Tsukigakirei Episode #12 (Series Finale) Anime Review

What happens next?

What They Say:

It’s the third year of middle school. Kotaro, a bookish boy aspiring to become a novelist, and Akane, a track girl who loves to run, meet in the same class together for the first time. They’re put in charge of the equipment for the sports festival, and slowly grow closer via LINE. How does Kotaro deal with his growing feelings for her? Meanwhile, Takumi has been in love with Akane since first year, and Akane’s friend, Chinatsu, becomes interested in Kotaro. A refreshing story of young love set in Kawagoe.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

You know how over the last eleven weeks (Twelve counting the recap) we've grown accustomed to Tsukigakirei's innate ability to ease us into drama instead of beating us across the face with it in the first scene of an episode? Yeah, well, I guess Seiji Kishi grew tired of that because we find out that Kotarou wasn't accepted into Koumei in literally the first five second of this episode. And while that is a directorial risk on its own, it sets the rest of the finale up for what is, without a doubt, one of the most artistic and important episodes of the season.

Kotarou and Akane have decided to try and make the long-distance thing work. He's set aside the idea of attending school in Chiba and has since applied to [and been accepted by] a local municipal school. Of course, Chinatsu winds up getting accepted to the same school, finally giving her the window to confess to Azumi that we have all been trying to crawl under for months. Azumi rejects her without any hesitation, but that doesn't stop Chinatsu from ruining everything once again and letting Akane know all about it. Well, at least it seems like she's ruining everything at the time but, in all actuality, this act sets into motion the most pivotal moment in all of Tsukigakirei thus far.

The day before the move, Kotarou and Akane meet up to say their goodbyes. Instead of a nice, jovial departure, however, Akane spirals out of control and breaks into a fit of hysterics. Clearly overwhelmed by the creeping change about to consume everything she has known for years, Akane sprints off, leaving Azumi confused and alone. This is the last time we get to see these two communicate face-to-face. However, something beautiful happens shortly after.

You see, Kotarou had recently been informed of a forum where amateur writers could post their works. And, with a push from both Roman and Daisuke, he winds up publishing a story about how he fell in love with Akane, recounting every experience the same way any lovestruck 14-year-old romantic would. Right before Akane leaves Kawagoe for good, though, Chinatsu shows her the story. How Chinatsu found out about it, I have no idea, but the important thing is that Akane, who had been unsure of Azumi's feelings ever since her outburst yesterday, learns through her boyfriend's own words just how madly in love with her he is. She proceeds to leave a three-word comment on the posting that somehow manages to illustrate much more than "I love you," ever could -- she says, "What happens next?"

Queue the intro song.

In a scene reminiscent of any good drama, Kotarou takes off sprinting to catch Akane's train. The music grows louder as the two grow closer, seeming more urgent with each corner that Azumi stumbles around. As he finally catches up to the train, the music pauses for just the slightest moment, and he shouts, "I love you," as Akane reads the end of his story and breaks into hysterics. On paper, this may seem cliche, but what you need to understand is that this is the moment this entire series has built up to. The feelings of both parties are solidified at the last possible second, creating an ending that you can't stand to look away from even for a moment.

Pause the episode here and go grab a box of tissues. Trust me, the credits are easily the most tear-inducing part of the entire series. You'll see why.

In Summary:

I have never been so consistently impressed with a show the way I have with Tsukigakirei. This series was clearly a labor of love for not only Seiji Kishi but everyone involved. Its minimalistic approach to not only its artwork but its story and its characters sculpt a remarkably believable tale absolutely brimming with nostalgia. When I signed up for this show, I wanted my heart broken -- I wanted that feeling back from when I first watched Clannad. What I didn't expect was to stop wanting that. I'm glad that Kishi elected to piece my heart back together instead of attempting to shatter it even more.

Episode Grade: A+

Series Grade: A+

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

WorldEnd/SukaSuka Complete Series Anime Review

You have made me the happiest girl in the world.

What They Say:

Five hundred years have passed since the humans went extinct at the hands of the fearsome and mysterious 'Beasts.' The surviving races now make their homes up on floating islands in the sky, out of reach of all but the most mobile of Beasts.

Only a small group of young girls, the Leprechauns, can wield the ancient weapons needed to fend off invasions from these creatures. Into the girls' unstable and fleeting lives, where a call to certain death could come at any moment, enters an unlikely character: a young man who lost everything in his final battle five hundred years ago, the last living human awakened from a long, icy slumber.

