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Seen all▲▼
|
Rating▲▼
|
Comment▲▼
|
| 5 Centimeters Per Second (movie) |
Decent |
(2008 Q3) Lovely animation about regret and missed chances. Nothing really startling or new though. |
| Ah! My Goddess: The Movie |
Good |
|
| Air (TV) |
So-so |
|
| Akame ga KILL! (TV) |
Good |
(2016) (originally rated Very Good, changed to Good 2023) Satisfactory amount of major character death as fitting situations and plot. Esdeath is a favorite character. |
| Akira (movie) |
Good |
|
| Akudama Drive (TV) |
Masterpiece |
(2021 Q1 Winter) Top notch world building, plot, characters, and animation. Seriously, this is some of the best animation I've ever seen--there's one scene where it starts raining, the rain collects on a railing, and doesn't spill off the edge until surface tension breaks (compare to typical animation where rain just darkens the surface it hits if there's any effect at all). Even the scene transitions are unique and creative. World exposition is exquisitely handled and the story unfolds without pulling any punches. Just go watch now (and don't skip the opening--pay close attention as one part changes each episode). |
| Allison & Lillia (TV) |
So-so |
(2011) First generation was a bit slow but had some charm. Second generation stretched credulity well beyond the breaking point (plots were just plain stupid) and Lillia was a most annoying lead. |
| Angel Beats! (TV) |
Good |
|
| Angelic Layer (TV) |
Masterpiece |
(2002) You'd think this one wouldn't be among my masterpieces. On the surface, it's cutsey fluff. But surprisingly, there's a solid story and world building behind the shiny and some nice character development. Besides if there were such a thing as the Layer, I'd totally be playing it. |
| anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (TV) |
Not really good |
(2011) When I can sleep through probably half of the series but not have any trouble following the plot, one can call it more than a bit predictable. I could see people who really like (annoying) character-driven stories enjoying this, but not my cup of tea. |
| Appare-Ranman! (TV) |
Good |
(2020 Fall) (originally rated Very Good, changed to Good 2023) Steampunk cross-US race is cool. |
| Arc the Lad (TV) |
So-so |
|
| Arifureta - From Commonplace to World's Strongest (TV) |
Decent |
(2022 Q4 Fall) |
| Arifureta - From Commonplace to World's Strongest (TV 2) |
Decent |
(2022 Q4 Fall) |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm (TV) |
Masterpiece |
(2019 Q4 Fall) There's more story to be told, but the first 14 episodes charmed me as few things have. If you cannot identify with a bookworm's obsession that books are the most important thing in the universe, then this may not be the series for you. However, I'd even recommend the series for the technical competence in its execution: the characters are genuine and realistic, the exposition is superb, and the world building is subtle and complex. I can't actually find anything to criticize and that's about unique. (Also have a prediction/bet going about tronbay.) |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm (TV 2) |
Masterpiece |
(2020 Spring) I continue to love everything about this series. (Also, was correct about tronbay prediction.) |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm (TV 3) |
Masterpiece |
(2022 Q2 Spring) Not quite as perfect as the first two seasons, but still all love. |
| Attack on Titan (TV) |
Bad |
Starts out with an intriguing premise, but devolves into Evangelion. People what get et should stay et. |
| Baccano! (TV) |
Good |
Quentin Tarantino does anime. |
| Banner of the Stars (TV) |
Decent |
|
| BELLE (movie) |
Good |
(2021 Fall) |
| Berserk (TV 1997) |
Good |
(2005) Excellent for what there was of it, but so sadly incomplete. |
| Best Student Council (TV) |
Weak |
(2007 Q4) Gag me with silliness. Another series that left me mostly, mercifully unconscious. |
| Birdie Wing -Golf Girls' Story- (TV) |
Very good |
(2022 Q2 Summer) Unafraid to commit to ludicrousness with absolute conviction, this is how golf should be played. |
| Birdie Wing -Golf Girls' Story- (TV 2) |
Excellent |
(2023 Q2 Spring) Still reveling in over-the-topness played straight. Satisfying conclusion. |
| Black Butler (TV) |
Good |
Rather erratic, but it had (from my admittedly unusual viewpoint) a happy ending. |
| Black Butler: Book of Circus (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Black Butler: His Butler, Performer (OAV) |
So-so |
|
| Black Cat (TV) |
Not really good |
Started with the Kenshin-esque assassin trying to turn good theme, didn't know what to do with it. |
| Blood+ (TV) |
Excellent |
(2008) |
| BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense. (TV) |
Good |
(2020 Winter/Spring) Broken MMO where the players are surprisingly decent folks. Maple personifies "It's better to be lucky than good" but is more cute than annoying about it. Fortunately, she games with her RL good friend Sally, who's a dedicated min-maxer and they pick up other unusual players for their guild. |
| BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense. Season 2 (TV) |
Good |
(2023 Q1 Winter) More of the same as the first season, which I'll happily accept. |
| Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 (TV) |
So-so |
|
| Buddy Daddies (TV) |
Decent |
(2023 Q1 Winter) Good at found family and the challenges of everyday life with a kid; terrible at action sequences. Best episode was Kazuki getting fed up with being a housewife and taking an off day. Was surprised Rei's dad was talked around in the end. Happy epilogue skipped past what must've been horrifying finally-honest conversations with Miri. |
