dubbed

Well, that Was Lazarus, People!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lazarus Ep 13 Review

Ladies, gentlemen, and that technicolor rainbow in between, we got him. Just as the doomsday clock was about to hit midnight, Lazarus pulled off their mission. They found Dr. Skinner in time. Yet, I can’t help but find a number of things concerning about the ending to Lazarus the series. Chief among them, the series finale was full of too many contrivances to let me take it seriously.

Schneider’s Stupidity

The series has made it no secret that the reason Dr. Skinner made Hapna a deadly trap is because he lost faith in mankind. The real question, though, is what finally made him crash out. As this and the previous few episodes confirmed, it was because of Schneider. He wanted to turn Hapna into a bioweapon against Skinner’s wishes. And when Skinner tried to blow the whistle, Schneider tried to take the prototype by force, leading to it being unleashed at that airport and killing dozens of people. And when the government tried to cover it up, he had enough. So he forged Hapna into a knife aimed at humanity’s throat, all in an effort to ensure that someone would try to find him. And by doing so, they would learn why he did all this by exposing Schneider’s crimes.

And yes, bioweapons are illegal under international law. Its one of the few things the majority of the world seems to agree on. Yet Schneider tries to justify things to Abel by saying that if the US government didn’t make them, someone else would and use it on them. In reality, the only people who would think of using a weapon capable of destroying the world has to be insane or driven to that point. Schneider’s arguments fall on deaf ears, and he gets hauled off to jail to either rot forever or get the death penalty.

The Final Battle

Meanwhile, we have the final fight between Axel and Souryu. While the fight itself is entertaining enough, it gets undermined by the fact that the show didn’t give us enough time to really get to know Souryu. It does explain how he was part of Project Hundun, this Chinese program to turn kids into emotionless assassins, which is horrifying on a number of levels. However, in the context of the story its being told, Souryu is less important than the actual mission to find Skinner. While we can sympathize with him on some level, he’s ultimately little more than an obstacle standing between Lazarus and Skinner.

Way too Much of a Coincidence

The contrivances dont stop there, though. The finale reveals that, somehow, every member of Lazarus was at that fateful attack. And somehow, they all came back from death thanks to their bodies developing an immunity to Hapna. Its why Axel survived the prototype and why Eleina survived the fever that should’ve killed her.

In hindsight, the show had already hinted that there was a reason why Chris survived the attack, along with Axel’s own immunity. And as improbable as it sounds, it is possible that all the members of Lazarus could have been at that incident at the exact same time. Fate can work in crazy ways, after all. What the show fails to do, though, is come up with a convincing way to make us believe that this was possible. As a result, it seems less like an act of fate and more of an ass-pull by the show writers.

In the end, though, it doesn’t matter. Lazarus makes it to Skinner…and just in the nick of time.

The show doesn’t make it clear how long it takes to mass-produce the cure for Hapna. However, even by the most conservative estimates, hundreds of thousands to even millions of people still end up dying. It doesn’t matter if the show tries to paint this all as a happy ending for the team and the people they’ve met. A lot of people still died! But while Skinner might have made the weapon, Schneider is ultimately the one who is at fault for everything. And sadly, with extinction no longer an imminent threat, world leaders go back to business as usual. It seems like people didn’t learn anything. So what was the point?

Well, that Was Lazarus

Lazarus is meant to be a good look at humanity, warts and all. Its meant to show us that, for all our faults, there can be good in humans. Sadly, it would seem that the ending to Lazarus is hampered by how rushed the overall story was. Thirteen episodes wasn’t enough time to fully tell the story that we wanted to see, and it shows. Even worse, the ending of the series states that the team will continue to work together, going on even more adventures we’ll never get to see. Its frustrating to think about how we could’ve gotten more time to spend with Lazarus, but never did. This might be another Adult Swim original that many people won’t remember by the time the new year rolls around, and that is sad, considering this was made by Shinichiro Watanabe. But it was still fun in the end. Thanks for the memories, Lazarus!

I Give “The World is Yours” a 3/5

I KNEW That Was Where Skinner Was!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , ,

Lazarus Ep 12 Review

We are reaching the climax of the story of Lazarus, and things are coming down to the wire. The team has a solid lead on Dr. Skinner’s location (and you won’t believe where he’s hiding), but rogue government agents threaten to ruin everything. Eleina’s collapsed with a fever. Doug’s been captured by INSCOM agents working for the deplorable Schneider, who has also taken Hersch captive. And to top it off, Axel’s clinging to life after a near-death experience fighting the mysterious Soryu. But when you hit rock bottom and survive, the only way to go is up. Now it’s time for Lazarus to make their counterattack, find Skinner, and save the world!