Unable to fight any longer, Willem becomes the father that the girls never had, caring for and nurturing them even as he struggles to come to terms with his new life, in which he feels the pain of helplessly waiting for his loved ones to return home from battle that his 'Daughter' once felt for him so long ago. Together, Willem and the girls gradually come to understand what family means and what is truly worth protecting.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review will contain spoilers)

I typed up probably seven different openers for this review before realizing that nothing I say can possibly prepare you for what's to come. This introduction, or lack thereof, actually goes on to mimic the underlying themes of this series in more ways than one. WorldEnd (Which also goes by the incredibly long title of 'What Are You Doing At The End Of The World? Are You Busy? Will You Save Us?') is more than just the hyperdramatic adaptation of a light novel going by the same name, it's a story about never being prepared; it's a story about how everything in life comes and goes far too quickly for us to comprehend. But, at the same time, so much of the beauty in life can only be leeched from it due to its apparent absence in the first place.

WorldEnd is a series that can, by no means, be nailed down to one general concept. The scope of its meaning is as vast as the world it takes place in -- a world in which humanity has all but vanished. The remaining life forms have taken to the skies, building civilizations upon floating islands and relying on creatures known as 'Leprechauns' to fight in a never-ending war. The leprechauns in WorldEnd, however, are not your typical Irish, fun-loving drunkards. Instead, they are girls born from children who died before having anything to live for, and the main leprechaun who we follow throughout WorldEnd goes by the name Ctholly Nota Seniorious.

Ctholly initially comes off as a sort of aloof, curious girl, struggling to fit in with a world full of disfeatured humanoids. The irony in this, however, is that those without extreme physical deformities (Or those who appear human) are actually the ones known as the 'disfeatured' in WorldEnd. Partway through the pilot, we are also introduced to the second protagonist, Willem Kmetsch, as he encounters Ctholly for the first time. After showing her around the island for a bit, Ctholly departs and Willem is left on his own. Having recently fallen on hard times, he reluctantly takes on a job as the caretaker for a nearby military facility. Of course, he doesn't really understand what he's getting himself into until he shows up and it's less of a warehouse and more of an orphanage full of young girls. And while this seems like a pain to him at first, his attitude takes a dramatic shift when he realizes that these girls are the only weapons civilization has left.

This is the first sign of tragedy out of many. Yes, the idea of young girls being used as weapons is rather unfortunate and incredibly sad. But throughout the next eleven episodes, the series begins to steamroll down a path in which we grow attached to every single one of them only to have those relationships severed and beaten by the end of the series. The most dramatic of all of these relationships, however, is the budding romance that slowly begins to flourish between Ctholly and Willem.

Without giving away everything, something happens to Ctholly that begins to drain her sanity. Slowly but surely, her memories begin to fade and her hair begins to change colors, turning into a violent shade of red instead of her normal, subtle blue. The shift in hair colors is not just a shift in appearance, however. This physical change mimics the drastic mental change that is occurring within her at the same time. Ctholly is bombarded with confusing images and the voice of tortured young girl, speaking in eerie metaphors. And while none of what this voice is saying makes sense to us, the sheer manner in which they are said is enough to signify the deterioration of her psyche. The worst part of this is that Ctholly knows what's happening to her.

Day after day, Ctholly remembers less of herself and clings tightly to the one thing she knows for sure -- that she's in love. She tosses aside her slightly-tsun outlook from earlier in the series and simply adopts the fact that she loves Willem, making it known to him every chance she gets. And while he spends a decent amount of time avoiding the subject, it's clear that Willem feels the same way. The steamrolling tragedy that we all know is coming screeches to a halt and, for just the slightest moment, everything is perfect. 

But then it's not.

Willem takes Ctholly to a nearby military ship after catching wind of a weapon that could help her fading consciousness. When tuning one of the other leprechauns weapons, however, he discovers something that stays with him for the rest of the series. The monsters that these girls have been fighting have actually been humans the entire time. And while exactly how that happened remains open to interpretation for us viewers, it's crystal clear to Willem. His vision and outlook become distorted and he begins to lose his grip on reality in a way both incredibly similar and incredibly different to Ctholly. 

The final episode is like lighting -- it comes and it goes quicker than we're able to comprehend. Ctholly loses her grip on reality as battle breaks loose and slips into a coma. Willem, incapable of coping with the thought that this might be the end for her, erupts into a hate-fueled rage, slaughtering any monster he comes across as the rest of the army and several of the other leprechauns fight for their lives. One of the girls, Nephren, has a particularly harsh time with this, ultimately sacrificing herself so that a few others might live. Just as she collapses, however, Willem finds her. And, in a last-stitch effort so save something, he dives after her as she falls off of the airship.

