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Mar 27, 2026
The second season of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is among my most anticipated anime this year, and for good reasons. It established itself as colorful story with captivating characters and their developments. Its fantasy setting contains world building along with a wealth of ideas. To put it simply, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End does exactly what it needed to be again this season.
Following the adventures of Frieren, Fern, and Stark, this season felt familiar yet also refreshing. The first episode involved these characters trying to find work, by Frieren's suggestion. It doens't take them long to run into trouble in their world. Stark's character growth is
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shown in these early episodes when he realizes his companions brings out the best in him. In one particular episode, Stark even musters the courage to ask Fern out on a date. Their date resembles a normal one, even as it takes place in a fantasy world. While it wasn't perfect, Fern respects Stark enough to try and make the date as best as it could be. Throughout this season, you can see Stark's character contrast from his previous self. He is more courageous especially in the face of danger while also offering advice for his party. Stark always felt like a character with a lot of potential and this season explores those potential.
As with heroes, there's always a story to tell. Frieren is one character who tells that story, and connection to the Hero of the South. It's one of those stories that tells about the deeper lore of their world's past. As with a lot of fantasy anime, their world has demons and even in the present timeline, our adventurers has to deal with them. Indeed, the show develops its world building elements through legacy, rather than just adding new places. They do travel to new places however, such as Etwas Mountains and foreign cities. The characters they encounter varies from dwarves, humans, and other races. An interesting take is on the demons in this show, which many view as malevolent entities. Not all demons are created equal however, as the adventurers eventually meet a demon who is curious about humans. The world that Frieren goes on a journey is vast, complex, and an experience that isn't your typical journey.
Frieren has never forgotten about Himmel. It's a main motivation of her journey since the beginning of the series itself. In the past, she didn't care much about the concept of time because of her age and elf origin. Yet, in this timeline, she values it along with her companions. To her, meeting Himmel again serves a motivation and she wants to tell everything about her journey to him. The character relationship between Himmel and Frieren were explored in the previous season, but still remains more important than ever. This very journey is narrative driven by Frieren's desires, far more than just reaching a destination or accomplishing a set goal.
Even at 10 episodes, the show's core asethetics remain stellar throughout the show. The art style has that pastel look of light fantasy. The mood is often melancholic, as it protrays characters expressing human emotions. At times, it also pokes fun of Frieren's emotional outbursts such as her childlike crying in one of the episodes. Other times, humans such as Stark draws an emotional feeling with how his character behaves. Both theme songs also work so effectively to convey that mood.
Watching Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 is nothing short of an enjoyment compared to the first season, even at a slower pace and less episodes. The world and storytelling speaks of itself when it wants to show the audience what it wants. Frieren, Fern, and Stark continously maintain a emotional bond as the trio we just can't take eyes off of.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 26, 2026
The dark adventure fantasy 'Sentenced to Be a Hero' did something I was not expecting: satisfying the needs for a unorthodox fantasy. Written by Rocket Shōkai, he brings together a medieval world of science, magic, and survival themes together, stitched for a hero. But unlike traiditional heroes viewed as saviors, the heroes in this show are branded as criminals and looked down upon by society. We follow the story of Xylo Forbartz, a hero sentenced and set up as part of a larger conspiracy.
Set in a land of a fictional Kingdom, we learn how Xylo became a "hero", and also quickly find out why he
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was being set up. But it doesn't take long for him to get a partner named. a Goddness named Teoritta. Reluctantly, the two develop a bond and become a formidable duo as they fight against the demonic faeries, the main antagonists that threatens the existence of humanity. The Goddesses in this show are unconventionally protrayed. The most prominent among them is Teoritta for her witty personality but also a brave heart. Xylo on the other hand, tries to keep his distance because of his dark past. The two formed a pact that benefits them both as they take on the world.
