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Pizza Tower (2023)
Platforming Sublimity
As much as this is literally Wario Land 4 but better, I can't BELIEVE how good this game is. Seriously, I haven't seen a platformer this well-refined since Celeste. Talk about a mechanically ingenious MASTERWORK. Pizza Tower never ceases to amaze you with its innovative, masterfully designed levels, infinitely replayable gimmicks that could almost be flat-out game mechanics on their own, hysterical knack for visual comedy, and, of course, the GLORIOUS SOUNDTRACK. It's honestly mind-blowing how this game nails every single department; my jaw was literally on the floor in so many instances during my playthrough.
Firstly, I want to point out just how absurdly spectacular this game is from a technical standpoint. The gameplay is extremely unique, and it feels SO DARN GOOD. The levels crafted around the wall-running, momentum-building core mechanics are impeccable. They also always throw in new, level-exclusive gimmicks that enhance the standard gameplay, à la the Donkey Kong Country series, so you're always looking forward for what the next level's got in store for you, making for a consistently fresh experience that you can't get enough of. Couple that with a high-spirited, leitmotif-heavy, banger of a soundtrack that manages to capture each level's vibe (as well as the adrenaline for the intense Pizza Time & Lap 2 sequences) and you've got yourself an infinitely replayable masterpiece.
The replay value being this good is crucial for this game in my opinion. When it comes to the completionist side, Pizza Tower demands A LOT out of you. To get a P Rank in a level, you must keep up a combo throughout the entire stage (including the backtrack sequences), and that requires a lot of trial & error, level knowledge, specific strats, and mechanic mastering, which means you'll be stuck in these stages for hours sometimes if you're going for 100%. Was I bored for a single second during those grinds? Absolutely not. Quite the opposite, in fact. It's SO REWARDING to see your skills slowly improving with each attempt, your grasp on the mechanics firming up, and when you least expect it, you're naturally performing stunts you never thought you'd be able to at first. Peppino's move set is so vast that there are no limits to how certain sections can be approached. You're encouraged to develop your own playstyle, try out new techniques, and that's what keeps the overall experience so fresh and satisfying. Pizza Tower never gets old, because as your skill level raises, you're able to DESIGN YOUR OWN WAY THROUGH THE LEVEL, turning it into almost a full-fledged new stage altogether. There's literally no better compliment I can give to a platformer.
I'd also like to quickly credit the amazing direction of this game. The difficulty curve is excellent, there's a very natural progression to the challenges in each level & boss. The visual gags are hilarious; they took the most out of the MS-Paint-esque art style here, and I can assure you this game's going to take at least a laugh out of you. However, what I really want to point out about the direction is specifically the final level. I don't want to spoil it here, but let's just say I have never been this impressed with a final stage since Celeste. The foreshadowing, the buildup, the way it all comes together at the end, THE BONE-CHILLING MUSIC, GOOD GRIEF, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLAY THIS GAME. I am not lying when I say I nearly cried out of how MIND-BLOWING it was. That's how amazing this game is.
Pizza Tower is one of the best platformers- no, GAMES I've ever played, and that's saying a LOT. The culmination of brilliant level design, flawless gameplay, pristine soundtrack, and endless replayability is what brings it to the Hall of Fame of the genre. You know an artwork is a masterpiece when you have literally nothing to complain about it. Pizza Tower is a modern classic that I think anyone (especially platformer fans) must play before they die. Which might happen tomorrow, so please do yourself a favor if you haven't already.
Hai-Furi (2016)
Lovely Action-Oriented Anime
(This review covers the anime series, the movie and the OVAs)
A bunch of high school girls are entrusted to pilot historical warships on their own as part of their nautical training. Welp, I'm sold. This is a hilariously creative premise. Haifuri is such a unique show in many ways, and I really think people overlook it a little bit. The worldbuilding is fascinating, they really sell Japan as a maritime country with all the jet skis as their primary transportation method, the decks and piers everywhere, the floating structures and islands, it's aesthetically compelling. The plot is pretty fun too, with some interesting twists, and if you're into nautics and/or Japan's maritime history (which I am totally not, for the record), BOY DO I HAVE THE ANIME FOR YOU. Haifuri can also get really technical sometimes regarding sailing expressions and the ships' inner workings, which might be a little annoying for some people, but despite not being familiar with any of that, I really enjoyed watching this show, and I think it's worth your shot as well.