The following five minutes go on to create one of the most heartbreaking and tear-inducing scenes I have ever seen. Ctholly manages to persuade the girl inhabiting her mind to let her come back to reality one last time -- all so she could save Willem. Then, as she stands surrounded by corpses on the edge of the airship, her last strands of blue hair change to red and she dives. Freefalling thousands of feet in the air, Scarborough Fair and the endless barrage of strange, psychological metaphors from Elq assault our ears and our hearts as we watch this girl we've fallen in love with trade away her sanity for someone else's happiness. A dual-monologue between Willem and Ctholly breaks out as she reappears out of thin air and desperately attacks the monsters surrounding him. As the monologue loses steam, Ctholly does as well. Her attacks slow as she is impaled by countless tendrils and lifted high up into the same sky she descended from just minutes ago.

The battle comes to a close and everything we have grown to love over the past three months is stripped from us quicker than it was given. The few scenes that follow only make it harder.

In Summary:

What an incredibly heartfelt and gorgeous series this was. The amount of love put into this project is palpable on all accounts and, thanks to one of the most well-written female characters in years, the mark that WorldEnd leaves will be a lasting one. The harmonious blend of intimate Celtic music meshed with tragic fight scenes and flawless acting creates something much more immersive than you would normally find in any visual medium. For a few seconds, it even feels like we're there. Something that important is hard to put into words, but if I had to limit my description of this series to one, it would be 'beautiful'. Please, set aside a night and watch this all in one go. You won't possibly regret it.

Grade: A

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

Tsukigakirei Episode #11 Anime Review

I must live up to my promise...That is all that matters to me now.

What They Say:

It’s the third year of middle school. Kotaro, a bookish boy aspiring to become a novelist, and Akane, a track girl who loves to run, meet in the same class together for the first time. They’re put in charge of the equipment for the sports festival, and slowly grow closer via LINE. How does Kotaro deal with his growing feelings for her? Meanwhile, Takumi has been in love with Akane since first year, and Akane’s friend, Chinatsu, becomes interested in Kotaro. A refreshing story of young love set in Kawagoe.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

So it's finally come -- the penultimate episode of my favorite series is quite a while. Of course, Seiji Kishi hates me and does not care about the condition of my heart, so this episode starts off on a gloomier note than normal. Of course, it's a note we all knew we'd have to hear eventually. During a seemingly normal parent-teacher conference concerning his future, Kotarou drops the Koumei bomb on his mother with zero remorse. Having no idea where this school even is, she's a bit taken aback to say the least -- especially since she planned on having him attend a public school, not some private academy hours away from home.

At the end of the day, there is one thing clear. Kotarou's parents do not agree with their son's decision to apply to Koumei. And if there is any barricade in the path of adolescence, it is that of unsupportive parents. At the same time, however, we still need to see things through their eyes. Kotarou's grades are not the best, that much is apparent to everyone. What makes his situation even worse is that his teacher straight-up tells Kotarou's mom that he's pretty much only applying there because Akane is. Way to go, Ryouko-sensei! Either way, despite clear disapproval from his parents, Kotarou remains adamant about the Koumei decision and starts pulling all-nighters nearly every night, studying harder than ever in an attempt to make it through entrance exams. The only break he takes in this episode is to exchange Christmas gifts with Akane (Who boosted the adorable-meter to new heights with her attempt at knitting him a scarf).

While Kotarou's efforts in studying don't seem to be helping him all that much, Akane's efforts have had the opposite effect. Later on in the episode, she heads over to Koumei [offscreen] to try her hand at the entrance exam. And, what do you know, she passes with flying colors. Of course, we all knew that wouldn't be an issue considering she's one of the top students in her grade. What is an issue, however, is that word of Kotarou also applying to Koumei has somehow leaked out -- and everyone is laughing about it. So on top of studying his ass off, Kotarou must now fight away ridicule from his classmates and his parents. At least his girlfriend is supportive. 

As time ticks closer toward exams, the disapproval of Kotarou's parents starts to fade. In fact, Kotarou's mother even defends him when that traitor, Ryouko-sensei, pretty much tells her that Kotarou doesn't stand a chance. Momma-Azumi has noticed just how hard her son has been working and winds up changing her opinion, albeit not entirely. Kotarou's father proposes a bit of an ultimatum to his son. They will allow Kotarou to apply to Koumei on one condition -- that he applies to a municipal public school if he fails the exam. Immediately following this, we jump two months into the future as Kotarou leaves home in an attempt to solidify his future not only for Akane but for himself.

