Inu To Hasami wa Tsukaiyou Anime Review

Inu To Hasami wa Tsukaiyou
Information:
Other Names: "InuHasa", "Dog and Scissors" & "犬とハサミは使いよう".
Studio: Gonzo
Writer: Toshizo Nemoto
Director: Yukio Takahashi
Music: Akito Matsuda
Type: TV Series, Light Novel Adaptation.
Length: 12 Episodes, 24 min per episode approx. 
Genres: Comedy, Supernatural
Rating: PG - 13
Air Dates: 2nd July 2013 - 17th September 2013.
Alternate Recommendations: "Bakemonogatari" &  "Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji"
(Source: MAL (myanimelist) & Wikipedia)

Synopsis:
A nonsense comical mystery. Harumi Kazuhito is a high school boy who loves books and is a fan of novelist Natsuno Kirihime. One day, he finds Kirihime writing at a cafe, about to be shot by a robber. He protects her from the attack but is killed instead. Through the supernatural power of a book-worm, he is reincarnated as a dachshund dog. Kazuhito (as a dog) writhes in a painful bookless life, when a sadistic woman carrying a pair of scissors offers him help. She is Kirihime herself.
(Source: MAL(myanimelist))

Review:

This was a peculiar show to say the least, it had the basic layout of becoming a funny series, being about a guy who becomes a dog after dying in a murder case who then finds himself adopted. Adopted by sadistic author. Now you’d think this could have gone either really gruesome or become a great comedy about a man struggling to live as a dog. We’ll have I got news for you, it’s neither of this things instead it decides on being a creepy love story, with supernatural themes and boring humour.

First main problem with I found was defiantly the romance, as said before it’s just creepy, on border-line beastiality. The romance takes place between to participates: our main character Kazuhito Harumi, the HighSchool student transported into a dog’s body, he loves books and not much else including the main heroine who is also his favourite author, Kirihime Natsuno the one who falls in love with main character for no reason at all, in which she then proceeds make romantic or sexual advances towards him.  Sound creepy yet? Well what do you think he does in these situations? Your right, absolutely nothing happens (this is a good thing) as he is too dense to notice and as a result is often cut with her scissors which are special for some reason, I’m not really sure.  

Now these violent outbursts are supposed to be central component of the comedy, as its heavily focused on and yeah, it’s funny the first few times but its repeated that much it becomes predictable and boring. What other jokes there are you might ask? Well there’s a girl who believes she should die, there’s a masochistic editor who enjoys being abused by the lead heroine and flat chest jokes, ‘funny’ right?

As far as pacing goes, the plot in broken down into arcs that usually revolve around a mystery that the main duo must solve, while encountering new characters along the way, with some filler episodes in between, fairly normal but occasionally there’s these really Shounen fight scenes that feel like they no place in the show. The characters encountered have fun traits that make them stand out quite well, but these traits are then reused over and over again until it becomes boring, this felt like a waste as if developed these characters could have really turned the show around.

Finally as far as art and animation go it’s fairly average, the usual it’s not good but not bad, which can also be said of the soundtrack including both opening and ending songs, though I found the opening animation fun to watch.
In conclusion this anime isn’t bad as a popcorn flick but otherwise it’s not really worth your time.

Final Scores:
Story/Setting: 6.3
Characters: 6.5
Art/Animation: 5.0
Sound: 5.4

Final Verdict: 5.9/10 (Average)

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge Anime Review

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge
Information:
Other Names: "Tanaka-kun is Always Listless", "田中くんはいつもけだるげ". 
Studio: Silver Link
Writer: Akemi Omode
Director: Shinya Kawamo
Music: Hiromi Mizutani
Type: TV Series, Web Manga Adaptation
Length: 12 Episodes. 24 min per episode approx. 
Genres: Comedy, School, Slice of Life
Rating: PG - 13
Air Dates:  9th April 2016 -  25th June 2016
Alternate Recommendations: "Non Non Byori" & "Isshuukan Friends".
(Source: MAL (myanimelist) & Wikipedia)

Synopsis:
Sighing, leaning on his elbows, sleepy eyes. Tanaka-kun is a boy that basically doesn't try but isn't disliked. This is a laid-back youth comedy about Tanaka-kun and the quiet Oota who can't leave him alone.
(Source: MAL(myanimelist))

Review:
Tanaka-kun is very essence of being lazy/listless, you could say he is the king of being listless in one sense, in another he can be seen as that lazy character from any slice of life anime, who got his own show. As said above this is a slice of life show so if you want any extraordinary development or twisting plot I suggest you go look elsewhere, but if you want a relaxing show to take your mind of the hardships of reality, then this is the anime for you.