But they are not the only main characters. Patausche Kivia, a military commander who was originally supposed to be partners with Teoritta develops a complicated relationship with Xylo. Initially, he treats Xylo with hostility and discontent. It isn't until she witness his actions firsthand that she sees him in a different light. However, this season appears to only scratch the surface of their relationship. Much more of it is focused on Xylo and Teoritta. Xylo's story encompasses revenge themes because of the story's setup. Through flashbacks, it became known why he is sentenced to be a hero. Watching his personality grow colder is justified from his initial character introduction. Xylo himself is not without flaws however. He has a brutal approach to solving problems that sometimes puts others in jeopardy. Deep down, he is fundamentally a kind person although his actions can be interpreted at times as brash and crude. On the other hand, Teoritta explifies the characteristics of a Goddess for being proud and noble. She's an energetic light bulb who always speak her mind and reminds of others who she is. Despite her childish manners, Xylo comes to slowly trust her skills and abilities. The two exists because it works, like two opposites attract.
For a dark fantasy, the show had to hit the right buttons to be what it's trying to be. From the first episode, we see how Xylo's life spiraled and sentenced to be a hero. The heroes in this show are also gifted with immortality but this is a far cry from a gift. In reality, this immortality allows the heroes to be resurrected so they can fight over and over against the demonic fearies. It's a sentence worse than death itself, and Xylo knows. Nonethless, he continues to fight against the corruption, demons, and obstacles that threatens his goals. The corruption is far more about Xylo himself and runs within deeper roots within the Kingdom's system and their connection with the Goddesses. However, 12 episodes is not long to explore the depths of its plot. We are treated more with the concepts and ideas, than the juicy story within.
Sentenced to Be a Hero uses a combination of dark, cell-shaded art style, while adapting its violence, and medieval setting. The violence is designed to look fluid and crude, reflecting in the harsh environment of its world. The demonic fearies are made with gruesome look highlighting their dangerous nature. Xylo's character designs looks anything but heroic. Instead, he has the look of a warrior who has been through a dark past. This contrasts with Teoritta, who is designed to look more graceful and childish. Likewise, characters in this show are fantasy-like with a variety of demeanors. The action fuses its cell shaded battle chereography with lighting and motions. This may honestly be Studio Kai's most impressive work yet.
Ultimately, a dark fantasy anime like this may not be suited for everyone. Xylo is more of an anti-hero than a hero, a term deconstructed in this show that is synonymous with criminal. His journey has not been an easy one and neither is the circumstances of his world. This 12-episode adaptation is only the beginning, and there's much more to be told.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 18, 2026
Yuushi Ukai's only work to date embraces the death games, a theme that hasn't truly taken off in the anime industry. It adapts a high stakes game with suspense and eerie storytelling that tries to keep the viewers from guessing. Beyond just the visual characteristics of the anime itself, Shiboyugi evokes a sense of uncertainity, ambigiouous intent, and trying to make purpose of its death games.
Watching SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table is just similar at first as watching other battle royale related shows. Death Games serves more like a fancy word that can be expanded beyond a battle royale. It's
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not the standard type that has the world watching even with prizes to be won. No, the death games' real reward is about survival, and has that high stake agenda it pushes from day one. Yuki is a 17 year old girl is caught in the middle of these death games as she tries to discovery her own purpose in life. This anime follows her story as well as the characters she encounters.
As the main show's theme revolves around death, we have to realize and understand what it really wants to sell to us. No one can escape death in this show but it's how certain characters approaches this idea that formulates its story. For instance, Yuki herself adapts a calm, composing, and calculating attitude throughout the show. She's not malicious but also calculating enough to play these games in her own way. This is seen in the first episode when she eliminated another participant in an act of desperation. Throughout the series, you can see how clever Yuki is with her every action. And while not every one of these actions goes in the right direction, she plans and lives with rules she built for herself.