In Summary:

Focusing almost entirely on Kotarou, Tsukigakirei strays from the normally heavy romance and focuses more on growing up -- a theme that has been prevalent throughout but is now more apparent than ever. With an equal balance of hope and struggle, the penultimate installment of Tsukigakirei sits amongst ten other, equally strong episodes that have gone on to create an incredibly nostalgic and precious series. And while this episode ends on a much more hopeful note than some of the others, the feeling in the back of my mind that things could collapse at any moment remains an unmistakable threat. I'm sure that Kotarou and Akane will find a way to make things work, though. They seem to have a knack for that.

Grade: A-

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

Kiss & White Lily For My Dearest Girl Vol. #02 Manga Review

Love is a tyrant sparing none.

Creative Staff:

Story & Art: Canno

Translation: Jocelyne Allen

Lettering: Alexis Ecerkman

What They Say:

In the same grade as Shiramine and Kurosawa, the two girls Uehara and Kusakabe are in a pinch! Their beloved upperclassman's graduation comes ever closer and they can't seem to sort out their feelings. At a time like this, their junior shows up, somehow making all these relationships even more complicated!

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Following a pretty fantastic start, the second installment of Kiss & White Lily has some big shoes to fill if it's going to maintain the same high-quality standard of modern yuri that Yen Press gifted us back in March. Thankfully, Shiramine and Kurosawa are an adorable couple that carries the- wait, what? You mean to tell me that Shiramine and Kurosawa are barely even in this volume? But I thought...No? It's a completely new set of characters?

Okay. Well, screw it I guess. Bring on the new girls.

The second volume introduces us to the trio of Ai, Chiharu, and Maya -- a group of close friends attending the same academy as Shiramine and Kurosawa. Chiharu and Ai can both easily be summed up by their immense affection toward Maya, which remains the single biggest mystery of this book considering she is essentially devoid of personality. Chiharu and Ai, on the other hand, actually have some characteristics to show off. Ai is a bubbly and energetic firecracker who wants more than anything for her senpai to be happy. In fact, the first chapter of volume two even tricks you into thinking she is going to be the protagonist of this installment, the same way Shiramine was in book one, but after her initial appearance, she has maybe a total of five lines and none of them matter. Chiharu actually winds up being the incumbent protagonist because not only is she trapped in unrequited love with Maya (The boring one that you've probably already forgotten about) but she gets wrapped up the second romantic subplot this volume has to offer.

Along comes Izumi, the youngest character in the series thus far. Izumi is your standard, run-of-the-mill comedic relief character that winds up actually becoming a lot more than that over the course of just three chapters. Initially introduced as 'the girl who's always late for school because she slept through the alarm,' Izumi grows on you rather quickly due to her strange relationship with Chiharu. Chiharu is actually a school monitor that catches Izumi riding her bike to school -- an act that is strictly prohibited at Seiran. Instead of ratting her out, however, she simply tells her to not do that anymore, which is an incredibly ineffective way to get someone to stop doing something. The two continue to meet this way almost every day as Izumi can't seem to grasp the concept rules. Apart from this, however, she starts to develop a bit of an attachment to Chiharu. Yes, she sees her as impulsive and even cocky, but there's something about her that reels Izumi in. It would honestly be a pretty interesting foundation for a relationship if this same exact was not the start of Citrus. Hell, Izumi and Chiharu even sort-of look like Yuzu and Mei respectively.

At the end of the day, no one's love is realized and everyone continues to remain the same way they were when they were introduced. Can we go back to Shiramine and Kurosawa yet?

"Maybe!" replied the book.

Suddenly, we are whisked away to a scenario in which Shiramine must win over Kurosawa's little sister (Who apparently exists) in an effort to bridge the gap between the two geniuses. Of course, by now we've already utilized 90% of the manga on an unecessary romantic subplot, so the true protagonist manages to accomplish her task in just under ten pages -- a new yuri record.

In Summary:

While I understand what Canno was going for in introducing several more romantic pairings to Kiss & White Lily, it completely works against the initial allure of the series. The first book leads you to believe that this is going to be a story centralized around one romance with few traces of other believable couples strewn about every once in a while. Dedicating an entire book to introducing new characters with nothing to contribute to that previous centralized plot comes across as nothing more than filler, something I did not expect to be greeted with until at least the fourth book. While the multi-couple formula may work for other yuri titles like Kindred Spirits on the Roof, it just seems unnecessary and unwanted here.