Popcorn Wizard is So Nice

Despite how dire things looked for several members of Lazarus, luck/plot armor has ensured that all of them has weathered the worst of the storm. Thanks to Popcorn Wizard, Eleina safely recovers from her fever until it breaks. The fact that she even recovers from what should be a fatal Hapna fever is even lampshaded by the fellow hacker, who jokes how she might be immortal. That might not be the case, but more likely, Eleina might have an immunity to Hapna. More importantly, Popcorn Wizard, AKA Lin, admits that she’s working to keep Skinner safe. And the reasons are rather heartwarming.

Who would have thought that Popcorn Wizard was one of the islanders with analgesia? Since Skinner enabled her people to move away from their doomed islands, though, her gratitude makes sense. Skinner isn’t an inherently bad person, just one fed up with the self-centered people in the world. Given how Schneider is almost certainly the reason behind the attack that led to Skinner’s crash out, though, one cannot blame him. In fact, this episode makes us hate Schneider even more now.

The Ego on Schneider is Ridiculous

As it turns out, there’s a reason why Schneider chose to go after Lazarus in the first place. Somehow, he got it into his head that there was another purpose behind the team’s formation beyond finding Skinner. He thought that they were secretly attempting to gather blackmail information on the government, namely him. Given how his crimes include using Hapna for illegal experiments on prisoners and covering up a botched seizure as a terrorist attack, he must have thought finding Skinner would expose him somehow.

…Yeah, me and Aaron both agree that Schneider is dumb as freak. He thought that exposing his crimes was more important than preventing the end of the world? Whatever he has done doesn’t matter if the majority of mankind wouldn’t be around to see judgement passed on him. Furthermore, Lazarus may have never thought to look into his dealings until he decided to get in their way. He brought on a self-fufilling prophecy, and almost doomed the world in the process. And while he has yet to face justice, his back is already against the wall. Abel of the NSA was able to convince the President (who’s dying from taking Hapna in the clinical trials) to sign an Executive Order to move on Schneider. The man can only keep INSCOM in the dark for so long. And once Lazarus finds Skinner, he’ll either die or rot in jail forever.

I KNEW THAT WAS SKINNER!

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

In the meantime, thanks to some help from Popcorn Wizard, Doug and Eleina turn the tables on their pursuers and elude them. Even better, Lin gives them what they were looking for: Dr. Skinner’s location. Remember back in the third episode, when Axel and Doug went to that homeless camp and I thought I saw a background character who looked like Skinner? As it turns out, I WAS RIGHT! Skinner has been hiding out with the homeless the whole time right under Lazarus’ noses! Thanks to some fast-travel, though, Eleina, Doug, and Chris start to converge on Skinner’s location, and without a moment to spare.

So, What About Soryu?

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

That just leaves one last problem: Soryu. After Abel’s assistant bails Dr. 909 out of jail to help them, they manage to confirm Soryu’s identity: he’s the same man that Schneider was speaking to pretending to be Soryu’s handler. In reality, Soryu has a split personality brought on by trauma of something called the “Hundun Project.” It’s not made clear what it is, but it sounds like an illegal government assassin program. And having lost his quarry the first time, Soryu is determined to finish the job. Not for the money, but for the love of the game. The good news is that Axel is still alive and in the care of Skinner’s doctor. The bad news is that the preview for the series finale reveals that he’s headed to a final confrontation with Soryu. Worse, it looks as though the doctor he was sent to find is already dead.

The end is finally in sight for Lazarus, but the stakes are at their highest. If they don’t find Skinner in time, or Axel dies, then they could trip at the finish line, and billions will die. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see how this story ends! It’s had its ups and downs at times, but the past month (in-show) has been a heck of a ride. Let’s hoping the finale proves worthwhile.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I Give “Close to the Edge” a 4.5/5

Arthur Teaches Arrogant Mage his Place

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Beginning After the End Ep 10 Review

So far, The Beginning After the End has changed up several things from the original webcomic. It’s moved things around, added new context to Arthur’s past life, and altered certain moments in the story. However, this episode marks the biggest departure from the source canon to date. And it all has to do with Arthur putting an arrogant little nobody in his place.

The Auction House Changed a Bit

For those who don’t remember, the reason the Helstea family is so rich is because they run the Helstea Auction House. Every year, they host a massive auction where adventurers, nobles, and even royals show up to bid for rare artifacts, weapons, and even monsters. And since they let them stay in exchange for Reynolds heading security, the Leywins get an invitation to the auction…with the other people.

Even before the episode starts, the anime is already making some changes to events, and not always for the better. In the webcomic, Arthur approaches Mr. Helstea beforehand and asks him to try and get him some gear he wants. In addition, the Leywins get to stay in a private box with the Helsteas, which will eventually lead to them meeting the Sapin Royal Family. Not only does the conversation not take place here, but for some reason, the anime sees fit to have the Leywins sit below, with everyone else. It might be so that what happens next makes more sense, but it’s going to aggravate plenty of fans.

What happens next, though, is the biggest change from the webcomic, and it revolves around poor little Sylvie.