SHIBOYUGI sets up for an experience that tries to give variety. The death games try to be as unique as possible in every episode, ranging from escaping trap rooms, team battles, obstacle courses, and adapting the 'survival of the fittest' theme. It's as if the show treats the characters like animals in nature. Meanwhile, Yuki shows a colorful amount of emotions that may surprise you. However, the rest of the cast feels overshadowed by Yuki's presence. Her role carries much more weight than others so it's essentially her show, at least from a storytelling perspective. For instance, one of the later games known as Candle Woods quickly shows which side is the weaker link. Characters such as Mishiro, Kotoha, Riko, etc gets very minimal characterization that is quickly forgotten except by their name. Even Moegi, a character with a strong ambition to succeed finds herself lost in her own motivations. This has somewhat mirrors with Yuki's story as both seeks to discover purpose in thse games.
It has one of the most unique style of animation I've seen in recent years. The visual quality looks like paintings that came to life, and the characters protrayed like dancers competing on a stage. The details of characters' emotive reactions are also highlighted to make them look and feel as human as possible. Yuki in particular is decorated to look vulnerable at first glance yet contrasts this with her personality. Other characters are all made to look delicate yet deadly. To say it as simple as possible, these are what people can call 'deadly beauties'. However, there may also be some controversy in later episodes related to fan service. Most of the cast has a younger look resembling those of teenagers. The bath game in particular has characters wearing nothing but towels while members of Bunny Team are put into suggestive outfits. While I don't think it's the show's intent to make them like walking eye candy, it can definitely catch the viewers offguard. Visually speaking however, this is still one of the most striking shows I've seen.
Beyond the deadly stakes, survival themes, and what some people can designate as nihilistic, this anime was an enjoyable watch that highlights how to tell a storytelling about death games. Yuki's journey to discover herself make her come to understand the morality of life and death. As this show's main themes revolves around the very concept of death, we should appreciate how it tells that story.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 27, 2025
At this point, Spy x Family isn't just a franchise about a spy, assassin, and family anymore. It's defined itself as the golden standard for a spy comedy shounen. With three TV seasons, movies, and games, its supremacy feels like it would remain unchallenged in similar themes. Now that we've come to known the main characters and story, how far can they push the boundaries in this season?
One of the key ingredients that made this franchise successful is that its target audience is expansive and open. Practically anyone can watch this show as it's unrelated to any other franchise. Season 3 obviously requires previous knowledge
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of the previous installations but you shouldn't be here anyway if you haven't seen those. Spy x Family Season 3 drops us right into where we are most comfortable with - Anya Forger and her beloved "family" in another spy comedy adventure.
But this season allowed us to see the history and character background of Loid Forger, a complex character with pacifist views. His character personality is complex because of his role in the show, where he takes on the mission to adopt Anya and marry Yor to form a fake family. Because of this role, his personality often changes depending on what he's assigned to do. Taking on the alias 'Twilight', Loid exmplifies the characteristics of a professional spy. His way of controlling his emotions while planning ahead are just a few examples. However, his past was also complicated by the war from where he grew up. We see tragically how his life changed from a happy boy to a person who sees the reality of war. His loss includes his family and friends, and motivates him to be the spy we know today. It's a background story necessary to understand by watching and believing.
One of the most entertaining story arcs also make its appearance that involves Anya, Becky, Damian, and the entire class. The 'Bus Hijacking Arc' is exactly how it sounds as their lives are put into danger when Anya's class is taken hostage. Neither Loid or Yor are there to save the day but instead, it's up to Anya and her mind reading abilities. She remains the key figure to determine what's real and fake while also helping law enforcement track down those criminals. As thrilling as it sounds, this arc also marks the lighthearted humorous moments as this show is known for. Yet, Anya continues to show her courage even when she realizes what's she's going up against. Similarly, Damian steps up to risk his life despite not having a special gift like Anya. This is a story arc that captures the emotions of kids being thrown into a hostage situations. It's an arc that brings out the best from its characters in many ways.
Finally, Loid's spy skills are tested once again in the final arc of the season. It shows how he continues to handle missions in with his expertise in spy while dealing with new threats. Nothing should really surprise you here when we see how skilled Loid has been, something he's shown since the very first episode of the franchise.