| Call of the Night (TV) |
Good |
(2022 Q3 Summer) Interesting take on vampires, and the main character has shockingly high EQ for an adolescent male. |
| Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill (TV) |
Very good |
(2023 Q1 Winter) I probably like this one much more than it deserves, but the situation is just so relatable. The main character, Mukoda (an actual in his mid-20s adult) is accidentally brought along when the king of a fantasy world summons teenagers to be heroes-to-defeat-the-demon-lord. Mukoda sees this setup as sus as hell and takes off. On his journey, he picks up two ridiculously overpowered familiars. Fel and Sui, who give their loyalty in exchange for being fed all the tasty food they can eat--this makes perfect sense to me. The plots are repetitive: generally the hook is what is Mukoda going to cook this time? The humor revolves mostly around how OP and aggro the familiars are, but they're great personalities which play off each other well. Mukoda's fear of fighting and trauma from being shoved into battle also read as sensible and relatable. Sui wants pew pew. We all do, Sui. |
| Case Closed: The Fourteenth Target (movie 2) |
Good |
|
| Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious (TV) |
Very good |
(2019 Q4 Fall) Finally, an action hero who believes in preparation. Bit of a cop out at the end, but then I rather expected it to given the general tone of the show. |
| Cells at Work! (TV) |
Good |
(2018 Q4 Fall) Fantastically entertaining and scientifically accurate portrayal of the insides of a body at work. Characters are charming. One thing I find disappointing, however, is the absence of the symbiotic bacteria, which may be similar in number to the number of human cells and so should be all over the place (they'd be cute to represent as kamis). |
| Cells at Work! Code Black (TV) |
Good |
(2021 Q2 Spring) |
| Chainsaw Man (TV) |
Excellent |
(2022 Q4 Fall) High quality production smoothly swings between chainsaw gore-fests and quiet character moments. Good opening to the story. Fun and engaging, looking forward to more. |
| Chobits (TV) |
So-so |
(2005 Q3) High expectation since creator also did Angelic Layer, but was sad, shut-in wish fulfillment. |
| Chrome Shelled Regios (TV) |
So-so |
|
| Chrono Crusade (TV) |
Good |
(2006 Q3) (originally rated Very Good, changed to Good 2023) Battle nun cheese. But one actually has to pay a price for the power to fight evil? Cool. |
| Code Geass: Akito the Exiled (OAV) |
Weak |
(2017) Pretty animation, but fails miserably to live up to plot, character, and world building standards set by the main series. Original Geass powers were left pretty mysterious but did seem to follow rules which this series diminshed by breaking. Fans of the main series are better off not watching. |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (TV) |
Masterpiece |
(2011) Just completed a 2nd watch through of this series (English sub this time), and it clearly moved to the Masterpiece category. Just have to admire a series so fearless of taking risks, and being able to pull off unexpected-but-makes-sense-in-restrospect plot twists. Add in complex and complexly flawed characters and relationships, lovely animation, great music and voice acting, and come out with what has to be one of the best series ever. |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (TV) |
Masterpiece |
(2012) |
| Cop Craft (TV) |
Decent |
(2020 Fall) Good mismatched cop buddy show. In 2022, I mostly recall a horrible cat episode dragging the show down. |
| Corpse Princess: Aka (TV) |
So-so |
|
| Corpse Princess: Kuro (TV) |
So-so |
Rather predictable; didn't break any new ground in the "cursed warrior looking for salvation/redemption" genre; weak ending. See Fate Stay Night instead. |
| Cowboy Bebop (TV) |
Excellent |
(2001) |
| Cowboy Bebop: The Movie |
Good |
|
| Crest of the Stars (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (ONA) |
Excellent |
(2023 Q2 Spring) Stylish, violent, and dystopian show with great world exposition, solid storytelling, and interesting characters. |
| D.N.Angel (TV) |
Not really good |
(2008 Q2) I'm not sure the creators had any idea what they were actually trying to do with this series. |
| Darker than Black (TV) |
Decent |
(2009 rated Very Good, 2022 re-rated Decent) I can't actually recall anything about this series in 2022. |
| Darwin's Game (TV) |
So-so |
(2020 Spring) Interesting world setup (we think they may be in the Matrix) and characters are okay, but despite all the build up, the final episode offers only an advertisement for another season rather than story payoff. |
| Death Note (TV) |
Very good |
(2007) If this one had ended with the first season, it'd probably be among my masterpieces. However, they just didn't know what to do with the second season, and ended up trying to recreate the dueling tension between Light and L. Um, excuse me, L's dead. It needed to go elsewhere, maybe explore the consequences of the world having an active deity, but instead ended up dragging down a brilliant start. |
| Deca-Dence (TV) |
Excellent |
(2020 Summer) You watch the first episode and think you know what's going on, but you do not. Great surprise world-building twist, satisfying story telling, and characters. |
| "Deji" Meets Girl (TV) |
Decent |
(2022 Q4 Fall) |
| Demon King Daimao (TV) |
Weak |
|
| Den-noh Coil (TV) |
Very good |
