtime, a thoroughly fun story that always remained interesting and engaging. It was funny, entertaining and easy to follow on the surface level, with fun characters and insane plot twists to keep you invested, while having a ton of subtle details and nuance for those willing to dig deeper. The interpersonal chemistry, fittingly, is on another level and I can name very few other stories that manage to pull this off so well. Not to mention with such a large, interconnected cast that is very easy to get confused in. Not here though, here everything flows as naturally as the conversations with close friends. And that's what Dr. Stone feels like. A close friend that uses great stories to captivate you and tell you about complex scientific things that are more important than you probably realize. A friend that sees you might be feeling a little down and in a fit of nihilism and manages to lighten up your heart and mind, helping you see a path of hope and prosperity for us all. Not some fake promise or sweet delusion to obscure the harsh truth, but an actual path, well lit and clearly visible. Not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but real all the same.

So watch Dr. Stone! Learn about science, strive for progress, be curious, be inquisitive, reach for stars and believe in a brighter future!

Awww yeah, BIG MEN DOING MAN SHIT is back with great fanfare! It looks like meat is back on the menu! Toxic vasculinity and muscular macho nonsense shall commence once again! After the absolutely epic conclusion, a story for the ages that we got last time, how ever shall we move forward? Why, with absolute bullshit of course! And it's glorious!

Honestly, this is the season where I can feel that the author just went "fuck it" and did whatever he felt like. Any semblance of restraint he may or may not have had is gone like a fart in the wind. So now we have ... no shortage of malarkey, from mysticism, to Japanese honoruburu samurai bushido stuff, to sci-fi, to...Brock Lesnar? You really never know what to expect. Even after all these seasons of Baki behind me, as much as I try to think on the same wavelength, I can never predict where we're going! And that's a compliment. It keeps the story engaging and no matter how absolutely bonkers whatever on screen is (which it will be, more than you can imagine), I'm never bored! It's always just so entertaining!

We get all the muscular mayhem we've come to expect with some absolutely crazy fights, this time with a flair of mysticism and swordsmanship! I don't know how, but the techniques keep getting even more ridiculous. We cloned Miyamoto Musashi and needed a grandma to a have schizo fit and perform necrophilia on him to give him a soul. Musashi can attack people in their minds and deal real damage. They literally claimed some Chinese mumbo jumbo technique from thousands of years ago can deflect missiles. And the fact that all this is said without the tiniest shred of irony just makes this so much better. I'm not even saying this as a slight, Baki is just like nothing else in existence and it somehow just works! It presents itself with absolute sincerity and that makes it so endearing! Yet despite it's own ridiculousness, there's still some pretty strong character moments in there, where growth and consequence can be felt and a genuine adventure unfolds. There really is nothing like it!

Production wise, the anime itself is fine overall. Looks alright, sounds alright, gets the job done. Unfortunately though, it is a noticeable step down from the previous season. Some of this was to be expected, Son of Ogre was literally the grand climax to the main plot thread we've been following since the very beginning, so the studio pulled out all the stops and delivered absolute peak. What we get here is still serviceable but there's some obvious cut corners. Some fights aren't as dynamic as they could be. There's lots of still images with speed lines and camera shake all over them. Regarding the opening, while the song is good, it's literally just reused clips from previous seasons and some PNGs looking at each other. Like, come on bro. This is where I legitimately have to dock some points. I know that the main quest is resolved now and we're firmly in "Fuck it, we ball" territory, but this shouldn't be an excuse to half-ass your efforts. Whole-ass this manly masterpiece!

Overall, it feels damn good to have Baki back and it's just as fun as ever! It's absolute insanity on so many levels that it makes JoJo look tame in comparison. It's the most ridiculous thing ever conceived and I love every second of it. But if you've already been through all the previous seasons, then you should already know what you're getting yourself into. If you haven't....I don't know why you're here, but fuck it, start with this season, it'll be like starting a rollercoaster mid-drop. Bring some spare pants, for you will shit bricks. You are not prepared for what awaits you. For all else who are worthy, you will be blessed to grow a second penis, your muscles will be large and your schizophrenia shall lead you unto enlightenment.

