Anime of Emperor Thor

Friday, 30 December 2022

Serial Experiemnts Lain Review

Overall rating 8.9/10 - Exceptional, Deep and Profound with minor flaws.

I recommend watching.

'Present Day, Present Time'

This show was aired in 1996, but what it depicts all the more relevant in modern world.

SEL is about the world in the era of the internet. In fact SEL predicted many on the current internet phenomena back when internet was still a novelty.

This shows showcases new ways of life that became possible with such new technology. Complex online life with different online identities, Alienation IRL, identity theft. In this show Knights of the Southern Calculus troll people just like Anon IRL, they organize raids too. You can see how world is transformed by this new tech in all its glory and all its horror.

One of the main plots is multiple identities of Lain. In show IRL Lain, who is very introverted and quiet, is occasionally confronted with a rather different online persona of herself, Lain of the Wired.

IRL Lain did not created Lain of the Wired, it was created behind her back by some trolls for unknown reason. Perhaps, as trolls they thought it was funny. As show progresses, IRL Lain is increasingly challenged by people who think that she and Lain of the Wired are the same person.

I do get a feeling sometimes that may be someone is impersonating me somewhere out there for their own selfish ends. That would be really bad if that was indeed the case.

For example my friends say that my younger brother and I look same. Not even our mother could tell one from another from voice from a phone call. I do wonder if this guy is stealing my identity... =/

Eventually IRL Lain decides to take on then whole Lain of the Wired thing and get to the bottom of it. With that she delves deeper and deeper in the Wired herself.

Girls und Panzer Review

Overall rating 8.0/10 - Very Good, fun and thoroughly enjoyable entertainment.

I recommend watching.

Here is perhaps first simply good and wholesome show I am reviewing. It is not stellar brilliant like Code Geass or anything like that, but it is nice and thoroughly enjoyable entertainment.

It has a nice cast of very likable girls, good and intriguing plot and battles on tanks.

This show puts great attention to details. All tanks are accurate real life historical models such as M4 Sherman, T-34, StuG III or Panzer IV. They are carefully replicated very much resemble their real life counterparts. They even researched many obscure models and added them as well. All terminology and methods of operating tanks are also carefully recreated.

Protagonist school Oorai uses tanks from all over the world, while their opponents are themed after each particular country and uses only their tanks. All WWII favorites are in: Germany, USSR, USA, UK and Italy.

Cast is both diverse and very likable. There are plenty of girls for every possible taste and interest. Each tank has a dedicated team, often united by common interests, that operates it.

The protagonist school is an underdog of the tournament and have to use use cunning tactics to win against their better equipped and trained opponents. Miho's tactics are as crazy as they are smart and battels are very fun to follow.

All in all it is a good show to watch or recommend to any newcomer.

Mawaru Penguindrum Review

Overall rating 6.0/10 - Deep and philosophical but with very unlikable female characters.

Consider watching if you like to think and do not mind unlikable girls.

This one is somewhat the opposite of Sora no Otoshimono. Main female characters are rather unlikable, but everything else is actually good.

This show is from creator of Revolutionary Girl Utena and has plenty philosophical dialogues and other food for thoughts. Just like Revolutionary Girl Utena is it often hard to understand and will confuse a person who does not like to think. However, unlike Revolutionary Girl Utena, it has another reason to watch, that is if you sympathetic with the main trio.

Like Revolutionary Girl Utena it also covers topics related to love. However unlike the Tatamy Galaxy, where protagonist found happiness when he embraced love, this show is not love affirming at all.

Instead it depicts the opposite, that love and bonds could drag you into some heavy misadventures as you try to save your loved ones. People like con doctor, who likes to say electrifying, can exploit and use you through that. These bonds can ruin your life and bury your happiness and ambitions.

Because Himari got sick, or more like hijacked by the Penguin-hat girl, her brothers end up going miles in order to save her. That get them to see variety of troubled people and relationships. Each of these people and situations are different and interesting in their own way and therefore a good reason to watch the show.

There is for example a story of Ringo who wants to supplant Momoka, who died but left behind her diary, and become love interest of Tabuki. She is doing it by closely following Momoka's diary.

