Anime Series Reviews - Fall 2015 series

Fall 2015 anime series that I watched:

- One-Punch Man 

A story about a bald, boring-looking guy who is actually a powerful hero. He can easily defeat villains and monsters with a single punch. However, he has a hard time finding strong villains who present a challenge to him. He also struggles to gain respect as a lot of people look down on him. The story is pretty predictable and repetitive but it's still fun and enjoyable to watch. The characters are enjoyable and the action scenes are well done.
Rating: 8/10


- Noragami Aragoto

This is the second season of Noragami (see my review of season 1 here) and it is amazing! I'm always looking forward to more. This season provides more background about the characters and there is also plenty of character development. The plot is well paced with lots of intense moments. It continues to explore themes such as friendship, family, teamwork, trust and maturity. In addition, it provides great comic relief. 

Rating: 9.5/10

- Owari no Seraph: Nagoya Kessen-hen

This is the second season of Owari no Seraph (see my review of season 1 here). The story continues with the war between vampires and humans. Near the end, we found out that humanity is the actual villain and we have some 'angels' attacking everyone. It has a decent plot but the storytelling is messy and incoherent. There are also many things introduced but not explained such as the king of salt (who is he - because it's so random and there is no explanation). The animation is well done though. 

Rating: 7/10

Anime Series Brief Reviews (Part 8)

Summer 2015 anime series that I watched:

- Overlord 

A concept that one may be familiar with: a guy playing an online game and suddenly gets trap in it. Overlord is able to pull a nice twist to it with a bad guy as the main character, interesting supporting characters, lots of action scenes, and a captivating storyline.
Rating: 8.5/10


- Charlotte

This series caught my attention in the beginning with a Lelouch-type of guy as the main character. It is a story about a group of kids with supernatural abilities and they track down others who abuse the power. A slow start but the unexpected twist half-way through the series really makes it more interesting and serious. I enjoyed watching Yu, the main character, as he grew from being selfish and self-centered to being more considerate and responsible, and also how he dealt with grief and depression.
Rating: 8/10


- Akagami no Shirayuki-hime / Snow White with the Red Hair

A simple yet beautiful romantic story about a young girl rescued by a prince from a neighbouring country and his aides. She then pursues a career as a court herbalist in his country. It explores love, friendship and pursuing one's goals. I really enjoyed watching Zen and Shirayuki as they learn to support one another and care for each other. The characters are all very likeable. I also love the art and sceneries - they are mesmerizing!
Rating: 8/10


Older anime series I recently finished watching:

- Ano Natsu de Matteru / Waiting in the Summer

A story about a guy who is an avid videographer, falling in love with the new transfer student from his class. The new transfer girl is actually an alien whose spaceship accidentally crashes on Earth. These two and their friends decide to film a movie over the summer holiday. The story itself is not bad but draggy as it seems to focus too much on love triangles. I do like Kaito and Ichika's relationship though. Other things that kept me interested were the "men in black organization" and Lemon's randomness.
Rating: 7/10
Year released: 2012

Anime Series Brief Reviews (Part 7)

Winter/Spring 2015 anime series that I watched:

- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu / Assassination Classroom

                 
A very interesting story about a class of students trying to kill their new teacher. The teacher is actually an alien octopus with superpowers and threatens to destroy the earth unless his students kill him first. However, he is a teacher that actually cares about his students and their education. A highly enjoyable anime with plenty of action and laughs.
Rating: 8.5/10


Spring 2015 anime series that I watched:

- Kekkai Sensen / Blood Blockade Battlefront

A complicated yet interesting storyline about humans and monsters from another dimension trap together in an impenetrable bubble in New York City. A secret organization with superhuman is there to fight crimes and to keep the balance between Earth and this other dimension. The story can be confusing sometimes but the characters and action scenes are all well done. It has a sci-fi feel and some funky jazz music, which I enjoy. 

Rating: 8/10


- Owari no Seraph

This story can be summarized as a war between vampires and humans. It started off pretty good, but then went downhill after a couple of episodes perhaps due to irrational and annoying characters, and the plot was poorly developed. It did pick up itself at the very end though. 

Rating: 7/10

Older anime series I recently finished watching:

- Bakuman

A story about 2 guys in junior high school teaming up to become successful manga artist. It shows what the road to become a manga artist is really like: daily work, sacrifice, competition, and conflict. Overall, it's an enjoyable anime about dreams and hard work.