Content Grade: C+

Art Grade: A-

Packaging Grade: A-

Text/Translation Grade: C+

Age Rating: 16+

Released By: Yen Press

Release Date: May 23, 2017

MSRP: $12.99

Girls' Last Tour Vol. #01 Manga Review

Memories? Those just get in the way of living.

Creative Staff:

Story & Art: Tsukumizu

Translation: Amanda Haley

Lettering: Abigail Blackman

What They Say:

Civilization is dead, but Chito and Yuuri are still alive. So they hop aboard their beloved Kettenkrad motorbike and aimlessly wander the ruins of the world they once knew. Day after hopeless day, they look for their next meal and fuel for their ride. But as long as the two are together, even an existence as bleak as theirs has a ray or two of sunshine in it, whether they're sucking down their fill of soup or hunting for machine parts to tinker with. For two girls in a world full of nothing, the experiences and feelings the two share give them something to live for.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

I firmly believe that the 'Young girls in post-apocalyptic settings' genre is one of the most underrated in all of manga. I mean, just look at the list of titles it has amassed -- There's Girls' Last Tour, uhh...Girls' Last Tour, and who could forget the 2014 cult-classic, Girls' Last Tour? Without milking that joke any more than I already have, I'll jump right into this by saying the premise on which Girl's Last Tour has been built on is absolutely fantastic. And while I'm not typically a fan of the slightly non-linear formula it utilizes, its apt for social commentary is actually rather refreshing in an industry comprised of parallel worlds and unlikely monster harems. Each chapter of Girls' Last Tour leaves you with a quick, "Oh, I get what they're trying to say," that holds you over until the end of the next chapter where the same thing happens but with a different subtext.

Now, I know I mentioned earlier that there is a bit of non-linearity in the format this book uses. I need to clarify, however, that this isn't something that goes completely off the rails in terms of lack of plot. Early on in this volume, it's chapter after chapter of, "Oh, I guess there going to go do a different, unrelated thing now," but once we're introduced to the series' first secondary character, a middle-aged cartographer named Kanazawa, that comes to an end. Tsukumizu drops the sporadicalness (Which is apparently a real word. Can you believe that?) and picks up a more coherent formula that carries from one chapter to the next. This, of course, puts an end to the brief social comments that make the earlier part of the book enjoyable, to begin with. Suffice it to say, it starts to sort of fall apart.  

One thing that does not fall apart, however, is the absolutely gorgeous world building Tsukumizu has done here. Everything about Girls' Last Tour is massive. Whether it be the wreckage of an airplane, a chain of skyscrapers, or a gaping chasm, the environment of this book reels you in. Unfortunately, the character designs aren't anywhere near the same level. And while I respect and appreciate the minimalist take on both Chito and Yuuri, the gap between the atmosphere and the characters themselves is a bit hard to overlook. One could perhaps argue that that is the point -- the girls being just placeholders that could mimic anyone and everyone, but I'm going to refute that right now in saying that this series is heavily based on the girls themselves. Placeholders and symbolism wouldn't really make any sense here.

I think the main problem Girls' Last Tour runs into is that none of it is really all that memorable. Is it enjoyable? Yeah, I'd say so. Definitely more the first part than the last, but it's a fun book either way. But even know, just twenty minutes after finishing the series, I'm struggling to remember what even happened halfway through. It's a decent book, don't get me wrong, but for the time being, I wouldn't label it as something peeking anywhere above average.

In Summary:

Girls' Last Tour dumps two relatively uninteresting main characters into a beautiful, post-apocalyptic setting and essentially tells you to deal with it. While the first half plays to parody various aspects of the world we live in, the second half strays from that and picks up a more familiar, safer format. The introduction of yet another uninteresting side character in this section of the story only winds up playing against the book even harder. Is it good? Yeah, I guess so. But it seems that the amount of care put into each scene is far from equivalent. Unfortunately for us, it's easy to see where those sections are.

Content Grade: C+

Art Grade: B-

Packaging Grade: A

Text/Translation Grade: B+

Age Rating: 13+

Released By: Yen Press

Release Date: May 23, 2017

MSRP: $14.99

Tsukigakirei Episode #10 Anime Review

I've thought a lot about my future...About what I want to do.