Spy x Family Season 3 delivers what it set out to do after that's continuing the legacy of a successful franchise. The third season has a deep dive into Loid Forger, a story arc that tests the limits of main cast, and continuing to also push the boundaries of a spy and family series.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 22, 2025
It's exactly as it sounds. Our main protagonsit Akira obtains the assassin class that exceeds the hero class. It's not just him but his entire class gets sucked into a fantasy world. You've probably seen a dozen of these anime every year because the current landscape of anime adaptations loves isekai fantasy.
It's almost too easy to write a story these days off of these tropes. You make a protagonist with overpowered stats and give them the most basic personality possible. That's sort of the person Oda Akira is, a unremarkable young man. On first impressions, you won't notice anything special about him. Akira's character
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personalties reflects those of a typical fantasy hero: couragous, selfless, but also reserved and keeps to himself. Well, maybe not every fantasy but he definitely checks the boxes for a few of those traits. During his journey, he also meets the beautiful elf girl Amelia. And you can kinda draw the line how their relationship progresses from the start.
Before that, Akira is entangled into a conspiracy related to the King and Queen of the royal kingdom. He realizes their hidden agenda and their plans for his class but not before he escapes. It's not soon after that he meets the poster elf girl Amelia. Watching their journey from start to finish is a very mixed reception from a storytelling perspective. Right off the bat, there's an essence of attraction she feels towards him. Female elves tends to be subjects for romance partners for a protagonist, so this shouldn't be a shocker to see. Nontheless, the anime doesn't waste much time for Amelia to fall for him. It's a very simple and practical way of falling in love as Amelia feels attached to Akira's lonliness. The lack of development and writing hurts Amelia's character development. On the other hand, the anime does have some focus on her family background and relationship with her tribe. Early episodes shows that Amelia had a somewhat complicated past.
Akira himself is a bit of a misunderstood character, at least on paper. His apperance gives the impression of an unapproachable individual but deep down is a kind young man. He doesn't see himself as a hero or fight for fame or glory. Instead, he follows a path where he believes what's right right from his viewpoint. It's because of these traits that certain characters begins to trust him such as Amelia, Yoru, and Latty. Akira's relationships with his classmates are somewhat more indifferent in this show. We see most of his adventures with his new companions. The glimpses we see him in the real world are mostly from the first episode. Nonetheless, Akira's personality remains largely the same for the entire show, with minimal change. This anime is more story focused and character focus is mostly told through flashbacks and background stories.
My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's does still fall into many tropes associated with modern fantasy adventures. The presence of guilds, quests, and magic is present, almost like they had to be packaged into this anime to meet requirements. Amelia is protrayed with elegance and beauty, as you'd expect from a female elf. She's a very straightforward character that seems to fill every void for a main female protagonist. Unfortunately, some characters in the anime has more charisma and overshadows her personality such as Latty. It's also unclear exactly how Akira feels about her but strongly hinted to be based on trust and lingering towards romance.
While not overly extravangant or mindblowing, this show does have a stylistic look for its characters. Amelia is the most noticable and protrayed as a beautiful elf with unique silver hair. Akira is designed with a tougher look including an intimidating face and outfit to protray him as an assassin. The beastmen in this anime all possesses animal characteristics, fit for a fantasy setting. You just know these type of characters all belong to this type of show when we have different species collectively exist in the same universe. The world building expands throughout the show through traveling and Akira's adventures but remains mostly asethetic to its fantasy elements.
Fantasy adventures in today's modern world can be complex or relatively straighforward. This anime falls more in line with the latter as there's no overly complicated storylines. It's still a very approachable show as the characters are easy to understand. The world building is simple but the character development isn't impressive. Yet, I do want to say this anime is easily watchable by anyone. There's way too much fantasy adventure and isekai out there these days so this anime just adds one more to list.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Dec 20, 2025
My Friend's Little Sister Has It In for Me! sounds like the type of show where 'if you've seen it once, you've seen them all'. The sister type rom-coms has been a recurring trend for a long time, that almost any long time anime fan may have encountered them in way or another. From the advertised materials, promotional videos, and key plot, nothing stood out that made this anime a must-watch.
