The Way of the Househusband Netflix Anime – Final Thoughts

I know that most of my anime blogger friends dislike this adaptation; some even strongly dislike it. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. Since the episodes are short, I binge-watched this pretty quickly.

I have read a bit of the manga and was looking forward to the Netflix adaptation.

The animation was bad. Yeah, I don’t disagree with what people are saying at all about that. However, I got used to it quickly. After an initial reaction, the animation didn’t affect my enjoyment of the show at all.

It’s a good comedy anime. The premise is interesting, the episodes are funny, and the main character is likable. I watched it with subtitles and thought the Japanese voice actor for Tatsu was perfect. In a way, the animation made some parts even funnier.

It’s a lighthearted and fun watch. If you can get past the animation, it’s really not that bad. I recommend checking it out. Of course, there’s always the manga to fall back to.

I will definitely be watching the second part of the series!

[Review] Moriarty the Patriot (2020)

Anime: Moriarty the Patriot / Yuukoku no Moriarty (2020)

As a fan of the Sherlock Holmes series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I became interested in Moriarty the Patriot. The anime is better than I expected. Unlike the books, the main character in this anime is Moriarty. He is a criminal consultant that actively encourages people to commit murder. It is not necessary to know about the original Sherlock Holmes from the books.

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From left to right: John Watson, Ms. Hudson, Sherlock Holmes, and Lestrade.

Synopsis: William James Moriarty is a wealthy mathematics professor. He also works as a criminal consultant. In an era where the rich treat the people of lower standing like dirt, Moriarty is the dark hand behind the curtain. He provides murder plans and aids people in killing the rich. Mid-way through the series, detective Sherlock Holmes is introduced. Moriarty tests Holmes; Holmes does the same.

Thoughts: In this anime, the protagonist is the villain. I think this anime does it well. It kind of makes you think, Whose side am I on? Moriarty’s victims are the wealthy who have committed terrible crimes against the poor. Is Moriarty a good guy, after all? And, what am I supposed to feel? Am I supposed to feel “content” or “satisfied” when a “villain” dies?

I think that Moriarty is evil, but other people may disagree.

The characters are a bit different from the books, which is refreshing in some ways. For example, Holmes can be rude to Watson and becomes frustrated more easily.

Moriarty and Holmes make great enemies because of their differences. As explained by Moriarty, Holmes’s method of solving cases involves studying the evidence and going to trial, whereas Moriarty will use psychology and illegal methods to prove his theory.

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I recommend this anime! Not only is it interesting, but it also made me think a lot about classism and “good vs. evil” issues.

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Slight spoilers for Season 2, which will come out in Spring 2021:

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The appearance of Mycroft Holmes!

Finally, a cute screencap of Holmes and Watson:

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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.

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.

Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin – Closing Thoughts

I just finished the anime and wanted to write down my thoughts about the series overall.

Watching Rainbow was an experience. I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster. There were moments of calmness and simple joy. Those moments were disrupted by bumps, twists, and turns. I felt nervous and stressed for most of it. I cried a lot but I also celebrated the successes. I silently prayed and often wanted to take a break from the series. However, there is something about the anime that sucks you right back in.

Rainbow has intense and horrific scenes. It is definitely not for people under 18. In the end, the anime is about perseverance, hopes, and dreams. Most of all, Rainbow is about the unbreakable bond between friends. It takes friendship to another level.

What struck me the most were the characters’ willpowers to live and to fight for their dreams. To fight for their friends and family without any bit of hesitation. They’ve gone through so much. Yet… they are still hopeful. It’s incredibly inspiring. It made me think, what am I even complaining about? Why *do* I feel so blue?

Rainbow is not for everybody. If you like Kaiji, then I think you’ll like Rainbow. They’re similar in some ways. I would argue that Rainbow is hopeful and optimistic but do not expect to feel good. Expect to feel all kinds of emotions including sadness and anger. It is an excellent show, an underrated gem.

Yesterday wo Utatte Episode 1 Impressions

Yesterday wo Utatte (Sing “Yesterday” for Me) is an ongoing anime from this season.

Synopsis: Rikuo Uozumi is a recent university graduate who works at a convenience store. He does not have many ambitions and lives his life day by day. He is frequently visited by Haru Nonaka, an eccentric girl who has a crow as her pet. Rikuo is visited by another person: His former classmate and crush, Shinako Morinome.

[X] MC is self-deprecating.

[X] MC likes photography.

[X] MC is a recent university graduate.

Wow, all the things I like in a main protagonist, or can relate to, are in an anime!

While I do like optimistic characters such as the MCs in shonen anime (Naruto is a prime example), I can relate to self-deprecating characters a lot more.

Overall impressions: I enjoyed the first episode a lot. A self-deprecating main character and an eccentric character make the best combo. It feels relatable at times but I think there will be a lot to unpack later on. I am excited to watch the rest of this series. I highly recommend this anime.

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People hate liars, but people like them.

You lie, you play along with what people say, and live a BS life.

You have nothing to hurt people or be hurt by.

You become worthless and you become sick of being with other people.

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Liars don’t lose anything, but they don’t gain anything, either.

I’m a liar, but for the first time, I wanted to be liked.

Maybe I’m out of places to escape to.”

These lines were said by Haru Nonaka. Does being a liar = fitting in with the rest of society?

Not being a liar = being an outcast?

Escapism –> not being a liar.

Running out of places to escape to –> being a liar –> because you want to be liked.

Hm. Well, from my personal experience, being myself = being an outcast because no one shared the same interests as me –> was not liked –> but it was okay because I could escape from reality with anime. If I cannot escape from reality –> then I think I would like to be liked –> then I would be a liar in order to fit in.

(It’s okay if you don’t follow. I tried to analyze the lines in the anime…)

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.

BL Anime: Given Episode 9 Review

Given is a shounen ai anime from this season. It’s still airing and it’s one of the best Boys Love anime I’ve seen. It’s been a great show since the beginning, but episode 9 has been by far, the best episode yet. It was a whirlwind of emotions. It was heart-wrenching, yet so beautiful. The tears just wouldn’t stop when I watched this episode. I got goosebumps.

Synopsis: Mafuyu Sato has a difficult time expressing himself. He is bad with words and doesn’t understand his own feelings. He wants to learn how to play guitar and is able to when he meets Ritsuka Uenoyama, a boy who goes to the same high school as him. After hearing that Mafuyu can sing, Uenoyama invites Mafuyu to join his band, the seasons. The band is offered an opportunity to perform a live show. Mafuyu is given the challenge to write lyrics for a song composed by Uenoyama. However, he is struggling to write lyrics as he has his other stuff he needs to work on. With the live show approaching, will he be able to finish the lyrics on time?

He does – and the song went above and exceeded all my expectations. To understand the lyrics fully, you have to watch the show in its entirely. Yes, go watch Given. Even if you don’t understand everything because you haven’t seen the show, you can feel Mafuyu’s feelings in this song. Through music, he was finally able to express himself and say all the words he’s been wanting to say. It was a release of so many emotions at once, and I felt it.

If you do plan on watching Given, I don’t recommend watching the video because it contains spoilers.