Board 8 > Robazoid Ranks 275 Anime and Top 100 Anime Characters 3 (The Top 60)

(+) Yeah! (+)

Kyon is the best Haruhi character and it isn't particularly close

Kyon is okay and inferior to both girls Roba mentioned.

Great write-ups today! I also loved the movie and it made me feel so much better about the series. Definitely sub + chronological order with eventual rewatch, though I think slice-of-life just won't ever be my thing.

Damn another two-character day tomorrow too, geez!

Also:

th3l3fty posted...

Kyon is the best Haruhi character and it isn't particularly close

MacArrowny posted...

Kyon is okay and inferior to both girls Roba mentioned.

We can all agree that Koizumi is the most inferior character of the club, right?

Haruhi > Yuki > Kyon > Koizumi >>> Mikuru

Mikuru felt very one-note for me and was kind of annoying.

MartinFF7 posted...

though I think slice-of-life just won't ever be my thing.

Hopefully you're deciding that based on more than just Haruhi! I don't think it's particularly good at being a slice-of-life. The movie is by far the best part and it's basically a sci-fi drama.

Nah it's more just the idea of doing mundane every day activities, it just seems too unappealing to me, though I know there's great series out there.

I think the only other one I've watched that would technically qualify is Girls Last Tour, I went into that with pretty high expectations based on the setting appealing to me and I was left pretty underwhelmed! I think largely because of its SoL nature.

some interesting premises lately

i have seen s1 of haruhi (broadcast order) and thought it was pretty fun. i'm not sure what the non-chronological order achieved but i guess you contextualizing it as being slice of life (and not arc-driven) solidifies it - and slightly disappoints, as it could've been cool with more of an arc. i also liked the final episode in the broadcast order, definitely felt climactic

53. Little Witch Academia
https://myanimelist.net/anime/33489/Little_Witch_Academia_TV
Winter 2017 (25 episodes) plus 2 extra
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 7.82/10
Best Characters: Kagari Akko Atsuko, Ursula Callistis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRmgL564x8E

My Akko figure: https://imgur.com/RahI73m

Premise: As a child, Kagari Atsuko saw a magic performance by her idol, Shiny Chariot, and ever since shes dreamed of being a witch. Now shes finally attending the Luna Nova Magical Academy, but it turns out that achieving her dream wont be easy!

The Good: Little Witch Academia is a comedy set in a magic school. The setting reminded me a bit of Harry Potter, but LWA has a very different tone. Most of it is episodic and follows Akko through a zany situation with a large cast of hilarious side characters. It felt a lot like an old Saturday morning cartoon, and I mean that in a good way! This is an anime I wouldnt mind showing my nephew when hes a bit older than six, but it isnt a kids show. Between the funny jokes, a sense of adventure, and an overarching plot slowly building in the background, LWA has something for everyone.

While most students are from ancient witch families, Akko is just a normal person chasing her dreams. She has little magical power, which means she has plenty to learn. A lot of the humor comes from Akko failing or only getting through thanks to luck. Shes still an amazing character, I like how upbeat and energetic she is. Akko rarely lets anything get her down. A lot of the side characters are fun too. My favorites were the poison-obsessed strange girl Sucy and genius inventor quiet girl Constanze. LWA has such a large cast of varied characters, and the setting is the kind of crazy place where almost anything can happen. I really enjoyed seeing what would happen next.

The Bad: Theres a deeper plot building in the background of LWA, and when it finally started coming together it was probably my least favorite thing about the show. It isnt bad, it really isnt. LWA has themes about overcoming adversity and following your dreams, and the overarching plot certainly explores those ideas in a satisfying way. The tone became a bit more serious in the later parts, however, and I just didnt enjoy it as much as the low-stakes adventures from earlier. When I watched this for the first time, and again when I rewatched it recently, the first half made me think LWA deserved a 10/10. Then the later parts dragged it down to an 8. Still not bad, but not as good as the early parts.

