Juuou Mujin No Fafnir (Unlimited Fafnir) Review

If a giant magic tree appeared one day and offered to give you a big-ass, time-altering laser gun in exchange for a few memories that you don't even care about, what would you do? You'd take the damn laser gun, am I right? Unlimited Fafnir is an anime that lets us look into how our lives would be if we were given the choice I just mentioned. I mean, just think about all the things you could do with a time laser. The possibilities are endless.

Yuu Mononobe is a dude with smooth blue hair and only one outfit that isn't going to let anyone harm his friends. Not even weird CGI dragon monsters that shoot laser beams out of their eyes. Set in a world where young girls called "D's" are being born with the power of those weird dragons I just mentioned, Unlimited Fafnir is easily labeled as an action/fantasy anime. Yuu Mononobe, in addition to having a laser gun given to him by a talking tree, is the only male "D" to ever exist. So obviously the only course of action for him in this scenario is to enlist in a school designed to protect all the other D's. So now there is one dude with special powers surrounded by a whole bunch of girls with similar powers that coincidentally want to jump his bones...Hey wait, didn't I already watch Infinite Stratos?

In order to protect the D, Yuu must unite with all the girls of Midgar (Not the same Midgar as the one in FF7) and fend off the giant dragons that come kill them all. But along the way, he obviously winds up getting sidetracked and going to the beach with them and whatnot because harem. So in total, we have about 7 episodes left to conquer all the dragons and save the world. Seems like enough time to me. I have faith in the D. Heh. Anyway, I will now break this show up into a few key components in order to describe what went wrong and what went right (If anything).

Music: 6/10

The music of Fafnir really isn't all that bad. If only there were more than like two damn songs you could listen to during the fight scenes. Hell, I'm on Youtube right now and I can only find one of the songs from the OST. BUT, I will admit that the one song I did find is dramatic as all hell and has a wicked guitar solo. Think of what it would sound like if you were to walk to the top of Mt. Vesuvius to find all of the gods of Greek mythology just jamming out together. Pretty sweet right? But now think of what it would be like to listen to that same thing for six hours straight. No longer sweet. The opening for this show is actually pretty good as well and is reminiscent of the anime scene from around 10 years ago. But that's probably attributed to the fact that the rest of the show is that far behind as well.

Characters: 4/10

I feel like almost every character in Unlimited Fafnir was written in simply to annoy you. Iris is so incredibly stupid that you will literally want to punch through your monitor whenever she has the chance to speak -- which is far too often. Yuu is a completely unmotivated and dense protagonist that the show tries to make you think the complete opposite of. His entire character is based around trading memories for power, but if you can't remember any of your past, why the hell would you even fight? It doesn't make sense. The only character I even liked was Mitsuki and that's because she was the bad-ass "Let me kill everyone so you don't have to" blood-related sister that harbored "Special" feelings for her brother. (SPOILER ALERT!!!) But then you find out she isn't blood-related at all and even that goes out the window! What was the point of any of this?! 

Art: 3/10

I was originally going to give the "Art" column of Unlimited Fafnir a much higher score, but then I found out that it wasn't actually drawn by seven-year-old's. FOOLED ME. The CGI of the dragons is something that could be mimicked by anyone with even the slightest understanding of beginner-level 3D design software. They're disproportionate and just all-around weird looking. And then they have these eyes...Man you won't understand unless you watch the show. None of the animators wanted to set aside time to draw an extra outfit for anyone other than THE WORST CHARACTER, Iris. Plus, they all have this dumb look on their face all the time that just turns into a different level of dumb any time the mood shifts. Not even the effects are good. And, being an action/fantasy anime, there are a lot of damn effects.

Story: 5/10

The story of Unlimited Fafnir isn't necessarily terrible when it's written on paper. I mean, I don't normally sign up for shows unless the story sounds at least slightly interesting. And there are a few solid elements here: Dystopia/The world resorting to depending on children/a terrible past/etc. But the way all of these elements were executed honestly just ruins the legitimacy of the entire show. Yuu's past, which they show like four small flashbacks of, is only barely touched on and doesn't even matter because HE CAN'T REMEMBER IT ANYWAY. The dystopian society doesn't matter either because it isn't immersive and is just plain unbelievable. Even the world resorting to depending on children seems blasé because more times than not they are receiving help from some generic deep-voiced, black-haired commander woman and an old guy named Dylan. I haven't read the light-novel series this anime is based off, and now I don't intend to either because of how disappointed I am with the writers. I do hope, however, that the novels were executed much better than this was.

