Winter 2018 - Thoughts After One Month

After my initial thoughts (here) this season has some interesting anime but overall is not a great anime season.

My favourite so far without any doubts is Koi wa Ameagari no You ni (Love is Like After the Rain). This is a tale about love between a girl of 17 and a man with 45. Very interesting take on romance - where something really happens (and I don't mean sex).

The second one I am really enjoying is Darling in the FranXX - a mecha / romance story. Many people compare it to Evangelion that's like saying that all crime series are the same.

Then there are others that I will continue to watch but serve a different purpose.

• Slice of Life/Peace of Mind - A place further than the Universe; Gakuen Babysitters; Hakumei to Mikochi and Yuru Camp and Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san are anime that give me a peace of mind - slice of life. 
• Action -  Death March, Killing Bites, Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens (and somehow) Beatless 
• Comedy - Saiki Kusuo no Y-nan 2 is very funny and one of my favorites (first season). But unfortunately I didn't had the means to watch it so far.
• Lesbian Romance - Citrus focus on two cute girls in a lesbian love affair - good but every season we've got one of them. 
• Overlord is another action isekai that I am watching. I loved the first season and was in my top ten until recently but this season so far it's pretty average.

Then there are other shows that I am watching but may or may not give up

• Mitsuboshi Colors is a Cute Girls doing Cute Things - although boring.
• Mira no Kaikata (How to keep a mummy) it's Cute Boys doing Cute Things but boring.
• Gancrest Senki is a action anime but so far the four episodes were very fast pace with little time to focus on the characters. With 24 episodes I can't really know where it's going.
• Ryuuou no Oshigoto is anime that focus on the same boardgame game like 3-Gatsu no Lion but mainly do it with comedy with some sexy-prohibited stuff as well. 
• Toji no Miko is a action focus solely on girls. With 24 episodes I don't know where this is going because it's a bit boring in my opinion.
• Ito Junji: Collection is a collection of horror stories. Good but nothing worth mention. Each episode focus on one or two stories-
• Kokkoku started okay with a action series where time stopped and only a bunch of people live in that limbo. They have some powers and some strange beings inhabited. Unfortunately after a good first episode the rest just dragged.
• 25-sai no Joshikousei - Fan Service! or Hentai.

Kokkoku 

Still to watch to know if they are good

• Devilman Crybaby (many people say it's good)
• Gin no Guardian 2 Season - focus on a series I've watch the first and I watch the 1 episode but really was turn off
• Violet Evergarden - I want to see it in gulps with 4 or 5 episodes at a time.
• Mahoutsukai no Yome - The same as violet.
• Sanrio Danshi & Hakyuu Houshin Engi

 - Let us see.

I dropped Hataraku Onii-san!; Micchiri Neko, Dame X Prince Anime Caravan; Marchen Marchen, Slow Start, Takunomi & Ramen Daisuki Koizumi San. (this last one I will try to watch the fourth episode but it's a bit boring and repetitive. I want to be her friend - she doesn't give a crap and go eat ramen.

Thoughts XXX - I'd really like to be someone different...

I'd really like to be someone different
If I had one wish, that's what I'd pick.
Thanks to this falling Star
I can see it happen in my dreams
But back in reality,
We get used to who we really are
That's why I always
Live my life to it's fullest...

Anime Awards 2017 - By Me!

Following the Crunchyroll nominations I thought I had to made one...
Of course I didn't watch them all but I finished 81 anime from 2017 plus 26 I dropped plus 8 Ova/Movies so I think I can safely speak about it.


Some I don't have a doubt what to choose but others I do...

Best Action - No doubt - The Saga of Tanya the Evil
Best Animation - A silent voice would be my picking (Crunchyroll has it in this category BUT the movie was released in 2016) - If I had to choose one from 2017 would be either Kuzu no Honkai and Made in the Abyss right behind
Best CGI - There is nothing here because Land of the Lustrous is going to win 
Best Comedy - Some people complain is a re-wash of the first season but Konosuba is my picking nevertheless
Best Drama - Made in Abyss made me cry. Inuyashiki as well - so one of the two.
Best Boy - Here I am going to throw you a curve ball -  Ichirou Inuyashiki from Inuyashiki!
Best Girl - No doubts here, although most people would put her here - Tanya Degurechaff from Saga of Tanya the Evil. 
Best Film - A silent voice would be my picking but since It wasn't released this here I have no other nomiations
Best Opening/Ending "Over and over" by Nagi Yanagi in Just Because
Best Slice of Life - No doubt here Tsuki Ga Kirei
Best Hero -  Ichirou Inuyashiki from Inuyashiki!
Best Villain - Tanya Degurechaff from Saga of Tanya the Evil. 

