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Aug 31, 2026
"Do not kill the part of you that is cringe. Kill the part which cringes." This simple piece of internet wisdom is the best way I can describe Love, Chuunibyo, and Other Delusions. Beyond just being an extremely tender romance presented in a hilarious way, it holds within it an important message about what it means to be happy, about where authenticity conquers shame, and how 8th grade you was right all along about what's cool. Having watched Season 1, Season 2, the movies and the specials, I'm glad to review it all here. First, the story is very strong. The core concept, of a
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girl stuck in that quasi-delusional state of pretend and self-aggrandizement which so many adolescents experience growing up, and the tale of how her and and a guy who's having trouble dealing with that part of his own past ultimately fall in love, is just fantastic, and well-executed. It is consistently funny, as such a concept would obviously be, with laughs to be had around every corner. Even so, it is tender and romantic in such a palpable way which is difficult even for anime with more standard concepts. It feels so intimate and genuine that you can't help but be absolutely invested in the trajectory and wellbeing of their relationship. Add in the friend group which coalesces around them, and you have an anime that is simultaneously high-energy and thoughtful. Every episode introduces a new little element, all while respecting the natural flow of the story from one experience to the next, from one relationship milestone to another, and it is all an absolute joy. Even Season 2 keeps the momentum going, with a hail Mary plot device which introduces a whole array of problems and considerations to keep things fresh. Nearly everything about its composition just feels right. Nearly everything. I have one gripe with this title. Indeed, my problem here is with just how much they tease the audience with the romantic development. Yeah, they dole these moments out, and when they finally happen they are genuinely memorable, but the amount of fakeouts and misdirections is just a little too much for my taste. When you track from Season 1 through all that's been released, they keep the audience waiting years for some things! Still, when they do come it's well worth the wait, and, of course, now that it's all out there, it's less of an issue than it would have been if you were following this show from the start.
The art is wonderful, awash with color and clarity and a fluidity of motion that Kyoani is famous for, striking that balance between cutesy calmness and kinetic motion, used for both comedy and action. The story is great, and this gorgeous art style really brings it to life. I feel like it really reaches its apotheosis in the character design, using simple yet palpable methods to make everyone stand out and feel resolutely memorable, even the male MC, for whom this is not often the case in romance anime like this one.
The sound is fantastic, with some excellent voice work that embodies each character, lively sounds of life, and, above all, some awesome music. Indeed, it can be said that the ending song, Inside Identity, is one of the all-time greats. It might seem minor compared with all these other aspects of the show, but the sound absolutely pulls its weight here.
Then, there are the characters, who are the strongest aspect of this show. With their excellent character designs that capture each of their personalities, from Dekomori's hair to Rikka's eyepatch, what is strongest about them is the fact that they feel so three dimensional, so realized. They are far more than tropes- indeed, this anime seems to come up with some of its own in the process of characterizing the cast. Each individual feels so believable and authentic, and that makes the romances and the friendships that develop all the more impactful and memorable. Yuuta's composed and responsible yet empathetic personality plays well off of Rikka's unapologetic energy, how her personality seems to take up the whole room without trying to diminish itself. What happens when these two fall in love is that she draws out his true self allowing him to be happy, while he protects her and teaches her how to function in a world that doesn't understand her. I also love the constant rivalry between Nibutani and Dekomori that feels like a sisterly love, and Kumin's motherly doting over all of them. It's just such a delightful anime, and these characters make it what it is. Overall, this story is one that resonates with me. I remember how I discovered anime when I was young, and how unabashedly into it I was. The passion defined so much about who I was, and I found boundless joy in the medium. Yes, I wore a Leaf Village headband, yes I did the Naruto run, and yes, I cooked up edgy monologues, but I was having one hell of a time. I put it all away for a while in middle school, even though I loved it, in the interests of some social currency, some purchase with people I haven't spoken with in ages now, and who weren't worth trying to impress back then. Lo and behold, when I returned a couple years later, I returned with a vengeance, and to this day anime still brings me that same unbridled joy that it did back then. It has always been a fundamental part of me, and nobody else's input on it really matters in the end. My ultimate lesson here is the same as this anime- be yourself. The right people will come along and find you once you do.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 31, 2026
The 35th Anti-Magic Test Platoon is a fairly generic harem anime, and while there are some laughs to be had, and an attempt at compelling worldbuilding is made, it fails to stand out in any particular way. Still, that isn't to say it's bad- it's broadly enjoyable, just not necessarily noteworthy. I'll begin with the story, which is straightforward. We focus in on a particular platoon at this military school where they are meant to hunt witches and combat evil magic users. They're an odd bunch, and hijinks ensue, especially when a new, unexpected member suddenly joins their ranks from the least likely source. I
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will say that the show manages to maintain a consistent level of humor throughout, and the romance options meet the standard of quality for your average harem, complete with a restrained yet nonetheless present ecchi element. However, I feel like the show is definitely stronger in its first half, when it's more definitively rooted in its world and takes its setting and the implications thereof somewhat more seriously. I feel like it rests too much on uninspired subplots later on, and the last few episodes lose the plot by going in the other direction and losing any sense of proportion. In regards to the world itself, I also had some issue with the techno-magic blend, which failed to hit for me. They don't blend well, and it's never really addressed as to why magic relics summon mech suits from the ether. It can be done well, it's just that it isn't done well here. This is compounded by their visual language, which I will get into here with the art.