(2020 Summer) Good world building that was pretty well explored as part of the story and character development. Occasionally exposition-heavy, though some points were still unclear; information density was high and most episodes seemed a lot longer than 25 minutes (in a good way). The children's myth and urban legend lore was the best part--felt realistic, raised the stakes, and provided good twists to expectation about the plot. |
| (The) Devil Is a Part-Timer! (TV) |
Decent |
(2019 Q3 Summer) Humor around fish out of water situation and how the devils prioritize (Ashiya's, aka Demon General Alciel, devotion to budgeting and his cloak is my favorite). Too many world-building questions left open to be satisfying, however. |
| Devil May Cry (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp (TV) |
Decent |
(2024 Q1) Main character, Elise, gets the rare reverse-reverse isekai. She's a bit Mary-Sued in being the perfect, infallible, selfless surgeon, but still manages to be sympathetic, Weak world building makes it hard to figure out where the tech level of her world is supposed to be: seems to range from 1800 to 1950s. Plot beats are mostly predictable. |
| Dororo (TV 2019) |
Good |
(2022 Q1 Winter) (originally rated Very Good, changed to Good 2023) Stock revenge tale, but well executed. |
| Dr. Stone (TV) |
Good |
(2019 Q4 Fall) (eps 1-24) I'm torn on this one: I love the science and hate the fighting. Creators do a great job presenting science and getting it almost all right (there isn't easily accessible ore anywhere on Earth any more, and 3,700 years isn't anywhere near enough to change that). However, the fighting logistics and tactics are disappointingly stupid: if you're going up against a relatively small (<100) group of people armed with wood/flint/bone weapons and you have iron working, you make iron shields, armor, spears, and crossbows. Your troops are then pretty much invulnerable and you don't need to waste resources on unnecessarily advanced communications, and katanas, etc. I fear I will hate the second season because it's supposed to be about the stone wars...and their track record on fighting is awful so far. |
| Durarara!! (TV) |
Good |
|
| El-Hazard: The Magnificent World (OAV) |
Good |
|
| Elfen Lied (TV) |
Good |
(2006 Q4) Had almost enough violence in the first five minutes to satisfy me. Almost. Prettily done, but predictable. |
| (The) Eminence in Shadow (TV) |
Excellent |
(2022 Q4 Fall - 2023 Q1 Winter) How did this show, seemingly constructed of nothing but cliches, become so weirdly good? Well, the main character, a cliche overpowered isekai protagonist, is just that crazy; the world-building is subtly and elegantly done; and the story unfolds through some turns that build in intriguing ways. |
| (The) Eminence in Shadow 2nd Season (TV 2) |
Excellent |
(2023 Q4) Cid continues to be the most Cid. |
| Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte (TV) |
Good |
(2023 Q1 Winter) Meta fandom take on the villainess isekai genre worked unexpectedly well. World building actually came together in surprising yet convincing way in final couple of episodes. Pacing and build towards revelations could've been better and less expositiony, but mostly good choices were made with what felt like limited budget. |
| ERASED (TV) |
Excellent |
(2016) Great plot, excellent villain, and satisfying resolution (protagonist doesn't "win" the girl). |
| Excel Saga (TV) |
Good |
|
| Fate/stay night (TV) |
Good |
(2008 Q1) (originally rated Very Good, changed to Good 2023) Not remembering details well in 2023; seemed impressive at original watch time. |
| FLCL (OAV) |
Good |
|
| From the New World (TV) |
Very good |
(2012) Great world building and reveal. I kind of have a lot of sympathy for the mole rats. |
| Fruits Basket (TV 1/2001) |
Weak |
Somewhat interesting setup, frayed into nothing. |
| Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV) |
Bad |
(2021 Q1 Winter) |
| Fushigi Yugi (TV) |
Weak |
(2021 Q3 Summer) |
| (The) Future Diary (TV) |
Good |
(2019 Q4 Fall) Not sure how to categorize this one--maybe that's good? Looked like it might go off rails near end, but managed a mostly satisfying denouement. |
| Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (TV) |
Masterpiece |
(2007 Q3) You spend the first 4 episodes being freaked out by the bizarre animation style and thinking "The Count of Monte Cristo" in the future in space? WTH? Then it all comes together into something amazing. The animation style ends up being a genius way of transposing early 19th century styles into the far future. And they do justice to the original story. |
| (The) Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (TV) |
Good |
(2022 Q1 Winter) |
| Giant Beasts of Ars (TV) |
Bad |
(2023 Q1 Winter) Had potential but squandered it. Uneven narrative and janky animation just expose fundamental flaws in world concepts. The chapeaus were the only really intriguing element, but, like the series as a whole, went out with a whimper. |
| (The) Girl Who Leapt Through Time (movie) |
Good |
|
| Glass Fleet (TV) |
So-so |
(2008) The same sick fascination of the cliche of watching a train wreck. There were 2 moments of crowning glory though: first bringing a space battleship to a sword fight, and second the religious fanatics happily flinging themselves into a black hole. |
| Goblin Slayer (TV) |
Decent |
(2020 Summer) After disgustingly exploitative rape start, show did a bit better at being grimdark fantasy. |
| Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions (TV) |
Decent |