Best Anime of the Season
This is it - pretty hard but I guess you know it... Either it goes to Tsuki Ga Kirei or to Saga of Tanya the Evil. My only complain about Tanya is that it's not a complete anime with plenty to go while Tsuki gave me a feeling of achievement  - of ending. Of hope and romance. So Tsuki wins....

Book Review: The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 1 - Carlo ZenExpe

The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 1 by Carlo Zen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all a brief word on the tile - Youjo Senki was translated as The Saga of Tanya the Evil - but the correct translation would have been - The Military Chronicles of a Little Girl which I bet would not appeal to many people.




This novel was not that "light" to my opinion. With five chapters where each chapter dividied in subchapters of some sorts. Some were in the first person perspective of Tanya while others we followed other characters. The problem was that it was always in first person perspective - which at times got a bit confusing.

Nevertheless, I've watch the anime and it is one of my favourite - Tanya no doubt top 3 favourite characters of all times and I really enjoy the duality in her. Her thoughts being of a salaryman and her words the young 9/10 young girl.

Expect five or six drawings

Quite interesting - at times our salaryman told stuff from our world and incorporated in that isekai which gave some "credibility". But in the end it resumes to one sentence - if we would have been born in another time, era, place would we be what we are now? Our thoughts, way of thinking, actions and personality? I think not.

The anime focus a lot on action but the book focus a lot more on the personality of Tanya (from her and other characters perspective) and tactician - almost thesis on how to make war. - in others words what should have Germany done to win the first world war (or second) - and how her views are molding Germany Empire.

There are some other interesting monologues about evil vs evil which to me is gold!

Excellent book - eagerly waiting the second light novel while I wait for the movie thats coming out in 2018 (?).

View all my reviews

ANIME REVIEW: Hetalia Season 1 to 6 (Winter 2009 to Summer 2015)

Hetalia is a comedy show that really made an impact on me. Basically the idea behind Hetalia is a 5/6m episodic story where the characters are countries like Italy; Germany; France and so on.

They really hit the mark with the characteristics of the European countries and myself being one  really enjoy it. Unfortunately there isn't a Portugal but that's okay. The characteristics they give Germany people, italian, french, english and so on is very accurate.



Each episode deals with a situation that happened mainly on Europe and then there are some that involve USA; Japan & China. Italy as our main character (there are two italy) is very funny. Germany is by far the best one. 

Most episodes are very funny and deal with some common events on Europe but also deal with some more unknown events (some seem to be taken from some pinky magazine). Each season focus on a particular timeline timeline  but more commonly is set on XX century. 

Germany is my favorite character (Ukraine following suit with the nordic as well).

Korea is listed here but it never appears... Where's Ukraine??

First two seaons are called Hetalia: The Axis Powers; then two more seasons as Hetalia: World Series, the fifth season in Beautiful World & the sixth World Twinkle. There are also some OVAS and other Compilation episodes.

ANIME REVIEW: Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (FALL 2017)

Juni Taisen: Zodiac War was made by Graphinica and had a rating of 6.78 on MAL. (Action) 

Graphinica only made 18 animes - one of them is Hellsing Ultimate and Arslan Senki.

This anime follows a pattern. Each episode it introduces one character just so he/she can be killed in the end. Of the 12 participants 9 were done this way. After the first couple of ones you basically got the picture and knew it. This upset me. Not enough I stop watching but enough that I didn't enjoy it as much as I could.

But lets start from the beginning. Basically we follow 12 people (one for each of the chinese zodiac signs) as they battle for supremacy. Each one has their own skills and motives and it was nice to watch their backstories. 

To me personally ended but my favourites died. The one that won didn't deserve to win BUT I can see why he won. The Last episode is dedicated to him and the choosing of his wish. 

There are several animes like this one - Battle Royale is one of them. Fate/Zero is another.

Good CGI (I have no complains there); Good Action Scenes and some dark elements. The negatives is the world bulding (there was a lot to explore) and predictable (the reason I mention before).

My favourite were Sharyuu (Monkey), Niwatori (Cock as the husbando of the chicken) and Ushii (OX)

ANIME REVIEW: Osake wa Fuufu ni Natte kara (Fall 2017)

 Osake wa Fuufu ni Natte kara (Love is Like a Cocktail) (Slice of Life, Comedy,  Romance).

This anime was made by Creators in Pack and had a rating of 6.86 which interesting or not it's their best score in anime with 15 under their belt.  

I watch from them Kiitarou Shounen no Youkai Enikki, Bernard-jou Iwaku. (which I really enjoy), Netsuzou TRap and Ozmafia!!