Did you know this anime took more than 4 years to debut on the TV screen? It was announced back in 2021 and made a few updates now and then before announcing its official release
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window of Fall 2025. That already set off a few red flags and concerns about its production schedule. When the preview videos debuted, it didn't make strong impressions. It was more like 'oh, it's finally airing after all these years'. Most people forgot about this show and may even more familiar with their other work such as Days with My Stepsister and Spy Classroom. Nonetheless, we are introduced to the main story right away and its poster girl, Iroha Kohinata.
Iroha Kohinata checks off a bucket list of a rom-com female protagonist. She's attractive, charismatic, gives the impression of a role model at school. When she's alone with her fellow classmate Akiteru Oobosh, her personality changes more to a stereotypical little sister. I'm talking about the type that gets clingy like a talking shadow, and follows you everywhere where you go. Akiteru deals with Iroha in the best way he can, but it doesn't always come easy. To be honest, he actually consdiers Iroha a friend but some people mistake them as a couple. This gets more complicated with his cousin Mashiro, because of a favor asked by his uncle. Mashiro herself is a foil character compared to Iroha. She is much more quiet, reserved, but can be outspoken at times. Watching their relationship is a sharp contrast when compared to the hyperactive Iroha. But also make no mistake, this three way relationship isn't a love triangle. There's subtle hints but often times, this anime doesn't take itself too seriously.
Despite how it looks, this anime takes its time to both tell and show Iroha's background story. She has a deeper connection with Akiteru than letting on so it was important for the audience to see for themselves. Through those flashbacks, we can understand more about Iroha's character, including her present motivations to become a voice actress. Unfortuantely, Akiteru's presence in the anime fails to capture much attention. He's just an ordinary high school student without any unique talent. To be fair, it should even mentioned that Iroha is out of his league. Their relationship grows but doesn't really reach the type of Cinderella type love story you'd expect. For a rom-com, this anime push buttons all over the place but doesn't have a real goal. Truly by the end of this anime, I did scratch my head and ask myself what this anime wanted to accomplish.
Adapted from the light novel, the character designs are vibrant and colorful, at least enough to look like a rom-com. Iroha is the most noticable for her lavish look although not on the level of a supermodel. She looks more like the next-door girl type complete with a happy-go smile plastered over her face and reddish hair. Mashiro has more of the icy cold look that gives her the impression of a quiet girl. Others in the anime looks moderately decorative including their homeroom teacher. But if you ask me, it's the overcentric character expressions that catches my eye more than the looks themselves.
It's definitely not a candidate for 'anime of the year'. Ask yourself, do you really want to see an anime about a dual personality girl who attaches themselves a dull protagonist? That should at least give you a heads up on what to expect. But beyond that, this anime is very lighthearted with its usual rom-com gimmicks packaged in to fill some popcorn entertainment.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Dec 13, 2025
In 2015, on a random week at the end of October, the first season of My Hero Academia was green-lit. At the time, my excitement was through the roof, like a kid at the candy store. It made all in the sense in the world to capitalize on its popularity. Animating this show was also no brainer with the growing trend of superhero media in the modern era. Here we are 10 years later, the final season of My Hero Academia is upon us.
The rivalry between the heroes and villains in this franchise has been old as time. To make a strong impression, we're thrown
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back between the struggle on both sides: All Might and All For One. Their battle has much more impact than just than saving the world. From All Might's point of view, he's trying to save the next generation of heroes. In a plot scripted way, he's also destined to clash with the villian boss. It's a cliche of good vs evil yet My Hero Academia has embraced on its idea. Similarly, My Hero Academia does rely on some common superhero cliches in the final season. One of the recurring themes is character redemption as seen with Aoyoma and even lesser extent, the hero killer Stain. All For One's past is also revealed including his hatred for a certain character and his quest for revenge against All Might. Sound similar? I'm sure you've seen a superhero movie or two about a villain's crusade to exact revenge.