The art is solid, with a strong visual identity and a production quality that meets basic standards. The animation is smooth and consistent, especially in certain fight scenes, and the use of lighting and color pair well to create dramatic effect when needed. The CG, however, is just terrible, and that is a problem when CG is so frequently used in action scenes throughout the show.
The sound is good, if somewhat unremarkable. The OST does its job, with a catchy OP, and a solid grasp on sounds of life. The voice acting is the most standout part of the sound design, in my opinion, because it works with and highlights the characters.
Speaking of which, the characters are the strongest aspect of this anime overall. Even if the world itself failed to supply them with consistently interesting or engaging subplots, the characters themselves managed to remain interesting and fun throughout, and they prove to be a definite core of this title. Their interplay, both as friends and as romance paths, notably keep your attention. Of them, my favorites are Usagi and Mari. Usagi for her fun, somewhat ditzy and easily flustered attitude that is wholesomely centered around her friends, as well as her character design that pairs with this personality quite well. Mari, meanwhile, stands out as having the best character design, with her standout scarf and green eyes, which pairs well with her energetic, competitive, yet well-meaning attitude. Overall, The 35th Anti-Magic Test Platoon is fine- it has its good and its bad parts, but it all comes together simply to form a fairly average piece, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jun 30, 2026
Gunslinger Girl can primarily be described as a poignant, heady, and thought-provoking anime that elevates a seemingly ridiculous concept to the level of true art. It can also be described as Leon the Professional meets Robocop. I'll begin this review with its strongest aspect, the story. While the action is a clean, precise, and tactical centerpiece, with a fair amount of gun autism sprinkled in, the real focus is on the morally grey situation the story occupies and navigates throughout. These girls as cyborgs, resurrected to fight for a shadowy government agency, and all the questions that raises. Are they tools, and their humanity merely
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a facade? Are they girls given a second chance at life? Are they some tragic middle thing, neither machine nor exactly human? Whatever the answer, the analysis thereof is altogether tragic and, sometimes, beautiful. This anime is extremely notable even for this feat alone, for taking such a typically outrageous premise as "little cyborg girls with big guns", and turning it into something the audience is somehow able to take very seriously, and for which is a vehicle for some extraordinarily deep questions. Even aside from its deeper aspects, there are many adorable moments of these girls being their true selves, that being, just girls. Even so, when they're marveling at the stars and making friends, it kind of stings, knowing the condition and nature of their existence. This anime, and the state of its main cast, allows it to explore questions about life in miniature, reflecting not just on the girls and their handlers, but also the viewers. The fear of death, the meaning of life and experience, and what it means to be human, even what it means to be oneself at all, independent of other variables. I also enjoy that each episode has its own focus character, allowing the series to unfold in a powerful series of vignettes. Each girl has her own way of reacting to and living in her situation, complete with her own set of issues, and each one is a lens through which life and the story can be viewed. I am aware that this 2003 anime by Madhouse greatly diverges from the manga, but having reviewed the differences, indeed much of the credit goes to Madhouse in the first place for seeing the potential in this idea and elevating it to meet its true potential. I don't care that the mangaka didn't like it, because looking at Il Teatrino and all of the problems that came from him being involved, it is clear that he is largely a philistine who fails to recognize the value of his own work. I'll get into Il Teatrino later in this review, however.
Next, the art is wonderful from start to finish. Delicate, muted colors, fine attention to architectural and artistic detail, strategic use of lighting, highly impactful physicality, high-energy action, and, of course, an immense attention to detail paid to a wide variety of firearms to the point that it's clear this was somebody's special interest. The muted colors maintain this refined yet somewhat subdued atmosphere, a visual environment that allows melancholy moments and simple joys to stand out all the same. The backgrounds are faithfully Italian, with the setting seemingly understanding the urban environments of Italy with quite an intimate level of detail. Above all, however, are the guns. Every spring, every switch, every rivet and seam and brace, all carefully reproduced from real firearms and given life in this anime, where they are the life and spirit of battle, exceeding their purpose as tools, much like the girls themselves do, in a way. Speaking of the girls, the character design is very distinctive and pretty, with a highly emotive, unique look that sets them apart from a lot of other anime in the way that it almost leans closer to realism than the typical anime fare for anime with titles like this one. Once again we reiterate here its main strength- it manages to take something outlandish, make it believable, and use that suspension of disbelief to drive home the emotional core of the work. Not to mention, I am also just a complete sucker for the look of heady, contemplative 2000s anime like this one. This is right up my aesthetic alley. Here is where my problem with this anime's supposed second season, Il Teatrino, comes in- it constitutes such an extreme downgrade in nearly every quality, especially artistic, that not only did I not bother watching any more of it than I did, but I also believe it constitutes a fundamentally different piece entirely. This anime is the definitive Gunslinger Girl experience, and part of how you can prove this for yourself is simply by comparing the two- this 2003 anime is head and shoulders over whatever came later, especially as it regards the visual aspect.