Overall: Little Witch Academia, especially in the early parts, is nonstop fun. Akko is a great character who is always exciting to watch, whether shes failing at flying a broom or chasing a cupid bee through a dinner party or exploring Sucy's crazy dreams. I loved seeing what fun adventure she would go on next, and the side characters were all good too. The serious plot in the later episodes wasnt my favorite thing, but I still have to admit that it tied the themes and overarching plot together in a satisfying way.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/8/2/AAcDcBAAD1v2.png

CHARACTER: Ursula Callistis (Little Witch Academia)
https://myanimelist.net/character/122325/Ursula_Callistis
Voiced by: Hidaka Noriko
TOP 100 RANK: 98th

SPOILERS FOR LITTLE WITCH ACADEMIA

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W8cB3sX7vI

Ursula is a teacher at Luna Nova, and from early on shes one of Akko's biggest supporters. While most of the crusty old teachers didnt like the idea of a non-witch coming in even before Akko started failing at things and causing trouble, Ursula gave Akko infinite patience and whatever help she could. Shes the kind of teacher everyone hopes to have because she really does care and always does her best. Ursula is like this for all her students, but Akko gets special focus. Partly thats because she needs the most help, but its also because Ursula is actually Shiny Chariot, the idol Akko longs to meet someday.

Once that fact about Ursula (who I will now refer to as Chariot) became clear, as well as her connection to Akko's magical struggles, I really liked the depth it added to her character. This all ties into the more serious overarching plot with Croix, which I mentioned was my least favorite part, but I just preferred the more carefree tone from earlier. I still thought the serious plot told a compelling story. Chariot, who was facing declining interest in her magic shows, teamed up with an old friend who had a way to boost magical power. What Chariot didnt realize until after was that this boost was fueled by the magic potential of everyone in the audience. For most of LWA, the viewer likely believes Akko fails at everything because she isnt from a witch family, or because failing is funnier and shes a comedy protagonist. The truth is much sadder. At the same show where Chariot inspired Akko, Chariot also stole all of her magical power.

As Ursula, she tries to make amends by helping Akko as much as she can. Chariot can never quite bring herself to admit the truth, however, and in the end that means Akko learns it from Croix in the worst way possible. Chariot does her best to stop Croix's schemes, and I really liked how badass she was while storming the enemy lair filled with magical defenses. Then Chariot sacrifices her ability to fly by protecting Akko from some magic-sapping pollen, proving once and for all the lengths shes willing to go to support her student. I just really liked Chariot's arc. She unwittingly did a terrible thing, but she also did everything she could to make it right. In the end, Akko forgave her. It was a nice story, even if I ultimately preferred the zany adventures from earlier in LWA.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/8/3/AAcDcBAAD1v3.png

CHARACTER: Kagari Akko Atsuko (Little Witch Academia)
https://myanimelist.net/character/81645/Atsuko_Kagari
Voiced by: Han Megumi
TOP 100 RANK: 36th

SPOILERS FOR LITTLE WITCH ACADEMIA

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JNWztTNnx8

I covered one of the bigger parts of Akko's character arc in the write-up for Ursula, specifically the truth behind her lack of magical power. Her magical potential was drained at the same Shiny Chariot show that inspired her to become a witch in the first place, and, unlike Diana, Akko didnt realize this as a child. While Diana spent years practicing and eventually became even stronger than before, Akko arrived at Luna Nova aa weak as she could possibly be. After so many episodes where the punchline was that Akko couldnt do a spell or couldnt fly a broom, learning the reason why was legitimately heartbreaking.

Akko isnt the kind of person to give up or let anything get her down. Shes energetic and optimistic and forceful, the kind of person who charges forward and trusts that shell find a way through somehow. Its a fun attitude to watch, and more often than not it pays off. Its also the kind of personality that wins people over. Akko started with only one or two friends, but by the end she has people like Andrew and even Diana on her side. One of the reasons I didnt love the later parts as much was that I didnt like seeing Akko sad. Learning the truth about Shiny Chariot and the loss of her magical power is what finally breaks her.