After season one genuinely surprised me with how good it was, I was actually pretty hyped for this! And overall, I'd say in conclusion, this was a satisfying continuation. While I think that the first season was better in several ways, Vigilantes remains an unexpected banger and I recommend you check it out! Even if you don't like or care for the mainline MHA franchise, give this a spin. It's different in many ways and you may end up liking it! I haven't watched or read the parent story and still had fun here, so you can too!

Many of the aspects that made the first ... season good are fully present here. The animation and overall visuals remain solid, I still absolutely love the comic book-style onomatopoeia and other effects that appear. The voice acting and music also remain top notch and elevate the experience even further (shoutout to Knuckleduster's VA for busting out the fucking Cantonese!). So from a production standpoint, it's a top notch anime that delivers on everything that counts!

Story and character-wise, it remains strong overall and the entire experience is a blast from beginning to end. However, this is one of the areas where I feel season one was better. One of my big compliments was how each character felt fleshed out and how each one had a well defined place to fill in a grand web of connections between everyone. During a chunk of this season, especially the middle bit, I didn't feel that as strongly here. The whole thing felt more like a collection of tangentially related tales instead of a singular coherent narrative. The main trio, which are super fun to spend time with, also become kind of side characters in their own show this season. Now, the characters that get more screentime instead are also fun and engaging and I like them too, but it just doesn't feel right to sideline the cast like this. So because we jumped around a lot between seemingly disjointed subplots, this lead to the middle portion of the season feeling a little unfocused and scattered. Credit where it's due though, all that buildup payed off and all the plot threads intersected and crafted a mighty fine experience by the end. The revelations were amazing, the character moments were powerful and the overall conclusion was quite fascinating. Even though I'm hesitant to call it a conclusion, more of a temporary climax to just the current events and a buildup for something else coming in future.

There were also a few things I found less that ideal compared to season one. For starters, the story started leaning more into some shonen clichés that, while not bad, feel a bit dated and given how overused they are, fail to have the desired emotional impact. Another thing is that in season one, it really felt like our characters are vigilantes working outside the system, while now it didn't feel as much. Just felt like we were seeming some more core superhero events that the main MHA story didn't have time for. I feel like what sets Vigilantes apart is the different approach that our characters need to have to achieve their goals, so I hope we get some more focus on that in future.

Nonetheless, complaints aside, everything really came together nicely in the end and all the build up was worth it. And as I said, the experience remained fun and engaging from beginning to end. I never found myself bored, confused or upset. So Vigilantes continues to be a fun story that's worth the time. The events in this season really feel like crucial setup for even bigger things to come, so I hope we get a season three soon so we can keep this train going!

All in all, Vigilantes remains a pleasant surprise that overdelivers on many fronts and is super fun! It stands on its own outside of MHA and is definitely worth the experience. Give it a spin, I think you too will have your expectations exceeded!

For this stage, Initial D comes to us in movie form! Rev the engines, for the scale will be bigger and the stakes will be higher than ever before! More peak racing and peak drifting with all the eurobeat you could want.

Really, this is more of what we've come to expect. Great races, a simple and straightforward plot and just tons of fun overall. Being that it's a movie, the visuals are noticeably better this time round with more detailed CGI, more crisp and expressive 2D animation and there's some more interesting directorial choices too, such as more dynamic camera angles and epic compositions. The ... story being told is a thrilling one about revenge, growth, passion, aspirations, finding your place in the world and chasing your dreams. Without getting overly sappy, it delivers a potent message that I'm sure we all can relate to. There were elements of romance too and I'm personally glad that subplot got resolved and that it ended up the way it did. So overall, this is more peak Initial D firing on all cylinders and delivering a rock solid experience from start to finish!

The only thing that slightly baffles me is the choice to make this a movie. See, usually when one of these canon anime films is made, it covers a specific arc that is big and interesting enough to carry a whole film and is just the right length to fit the runtime. Kind of like you'd find in the Chainsaw Man movie or JJK 0. This however isn't the case here, as we more or less get three different and only loosely related arcs stitched together. All of them are fun and all and this doesn't detract from the experience too much. But it does lead to the experience feeling a bit disjointed and not how a movie is usually meant to flow, hence my bewilderment. If you ask me, this really should've been just another anime season or better yet just the second cour of season 2, as the events here mostly serve to resolve all the major plot points from there and bring everything to a nice conclusion. But, whatever, it works as is and if it being a movie allowed for the more polished animation, then I guess it worked in our favour in the end.

