Happy New year, It's review time.
Mahiro is a shut in neet, until his scientist younger sister slips him a drug that transforms him into a middle school girl, forced to go back to school and adapt as a girl, Mahiro makes new friends and starts to really appreciate her new life.
Questionable motives at the beginning aside, this series is very careful with how it depicts the gender bender trope, it helps that Mahiro has a level head on her shoulders and apart from legitimate lack of knowledge of female biology never abuses the fact that her mind still retains memories and personality from her former male self, meaning Mahiro has no lustful desires in her to take advantage of her new friends, even the one girl she does kinda crush on, it's the most fascinating take on the gender bender formula since Ranma 1/2, and it's wholesome take is more welcoming than it's more mature cousins.
Not keen on a dub as there is some discourse over the translation which we've come to expect when tackling the subject of Gender Bending.
Final Verdict: A wholesome take on the gender bender formula with a competent lead who is an absolute god send for anyone who struggles with gender dysphoria.
I had hoped to review this before Christmas.
The Kingdom of Alsace has been caught in a middle of a power dispute between the higher Kingdom of Brune's Dukes, having been captured by the rival nation of Zhcted and it's war maiden Eleonora, Alsace leader Tigre joins his captors in saving Alsace and preventing Brune's Dukes from seizing the throne, leading to a wider war for power involving other War Maidens and armies all the while Tigre inheriting a black bow and it's power to change the tide of battle.
This anime badly wants to be a harem as it makes every effort to make it's female cast standout but still holds back in favour of it's tactical warfare blueprint as each battle is described like a battle out of Dynasty Warriors Empires, but it means that the anime is treated more like a glorified game of chess rather than an action epic, not a bad thing, I actually like chess but that doesn't exactly inspire excitement.
The dub is pretty good as all roles are built up well for the setting, there's also a chibi mini series which just makes me want to see them in Isekai Quartet.
Final Verdict: A well written series designed to appeal to tactical warfare fans but doesn't fully translate as an anime, it's also clear that someone missed the memo on making it a harem series.
Haven't I done this one before?
Ino Sakura moves from the boonies to Tokyo to become an idol, moving into the dormitory mouse house with a host of characters consisting of a failed musician, a failed model, a reluctant former child actress, a not so promising rising star and a shady manager, the five girls form an idol group in order to prevent their dorm from closing by doing an internet variety show along with concerts.
I've viewed a similar anime with a similar plot called Wandaba Style, the difference here is that the cast of Dropout Idol Fruit Tart are alot more predictable with how they act, Roko steals the show with just how hilarious her back story is and how sick she is of being labelled a child still.
While there is much to enjoy there are many moments where nothing really happens, it's very much imbalanced, hard to deliver a solid recommendation.
Dub I've not seen but I'm never keen to view one for this genre.
Final Verdict: A fun little comedy with a predictable cast and an imbalanced plot. I'd at least stay for Roko if no one else.
Yeah, I don't have a more flattering picture, nearly half the series is indulging in tail fluffing.
Kuroto is a very unhappy salaryman, working long shifts, becoming more unhealthy by his terrible work home balance and is genuinely depressed.
Senko, a fox spirit comes along and decides to pamper Kuroto until he stops being depressed and the darkness disappears, it's unclear why but a deeper connection appears to be at play here although Kuroto gets more joy out of fluffing Senko's tail.
Male fantasy has been thrown around alot with this series but really it's existence is more to do with two other things, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, or ASMR and an attempt to repair Japan's broken work culture, I don't get any pleasure out of watching this even though as a working office employee, this is aimed at me, all it's doing is reminding me of things that are pretty common sense self care advice but the immersion of that instantly breaks when Kuroto just wants to fluff tail all the time, so it's ultimate goal kinda falls flat, I also think this series inspired a lot of vtubers as the ending segments are right out of the vtuber playbook.
Never watched the dub but it should be fine.
Final Verdict: The idea was there and I'm all for it, just the execution is alot to be desired
Time for laugh out loud comedy.
Kazuma is a major shut in who in trying to save someone from being hit by a tractor, not only didn't need saving but dies from a heart attack, chewed out by the goddess Aqua and told he can be brought back to save the fantasy world, Kazuma out of pure malice for the goddess, decides to bring her with him only for her to prove to be mostly useless, joined by a mage who only explodes things and a crusader who is durable but masochistic, Kazuma stumbles his way into becoming the hero everyone needs even if the path to it isn't entirely heroic.
Comedies tend to come and go and Konosuba proves that it can stay the test of time, three seasons in and it's as funny as season 1 and beyond and having Megumin, Darkness and Aqua as companions just makes the perfect party, it reminds me of early Slayers; to borrow an up to date internet term, Kazuma is very based in his attitude and speeches, you only have to pick out his gender equality quotes alone to see what type of person he is, a later scene has him beat the hero by stealing his sword, bopping his head and then pawning it for money, the whole anime runs on this energy and is a pleasure to watch, the acting is much better subbed than dubbed as Aqua's constant whining is more bearable in Japanese.
Final Verdict: A fun comedy with the longevity to be timeless, Konosuba is one of the best comedies in anime history.
