Mayoiga: The Lost Village Episode #4 Review

What is there to discuss? We need to leave as soon as possible.

What They Say:

A shady bus tour of young men and women are headed to an elusive village called Nanakimura. A destination where people can partake in a utopian existence, free of the world's obstacles... or so goes the rumor. Heading deep into the mountains, the bus is carrying 30 different individuals, each harboring their own expectations and troubled hearts. What they had arrived to was an uninhabited village with lingering, faint scents of life. It was falling apart. Just what is the secret of Nanakimura?

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

After Mitsumune and Maimai spot Yottsun's body floating down the river, the group organizes yet another search party to scour the area and uncover his body. In the midst of their search, a loud noise resembling a roar of some sorts is heard off in the distance, prompting the search the end and beckoning the group back to their camp. Upon arrival back in the actual village, tensions begin to rise between several members of the camp. People like Dahara and Mitsumune think the best course of action is to stay where they are until they can figure out what's going on, while Mikage, Hayato, and most of the others think they should leave as soon possible. Needless to say, the increase in tension and difference in ideas sparks two separate groups instead of one large conglomerate. Dahara's group will stay in Nanakimura; Mikage's group will leave in the morning.

On Dahara's side, things remain relatively calm. The biggest concern, however, becomes the bus driver (Who had elected to stay in the village). After Koharun mentions that she has noticed said bus driver acting a little strangely, she and Valkana begin to follow him. Eventually, he stops at what looks like a grave or a shrine or something and starts chasing after a little girl. In the midst of his chase, he is stopped by the rest of the group and forced to tell them what he was chasing after. As it turns out, that little girl was nothing more than his deceased daughter. As if random roars and floating bodies wasn't enough, now we have to deal with hallucinations and ghosts. GREAT.

On Mikage's side, things are a little more interesting. During an earlier conversation between him and Valkana, Mikage raises the question, "What if one of us is trying to kill the others?" Valkana isn't immediately dismissive of this and seems to hear Mikage out as he begins to list his reasons for suspecting Koharun. Unable to convince Valkana to come with them, Mikage and his group set out to look for help in the morning. This group, being the larger of the two, winds up on a lengthy trek in the forest that...doesn't really go as planned. The bus, which the group had planned on taking, was not going to budge even slightly. And, as if that wasn't enough, more noises start being heard off in the distance. As the noises get closer and closer, Mikage's group starts to speed up and, after going in a giant circle, they finally come to a set of train track that they decide on following. Even if those tracks don't lead them where they planned on going, it will still lead them away from Nanakimura -- and that's pretty much the only thing that matters at this point. 

Eventually, those train tracks lead Mikage's group to a tunnel. Of course, this is where the next cliffhanger ending comes into play as whatever the group saw at the other end of the tunnel sends them screaming and frantically running back outside. And, according to Maimai, what they actually did see was...a giant Mitsumune? What?

In Summary: 

This is, in my opinion, the best episode of Mayoiga so far. Tensions finally build up enough to cause a fissure capable of separating one large group into two smaller ones. That being said, we get a steady dose of two linear plots at once that both begin to pick up suspenseful steam. The mysteries become a little less typical with the addition of hallucinations (On Dahara's side) and a [possibly looping?] landscape surrounding and closing in on Mikage's group. Either way, it's definitely unclear what's going on at this point in time and it really makes Mayoiga something to look forward to in the coming weeks. I'm getting flashbacks to Lost while watching this series, and that's totally a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

Grade: A-

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

Mayoiga: The Lost Village Episode #3 Review

Why are you sticking up for a criminal?!

What They Say:

A shady bus tour of young men and women are headed to an elusive village called Nanakimura. A destination where people can partake in a utopian existence, free of the world's obstacles... or so goes the rumor. Heading deep into the mountains, the bus is carrying 30 different individuals, each harboring their own expectations and troubled hearts. What they had arrived to was an uninhabited village with lingering, faint scents of life. It was falling apart. Just what is the secret of Nanakimura?