Overall, Initial D keeps delivering the same streamlined, fun story it always does and remains an absolute must watch for any car enthusiast. Peak races beneath a stellar eurobeat soundtrack. There's truly nothing else like it. And what more can you ask for? This part also brings the major plot threads up to this point to a satisfying end and it teases the huge things to come with Project D. Can't wait to get to it!

From time to time, there comes a piece of media that seems to shake the entire world to its core. Chainsaw Man is one of those examples. Seemingly everybody wants to talk about it to some extent and it's a phenomenon like few others. So when you try to get into it, you may start to wonder, is all of this hype worth it? Are people gassing it up just for it to be a letdown? Well, I finally made the plunge and managed to catch all the way up and let me tell you, I get it now, I absolutely get it. In my ... humble opinion, Chainsaw Man is a modern manga masterpiece and something that needs to be experienced. It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime stories that really needs to be cherished. So, allow me to do my best to convey what makes it so amazing.

Right, probably the best place to start is the fact that Chainsaw Man simply excels at so many different things at the same time. A lot of the time it's very action packed and dynamic, other times it's incredibly funny, then after that it becomes gut wrenching, tear jerking and dramatic, it can get pretty dirty and erotic, it can instantly shift into skin crawling body horror and existential dread and it manages to balance all of that with awesome worldbuilding, very powerful character moments and a masterfully woven plot. To try and spin so many plates is an absolutely insane endeavour, but Fujimoto-sensei is just the kind of mad genius to do it successfully. You get so much cool action with incredible choreography, super cool powers, unexpected twists and turns and buckets upon buckets of blood and gore! It can get incredibly silly and downright ridiculous at times and you get some sitcom worthy comedy moments that get consistent laughs out of me. It has some incredibly rich and layered character interaction, heavily focused on romance but also on just genuine friendships, brotherhood and more and all of those just tug at the heart strings in all the right ways. Yet it can also get downright pornographic. And then, there's so many moments where it turns into sheer terror and one of the best Lovecraftian horrors ever put onto manga pages. Not to mention some creatures and moments so grotesque they'll make Kentaro Miura and Junji Ito blush. Chainsaw Man is all of these things and more. And best of all, it switches between all of them and blends them all together in a shockingly effortless manner! It never feels like multiple conflicting ideas stitched together and always flows like one continuous thing. If it was just as excellent in just one aspect, that would've already been enough to make it a strong series and an easy recommendation, but to masterfully do all of those, that's just next level.

Let's begin to dive into the writing, what I believe is the greatest aspect of the manga! The most important thing to talk about are the characters, as they are some of the richest and most complex yet easily relatable I've ever seen! Each one is just this incredibly rich patchwork of emotions, ideas and, most often, traumas that is a fascinating experience unto itself. The interactions they have can be ridiculous and exaggerated, yet they always feel so real, so visceral...so deeply human. To quote myself, they can make you laugh, they can make you cry, they can make you mad. I love them, I hate them, I empathize with them, I pity them, I'm disgusted by them and yet also somewhat understand them. All at the same time. I want to give them all a hug, but I also want to strangle them (in more ways that one perhaps). There are few works of fiction that I've seen where the characters manage to induce such a wide array of different feelings in me in such a genuine manner. Chainsaw Man is brilliant on many levels, but I think it's the characters that make it something truly special. It feels like Fujimoto-sensei wanted to create the most believable and real people ever, fully putting all the dirty laundry we all have on display. All the flaws, all the negatives, all the bad decisions. It puts all of us on full display, but somehow it doesn't feel negative or mean, just real and honest. And oddly, it's like a celebration of what it is to be human. Like a demonstration that, even though we've all done horrible things and we're all a walking bundle of scars and trauma, we can still strive to be good people and live our best lives. And most of all, we can be kind to each other.