The cast of characters is... overwhelming. VERY OVERWHELMING. In the first episode, you're thrown into an entire classroom of OVER THIRTY students who wear the same uniforms and have similar hairstyles, on TOP of having to keep track of characters from other ships, from the school, from OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL, it's REALLY damn hard to remember all of them. Admittedly, for the Harekaze crew, you're mostly concerned with the bridge gals, which are just a handful, but it's still a little overbearing. The characters' personalities are extremely simple, even the protagonists Misaki and Munetani don't have much going for them. Misaki has a very straightforward arc of overcoming the pressure of being a captain, whilst recognizing that she doesn't have to be perfect, because they're a crew and they all make up for each other's flaws. Munetani's arc on the other hand revolves around her journey through accepting where she is and learning to love the people around her, even though none of it is what she initially wanted. Munetani and Misaki have really good chemistry, however, and it's very sweet to see their relationship growing. I will be honest, though, the rest of the characters in the show are veeeery superficial, except for a couple who get the spotlight every now and then (namely Kouko and Maron). Their personalities usually narrow down to whatever their role on the ship is and not much more than that, which is unfortunate, but you kind of let it slide since the show has a stronger emphasis on action rather than anything else. Regardless, I'd still prefer if the girls had a little more depth.
Speaking of the action, though, HOLY FREAKING LORD HAIFURI KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK. Action segments are absurdly well animated, masterfully paced, and oftentimes the Harekaze isn't too strong a ship to face others head-on, so they have to come up with THE MOST INSANE BATTLE STRATEGIES YOU CAN IMAGINE, and as a result you get some of the CRAZIEST stunts EVER PULLED OFF in animation. I don't know if it's the unique setting of this show, but the way they handle these warship battles is simply out of this world. The soundtrack also deserves a lot of credit on that department, it complements the visuals so well, conveying just the right amount of tension and enhancing the epicness of every scene. It's an absolute blast to just sit back and enjoy these girls in action, watching them going over strategies, trying their damn best carry out the operations, sweating cold because any misstep can cause them all to die, it's actually incredibly entertaining. The action makes you root for the girls and even care a little more about them, despite them not being the most fleshed out characters out there, and that's a commendable quality by itself.
High School Fleet is a really well executed anime, with many adorable, tragic, funny, and suspenseful moments. The worldbuilding is top-notch, and the spectacular combat sequences literally redefine the word "action," delightfully animated all the way through and absurdly creative with their direction. I cannot understate how good this show handles its action element, especially considering the eccentric maritime setting. You can really tell how passionate the production team is for the nautical field; the ships' designs, their specs, everything feels so faithful to their real versions, it's really damn impressive. If it weren't by the lack of characterization and overwhelming cast, this show could've been one of my favorite anime of all time. But please don't let ANY OF THAT keep you from checking it out; it's still lots of fun as it is. Trust me, you won't regret setting sail with the Harekaze.
Shinmai Maou no Testament (2015)
Amusing Ecchi with a Relatively Stale Flow
The first episode of this show really hooked me. It just felt... different. Basara comes off as a pervert to Mio and the audience at first sight, but once you get to know him better, you realize that this couldn't be further from the truth. On a certain day after school, Mio is approached by a street gang that was about to sexually assault her. Guess what happens next? Basara comes in, beats one of them up and rescues Mio. Then, instead of thanking him, she just... apologizes. Apologizes for having the wrong impression of him. For assuming he was a bad person. Never in my life would I expect to start an ecchi anime in which the MC saves a girl from being straight up SEXUALLY ABUSED in episode 1. Basara is a really, really refreshing protagonist, especially for a show in this genre. He doesn't really lust for the girls, nor does he want to do anything remotely sexual with them. However, Basara has a troubled past. He lost control of his powers as a kid, destroying most of his hometown and many of those he used to call family in an attempt to protect a dear friend of his. As a result, they banished him and his father from the Hero Village, and he accepted it without questioning, because he knew he was dangerous. He knew he could lose control again and make more people suffer. So when he learns that his father has remarried someone, he's very reluctant towards meeting his new step-sisters due to his destructive tendencies. Starting from here, you can already imagine he's never been much of a social person, spending his entire life avoiding people to protect them of himself. Even when those step-sisters turn out to be runaway Demons and attack him, he fights back, but doesn't hurt them. Still, in order to defend himself, he had to use his powers, the same powers that once caused a large-scale massacre. After a serious talk with his father, he figures out these innocent girls were looking for a hideout while being hunted down by Demons, demons who killed Mio's parents and wanted to steal her power. And Basara had thrown 'em out of his house. Ensuing some heavy thinking, he then chooses to protect them at the cost of activating his powers once more, because he knows what it's like to lose your family. He knows the pain they must be in. Besides, they're part of his own family now, and he'll never let anything happen to his close ones... not again.