The sound is a wonderful accompaniment to the rest of the piece, with the OST dabbling in a wide range of classical styles that fit the Italian setting rather well. It is widely emotional, varying from moment to moment as it needs to, framing each scene in a delicate, purposeful manner that is doing far more than just filling the silence. Also, it has a genuinely unskippable intro, which leads you into the piece and sets the tone just right. Also, it is worth mentioning that this anime is one of the few for which I recommend the dub over the sub. The voice work is emotive and believable, with grounded performances from all involved. The girls are also well-voiced, with emotion and distinction given to each of them in the way they speak and sound. The sounds of life are also rich and varied, especially in combat environments.
The characters are a major driving force for the quality of this show, and the anime pays a great deal of time and effort as concerns their interplay. The relationship between each handler and his girl gives us a new dynamic to experience, many tragic, but some oddly heartwarming. Once again, these characters are all believably themselves, filling their roles seamlessly and with great gravitas and emotion throughout. Of them, my favorite pair are the main pair, Henrietta and Jose, not only because their artificial sibling relationship is so functional and heartwarming, but also because their relative happiness continually raises the important question of the true nature of these girls in the first place. I also quite liked Claes, not just for her character design and stellar voice actor in the dub, but also for the role she plays in the team. She is without a handler, and, as such, lives a very different life from the rest of the girls. Nonetheless, she seems one of the most emotionally stable, an unflappable and intelligent voice from among the cast of cyborg girls. Overall, Gunslinger Girl is a decidedly memorable experience, with an emotional gravity that elevates the core premise of the manga and makes it something truly special. If you like the sound of this cerebral story, and have an appreciation for tactical, surgical, kinetic combat throughout, then you are bound to enjoy Gunslinger Girl.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 31, 2026
The Gargoyle of Yoshinaga is exactly the kind of unapolagetically hilarious, weird, and outlandish slice of life comedy that was so common in the 2000s, and this anime in particular is very much a classic example of an anime from 2006, about a supernaturally powerful dog-shaped Gargoyle that a family wins in a raffle. I am personally an absolute sucker for this era of anime, so the fact that this title checks all the boxes of the archetypes and tropes common to that period is a big plus for me. I'll go into more detail here, as I discuss this anime's strongest aspect, the story.
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Right out the gate, it takes a funny yet honest approach to many classic tropes of the time, embodied in its various characters. Everything from the psychic experimental subject girl Lily, or the gentleman thief Kaito, or the eccentric and single-minded magic shop owner Iyo, and even all the cryptids and references they pack in throughout, further proves the point I'm making here. It feels very much a product of its time, and seems in some ways to even be self-aware of that, which I personally love. On its overall merits, however, it is funny, creative, engaging, with snappy and clever dialogue, and a skill for ensuring you have no idea where the story's going to go next.
The art is solid, certainly a great example of the standard of quality for the time, with fun character designs and a strong emotive sense throughout. It even has an unusually solid grasp of motion for a SoL comedy from this period that I find impressive.
The sound is good, meeting the standard of quality for the time, with a special note towards the fun and characteristic voice work.
The characters are great, each one a perfect fit for their role and the world they inhabit. My favorites among them are the titular Gargoyle, and the psychic girl Lily. Gargyole, with his immense power and deadpan, overly-literal approach to life and line delivery, makes for a fun central figure of the show, contrasting his frequent misunderstandings with his honorable heart and loyalty to the Yoshinaga family and, by extension, the entire town. Lily, meanwhile, is a fun and interesting character who experiences the most direct changes over the course of the show. She goes from this kind of strange, taciturn figure to an inquisitive and eager young girl who wants to try new experiences and gets perhaps a little too interested in following in the steps of those she idolizes. Overall, this is a fun, lighthearted, and unusual show in that archetypal anime sort of way, and I can easily recommend it, especially if you're a fan of the 2000s like I am.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 31, 2026
Casshern Sins, despite being one of those memorable Toonami selections from back in the day, and indeed having a gritty aesthetic that has a lot going for it, I still find myself with a rather complicated opinion about the piece as a whole that makes it difficult to reccomend. Beginning with the story, this whole thing starts out quite strong. It's a fresh spin on an old character, and sets us up with this odd and mysterious world, a crumbling world full of machines only recently introduced to the concept of natural death by way of the Ruin. Right from the start, it is effortlessly
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cool, with badass fight scenes and compelling vignettes into how different robots deal with death. Casshern himself stands in stark contrast with the world he inhabits, being both graceful and brutal at the same time. Furthermore, the mystery of his past is compelling, with little glimpses afforded to the audience before the intro plays, leading us along with narrative breadcrumbs, leaving yet more questions for us to ask and to ponder on. However, there are some problems that develop early on that gave me pause right away. Given we only see a handful of actual humans, with machines having conquered the world and taken it from mankind, explicitly stating so several times, I personally can't help but root for the Ruin. From my perspective, as a human, if these machines basically destroyed humanity, then something as horrific and incomprehensible to them as the Ruin is pretty much just what they deserve. The show doesn't seem to treat the Ruin this way, presenting us with many sympathetic stories of fear and desperation and ugliness brought about by the Ruin, but this framing is challenged when I would see it as a cleansing flame of sorts, a just retribution upon machinekind. This