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

At the end of last week's episode, we were left with the cliffhanger ending of Yottsun and Masaki being totally MIA. Luckily for us, though, Masaki is discovered huddled against a tree in the woods after a search party is formed. Completely terrified (Or at least acting that way...dun dun dun) Masaki goes on to retell the events of yesterday in a brief, possibly true yet possibly false story. According to her, Yottsun had just decided to wander off for no reason as the two were walking through Nanakimura -- disappearing into the woods and not being seen again. However, several members of the group are quick to denounce this tale of Masaki's and, instead, create some theories of their own. Regardless, Yottsun is still missing -- but who cares about that guy anyway?

Considering one of the more prominent Yottsun-theories is that he tried to rape Masaki and then ran way after feeling bad about it (Something not very commonly done by rapists), the group decides to split into four smaller groups to better flesh out sleeping arrangements. However, one of these arrangements puts eyepatch-ponytail-man and Jack in the same room. Ponytail then goes on a rant about how Jack is stealing his image and after one thing leads to another, Jack attacks ponytail man with a garden hoe and ruins his jacket. Devastated by the loss of his favorite jacket, ponytail man states that Jack must be killed or something like that. Needless to say, the group decides against killing Jack and instead locks him away in a nearby jail Valkana found while looking for Yottsun and Masaki. One thing we learn about Jack, though, is that Maimai actually used to go to school with him. Turns out that Jack once attacked another student in school as a result of constant bullying. Of course, this doesn't matter to Lovepon and she cries about how he needs to be executed either way.

As the day comes to an end, Mitsumune is left with an uneasy feeling about leaving Jack all alone in his jail cell. Filled with sympathy, he makes his way toward the cabin Jack is kept in and ultimately comes across Maimai on the way. As it turns out Maimai isn't actually a bitch -- she's just tsundere! Who knew? Mitsumune and Maimai talk for a bit before they are joined by Lovepon, also on her way to see Jack. Well, actually, she's on her way to ensure that Jack is executed...but it doesn't look like that is going to happen tonight. After Maimai and Mitsumune confront Lovepon about how you can't just kill everybody, she throws a temper tantrum and tackles Mitsumune literally off of a bridge and into the water. After fighting off being drowned by Lovepon (And seeing her bra. Woo.), Mitsumune starts running away -- only to find Yottsun's body floating down the river.

Good.

In Summary:

Mayoiga's third instalment has more of the same stuff we've been seeing since the series began. With things beginning to heat up a bit, I'd say it's only a matter of time until this show starts getting really Lord Of The Flies-ish. The tension growing amongst some of the characters is definitely going to keep this series interesting, even if the plot (For some reason) begins to slow down. With glimpses into the pasts of characters like Valkana and Jack, it's safe to say that we're finding out more information about the group each episode. I'm just curious to see why Lovepon is...the way she is.

Grade: B

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

Grimgar Of Fantasy And Ash Complete Series Anime Review

There are wounds that even magic can't heal.

What They Say:

Fear, survival, instinct. Thrown into a foreign land with nothing but hazy memories and the knowledge of their name, they can feel only these three emotions resonating deep within their souls. A group of strangers is given no other choice than to accept the only paying job in this game-like world—the role of a soldier in the Reserve Army—and eliminate anything that threatens the peace in their new world, Grimgar. When all of the stronger candidates join together, those left behind must create a party together to survive: Manato, a charismatic leader and priest; Haruhiro, a nervous thief; Yume, a cheerful hunter; Shihoru, a shy mage; Moguzo, a kind warrior; and Ranta, a rowdy dark knight. Despite its resemblance to one, this is no game—there are no redos or respawns; it is kill or be killed. It is now up to this ragtag group of unlikely fighters to survive together in a world where life and death are separated only by a fine line.

The Review:

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

What would you do if you woke up in a mysterious land, surrounded only by others in the same exact predicament? It's a generalized story that has been pulled out for generations now, but it never seems to lessen the impact and urgency in terms of the grand scheme. They say that fear is the most primitive human emotion out there -- that it surpasses even joy or desire. That being said, fear of the unknown may, perhaps, be the most commonplace mindset to ever find its way inside us. Needless to say, when Haruhiro wakes up in the uncharted land of Grimgar, he is stricken with not only fear but the complete and utter need to survive. And how can you survive in unknown territory? By teaming up with others.