This all happens within episode 1. No pointless sex scenes, nothing. Just pure character establishing and world building. I fell in love with the premise immediately, and I got none of what I was hoping for jumping into it. To then see Basara, struggling to keep using his powers, have his motivation rekindled thanks to Mio herself, who's also fighting her own past and trying to stay strong as well is excellent. I also can't forget to mention the rope that holds this show together as it is: Maria, the cutest little succubus and my favorite character. She gives LIFE to these episodes, always trying to get the characters into awkward, erotic situations, and the lengths she'll go to pull her shenanigans off are UNBELIAVABLE. She's so funny, so cute, and since her Master-Servant Pact makes people stronger once their intimacy grows, it all comes from a place of love (and partially her own horniness as well), because he wants them to be stronger, to be closer, it's super adorable. See, that's what I really like about this show. There's a lot of genuine emotions and reasons underneath the heavy sexualization, which is something very unusual that I definitely approve of.
Speaking of the ecchi content itself, I think it's actually fantastic. The explicit scenes are really well boarded and animated, the character designs are hella slinky, some segments are absolute COMEDY GOLD, I mean, there's literally an episode where Maria secretly cooks Basara a soup with Mio's panties and he actually EATS THEM THINKING IT'S MEAT, HOW THE HECK DO YOU TOP THAT??? I don't think I've ever laughed THIS HARD to any other ecchi show. But seriously, the best thing about them in my opinion is how Basara never goes beyond boobplay. As I mentioned earlier, he doesn't want any of this to be happening. He just does it to protect the girls, to relieve/strengthen them. That's the sole thing he cares about, after all: protecting them. Fascinatingly, he eventually gets to certain breaking points in the narrative where he can't hold himself back and actually pulls the moves on some of the girls, and EVEN THEN, IT'S ALL FOR THEIR SAFETY. This is a little complicated to explain, but I'll try to use my favorite ecchi scene in this (and any other) show to illustrate: due to the Master-Servant Pact sealed by Maria, if anyone besides Mio's master takes away her chastity, that would be a major act of betrayal towards the master, so the curse would activate at its fullest and kill Mio. Once Basara learns about that, it's almost like it flips a switch inside of him, a switch that makes him unable to control himself and ALMOST gets him to have actual sex with her, except he regains consciousness right after some foreplay and apologizes, kind of like an immediate change of personality. Mio was into it, though, and she wouldn't have stopped him. They've been through so much by that point, and it just feels like a natural step, but one that Basara is still conflicted about taking, which she completely respects. And then she asks him for another kiss, tells him that it wasn't something to apologize for, and that he's free to do it whenever he's ready, OH MY GOD, it's SO FREAKING SWEET. Thanks to those words, Basara slowly starts to have more genuine intimate moments with the girls over the course of the show, learning to enjoy their time fully instead of worrying only about protecting them, which is such a nice development to keep track of. But damn, the soundtrack on that scene too, the dialogue, the pacing, the SUDDEN ATMOSPHERE SHIFT from what we're used to expect from Basara, it's SO DARN GOOD. It's quite literally something you wouldn't understand unless you watch it, because trying to illustrate it here just sounds weird. But this situation perfectly encapsulates Basara's character, his primary reason to exist is to protect the ones he loves, and sometimes this urge to protect them can be so strong that he can lose control of himself (which is what caused the childhood incident as well), doing whatever it takes to keep his loved ones safe and ignoring any other consequences, which is such, SUCH a unique character flaw.
I must say though, these ecchi scenes really do overstay their welcome sometimes. I know this is the genre of the show, but since they're taking such an eccentric and interesting route with the characters, I would've appreciated if they could tone down the porn in favor of proper character development. I swear it feels like they have to meet a certain quota of "ecchi minutes" in each episode, and as much as they try to make it all fit into the narrative, it's mostly all very superficial and unadulterated fanservice. Which, by all means, is funny, good quality fanservice, as I described, but I really think they should've focused more on the meaningful erotic scenes and replaced some of the fanservice junk with anything else. At a certain point, having 3 sex sequences per episode just feels exhausting.