angle is never really explored, outside of many machines wanting to kill what's left of mankind, and some machines wanting to live side-by-side with what's left of the humans as equals, which I would still view as an unjust perversion of the natural order. I do admit that this point has a lot to do with my view of intelligent machines, but I feel it is a valid point regardless, and essential to mention in my review. This problem only gets worse, along with everything else, as the show goes off the rails after Episode 18. Episode 18 is not only disorienting, uncomfortable, and totally unnecessary, but also fails as a quasi-recap episode because there's nothing that really needed recapping, and it definitely didn't need to take place in a trashy, graffiti-ridden urban dream sequence. Anyway, the story gets lost with itself from here and becomes much more conceptual. The mystery doesn't really have much of a payoff, and it spends the rest of its runtime moralizing about immortality. It goes on and on, breathlessly pursuing this overdone theming about life only having meaning because it ends, seeming to take the firm stance that life and the value of a life is determined only by its duration, and not necessarily because of any intrinsic goodness. Without getting into spoilers, there are various genuinely beautiful scenes of life we're treated to, like the flower-planting gardening scene. In my opinion, life has intrinsic value in and of itself regardless of its duration, be it short, long, or eternal. There is no reason why working on projects, pursuing new goals, experiencing the joys of connection, and enjoying a contented, even mundane, life, would somehow be lessened if it went on forever. This show makes the assumption that the suffering of life somehow outweighs the the merits of living itself, and that eternity somehow obliterates meaning in a gulf of time, when that is not something that can be or should be assumed in the first place. In short, I am fundamentally at odds with this show's entire philosophical and moral positioning. Beyond that, however, the ending is just this weird vague conclusion, and while some of our characters enjoy a kind of happy ending in a sense, the world itself just seems to hang in this unresolved tension.
Moving on, there is much less to say about the art. It is stylized, functional, and kinetic, with a gritty sense of violence and decay, blended with and contrasted against the more graceful aspects of certain characters, and the melancholy beauty of life persisting in spite of death. Once again, the cool fights do a lot of heavy lifting for the whole show here.
The sound is fine, with sounds of life that meet the basic standard of quality, and a soundtrack that fits the character of the art. However, it does get extremely repetitive past a certain point, especially track 15, "A Path". Let me tell you, that song is fine, but it is nowhere near good enough to play it every time there's any hint of an emotional moment. I was so sick of "Listen to my voice, listen to my heart, now I see it clearly..." repeating itself every episode, and in some cases, several times. It was just one of the many aspects that made the show just that much worse past episode 18.
The characters are the strongest aspect of the anime, in my opinion. It's a shame in a certain way, because I believe a lot of their depth and complexity was wasted on what this anime ended up doing with them. Casshern is even the least interesting in regards to his character. Nearly everyone around him has an interesting depth and uniqueness to their character and their motivations and approach to death that makes them very dynamic by contrast. Of them, my absolute favorite character is Akos. Akos is one of the last remaining humans, and besides the fact that he's an actual human, he's also a witty and charismatic character who appreciates the little things, even the beauty, whatever is left of it in a place like the world of Casshern Sins. He had the potential to add a much more satisfying element to the last quarter of the anime too, if he were used properly. Overall, it's a shame that Casshern Sins has so much wrong with it, because there's a ton of cool stuff that genuinely deserves to be experienced on its own merits, stuff that's good enough to still net it a 7. Maybe other people who find themselves more aligned with the show's message will get more from the ending than I did, but the show had put me in a place that makes it impossible to recommend. Not only do I fundamentally disagree with its take on life, but I also sort of couldn't care less because these robots onscreen dethroned Man from his rightful place, so I find myself rooting for the Ruin. It's just an odd place to be in relationship to an anime, and, due to that complexity, I cannot in good faith recommend it to anybody who wishes to seriously consider its core themes and messaging, and isn't just here for the cool fight scenes.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 31, 2026
Rarely do you see an anime capture so completely the feeling of wonder one gets from pursuing a passion, pursued for its own sake, wreathed in a genuine and unalloyed joy that is hard to describe or compare to anything else. Ruri Rocks does this with masterful ease, and the result is a fundamentally heartwarming, educational, and healing experience. Beginning with the story, we follow a simple yet potent premise of a girl discovering her passion for mineralogy and geology, led along in this journey by an adventurous and level-headed grad student, as this duo gathers friends and characters along the way. It's a plot
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with a lot of staying power and the potential for basically endless new stories to tell, as they explore the intricacies of each new mineral and each new geological process they study. It's not purely episodic either, as there are callbacks and throughlines between episodes, like with Ruri's hunt for Sapphires. This anime knows what it is and what it wants to do, and it does so beautifully. Every episode is lighthearted and fun and, above all, educational. There really is only so much to say about it, and only so many ways to say it, which honestly just speaks to the strength and the beautiful directness of a work like this. Each episode is a different fieldwork mission, a different adventure, a different goal, a different geological principle explored and explained, with friendships and personal bonds strengthened every time. The only aspect of the story that seemed odd to me was a very minor point- Nagi, the grad student, only ever uses her crazy warhammer once, in episode 1. This seems like a borderline violation of the Chekov's Gun principle, but all in all it's a very minor thing that basically has no bearing on the rest of the show and the quality thereof.
