Anime X-Change: Time of Eve

A lot of bloggers, including myself, are participating in Anime X-Change, an event hosted by Jon Spencer Reviews. The gist of it is: you are assigned a partner –> your partner recommends a show –> you watch it –> you write about it.

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My partner is @nobelmonsters on Twitter and I was assigned to watch Time of Eve.

I had never heard of this anime before and knew nothing about it, except that it was a Sci-Fi anime. I was excited to watch Time of Eve because it was different from what I normally watch. Not only did I finish the series in one sitting, but I also enjoyed it enough to watch the movie the next day.

Synopsis: This story takes place in the future. In Time of Eve, it is normal to have an android housekeeper in your home. They look the same as humans; without a halo, one probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. The androids are bound by strict rules. While checking his android – Sammy’s – activity log, Rikuo Sakisaka notices a strange activity. Curious, he checks it out with his classmate, Masakazu Masaki. They find themselves in a cafe called Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve). The cafe has one rule: “No discrimination between humans and androids”. Rikuo and Masakazu visit the cafe nearly every day and learn about the stories of the cafe’s regulars.

Thoughts: As I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed this anime. I liked how the cafe was a safe space for humans and androids to intermingle. I also liked learning about the individual stories of the cafe’s regulars. My favourite episode was the last episode, which was focused on Masakazu and his robot housekeeper, THX. I cried when I watched it, which is strange if you think about it. Robots shouldn’t have feelings, so why did I feel empathic towards THX?

Differences between the series and the film: The movie basically condenses the series. I recommend watching the series over the film. Afterward, you can watch the movie or directly skip to the ending. The main difference is that at the end of the film, you learn more about a certain character.

In the end, I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed Time of Eve. I feel appreciative towards Anime X-Change because I watched a show that I would have never watched otherwise. I absolutely recommend this anime.

Thanks for reading. 🙂

The Girl From the Other Side OVA – Review

The Girl From the Other Side OVA is a 10-minute animated short based on the manga.

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The first I noticed was the art. It’s very similar to the manga. I think this is very unique. Another thing is that the characters don’t talk. Instead, they convey everything through their actions.

We see an encounter between a human girl and a beast.

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Whenever the beast touches a living thing, that thing is cursed. In these 10 minutes, we see that the little girl lives with the beast. The beast acts as her guardian. They live peacefully but the beast tries his best to avoid touching her, even though he wishes he could.

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If you have 10 minutes to spare, I recommend watching this. It’s only 10 minutes. In fact, my only complaint is that it’s too short! I hope we will get an anime adaptation of the entire story.

Great Pretender (2020) – First Impressions

Episodes watched: 3/23

First, can we talk about how pretty this anime is?

Episode 1

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Episode 2

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I don’t know of many anime that have such vibrant colours! The art alone made me want to continue the show.

Synopsis:

Makoto Edamura is a Japanese con man who is tricked into going to Los Angelos by a man named Laurent Thierry. There, he gets caught in an elaborate scam and needs to find a way to survive from the target, a mafia boss, and the FBI.

Thoughts:

As I mentioned earlier, I was deeply impressed by the art. It is by Wit Studio (Attack on Titan, After the Rain) which explains it. I thought the first two episodes were interesting but weren’t enough to “hook” me in. Things really picked up by the end of episode 3. I just finished episode 3 and am wondering what will happen next. If you’re looking for something to watch, I recommend checking out this series!

The Case Files of Jeweler Richard: Closing Thoughts

Also known as Housekishou Richard-shi no Nazo Kantei.

This anime has 12 episodes. The first eight episodes follow the same formula: A customer has an inquiry about a gemstone and then Richard and Seigi help the customer. We learn about the history of the gemstone and some interesting facts.

Things drastically changed in episodes 9-10. Spoilers ahead.

Episode 9

Richard disappears from Seigi’s life all of a sudden. Seigi doesn’t know why. A month passes and Seigi is miserable. Prior to this part, I didn’t think of this anime as a BL. Heck, I didn’t even think it was fujo bait. Seigi was interested in Tanimoto, the girl in the screencaps. After Richard left, it was 100% about Richard. Now that I’ve completed the series, I think that one thing is clear: Seigi is in love with Richard.

When Seigi learns that Richard is in London, he boards a plane to find him.

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Tanimoto knows.