What They Say:

It’s the third year of middle school. Kotaro, a bookish boy aspiring to become a novelist, and Akane, a track girl who loves to run, meet in the same class together for the first time. They’re put in charge of the equipment for the sports festival, and slowly grow closer via LINE. How does Kotaro deal with his growing feelings for her? Meanwhile, Takumi has been in love with Akane since first year, and Akane’s friend, Chinatsu, becomes interested in Kotaro. A refreshing story of young love set in Kawagoe.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Well, the cat's out of the bag. At the end of last week's episode, Akane finally broke the news to Azumi that she was most likely going to move to Chiba at the end of the school year. However, instead of begging and pleading for her to stay like a normal adolescent would, Kotarou seems surprisingly...accepting of the whole situation. Yes, he's incredibly upset, but he realizes that this is something beyond Akane's power and, more than anything, he just wants her to be happy. So instead of trying to figure out a way to keep her grounded in Kawagoe, he takes to the books and starts researching Koumei himself.

Apart from the incredibly depressing foundation of this episode, there is still a bit of fun to be had. After all, the Kawagoe Festival has finally started up. What better way to celebrate impending despair and inevitable break up than to eat frozen bananas and play festival games? This festival, meant to be the track team's last hurrah, gets off to a pretty lighthearted start. The track team is having a blast, the crowd turnout is great, and Kotarou even gets to impress the heck out of his girlfriend with his cool wolf dance moves. Of course, all of this fun comes to a screeching halt when Akane and Hira wind up having to be alone together again. Considering there are only two episodes left in the series following this one, Hira winds up confessing and Akane winds up pushing him back into the friend-zone where he belongs. This would have all been fine and dandy if Kotarou hadn't been watching the entire thing. 

Eventually, when the couple is finally able to meet up, Kotarou drastically shifts gears for the first time this series. He's exponentially less accepting and compassionate compared to his normal self and winds up spending his entire break ignoring his girlfriend. This entire exchange is hard to watch considering everyone, even Kotarou, knows she didn't do anything wrong. I guess we all know what it's like to be in his shoes, though. Just the thought of someone having feelings for our significant other is enough to set us off. The direct result of this behavior, however, is that we're forced to watch as Akane bursts into tears and walks home all by herself, not fully understanding what's going on. On the bright side, this seems to light a spark within Kotarou that causes him to take the episode into his own hands and flip it back around.

We already know that Kotarou has taken it upon himself to look into Koumei. Akane, on the other hand, has no idea. In fact, she and Kotarou go pretty much the entire day without even making eye contact -- that is until she finds out that her boyfriend has also been researching Koumei. Without even thinking, Akane sprints out of cram school and catches up to Kotarou, stopping him in his tracks. He breaks the silence and confesses that he wants to go the same school as Akane and, even more importantly, wants to stay with her no matter what. Of course, she bursts into tears again and collapses into her arms into the most emotional outburst Tsukigakirei has given us thus far. The two kiss and make up and, for the first time in three weeks, things are beginning to look up. Once again, Kotarou and Akane have weathered the storm that is young love.

In Summary:

I'm sure I've probably said this in about a third of my reviews for this series, but this is one of the best episodes we've seen yet. The whole Hira problem is finally solved -- but even more importantly, it seems like the moving problem might be too. Well, at least for now, that is. Both voice acting and animation are kicked up several notches and we finally get to see a new side of Kotarou that no one expected. The development in this couple's relationship is just as impressive as ever and seeing it bloom and flourish is not only heartwarming but overwhelmingly nostalgic. Tsukigakirei is the textbook definition of adorable. Not watching it is a mistake.

Grade: A

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

Tsukigakirei Episode #09 Anime Review

Here comes the drama.

What They Say:

It’s the third year of middle school. Kotaro, a bookish boy aspiring to become a novelist, and Akane, a track girl who loves to run, meet in the same class together for the first time. They’re put in charge of the equipment for the sports festival, and slowly grow closer via LINE. How does Kotaro deal with his growing feelings for her? Meanwhile, Takumi has been in love with Akane since first year, and Akane’s friend, Chinatsu, becomes interested in Kotaro. A refreshing story of young love set in Kawagoe.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

The end of the school year is approaching faster than ever before, and with it comes the weight of responsibility. Akane and Kotarou, now more than ever, must set their sights on the future and figure out a way to sideline their affection for the time being. Suffice it to say, that doesn't really work out all that well and the two begin to use each other as crutches to make it through each passing day. Unfortunately, we find out early on in this episode that those days may be numbered. As it turns out, Akane's father is on the brink of a promotion that would force the family to move to Ishikawa. If that happens, the idea of Kotarou and Akane getting into the same school seems like nothing short of a pipe dream.