Speaking of quality, the art is absolutely the strongest aspect of this show. Sure, it's delightful seeing them go from place to place and learn new things, but this anime wouldn't be nearly as memorable if it didn't depict all of it in such an extraordinary and effulgent style. The art has this wondrous, detailed, gem-like quality from start to finish, and renders everything with this extreme clarity and fluidity throughout. It is incredibly impressive, and elevates this whole work to something innately impressive and memorable. This effulgent style especially does a lot of work towards depicting minerals and gems in their full glory, highlighting their natural beauty and visual qualities in faithful detail every time. It is just visually stunning. Even the characters, stylized in a unique and distinctive way, look amazing. They are very emotive without being too unrealistic, and blend natural, anatomy-aware movement with rich and distinctive color palates, reserved for each individual character.
The sound is a pretty and lighthearted addition, with rich and varied sounds of life over a breezy and unobtrusive soundtrack that makes the whole experience feel fun and immersive, at times sentimental and even rousing.
The characters are excellent, and feel like richly explored individuals, from the young and ambitious Ruri, to the wise and adventurous Nagi, to her bookish and inquisitive labmate Youko, they all are fun to watch and they interact with each other in ways that are endearing and believable throughout. One thing that especially impresses me is how they capture the demeanor and social dynamics of grad students, what they find interesting, what they prioritize, and how hey conduct their research and even how they spend their free time. This little detail alone is yet another credit to the love and care they put into this show- either someone really did their research, or they have an actual Geology grad student on staff. Overall, this anime is simply delightful, and I can't recommend it enough. To the new generation of Geologists this will undoubtedly inspire, Godspeed!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 31, 2026
Secrets of the Silent Witch is an absolute delight of an anime- everything from its creative worldbuilding, to its endearing protagonist, to its gem-like visual quality, every moment is a pleasure to enjoy. Beginning with the story, it embodies fairly well-worn fantasy ideas while also building upon them in fun and engaging ways. It starts with a fan favorite premise of a magical world with magic schools, full of the excitement and complexity that such a world entails. However, it builds on it by introducing the mechanics of its magic system, and how chanting is an essential aspect of that system, giving it an interesting
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spoken sound as well. Of course, what makes our protagonist special is her capacity for unchanted magecraft, a genius-level innovation that was nonetheless driven mainly by her crippling social anxiety. This, ironically, makes her perfect to guard one of the royal princes while he's at school without being noticed. This story balances the everyday struggles and experiences of school life with high-stakes magical combat and assassination plots without missing a beat, and conveys both situations in a way that holds your attention all the same. When Monica, the titular silent witch, has to clear out a troupe of dragons to save a city, it is kinetic and flashy and exciting, and when Monica has to struggle through the social conventions of a tea party with the help of her friends, it is heartwarming and fun. One of the greatest strengths of the story, and this anime, is its ability to do both, always applying just the right amount of stakes. Another small note- I quite liked how the book her father wrote, while its contents are never directly addressed, seems to have something to do with magic ability and its relation to genetics. That little detail implies a lot about the world at large, which is another thing this anime does quite well throughout.
This brings me to this anime's strongest aspect, the art. As I said earlier, the visuals have this vibrant, energetic, gem-like quality, as pertaining to the clarity of every scene in this art style. It all looks and feels so intentional, even crowds of people feel natural and individualized. The magical fight scenes even put this principle to the test, and it passes with flying colors, managing to balance depth with movement, color, and detail in a way that seems effortlessly fluid. It is consistently gorgeous in all respects, and makes for a rich and immersive viewing experience. Even the architecture and fashions build out the world further in a subtle and unspoken way that reveals a focused thoughtfulness behind the art itself.
The sound is a wonderful addition, complimenting the story and the art in the same breath. Elegant and piano-forward, it manages to convey tension and peace in appropriate measure at every moment. The flexibility of the OST means it never feels repetitive or otherwise unwelcome, and allows it to buoy every emotion it needs to in each moment.