Episode 10

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Jeffrey knows.

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The gemstone exchange was so most romantic and meaningful. We know how important and special gemstones are because of the history and meanings attached to them. The entire show showed us this. Richard entrusted Seigi with a family heirloom while Seigi gave Richard a ring that belonged to his grandmother. The series could have ended here. It’s perfect.

Episodes 11 and 12 tied some loose ends regarding Richard and Seigi’s personal affairs. Episode 11 was focused on Richard’s family and past while episode 12 was focused on Seigi’s.

Episode 12

It’s obvious how Seigi feels, but what about Richard? I feel like this episode really showed us the answer. Just like how Seigi went to London and was there for Richard, Richard helped Seigi with his inner turmoil and family matters.

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There were some very wholesome scenes. While the ending of episode 10 was great, episodes 11 and 12 made the series feel complete.

I really did not expect to see Seigi and Richard’s relationship unfold like this. The most we see is a hug but these two would do anything for each other.

My Thoughts on Weathering With You – Makoto Shinkai 2020 Film

So many ani bloggers are writing about this movie so I thought I should join in on the fun. The director is Makoto Shinkai, who also directed Your Name/Kimi no Na Wa. I watched Weathering With You today in the theatres. Tickets sell out really fast, which speaks a little to how popular Shinkai’s movies are. I’ll try not to spoil plot points.

There was an interview with Makoto Shinkai after the credits, which was extremely cool. Some things made more sense and I appreciated other things more after learning about the development of the movie.

I don’t like comparing works but I feel like it is inevitable to compare Weathering With You with Your Name. Most people I know liked Your Name better, but I actually liked this one more. I think it is an unpopular opinion but these are my reasons:

1) The side characters have a bigger presence. In Your Name, the memorable characters are Mitsuha and Taki. I barely remember anyone else. In Weathering With You, my favourite characters are two of the side characters.

2) I really, really appreciate all the rain scenes. Shinkai talked about the challenges of animating rain but the team went above and beyond. There are so many rain scenes.

3) I like the take on nature. Shinkai talked about this but in his previous films, nature was something celebratory. In this one, he takes on a darker turn with nature. I think that this is especially relevant with climate change. It motivates me to do more for the environment. This might be the pessimistic side of me coming out, but I really liked how things ended.

I am so happy that RADWIMPS’s songs are in this movie. I do think that the songs were catchier in Your Name, but I am not sure if catchy songs would suit Weathering With You. I think the songs were appropriate to the film. Another thing I liked more in Your Name was the cultural piece. Culture was a significant theme in Your Name, which made it really unique.

I think the ending could have been a little longer. It did feel a little unsatisfactory. They could have given us something while the credits were rolling but it’s a minor thing.

The movie had a lot of funny moments and emotional moments as well. I definitely recommend this movie. You will like it if you enjoyed Your Name. It is my favourite Shinkai film so far and I feel very happy to have seen it. ^_^ Go watch it in theatres!

Anime Wrap Up for 2019

You can read my 2018 Anime Wrap Up post here. These are the anime series, OVAs and movies I have completed so far in 2019. I am pretty quick to drop shows/put them on hold, so these ones are anime I liked a lot.

Seasonal Anime Series I’ve Completed in 2019

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* Carole & Tuesday – This anime gave us so many beautiful songs. The latter part of the show was really interesting and the final episode was beautifully done.

* Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue. (My Roommate is a Cat) – I am normally not a fan of Slice of Life anime, but this one is an exception. It deals with issues that are really important and portrays life in such a simple yet interesting way.

* Given – One of my top two Boys Love anime. I cried for days, the music was so beautiful, and I blogged about my reaction to a specific episode.

* Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen – Good, but not one of my favourites from the season.

* Kakegurui×× – Sucked, except for one particular episode. It failed to create feelings of fear or anxiety. The first season was better. Watch Kaiji instead.

* Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) – I felt really inspired by Tanjirou’s resilience and dedication. I blogged about that here.

* Mob Psycho 100 II – I was really impressed by Season 2. I thought it was a lot better than the first season.

* Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Part 2 – This is probably my favourite season of Attack on Titan. The beginning episodes were terrifying.

* Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (Shield Hero) – I really enjoyed Shield Hero and enjoyed writing about my thoughts on each episode. You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

* Yakusoku no Neverland (The Promised Neverland) – Very interesting anime. I enjoyed it a lot.

