Flip Flappers

I really liked this anime but I think having it as a 13 episode just would make it equally good as a film. Also I thought the sub actors just didn't match good with the main characters in my personal opinion. The voices sounded off for me and don't get me wrong, sometimes I think sub is better then dub. In this case, dub was not available in kissanime so I had to go with the sub. However it didn't put me entirely off watching this anime because the wackiness and art that was put into so much hard work, does make the whole thing truly pay off.

If you like Kunihiko Ikuhara's work, then this is totally up your alley!!!

Let's start off with the good.

First of all, I cannot overstate how much I love the visuals. They aren't the most technically impressive anime visuals I've ever seen, but they give off some impressive vibes. If this looked more like a "normal" anime, I definitely would have given it a 6. This show might be worth watching just for those alone. The soundtrack is also pretty good, but it's not special like the visuals are. I liked the characters and the way they interacted as well, even if it got confusing. The fight scenes were a blast as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. (Also the names of everyone in this show are awesome, they are all super satisfying to say)

Now with the bad. I'm about to say a bunch of stuff I didn't like, but remember overall I really liked this show and I would recommend it.

First, the worldbuilding and explanations sucked. They barely gave any explanations for anything that happened, it all just was kind of happening. If you are going to introduce a world this confusing, the least you could do is explain it! Characters were doing one impossible thing after the next, and they gave like no explanation either. The ending was rushed and ill-explained as well, it felt like they could have benefitted from an extra episode to try and explain how things ended a little better.

Next is character motivations, actions, and relationships. The relationships were all really interesting, but there are tons of flaws. There are wayyyyy too many battles that are solved literally only with the power of friendship (I'm not making that up) and it seems that even characters who don't know anything can still do lots of stuff they shouldn't be able to do. I like how yayaka and Cocona's friendship developed, and I liked how Cocona and papika interacted, but the writers aren't really good at making extremely believable characters.

One thing I had to mention is that there is a single episode that is scarier than anything I've seen in anime so far, and I've seen a lot of anime. I kinda liked the change of pace, even if it did creep me out.

Overall, this is a ton of fun if you can look past a lot of the huge flaws and issues.

Whats good?

• Its Alice in Wonderland on Drugs - many of the first episodes are self-contained stories set in a different 'reality' of Pure Illusion. This allows the madman director to use some very different styles to tell a standard story, let me illustrate...

• Lead Animator - 'Director, episode 3 needs to show the girls first transformation sequence and adventure, what story shall we tell?'

Director - 'Mad Max meets Dragonball Z'

• Lead Animator - 'Director, episode 5 needs to grow the relationship of the two characters, we could do a dinner episode?'

Director - 'HORROR house'

• Lead Animator - 'Director, its time for the required swimsuit episode 7, shall we do a beach party or a swimming lesson episode?'

Director - 'MECHA'

And so forth. What i'm trying to get across (with some help from Reddit) is that there is a wide range of very creative environments our characters visit and this is one of the strongest elements of the show. Episode 3, 5 and 7 probably being some of the best episodes.

• Colour - The series animation is average, but the use of style and colour elevates it above the standard level. Its jazzy, exciting and the different worlds are done in various different styles, great stuff!

• Yuri - The series explores the relationship of Cocona and Papika quite boldly, while I think it could go further (much further) here its still one of the better series for looking at romantic relationship between the two girls.

• Voice Actors - Universally good for the Japanese voice-over (as you would expect), the English dub is better then some - recommended.

• Opening/Closing - Fantastic intro and fantastic closing song, very visually kinetic songs in any anime

THE BAD

• We've been here before (story) - Around the episode 9 mark the series tries to bring forward the story. It does this with mixed success. The last few episodes are still good - but I would argue quite predictable.

• Characters - Our main two are quite good, Ayaka (the childhood friend) is also well developed. But most of the other characters are undeveloped or one note, a shame.

• Grounding (and rules) - There are elements here which are just confusing, I still don't understand what a 'amorphous' is and the story is very disjointed...why are those guys dressed as KKK members, i just, don't quite get it. The series would have benefited from some strong characters in 'our' real world (in Madoka this is fulfilled by her mother mainly).

• Fan Service - I read numerous reviews being highly critical of this but...i don't really think there is much here? I really didn't see much - although when it does happen its quite uncomfortable due to the girls age

• Music - Other then the excellent credits pieces its a mixed bag.

Conclusion Worth a watch if you like magical girls or really want to watch something while high. This is a colourful, exciting series that could have been something special, instead its just above average but no less enjoyable for it.