Arthur Almost Crashes Out

So, as the Leywins are busy watching the auction, Sylvie gets bored like most little kids would, and wanders off. Arthur goes to look for her, because he’s a good dad, and that’s when he finds her being bothered by this shady-looking man in a robe who works for the Royal Family. This mage takes one look at Sylvie and decides “I want her,” and starts running his mouth, demanding Arthur give her to him. Arthur’s response: “Not for sale!” And then the man has the audacity to say “Kid, I work for the royal family! I could you and your entire family out on the streets if I say the word to the king!”

Arthur’s response? Unleashes the Conqueror’s Haki.

While similar events did happen in the webcomic, they took place in the private box. And Arthur got a lucky break by passing the blame off on some random intruder. In the anime, though, he gets no such luck, and his Dad gets in trouble for it! It’s not a major story change and doesn’t do much in the grand scheme of things, but longtime fans are gonna be frustrated with it. The comments on YouTube seem to say so.

Arthur Unleashes Za Warudo

At any rate, the King’s attempts to get Sylvie from Arthur are largely the same here, and Arthur’s retort of “how much would you ask for your kids” is still cool. He rightfully sees Sylvie as his adoptive daughter, and like any good parent, he ain’t giving up his kid.

And when the dumb court mage escalates by trying to kill him, Arthur pulls off the “Za Warudo” technique and lays down the law.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The aura of Sylvia being added was a nice touch.

In any event, the mage gets fired from his job, and the King covers everything up and bribes Arthur to keep quiet, just as what happens in the webcomic. However, the ending to the episode differs thanks to certain parts of the story being moved around. It may not make sense right now, but hopefully, the next episode will clear some things up.

I Give “The King’s Defiance” a 3/5

Wait, Is Axel the Key to Everything?

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lazarus Ep 10 Review

Six days; that is all the time the world has left before the first users of Hapna start dying. Time is running out for the majority of humanity, and Lazarus still has no idea where Dr. Skinner could be. Yet all is not lost, as the team might have not just one, but two possible leads they can use to track down Skinner. One of them requires Leland to face his past, while the other reveals an astonishing connection to another member of Lazarus: Axel.

Society is Falling Apart

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

With less than a week before Hapna becomes fatal, society is starting to break down. People are starting to break out in fevers from Hapna, hospitals are being overwhelmed, and governments are shutting down. No sense in remaining active if most of humanity dies. And herein lies a slight problem with how the story of Lazarus is going: the lack of time.

Skinner claimed that he has the cure for Hapna on him, hence the entire purpose of Lazarus is to find him in time. However, even if they find him now, mass-producing the cure in time will be next to impossible. Millions of people are going to die before they get their hands on it. Maybe the story will pull off something amazing, but unless the cure can be spread via aerosol form, people are going to die. And one of the team might be among them.

Wait, Leland is HOW RICH!?!

In any case, Lazarus might have a real breakthrough on their hands. That pill that Chris found at Skinner’s estate wasn’t the cure for Hapna. What it was was an antiplatelet medication used by people who have had artificial heart transplants. They realize that Skinner must have gotten surgery after going into hiding, yet finding no records of it, the team starts looking into a rumored clinic for the elite that does procedures in exchange for high amounts of money. That’s when Leland comes in to help them, revealing he has a secret he’s kept from everyone.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

It turns out that Leland comes from money. He’s the illegitimate child of a deceased aristocrat whose family he’s on poor terms with. To make things even more awkward, as the only surviving son, the family rules say that he’s the head of the family, much to the anger of his older half-sister. Their reunion is an incredibly tense one, and one that Doug and Axel have to see firsthand at his own request.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Family can often be messy, especially in situations as complicated as what Leland grew up with. However, in a nice change of pace, the older sister isn’t just upset about Leland being the heir instead of her. She’s also upset at how little he’s tried to get to know his family. With the world on the verge of ending, people want to get their priorities straight. So, Leland agreeing to spend a few days with her is, honestly, a very touching thing.

In the end, Leland’s sister pulls through, and she gets him to see Skinner’s doctor, who confirms that he did get an artificial heart. Normally, that comes with a stream of data they can track but, Skinner being Skinner, he encrypted it. Furthermore, it doesn’t lead them to Skinner, but Eleina figures out that it’s being monitored by their old friend, Popcorn Wizard, in Pakistan. That leads her and Doug to head to Pakistan on another lead. As they do so, though, Elenia starts to show signs of a fever.

Uh-oh.

Axel Could be the Key to Everything

As promising as that lead might be, there’s another one that might be even more promising.

Remember the incident where Chris faked her death? The Schiphol Airport incident. Official reports say that it was a bio-chemical attack by terrorists, but as Hersch and Abel, the head of the NSA discover, that was a lie. In reality, government incompetence led to a shootout between INSCOM and Airport security, with Skinner caught in the middle. The firefight wound up unleashing an airborne, prototype version of Hapna. That is what killed everyone, and it left Skinner a changed man.

If you recall, INSCOM are the ones who hired that assassin to kill Axel for unknown reasons. Those reasons might have become a lot clearer in this episode, though. As it turns out, that same Hapna prototype was tested on prison inmates. And out of all of those inmates, only one managed to survive: Axel Gilberto.