(2019 Q3 Summer) People somehow spawn in a fantasy world. Pretty good story of incompetent (your healer shouldn't be your tank, people) party leveling up, but nothing explained about the world/bigger picture, which makes it ultimately unsatisfying. |
| Gungrave (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Gunslinger Girl (TV) |
Bad |
(2007 Q2) Could not stay awake. Nothing new or unexpected. |
| Haibane Renmei (TV) |
Bad |
(2006 Q3) We watch anime on a very comfy couch, thus it's easy to fall asleep if my attention isn't held. After a bit, I wake up and ask what happened. The answer through this series was "We watched a disk, nothing happened." I suppose I'm just as glad this series clubbed me unconscious for 90% of its run: the sleep was more worthwhile. |
| Hand Maid May (TV) |
So-so |
|
| Handyman Saitō in Another World (TV) |
Very good |
(2023 Q1 Winter) Show took an interesting structural approach of multiple short comedy and character sketches, which would then bring together various combinations of characters for a focused story arc before dispersing again. Approach worked surprisingly, pleasantly well. Also nice that titular Saito didn't get any OP skills--he had to work smartly within his handyman skill set. Inu-Morock was a disturbing, yet compelling, revelation. Would watch more, but it wrapped up at a good place. |
| Haré+Guu (TV) |
Decent |
(2007) Rated it good back then. In 2020, I vaguely remember a weird series, but clearly remember the great Stacey's Mom AMV. Revising rating. |
| Heavenly Delusion (TV) |
Decent |
(2023 Q2 Spring) Lots of setup, minor arcs concluded, but the big answers still await. |
| Hellsing (TV) |
Decent |
Stayed awake for the pretty violence, but don't remember much of a plot. Don't remember that there was rampant stupidity either though. |
| Heroines Run the Show: The Unpopular Girl and the Secret Task (TV) |
Decent |
(2022 Q2 Spring) Some late drama could've been avoided by making the task no longer secret and the friendship betrayal was too easily resolved. Still an overall nice show. |
| High School of the Dead (TV) |
Not really good |
Some okay violence, but wandered off track into fanservice T&A too often. |
| How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom (TV) |
Decent |
(2021 Q3 Summer) Saving the world via superior bureaucracy is a decent gimmick. |
| How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom (TV 2) |
So-so |
(2022 Q1 Winter) |
| I'm in Love with the Villainess (TV) |
Decent |
(2023 Q4) Unabashedly gay romance aspect is nice, characters are fine, plot runs mostly as expected, world building is weak, and animation budget was obviously very low. |
| I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss (TV) |
So-so |
(2022 Q4 Fall) Main character refreshingly direct and determined. First arc was entertaining, second wasn't bad, but third was disappointingly poor finale (content either needed to be streamlined or second arc skipped to give this one more development time). |
| (The) Idaten Deities Know Only Peace (TV) |
Good |
(2021 Fall) Interesting premise; has potential, but clearly more story to come. |
| "Ippon" Again! (TV) |
Good |
(2023 Q1 Winter) Sports anything is generally not my genre, but this crew is charming in their enthusiasm and their exploits are engaging yet realistic. Could mostly follow the action, though I know nothing about judo. Would watch a 2nd season. |
| (The) Irresponsible Captain Tylor (TV) |
Very good |
(2009) Tylor the idiot savant. Maybe idiot, maybe savant... Strangely entertaining and oddly optimistic. |
| Jin-Roh - The Wolf Brigade (movie) |
Decent |
|
| Josee, The Tiger and the Fish (movie) |
Good |
(2022 Q3 Summer) Not bad. Pretty animation; apparently accurate to Osaka. Wow, Japanese hospitals let you stay a long time. |
| Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (TV) |
Good |
(2019 Q4 Fall) Knowledge: every rat's best friend. Thus the wish (and last episode of whining) disappoints me. |
| Karin (TV) |
Not really good |
|
| Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (TV) |
Excellent |
(2020 Winter/Spring - Very good) Cool little anime about the power of creativity when harnessed by pragmatism. Great characters. (2022 moved to Excellent.) |
| Kiki's Delivery Service (movie) |
Good |
|
| KONOSUBA - God's Blessing on This Wonderful World– Legend of Crimson (movie) |
So-so |
(2020 Spring) |
| Last Exile (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Love After World Domination (TV) |
Very good |
(2022 Q2 Spring) Charming portrayal of a couple in a Romeo-Juliet situation, but the couple actually has great communication and relationship building skills. Fudo is, in fact, such a great boyfriend that we have created the Light/Fudo boyfriend scale, rating worst to best. Series also breaks tropes by having the beach episode be the best episode. Bit of a disappointment in the final episode which could have taken the relationship public but didn't. |
| Made in Abyss (TV) |
Good |
(2018 Q4 Fall) 13 episodes got maybe halfway through the plot, or halfway down the pit? Interesting world building; have to see if it pays off. |
| Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul (movie) |
Not really good |
(2022 Q2 Summer) Seemed to be going for cheap shock horror, with a clumsy part-flashback scramble to make you sympathetic for the newly introduced Prushka, who's obviously set up for horrible demise. If you want moral satisfaction, Bondrewd should not have been left alive, and if you want moral complexity, Riko should have had to face making her own white whistle. |