* Dr. Stone – I thought this was pretty interesting overall. I can’t wait for Season 2.

Non-Seasonal Anime Series I’ve Completed in 2019

* B: The Beginning – I recommend this series. The latter episodes were brilliant and the ending song is amazing.

* Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu (Parasyte) – I really enjoyed this anime. The opening song by Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is great.

* Mob Psycho 100 – I enjoyed this one more than I expected, especially near the end.

* Tokyo Ghoul √A – This is the second season of Tokyo Ghoul. Juuzou is my favourite character in Tokyo Ghoul, so I really enjoyed watching his interactions with Shinohara and watching his character growth. Beautiful music throughout.

* Zankyou no Terror – One of my top three anime. I think it’s highly underrated. After I completed this anime, it left a void for me for a while.

* Ore Monogatari!! – One of my favourite romance anime. If I had to describe the anime with one word: wholesome.

OVAs I’ve Completed in 2019

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* Durarara!!x2 Shou: Watashi no Kokoro wa Nabe Moyou – This was really nice to watch. For context, I finished Durarara!! in 2017 so it brought back pleasant memories.

* Durarara!!x2 Ten: Onoroke Chakapoko – Special episode on Shinra and Celty. It’s not necessary to watch this, but it’s good if you are a Durarara!! fan.

* Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii: Youth – A look at what Koyanagi and Kabakura were like in high school. Koyanagi had short hair!

Anime Movies I’ve Completed in 2019

* Tokyo Godfathers – I watched this at the end-of-year event with Anime Club. I probably wouldn’t have watched this on my own time, but it’s a really good film. I’m glad I watched it.

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In the near future, I will finish watching Babylon and My Hero Academia Season 4. Thanks for sticking with me this year! See you next year!

Anime Review: Carole & Tuesday

Premiered: Spring 2019

Episode count: 24

Synopsis: Tuesday ran away from home to pursue her dream in music. She meets Carole, who also has a passion for music. They become good friends and together, they make their mark into the music industry dominated by AI in this metropolis on Mars.

Thoughts: I really, really recommend Carole & Tuesday. I think it’s such a well made anime. What struck me the most about this anime was definitely the music. Well over twenty songs were released, which is a lot of content! I love all the songs so much and I think that some songs are so meaningful.

You really come to like the characters. I like that the show did not just focus on Carole and Tuesday. A lot of the other characters got the spotlight and we got to look into their struggles and life challenges. The art style took a while to get used to, but now it feels refreshing.

I’ve cried a couple of times while watching this anime. I think the build up to the last episode was excellent and it felt really emotional. It really tied everything together, and it made a huge impact to the series as a whole. The theme of music being universal and having the ability to influence the lives of people across the world was interesting to watch, especially during the period of political unrest in the show. I can’t stop raving about this anime. Give it a try.

Some of my favourite songs from the anime:

• Round & Laundry
• Someday I’ll Find My Way Home
• Unbreakable
• Move Mountains
• Lost My Way
• Light a Fire
• The Loneliest Girl
• Mother

First Impressions: Babylon Episodes 1-3

Babylon is a currently airing anime from this Fall 2019 season. The premise sounded interesting on MAL, so I decided to give it a watch. I did not really have any expectations going in, but it blew my mind. The first episode left off on a cliffhanger, which made me immediately watch the second episode. Then the third episode. Now I’m impatiently waiting for the next episode to come out.

Synopsis: Zen Seizaki is a prosecutor and is assigned to investigate a pharmaceutical company that is suspected of paying universities to exaggerate the effectiveness of their new drug. While investigating the company, he finds a suspicious page covered in blood, hair, nails and skin. The sheet has the letter ‘F’ written all over it. He realizes that things are more serious than he originally thought.

Thoughts: The art style and animation are great. The mature art style suits the more serious atmosphere. I really like the protagonist, Zen, because he is reliable and has a strong sense of justice. Anything can happen in this anime. That being said, there were a lot of twists and turns that kept the suspense going. I think I’ve become quite good at predicting shows, but I felt a lot of surprise at the reveals. Each episode leaves off on a cliffhanger, so it might be wise to wait until all the episodes are out. It’s too late for me, so I’m just going to watch it whenever an episode is released, then wait in anticipation for the next episode.