Narrative-wise, I think this show has some unfortunate negatives. The plot is weirdly paced and oftentimes very ambiguous. They explain so little about the ins and outs of certain situations or even the world itself that you have very little room for speculation, because outcomes are so open that anything can happen. There's a moment in Season 2 where Jin Toujou breaks into Leohart's castle and saves a girl, AND THEN WE SEE THAT GIRL HANGING OUT WITH HIM AND WE FINISH THE SEASON WITHOUT KNOWING HER NAME OR ANYTHING ABOUT HER. NOBODY BRINGS IT UP. Why did he save her? Why is she important? Who is she? Why was she a prisoner there? Was she even a prisoner? I don't know, there's NOTHING to work off of here. That kind of stuff is frustrating, and this anime has lots of gaps like that. Plus, even though Basara is a great protagonist, the other girls have very limited development and ultimately end up as mere tools for the main character's growth. They all become overly submissive (especially during most of Season 2 and Departures) without much personality besides "I love you Basara, make me yours." Zest had a good start, coming to terms with the fact that she was a defective creation abused by her former master, envying Basara's genuine relationship with the other girls, learning that no matter where she came from she can still find people who love her, that's all great, but once that's over, she's just another of Basara's wives. Kurumi felt more like a tool to Yuki's development than a proper character, I can't honestly think of a thing to say about her. Yuki and Mio are a bit more refined, but they still lack some depth, especially Mio since she's the main girl. Maria is a HAAAAARD exception, though, she's incredibly proactive, full of energy, and hilarious all the way through, I wouldn't change a THING about her.
Shinmai Maou no Testament is a good show, great even. There's just so many things to like here; the charming characters, the interesting exploration of their emotions through intimacy, the eccentric protagonist, the first-class erotic content and its comical nature, the splendid fight scenes, you name it. Sadly, the story is severely held back in certain aspects by the sheer amount of pointless fanservice, lack of side character growth, major plot gaps, stale and sometimes repetitive narrative. Overall a mixed bag, but one that really stands out for its clever structure, strong family theme and unique tone.
Kimi no na wa. (2016)
Life-Changing Experience
H-H... Ho... How does something like this even exist???? EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THIS MOVIE FEELS SURREAL. The stunning visuals, the astounding soundtrack, the brilliant characterization, the spectacular direction, the incredible pacing, everything feels just SO DAMN PERFECT. Seconds after you hit the play button, you already know it'll be one of the greatest films ever. Your Name captivates you like no other movie does. It's a very nuanced and meticulously crafted narrative, phenomenal instances of "showing not telling," and to see the knot of this story slowly untwine (see what I did there?) is indescribably satisfying. Honestly, it doesn't take much to make me cry, but this movie messed me up way beyond anything has in a very long time. I will NEVER forget the emotions I felt watching this. The way Your Name uses anticipation is nothing short of ingenious. You'll get so enthralled by the events of the story that, at a certain point, Taki and Mitsuha just stop being characters altogether and become real people, because you're just that immersed in the film, and therefore YOU MUST SEE THE RESOLUTION TO THEIR STORYLINE. You begin to feel what they're feeling, to live what they're living, and you're just as eager as them to see their reunion, transcending the boundaries of a movie and turning into this unique, mesmerizing experience that you can't get enough of.
It frankly blows my mind how little of a budget this movie had relative to other anime films, because judging solely by the production value, you'd think this cost the entire country of Japan. I seriously can't get over how good this movie looks. Every scene feels like it could pay your entire life's worth of expenses. Interestingly, the quality of the visuals adds even more to the immersive aspect of the film. Those dreamlike animation sequences are the rule, not the exception here, so you don't get those sudden chills you normally would when they'd bump up the animation quality for an important scene in a traditional movie or something, THE CHILLS ARE THE FREAKING STATUS QUO IN YOUR NAME. THAT'S HOW INSANE IT IS. And you know what's even more absurd? Is that everything else is on par with the visuals. This movie.... THIS MOVIE, OH GOD.
I don't know how to describe it. Your Name is a magical film, it's unlike anything I've ever seen. If there's one feeling from media I think is very underrated is this sense of otherworldly wonder, when you have a hard time believing your eyes because what you're witnessing is just that perfect. I can't name that feeling, but this movie encapsulates it so effortlessly. So many scenes will live rent-free in your head afterwards, and so will the memories you'll have of the first time you saw the story of Taki and Mitsuha, one of the greatest romances ever told in history. In all seriousness, if you haven't seen this movie already, I am so, so, SO JEALOUS of you.