| (The) Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess (TV) |
Very good |
(2023 Q1 Winter) Rare good use of isekai character, where she feels impostor syndrome, isn't handed ridiculous powers, and uses (unusually vague) memories of Earth as inspiration for the magitech she invents. Characters and their interactions are good. Story is compelling. World isn't hugely fleshed out, but the revolution is achieved and satisfying. |
| (The) Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (TV) |
Decent |
(2008 Q2) Any active deity would be evil and need constant appeasement. |
| Metropolis (movie) |
Decent |
(2022 Q2 Spring) |
| Mieruko-chan (TV) |
Decent |
(2021 Fall) |
| Millennium Actress (movie) |
Very good |
|
| (The) Misfit of Demon King Academy (TV) |
Excellent |
(2020 Summer) Succeeds due to fine balance on the knife edge of satire played perfectly straight. Also defies convention by making the overpowered main character charming instead of an annoying blank viewer insert. |
| Mob Psycho 100 (TV) |
Good |
(2021 Q1 Winter) |
| Mob Psycho 100 II (TV) |
Good |
(2021 Q1 Winter) |
| Mob Psycho 100 III (TV) |
Good |
(2022 Q4 Fall) Series is good, but has an artsy-pretentiousness that prevents it from reaching as high as it could in my ratings. |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Monster (TV) |
Good |
(2011) Lengthy series due to the fractal story. Very character-driven, yet the main character, Dr Tenma, doesn't change at all--though I suppose one could say that's his triumph. Rare anime that doesn't have any science fiction or fantasy elements. Tough one to rate. |
| Moriarty the Patriot (TV) |
Good |
(2020 Fall) Interesting spin on the Sherlock Holmes canon. Some fairly clever, close-to-fact-based early episodes. |
| Moriarty the Patriot (TV 2) |
Good |
(2021 Q2 Spring) Super butler episode was silly. What Irene Adler became was awesome. Probably didn't need the after-credits bit. Still overall good. |
| Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Murder Princess (OAV) |
Good |
|
| Mushi-Shi (TV) |
Decent |
(2008 Q2) Interesting episodic set of myths. Little slow and non-violent for me, but the world-building stood out. |
| My Dress-Up Darling (TV) |
Masterpiece |
(2022 Q4 Winter, eps 1-12) Slice of life, romcoms are completely not my thing, but this one transcends the genre. Rating: 2 horses rearing and neighing plus a gomen omelet. |
| My Happy Marriage (TV) |
Good |
(2023 Q3) Good characterization and world building make this an interesting take on the Cinderella tale. Some implications of the world building aren't fully explored and some characters seem to change their attitudes/minds too easily (or do they, given Miyo's powers?), but main romance story reaches a satisfying conclusion. |
| My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (TV) |
Very good |
(2020 Q2 Spring) Great take on isekai and harem genres. (Actually only the second harem show that I've liked, first being Ouran Host Club.) Catarina is a likable lead--you do spend a lot of time laughing at her obliviousness, but she's charming in her idiocy and it's sympathetic laughter. Series felt like it came to a good conclusion. (I fear the second season--there are ways it could be interesting--but I suspect they will try to continue the formula that worked in the first while no longer having the situation that made the formula work, à la Death Note.) |
| Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok (TV) |
Weak |
(2008 Q1) Deity hates being nerfed, but decides to stay nerfed. Other deities show up to threaten, then wuss out. Vaguely tantalized that it might possibly be good, but failed to deliver. |
| Nabari no Ou (TV) |
Decent |
(2009) Unusual in having an adolescent male lead who wasn't sexually awkward. A few other less typical characters as well. Story mostly held together, but wasn't outstanding. |
| Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (movie) |
Good |
|
| Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV) |
Not really good |
One of the earliest animes I watched, probably over a decade ago around the turn of the millennium. Then, I thought it was fairly interesting until the craptastic ending. Upon rewatch, I thought the entire thing was weak. |
| Ninja Scroll (movie) |
Decent |
|
| Noblesse: Awakening (OAV) |
Not really good |
(2020 Fall) Not terribly impressive, but enough potential to get me to watch the series. That was a mistake. |
| Noir (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Oh My Goddess! (OAV) |
Decent |
|
| One Piece: The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventure in Alabasta (movie 8) |
Awful |
(2007) Pathetic attempt to compress some 30 episodes into a 2 hour movie left people who'd seen the episodes dissatisfied and those who hadn't perplexed. Time would be better spent extracting grout from between bathroom tiles. |
| One Punch Man (TV) |
Good |
(2021 Q1 Winter) |
| One Punch Man (TV 2) |
So-so |
(2021 Q1 Winter) Don't tournament arc me, bro. Transparent excuse to keep Saitama out of the action. |
| Origin ~Spirits of the Past~ (movie) |
So-so |
(2008 Q3) |
| Ouran High School Host Club (TV) |
Decent |
Not at all my type of series, but the apathetic/mocking/occasionally sympathetic reactions of the main character saved it. |
| Overlord (TV) |
Good |
(2018 Q4 Fall) (#01) Somewhat hackneyed premise, but fun to be the ostensible bad guys. Ains and his crew are charming in the way that well written casually brutal psychopaths can be. |
| Overlord II (TV) |
Good |