The characters are solid, with Monica far and away being the best one. She is such an endearing and funny protagonist, it makes it easy to root for her during the whole show. Watching her struggle and grow is a rewarding throughline of the story. I've seen her called the Bocchi the Rock of magic, and I'd be inclined to agree, if perhaps a little less severe. The other characters are good, if a little tropey. They aren't bad by any means, but a lot of them feel a little flat in comparison to how richly Monica is characterized. Overall, Secrets of the Silent Witch is a delightful journey from start to finish, incorporating various story and visual elements into a cohesive whole, resulting in a polished and impressive final work that is easy to recommend.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 18, 2026
Paranoia Agent is a fascinating critter. There are many takes on it and its merits, but it is an objective reality that it is a definitively memorable title. Seen through one lens, it's a bizarre story about some kind of strange metaphysical entity which targets and attacks people who are in the midst of extreme crisis. Seen through another lens, it's a complex multilayered narrative about trauma, maladaption, and what finding happiness truly means in an age which obscures true meaning. I think it is several things at once, and, for that, I'll begin with the story, this anime's strongest aspect. As a whole, the
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thing feels slippery and difficult to grasp in a regular sense, especially during the more nonsequential parts of its storytelling. I feel like this would be a problem for many anime, but in this case it's not as big of a deal, because what happens is actually the least important part of it, in a sense. I believe that the story about these attacks, the supernatural properties they take on, and the tapestry of characters woven throughout, all exist only to serve as an excuse to explore fascinating psychological, emotional, and even scientific ideas in detail. What happens, strictly speaking, is actually quite simple, but what's being told to us is certainly not. I personally drew several major themes from the story. Most significant of all of them is an exploration of how to deal with complicated emotions. From vignette to vignette, we see people try to make up stories to blame their failings on, we see people try to throw parts of themselves away without reckoning with those parts of themselves, we see people lose themselves in entertainment to numb the pain, we see people live in delusion to escape having to answer hard questions about their lives, etc. The main thrust is that, while it might feel easy to run away from the complexities of life, and it might feel nice to blame all our faults and mistakes on some phantom of external circumstance, sometimes the only way to really heal is to confront it head-on. The only way out is through. No random kid on skates is going to clock you upside the head with a baseball bat and save you from having to think about the hard things by making you a victim, a nexus of attention and sympathy. Furthermore, once you take that step, and do what needs to be done, you can be free of your guilt, or your addiction, or whatever else. Put simply, running doesn't help. This is a very complicated emotion to convey so indirectly, and so, while the story does feel kind of surreal and at times nonsensical, it's ultimately fine because the story itself isn't the point. This aspect of the anime is master-level, even if it falls a little flat in other areas.
The art is good, capturing a ton of emotionality and surrealism, even if it can sometimes be disorienting or occasionally unappealing. The stylized, chaotic linework and highly variable color palate adds to this almost dreamy feel, with high contrast between mundane scenes and bizarre ones.
The sound is solid, with strong, emotional voice work and good sounds of life, with everything from the sound of skates to the clink of a metal bat and even the chaos and buzz of a busy city all feeling tactile and weighty, making the anime feel immersive and authentic. However, there were a couple of moments where voice lines sounded just a little too stiff for the events at hand.
The characters are good, with a wide and unique range of individuals featured throughout. Of them, my favorites are the two detectives, Ikari and Maniwa. Their good cop/bad cop dynamic is fun, and the way the two of them represent regular people grounded in reality, as they experience something otherwise unexplainable, was interesting and relatable as the viewer. Many viewers probably had similar attitudes going in, hoping for a more comprehensible sequence of events than what they ended up getting. Their later developments of learning that life is still beautiful even if its not perfect, and that there is more to life than meets the eye, are both excellent developments as well. Overall, Paranoia Agent is all about what's under the surface. If you try to hang on to the story as it unfolds before your eyes, you might be missing the bulk of what it has to offer. Even if I love the fact that it does this, it does feel in certain moments like it sacrifices a lot of its production in order to do so. Overall, I recommend it, especially if you're on-board for a very intellectual, psychological, and conceptual experience.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 16, 2026
Golden Kamuy has been sitting on my watchlist for years, pretty much since its release in 2018. It seemed like the kind of grand adventure that I'd have a good time sitting down with and experiencing over a few days. They started teasing the "final season" several years ago, and when they finally released it in March of 2026 I decided it was time. Well, they got me. Somebody needs to communicate to these studios exactly what the word "final" means. In any case, I do believe my mind is made up, and while I will watch it regardless, whatever happens in the next arc