Still, I also said that the serious plot was satisfying even if it wasnt my favorite thing, and theres a good reason why! Akko bounces back and, with the help of her many friends, she prevents calamity. Its a nice conclusion, and it was all thanks to the kind of character Akko was. In the video I Iinked, shes tested, tempted with the promise of her dream coming true. It would come at the cost of her memories, though, and Akko refuses to give those up, not even the bad ones. Shes the kind of person who works hard, does her best, and pushes forward. Thats why its so satisfying, at the very end, when she finally gets a broom to float off the ground. Akko has a long and hard road ahead of her, but I know she wont give up until she achieves her dream!

COMING UP TOMORROW:
52: This anime enjoys being treated badly.
C84: This character is bad at being sadistic.
51: This anime opened a door that should have remained closed.
C56: This character cant remember their favorite anime.

Hey I've at least heard of Haruhi

oh my, is it Animegataris time? What a show that was.

Mobilezoid posted...

52: This anime enjoys being treated badly.
C84: This character is bad at being sadistic.

i see it's not on the list at all but this is spot on for horimiya

52. Blend-S
https://myanimelist.net/anime/34618/Blend_S
Fall 2017 (12 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 7.29/10
Best Character: Sakuranomiya Maika

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRrauyTlT6U

Premise: Sakuranomiya Maika has been looking for a part-time job, but no one wants to hire her because her eyes make her look unfriendly. However, that attribute makes her perfect for Caf Stile, a roleplay caf looking for a sadistic waitress!

The Good: Blend-S is a workplace comedy about a caf where the waitresses roleplay personalities like a tsundere, a little sister, etc. Maika has long been obsessed with Western culture and needs a job to save up money to travel there someday. Her scary eyes have been a hindrance so far, but they make her perfect to play a sadistic waitress. A lot of the humor comes from Maika, who is actually a sweet girl, struggling to be mean to customers. However, her scary eyes make her normal behavior or even her mistakes seem perfectly sadistic. It isn't the most complicated style of humor, but it made me laugh quite a bit.

I liked all the characters. Maika was my favorite, and I'll talk about her more below, but everyone had a fun personality. Seeing the contrast between who they were roleplaying as and who they actually were was funny, and the staff all had fun dynamics with each other. I could see people disliking Dino, the Italian manager, because he's twenty-six with a crush on sixteen year-old Maika. A lot of his humor is of the "perverted thoughts nosebleed" variety. I enjoyed him too, though. Ignoring the age gap, him and Maika had hilarious interactions because she was such a sweet girl that she didn't know what he meant by most of them.

The Bad: Since I didn't mind Dino, I can't think of anything Blend-S did that was really bad. It was very focused on comedy, so the characters weren't exactly deep and there wasn't much of an overall plot. Even then, though, I enjoyed seeing everyone grow closer. Kaho, the tsundere waitress who was actually a nice gamer girl, had lots of great moments with the chef Akizuki, for example. I couldn't justify ranking this any higher, but it was very good at the kind of anime it wanted to be. It's just a question of if that kind of anime appeals to you.

Overall: Blend-S was a solid workplace comedy. The roleplaying waitresses all had a nice contrast with their actual personalities, as well as fun interactions with customers and coworkers alike. The age gap between Maika and Dino is a bit off-putting, but otherwise I thought they had a great dynamic too.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/5/4/AAcDcBAAD16W.png

CHARACTER: Sakuranomiya Maika (Blend-S)
https://myanimelist.net/character/152126/Maika_Sakuranomiya
Voiced by: Waki Azumi
TOP 100 RANK: 84th

SPOILERS FOR BLEND-S

VIDEO LINK (from the first episode): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6le_-c8doE

Maika isn't exactly a deep character, so I'm not sure how much I'll have to say about her. She's naturally friendly, but has scary eyes which make her look mean, especially when she's nervous. After a long time failing to find another job, she's more than willing to work at Stile even if being sadistic goes against her nature. It's a good thing her eyes make almost everything she does seem sadistic, as illustrated in the video I linked for her.