(2018 Q4 Fall) (#02) The fun continues. Great humor to be had in how much smarter the minions are than their ostensible boss, Ains, and his internal vs external dialogue is a great way to play that out. |
| Overlord III (TV) |
Very good |
(2018 Q4 Fall) (#03) Adorable giant goats of the apocalypse are the best. Mehhhh. |
| Overlord IV (TV) |
Good |
(2022 Q3 Summer) A great leader can be not the sharpest pencil in the box if (a) he is ridiculously overpowered and (b) he actually listens to his much smarter minions. |
| Pandora Hearts (TV) |
Not really good |
Interesting world setup, but annoying characters and they stopped the series ~3 episodes shy of actually wrapping up the story. |
| Parallel World Pharmacy (TV) |
Decent |
(2022 Q3 Summer) Would like to be Bookworm, but where Urano (aka Myne/Main) is playing ironman hardcore mode, Pharma is playing easy mode with god cheats enabled and none of his victories feel earned. Some good medical science; though, without a a green revolution, this world is going to face massive starvation soon. Charming but underwhelming series. |
| Paranoia Agent (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Parasyte -the maxim- (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Patema Inverted (movie) |
Decent |
(2022 Q2 Spring) No, YOU've been upside down all along. |
| Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ (TV) |
Good |
|
| Ple Ple Pleiades (OAV) |
Weak |
(2018 Q4 Fall) (#04) Chibi animation and themes don't fit the flavor of Overlord, the originating series. Also never really got the appeal of maids. |
| Ple Ple Pleiades 2 (ONA) |
Weak |
(2018 Q4 Fall) (#05) |
| Ple Ple Pleiades 3 (ONA) |
Weak |
(2018 Q4 Fall) (#06) |
| Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (movie) |
Decent |
|
| Princess Mononoke (movie) |
Excellent |
(2001) My favorite of the the Studio Ghibli films. |
| Psycho-Pass (TV) |
Excellent |
(2020 Summer) Great world building with exploration of the consequences. Good plot placing (I usually called the big reveals an episode before they happened). Interesting characters. Too bad that, like The Matrix, there were no sequels. (Okay see review of season 2 if you don't get The Matrix joke.) |
| Puella Magi Madoka Magica (TV) |
Good |
(2012) Interesting deconstruction of the magic girl genre. Started a bit slow, but plot came together well. |
| Pumpkin Scissors (TV) |
Not really good |
Potentially interesting world set up, but didn't go anywhere. Characters rather stock. |
| R.O.D -The TV- |
So-so |
(2006 Q4) (Rated So-so in 2023, as I don't remember this show, only the earlier OAV.) |
| RahXephon (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Ramen Fighter Miki (TV) |
Decent |
Just accept that it's all over-the-top silliness. |
| Ranking of Kings (TV) |
Decent |
(2021 Fall - 2022 Winter) First half very engaging; unusual art style, but it worked. Second half went off the rails unfortunately. |
| Raven of the Inner Palace (TV) |
Very good |
(2022 Q4 Fall) Unusual series based in Chinese-esque mythology that deliberately and precisely unfolds its world building, with emphasis that what people think is true may be anything from a distortion to outright propaganda lies. Good characters and development. But series as is obviously not complete; feels more like a solid prologue than a concluded story. |
| Re:CREATORS (TV) |
Good |
|
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (TV) |
Good |
(2017) (originally rated Weak, changed to Good 2021) Apparently I watched this... It was vaguely familiar when I saw an 8 minute summary, but mostly I only recall the main character was really annoying. Paid more attention in the 2021 re-watch and thought it a good bit better. |
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (TV 2) |
Good |
(2021 Q3 Summer) New character won most annoying crown. The rabbits were metal. |
| Read or Die (OAV) |
Very good |
(2004) The title is my motto and the main character is a bookworm, although she destroys a lot of books... |
| Record of Lodoss War (OAV) |
Very good |
|
| Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight (TV) |
Good |
|
| Revolutionary Girl Utena (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie |
So-so |
|
| RIN - Daughters of Mnemosyne (TV) |
Good |
|
| Rosario + Vampire (TV) |
Bad |
(2008) Sarcastic voice-over bat was really the only good point of this series. |
| (The) Rose of Versailles (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Rurouni Kenshin (TV 1996) |
Excellent |
(2000-2002) Admittedly this one receives an excellent because I pretend the 3rd season doesn't exist (I read that the anime producers outran the manga and so didn't have any story to tell; also the production values dropped drastically). Proper order of viewing: Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal, Seasons 1 & 2, then Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection. Though the show does have compelling characters, good stories, and an absolutely fascinating setting at the beginning of the Meiji period, they combine to make a sum that is more than its parts. |
| Rurouni Kenshin (TV 2023) |
Good |
(2023 Q3 - Q4) Better average production values than the original, but treading mostly the same ground. Have to see if Kyoto arc holds up and if they fix season 3. |
| Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection (OAV) |
Very good |
(2002) |
| Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture |
Decent |
|
| Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (OAV) |
Masterpiece |
(2002) |
| S-CRY-ed (TV) |
Good |
(2008 Q1) |
| Saga of Tanya the Evil (TV) |