Rating: 8/10
Year released: 2010-2013
Additional info: 25 episodes/season (3 seasons total)

Anime Series Brief Reviews (Part 6)

Winter 2015 anime series that I watched:

- Death Parade 

An interesting, psychological anime about playing a game to determine whether your souls will be sent to the void or reincarnated. The games and the characters are all very interesting and revealing about human's true nature.
Rating: 8.5/10


- Tokyo Ghoul √A

This is the second season of Tokyo Ghoul (see my review of season 1 here). The story continues with the main character who is a half-ghoul, and his attempt to learn more about his own powers and the ghoul society. The story-telling feels slow and the character development is limited. However, the action scenes are well done and quite intense.
Rating: 7.5/10


Older anime series I recently finished watching:

- Busou Renkin / Arms Alchemy

A story about a guy and a girl working together to fight against alchemical monsters and their masters. It is a surprisingly enjoyable anime with an interesting plot, well developed characters, lots of actions and some romance.
Rating: 9/10
Year released: 2006-2007

- 07 Ghost

An interesting anime with many good looking male characters, but not yaoi. It has a unique story about a boy who is being chased by the military and takes cover in a church. There, the bishops took care of him and he slowly rediscovers his past. It explores topics such as friendship, solitude, and dealing with grief. It is an enjoyable anime with plenty of action. 

Rating: 8.5/10
Year released: 2009


- Zombie Loan

It is a story about a girl, who has the ability to see death ring around people's neck, and two guys. These 2 guys are already dead and are kept alive by a contract with Zombie Loan. The contract requires them to hunt down and destroy zombies. It has a compelling plot but somehow feels lackluster due to the art style, and the story was slow paced with a rushed ending. 

Rating: 7.5/10
Year released: 2007

Anime Series Brief Reviews (Part 5)

Fall 2014 anime series that I watched:

- Mushishi Zoku Shou 2nd season

This is the second season of Mushishi Zoku Shou (see my review for Mushishi Zoku Shou 1st season here). The story continues with Ginko's adventure and his encounters with different mushi. Each encounter is meaningful and provide insights about life, relationships, and human nature. The art is beautiful and provides a calming yet sometimes dark atmosphere.
Rating: 8.5/10


- The Legend of Korra (season 4)

Book 4 is the last season of the Legend of Korra. A well paced season with lots of action and even some mecha. The characters are also enjoyable to watch. Overall, the Legend of Korra is a fun series with plenty of action and clever dialogues.

Rating: 9/10 overall (Book 1 to Book 4)
Year released: 2012-2014 (Book 1 to Book 4)

Winter 2014 anime series that I watched:

- Noragami

A very captivating story about gods, their Shinki (wandering spirits named by a god and can be used as a weapon to fight phantoms), and a human girl who is able to leave her body in soul form. Noragami balances nicely between comedy and the development of a serious dark plot. It also explores many themes such as friendship, trust, teamwork, and overcoming temptations. The characters are well developed and likeable. Sometimes, it may be frustrating to watch Yukine, but it's all part of his growth. The art and animation are also amazing. A highly recommended anime for sure!
Rating: 9/10

Mushishi Zoku Shou Season 2 - Fragrant Darkness

- "We've had such an unremarkable life" 
- "That's the best kind of life." 
                               -  episode 2 of Mushishi Zoku Shou Season 2

I really enjoyed this episode. It's the simple things that bring the most happiness.

Anime Series Brief Reviews (Part 4)

Summer 2014 anime series that I watched:

- Tokyo Ghoul

An interesting plot about a guy who was transformed into a half-ghoul due to an accident. A ghoul is a human-like creature who hunts and eats humans. This guy has a hard time dealing with the fact that he is now a half-ghoul. A story about how he deals with this change, keeping his identity secret from other humans and understanding the ghoul society and his powers. Most of the characters are interesting. However, the main character can be annoying sometimes but redeems himself near the end. 

Rating: 8/10

- Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun / Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun

This anime always makes me smile or laugh out loud. It is a story about a high school girl who has a crush on a guy but when she confesses, he mistakes her for a fan and gives her an autograph. She soon discovers that he is actually a renowned shoujo manga artist, and so she becomes his assistant. They encounter other schoolmates who are also assistants or serve as inspirations for characters in the stories. The characters are all very likeable and well developed. It's hilarious how it flips all the gender roles of the shoujo romance genre and also gives a new spin to cliché romantic scenarios, such as a couple with an umbrella on a rainy day. This anime is a must-watch!

Rating: 9/10

- Barakamon

A story about a young calligrapher who was send off to a small island as a punishment for punching a famous calligrapher. This young guy is actually a city boy and is not used to the country life. This is a fun, simple yet meaningful story that explores several topics such as friendship, self-motivation, independence, and choice and its consequences. All the characters are likeable, and the art and animation are well done.

Rating: 8/10

Older anime series I recently finished watching:

- Nurarihyon no Mago / Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan

A very interesting story about a young boy, Rikuo, who appears to be a normal kid, but he is actually the grandson of Nurarihyon, master of a yokai clan. He has a human form in the day but transforms into his yokai form at night. He eventually accepts the position of the head of the Nura Clan, but multiple clans try to stop him or usurp his position. I really enjoy the storyline and the action scenes always kept me at the edge of my seat.  The characters are enjoyable to watch except Rikuo's human friends as they are quite pointless. The art and animation are excellent though.

Rating: 9/10

Year released: 2010-2011

Additional info: 24 episodes/season (2 seasons total)