I never thought that this one case about the pharmaceutical company would turn into this whole other mess. It’s a messy web that’s intertwined with so many different things and people. I’m curious as to where they will take this story. I definitely recommend this anime, especially if you like mystery and suspense.

There are some graphic scenes in this anime, such as nudity, sex, death, and drugs. That being said, this show is not appropriate for younger audiences.

Impressions: My Roommate is a Cat

Japanese: 同居人はひざ、時々、頭のうえ。| Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue.

Episodes released thus far: 7

Genre: Slice of Life

My Roommate is a Cat is a currently airing 12-episode anime from this season (Winter 2019).

60% of the episode is told from Mikazuki’s point of view, while the rest of the episode is told from Haru’s point of view. The same events happen – it’s a retelling of the events but from the cat’s perspective.

Synopsis: Subaru Mikazuki is a writer who hates leaving his house and finds it overwhelming to interact with people. He encounters a stray cat and decides to take her home. He names the cat ‘Haru.’ Each episode portrays how Mikazuki’s life is impacted by Haru and his friends, and how Haru’s life is also changed upon meeting Mikazuki.

Thoughts: Two things drew me into this show: 1) the protagonist’s attitudes towards life and 2) the cat! I’ve been wanting to raise a cat for the longest time, but hopefully I will be able to in a few more years.

Mikazuki reminds me of myself in some ways. We both love reading, we don’t like going outside, and we don’t take very good care of ourselves. Some viewers might find Mikazuki to be unlikable because he isn’t interested in social conversations but I really like him. He loves reading books and enjoys being alone.

During the events of the show, Mikazuki is slowly starting to see that having company over isn’t so bad. We’re just a little over halfway through the show, and Mikazuki is already changing in small ways after living with Haru.

Personal story: I used to always say ‘no’ to my classmates when they asked me to study with them. I study best alone, so I thought it would be too much of a hassle to study with others. This year, I studied with a couple of classmates at a café and I was productive. We helped each other study and I found it really helpful.

Bottom line: There’s always room for personal growth. I don’t think that Mikazuki necessarily has to change, but meeting Haru is a really great thing that happened to him. It was also good for Haru as well.

We learn about Haru’s story and what her life was like as a stray. While Mikazuki won’t know her backstory or thoughts, we know Haru on a much more intimate level. She’s a really great character.

My Roommate is a Cat is an adorable, heartwarming story. Even if you don’t like Mikazuki, you’ll like the cat.

Anime Review: Made in Abyss

Release year: 2017

Episode count: 13

I really love dark, twisted anime. I heard that Made in Abyss was disturbing, so I watched it. My verdict? Yes! I loved it.

Synopsis: The Abyss is a mysterious gigantic chasm that contains different layers. The further down you go, the tougher the monsters and the harsher the effects of the Curse. The Curse of the Abyss includes vomiting, hallucinations, internal and external bleeding, loss of humanity, and death.

Riko is a 12-year-old orphan who searches for artifacts on the first layer of the Abyss. She finds Reg, a robot who lost his memories. After Riko receives a letter from her mother that says she is waiting at the bottom of the Abyss, Riko and Reg leave the orphanage and journey into the Abyss. Riko wants to find her mother, while Reg wants to learn more about himself. They have to survive each of the Abyss’s layers.

Art: Just looking at the above photo, you probably wouldn’t think that Made in Abyss is a disturbing anime. It looks like it’s a show for children, but that’s an anime misconception. (I rant about that here.) I think the cute art style makes the dark scenes even more horrifying to watch.

The art is amazing. The art style is cute, but the backgrounds are a whole different level. There’s so much detail!

The tenth episode was disturbing. The thirteenth episode was heart-wrenching. The last few episodes (10-13) were so interesting! The first nine episodes were still entertaining. I didn’t feel like I wasted my time watching those nine episodes because they did world building so well. Each layer of the Abyss has its own monsters, effects of the Curse, landscape, etc.

Music: I was really impressed with the music in Made in Abyss. For a show that only has 13 episodes, the soundtrack is memorable and enchanting.

The bad: The main characters are children, and there are minor scenes that are inappropriate. I thought this was unnecessary. Fortunately, it does not happen often but I have to give it a lower rating because of it.

The anime ends at the end of a story arc, but there will be an upcoming movie that covers the next arc of the manga.

Rating: 8.5/10