Decent |
Interesting premise starts strong, but story is incomplete so no idea if quality will hold up through the denouement. |
| Samurai 7 (TV) |
Very good |
(2007) The classic story, with mecha! Say what? Actually, they made it work. |
| Samurai Champloo (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Samurai Pizza Cats (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Sands of Destruction (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Sasaki and Peeps (TV) |
Decent |
(2024 Q1) Nice to have an adult protagonist, and interaction of the two main characters is good. World building approach just seems to be throw in everything and the kitchen sink. Final episode (#12) of first cour just disappointingly ends in with all plot threads open; would watch a second cour to see if it goes somewhere. |
| Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement (TV) |
Decent |
(2023 Q1 Winter) Series appeal turns on whether or not you like the scheming, mercenary, manipulative (though she's not actually as much of any of these traits as she imagines herself to be) main character, Mitsuha. Episode 10, Then Let It Be War, was terrible--illogical plot and reused bad animation--but most of them ranged from okay to entertaining. |
| Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It (TV) |
Not really good |
(2020 Spring) They needed to get some actual scientists to consult--seemed like humanity majors were trying to fake being scientific. What's the first step of any scientific research project? You review the literature. This they did not do. |
| Scrapped Princess (TV) |
Good |
(2007 Q2) |
| Serial Experiments Lain (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Shakugan no Shana (TV) |
Decent |
(2007 Q3) Started out with a lot of promise, but then began pulling punches and wussed out on story and character. |
| Shonen Onmyouji (TV) |
Good |
|
| Shy (TV) |
Decent |
(2023 Q4) At least the extreme social anxiety is mostly not played for laughs. Not a bad take on the superhero genre, but not exceptional. Final arc dragged across 5 episodes. Getting big Vorlon vibes from the heroes' boss. |
| (The) Slayers (TV) |
Very good |
Lina's response to mild irritation with overwhelming violence remains my favorite aspect of this hilarious series. |
| Slayers Gorgeous (movie) |
Decent |
|
| Slayers Great (movie) |
So-so |
|
| (The) Slayers Next (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Slayers Premium (movie) |
So-so |
|
| Slayers Return (movie) |
So-so |
|
| (The) Slayers Revolution (TV) |
Very good |
|
| (The) Slayers Try (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle (TV) |
Very good |
(2020 Fall) Unexpectedly charming, mostly because the titular princess--in her obsessive quest for quality sleep--is more monstrous than any of the demons. The "hero" being dismissed as "D-whatsits" is also great. |
| So I'm a Spider, So What? (TV) |
Good |
(2021 Q2 Spring) Interesting take on isekai reincarnation trope. Kumoko's struggles are engaging. |
| Sorcerer Hunters (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Spirited Away (movie) |
Very good |
|
| Spy×Family (TV) |
Excellent |
(2022 Q2) Character driven comedy-drama that arises as a natural consequence of the world it's in. Grenade ring proposal is best proposal. Writer understands small children: Anya knows almost everything but understands almost nothing. |
| Spy×Family (TV 2) |
Very good |
(2022 Q4) Maintains charm of first season, but unfortunately plot loses momentum and becomes episodic after the initial three part dog acquisition episodes. Only the final episode returns to the overall story arc. |
| Spy×Family (TV 3) |
Very good |
(2023 Q4) Yor's arc is great; rest is less memorable. |
| Star Blazers (TV) |
Good |
(1979) I first watched the bowdlerized, poor English dub on a TV that only had 4 channels total. Didn't realize when I was seven that there was such as genre as science fiction (sadly didn't discover that for another six years), but my kid self though this show was awesome. Probably rated higher than it should be due to nostalgia, but I did still enjoy watching it again in 2001. |
| (The) Story of Saiunkoku (TV) |
Good |
(2020 Spring) A very pretty series about the first woman to become an official in a Chinese-inspired imperial court. There's a lot of complicated politicing that builds naturally around that theme; though the exposition and pacing could do a better job laying out the narrative. While the world building can occasionally inspire "huh?" moments, the discrimination, harassment, and obstruction a woman building a career in a man's world was utterly, sometimes gut-wrenchingly and fist-clinchingly, realistic. |
| (The) Story of Saiunkoku Second Series (TV 2) |
Good |
(2020 Spring) The story ends at a spot that could lead the viewer's imagination to satisfying conclusions, but is open enough that I would happily watch another couple of seasons of the main character succeeding enough in her career ambitions that there would be room for success in romantic endeavors as well. Overall characterization was compelling and charming enough that I'd like to see more of quite a lot of the other characters too. |
| Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (TV) |
Weak |