Axel is in Trouble

This revelation could change everything. When a disease is threatening a large population, such as humans, there’s often going to be a small number of people with a natural immunity. Is it possible that Axel is immune to Hapna? Or was it just a fluke? Either way, it’s enough to get Hersch to send Axel looking for the prison doctor responsible for the test. Unfortunately, that’s when the INSCOM assassin, Soryu, makes his move.

This is not good. Not only would the death of Axel mean killing off the main protagonist, but if Axel really is the key to curing Hapna, then INSCOM could be dooming mankind to extinction. With the preview for the next episode showing a full-on battle about to take place, it could be the most important episode of the series. No matter what, Axel cannot die.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

This is going to be good!

I Give “I Can’t Tell You Why” a 4.5/5

Arthur…Becomes a Daddy?!?

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Beginning After the End Ep 7 Review

Three years have passed since Arthur Leywin got separated from his parents and wound up in the Kingdom of Elves. Three years since he was taken in by the former King of the Elves, Virion, as his student. And three years since he started training his Mana Core and trying to master the Beast Will that Sylvia left him. As much as Arthur wanted to see his mom and dad again, those three years were worth it, as he’s gotten stronger in that time! All that strength, though, isn’t going to matter much if he can’t handle his toughest challenge yet: trying to get Tessia to let him leave.

That, and he now has a kid.

Arthur is Pretty Much a Jinchuuriki Now

Thanks to the kindness of former King Virion, Arthur was able to live in the safety of the Elves of Elenoir. He’s still only eight years old in his current life, but thanks to his training, he’s stronger than any eight-year-old would normally be. Just as important, though, is the fact that Tessia’s been able to train alongside Arthur, allowing the two’s friendship to continue to remain strong. To his dismay, though, Arthur has gotten to the point in his life where she’s showing her haughty side more often. I.E. she’s constantly waking him up in the morning and making him food, all while saying he should be grateful a beautiful girl is doing these things for him. Yet, as the anime notes, her ego isn’t unjustified, as she’s proven to be as much of a prodigy with magic as Arthur, gaining her own mana core at age nine.

This episode primarily serves as the stage upon which the story can provide more details about how magic works in the world of TBATE, and it’s here where the anime starts to show off more of what helped to inspire the world it exists in. Virion’s explanation of how magic is broken into four basic elements takes a page from Avatar: the Last Airbender. That series is set in a world where certain people can bend the four classical elements, and while it’s possible for anyone in TBATE to use all four, it’s so rare it might as well be unique. In addition, the explanation about what a Beast Will draws a lot from Naruto. Like Naruto, TBATE includes people who can gain the powers of a powerful monster and use them for themselves, though in this case, they’re called Beast Tamers. And since Arthur got his Beast Will from Sylvia, a dragon, his is extremely powerful. The good news is that all the training he’s done means he’s no longer in any danger of dying.

The bad news? He’s…now a parent.

No, Really. Arthur has a Child Now

In case people forgot, Sylvia gave Arthur two other things besides her Beast Will before she died. One was one of her feathers, and the other was a stone. Fast forward three years, and Arthur discovers that that “stone” was actually an egg…and it just hatched.

While some viewers might share Arthur and Tessia’s sentiment that Sylvia’s newborn daughter, Sylvie, is adorable, the anime ultimately does her, and Sylvia, a little dirty. After biting and leaving that mark on him in the webcomic, Sylvia gains the ability to mentally communicate with Arthur. Yet, for whatever reason, the anime either neglected or forgot to show what Sylvie was thinking, forcing viewers to guess what she’s thinking. As a result, this deprives the show of some of the humor that this moment had in the webcomic. I.E. Sylvie first calling Arthur mama, and then papa, and how freaked out she gets when Tessia insists of cuddling her.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

There are many characters in fiction whose verbal communication is deliberately rendered unintelligible to the audience. Two major examples would be Chewbacca and R2-D2 from Star Wars. The cast can usually understand them, but it’s up to viewers to guess for themselves what they’re saying. In Artoo and Chewie’s case, it’s fun. In Sylvie’s case, though, it’s an issue that’s keeping us from getting to know her better. Hopefully, this was a one-time thing and we’ll soon get to hear what Sylvie’s thinking in future episodes.

By the end of the episode, the Elves have finished the preparations to send Arthur to the human kingdom, so it’s finally time for Arthur to reunite with his family. Thus, he and Sylvie get a big send-off from everyone they’ve met and known in Elenoir, with one initial, and notable, absence: Tessia.

So, Who Ships Arthur and Tessia?