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is unlikely to change how I feel about it. In short, I have a complicated opinion of Golden Kamuy. On the one hand, it delivered what I came for, that being high-octane action and a fascinating, granular lesson about Japanese history and Ainu culture, but on the other hand, it ends up struggling with a ton of issues I didn't even think were going to come up. For anyone who wants a word right up-front about what to expect, Golden Kamuy is something like a mix of JoJo's and One Piece, with all the good and the bad that such a weird blend might entail. There is much to discuss, so I'm just going to jump right into it here. Beginning with the story, it has the makings of something great. A buried treasure, the map for which is tattooed piecemeal on a series of escaped prisoners, which lays the groundwork for an exciting, high-stakes adventure throughout the untamed wilds of Japan's northernmost frontier. The adventure and its related mysteries and puzzles are complex and engaging as well. It nails the atmosphere of this adventure, and the human aspect of many of the characters we end up going on that adventure with. The writing reveals the emotional depth of everybody from long-time adventuring companions to even the most psychotic villains. It does a lot of work with establishing backstories and multifaceted personalities, so along the way there are a lot of characters you end up caring about. It's always exciting to encounter new tattooed prisoners along the way, and what their particular set of skills are as well. Furthermore, the fights are absolutely badass, and choreographed with impact, skill, and savagery down to the last detail. It even has room in the plot for comedy, some of which is actually quite funny. There are, however, a lot of problems which really get in the way of the overall enjoyment. First, I was expecting this show to be a little more serious in tone. I was expecting some comedy, sure, but it seems to swing wildly from deep, emotional registers all the way to goofy, surreal comedy that makes it impossible to take seriously. At one moment, you have a character wrestling with the death of his wife and infant child, and the next, you have a character who's making jokes about their balls and farting. Speaking of which, there is a fair bit of male fanservice in this show, which, while it is played for laughs, is nonetheless jarring, frivolous, and incongruous with the tone of the anime, often contributing to the tone problem I just mentioned, and part of why I compare it to JoJo's. Contributing to this tone problem, the suspension of disbelief goes totally out the window at a certain point. At the beginning you have gritty and straightforward fighters who are really strong or really good shots, but by the end you have guys who can hold their breath for 35 minutes and control their hair like tentacles, and this is part of why I compare this show to One Piece. The worst problem by far, however, is that, while I do care for many of the characters, I couldn't care less about the main conflict. Like, there are many characters who I'm rooting for individually, but I'm not psyched with the results of whoever wins. Put simply, I'm perfectly fine with how real life history played out in the Meiji Era. I'm happy Hokkaido is part of Japan, and I'm happy that the Imperial Family sits on the Chrysanthemum throne. Of the groups that form to hunt for the gold, one of them wants to create a Shogunate-style 2nd Ezo Republic and import a bunch of foreigners to develop coal mining, another one wants to overthrow the government and install their leader as a military dictator, and a third group wants to "do what's best for the Ainu", which is vaguely defined but likely represents a deviation from what happened in actual history. Going by some of the third group's allies, this third option might be a revolutionary breakaway state for Ainu and Ainu-related peoples. The thing is, I think all of these options suck. I don't want any of them to happen. Even then, the military dictatorship guy, who is a total lunatic, I think would actually do the least damage overall with the plan he lays out, which is actually very rationally explained in Season 5, Episode 6, before he goes back to being a lunatic. This, of course, poses a big problem for my enjoyment of the show. Sure, I can root for individual characters, enjoy the fights, learn about history, and even laugh at some of the jokes, but given the options on the table, no matter how it ends I'm probably not going to be satisfied. This, bar-none, is the biggest problem I have with Golden Kamuy. I could forgive all of its other flaws if it weren't for this, and I might have even recommended it, but alas. As it stands, this is what we're working with.
The art is solid, and much less of a complex issue. It boasts a really striking and unique art style, and handles combat really well. The pronounced linework, hyper-expressive faces, strong color palate, and sense of weight all help to enhance the enjoyment of this piece as a visual work. Even if many characters shouldn't realistically survive many of the injuries they sustain, it's still very cool to see them fight. If there's one thing this anime understands over all other things, it's hype. They hype up fights across seasons, they hype up conflicts that develop in the span of a moment, they hype up the moment a blow connects, on and on. Hearing "I'm Immortal Sugimoto!!!" right before some dudes get positively eviscerated never gets old. The art lacks a bit during mundane scenes, saving its animation in particular for more important moments of combat, some of the faces take some getting used to, and there is occasionally some absolutely dogwater CG, but overall the art still works well for the piece as a whole.
The sound is fantastic throughout, with extremely emotive voicework and an awesome soundtrack. I liked how hard it was working moment-to-moment, not reusing any particular track too often, saving certain songs only for when they're most appropriate, and unleashing their most impactful tracks during moments of the most potent hype. The voicework is also about as expressive as the faces, and the range expressed by each VA really is quite admirable.