Denji himself is a prime example of everything I mentioned. On the surface, you'd think he's the worst protagonist ever given his flimsy motivations only stem from his desire to touch boobs, get pussy and be well fed. Compared to the typical grandiose ambitions of manga MCs, he feels like a complete joke! But that's the point. It's the most beautiful subversion of expectations ever. As you get to know Denji, you realize why he's like this and you realize that this is exactly how a traumatized teen that has gone through so much would end up. In fact, as you learn more, you realize he's an almost Guts-tier struggler that has really been through some deep shit, so all things considered, he actually ended up pretty well adjusted! He doesn't have some grand moral superiority, he doesn't want to be a hero and he doesn't have dreams as big as the world. He is literally the most grounded and realistic, yet also exaggerated dude ever and honestly, him being that way only makes each and every good deed he does mean so much more. Because a lesser man never would have. And the best part is, awesome as he may be, Denji is just one part of the whole and while this is most definitively his story, he never takes up too much of the screentime and all the other characters are given sufficient time to shine on their own too!

But onto the story itself, it only gets better! As it progresses, the plot just twists and turns in all kinds of ways. You get all the classic shonen stuff like fighting demons, making friends and personal growth, but nothing is how you expect it to be! You can almost never guess what truly comes next and even when you think it will go in the usual way, it doesn't. But all in all, just like the themes, it balances so many different ideas. Mystery, thriller, deep romance, lewd erotica, school drama, comedy, surrealism and more! All throughout, the worldbuilding also remains consistently incredible and each drop of new info paints a very captivating picture. What really elevates every aspect is the simple yet deep and downright brilliant power system! Taking the common idea of making deals with the devil to its logical maximum and using it to conjure absolutely everything imaginable! It's basically magic at extreme personal cost, thus creating one of the most unique and captivating urban fantasy stories ever! And the system allows for truly infinite potential and some of the most disgusting visuals and terrifying cosmic horror out there. But then after that, you can just get an incredibly touching love story that feels so warm and pleasant despite how disgusting it is at the same time. The lore is unapologetically dark and very disturbing, yet can also be really silly and fun!

It's really hard to convey how dynamic and unpredictable the story is! With all its elements fusing together into this beautifully horrendous cocktail of emotions, this manga has made me feel in ways I hadn't felt since Berserk's Eclipse. I'm serious. Certain moments also have more than a bit in common with that event. Truly, nobody writes like Tatsuki Fujimoto. It's pure insanity, yet also perfectly logical and he's clearly not winging it, given how well old and new elements integrate with each other and how even minute details get references hundreds of chapters later! If I can offer some criticism, it's that because of the tons of things he wants to do, he does kind of blitz through things somewhat and moments that I feel needed to be left to linger a bit in order for the emotional gravitas to sink in get moved on from pretty fast. Granted, this is also a common thing with the limited page counts of weekly manga, but it's worth a mention. I previously criticized the movie for blasting through some scenes faster than I would've liked and thought that they truncated things because of runtime, but I have to retract that point, because it plays out the exact same way here too. Regardless, all of this never detracts much and the overall enjoyment never suffers (unlike the characters or us along with them)

