
Review: Inuyashiki E.01
By Shanel Kamara
Admittedly, at first, I was hesitant to view this series for two primary reasons; the first reason is a little presumptuous but I always tend to think that any series with strong elements of science fiction, psychology, or dystopia are the most disquieting and disturbing. These emotionally and mentally draining shows often leave me feeling exhausted. The second reason is in many ways an extension of the first. Honestly, I just find shows that feature or focus on characters that have mechanical bodies but outwardly have the appearance of regular humans, off-putting. Seeing the mesh between man and machine, two polar opposites intertwining to become something else, and watching flesh torn away, replaced by some weapon of mass destruction, is simply unappealing. You can imagine what I thought when I first saw the trailer for this series. If not, I can tell you now that it definitely wasn’t “I can’t wait to see this” or “this series is definitely on the list of my top anime shows to watch this autumn.”

Review: Shingeki no Bahamut: Virgin Soul E.023
By Shanel Kamara
I cannot believe what I've just seen; I'm gobsmacked. How is it possible that so many shocking events can happen in an episode merely lasting twenty-three minutes? I literally found myself, on more than one occasion, staring at the screen with my mouth gaped. I love a series with a good amount of twists (as I've mentioned several times in previous reviews), but I've never been left quite as stunned as I am right now, and I absolutely love it. Wow! What a way to set the scene for the final episode.

Review: Shingeki no Bahamut: Virgin Soul E.021
By Shanel Kamara
As a child, I was sensitive; it wouldn't take much to make me cry. However, I initially thought that with age I would change. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot more mental resilience than I ever thought I could have (thank God) and I can confidently say that I have matured and that I am no longer the weak, easily offended cry-baby who can't take constructive criticism without tearing up (to God be the glory). Therefore, maybe the reason for my constant tears, throughout this episode, is due to my hormones or maybe it's just this show. I don't know, but what I do know is that this episode was just so sad. Honestly, I was shocked at first; I didn't expect the death of such an influential character. Except for Jojo's Bizarre Adventures, I can't actually think of a series where the opening features a character that eventually dies.

Review: Shingeki no Bahamut: Virgin Soul E.019
By Shanel Kamara
Shingeki no Bahamut: Virgin Soul is probably the first anime I’ve ever watched where I could afford to miss several episodes and still get the general gist of the plot. Admittedly, I’m not particularly fond of skipping episodes so in all likelihood, at some point, I will endeavor to watch the series from the beginning; until then I will resume watching the rest of the series to the end. The plot alone is simple hence why I was able to get away with watching three of the most recent episodes as well as excerpts from previous episodes.

Review: The Reflection E.01
By Shanel Kamara
Okay, I’ll be very frank here; I’m drawing a blank about what to think about this anime series. The Reflection is very distinct to any other anime series to air; in terms of the style, the plot, and the setting, The Reflection resembles an American comic. I am fully aware that the anime series is a project that Studio DEEN and the illustrious Stan Lee have worked on, but I still can’t get my head around the notion of an anime series that looks as if it’s come straight from the pages of a comic book. It’s literally as if I’m watching a comic book series brought life.

Review: Altair: A Record of Battles E.01
By Shanel Kamara
I was ecstatic to discover that Shoukoku no Altair (English title: Altair: A Record of Battles) – a unique manga series, notable for its setting and beautiful illustrations, which I began reading almost a decade ago - would receive an anime series. It’s ironic (or maybe not) how much I love Shoukoku no Altair considering the fact that it’s historical; history was my weakest subject at school, but that fact alone has done nothing to deter me from cherishing this manga and now anime. Honestly, I can’t identify one particular reason for my fondness for this work. I don’t know whether it’s the characters, setting, plot or all these aspects combined that fascinates me but what I do know is that regarding my top ten manga and anime series, Shoukoku no Altair is definitely way up there on my list.