The Beginning After the End makes it no secret that it takes a lot of inspiration from Mushoku Tensei, with Tessia being a combination of the three women who fall in love with Rudeus. And just like Sylphie, Tessia’s reduced to tears at the prospect of her first and only friend going away. That being said, Tessia handles it rather well for an eight-year-old, understanding that Arthur has his own family that misses him. More importantly, while the two go their separate ways for now, it’s all but stated that they will see each other again when they’re older, meaning Tessia has another chance of seeing Arthur.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The Beginning After the End is now seven episodes in, and while it’s no Mushoku Tensei, it feels like the anime is slowly improving. The animation could be better, with one person on TikTok even proving they could do better in under an hour. But it feels like the series is at its best when it’s not focused on the big action scenes, with the slower moments of this episode proving to be just as good.

I Give “The King Says Goodbye” a 3.5/5

Natsuko+Luke 4Ever

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Zenshu Ep 8 Review

Firstly, I would like to apologize for how long this review took to get out. I got so busy that I wasn’t able to keep up with watching Zenshu until there were already multiple episodes out. Thus, I wrote the reviews for the next four episodes at the same time so I could be caught up in time for the finale. Which will likely already be on Crunchyroll by the time this goes out. I am sorry for that.

That being said, my belief that things would begin to pick up in the second half of Zenshu was valid. Natsuko has gotten to the point where she’s content with her life in World of Perishing. More importantly, though, she’s starting to understand the importance of teamwork and opening yourself up to others. Unfortunately, she still has no idea how to deal with things like love and romance, which is about to become a big problem for her. In addition, she also learns that the mystery bird that’s been stalking her doesn’t have good intentions for this world.

That Dumb Bird!

Over several episodes, Natsuko’s been harassed by this mysterious, talking bird that keeps saying her efforts are “no use.” At the end of my review of the last episode, I speculated that the bird was an in-universe avatar for the creator of A Tale of Perishing, Kametaro Tsuruyama. It turns out that I was close: the bird is the late director herself.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Like Natsuko, Kametaro Tsuruyama died back in Japan (from eating bad clams, no less) only to find herself in the world of her creation. Whereas Natsuko gained the power to alter the original story, though, it’s unclear what powers Kametaro got, if she got any. Nor is it made clear what force allowed both women to reincarnate in the World of Perishing. However, once Natsuko manages to corner her (and finish gushing over meeting her hero), one thing is made clear: Kametaro isn’t happy about Natsuko’s meddling.

Unlike Natsuko, who actively changed the story, Kametaro wants to see events play out in the way that she wrote them. Instead of being flattered by Natsuko’s adoration for her, she derides her, saying her “fan edits” are pointless and ruining “her masterpiece.”

The Bird=The Worst Kind of Creator

I’ve repeatedly said that part of the appeal behind Zenshu is how it feels like a commentary on the relationship between stories, storytellers, and fans of said stories. In this case, Kametaro serves as a rather brilliant foil to Natsuko. Both are talented storytellers who put everything into their creations, which is something every great storyteller should strive to achieve. What makes them different, though, is how they view their own creations. Despite loving A Tale of Perishing, Natsuko hasn’t been afraid to point out its flaws and plotholes. She’s open and willing to change things to suit the story better. In contrast, Kametaro sees A Tale of Perishing as her perfect masterpiece and refuses to accept any other opinion. She wants her story to be this angsty, depressing downer which ends with the entire world being destroyed, regardless of what will happen to her or the people in it.

Okay, real talk.  Kametaro Tsuruyama is, in my opinion, the worst kind of creator that we can get. She refuses to let the world she created grow and develop on its own. She may or may not be actively trying to course correct it, despite knowing that the original ending will kill her too. And worst of all, she’s critical of Natsuko for changing the story. It’s OK to take pride in your own creation, but if the majority of people can’t even watch it because it’s so depressing, you might want to rethink things. In addition, despite the stance some authors and creators have against fan-created content, you’d be surprised at how good some of it can get. I.E. Allen Blaster’s Shield Hero series is so good, it’s been called better than the canon story!

Natsuko is Like, “DOES NOT COMPUTE”

However, everything that Kametaro says to Natsuko takes a backseat for most of the episode. The real focus is on something that most people saw coming, but could still enjoy: Luke is in love with Natsuko.

The show hasn’t been subtle about the fact that Luke has fallen for Natsuko. Nor, hilariously, is Luke subtle when he decides to confess his love to her.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Seeing Luke tell Natsuko that he loves her over and over is the right kind of cringe. The kind where you want to look away because it’s so awkward, but you can’t help but keep watching. However, it’s the reactions of Natsuko, who’s just as inept at romance, that makes the entire sequence enjoyable. The shock of the confession is so great that she has to go into denial over the fact that the world she’s in is as real as hers!

Thankfully, the show doesn’t linger on the cringeworthy moments for long. Thanks to good advice from ultimate wing-man Justice (thank you, Justice), Luke takes Natsuko on a genuinely romantic date to a hot spring! They do bathe out of site on opposite sides, but that’s besides the point.