Right, might as well finally talk about the art then, eh? This is actually the only bigger point of contention. On most levels, the art is awesome! During the key moments, especially big battles and the most poignant emotional scenes, the art is immaculate. well executed, yet raw and visceral and with incredible composition work and fine details all round. Some of the devil designs are gruesomely awesome and so incredibly unique and memorable. Despite the humans having more basic and grounded designs, they stand out and are instantly memorable too thanks to the strong personalities of the characters and subtle details in their appearances! In fact, I'd say an entire generation of manga artists now follow the "Chainsaw Man school of design" with their sharply-dressed characters in stylish black suits and uniforms. Fujimoto-sensei is excellent when it comes to character expressions, which can be touching, melancholic, multi-layered or downright goofy, whatever the scene requires! However, a lot of the time, the art can be pretty rough. Fujimoto-sensei is well known for his rough and sketchy artstyle that can be quite messy and in many scenes the line work is quite minimal and even imprecise. While visual clarity is overall pretty good, there were quite a few scenes that I would've preferred if they were drawn a bit more meticulously. However, focusing on the positives, this mad genius' true mastery really lies on all the other aspects outside of just the line work and the illustrations. For example, as mentioned, the compositions! These are truly artistically sound and very beautifully designed, to the point where, rough or not, you can just appreciate these panels as their own pieces by virtue of how well thought out they are. And then there's the paneling, arguably Fujimoto-sensei's biggest strength! It's hard to put into words, but it's this really cinematic and powerful methodology! Character expressions always given the space they need, actions and reactions perfectly juxtaposed, different gestures and small little moments to enhance the emotion and very clever use of repetition and dead silences to really get the mood right! I really can't think of any other manga that manages to be loud and mighty, yet also use deadpan quiet so effectively! From this perspective, the pages flow marvelously and you can clearly picture the exact actions in your head perfectly. It's clarity that engages the imagination and creates these rich and nuanced scenes full of subtext and subtle brilliance. The devil truly is in in the details. Dialogue flows like natural conversations and the punchlines to both jokes and impactful moments are delivered flawlessly. It's like a brilliantly directed movie with absolutely immaculate cinematography and that's the best way I can put it! Although, I'd be lying to you if I said I wouldn't want the man to change to a monthly or at least bi-weekly schedule in future so that he can really take his time to flesh things out on a technical level, and for his own personal physical and mental wellbeing of course. Still, if nothing else, his artstyle is instantly recognizable and all the techniques he uses are something few other mangaka can hope to replicate!

Lastly, a personal thing I want to share is that I adore how unfiltered and pure this manga is. It's unapologetically dark and it's never afraid of tackling difficult and painful subjects in full, gruesome, explicit detail. Not just with how gory it is or with all the tits and cum splattered everywhere, but in a more emotional way. It's absolutely merciless and brutal in so many ways. I personally dream of being a writer and most of the stories I have in my messed up brain are quite dark and twisted. So to see a series that is equally as dark and gruesome be so beloved and successful just makes me feel really good about myself, makes me feel hope that I too can be understood. It truly inspires me on a deep level that is hard to convey. If there's anything you can take away from this passage, is that if you too are a brooding, emotional edgelord like me, then this story will feel truly special for you!

Honestly, I could go on and on and on as there is so much to say about Chainsaw Man, but I'll wrap it up here! If any part of the review felt vague or something, I apologize, but the reason is that I simply wanted to be very careful not to spoil anything! Because what awaits you is something you really need to experience for yourself! The last thing I want to say is that I've previously said something that honestly became even more on point now that I'm so deep into it - Chainsaw Man is the stupidest smart series and the smartest stupid series ever made! There's truly nothing like it! Thanks to its multiple elements and the fact that it excels at so many things, you really get to choose how you can enjoy it. If you want to just look at some gory action about a dude with a chainsaw for a face slicing disgusting demons to giblets and indulge the insane battles and wacky humour, you can do that! If you want to invest into a deep and involved character driven drama, powered by rich and complex morally grey characters engaging in some of the finest romance and some of the most genuine relationships ever - yeah, you can do that! Chainsaw Man can be anything you want it to be and it really has something for everyone. Although, given how dark it is, maybe it isn't for everyone per se. Honestly, I have no clue how this thing was ever allowed into Shonen Jump of all places! Poor kids must've been left traumatized. To me, this is a seinen in all but name, but call it whatever you want, it's just awesome! Everyone in this universe just really really needs a genuine hug. Don't we all?

Believe me, Chainsaw Man is worth the hype and deserving of the praise. There's truly nothing else like it, not to mention how monumentally influential it has been for so many other manga that came after! I usually like to grade media based on what they try to achieve and how successful they are at doing so. Well, by that criteria Chainsaw Man is a fucking 15/10 by virtue of how many things it tries and succeeds at! So based on that, regardless of your preferences, I believe you'll find something to love here. And best of all, what you walk away from it with could be completely different to me. The point is that we all find our meaning!

POST-ENDING ADDENDUM 24.03.26 - Wow, what a turn of events. Never would've thought this review was actually posted less than a month before the manga reached its conclusion. I wish I could've followed this amazing series for longer, but at the same time, I'm deeply grateful I was here for this historic moment!