The Owl House (2020)
Peak Romance & All-Around Delightful
This is a show I was really invested in from the mid-season two hiatus to the series finale release, and I can safely say it was an awesome experience. So many remarkable moments, charming characters, and hours of fun re-watching my favorite episodes. The Boiling Isles is a pretty unique setting for a show, and Luz Noceda is an excellent protagonist that you'll fall in love with immediately, which goes for Eda and King as well. The pacing is definitely interesting and has a "snowball" feel to it. The Owl House transitions its narrative from a relatively light-hearted first act to increasingly darker, more serious latter seasons, to the point that you're going to yell "CAN'T THESE KIDS CATCH A BREAK??" at least once during the series. It's handled incredibly well for the most part, despite the corporative issues and eventual season cuts the crew was faced with. Episodes are made with a lot of passion, and they can get really emotional sometimes. Many characters go through rough patches, but the narrative manages to handle it all with a lot of respect and care. The overall writing is great, but it ABSOLUTELY PEAKS when romance takes the spotlight. My God, can I gush about the romance in this show here for a second?? IT'S SO DAMN GOOD. Lumity is flat out one of the most genuine, real, utterly adorable pairings I have EVER SEEN in media. Their relationship is developed so naturally, they complement each other so well, and every scene that has these two together is simply the cutest thing you will see in your life. Raine x Eda is such a perfect duo too, which unfortunately didn't have much time to be fleshed out due to the shortened season three, but what we were given is still superb, even though their relationship relatively tragic and we barely got to see them having fun together. Seriously, Owl House is TOP-TIER TELEVISION when romance is at the core of an episode. Knock, Knock, Knocking on Hooty's Door and Eda's Requiem are masterpieces and you can't convince me otherwise.
However, as much as I enjoyed the show as a whole, I can't really say I wasn't a little disappointed by the finale. Not because it's a bad episode, by any means. In fact, I thought it was really thematically coherent, and the whole Belos's death sequence was SO SATISFYING I wouldn't change a frame about it, but it's the overall direction that felt a little subpar to me. The Collector had such a minimal role in this that they could've just been written off the show entirely in my opinion. Also, I personally felt that Luz thinking she's just like Belos was a little far-fetched? I think she would've realized by that point that Belos is just a horrible person altogether. He attempted to commit literal genocide, while Luz spent the entirety of season two (and three) trying to help people. You could argue that it was because she partially helped him meet the Collector back in Elsewhere and Elsewhen that she feels she's just as bad as him, but even then, her friends knew about that in Thanks to Them and they said it didn't matter and that they still loved her, so I can't see why that parallel was even a thing in this episode. Speaking about the actual fights in the episode, I actually called Belos possessing the Boiling Isles' Titan back in Thanks to Them, and since King himself said "I'm due to a growth spurt soon," I was SO LOOKING FORWARD FOR A TITANS' DUEL FOR THE FINALE. Just imagine everyone of the Isles having to move onto King's back because Belos took over the Titan, and then we have this COLOSSAL BATTLE where EVERYONE fights together against Belos, who's by himself because nobody wanted to side with him. That would've been a PERFECT WAY to show how his terrible ways just took him further and further away from people, ultimately left with no one to rely on. And heck, if you didn't want to write him off, you could've used the time spent on establishing the Luz x Belos parallel to get the Collector on our side, and then have him helping out the citizens that were falling off of King during the battle. I feel that would've been a nice redemption and a better use for his character overall. Besides, that would've been a SICK fighting scene, and you could've still had the same death scene for Belos. Heck, if you needed Luz to have the Titan powers, maybe you could've had King pass them to her somehow. Maybe we could have like an introspection scene where he's able to talk to his dad for this brief moment during the growth spurt... I don't know man, I'm entering fanfiction territory here. The point is, the particular vision I had for this finale felt more interesting than what I actually got, which is a bummer considering shows with this level of quality often outmatch my expectations and blow me away entirely. Again, the closure itself was neat, Luz being able to visit the Boiling Isles whenever she wants just feels right, especially in a show about found family and acceptance, but that was the minimum in my opinion, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Despite my rant about the finale, I can't say this isn't a great show. The Owl House is definitely a worthwhile watch, with phenomenal moments, top-tier animation, and immersive storytelling. Many episodes just leave you speechless at the end, wondering what will happen next to the characters. I'm sure you'll find something to like here, because the good stuff is just so damn good. A very special show I'd recommend to literally anyone.