Couldn't understand if this anime was sponsored by some drinking company or something like that. Basically each episode (13) we follow a big breasted woman (no nudity or ecchi elements) as she arrives at home and her husband - a bartender - pours a drink to her. We then receive the recipe and that's about it. 

The story behind is not that developed (after all it's a 5m show) and basically she is always tired and of needing a alcoholic drink. The last couple of episodes we have some flashbacks as how they met.

Not that bad but also not that interesting.  Its easy and I got interested in doing some of the drinking recipes and that's about it.

ANIME REVIEW: Vatican Kiseki Chousakan (Fall 2017)

Vatican Kiseki Chousakan (Vatican Miracle Examiner) was made by J C Staff and had a final rating of 6.46.

They are the makers of Toradora, Shokugeki no Souma (food porn) Is it wrong to pick up girls in a dungeon?, Prison School or Bakuman.

So as you can see they go way back with 329 projects.

The Vatican series is finish and it was a good ride. It can have a season season? Yes it can BUT it's not that necessary.

Basically we follow two priests (Hiraga & Robert Nicholas) as they try to uncover if some particular incident is a miracle or not. There are some Hollywood movies out there that deal with this - but anime it was the first. Hiraga may be gay to Nicholas but we will never know...


The episodes are divided in arcs of 2 or 3 episodes each. But they all have a connection between them all. It's rather unique anime that explores Christianity (more specific Catholicism) so I was reluctant to watch it but it didn't shove it in our faces the religion. I don't think anyone would be offended by it.

I enjoy the arcs, ones were more interesting than others and our main antagonist Julia (he is a man - not a woman).

It was interesting to discover the modus operandis of each "miracle" and how they connected themselves. It was also interesting the open ending and the nature of Father Julia (a guy not woman) - was he bad or good? After all he imprisoned and had a slave labor force but in the other hand helped people in deep jungle in Africa and saved Hirata's brother. So we never know...

It's a scooby-doo kind of episodes but with more mature content. The way to watch it is by ARC. The first three of four arcs are almost independent of one another.

It's a nice anime, that brings nothing new BUT its okay to watch; not all of them must be the best of the best. And if a sequel is coming out I am going to watch it. 6/10

ANIME REVIEW: My Marriage Partner is My Student, a Cocky Troublemaker (Fall 2017)

Omiai Aite wa Oshiego, Tsuyoki na, Mondaiji was made by Seven and has a rating of 5.51

My review of this one is fairly simple - It's hentai and not Romance, Ecchi, School, Josei!

It' s good. The story? Yeah there isn't any. A guy likes his teacher who is dating his brother. But he likes her so much he conquest her and BANG!

ANIME REVIEW: Evil or Live & Ousama Game (Fall 2017)

There are a lot of similarities between these two animes....

After watching the first episode - this should be my reaction! (BTW, if you are committing a suicide why cover yourself so you don't have glasses on your head?? That's a bit strange no?)

Both were a pain to watch but I stick with them no matter until the end.

First Ousama Game: The Animation - this anime is set in a world where a new student appears in a class and right afterward all the class receives an message telling them that they have to follow the rules or else they will be punished - aka death. Much of the guys and gals don't believe and a lot died in the first couple of days. Then they start believing...

All I wanted as my first kiss - her puke....

The premise was good BUT as the movie progress it starts being awful - everything the characters do is awful and I start wishing them all dead. The animation is not that good but after some 6/7 episodes it turn to shit with lip de-synchronized; things appearing or disappearing as the screen changes a bit.

Then the characters are really bad portrayed. From our main character to some generic colleagues of them. I remember writing after each episode in the TVShowTime...

People being burn for 5m and nothing whatsoever happening to them

People cutting limbs and hands and such but never fainting for blood loss AND most importantly - there are no other characters besides the students! Nada. No teacher, no parents, no medic (when they went to a hospital), no people in the streets, no cars - Nothing. It's like they live in a ghost town.

She is like a detective or something like that...

What this company (Seven) try to do was a compilation of two seasons worth of potential into one (thank the gods because I was not in the mind to watch a second season) using flashbacks. 

(NOTE - THERE IS A SECOND SEASON COMING!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!)

Some bad things - all female characters are sexualized (of course), every death is absurd and over the top - sometimes I laughed....; no common sense (characters have several memory loss - but only to those characters who acted psychotic 2 minutes before) and nonsensical plot please. In a way it reminded me of Another (I also watched it) but done very bad. I could never suggest this anime to anyone Unless it's a masochist. 

But it looked so good....

Evil or Live is anime that greatly interest me but the characters and animation made me cringe each time. The walking of the characters, the voice acting not matching the mouth, the action scenes were really bad where you could see frame shifts - it's like they skip pages... they made a lot of shortcuts in the animation and used a lot of backgrounds and put characters that Yami-Shibai would felt better...

