SEASONAL PRATTLE
Coming in at the top of this week, it’s round two and Akudama Drive is going strong, offering yet another sharp episode full of smart compositions and flows. Episode two’s craft sensibilities not only heighten the relatively simple story this series is employing so far, working on a surface level to make it more immediately attractive, but it also dictates dramatic range with an underrated amount of ease. In an episode where almost every plot beat is a bright accelerant, it can be tough to effectively sell the most impactful ones in the sea of noise. Thankfully, Akudama Drive has enough touch where that’s no problem at all, nailing the executioners’ fight with a highly polished effort featuring a pleasing use of lighting and body mechanics to create a sensual visual experience. Nicely done.
Adachi to Shimamura (2)
“The use of Adachi is exceptional here: Her share of screentime was always productive in either directly pushing our narrative forward or unpacking her emotional state in comprehendible ways”
Adachi to Shimamura delivered a second showing that matched last week’s favorable assets, offering a healthy scope of delightfully constructed beats from quiet reflections to a more anxious bedroom encounter. The use of Adachi is exceptional here: Her share of screentime was always productive in either directly pushing our narrative forward or unpacking her emotional state in comprehendible ways. There’s just such little waste to the sequences driven by her to the extent that two becomes elevated off of that – feeling like a swift cut of content as opposed to the sluggish ride that less competent works that reside in similar genre spaces can be prone to from time to time. That level of efficiency is a positive flag to see early ln a show like this, where all leads are enjoyable but the pulse of the story they find themselves in correlates heavily with how proactive they are.
Majo no Tabitabi (3)
“Inevitably shaking out as personal vignettes that are emotionally capable and just tainted enough to provoke further thought”
With yet another good turnout, Majo no Tabitabi’s third affair is somewhat reminiscent of the avenue a work like Kino’s Journey or Violet Evergarden would take, particularly utilizing a similar type of storytelling foundation to good effect here. Both “The Girl as Pretty as a Flower” and “Bottled Happiness” were finely told tales, where the dramatic scale was never too over the top for the fantasy setting they’re placed in, and the darker temperament they offered being a welcome addition to this series’ tonal range – inevitably shaking out as personal vignettes that are emotionally capable and just tainted enough to provoke further thought. This series just keeps getting better with each passing week!
Munou na Nana (3)
“Almost every sequence pitched here congeals well into a larger, satisfying narrative”
Munou na Nana wraps up its third outing, offering another intriguing episode that’s better with the little cogs and gears of its storytelling than it may appear on a first watch. Almost every sequence pitched here congeals well into a larger, satisfying narrative as Nana and Kyouya bounce off each other effectively, not just in the scheme of their cat and mouse game – but in more casual settings with comedic intentions. And that’s huge for an episode that leans heavily on them, riding deceptive exchanges, constant mental positioning, and a relatively crafty kill attempt for essentially its entire run length. If Munou na Nana can keep the gas pedal on its chess match, smoothly navigate the junction of its thriller and supernatural tenets, it could be a sneakily good show.
Tonikaku Kawaii (3)
“Boasted consistent comedic footing”
Third time’s the charm for Tonikaku Kawaii, finally bringing more to the table than the pile of light blushing and unwarranted anxiety that can be seen in virtually any basic romcom. Despite being a stereotypical bath episode, this week actually boasted consistent comedic footing, landing a good batch of jokes mainly at Nasa’s expense with proper timing, build, and delivery throughout its run. And our narrative notably profited with Aya and Kaname’s involvement – both showing more color than our leading couple as they ultimately carry three home. Tonikaku Kawaii has been rather short on personality, what Nasa and Tsukasa have offered as a duo to this point is a dime a dozen, so seeing the secondary cast lending some much-needed texture in this department is very satisfying. Hopefully, the series can build on this from here.