Following the life of Tanaka a lazy student in HighSchool (because there no were else this could possibly take place in), who is taken care of by his best friend Oda the student every mom wants though he has delinquent eyes but has a heart of gold. The chemistry between these two characters is what drives the series forward, relying mainly on how Oda takes care of Tanaka as well as how their relationship function with or without each other, it can be heart-warming at times as well as a pleasure to watch, but since nothing happens between these two it becomes fairly repetitive as the series goes on.

But there are other characters in the show to counter this, adding more excitement and issues for characters to fix each episode, which can range from a would be Tanka apprentice to an over attached little sister who feels the need to compete with Oda. All these add to the overall experience, keeping the show fresh.      

Where the series stands from a production stand point, the animation is fairly decent nothing bad but also nothing good or above and for the art I would say that it may not be the best looking art, but it does fit the series well looking fairly unique and has a sense of listlessness on its own, but I’m not saying it’s bad it just fits with tone of the show well.
As far as the soundtrack is considered it fits well with series being light-hearted and relaxing to listen to but it doesn’t stick out much in the crowd of other soundtracks that came out in the same season. The opening and ending songs both fit the show nicely as well as helped relax you when going into the show and coming out of it.

In conclusion, I would recommend this too anyone looking for a relaxing watch as well as to any school kids I believe you’ll enjoy this as you’ll know just how Tanka feels, as you wish for your own Oda.

Final Scores:
Story/Setting: 7.2
Characters: 7.4
Art/Animation: 6.8
Soundtrack: 7.4

Final Verdict: 7.3/10 (Good) 

Uchuu Patrol Luluco Anime Review

Uchuu Patrol Luluco
Information:
Other Names: "Space Patrol Luluco" & " 宇宙パトロールルル子". 
Studio: Trigger
Writer: Hiroyuki Imaishi
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
Music: Kenichiro  Suehiro
Type: Short TV Series, Original
Length: 13 Episodes. 7 minutes per episode approx.
Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Space, Romance
Rating: PG - 13
Air Dates: 1st April 2016 - 24th June 2016
Alternate Recommendations: "Kill la Kill" & "FLCL". 
(Source: MAL (myanimelist) & Wikipedia)

Synopsis:
The show takes place in Ogikubo, which is the name of the specially designated area in space in the Milky Way where Earthlings and aliens can live together. Luluco is a female middle school student who lives with her father, and no matter where she is, Luluco is a common, "super normal" girl. As she is living her normal life, one day the mysterious transfer student ΑΩ Nova abruptly appears before her. That meeting will change Luluco's fate.
(Source: MAL(myanimelist))

Review:

How to describe Space Patrol Luluco? It’s dumb, defiantly dumb, fun to watch and is obviously a TRIGGER show. Thanks to its over the top comedy, dialogue and action scenes plus the references to various TRIGGER shows, this anime is going to be your new favourite if you’re a fan of the studio.

This being a seven minute per episode series really helps it a lot, if it was thirty minute instead, it would have gotten old very fast, but due to its small time frame each episode there just enough there to keep you entertained. However, it’s not only that both the setting and story are enough to keep you entertained; starting with setting, the main character Luluco just wants to leave a normal life in a city full of aliens until her father is frozen in ice in which she has to take over for him as a space patrol agent: catching space criminals and most defiantly being far from normal.

 So it has a setting that is completely random and has lots of spare room in it for creative freedom, which the studio explore until it bleeds. As for the story it will be hit and miss for some people, for me it was a HIT, with over the top plot lines and scenarios that are pleasing to eyes as well as being fun to watch as they unfold. If you are looking for a deep or light-hearted I’m afraid you’re in the wrong place, this only for people who like balls to the walls action stupid stuff. 

But for all romance there is one to salvaged from the stupid series, but when I mean salvaged I don’t mean it’s bad, as it was fairly good being fun to watch, good development and quite moving at times plus it has an ending to romance but this similar to the ending of the actual main plot is satisfying but kind of leaves on an open ended cliff-hanger which was kind of a disappointment with no second season confirmed.

 As this is a TRIGGER show the art style is very stylish being similar in design to Kill la Kill and even Panty & Stocking having a similar cartoony style that fits the over the top animation, that just like other shows of the studio can look amazing but can also look very clip art/poor at times. As for character designs they are really likeable having unique appearances to them, which can be said of the actual characters anyway since they don’t feel like they were cut ‘n’ paste from anywhere and also have strong personalities that fit with goofiness of the show in general.