I'm usually not a fan of big age gaps or coworker interactions that would be sexual harassment in the real world, so I should probably explain why I don't mind Maika and Dino. First, Dino might be twenty-six but he acts like a child in a lot of ways (staying up late to watch anime, being just generally goofy, etc) and so many jokes are at his expense that he never feels like any kind of authority figure. It's easy to imagine him being eighteen or so.

Beyond that, him and Maika really do seem perfect for each other. She's a Japanese girl obsessed with western culture and blonde hair, he's a blonde Italian obsessed with Japanese culture. Dino also can't get enough of Maika's accidental sadism, which is sweet because it's something she's self-conscious about. It isn't like they're just fetishizing each other, though. They grow closer through a lot of little interactions, like Dino doing his best to make sure Maika is comfortable at her new job, they more or less adopt a dog together, he teaches her how to ski, and so on. The age gap is admittedly a big thing to overlook, but I enjoyed the two of them together. They had a lot of hilarious moments too! Dino gave her a conditioner to help with frizzy hair, and, since it was from the West, Maika didnt want to use it up and instead put it by her household shrine. Jokes like that always made me laugh.

51. Animegataris
https://myanimelist.net/anime/35427/Animegataris
Fall 2017 (12 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 6.38/10
Best Character: Asagaya Minoa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX_559IR2v4

Premise: Asagaya Minoa has vague memories of an anime she saw as a child, but no one can figure out what it is. While asking around, Minoa gets dragged into the newly created Anime Research Club at her school, and she's thrust into the strange and wonderful world of anime.

The Good: Animegataris is a school comedy anime about an anime club. The six members each embody one aspect of anime fandom. Minoa is the newbie, Arisu is a hardcore otaku, Miko prefers light novels and their adaptations, Erika is a cosplayer, Kai mostly watches battle shonen, and Nakano likes idol anime. They all have fun personalities and a good dynamic with each other. Animegataris also gives a lot of information about anime and its culture. Shows like Shirobako or Girlish Number are informative about anime production, but Animegataris is about being an anime fan.

Even ignoring that, this show works as a comedy because so much of it is hilarious. I love how it parodies a lot of anime cliches, including things like pointless fanservice and god rays to hide nudity or the student council trying to shut the club down. Arisu has an awesome butler named Sebas who slides in and does whatever task she requires. Kai is a goofy chuuni. There's a talking cat, mostly because this is an anime so why not. Animegataris was always a lot of fun... but theres also a deeper plot building subtly in the background. I'll talk about that more in my spoiler write-up for Minoa.

I also want to talk about my personal experience with this show, because it's a big reason why it has a special place in my heart. I'd watched a handful of anime over the years, but I only really got into it in late 2017. Animegataris was the first airing anime I watched every week, and it was the perfect show for that! I related to Minoa a lot because we were both newbies trying to navigate the bizarre yet awesome world of anime. I posted in the Board 8 anime topic, and all the different people there were like my own personal anime club. They were all so patient and helpful. There were people who watched everything, ones who preferred idol anime, ones who only watched big shows like DBZ or One Piece, and so on. Much like Minoa, I was given many recommendations. It was so much fun hearing about all these different shows and knowing they were all real no matter how crazy their premise seemed. A hardcore sports anime about smacking poem cards? That's real, Chihayafuru. HP Lovecraft eldritch horror romantic comedy? That's Nyarko-san. High school girls having tank battles? Girls und Panzer. There are countless anime out there, and I still feel like I'm a relative newbie even after seeing almost 300. I related to Minoa a lot because we were both doing our best to grasp this unfamiliar medium of entertainment where anything was possible.

The Bad: I enjoyed pretty much everything in Animegataris, but for a lot of people I imagine the anime fandom stuff might seem a bit slow. There's an amazing plot building up in the background thats worth sticking around for, but it takes a long time to get there. A lot of people probably gave up before reaching it, which would explain the relatively low MAL score.