Review: Dive!! E.01
By Shanel Kamara
I've probably mentioned this before in previous reviews, but I'm an avid viewer of sport themed anime shows, particularly those specializing in less popular sports. Some of my favorites include Ookiku Furikabutte, Cheer Danshi!!, Haikyuu, and the newest series, Ballroom e Youkoso. There are two new sport themed anime shows: Dive!! and Ballroom e Youkoso this summer; I caught both of this series this week but opted to review the swim show, Dive!!, first.

Review: Enmusubi no Youko-chan E.01
By Shanel Kamara
Okay so with the start of the release of the summer line-up shows, I decided this week to opt for one of the new series as opposed to my usual. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much of a selection to choose from (as I usually watch the show on a Saturday afternoon and write the review on a Sunday morning) so I ended up watching the Japanese adaption of the popular Chinese work Huyao Xiao Hongniang (in English known as Fox Spirit Matchmaker and in Japanese Enmusubi no Youko-chan). Frankly, I didn’t intend on watching and reviewing this show; originally, my plan was to review the fourteenth episode of the second season of Boku no Hero Academia but for some inexplicable reason, or maybe not so inexplicable, no episode aired this week due to the fact that the first arc of the season has ended.

Review: My Hero Academia E.025
By Shanel Kamara
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how different Todoroki’s hair looks since his battle with Midoriya. It’s funny how his hair almost reflects his state of mind. Before his hair was flat and lifeless giving him an air of indifference, frigidity, and formality but after his fight with Midoriya it has assumed a more tousled look.

Review: My Hero Academia E.024
By Shanel Kamara
Things are beginning to heat up in Boku no Hero Academia, this season, with the arrival of a new antagonist and the upcoming long awaited battle between Todoroki and Bakugou. The appearance of the Hero Killer, Stain this episode is one that is bound to initiate the start of a potential all out war between the league of super villains led by the notorious Shigaraki Tomura and class 1-A’s students.

Review: My Hero Academia E.023
By Shanel Kamara
The long awaited battle between Midoriya and Todoroki has finally arrived! Nevertheless, I am still reeling over the shock of finding out about Todoroki's tragic childhood. I know that it was several episodes ago that we learned of Todoroki's dysfunctional family but I still cannot believe Todoroki's own mother poured boiling hot water on him because she considered his left side 'unsightly.' It's not his fault! However, despite how cruel and awful the act was, I can't help but feel sympathetic towards her; Endeavour drove her to edge and during the midst of her breakdown she saw her defenseless son as a subject to vent her anger.

Review: My Hero Academia E.022
By Shanel Kamara
Okay so it’s official, Boku no hero academia is truly befitting of a place in MY top ten anime series (emphasis on mine and not on MyAnimeList). Every episode this season, so far, has been more rousing than the previous one, but this week’s episode was exceptional. All the episodes revolving around the sport’s festival have been thrilling as well as moving, but Uraraka and Bakugo’s fight was profoundly inspiring. The duration of their match was not brief like Yaoyorozu and Tokoyami’s fight, and stems primarily from the fact these two characters are part of the main cast. However, this episode was not merely about highlighting the face-off between two main characters, but it was also subtly about the enduring battle for equality among the sexes.

Review: Kenka Banchou Otome: Girl Beats Boys E.02
By Shanel Kamara
If I didn’t actually know the title of this series, I would have just thought that the plot revolved around an effeminate male whose physical prowess is counterintuitive. The title is essentially the only indication of the protagonist’s sex. I understand that in order for the female protagonist, Hinako Nakayama, to swap places with her twin brother and for the swap to be believable, she cannot be overtly feminine. However, what I don’t understand is why every aspect of her form had to be completely devoid from femininity; she could have at least had longer eyelashes! Her twin brother Hikaru Onigashima ends up wearing a long wig in order to convince the people in Hinako’s life that he is indeed Hinako. The fact that he does this is just bizarre in my opinion, Hikaru and Hinako are identical twins which means that Hikaru donning a girl’s uniform should really be more than sufficient. Hinako doesn’t even have long hair, so why should her twin brother have to wear a long wig in order to persuade people that he is a girl?