Ultimately, everything I said in the review still stands. I personally love the ending and find it very bittersweet, the closest thing to a happy ending you can expect in this messed up world, a big messy bouquet of conflicting emotions that perfectly encapsulates the wild insanity of the entire story. Honestly, it's exactly what I'd expect from this series (although I can already feel the debates that will be had about it). This also affirmed one thing I said in the review itself - truly, nobody writes like Tatsuki Fujimoto! You can never pin this guy down or predict what he'll do next! He does his own thing his own way and that's all there is to it. From then on, you're welcome to interpret it however you like. Honestly, mad respect for that, a truly amazing way to live and to create.

In the end, I'm happy to have been able to experience and appreciate this unconventional, uncouth masterpiece of a manga and I think you will be too. What a ride it has been. I'll end this review just like how Fujimoto-sensei did.

Thank you, Chainsaw Man! Keep on dreaming!

I'm usually someone who likes deep, engaging stories and tales that are dark, gritty, gut wrenching and emotionally driven. So, why did I choose to watch this then? Well, it's quite simple really - sometimes, just chilling for a bit is really rewarding and enjoying something straightforward and simple is enjoyable. I was also oddly drawn to this anime from the first moment I saw it and only after I started it did I realize why this was the case. I will dig into this deeper, but TLDR Ruri Rocks is a really wholesome and fun series that is just pure joy to experience and ... it's wonderfully educational about a topic that doesn't get enough love - minerology! So I recommend you give it a chance.

In terms of execution, this anime is basically perfect! The colours are vibrant, varied and very pleasant on the eyes. The artstyle overall is very crisp and clear with lots of lovely detail. And then the animation, it's absolutely phenomenal! Very fluid and expressive with no extended scenes of still imagery or recycled footage. Everything was just done to an exceptional quality with a ton of effort put in! Honestly, given how even massive series get really cheap and wonky animation (cough cough Blue Lock cough OPM 3 cough cough), it's just so nice to see a really niche series like this get treated so well! Beyond the visuals, the music was pleasant, the sound design really elevated the entire experience and the voice acting was solid too. What more could you want?

Then in terms of story, you really have to understand what this anime is going for here. Yes, it's not deep, it doesn't have some grand message or moral lesson to be learned. It's not some literary masterpiece, but it's not trying to be and that's the point! The series is just trying to say "Hey, did you know that minerals are actually really interesting? Come, let me show you!". And at that objective, it excels! It explains concepts simply and shows how geology and minerology actually intersect with a lot of stuff in day to day life. . And as a vehicle for this, we have a colourful cast of fun characters to carry us through. They're full of personality and their interactions are always enjoyable to see. Their passion is infectious and by the end, you get as excited about these rocks as they do! The story flows naturally and effortlessly, never becoming dull or repetitive and always moving things along nicely. Yes, you won't find any deep conflict or complex interpersonal drama here, but that's also part of the charm! This is a chill series where you can catch your breath from the woes of life, sit back and relax as you learn something interesting about the world we live in. Anything can be achieved through the power of cute girls and voluptuous builds!

On a personal level, I've been sort of interested in minerals to some degree for quite a while so I was pleasantly surprised by how much of the things explained I knew already. Learning all the things I didn't know felt even more rewarding. And also for how many of the examples I had a personal story to boot! Just like the show demonstrated, for me rocks and stones have been a much bigger part of my life than I had realized. I know this won't really swing anyone's opinion about this show, I just wanted to share how I really found something special for myself here!

So, there you have it. True to its subject matter, Ruri Rocks is a rare hidden gem that deserves to be examined properly. It's a visually gorgeous, fun little series that shows how the niche topic of minerology is actually a lot cooler than most might think. Even if you don't care for the topic now (actually, especially if you don't), I recommend you give this a shot, in particular if you want something nice, chill and pleasant to unwind. It's one of the best in that regard and unlike many such series, it actually has substance to it and never becomes boring. Give this a go, I believe you'll be pleasantly satisfied with what you find.

Egg Firm/10