Hot Spring Time

In many anime, hot springs are often used for one of two things: fanservice and letting characters discuss their thoughts and feelings. In this regard, the writers of Zenshu nailed both. The setting itself is incredibly detailed and well drawn, with good use of various cool colors to give it an otherworldly feel. The fanservice isn’t over-the-top, with Luke ending up showing more while Natsuko winds up averting any big money shots. And hearing the two bond over their mutual love of their comrades is very sweet. It’s these kinds of moments that the strongest forms of love are built on.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Too bad a wandering Void shows up. To make matters worse, this isn’t just a Void Natsuko’s never seen before: it has the powers of her drawings back during the first episode. AKA her expy of the God Warrior from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Thankfully, with Luke’s swordsmanship, and Natsuko drawing a freaking Gundam, the two manage to vanquish the monster! And at the very end, as Natsuko experiences the same thing the people who fell for her did around her.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Just like I predicted, Natsuko and Luke have fallen for each other…and I wholeheartedly ship them! They make for a very sweet couple! However, any excitement one may feel over the fact that Natsuko is finally experiencing love is overshadowed by the stinger. Each episode only reveals an image over the title for the next episode, but the appearance of this next one is very bleak. Combined with Kametaro’s warnings about Natsuko’s efforts being pointless and how the story seems to be trying to course correct, it paints a very grim picture.

And we were right to think like that. This episode basically marks the last time we can experience something lighthearted in Zenshu. The next episode, things start to hit the fan.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I Give “Confession” a 4.5/5

Dr. Stone, I presume?

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dr. Stone: Science Future S4 Premiere Review

Everyone, I’m ten billion percent certain I’m going to be watching this season of Dr. Stone.

I’ve been following the Dr. Stone anime off and on since it came out back in 2019, but the new season is said to be the last one. And given how I love the series’ sense of comedy, quirky characters, and (largely) accurate use of science, I wanted to see it off. It also helps that it’s got a solid dub and caught up to the point where I actively started reading the manga as it came out. And while some may see the season premiere as padding, I see it as a way for the show flex its comedic muscles.

I can’t spoil anything from the manga, but trust me: you are going to miss the light-heartedness after a certain point.

Disagreements on Travel

Having acquired one of the mysterious devices responsible for turning humankind to stone, the Kingdom of Science’s next step is to confront the one responsible. There’s one problem, though: they’re located on the Moon. Getting to the moon was a gargantuan undertaking even with modern society, and Senku is having to rebuild civilization from the ground up. With Japan unable to provide all the resources needed, the Kingdom of Science has no other option: they have to start recruiting people around the world. First stop is the good ol’ US of A.

One question, though: what route will they take?

Once again showing their knowledge of science, the anime points out that taking a route hugging the continents would get them there faster, even if it’s more difficult. However, the resident sailor Ryusui argues that they should go in a straight line to the west coast of America. Unable to break the deadlock, Senku and Ryusui decide to settle the matter…in a game of poker.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Many people will likely consider this episode focusing on a game of poker to be a waste of time. To be fair, they’re not wrong. Even in the manga, this largely gave off the feeling of padding the story out for the sake of it. However, it still winds up being enjoyable to watch for two reasons. Firstly, it means we get to see the character interacting with each other, which is one of Dr. Stone’s strongest selling points. Most of the main cast does a good job of bouncing off one another’s quirks for comedic effect, and that holds true for this episode.

The second reason? Simple: seeing everyone wearing casino attire. You can’t deny that Senku and Kohaku look amazing in their respective outfits!

Enjoy the fun while it lasts

So, after shenanigans ensue, Senku ends up winning like he usually does. And with their route now set, everyone celebrates by doing the other thing casinos are known for: drinking and partying. And Senku does point out how he’s 3,700 years old, so he’s able to drink. Plus, there are no governments to enforce drinking ages, so it’s a moot point.

Some people might see the season premiere as unnecessary padding. I see it as a fun little way to get started on the final season of Dr. Stone. Like I said, I’m ten billion percent watching this entire season, because this is going to be one of the big early hits of 2025.

Also, I wasn’t joking earlier: there will come a time when you will miss how light-hearted things are.

Verdict: Imma Watch it

Okarun Got that Dawg in Him

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dan da Dan Ep 2 Review

Life is a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. One day, you’re minding your own business. The next, you’re being abducted by aliens for your privates. Or a ghost possesses you and steals your junk. For Momo and Ken, though, both happened in the first episode of Dan Da Dan! Now Momo has psychic powers and Ken’s going ghost against his will, and their troubles are far from over. To get Ken’s junk back, they have to first fight another alien, and the boy has to learn how to unleash that dawg in him.

And Momo? She has to deal with the fact that her new friend has the same name as her crush.

These Two are Like Cats and Dogs

The second episode of the series starts where the first one left off: with Momo in denial that Ken shares the same name as her actor crush. She’s so deep into denial that she immediately decides to call him Okarun from now on, a play on his alien otaku interests.