Oniichan wa Oshimai! (2023)
Brought Me to Tears
When I started watching this show, I thought it was just going to be a comedy-focused, fanservicy slice-of-life anime with cute, quirky characters getting into trouble. And you know what? That's pretty much what it was. SO WHY DID I UGLY CRY FOR 10 MINUTES STRAIGHT AFTER THE LAST EPISODE ENDED?? The answer is, Onimai is, in fact, all of that, and... more. A lot more. There's an incredibly powerful underlying theme of overcoming addiction that is explored through Mahiro's development. Mahiro is a porn-addicted shut-in that has very low self-worth, but shares an immense love for his little sister and science prodigy Mihari. The interesting thing about Mihari is that she only excelled at life because Mahiro motivated her. He took care of her, loved her, and would always be there for her no matter what. Without him, she wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as she did, so she has a greater appreciation for Mahiro than she could ever express in words, and it pains her to see how much of a slob he is. She notices how unhappy and unfulfilled his life is, and she knows he'll never do anything to change it. Thus, as a way to repay him for all he's done for her, she creates a potion that transforms him into a little girl, although never revealing the real motives behind experiment until very late in the show, so Mahiro just thinks it's a temporary thing for a college project of hers. Now, the real interesting part about this gender-swap show is that it's not just about Mahiro getting used to his new body. It's about him learning to find happiness again after being essentially reborn. The cool part is that Mihari and Mahiro's roles are now reversed: Mihari is now the older sibling that has to take care of the younger sister, and that's where the you notice what's so special about this show. Mahiro, of course (whom I'll be referring to with female pronouns from now), will be inclined to have the same lifestyle as before, being the slob she always used to be, but Mihari is so determined to get Mahiro to step out of her comfort zone that she dedicates almost every day of her life to help her engage in healthy behaviors, build good habits, socialize, and learn about a girl's body. Initially, all of this is terrifying and overwhelming to Mahiro, she can barely keep up with it. But over time, she grows less attached to her old eroge stuff, starts becoming more responsible, and when she looks in the mirror, she feels proud of the person looking back, even though it's still insanely hard for her to accept this new life. Sometimes she even tries new things, such as cooking. There's this one scene where Mahiro makes dinner to her sister because she's sick, and then Mihari doesn't know how to react and just... breaks into tears. In that moment, she not only realizes how much Mahiro has grown, but it also feels like the old times when Mahiro would take care of her. Mahiro's development is honestly the highlight of this show for me. It's so apparent in every episode, and you can't help but feel just as proud as Mihari when you notice how far she's come. It's such a natural progression, slowly coming to terms with this new reality, getting to know new people, experiencing life from a totally different perspective, and when you see her hanging out with her newmade friends, with the BIGGEST SMILE in her face, completely absorbed in the moment, and nearly BREAKING INTO TEARS out of SHEER HAPPINESS FOR BEING AROUND THEM... that's when Onimai gets to you. I can't explain in words, it's just utterly amazing and overflows you with joy.
The way they handled the final episode spoke to me in such a personal level. The effects of the potion are wearing off, and Mahiro's quickly turning into a boy again, and now she has to choose whether or not to drink another dose, keeping the girl body for a while longer, or going back to his old self. In that moment, she looks around to all her friends, reminds of all the moments she spent with them, reflects upon her entire life up until that point, realizing that choosing the comfort zone again would mean losing everything she has now. She then makes her decision and drinks the potion with a smile on her face, showing no sign of regret, finally embracing change. That scene... that scene meant the world to me. It was not only the culmination of Mahiro's growth throughout the entire show, but the absolute PERFECT metaphor for "Choosing water over wine." I was a mess after that episode.