The characters are the strongest aspect of this anime by far, which is not something I went into this expecting. This show does such a good job at characterization, with whole flashback episodes into their backstories given only after you've spent significant time with each of them. They feel so authentic (most of the time), and, as a result, are very easy to get invested in. Sugimoto, as this gristled veteran of the Russo-Japanese war, is a fantastic protagonist, and his dynamic with Asirpa is both heartwarming and compelling. The villains they encounter, who can sometimes phase between allies and enemies, are broadly quite compelling. Liutenant Tsurumi as an ominous mastermind willing to do anything is an incredible big bad for the whole series, Ogata as a stone-cold psychopath with a thirst for blood is one hell of a recurring figure, Ushiyama as this force of nature whenever he appears always completely changes the nature of whatever scene he's fighting in, Inkarmat is this mysterious and foxlike woman who's impossible to truly understand, and on and on. The way they psychoanalyze nearly everybody, especially what caused the insanity of the bad guys, never ceases to be interesting, especially when they revisit their past only to find everything isn't how it seems. However, out of the whole cast, my favorite has got to be Tanigaki. His past as a Matagi, a Japanese ethnic sub-group which is known for hunting deep in the mountains, builds him up well, but what I really like about him is his character. He's a genuinely good person, and dedicated to not only his roots as a Matagi, but also accomplishing his goals and, later, doing what's right by his family. His romance plot is by far the best, and the level of sacrifice and duty he puts on display makes him one of the most relatable and compelling characters in the whole cast. A lot of them are cool, but none of them are quite so easy to root for, in my opinion, especially because his main drive isn't necessarily focused on the gold itself. Overall, Golden Kamuy is an interesting piece which I harbor some conflicting feelings about. All in all, I got what I came for, but got a lot of other stuff I hadn't expected too, which complicates and interferes with my enjoyment of this title. I definitely wouldn't call it bad per-se, but it's not something I'd just recommend on the face of it. If nothing else, the fights are cool, the adventure's fun, and I know more about the Ainu than I ever thought I would.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 31, 2025
The Tatami Galaxy is a complex masterpiece which centers around one fundamental problem of life- the myth of arrival. Nietzsche mentions this, and essentially defines it as the postponing of one's life and rejection of vital essence in the present in exchange for the pursuit of some idealized other, be that some other version of yourself or some other place. The great enemy in this respect is the idea that you cannot be truly happy until you are that person, or until you have reached that place. The Tatami Galaxy, with wit and charm, totally eviscerates this concept, and lays bare what the myth of
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arrival can rob you of in your daily life, even in situations and scenarios you think might be a waste of time. Furthermore, this anime holds a special place in my heart as my 300th anime, and as such I will review it here with the care and detail that such a position entails. Our story follows the neurotic and idealistic Watashi, whose name literally means "I" or "myself". He goes to college in order to find what he calls the "rose-colored campus life", where he will have nothing but good times and be carried off in flights of fancy with "raven-haired maidens", hoping to find the perfect one. When his plans fall apart, and he doesn't achieve that rose-colored dream, he despairs, but, by way of a chance encounter with a man who may or may not be a god, is given chance after chance to redo his fate, and try to find a happier end, not remembering each go-around on this groundhog day type situation. The story and its complexities in each timeline are constructed in a subtle and intelligent fashion, drawing you in with ease and artfulness. My favorite aspect here, however, is how these timelines overlap and interact, and especially how everything comes together towards the final episode. All along the way, Watashi's neuroticism and idealism and self-sabotoge are put on full display, and we learn with him that each timeline that he considers a waste of time because it isn't "perfect" is actually a full college life filled with lifelong memories all the same, and if he could just manage to draw himself into the present and see the life that's right in front of him, he just might be finally happy, rose-colored campus life or not. Just as the fortune teller keeps telling him, to reach out and grab the "opportunity that's dangling right in front of you", and take the mysterious, potentially divine master's advice that "You are the person you are, and you cannot become anyone else other than that person". This message is so immensely important as a life lesson, and I feel that a great many people could benefit from hearing and understanding it, and that's why I believe that The Tatami Galaxy is more than just a great anime- it is an important anime. The story is easily the strongest aspect of this anime, and is one of the all-time greats for how much it says in 11 episodes that some anime can't manage in hundreds.
The art, however, is a close second. From start to finish it looks incredible, boasting this wholly unique art style that makes use of multimedia, complex patterned textiles, and simple yet emotional linework that gets right to the heart of a scene's essence. What it wants to say, what it needs to say to the viewer, it gets across visually just as much as it does with its story. There is an otherworldly use of color and style, that shifts between grounded realism and transcendent form, shifting as it must in order to best convey the atmosphere of a scene, Watashi's inner and outer states. The Tatami Galaxy stands on its own not in terms of hyperrealism or a particularly difficult style, but in terms of a style that cuts through perception and gets as close as possible to conveying emotion itself.
The sound goes a long way towards emboldening the atmosphere of the whole anime, with a soaring, orchestral, and creative soundtrack, characteristic and compelling voice work, and sounds of life that make the whole thing feel three-dimensional and lived-in. The one major flaw here, however, is that the dialogue in episode 1 is extraordinarily fast, and for a show without an English dub, that meant a lot of pausing and skipping backward to catch what was said. It gets a lot better from Episode 2 onwards, and never returns to quite the same speed as Watashi's lines in the first episode, even if it does keep going at a fairly snappy pace.
The characters are all wonderful, and they feel extremely independent and characteristic, like they're the ones driving the story forward in each and every instance. Of them, my favorites are Watashi, that neurotic yet witty protagonist who you can't help but root for, and Akashi, that eccentric girl who's right in front of him the whole time, a delightful and fascinating presence in her own right in each timeline. Overall, The Tatami Galaxy is an amazing anime, and I absolutely recommend it, not only for those who can benefit from its message, but also for a complete anime education of anybody who can say they truly love the medium. Incredible, unforgettable work.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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