Review: My Hero Academia E.018
By Shanel Kamara
Things are heating up at UA academy's sports festival, literally. The competition between Bakugou, Midoriya, and Todoroki is fierce; it’s non-stop action from start to finish with Midioriya being the center of it all; Class 1-B’s presence only makes matters more explosive when Neito Monoma, a student from Class 1-B, challenges Class 1-A by abruptly taking Bakugou’s headband. Neito’s bold and rather shrewd move garners a lot of attention for Class 1-B, and for the second time this season we get the chance to find out what some of the students from Class 1-B abilities are. Neito’s copying ability is reminiscent of Rogue from the X-men; his snide personality only exacerbates Bakugou further.

Review: Tsuki ga Kirei E.01
By Shanel Kamara
Tsuki ga Kirei is a very distinct romance series in that both protagonists become aware of each other simultaneously. Often in traditional romance series, the male character or female character – depending on the demographic – becomes interested first, before the subject of their affection reciprocates or rejects their feelings. It is very rare in romance series for the protagonists to have mutual feelings at the beginning and it is usually at least halfway or near the end of the series when the characters admit that they have feelings for each other. Typically, romance series conclude with the main characters becoming a couple or entering a close relationship.

Review: Fukumenkei Noise E.01
By Shanel Kamara
Finally, it’s here! I’ve been waiting for more than a year for the release of the anime adaption of Fukumenkei Noise, and it’s finally here. Naturally, I had certain expectations for the show that is an adaption of a fairly popular and ongoing drama romance manga. However, before I delve into whether episode 1 met, partially met, or exceeded my expectations, I’ll briefly explain what Fukumenkei Noise’s plot is about.

Nobunaga no Shinobi: Ise Kanegasaki-hen E.01
By Shanel Kamara
Okay so spring has arrived and with its arrival heralds the release of new anime shows and sequels. I’ll be frank, this week I found it exceptionally hard to choose which show to review. Before I explain the reason for my predicament, I think I should probably explain my decision-making process when selecting an anime show to write about. It’s very simple – I merely choose the show which leaves the biggest impression (good or bad) to write about. The only problem with this method is that, on the occasions where none of the shows I watch has an impact on me, I’m left with the issue of feeling like I have nothing to write about. I know I’m babbling, but the truth is this week I experienced the problem with this method this week.

Review: My Hero Academia E.014
By Shanel Kamara
As soon as I found out that Boku no Hero Academia had received a second season I have been patiently awaiting its return. I was ecstatic to learn that one of the most heartrending anime series was coming back; I can’t remember how many times I cried while watching this series. A week ago, I was contemplating watching the entire series again in preparation for the second cour. However, episode 0 summed up the entire first season well enough that I did not have to. After viewing several trailers of the upcoming season, I knew what to expect, but episode one was not as exciting as I hoped it would be.

Review: Marginal #4: Kiss Kara Tsukuru Big Bang E.02
By Shanel Kamara
I knew what I was gearing myself up for when I decided to watch this; I mean firstly it falls under the shoujo/music category, secondly the overall plot follows the activities of a male idol group, and thirdly the anime is of one of Rejet's and Idea Factory's otome titles (no discredit to Rejet and Idea Factory's work).

Review: ēlDLIVE E.01
By Shanel Kamara
I had no idea that elDLIVE was by the same creator of Katekyo Hitman Reborn; Katekyo Hitman Reborn is a personal favorite of mine, and it’s definitely in my top three shonen series after Hunter x Hunter 2011 simply because of its great combination of humor and artwork. The show aired in 2006, and admittedly, this is the fourth of fifth time I have re-watched the entire series. Therefore, I just had to check elDLIVE out. Akira Amano was not only responsible for the production of Katekyo Hitman Reborn, but she also did the original character design of Psycho-Pass; I was unaware of this fact until recently.
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