To put it plainly, this show kind of sucks. At least in my opinion. You reserve the right to think of it any way you want, but just know that I will think less of you if you like it because you are wrong. With several tweaks, Unlimited Fafnir could have been a relatively enjoyable show -- but weak characters, poor artwork, and a story that doesn't really know what it's doing make it something that got hard to watch more times than not.

Long live the D.

Overall Score: 4.5/10

Tokyo Ghoul √A Review

Before I begin, I would like you to know that this review is going to spoiler-free, and that includes both THIS season AND the first season of the show. I will do my best to keep out any information revealed in season one for those who have yet to get around to either starting or finishing it. Though, if you haven't watched the first season yet, I'm not exactly sure why you are reading this.

Anyway, Tokyo Ghoul √A takes place some time after the events of the first season. Ghouls, which are a sort of demi-human who need to consume the flesh of other humans in order to survive, are struggling to keep themselves alive in the various districts of modern-day Tokyo. The protagonist of this series, Kaneki Ken, is a teenager who -- just a year or two ago -- was still completely human. It wasn't until he was involved in a tragic accident and received a faulty organ-transplant that he became part ghoul. Kaneki eventually falls into a group of ghouls operating out of a coffee shop by the name of Anteiku that simply want to help others of their kind survive. But that's easier said than done, considering the humans want ghouls exterminated for good -- which is extremely plausible.

In √A, Kaneki makes the decision to separate himself from Anteiku in order to become stronger and ultimately protect the ones he cares about. So to do that, he joins up with a rival gang (Aogiri) known more for their interference in human life, as opposed to Anteiku's method of just blending in. Throughout the brief course of this sequel, viewers get to sit in on the changes and interior struggle that Kaneki must face if he wants to save the ones he loves. And though the anime does face issues in showcasing that development which is ever-present in the manga, it is still an enjoyable show. The thing is, this season is receiving negative feedback from almost every critic but me. And I can see where that negative attention derives from, but is it really ALL THAT bad? I'll separate it the show into a few key component to better figure that out.

Music: 6/10

The music in the Tokyo Ghoul series is pretty boring most of the time, I'm not going to lie. BUT, at many moments throughout it, especially in this sequel, it hits you like a truck and completely elevates the "Feels" moments to the next level. The very last scene of this series is a reason in itself that should push you to watch it, if anything. Without the music, this scene wouldn't even make the impact of a fly landing on your shoulder. But the point is that the music of Tokyo Ghoul forces certain feelings out of you. After all, that is the objective of music as a whole, is it not? There's just so much stagnation in between these moments of intense emotion that the music isn't able to fully maintain your attention. Once again though, when it does manage to do its job, it does it better than almost anything out there. Go watch the last scene again on mute if you disagree with me.

Characters: 10/10

The characters in the Tokyo Ghoul universe are, without a debt, the strongest part of the show. But even better than these characters are the actors that play them. Natsuki Hanae, who voices Kaneki, is one of the best male-performers you will ever hear in an animated series. This performance tops everything else he has done so far and, in addition to that, has become my absolute favorite voice-acting role to-date. But it isn't just Hanae that delivers a stellar performance. It is the entire damn voice cast. Tsukimiya, Nishiki, Touka, Juzo, I can go on and on. Absolutely every actor works as a driving force in propelling you toward the next episode of the series, regardless of how the story is moving or what the manga did that the show did not. A lot of development is left out due to how short the series is, but it's still there. However, there is an incredibly huge jump from the first season to the second that leaves out almost everything that would cause the characters to become who they are in the newer episodes -- because most of them are completely different people from who they were in season one. But that is more of a story-based problem than a character based-one.

