Review: Chain Chronicle: Haecceitas no Hikari E.01
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Chain Chronicle: Haecceitas no Hikari E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Hmmm, so admittedly, I was going to write another review of this week’s episode of Shouwa, but in the end, I decided against it. Sometimes it's good to change things up and Chains Chronicle: Haecceitas no Hikari - an anime rendition of the role-playing game produced by the illustrious video game company, Sega, available on the Android and PlayStation Vita, was just the ticket. Honestly, out of all the genres, fantasy is probably at the bottom of my list when it comes to selecting what type of anime to watch. For some reason, I just find most fantasy shows to be too predictable or conventional, even when the plot line is supposedly unique and original. Fantasy shows tend to cast females in subordinate roles despite being as strong as their male peers are and the heroes tend to be predominantly young males of ordinary descent. However, now and again it is good to set aside one's preconceptions and give these things the benefit of the doubt.

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Review: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen E.07
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen E.07

By Shanel Kamara

It's official; I am completely hooked on Shouwa! I loved the unexpected twist this episode. I knew the death of Konatsu’s parents was a delicate matter that weighed heavily on the characters minds, particularly Konatsu who blamed Yakuma for the demise of her father and Yakumo who blamed himself for not being able to save Konatsu’s parents despite being in such close proximity to them. However, I never suspected that the truth regarding the manner in which they died was different to what actually happened.

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Review: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen E.05
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen E.05

By Shanel Kamara

Oh My Gosh! that last scene in Shouwa featuring Yakumo and Sukerou had me on the edge of my seat; I wish the preview would not keep me in suspense regarding Yakumo. I have a love-hate relationship with cliffhangers. They stir up your anticipations but force you to accept the fact that you will have to wait to find out what happens next. I suppose in a way that is good, though because it means that the show is keeping you engaged. Lately, I have noticed that most of the shows I tend to prefer feature cliffhangers or plot twists. It may sound a tad cliche, but Shouwa is unlike any series I have previously watched.

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Review: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi E.03
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi E.03

By Shanel Kamara

 Before I delve into the review of this week’s episode of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, I would advise anyone who has not watched the previous season or the last two episodes, to watch them. This review will not contain any real spoilers, but in order to grasp what is going on, you need some knowledge of who the characters are and how they relate to one another. For instance, even though Yotarou is married to Konatsu, he insists on calling her “sis.” They are, in no way, related to one another. Moreover, they are not childhood friends.  I could go into a lot of detail about how these two met and so forth, but I will leave it to anyone who is interested in catching up by watching previous episodes.

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Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen E.02
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen E.02

By Shanel Kamara

This show is one that I will definitely not tire of watching. The explanation of how certain characters connect to the protagonists and their role in the preservation and development of rakugo is sound. I thought how minor character, Higuchi Eisuke from season one, who Yakumo - in his younger years - briefly encountered while on tour with his master, reappeared this season as a supporting character, was brilliant. 

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Anime Reviews Dustin Cabeal Anime Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabei-Hen E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is back with a second cour, and I am ecstatic about its return; recently I began watching episodes from the previous season, falling in love with the josei drama series all over again. The series focuses on rakugo - a form of verbal entertainment that became a prominent source of amusement among the public particularly during the Showa period in Japan.

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Review: Koro-sensei Quest! E.01
Anime Reviews Dustin Cabeal Anime Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Koro-sensei Quest! E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Koro-sensei Quest! is blatantly a rip-off of Dragon Quest; I am sure the creators could have thought of something a little more distinctive but beggars can't be choosers. There was no doubt in my mind that I would watch the spinoff because I thoroughly enjoyed the original series. Initially, I was surprised to have the chance to see the comical Koro-sensei and his fellow pupils in action once again; however, this surprise did not turn out as pleasant as I previously hoped. I am aware of how most spinoffs work, but I cannot say that I was impressed with the setup of this one. 

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Review: Yuri on Ice!! E.11
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Yuri on Ice!! E.11

By Shanel Kamara

How exactly is a wedding band a charm? I am a little mystified as to how the purchase of wedding rings cannot have some implication to the type of relationship a person has with another. However, I do realize, that in spite of the aspects of realism evident in this show, this anime is a piece of fiction, put simply.

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Review: Yuri on Ice!! E.10
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Yuri on Ice!! E.10

By Shanel Kamra

The countdown to the end of the first cour of Yuri on Ice!! officially begins. Over the past several weeks, nearly every episode of the series to air has received predominantly positive attention. The original anime has created quite a stir among audiences, quickly gaining a massive fan base especially among the female demographic. Currently, I am on the fence as to whether I am glad or sad to see the end of this show - even if it is only temporary.