Jujutsu Kaise (3)
“Textually slim, and at times, by the books”
Jujutsu Kaisen is back, engaging in a pretty reserved third episode, which can easily be underwhelming to those who have mainly been enamored with its construction. This episode is textually slim, and at times, by the books – ushering out Nobara’s introduction with little flair and digging into her fairly uncompelling backstory. The latter half of three was basically just a low-key exercise with our latest two students that never exuded any true tension. On a whole, this type of output is “okay” for a series like this, but it’s not the kind of performance you wish to see too often given the higher level of quality Kasien has shown to be capable of.
Kamisama ni Natta Hi (2)
“The show’s episodic conflicts still offer little to be excited about, and the grander direction of the narrative is starting to show up on the back of milk cartons”
This latest Kamisama ni Natta Hi had exactly one good idea – that they needed to give Izanami texture, rolling out a bit of background for her and establishing her musical interests to accomplish that. Beyond those parts, all bets are off. Everything else that could be found here was either inconsistently funny or fundamentally vapid, if not both – spending 15+ minutes setting up and sloughing through the same weak rejection gag just dressed up with a different movie reference in each incarnation. Hina’s god routine lands as more obnoxious this time around than not, the show’s episodic conflicts still offer little to be excited about, and the grander direction of the narrative is starting to show up on the back of milk cartons. What this show wants to accomplish and where it wants to go between now and its broad doomsday prediction really needs to materialize better.
Assault Lily: Bouquet (3)
“Accomplishing nothing outside of what a bunch of viewers had already predicted for a while at this point”
Assault Lily: Bouquet is up to bat for the third time, accomplishing nothing outside of what a bunch of viewers had already predicted for a while at this point. For that, episode three is functionally a validating victory lap for many, as the rather bright writing on the wall for Yuyu’s character and her past complications play out as expected and are topped off with some generic power of friendship style rescue from Riri. Beyond that, there’s not much else to really note here. The rest of the cast continues to amount to genre props, with their personalities and impulses all still clinging very safely to their limited archetypes, and the show proceeds to operate from a training academy where there’s apparently no visible classes or instructors – just a bunch of students that sometimes take a bath, casually hangout in rec rooms, and now and then fight aesthetically abrasive monsters.
Noblesse (2)
“Nothing really praiseworthy about its storytelling or delivery, and even less when it comes to how it’s physically composed”
Noblesse’s second episode comes in as an improvement over the first – as slight as that may be – partially because it wasn’t just twenty minutes of pure liquid anime tropes and cliches injected into viewers’ veins, and partially because we actually got some decent interactions between key cast members. That aside, and while not as heavy, episode two still is pretty tropey, with Regis and Seira’s introductions and communications spearheading the effort to keep that trend alive, and on a whole, not much was gained this week which gives it a rather hollow feel when it’s all said and done. As it stands, Noblesse still offers little value – there’s nothing really praiseworthy about its storytelling or delivery, and even less when it comes to how it’s physically composed. And for that, it remains a thoroughly borderline show.
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear (2)
“Full of conventional flows and flat plot beats”
A second episode has passed and with that, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear takes a step forward – seemingly sober now after abruptly dumping viewers into the middle of its story in the hack job it called its premiere. What should come as a surprise to absolutely no one except EMT Squared’s staff, starting an anime adaptation properly at its beginning helps, and thus, episode two surpasses episode one on the grounds that it’s at least coherent due to this approach. However, in a vacuum, its content is still pretty mild quality-wise. Two is full of conventional flows and flat plot beats – Introducing Yuna and her overpowered bear suit only to subsequently trot her through another uninspired guild quest. The new face that turns up this week, Fina, doesn’t offer much relief, and the show’s ability to portray its bigger strokes is still pretty narrow. I’m not sure how much mileage this series can get out of “Yuna completes monotonous RPG-style activities with little friction” but I suppose we’ll see.
Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjou, Aruiwa Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen (2)
“While the first episode at least flirted with mediocrity, this second episode is simply a disappointment”
Exceeding expectations, Kimisen quickly transforms into a contrived romance series – steadily becoming yet another poorly written anime in a Fall pool already fairly deep with them. While the first episode at least flirted with mediocrity, this second episode is simply a disappointment – there are about four or so minutes of actual relevant plotting delivered in flavorless exposition surrounded by a forest of cheap scenarios that have some impenetrable, odds-defying magic to repeatedly allow Iska and Alice to meet up in intimate ways that our writing, unsurprisingly, excuses as a “coincidence”. And without any real exaggeration, that’s practically the episode. Lather, rinse, repeat – it’s just a bunch of obviously forced “coincidences” and some tsundere caliber character acting on Alice’s part here and there. Needless to say, this is not the kind of follow-up episode you want to have.
Ikebukuro West Gate Park (2)
“Never even comes close to dramatically effective due to stale writing and a production effort that hardly sells the moment”
Ikebukuro West Gate Park returns with less than desirable results, rolling out an episode that at times, felt like it could have been so much more. To be blunt, this show just isn’t that great so far in terms of narrative and its related tools. There was an ample opportunity for this series to show its emotional intelligence – suicide, even if just attempted, can be a large tonal lever when executed properly. Unfortunately here, the rise and fall of Mitsuki’s attempt never even comes close to dramatically effective due to stale writing and a production effort that hardly sells the moment. And that theme, at least in part, would naturally run through the rest of the episode, coming up textually shallow on all aspects concerning Kyouichi, and eventually finding its way to underwhelm in the rather short gang fight that closes two out. I’m not sure if this is how IWGP is going to be looking ahead, but right now, this is a setback.
Taisou Zamurai (2)
“Disorderly and not in a quirky, charming way”
Taisou Zamurai had a second showing that echoes its first, coming across as an eccentric collection of tones and components as opposed to a clear harmonious effort that worked smoothly towards the same end goal. Much of this performance is conflicted on a base level: Part of Taisou’s plot beats are clearly just vehicles for gags, but they clash with those positioned to paint Joutarou and his journey back into gymnastics in a grounded manner – depreciating his rehab – while a whole separate group of beats appears to serve no notable purpose other than to give the narrative an irregular flavor. And that just amounts to an episode that leaves a lot to be desired fundamentally, ending up as plain disorderly and not in a quirky, charming way.
Ochikobore Fruit Tart (1)
“If you’re too broke to afford Love Live or you’re just really that thirsty for another Fall idol anime, this one is for you.”
Possessing neither quality nor quantity, Ochikobore Fruit Tart makes its debut, not taking long at all in establishing itself as a run of the mill idol anime and nothing more. There’s little value to be had in episode one if you’re familiar with the genre: Fruit Tart spends its start immediately shuffling down rather formulaic streets – introducing its starter pack idol cast and blandly putting its rationale for their cooperation and variety show slant in place. When the inevitable song and dance portion rolls around, Fruit Tart doesn’t even have the visual acuity to make it pop – riding on static shots as opposed to fluent and just outright lacking the level of composition that would keep the performance out of forgettable territory. If you’re too broke to afford Love Live or you’re just really that thirsty for another Fall idol anime, this one is for you.
I’m Standing on a Million Lives (3)
“The bulk of episode three is spent in a swamp of generic attempts at comedy, shallow flashbacks, and the most withered execution of animation seen all week”
I’m Standing on a Million Lives checks in as impressively terrible once more – introducing a forgettable otaku and baking that into a larger, rough piece of plotting that at its best moments, pretends to offer adequate character development. The bulk of episode three is spent in a swamp of generic attempts at comedy, shallow flashbacks, and the most withered execution of animation seen all week – which of course, hurts twice as much given it’s supported by template quality character designs and amateurish direction. During the small portion of time the show isn’t defecating on itself in this manner, where Yuka isn’t coughing out cringe-worthy one-liners or Yotsuya isn’t casually snapping smartphones in half like they’re pencils with his bare hands, the rest of the content centers around a completely dull fight with a centipede monster. I swear this show is actively trying to be a dumpster.