In the present, Bakugo also manages to follow his own path, not one with redemption but his own character. His fight with All For One represents selflessness and growth beyond his usual arrogance. It contrasts against All For One's one-sided blindness to achieve power and domination. Rather, Bakugo's endurance and to prove himself establishes him as a true hero this season. And finally, we cannot forget Deku's archrival in the show: Shigaraki. They're polar opposites of one another. Deku walks the path to create peace and hope, while Shigaraki seeks destruction and chaos, while trying to make things right in his vision. From his perspective, Shigaraki sees the hero system as flawed and tries to correct it in the most extreme ways possible. In one of the most profound moments in the season, we also see how Shiagraki reacts to his feelings and reponses. Even his final words show that he followed his path from the start, to destroy, than to create. However, this season finally allowed Shiagraki to find peace and end of his own suffering. For Deku, he managed to win a battle of ideals. His character is the foil compared to Shiagraki and like in any hero/villain story, one had to win and one had to lose.
My Hero Academia's path to get to the final season was never an easy one or without flaws. It suffered from some pacing issues and perhaps introduced more characters than we bargained for. Among the cast, some got lost in the fold while others were oversaturated. Deku, Bakugo, Shiagraki, and All Might are those who recognize the most throughout this franchise. And indeed, the final season put the spotlight on them to finish all their character stories. The final season also resolved the main storyline of the Final War Arc, a conflict that manifested from the first season. It took 10 years for the anime to reach such a conclusion but no doubt one worth waiting for.
My Hero Academia: Final Season is the amalgamation of Kōhei Horikoshi's hard work and colorful ideas written into a story for his fans to enjoy. While the series has its ups and downs, the final season didn't hold back to give a final conclusion, one that made the most sense from a plot perspective. There are times when I felt like the series tried to milk itself or stayed longer than its welcome. But for this season, 11 episodes felt just enough to sent this season into the sunset. The 10-year saga of the mainline MHA anime is now finally over.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 27, 2025
Most people probably never heard of Saka Mikami in the anime or manga industry. Their two other works are very obscure one-shots that didn't catch the public's eye. Then, this series came. The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is what I consider a dark horse of the season, an anime that begins to unravel its true form more and more with each passing episode. It sets the golden standard what other romance dramas should emulate.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is reliant on what it tries to be from the start. We have two schools next to each other seperated by their reptuation:
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Chidori Public High School and Kikyo Girls' School. The initial setup immediately throws the impression of a society where certain characters won't get along. Their school rivalry stems from social status because Chidori Public High enrolls deliquents while Kikyo is composed of respectful ladies. The story follows male protagonist Rintaro Tsumugi, with an intimidating face that gives the wrong impression and is easily the most misunderstood character in the series.
On the other hand, Kikyo's Kaoruko Waguri represents the opposite of Rintaro character, as a beautiful girl with a respectful personality, graceful appearance, and academic excellence. Their fated encounter brings together a common trope in romantic dramas, or in this case, "opposites attract". It is indeed a setup for the main story once when realize how kind Rinatro actually is. As cliche as it sounds, the old textbook saying 'don't judge a book by its cover' applies here. And that's exactly why because Rinatro begins to built an emotional relationship with Kaoruko from day one. It's through his kindness and selfnesses that she sees who he really is. They are the heart and soul of this franchise.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity's character cast endores a colorful cast with a diverse range of personalities that leads to memorable moments. I can't stress this enough but for a romance drama like this to succeed, there needs to be the right cast to make the story flow. Chidori Public High's students exmplifies just that with characters such as Shohei, Saku, and Ayato. The trio are often seen together and are Rintaro's closest friends. Similar to Rintaro, they are often misjudged and misunderstood by the public's eye, specifically members by Kikyo's Girls' School. The most outspoken among them is the silver haired beauty Subaru Hoshin, who previously had a troubled past with boys. It's because of her past that she becomes protective of Kaoruko and intially had a rocky impression of the boys. Nontheless, Hoshina is built as a flawed character who originally seen the world as black and white. It's not until she discovers true kindness in Rintaro and his friends that her impressions begins to change.