Akane, having trouble coming to terms with this, pushes it away into the background and focuses more on matters the at hand -- like the looming presence of her final track meet. What makes things even harder for her is that Kotarou wants to come to this one! In all fairness, though, he should totally be allowed to go considering he let Akane watch him do that Taiko dance thing where looks sort of like a dignified gorilla trying to impress a potential mate. Needless to say, he winds up going -- he just does it in secret. Well, at least until Chinatsu sees him and, in an unprecedented turn of events, actually keeps her mouth shut. This track meet isn't just filled with playful deception, however. Akane manages, for the first time in the series, to beat her personal best in terms of time. Of course, Kotarou now thinks she's the coolest thing ever (As if he didn't hold her in high enough regards already) and informs her that he was there the whole time later on in the day. Unfortunately, this gives her a window to open up to him and let him know the sad truth about her potential future alongside him.

While this episode may appear to be lacking in content compared to some of the others, it is just as (If not more) important than all of them. In fact, this episode didn't even have time for the opening (Which is upsetting considering it's the best opening of the season). The point is, this is sort of the 'calm before the storm.' The floodgate has opened and the drama is about to come pouring in. For the first time in my life, however, I'm hoping it doesn't. The relationship between Akane and Kotarou is so innocent and adorable that the idea of anything even potentially coming between them shatters my heart. And so, I am forced to say this -- I hope Akane's dad gets fired. 

In Summary:

Despite being the slowest-moving episode thus far, Tsukigakirei remains as endearing and precious as ever. The potential for drama has shown its face yet again and all we can do is join hands and wait for it to subside. We are rapidly hurdling toward the last episode at this point and I don't know if I'm going to be able to stand it when it comes. Kotarou and Akane have easily become one of the most believable anime couples out there and have quickly grown this tiny show into some sort of colossus. I can't recommend it enough.

Grade: B+

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

Tsukigakirei Episode #08 Anime Review

I wish for us to be together forever.

What They Say:

It’s the third year of middle school. Kotaro, a bookish boy aspiring to become a novelist, and Akane, a track girl who loves to run, meet in the same class together for the first time. They’re put in charge of the equipment for the sports festival, and slowly grow closer via LINE. How does Kotaro deal with his growing feelings for her? Meanwhile, Takumi has been in love with Akane since first year, and Akane’s friend, Chinatsu, becomes interested in Kotaro. A refreshing story of young love set in Kawagoe.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Now that the relationship between Kotarou and Akane has gone public, the couple must fight off the dreaded onslaught of questions and comments thrown their way by the rest of their peers. Despite not really understanding how to deal with the situation, Kotarou and Akane stick to their guns and don't let the pressure get to them. In fact, even when surrounded by people questioning the legitimacy of their relationship, the feelings of the two don't seem to waver even for a moment. The barrier between them just several episodes ago has diminished to almost nothing and perhaps even shattered after the conclusion of this week's episode.

With some guidance from his friends, Kotarou decides to stay after school and wait for Akane's practice to be over so the two of them can go home together. However, Kotarou gets called into Taiko practice as soon as the two of them meet up. Akane, excited at the thought of seeing her boyfriend doing literally anything, asks to tag along and the two set off on an only slightly embarrassing trip to the shrine. After the beans are spilled about the nature of their relationship, one of the adults at Taiko practice tips off Kotarou about a nearby festival and hands him 1,000 yen. Reluctant to take it at first, Kotarou gracefully accepts as he and Akane take off for what can be considered their first "real" date thus far.

It is on this date that the barrier I mentioned earlier is essentially broken down as it becomes overwhelmingly clear just how comfortable these two are with each other. Through scattered, casual conversation, Akane winds up finding out that Kotarou's birthday had just recently passed. Upset with herself, she takes off to find a present for him but only has enough money to buy him one of those stress-potatoes she has (Which now explains why there are two of them in the opening theme). Nervous at the thought of actually giving him this present, Akane becomes a touch more aloof than normal. It isn't until the couple stops to take a break that she gains enough confidence to hand over her gift. 

Of course, Kotarou loves it. But what's even better about this is that it ultimately segues into the moment we have all been waiting for in a moving, yet natural manner. This scene was blessed by remarkable direction all around -- which is to be expected from a name like Seiji Kishi.