Art: 7/10

The animators at Studio Pierrot aren't the best in the business. They're not even in the top 10, to be honest. But are they bad? Mehhhhh...I'll say no. The fight scenes in Tokyo Ghoul √A are well animated considering how large they are in terms of scale at times. Character design is pretty solid as well and doesn't change that much when comparing the anime to the manga. But the blood is overdone, the faces lack serious emotion at times, and there is such a huge contrast between how everything looks at night and how everything looks during the day that it gets a little...confusing. Overall, it isn't something to worry about and only slightly depreciates the overall quality of the show. Because the character design is loyal to the books and keeps those characters pleasing to the eye, I'd say that the art is decent. That is my final answer.

Story: 6/10

The story in the first season definitely outweighs the story of √A. That huge gap between the two that I mentioned earlier plays a hefty part in this. Tokyo Ghoul is a series in which character development is so important that it is detrimental to the health of the show if you leave it out. But Studio Pierrot didn't care about this and instead focused too much on the conflict between Aogiri, Anteiku, and the humans -- basically leaving said development in the dust. It does get better though. As soon as you can recover from the initial time-skip and kind of figure out why Kaneki has become a completely different person over the last half-hour, it is going to be smooth sailing. The last five or so episodes really stood out, in my opinion. Not only were the riddled with nostalgia aimed at taking me back to season one, they built up hopes and chopped them down soon after. I like when my emotions get in the way of viewing a series. I like when those emotions renew my interest in a show and force me to watch it as soon as it becomes available. I looked forward to the ending of Tokyo Ghoul √A more than I looked forward to any other episode of the series. I think that has to say something.

A lot of critics are right in saying Tokyo Ghoul √A leaves too much out. But those critics aren't right into leading you to believe that the series is bad as a whole. Tokyo Ghoul √A does have its flaws -- no doubt about it. But it also has a lot of good things to offer as well. The characters, those moments of intense feeling, the performances -- so much is overlooked in the negative reviews. But hey, who am I to tell you what you will or won't enjoy? You can decide that on your own. I'm just a guy who knows what he likes, and both seasons of Tokyo Ghoul fall into that category for me.

Overall Score: 8.5/10

Shirobako Review

I think it's common knowledge that two of the most important things in the world are doughnuts and anime. But when you combine those two things with well-written comedy, a plethora of memorable characters, and a realistic and interesting story, you receive something so great that it literally revives an entire genre of animation that has been becoming less and less creative as years go by. This mixture can be referred to as Shirobako, which can also go by the name of Watch This Show Because It Is Probably The Best Thing Ever. I'm not kidding. There's so much packed within the confines of this slice-of-work/comedy/drama that literally anyone can take something out of it. Whether it be laughs, anime industry know-how, or even tears later on, we can all benefit from Shirobako in some way or another.

Following the lives of five girls and their respective ventures into the anime industry (But focusing mainly on one girl -- Aoi Miyamori), Shirobako gives us a glance into the many different aspects that go into creating anime. Miyamori, being unsure of exactly WHAT she wants to do as far as making anime goes, falls into the position of a production-assistant tasked with essentially making sure things get done on time. But apart from being a peek into the life of a production-assistant, Shirobako is a tale of realizing your dreams and figuring out your place in not only the workplace, but the world as a whole. Of course there are obstacles along the way, there always are, but Shirobako shows how different people in different positions cope with those obstacles. This culminates in a story that is not only a blast to watch, but actually provides various life lessons and a bunch of general knowledge along the way.

This show originally caught my eye because I've always wanted to bust my way into the anime industry. And just like Miyamori, I've always been unsure of exactly WHERE in that industry I want to be. It wasn't until just a few years ago when I finally realized where that was. But, achieving that goal isn't even remotely easy. And Miyamori, as well as the other girls in Shirobako, show you just that. Working in anime isn't all fun and games; it is a job. And like any job out there, it requires hard work, determination, and a clear view of what you should do next and when you should do it. But that's enough rambling on the hardships of anime-craft. It's time to dive into the depths of Shirobako and figure out why it is just so damn great.