And so begins the tale of "Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash." Right off the bat, Haruhiro falls into line with who can be assumed to be the misfits of the initial group. With many of the stronger, more brazen members breaking off into units of their own, we are left with a small group of people more confused than determined. But, I mean, who can blame them? No one even knows why they're here at this point let alone where they even come from to begin with. Without any money or a means of survival, Haruhiro and the others make it a priority to do anything it takes to survive. Luckily for them, the inn nearby is able to provide a few tips for new adventurers looking to get out into the world. After receiving recruit badges and choosing their respective combat classes, Haru's party sets a course for their new lives, lead by a priest named Manato.

At first glance, this series seems like just another adventure/fantasy anime. (MAJOR SPOILER INCOMING) But after Manato dies in battle one day, both the party and the viewers receive a bit of a wake-up call. Death isn't specific to just humans, it can be felt by all living things. What makes our party different than the goblins and other monsters they are trying to combat? With major tinges of Darwinism and even broken economical structure, Grimgar launches headfirst into a beautifully animated depiction of society, war, and loss that parallels everything good and evil in this world. In my opinion, the most hard-hitting line of the show came in just the first arc when Haruhiro and the others are trying to lay rest to Manato. After bringing his body to an elder priest to try and have him resurrected, the priest states that the dead can not be brought back and that they must perform a burial for their fallen comrade -- to which Haruhiro replies, "And I guess that costs silver too?" This single line perfectly demonstrates the harsh realities of this world. Even though their friend and leader just died right in front of them, the dual problem of having no money to even perform a proper burial for him creeps up and plunges the series toward a path that seems devoid of all hope whatsoever. Haru's party is left in shambles.

After this, everything in Grimgar is just about redemption -- how if the group is going to survive, someone needs to step up and take charge. Eventually, Haru falls into the place of the leader, despite being inexperienced and extremely unsure oh his own ability. In addition to this, the party takes on a priest with baggage of her own -- Mary (Or Merry as some people call her). Mary, being accompanied by the traumatic experience of having her previous party slain due to her lack of mana, struggles to break free from her shell and be the priest that Manato was. This, of course, leads to a series of mental breakdowns as our main characters come to terms with the abruptness that, at many times, rushes in alongside death. It is evident that everyone has their own problems and that these problems will never be put to rest without the help of others. And even though this seems like such an obvious solution, nothing remains obvious in the face of peril. Instead, our party struggles just to get by and has an incredibly difficult time for what seems like months.

Instead of detailing the content from the final arc (Which was absolutely phenomenal if you want a two-word synopsis), I'm going to talk about a method Grimgar consistently uses to further the emotional impact of the series. The use of music is a surprising tool Grimgar pulls out to better expose the nature of the world. At several times throughout the series, things basically turn into a sort of music video that slowly details the calmer parts of the world over the course of a few minutes. And I don't mean the characters break out into song -- it's a lot more subtle than that. Essentially, the characters break up for brief periods and just go on with their lives, whether it be shopping, eating, or drinking. But whatever it is, there's a short period of solace accompanied by expertly selected music to better illustrate the mood. This, in itself, begins to contrast dark with light -- showing that there is no sorrow that comes unaccompanied by joy, even if said joy is shortlived. These moments, though hated by some, are an extremely important part of the series that I firmly believe were executed flawlessly.

There is a lot to be praised about Grimgar, I think I've made that clear. But one more thing that needs to be noted before we wrap this up is just how real some of these characters are. In terms of having actual feelings, it seemed like the cast of Grimgar was a few leagues above a lot of other anime. When tragic things would happen (Which they do rather frequently), each character would deal with it in a fashion anchored to no one but themselves. It's weird, these drawings felt like real people that were actually being affected by these things instead of just characters written in to showcase artificial feelings. And even though each character had their own unique take on the world, when things got bad all of the sorrow would become congruent and coalesce into a single idea -- that sadness is universal.

In Summary:

With an enchanting soundtrack and beautiful, watercolored backgrounds, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is an endearing adventure series that is a thematic colossus. So many of the lessons jam packed into this anime parallel our world as a whole while, at the same time, raising many thought-provoking questions. In a way, Grimgar itself may be a symbol for purgatory. This theory is just one of many that can be brought up in an effort to describe what the show means to a specific person. But just the fact that viewers can devise their own take on things and pull their own meanings out of everything makes Grimgar something special. With a brief course of only 12 episodes that stays interesting and important throughout the entire duration, I would go on to recommend this to anyone. This is a sleeping giant.

Grade: A-

Streamed By: Funimation