Onimai is simply amazing all the way through. Mahiro's journey is so powerful and inspiring. I can only imagine how many people watched this character and felt motivated to change their lives for the better. I know I was one of them. The chemistry between Mahiro and Mihari is just AMAZING. You can FEEL the weight of their love for each other, and the narrative built around how they both, through their unconditional love and support for each other, have guided one another to success and happiness in their lives adds SO MUCH to their dynamic. Seriously, I feel like I can go on and on about this show. I haven't even mentioned the gorgeous animation that is pure bliss to look at, or the spectacular soundtrack that carries so much emotion in every scene, or even the supporting characters that literally redefine the word "adorable" and are just a joy to follow. All in all, though, Onimai is an incredibly strong anime that handles its themes phenomenally well, manages to be super funny and fun to watch, will make you squeal out of how cute the characters are at least twice per episode, features beautifully strong relationships, and tells a powerful message about going out there, embracing new things, meeting new people, and not clinging to your addictions. I don't know if this show is ever getting a season two, but you know what? I wouldn't mind if it doesn't. This is all I could've asked for. I would sure love if it did, but Episode 12 wrapped everything up so well that I can totally take it as the series finale. Major props to the entire Onimai crew, one of the sweetest, most adorable, fun, and heart-touching shows I've ever come across.
Amphibia (2019)
Thematically Powerful Masterpiece
I saw this guy once describing Amphibia as a snowball, and I think that's the perfect way to put it. It starts out as a small, inconsequential and harmless show, but as it keeps rolling, it turns into one of the greatest and most compelling stories you'll ever see in Western animation. Very few pieces of media have messed me up as bad as Amphibia. When you get to the 2nd and 3rd acts of this story, it's honestly hard to believe that it began the way it did, yet simultaneously it all feels like such a natural progression. This show has so many incredible moments, and the way it all comes together at the ending is nothing short of phenomenal. One of the biggest criticisms I see about this series is its pacing, as most episodes are episodic and don't really advance the plot in any meaningful way, especially during season one, but I really disagree with that. Most of the one-off, comedy-focused episodes are CRUCIAL for the big plot moments since they flesh out the characters and give enough time for the audience to care about the world. I do agree, however, that some of them really feel like a drag sometimes and could've used more character moments, but these are the exceptions for Amphibia. This show has a stellar sense of humor through and through, and the main characters are a delight to follow in whatever mischief they get themselves into. Speaking of the characters, hats off to the entire cast of voice actors in this series, some episodes would NOT BE THE SAME without the exceptional performances of Bill Farmer as Hop Pop, Keith David as King Andrias, Anna Akana & Haley Tju as Sasha Waybright & Marcy Wu, respectively, and ESPECIALLY Brenda Song as the protagonist, Anne Boonchuy, who I think brought so much emotion and depth to her character that I can't picture anyone else on that role. Anne is my favorite character in all of Amphibia, BY A MILE, not only for the voice acting, of course, but thanks to the brilliant writing behind her. She has this progressively more apparent character flaw of low self-esteem, and her two best friends are just these two amazingly talented people that make her feel like nothing in comparison. For that reason, she lets herself be pushed around by them through her entire life. That's what she believes friendship is, she doesn't even realize it's a toxic relationship because she never experienced otherwise, and all it takes is some time away from that circle, living along with the Plantars, to teach her the real, reciprocal nature behind friendship, giving her the motivation to stand up for herself and learn self-love. It's such a resonant and relatable journey, and I find it particularly brilliant how we rarely get moments with her awesome friends throughout the show. Instead of hanging out with the cool girls, Matt Braly wanted Anne, this goofy, ordinary character to take the spotlight, and that makes her growth ALL THE MORE POWERFUL when you compare who she becomes to who she started off as. Amphibia has this running theme of "change," and you can see it present in every character. That's also what makes the messages so atemporal, since change is always a part of everyone's lives.
In all seriousness, you're in for something amazing hopping into this show. You can really feel how much passion the production team poured into each episode. The comedy is absolute gold, each episode is just so damn quotable, the snowball nature of the story is fantastic, the more you watch, the more invested you get into the characters and the world, the Gravity Falls-esque art style is a delight (and if you're a fan of that show, Amphibia is a must-watch for you), and both the soundtrack and the animation are top-notch, especially during the major points of the story, where they ABSOLUTELY POP OFF. All in all, it's definitely one of those higher-highs and lower-lows series, but the highs are just SO FREAKING HIGH that the downsides are nearly inconsequential. Prepare yourself for one of the most unexpected emotional rollercoasters of your life.