Similar to Rintarou, Hoshina is a character who is misunderstood. Despite her cold demenaor and protectiveness over Kaoruko, she is deep down a sensitive and kindhearted girl. Remember, part of her personality stems from being bullied by boys from the past. Now in the presents, she experiences what's like to be treated by kindness by other boys, namely Rintarou and his friends. Watching her character growth is normal for this type of romance drama. It's almost parallel to Kaoruko as she opens up more, slowly accepting others around her and looking past their flaws.
Rinatarou and Hoshina are not exactly soulmates. Despite this anime advertising the two as a main couple, the first season mostly builds their relationship on an emotional level than a romantic one. Let's also not forget that both characters are flawed, that traces them back from the first day they met. It's what makes them human and relatable for viewers, especially ones around their age. But make no mistake, their emotional connection is the main draw of the anime and executed with purpose. They are paired up together beyond the 'opposites attract' trope.
Is it any surprise that Cloverworks ended up being the studio to adapt The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity? Not a bit and in fact, this is a first ballot candidate. From the vibrant colorful setting, to the delicate characters, environment, and mood, this anime has it all when we talk about its asthetics. The director and studio obviously also wanted us to connect with the cast so character emotions were made with care. Creatively, it also sneaks in some humorous gag moments such as Kaoruko's reactions to eating sweets or Rinatarou furiously blushing when flustered.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity sets a standard for a romance drama, that doesn't overstep its boundaries. This anime doesn't try to make viewers anticipate who kisses who, but rather who can build a meaningful relationship. From day one, we meet characters that sets realistic expectations and relatable in everyday life. It's what makes this anime succeed as a romance drama and one we should appreciate.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Sep 22, 2025
I've always had a soft spot for Grand Blue. It demonstrates the principle of having a fun group of characters enjoying their lives in a sitcom-like format of storytelling. After so many years, it's fitting this anime returns in the Summer season, a season so well suited for this show orchestrated by its colorful and over-eccentic cast.
Iori Kitahara's return creates the same atmospheric energy of the previous season. We're not left out from one bit of this anime's crazy antics, courtsey of the Peek-a-Boo club. You remember them don't you? It's a collection of college guys and girls gathered together to enjoy life of drinking
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and partying than diving. It's the foundation of this anime's loose plot, where every episode shows the life style of open minded college students. Forget school and academics, this anime ditches the classroom doors and goes straight into the adult world.
There's a reason this anime revolves around college age characters than teenagers. It had to abide by the age limit so it artificially boosts the characters' ages. It works because drinking and partying tends to happen far more frequently during the early stages of adult life. Practically every character in this anime has a love for drinking in some way or form. Even when it's used to serve as a distraction, drinking is considered the common norm where it would feel unusual if a character didn't drink. This also extends the fan service because all the characters are well-built. The male characters have lean and muscular bodies while the female cast are well-endowed with athletic looks. Don't believe me? Just watch the OP song and see you for yourself. It's up there as a candidate for the most fan servicy OP song of this season.
Still, this season does love itself for creating misunderstandings and giving characters chances to be themselves. Some of them are tested in games while others are paired up through certain circumstances. Chisa seems to be the main culprit whenever she gets involved with Iori. The whole season has them flirtnig with idea of them getting together, although it's not depicted as romance. It's more of a crowd pleaser and baiting to see who can really make the first move. Fans should know this anime loves having fun with itself than creating tearjerking or dramatic moments between character pairs. Some characters in fact have too much fun and power to themselves. An example is Sakurako Busujima, a new character who has developed a bizarre relationship with Iori. Throughout the series, he is her primary target for bullying, although it's mostly deconstructed with light humor. She serves somewhat as a somewhat rival compared to Chisa, the ever serious and level headed girl of the Peek-a-Boo club. Watching their character rivalry draws out Chisa's insecure side where she unintentionally says things she wasn't prepared for. Her presence is felt throughout this season and she can be designated as a breakout character.