In a final note the soundtrack was good but hardly anything spectacular, with nothing really standing out for me in any particular track, as for the opening song however I found it fir the series better being to fun to watch and listen to, while on the other hand the ending was another great song but didn’t fit the style of the show.
In conclusion: you a fan of kill la kill or other silly shows, if yes this is a show for you. If you’re not, I suggest you try something else out. 

Final Scores:
Story/Setting: 8.3
Characters: 7.8
Art/Animation: 7.5
Sound: 7.3

Final Verdict: 7.8/10 (Good)

Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta? Anime Review

Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta?
Information:
Other Names: And you thought there is never a girl online?, Net Game no Yome wa Onna no Ko ja Nai to Omotta?, ネトゲの嫁は女の子じゃないと思った？
Studio: Project No.9
Writer: Tatsuya Takahashi
Director: Shinsuke Yanagi
Music: Maiko Iuchi
Type: TV Series, Light Novel Adaptation
Length: 24 mins per episode approx. 12 Episodes.
Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, School
Rating: PG - 13
Air Dates: 7th April 2016 - 23rd June 2016
Alternate Recommendations: "Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!" & "Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko".
(Source: MAL & Wikipedia)

Synopsis:
Our naïve protagonist proposes to a female character in an online game, only to find out that the player is actually a guy. Traumatized by that, he decides to never trust a girl online, but now, two years later, a female player is proposing to him. What will happen?
(Source: MAL)

Review:

The concept of girls for play games or into anything nerdy in general was once a strange topic that was very alien to men who did, but that was then and this is now 2016, where it is very common place with over forty percent of gaming players to be female while steady increasing at the same time. So why did this anime feel so alien to me, like it was out of place and should have been released far in this past around 2007 – 2009. Well that’s because it revolves around a guy, the main protagonist “Nishinmura” finding out that all of his guild mates as well as in – game wife are all girls playing as boys and he is generally surprised by this, while the audience including me was not.

Starting with setting which as mentioned before is a world before female gamers became common place or at least it seems that way, the main characters of our story play an online net game and are part of a guild within that game known as “Alley Cats”, in which all members of the guild are believed to be male with exception to Ako the main female protagonist who uses a female avatar, to which the only real male in the party is the main male character Nishimura also known as Rusian, this he finds out when they schedule an offline meeting. The people he meets are not only girls, but also high-school the same age as him and not only they also go to school and are in his year. Pure coincidence right?

As for the characters themselves I found that they were fun to watch as well as having good chemistry and fairly good conversations with each other, that I didn’t find forced in anyway, which also includes minor characters as well. Which could be said for characters personalities as well, even though some do go hand in hand with known anime stereotypes, I felt like they were tweaked enough to make them stand out better, which similarly can be said of the character designs in which the real life character design are fairly plain, but the in-game character designs are nice to look at, feeling different but also recognisable as to what class they play in the game. But as far as the characters development goes it isn’t all that great, sure each girl slowly warms up to the main character but no enough so it turns into a harem, this felt like a bonus, aside from this nothing really happens by the end.

Which can be said of the romance sub-plot and the main plot as well, due to them both having a fairly good built and good pacing going along with it plus fun episode that are a joy to watch, but by the end it falls flat into a cliff-hanger ending or rather a none conclusive ending, that feels dry and bland.

In a final note I must say that the animation was good during the fight scenes that take place as well as decent enough during normally animated slice of life type scenes; which also be said for art which felt fitting for the series giving it a good identity. As for the soundtrack, it felt okay at times fitting the necessary scenes that unfolded but had no stand out tracks, this can also said of the opening and ending songs as well; fitting but outstanding.

In conclusion Netoge is an anime that feels out of place in time but is still a great show with heart-warming characters, which are fun to watch and is overall enjoyable to just about any audience. 

Final Scores: 

Story/Setting: 7.2

Characters: 7.4

Art/Animation: 7.1

Sound: 7.2

Final Verdict: 7.3/10 (Good)

Hundred Anime Review

Hundred
Information:
Other Names: ハンドレッド.
Studio: Production IMS
Writer: Hideki Shirane
Director: Tomoki Kobayashi 
Music: Shuhei Naruse 
Type: TV Series, Light Novel Adaptation
Length: 24 min per episode approx. 12 Episodes.
Genres: Action, Ecchi, Harem, Mecha, Romance, School, Sci-Fi
Rating: PG - 13
Air Dates: 5th April 2016 - 21st June 2016
Alternate Recommendations: "Infinite Stratos" & "Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut".