The characters themselves are bland and in the end ep



isodes I think something went amiss and we don't even know why or what things unfold - and the ending? Oh my god - shitty ending. 

Overall could have been better with themes of internet addiction; corruption, abuse, drug trafficking and so on.

At least there were ... "these" do feast upon...

The plot? Well basically a boy is sent to a correction facility (aka school) for people addicted to Internet. There he must endure some acts of cruelty that some prisons do not do. The main character is not backing down and wants to expose that façade. In the way he finds his long-lost childhood crush and a boy who rules the school from the shadows. 

Crappy anime - Single post. Both get 3 points from me.

Evil or Live (What the heck is this title supposed to be?) has a rating of 5.97 in MAL and was made by  Haoliners Animation League (This company has some crappy shows and most don't achieve a grade of 7) - To Be Hero probably is the best show from them. 

Ousama Game The Animation has a rating of 5.14 in MAL and was made by Seven best know from some Hentai or Ecchi anime (With nudity) - this one had none  but some girls had some pretty big breasts... anatomically back breaking (Sorry for the pun)

Review: Anime Fall 2017

The Fall of 2017 ended and now a new season begins. Let us start watching 20'ish animes... This Fall I was more conscious on what to watch because I want to watch more old anime.

Some I didn't think it were that good and so I drop them and so let us start from that:

(All sequels have their rating influenced no matter what)

1. Urahara ended with a rating with 5.90. This anime didn't catch my attention at all in the 1 episode. The animation was not that interesting nor the characters or the plot... 
2. UQ Holder ended with a rating of 7.12 (But it's a sequel so this rating is influenced by that) - I felt no interest in this anime after watching the first episode. I try watching the second and the feeling was the same so basically I dropped...
3. Taishou Chicchai-San ended with a rating of 4.73 - So basically is a crapy 5m show. Usually I don't drop this 5m episodes BUT I had to open an exception. No interest whatsoever.
4. Sengoku Night Blood ended with a 5.97 - It reminded of Escaflowne but it was a crappy anime. I endured 3 episodes before giving up.
5. Dive!! ended with a score of 6.18. It tried to be Yuri on Ice but it was a crappy show. 
6. Saiyuuki Reload Blast it's a sequel and it ended with a 7.41. I try to watch it but I was a bit lost and so Igave up. The animation was good and the battles but it lacked purpose or plot
7. Hitorijime My Hero was one that I was interested in watching but I failed to connect to the story. If I had a status between On Hold and Dropped this would be in it. It has a rating of 7.60 so not everything was bad no?
8. Black Clover (TV) - It's a screaming anime with 51 predicted episodes. After watching 3 episodes I dropped. It is a shounen anime but I couldn't feel myself getting into it. And the screaming of our main character was very annoying. A good source of memes. I was interesting by the synopsis but only after 3 eps our weak main character is already a superman so I thought to myself this was not going anywhere. The rating so far is 6.54.
9. Garo: Vanishing Line - Is another anime that belongs in the MAPPA series of animes from the world Garo. Having not watched any of the previous (althought it's not necessary) I felt that this anime brought nothing new.  It's still going and the rating of 7.19

Now the ones I finished or am finishing or am watching (Gonna start making individual reviews)

Not going to dwell much. My top 4 (these four I would love to watch them no matter what).

• Houseki no Kuni (TV) (Land of the Lustrous)
• Inuyashiki Last Hero 
• Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou (Girl's Last Tour)
• Just Because! Review

These ones I watched because they are seasonal anime and they were good/ok. But I didn't lose anything watching it.

• Boku no Kanojo ga Majimesugiru Sho-bitch na Ken  (My Girlfriend is a Faithful Virgin Bitch)
• Net-juu no Susume (Recovery of an MMO Junkie)
• Juni Taisen: Zodiac War
• Evil or Live (could go either way - and I mean down)
• Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World - The Animated Series

These ones I "regret" watching and only finish them because I was arlready in the 5/6 episode when my interesting fell...

• Omiai Aite wa Oshiego, Tsuyokina, Mondaiji.
• Ousama Game The Animation
• Osake wa Fuufu ni Natte kara (Love is Like a Cocktail)
• Animegataris
• Imouto sae Ireba Ii. (A Sister's All You Need)
• Blend S

The ones I didn't watch but are on my To Watch animes

• Code:Realize: Sousei no Himegimi
• Dies Irae
• Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau
• Mahoutsukai no Yome (this one I put on hold because I wanted to watch in one go)
• Itsudatte Bokura no Koi wa 10 Centi Datta (didn't started because it began in mid november and I wanted to watch the movie first)