The rest of the cast aren't much different after all these years. Kouhei returns with his love for girls and anime. Aina is still the same shy person who holds feelings towards Iori. Others such as Nanaka and Azusa plays their roles to serve as more mature characters for the club. It's really the cast that reminds us what being an adult is about in this show, even if not all of them are responsible. Perhaps that's an understatement. Hardly any of them are responsible and often gets sucked into the ectasy of their own personal interests. I mean, ask yourself, how many times has Kohei tried to get a girlfriend? Or Iori trying to hit on girls? These young adults behave like how you'd expect them to in this social age, where life opens to unlimited opportunities. Grand Blue Season 2 takes those opportunities and have way too much fun with them.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 20, 2025
Season 2 of My Dress-Up Darling was destined to happen. Despite the four year gap between the first and second season, fans' support made it happen, like a cult classic reborn. The first season was also well reviewed and with the manga's growing popularity, this was just a matter of time. My Dress-Up Darling has established itself as an iconic anime franchise but does set the standard for today's rom-coms.
CloverWorks has been known to produce multiple anime every season in recent years, and it appears to be on a trajectory to establish itself as a powerhouse studio. The first season of My Dress-Up Darling had
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its imperfections from time to time but the animation quality was always stellar. Let's be honest, for a franchise like this to succeed, it needed uniqueness, diversity, style, and artistic expression. After all, it's based on a story about cosplaying and any show revolving that theme needs to make a strong impression right out of the park. Season 2 is no different as the first few episodes remind us the colorful cast of character we grew fond of.
Anime lover Marin Kitagawa returns as not only the poster girl but continously devote her time into her love and interests. By love, it also reaches to the romantic side when it's obvious she fell for Wakana Gojo. If you remember from the first season, the two built a bond from a common interest that slowly but surely grew into a close friendship. However, Marin wants more than just being friends and the mixed signals she sends to Gojo becomes more and more noticable with every episode. Gojo himself also feels the stress of his work this season. Just from the first episode alone, he deals with multiple problems that stems from Marin's Halloween themed outfit. Indeed, season 2 tests Gojo not just in his skill to make cosplay outfits but challenges of his relationship with Marin. It's tested throughout the entire season ranging from misunderstandings from both sides. Truly, a rom-com like this can't be complete without those.
My Dress-Up Daring has a creative character cast that you know would exist in this type of rom-com. Marin's friends are gyarus who shares a common interest of cosplaying. Even though some of their ideals differ from one another (noticably Juju), they are supportive of her. Season 2 introduces Amane Himeno, a character who can be somewhat relatable to Gojo. As a crossdresser, he had to step out of his comfort zone and be who he wants to be rather than feel like being judged. Gojo was in that position before as he felt he couldn't live up to expectations. This season sees his confidence grow more not only through his experience but also because of his commitment to Marin and the world of cosplay. It's inspiring but also slightly sad knowing Gojo overworks himself at times. Because let's face it, his life is far from relaxing with the presence of cosplaying, Marin, and everyday drama revolving around him.
Some might call this anime as a cash-in for the popularity based off of the first season. However, My Dress-Up Darling has established itself as its own brand with the diverse range of colorful cosplaying outfits. The show truly respects the world of cosplaying with its vivid details and outfits. Marin is the poster girl and represents the very fabric of cosplaying. There's no better role she'd be in as the main female protagonist as she adds endless possibilities about what its truly like to be a cosplayer. Gojo's character bond with her emphasizes on their importance through that important connection, and potentially developing into something more. Whether Gojo is experimenting with new ideas or remaking projects into something better, the two are the heart and soul of the franchise. With season 2 here, this was the ideal show to put two characters together in a world of cosplaying.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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