Gravity Falls (2012)
Disney TVA's Magnum Opus
I think very few shows have accomplished what Gravity Falls has. Try to name another series that manages to get you hooked in one single episode, craft one of the most intriguing mysteries out there, be consistently well-written and hilarious, offer meaningful character development in nearly every episode and send off with an emotional, gut-wrenching third act. There's something so special about this world that you can't help but fall in love with it from the moment you start watching. Dipper, Mabel and Stan are such AMAZING protagonists. Their chemistry is extremely unique and well-tied into the themes of the series, and the way their relationships develop throughout the show is excellent. The supporting cast is WONDERFUL. They manage to be so entertaining and you start to care gradually more about them as the story progresses. Speaking of which, the way the plot unfolds is nothing short of brilliant. There's already a lot of puzzles to solve from as early as episode one, and they're so interesting that you get just as intrigued as the protagonists about the secrets of this town, and one of THE BEST PARTS of it is that you can ACTUALLY TAKE PART IN CRACKING THE MYSTERIES. Every episode is so filled with foreshadowing, hidden clues, background messages, cryptograms, and puzzles that you almost FEEL LIKE A CHARACTER by trying to make sense of all these extra details and answer the big questions you have. And if you're not into that? Great, because just watching the mystery unfold on its own is just as incredible. Gravity Falls is a story for literally anyone, from hardcore theory-makers to casual viewers. But for the ones who really dive deep into its mystery element, Gravity Falls goes WAY BEYOND a TV series, both literally and figuratively. The episodes are so rich in detail that I STILL KEEP FINDING NEW STUFF HIDDEN IN THEM after more than EIGHT RE-WATCHES. And if you want to talk about going beyond screen, look no further than the Cipher Hunt, a worldwide scavenger hunt made by the creator himself that made fans across the entire world get together and solve brand new puzzles and cryptograms after the end of the show. Alex Hirsch managed to make this show transcend its medium. Gravity Falls FEELS LIKE A REAL PLACE, because the worldbuilding (both inside AND outside the episodes) is so phenomenally done and the characters are amazingly relatable and charismatic. Everything about it is so captivating, and the fact it never fails to keep you interested, knowing that there can always be a big answer lying right beneath the carpet, is just pure genius.
Once you finish this journey, it's nearly impossible not to feel an immense emptiness afterwards. When a story is able to be captivating and entertaining at first sight, delve into suspenseful, exciting yet tragic places, and reach to an emotional, thematically powerful conclusion, I don't know how else to call it except a masterpiece. In the end, it isn't the mysteries that make Gravity Falls as great as it is. Believe it or not, these are just the cherry on the top of an already fully-packed adventure. It's the substantial range of emotions it makes you feel, the superb characters and their relationships, the gorgeous art style, phenomenal soundtrack, rich storytelling, exceptional worldbuilding, the timeless themes of growing up and change, ALL OF WHICH culminate into one of the most unforgettable summers you'll ever experience in your entire life. Gravity Falls is my favorite show of all time, and it might remain in that position for as long as ever.
Rockman (1987)
Brilliant Ideas, Mediocre Executions
Man, talk about a mixed bag. This game was way ahead of its time in some elements, and totally behind in others. Lots of contradicting ideas here and there. Like, the game has this ingenious choose-your-level mechanic, where every boss you beat gives you a new weapon to use in further stages, but then the game makes it so that half of the stages REQUIRE a specific weapon because either the boss is too hard to defeat without its weakness or there's a special, MANDATORY ITEM for game completion that you need an external weapon to collect. Consequently, I think you have what? 2 or 3 out of the otherwise numerous possible stage orders you could take that are actually reasonable. Some bosses have straight up ridiculous patterns, the level design, while good for the most part, has a couple of really annoying sections that revolve around RNG with certain enemies/obstacles, which on one hand motivates you to make the most out of your weapons to clear them, but on the other just reinforces the linearity issue, making you avoid stages that contain said sections until you've acquired the optimal weapons for them.
Regardless of everything, though, I still think there's a lot to like about this game. Sure, in hindsight, it's one of the bumpier Mega Man games, but for an early NES title? This is great. It's got that characteristic charm of the series, a really good (although lackluster for Mega Man standards) OST, mostly fun and creative levels/bosses, awesome Run & Gun action, and at least some amount of replayability thanks to the trial-and-error nature of the game's learning curve. I think it says something about a game's core design when it transcends several generations. You can see every single aspect of this game present in the following entries of the series, all of which getting progressively more refined over the years. While I find some of the creative choices questionable, Mega Man laid the PERFECT groundwork for one of my favorite franchises of all time, and its daring, innovative design can NOT be understated. I will always love replaying this game, despite all of its flaws.