Music: 9/10

The OST for Shirobako is underrated. The music easily fits the tone of the show at all times. It's happy when it needs to be happy, it's sorrowful when things aren't going right, and it's well-produced and well-written. Even though it features over an hour of original music, the soundtrack to Shirobako is often overlooked due to the fast-paced dialogue and never ending onslaught of jokes the show shoots out at you. But one aspect of the soundtrack you simply can't overlook would be the opening and ending themes. I'm not usually one to be overjoyed by catchy songs spilling out happiness all over the floor, but Shirobako's opening just forces me to smile every time I hear it. PLUS, the actual voice cast of the show are the ones that are singing these songs. AND THEN Miyamori shows up smiling and holding a doughnut as the opening plays and you literally have to look away from the screen to avoid exploding due to cutesy-happiness overload. Bravo girls, bravo.

Characters: 10/10

Shirobako has perhaps the most extensive cast of characters I have seen since Mahou Sensei Negima! But they need those characters considering they have an entire damn animation studio and you can't run that with just the five main girls. But the cast here is not only extremely varied, it is extremely realistic and extremely lovable. This show absolutely nails every type of person you will ever work with. There's the spontaneous and overly-confident dude, the quiet and knowledgeable girl always willing to lend you a hand, and then the fat guy. Who can forget about the fat guy? It's not just the characters themselves that are great either. The way they interact with and even intertwine with one another is what makes those relationships so believable and so important. After all, this is a studio we are talking about. There will obviously be problems within the workplace, but these characters are smart enough to know that they need to work together in order to accomplish a set goal. Oh, and not to mention that each one of these characters has their own unique dream constantly pushing them forward. I'm going to stop here so that this section of the review doesn't take up half of your web-browser, but I just want you to know that you will never find another cast of characters this realistic anywhere else.

Art: 10/10

Shirobako looks about as pretty as an anime of this genre can get. The art-style is consistent every episode and each character is drawn with intense care and precision. The color-scheme is bright and joyous, but not overdone to the point where it doesn't seem real anymore. Character-design is fantastic and each character isn't solely equipped with just one outfit (A problem a lot of anime faces nowadays). The art is subtly reminding you that these characters are basically real people. Real people change clothes sometimes. That's just how things work. Another aspect of this show that kind of just blends in with how great everything is and winds up being overlooked would be the facial expressions of these characters. While watching this, keep a close eye on the faces. Shirobako doesn't go through the typical cycle of excited face, sad face, and embarrassed face. Every emotion the characters must portray is intricately woven to a point where that face can only fit one situation. It is these different levels of human emotion that are put together so perfectly that really make the art in Shirobako as great as it is, and only overdone when needed to elevate a joke to the next level.

Story: 9/10

As I said before, Shirobako is a glimpse into the inner-workings of the anime industry that can be inspected by those who either appreciate or want to delve into it. It works the same way movies about movies work. Obviously the viewer will be interested in how movies work if they are watching a movie -- the same goes with anime. How often is a show founded entirely upon reminding you that it is a show? Answer: Not often. But it isn't just this that makes the story of Shirobako one to remember. What makes the story memorable is how the dreams inside of it play out. In the real world, things aren't always going to work out the way you want them to. Some times, the outcome or a scenario will be laden with sadness instead of a resolution. When that gets taken into account, the show isn't necessarily all that happy anymore. Shirobako becomes less about comedy and more about a girl struggling to realize her dreams. It is that double-meaning that creates an atmosphere where you get to have a great time while still caring about each and every thing that happens.

Maybe Shirobako isn't the most perfectly-woven anime ever created. But this is a review. And I just want to remind you that when reviewing something, there is a category that a lot of critics either miss or just forget about. That category is "Enjoyment". It's hard for me to say if I have ever enjoyed a show as much as I enjoyed Shirobako. In looking back on it, I can't ever recall a moment where I didn't care -- a moment where I got bored. The fact is that I was so constantly looking forward to seeing what happens next that Shirobako created an experience for me where the characters felt more like people I cared about rather than an animated cast just moving along my flat-screen television. I would find it hard to believe that anyone else who followed the show to completion didn't feel the same way. 

Overall Score: 10/10