Synopsis:
"Hundred"—that is the only weapon that can oppose the mysterious life form "Savage" from visiting the earth.
The protagonist, Kisaragi Hayato, aims to become a Martial Arts Master using this Hundred. He managed to get into the battleship university Little Garden.

However—
"I wanted to see you, Hayato!!!"
"H-How do you know my name?"

Around the room-mate, Emil Crossford, who somehow knows him well (?), Hayato gets an uneasy feeling.
What's more, just after the entrance ceremony, he gets asked for a duel by the campus' strongest martial arts master "Queen" Claire Harvey...!?

The ultimate academy battle begins here!
(Source: MAL, Edited)

Review:

Why do I keep coming back? Every time one of these types of shows’ airs each season, why do I watch these? Well one I make it a point to try and watch everything in the season and two they are easy to watch, since they require you to not try and work things out, while also remaining light – hearted time wasters. This is what Hundred is: a time waster. Though I must say it’s better than last season’s harem-ecchi anime (Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut), having a romantic plot that feels like it actually developers but still stays truer to formula by having a predictable plot and one dimensional characters.

As said the plot is fairly predictable being easy to follow and understand with a fun romance side plot to go alongside it, which as said previously actually develops over the course which is a plus for this type of show but doesn’t actually go anywhere by the end, thanks to the classic “being interrupted at the end by other harem members”. Like the series itself though the setting is fairly boring and feels like a direct copy of another harem series “Infinite Stratos” just like another series that happened to air this year; the setting is based around people known as Slayers who use weapons known as Hundreds (Exoskeleton Mech Suits) to fight against evil creature known as Savages, while also living on a quiet ship and attending high-school; if this isn’t as much of hint as how this turns out, I don’t know what is.

Now for the cream of the crop as fair as harems are concerned the characters: starting with main two characters: Kisaragi Hayato our main male protagonist complete with a tragic past, spikey hair and his very own “badass” mode, he is as plain and generic with a nice personality that all the girls fall for, while the main girl takes on the role of the trap Emaila/Emile Crossfode is similar in that she is fairly obsessive over the main character and also has a tragic power and “badass” mode like the protagonist, also it’s not really a spoiler that she is girl even though she is introduced as male it was plainly obvious, since she look just like “Charlotte from Infinite Stratos”, and just before the introduction there a flash back to girl who looks just like him.
As for the supporting cast I felt like some of the more interesting characters barely got any screen time, while the ones who got plenty didn’t develop and were fairly generic on their own, including harem members plus the antagonist.

As far as character designs go I felt like I had seen them all before in a variety of shows, while I also noticed an increased amount of characters that should have been adults but were instead teenage girls, which was probably to appeal to some sort of fetish like every other character in the series. The art and animation I found to be fairly plain and is nothing you haven’t seen already.
For the soundtrack on another hand I found it passable but it had no real tracks that stood out to me much, though I did find both the opening and ending songs much more enjoyable, with it being one of the only reasons I kept coming back.

In conclusion like all other harem, you should watch this if you’re up for something you can turn your brain of to, as well as if you don’t mind over the top fan-service. 

Final Scores:

Setting/Story: 5.2

Characters: 5.0

Art/Animation: 4.7
Sound: 5.4

Final Verdict: 5.0/10 (Average)

Ragnastrike Angels Anime Review

Ragnastrike Angels
Information:
Other Names: ラグナストライクエンジェルズ.
Studio: Satelight
Writer: Takeshi Kikuchi
Director: Junichi Wada
Music: ?
Type: Game Adaptation, Short TV Series
Length: 12 episodes, 30 seconds per episode approx.
Genres: Action, Game
Rating: PG-13
Air Dates: 3rd April 2016 - 19th June 2016
Alternate Recommendations:

Synopsis:
The series follows fighting girls whose size is increased to 38 meters (about 125 feet) tall.



Review:
We would imagine a TV show as a commercial product that shows a basic plot, a reasonable duration time and has characters with at least some personality. However Ragnastrike Angels decided that is not necessary as having a thirty second episodic series is enough for it, where it gradually tells the story off a single battle against giant aliens when it eventually gets to that part after a few episodes of fan-service with girls, who have power of making themselves giant, that barely have personalities until you reach a completely cliff-hanger ending that is just poor in quality. This whole thing is just an advertisement for a game, that’s all it literally at the end of each episode it cuts to a bit of game footage of the game itself, this is just ridiculous and I must say this isn’t deserving off being on prime time TV even if it only short and kind of fun to watch, if you’re looking for something light to watch.