One of the best parts of the premiere was seeing how quickly Momo and Okarun establish their dynamic and relationship, and that trend continues in this episode. One minute, they’ll go from arguing like cats and dogs, and the next, they’ll be going out of their way to defend the other. It’s a very passionate and complex relationship, but that’s what makes it so enjoyable to watch. And despite how much they push each others buttons, it’s easy to see how much they care for each other.

Of course, there’s still the matter of Okarun being possessed by Granny Turbo. Momo can’t surpress the spirit forever, and she’s already getting close to her limit. Then, to make matters worse, the two find themselves trapped inside some kind of Domain Expansion by this giant sumo alien that’s working for the ones they met in the first episode. They still want the pair’s bananas!

And this is where the episode absolutely cooks as Okarun learns how to let the dawg off the leash.

THIS IS THE DAWG!

When Okarun learns how to go ghost and use the curse to his advantage, he finds that dawg in him, and the resulting beatdown is amazing. Dan Da Dan’s animators cooked with the animation throughout the entire episode, but the moment when Okarun found his inner dawg cranked things up to eleven. And despite the Sumo alien cheating, Momo and Okarun outsmart them in a way that I think would make Joestar family proud. Unfortunately, immediately after the fight, Momo finally loses steam, and the curse of Turbo Granny fully takes over Okarun.

Now the dawg really is off the leash. Unfortunately, this is also when the episode chooses to come to a close.

I hate cliffhangers like this because I don’t want to wait another week to find out what happens. However, the fact that I want to know what comes next now just shows how good Dan Da Dan is. And while I could just read the manga to see what happens, I won’t. I want to enjoy it as it happens! That being said, we’re only two episodes in, and Dan Da Dan has already become one of my favorite anime of 2024. It’s likely going to be the series that everyone will be talking about for some time to come!

I Give “That’s a Space Alien, Ain’t It” a 4/5

‘Solo Leveling’ Might be First Big Anime of 2024

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

‘Solo Leveling’ Initial Review

It’s safe to say at this point that anime and manga have gone mainstream in Western Culture. More and more anime based on popular manga, light novels, and the like are coming out of the woodwork. But now, what the West considers anime (Japanese animation) is expanding its scope to works beyond Japan’s borders; specifically, to Korea, home to a plethora of webtoons and manwha. And right now, the one everyone’s talking about is the bloodiest since Attack on Titan, Solo Leveling.

This isn’t an exaggeration. Solo Leveling might be one of the bloodiest anime of the year. 

A Bottom-Feeder Gets RPG Superpowers

Ten years ago, portals and gateways opened up on Earth that led to other dimensions. And in those dimensions were monsters and entities straight out of a fantasy MMORPG. With conventional weapons useless, people started gaining the ability to hunt and kill these monsters, giving rise to the Hunters. There’s one catch, though: once you awaken your abilities, your stuck with whatever rank you get; no leveling up or getting stronger. Which stinks for those at the bottom, like Jin-Woo

Sung Jin-Woo is an E-Rank Hunter at the bottom of the barrel and is called the weakest ever. He can barely do any damage, he goes down too fast, and regularly comes close to death every time he fights in a Dungeon. But he keeps at it to support his family, until the day the inevitable happens. The party he’s in gets caught in a dungeon that starts slaughtering them in ways that haven’t been seen since Attack on Titan! And when the survivors can escape, he has to get left behind, thinking its for the best…until he realizes that this is a horrible way to die.

That’s when he gets this little notification like from a video game saying he qualifies to be a “Player.” Next thing he knows, he’s waking up in a hospital, completely healed. There’s one catch, though: he’s now being forced to do daily activities to get stronger or risk dying. The upside to that? He’s now able to level up like in a normal RPG. And he’s the only one who can do this.

Jin-Woo has just entered a real-life RPG.

An Interesting Take on a Premise That’s Been Done Before

As far as premises go, the concept behind Solo Leveling isn’t what one would call unique. Other anime have revolved around a similar premise.

  • Supposed weakling gets thrown into situation that can kill them.
  • Weakling gets a lucky break/special skill that helps them to survive and level up.
  • Weakling goes from being bottom of the barrel to OP as heck.

For reference, look up Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest. It’s like Solo Leveling, but an isekai and not as good.

I’ve never read the webtoon or web novel versions of Solo Leveling, so I wound up going into this anime blind. After what I saw, though, I can see why it’s so popular and breaking the Internet with it’s hype. The animation is dark, bloody, and beautifully well-done. The story (which is only four episodes in) doesn’t skimp on the details of how dangerous being a Hunter would be, either. While the first episode is lighter on it, episode two sees people in Jin-Woo’s party dying left and right. Limbs get blown off, a man gets crushed to death by a statue’s foot, and one guy got split right down the middle! It’s horrifying, yet you can’t look away. And Jin-Woo’s near-death experience rivals Eren Yeager getting eaten by a Titan in terms of horror! 

Speaking of Eren Yeager, Jin-Woo has a few traits in common with the wielder of the Attack Titan. Like Eren (at first), Jin-Woo is a good person put into horrific experiences that harden his heart. Yet Jin-Woo can’t quit being a Hunter, no matter how dangerous it is. Firstly, Mother is on life support due to being poisoned by mana from the Gates. Secondly, his sister needs the money for school. But he’s so weak that he can barely make ends meet, and his new status can help change that.