(2023 Q1 Winter) Somewhat interesting premise. Wobbly execution. First arc was okay. Then Jonas kept showing up, ugh. Then it's revealed in the final arc that there's extreme misogyny because the kingdom's religion and founding mythos blame women for the "fall" and so women aren't supposed to be sugar sculptors--somehow, Anne is unaware; somehow, Anne never saw her mother encounter bigotry; somehow, in a years of training and a year of working as a sugar artisan, Anne never had anyone take her to task. Yeah, totally broke my suspension of disbelief: if you act outside of your assigned gender role, everyone and their fourth cousin will cross an eight lane highway to correct you. Conclusion of final arc was unreasonable, sadly-obvious set up of a hook for another season, which I will not watch. |
| Sword Art Online (TV) |
Good |
(2013 rated Very Good, 2022 re-rated Good) People trapped in game world where death kills you in real life. Good high stakes story which crosses back into the real world. Asuna rather than Kirito should have fought the last bad guy, though. |
| Sword Art Online II (TV) |
Weak |
(2014 rated Decent, 2022 re-rated Weak) High stakes that made the first season interesting are gone and show isn't really going anywhere. Kirito has also clearly become the DM's character now and Asuna (the actual cool character) continues to be sidelined. |
| Sword of the Stranger (movie) |
Decent |
|
| Talentless Nana (TV) |
Good |
(2020 Q4 Fall) Interesting death game, not sure if world building will payoff. Story clearly not complete. |
| Tearmoon Empire (TV) |
Decent |
(2023 Q4) Viva la Revolucion! Quality of the final arc (post-diary disappearance and escape from guillotine-chan) took a big dive. |
| Tears to Tiara (TV) |
Good |
Randomly mash together Celtic and Roman mythology, stir with the Matter of Britian. Worked pretty well nonetheless. |
| Tenchi Universe (TV) |
Decent |
|
| (The) Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye (TV) |
So-so |
|
| Those Who Hunt Elves (TV) |
So-so |
(2002) Cute gimmick, fairly amusing. |
| Those Who Hunt Elves 2 (TV) |
Not really good |
(2003) Gimmick does not stretch to support a sequel. |
| Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs (TV) |
Very good |
(2022 Q2 Spring) Entered with low expectations, but the first episode made me want to watch more, then so did the second, then the third...then I'd watched the whole season. This show'll likely be highly underrated, but the creators ran with the ridiculous world of the otome game and made it interesting. Also enjoy the bitter hate that the main character feels for almost everything in the world. |
| Trigun (TV) |
Excellent |
(2001) |
| Trinity Blood (TV) |
Bad |
(2007) They obviously blew their entire budget on making it look pretty. Who needs coherent story, characters who may have once had vague contact with reality, or world-building, right? |
| (The) Twelve Kingdoms (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Uncle From Another World (TV) |
Good |
(2022 Q3 Summer - 2023 Q1 Winter) Post-isekai deconstruction with pointed commentary on the genre. So many production delays, though, in trying to get 13 episodes out. Unfortunately, series didn't really go anywhere or conclude anything. |
| Undead Murder Farce (TV) |
Excellent |
(2023 Q3) Lots of crazy fun and literary allusions, great style. Looking forward to more. |
| Utawarerumono (TV) |
Very good |
(2006; 2022 Summer rewatch) Unexpectedly complex (enough so that we had to research the plot/world, to confirm what we'd guessed from watching just the TV show). Nice escalation of action. Held up well even 16 years and a lot of great anime later. |
| Vampire Hunter D (OAV) |
So-so |
|
| Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (movie) |
Decent |
|
| Vinland Saga (TV) |
Very good |
(2021 Q1 Winter) Interesting setting in Nordic Europe during the Viking age. Happily the show pulls a bait and switch and the main character of this season isn't the adolescent angst boy, but rather the far more interesting Askeladd. |
| (The) Vision of Escaflowne (TV) |
Good |
|
| Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song- (TV) |
Very good |
(2021 Q2 Spring) |
| WATAMOTE (TV) |
So-so |
(2020) When someone says, "Spend time with me or I'll kill myself," get help! Mental illness played for laughs. Did some research, and it turns out Japan doesn't have therapists or counseling, only psychiatric hospitals for crisis cases. |
| Witch Hunter Robin (TV) |
Decent |
(2005 Q3) |
| Wolf's Rain (TV) |
Weak |
(2005 Q4) Trying to go somewhere pseudo-profound very, very, very, very slowly. |
| (The) World's Finest Assassin (TV) |
Very good |
(2021 Q4 Fall) Entered with low expectations, but this turned out awesome. So nice having an isekai protagonist who died old, instead of in adolescence. The goddess turns out to be hedging her bets, recruiting dozens of people instead of a chosen one. The OP is as good as Cowboy Beebop's. Tragically underrated show. |
| Ya Boy Kongming! (TV) |
Masterpiece |
(2022 Q2 Spring) Ridiculous premise executed to wonderful success by charming characters and great music. One of the best OPs. Also, no romantic sub-plots--there wasn't room for romance and it would have only detracted, so good call. |
| Yurei Deco (TV) |
Not really good |
(2022 Q3 Summer) Show started with such potential: a unique and cool artistic style, hints of a deep and fascinating world, and positioned for biting social commentary. All was unfortunately squandered, making this the most disappointing anime of the season, maybe one of the most disappointing overall. |
| Yuri!!! on Ice (TV) |
Decent |
(2019 Q4 Fall) Well done series, but I just wasn't sufficiently engaged/charmed by the characters (in a character driven and focused show) to really care. We did end up googling and learning a bit more about ice skating. |