As for how the show looks as you’ll be spending thirty seconds of your life to watch this garbage, the character designs are probably its only highlight being fairly good and fun to look at, though the art and animation is average at best. However this shows worst part on another hand is its lack of no opening or ending making the show very plain to watch, plus it also has no soundtrack really or at least know such one that I can remember.

In conclusion if you have literally nothing else to watch or fancy a quick six minute anime give this one ago, but to any others I’d say you should stay away from this waste of time.

Final Scores: 
Story/Setting: 5
Characters: 3.2
Animation/Art: 5.4
Sound: 1

Final Verdict: 3.5/10 (Very Bad)

Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu Anime Review

Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu 
Information:
Other Names: "Girls Beyond the Wasteland", "The girls who aim for the wildlands", "Girls beyond the youth KOYA" & " 少女たちは荒野を目指す".
Studio: Project No.9
Writer: Yuniko Ayana
Director: Takuya Satō
Music: Tsuyoshi Watanabe, GoKoY
Type:TV Series, Visual Novel Adaptation
Length: 24 min per episode approx. 12 Episodes
Genres: School
Rating: PG - 13
Air Dates: 7th January 2016 - 24th March 2016
Alternate Recommendations: "D-Frag" & "Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata".

Synopsis:
Buntarou Hojo is a high school student who has a talent for writing, but no real direction in life or any plans for the future. His classmate, Sayuki Kuroda notices his talent, decides to help him find a way to use it properly by enlisting him in her bishoujo game development group.

When Buntarou is cornered in the men's bathroom at school by Sayuki, he is surprised when he is asked out on what he thinks is a date, and even further surprised when he finds out that it's not a date, but a job interview. Reluctantly agreeing, the two start recruiting other members for their team but will they learn more about game creation, or life itself along the way?
(Source: MAL(myanimelist.com)).


Review:

How hard is it too make a game? It a relaxing time or tedious chore? Does Shoujo Tachi produce and show this well to its audience. Yes sometimes but it leans more towards a harem series than anything.

I found that as this show plot slowly unfolded that it became closer to a harem series, rather than I show to do with creating games or even the romance show it tries to set itself up as (that goes no-where by the way). This was mainly due to the way the show is set up, with the show’s run time being broken down into separate arcs that focus on each character’s problems (even though the characters chosen are girls) being fixed by the main character (MC) Buntarou, a high-school script writer. This type of writing I felt could have fit the show well, as it focuses on each character stress regarding making their game and could have shown realistic ways solutions for them, however this does not happen, instead we get our MC going up to each girl, and telling them loosely “it’ll be alright” which then works and the show continues with no changes except they now have feelings for the MC. I feel like this could have been avoided had this not been a high-school setting or based on a visual novel, as it will eventually fall to troupes used in each media listed before, bringing down the show as a whole and running its potential.

But I felt what really let this show down was its characters as they are the main driving force behind this series but for the wrong reasons, as their personalities as a whole can be dumbed down to simple troupes and clichés present in many other shows, and add nothing new to set them apart. First there are only two male main characters: Buntarou, Houjou our main character is nothing but a boring template of most staple main characters in many anime, with no redeeming quirks at all, being totally forgetful. The other way is character is Atomu, Kai the “comic relief?”, well at least I think that what he is supposed to be, I’m not really sure. If he is that really bad comic relief as his comedy is based around the amount of times he’s been dumped and his then hate of relationships/love, which fell flat if those were jokes.  

As for the girls there are four in total composing the main cast, with Kuroda being only one I can remember by name but that because she is main female character as well as the “one with no emotions”.  The others I barely remember, which says a lot for its character designs doesn't it, but they can be summed up as “the hyper one, the quiet one and the one who like BL (Boy’s Love)” in a nut shell. As they have no development that helped me define them as character aside from liking the main character for no reason, which doesn't count.

The only redeeming factors I found about the show where it’s satisfactory but okay ending. And entertaining opening song and animation, that I felt was the only reason I kept coming back which cannot be said of its ending song that felt highly bland and its animation and art that felt average at best, just likes it soundtrack that added nothing to the scenes as well. Plus there also Hosokawa the best character this show has to offer having a fun personality and it overall entertaining the watch. 

In conclusion, I can’t recommend to anyone really as it’s not even entertaining, even to those who want something dumb to watch, it can’t even provide this. So my only conclusion is that you said stay away from this one, unless you have nothing else to watch. 

Final Scores: 

Story/Setting: 6.1

Characters: 5.4

Art/Animation: 5.3

Sound: 5.2

Final Verdict: 5.4/10 (Average)