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Review: All Out E.01
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: All Out E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Muscles, a token female, and a whole lot of testosterone, and tears; unfortunately, All Out is just another typical sports themed anime that boasts of no defining features or unique traits. To be frank, I partially expected it to be so. Although All Out is undeniably a sports themed anime show, I actually think of it as a shonen series.

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Review: Cheating Craft E.01
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Cheating Craft E.01

By Shanel Kamara

What comes to mind when you see the words ‘cheating’ and ‘craft’? These words on their own have very distinct meanings but combined they formulate one unique definition. Next, try to visualise what the title Cheating Craft could suggest. I am willing to bet that whatever preconceived notions or thoughts you had about this anime show, this anime show is guaranteed to flush them down the drain or drastically flip them over.

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Review: Udon no Kuni no Kiniro E.01
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Udon no Kuni no Kiniro E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Udon no Kuni no Kiniro would be a typical slice of life anime series, if it were not for the element of fantasy blatantly apparent in the series. Several anime shows have dealt with the topic of an older single male looking after their child, such as Amaama to Inazuma (a 2016 summer series) or adopting a child out of pity, despite having no experience with children.

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Review: March Comes In Like A Lion E.01
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: March Comes In Like A Lion E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Okay, so unlike Fune Wo Amu, what drew me to 3 – Gatsu No Lion (in English March Comes in like a Lion) immediately was the style of animation and the fact that the original source, of the anime series, is a manga by Chica Umino, the author, and creator of the award-winning Honey and Clover series. 

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Review: Fune wo Amu E.02
Anime Reviews Dustin Cabeal Anime Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Fune wo Amu E.02

By Shanel Kamara

Okay, so as I said in my review of Fune Wo Amu’s pilot episode, the style of animation is definitely not what drew me in at first; I stand by what said, what did it for me was the original and captivating storyline, and the lovely cast of endearing yet relatable characters. The pilot episode was done beautifully; I had developed a deep affinity for certain characters including Kouhei Araki, the veteran dictionary editor, Take, Majime’s landlady who runs Sou-Un-Sou Rooming House, and of course Majime Mitsuya.

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Review: Nobunaga no Shinobi E.00
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Nobunaga no Shinobi E.00

By Shanel Kamara

I loved this! The plot, characters, and simple yet effective animation style drew me in immediately. Due to the plots setting, and the fact that several anime shows have already dealt with the topic of the warring states period in East Asia, Nobunaga's reign, samurai's and ninjas, I thought that this show might be the same as the others; but I was wrong. This show has the potential to be truly exquisite; the balance between humour and seriousness is apparent. I realised by the end of this episode that, although at times Chidori seemed a bit naive and a bit of a joke, she was in fact a competent, brave, and formidable ninja girl.

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Review: Fune wo Amu E.01
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Fune wo Amu E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Okay, so the artwork is not what drew me in at first, what did it for me was the novel and compelling storyline. There have been several types of anime under various genres, such as  slice of life, comedy, shonen, etc. that have mainly dealt with professions including the police, detective agencies, espionage, manga and anime production, but never till now has there been one about publishing or more specifically about the editing and publishing of dictionaries. To be honest, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of editing is the editing of news, magazines, books, films, and shows. I have never once considered the intricate procedure involved in editing dictionaries. 

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Review: Yuri!! On Ice E.02
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Yuri!! On Ice E.02

By Shanel Kamara

I definitely intend on seeing this show through to the end. The prospect of watching characters develop, grow, and transform completely is not only exciting but also inspiring. The third episode airs next week and I already feel, as though the primary message that this anime is conveying is that change is only possible for those who strive for it. 

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Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Yuri!! On Ice E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Yes! Finally, the long awaited release of another novel and unconventional anime. Honestly, I am not surprised to see another niche and female stereotyped sport-themed anime show after the success of the equally unique show, Cheer Danshi!! It is great to see a steady rise in these non-conforming and thought provoking type series.The anime focuses on the protagonist Yuuri Katsuki, a Japanese Ice figure skater who experiences utter defeat at the Gran Prix Finale Ice Skating Competition.

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Review: Nyanbo E.02
Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara Anime Reviews Shanel Kamara

Review: Nyanbo E.02

By Shanel Kamara

In today’s episode, the nyanbo focus on fixing the UFO. In order to do so they attempt to implant different objects into it, but due to several failed attempts decide to go outside and search for the potential right pieces that could fit into the centre of the UFO. While searching outside, they meet the nyanbo idol group, known as ‘Nyanbo Angel’s’, made up of Sabara and Kijitora who expect their undivided attention but are disappointed to fid out that the other nyanbo’s are too busy to pay them any mind.

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