Then there is that drill haired rich girl who got interested in Kan and tries to win him by shooting him with some sort of mind altering red pills. Remember that red-pilled stuff online, if you want to know if it will work, watch here.

Then there is some conspiracy, Takakura's dad got involved himself in, he tries to use Kan to fulfil their aims.

Of course, if you are sympathetic with the main trio and their cause you might want to watch it for that reason as well.

Thursday, 29 December 2022

Things other people do not notice

I generally notice things other people overlook. I judge things and people based on these.

Some of these things, others do not notice, are very important to me. They are deciding factor.

Girls Bravo Review

Overall Rating 6.0/10 - Good with some flaws

I recommend watching

Like with other shows like this, this one is about the cute likable girl. In this case Miharu.

I can't say for all men, but I find Miharu very cute, likable, adorable and sexy. Waifu/wife material. ( I watched it long ago, so I fight not remember everything properly. I do not have the same memory device with me as Featherine does.)

She is from Seiren, where men is 10% of population and women the remaining 90%. So it is like dating in Russia there. Except in Russia most girls are like Miharu's older sister Maharu and none are like Miharu herself. So I ran away from there before they caught me and can write this review now.

That said I do wonder on what kind of moon girls like Miharu can be found?

This is one of the shows that you watch for the main character, not for the story, idea or something comparably lofty.

Show is mostly episodic and each episode revolves around main characters doing something particular. Story wise it is a slice of life. It is not very original, but at the same time, neither too weird, nor too violent.

Miharu is particularly nice and gentle. No wonder that even dudes with allergy on girls can be close to her.

To sum it up if you like Miharu or girls like her you should watch this show. There is not much more to say.

Goblin Slayer Review

Overall rating 5.0/10 - Mixed Feelings

Watch 1st episode only and then drop.

Mixed feelings. I will begin with a good: Goblin Slayer himself as well as priestess are nice and likable. If two of them would travel together like Clare and Raki from Claymore I would have given this show 7, 8 may be.

However here we also have busybody snarky elf girl and her two overly cheerful companions. Elf girl and her companions ruin solemn and serious atmosphere of the show and reduce it to a gimmick show.

In addition to elf girl, there is also cowgirl, guild girl and later older second priestess among Goblin Slayer's admirers. All of them are too cold and uncaring to be likable. They all only care for Goblin Slayer for their own selfish ends.

Because of the above, first episode was the best one. The elf company was not introduced yet and whole tone was much grittier and more serious. Goblin Slayer showed above all intelligence, expertise, skill and cunning. The whole show had more serious grounded feel to it. Episode 1 by itself deserves score 8.

From episode 2 this started to dissipate into something much lesser. Elf and the team introduced, and they talk no stop to the point where not only priestess but even Mamon of Shininess, I mean Goblin Slayer, himself barely noticeable.

Side characters would not be a problem if they were likable, but they are not. The obnoxious always cheery duo and snarky elf makes you want to quit.

Quality of fights and strategy also fell. Fights gradually became more and more gimmicky. All the cunning and skill was lost in favor of more chaos on screen.

Overall, after fantastic episode 1 it diminished and have never recovered. It's a pity as it had all the ingredients to be a success, yet they death kneel it with too many unlikable females.

Megapost of Best Anime Openings

My treasury houses on the finest, be that soundtracks, anime or anime openings.

Lo and behold true masterpieces. May be that will fix your mongrel tastes.

Songs that did not get separate blog posts, but who nonetheless deserve to be called among the best are all collected here. Enjoy.

Speed Racer - this is one of the earliest anime in history of anime. It has very dynamic opening.

Lucky Star - iconic show has equally iconic opening.

K-On! - The famous anime about music has openings that has good songs (played by the protagonist band) and truly represent all that is cute and moe

K-On!! - sequel of the above continues its famous traditions with two more openings.

and

K-On has a good soundtrack in general. I made a separate article only about songs of the secondary band of this show, Death Devil. There are much more songs from the main band, HTT (Houkago Teatime).

Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji - I made a separate article about its soundtrack, but not about its opening. The opening is different in style and feel to the rest of the OST, but good in its own way.