In Summary:

Everything about this episode is taken up a notch or two from the already-high standards set by Tsukigakirei. One thing in particular, however, is that the background art is some of the most immersive I have seen in quite some time. For a series that doesn't exactly have the most polished or high-budget look to it this season, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't extremely impressed with the atmosphere of this episode -- particularly the festival scene. You can just tell how much care was put into animating said backgrounds and how heavily they must have been based on actual scenery. That, in combination with some high-tier cinematography, shape this episode into a beautiful tour through the minds of two kids finding love for the first time.

Grade: A+

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

Horimiya Vol. #07 Manga Review

My girlfriend makes no sense.

Creative Staff:

Art: Daisuke Hagiwara

Story: Hero

Translation: Taylor Engel

Lettering: Alexis Eckerman

What They Say:

The unbelievably attractive Akane Yanagi takes the stage...and maybe the lead from Miyamura?! The high school lives of the usual Kiri High suspects grow even livelier, as Hori abruptly starts demanding violence from Miyamura, the student council trio gets unusually flustered, and the sports festival arrives!

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

With its sixth volume dedicated to shining light on several side characters, Horimiya shifts back into its normal position this time around with Hori and Miyamura at the forefront of the action. Just like the last several volumes, however, there isn't much in terms of story to report on. Despite that being said, I wouldn't even think of skipping out on this installment. Given just how lovable this couple (And this series as a whole) is, the 'lack of story' really doesn't really. Horimiya has proven to be incredibly fun even during moments that would typically be considered filler for any non-romantic comedy.

Without beating around the bush any longer, I'm just going to jump straight to the most important thing that we learn in volume seven -- Hori is a total masochist. Yup. She spends half of this volume trying to persuade Miyamura to essentially beat her up and yell mean things to her. I'm not sure why this was just brought to light now...but it's frickin' great. Hori is already an interesting, well-thought out and well-written character but this sudden added dimension to her shows off a new side that makes her feel...I don't know, less perfect? I'm not sure if that's the correct way to word it but what I'm trying to say is that small quirks like this are what make great characters. Of course, Miyamura is so freaked out by this new side of his girlfriend that he actually confronts her dad about it. His woes only continue when Kyousuka shrugs it off, unsurprised by his daughter's suggestive way of thinking. This family is weird, man.

During the [few] moments where Hori isn't trying to get her boyfriend to verbally abuse her, we do get to spend some time with Yoshikawa and the other less-adorable but equally enjoyable characters. The reason I mention Yoshikawa first (Apart from her being the best) is that she actually plays an even bigger part in this volume than she did in the last. Early on, she receives a confession from the super attractive Akane Yanagi. Being in love with Tooru, Yoshikawa is unable to respond to Yanagi's confession. That is until she and Tooru start pretend-dating so she can let him down in an easier fashion. At the end of the day, Yanagi winds up joining the crew and now we have a whole conglomerate of characters that like other characters. It's like a frickin' love-octagon or something. But the great part is, even with so much potential for drama, there is literally none. Zero. Everyone is just totally cool with one another. I wish high school was this easy for everyone.

There is one thing I'm confused about, however. Where the hell is Honoka? Several books ago, when she was introduced, she was made out to be some important new character that would sort of playfully get in the way of Hori and Miyamura. Ever since then, however, she's been completely absent. It's like Hagiwara forgot about her or something. In the grand scheme of things, I guess it isn't really a big deal -- it's just a little weird. It's hard for me to accept that she would just be an added plot device considering that, at least so far, that isn't something Horimiya has been inclined to incorporate.

But yeah, Hori is a masochist. That's really all you need to know about this volume.

In Summary:

After receiving an entire volume dedicated to fleshing out side characters, Horimiya has gotten back into the swing of things as we are gifted with several more adorable (And only moderately weird) romance scenes between our two protagonists. The addition of Akane Yanagi manages to avoid shaking things up a bit and ultimately serves as a means of pushing Tooru and Yuki closer together. I think that, at least thus far, this is the funniest volume of Horimiya. The sadness and self-reflection we have begun to grow accustomed to has been swapped out for a plethora of hilarious subtext and overly-animated expressions. As always, Horimiya remains a treasure to the romantic comedy genre that only grows more endearing as time goes by. If you haven't already picked it up, do yourself a favor and get to it right away.

Content Grade: A-

Art Grade: A

Packaging Grade: B+

Text/Translation Grade: A+

Age Rating: 13+

Released By: Yen Press

Release Date: April 18, 2017

MSRP: $12.99