Don’t Underestimate RPG Mechanics

At first, the gains aren’t that noticeable, but anyone whose player an RPG should know better. Upgrading stats even a little can make all the difference, as seen in Jin-Woo’s first solo dungeon. While he once struggled against the weakest enemies, he gets strong enough to take down a snake the size of a house. With his bare hands, no less! And then he pierces the defense of another Monster a group of low-ranking Hunters were barely holding off with a broken Sword! The man is like a Korean Kirito meets Deku!

I’ve been reading Manwha and Webcomics for years on Webtoons, but Solo Leveling might be one of the most interesting and exciting that I have seen to date. And after spoiling myself by finding out what’s going to happen, I know I’m going to enjoy this show. Might even make it a weekly review.

Tomo-Chan Ends the Only Way it Can: With Love and Gusto!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime , , , , , ,

Tomo-Chan is a Girl! Ep 13 Review

It’s been a fun ride, but all good things must come to an end, lest they end up like The Simpsons. In this case, Tomo-Chan, one of the best anime of the Winter 2023 season, came to a happy conclusion. In the last episode, Jun finally got the courage to tell Tomo that he loved her back. In some shows, that would mark the end of it and leave the rest up to the fans imaginations. However, there’s still one last problem to deal with. The same problem most people have to deal with regarding their romantic partners: the parent’s approval. 

Grab some popcorn and get ready for some laughs.

Their First Romantic Christmas Together…Gets Derailed.

It’s the Holiday Season, and in Japanese Culture, Christmas is to them what Valentine’s Day is to people in the West: romance and spending time with your loved one. That makes it the perfect chance for Tomo and Jun to have their first real date. It goes as well as we’ve come to expect from these two.

On the one hand, Tomo gets embarrassed as hell when the romance film she picks out gets too steamy for her. On the other hand, she and Jun exchange presents with each other. On the other other hand, Jun and Tomo can’t take the next step and kiss and actually be boyfriend and girlfriend. As it turns out, Jun neglected to tell Tomo something important: her Dad said that if Jun wants to date his daughter…he’s got to beat him in a fight.

Tomo takes this news very poorly. She tells her Dad she hates him and refuses to speak with Jun for the rest of their break.

Mr. Aizawa’s Testing their Resolve

After catching up with Misuzu and Carol (who aren’t happy with her ditching them over break), Tomo vents all of her pent-up frustrations to the two. And while she claims she’s fine with waiting for Jun to be ready, it’s clear she’s lying to herself. She wants Jun to date her now, and I don’t blame her. She’s waited for years for Jun to return her feelings, and now she’s getting blocked by her Dad. It’s every teen’s worst nightmare.

While I don’t approve of his methods, I do understand why Tomo’s dad is doing this. He knows how strong and strong-willed her daughter is, so any guy who would want to date her should be able to keep up with her in both aspects. Otherwise, they’re not worthy of her time. Plus, it’s always been Jun’s goal to surpass him, so this kills two birds with one stone.

The fight (or at least the parts we see) isn’t wild like one you’d expect from a Shonen manga, but it’s still entertaining to watch. And with Tomo there to motivate her in her own, Tomo way, Jun actually manages to win!

Congratulations! Jun and Tomo are now boyfriend and girlfriend, and seal the deal with a kiss that makes the wait worth it. THE END.

No, really, that’s the end. The manga it’s based on was only four panels per chapter, and they managed to cover all of that in the span of twelve episodes.

Tomo-Chan: a short, sweet, and funny romcom anime.

So, in retrospect, how would I rate Tomo-Chan is Girl! as a series? Let’s see.

Firstly, we have the premise. I have seen plenty of romcom and harem anime that include a tomboy as one of the potential love interests. However, I think this might be the first romcom anime I’ve seen where the tomboy is the lead heroine. As a fan of tomboys in fiction, this felt like a breath of fresh air.

Next, we have the voice acting. I primarily watched this in dub form, and while I know some people prefer subbed, I think the English VA’s did a great job. Heck, Carol was voiced by the same person subbed and dubbed.

Lastly, there’s the show’s ace in the hole: the length. All too often, I’ve seen romcom anime that drag this “will they, won’t they” thing for as long as possible. Not Tomo-Chan, though. It sticks to its goal of getting from point A to point B and gets it done as efficiently as possible. I might be a little sad it’s over already, but it’s better than dragging its heels to the end like so many other romcom anime do across multiple seasons. That’s a win, in my book.

So, on that note, we say goodbye to one of the best romcom anime I’ve seen in years. It’s a shame we have to say goodbye already, but it was fun while it lasted.

I Give “To Stay by Your Side…” 4/5

THANKS FOR READING MY REVIEWS, EVERYONE! I HAD A LOT OF FUN!