Overall: Animegataris is a hilarious look into what it means to be an anime fan. I related to it because it was one of the first shows I saw. Minoa and I were both newbies exploring a strange new world. I don't think that mindset is necessary to enjoy this show, though. There are a lot of solid gags and situations that stand on their own, and the eventual plot is worth sticking around for.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/3/3/AAcDcBAAD17l.jpg

CHARACTER: Asagaya Minoa (Animegataris)
https://myanimelist.net/character/150271/Minoa_Asagaya
Voiced by: Hondo Kaede
TOP 100 RANK: 56th

SPOILERS FOR ANIMEGATARIS

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qDT9x9DxOw
(Not subtitled but the important part is the visual stuff which should be clear)

I already talked a lot in the anime write-up about how I related to Minoa because we were both anime newbies, so I won't repeat that. Instead, I'll talk about the serious plot that takes over Animegataris once the fourth wall shatters. Minoa opens a mysterious locked door early on and finds a talking cat, and most viewers will roll with it because this is an anime and anything goes. In the world of the story, though, it isn't supposed to be an anime, and this is the first sign of reality breaking down.

The story goes a lot of hilariously crazy places towards the end. The school is taken over by anime cliches, resulting in things like the track team using rocket boots or a robotics club creating a mecha. Minoa is the only one who sees anything wrong with this, and it leads to her being shunned. That video I linked above shows what she's dealing with. She almost wanders off the black edge of the screen, she's horrified after going through a timeskip montage, and she's bumping into onscreen text. Crazier things are happening too, like the OP being replaced with a different one dedicated to fanservice and the episode getting rewinded so they can check the opening credits to see if a staff change might explain why the tone changed so dramatically. Animegataris goes completely off-the-wall bonkers. I loved it.

Minoa hates it, though, because while all of these things are fun in anime, they don't belong in real life. Anime is supposed to bring people together. After getting ostracized by all her friends, Minoa says a perfect line. "I hate this piece of shit anime!". She says it because the anime their reality has turned has driven them apart. This thankfully gets through to her friends, and they help Minoa get everything back to normal. It was a crazy plot that went a lot of places I didn't even talk about, but for Minoa the important thing is that, even as a newbie, she loves anime because it lets her connect with people. And I love it for the same reason. To the few people actually reading this write-up, thank you again for following along with my anime ranking! This project is letting me connect with you.

COMING UP TOMORROW:
50: This anime is being kidnapped by an ogre.
C50: This character is refusing to get married.
49: This anime is wearing the wrong clothes.
C52: This character wants to befriend everyone in their class.

There's no score difference between 31-50 and 51-60, but reaching the top fifty still feels like a special milestone!

.... Shrek: The Anime???

Also Blend-S, the amount of anime knowledge I get from memes is ridiculous... that OP was huge back in the day (I guess Fall 2017!)

oh that's where that intro came from?

Blend-S does indeed have a catchy OP. I considered also ranking my top ten or twenty OPs/EDs for this project, but its too hard to separate my feelings for the shows and judge those videos on their own merits. There are a bunch I regularly rewatch on YouTube, though, and both Blend-S and Animegataris are among them!

Looking forward to Akebi-chan tomorrow.

Animegataris OP > Blend-S

Also better show-wise. Blend-S really didn't do it for me. Pretty dull example of that style of show.

Since I feel bad that I haven't made more progress on recommendations, I want to mention this. I'm down to ten anime to rewatch, only 179 episodes to go! Once I'm done those, I'll switch to recommendations right away and hopefully get through most of them before the end of the month. I envisioned going back and forth more during the ranking, like rewatching an anime and then doing a rec, then another rewatch. A lot of shows have risen or fallen drastically after a rewatch, though, so I want to prioritize those to make sure the remainder of the ranking is solid. Animegataris was originally a 6/10 before I rewatched it, for example. Still, I promise to get through all the recommendations even if it takes me into December.

MacArrowny posted...

Blend-S really didn't do it for me. Pretty dull example of that style of show.

It definitely isn't the best of that style. Blend-S isn't even my favorite restaurant workplace comedy anime, but it's damn close! I just really liked Maika.

50. Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits
https://myanimelist.net/anime/36754/Kakuriyo_no_Yadomeshi
Spring 2018 (26 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 7.53/10
Best Character: Tsubaki Aoi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=507GUYqfT48

Premise: Tsubaki Aoi, a young woman with high spiritual power, is kidnapped to the ayakashi hidden realm to marry an ogre god. Refusing to go along with that, Aoi instead opens an eatery at the ogre gods inn in the hopes of earning enough to keep her freedom.

The Good: Kakuriyo is a fantasy drama with some light romantic elements. It turns out that Aoi's recently deceased grandfather got into debt with an ogre god in the hidden realm, and he signed her away in a marriage contract to repay what he owed. The ogre god, Oodanna, is influential, powerful, and apparently quite the catch in the spirit world. Still, Aoi doesn't want to go through with the marriage. She puts her cooking skills to use instead and opens an eatery at Oodanna's inn, hoping to repay the debt that way. Not many people there like her at first, but Aoi begins winning them over one at a time with her cooking and friendly personality.

I always enjoy slow-paced stories with a supernatural twist, and thats basically what Kakuriyo is. The premise and some of the subplots might seem dire at times, but it never gets too dark or overdramatic. It helps that Aoi is an excellent character who stands up for herself and keeps pushing forward. Her cooking solves a surprising number of problems, too. A lot of this anime is food porn, which I usually hate. Most meals have an emotional aspect for the person she made it for, however, so their reactions were heartfelt and part of a character plot. I enjoyed that a lot more than typical food porn, which is just "look at this person orgasm while they're eating". Aoi starts out understandably wary of Oodanna and his employees, but its fun watching her slowly befriend the colorful characters. The romance angle also has believable buildup and lots of sweet moments. I watched this weekly originally. When I binged it on a rewatch, I was surprised how nice it was to watch for long periods. For me, it felt like comfort food, appropriately enough!

The Bad: Kakuriyo doesnt have the most consistent production values. Both art and animation quality fluctuate as the season progresses. Regarding the plot, my only complaint is that Aoi gets kidnapped a few too many times. Shes never a badly written damsel in distress, it just felt like the writers used kidnappings as a crutch to get her into various situations.

Overall: For me, Kakuriyo is the perfect blend of a few different elements. Its about food but never descends into food porn. It has some drama but never gets bogged down in darkness. The romance has solid progression for everyone involved. And, most importantly, it uses the settings supernatural elements well. Kakuriyo is a relaxing anime thats easy to watch.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/4/1/AAcDcBAAD2IN.png

CHARACTER: Tsubaki Aoi (Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits)
https://myanimelist.net/character/158555/Aoi_Tsubaki
Voiced by: Touyama Nao
TOP 100 RANK: 50th

SPOILERS FOR KAKURIYO: BED & BREAKFAST FOR SPIRITS

(I couldnt find a video for her, only AMVs)

I feel like there are a lot of ways to screw up a character like Aoi, so its impressive how she avoids those pitfalls. The premise of a woman being married off to repay her grandfathers debt to an ogre god could easily rob her of agency, so I love how Aoi is vehemently against the idea. She strives instead to repay her debt by opening the Moonflower eatery. Almost everyone dislikes Aoi at the start, mostly because they had problems with her grandfather. Shiro has a surprising amount of presence considering he died before the story even began. Although Aoi has a forceful personality just like her grandfather, thats where the similarities end. Shes openhearted and astute, always using her cooking to smooth over conflicts or bring people together.

The romance is another area that couldve turned out creepy if it was mishandled. Even early on, I think most viewers would expect something to bloom between Aoi and her kidnapper. Its a standard Beauty and the Beast plot. The ogre god, Oodanna, is an attractive man, but I like how Aoi is only swayed by his acts of kindness. They grow closer through a lot of sweet little momemts. Even then she remains wary of his intentions, and the progress is slow and believable. Its only at the very end that she stops correcting him whenever he calls her his bride, which is a cute and subtle sign of how far their relationship has come.

The second half of the season is Aoi being kidnapped to another even more hostile inn, which is kind of a rehash of the first half. Still, I think the umi-bozu plot makes it worthwhile, because it really lets Aoi shine. For starters, its badass how she gathers everything for the ritual on her own. Then Aoi even befriends what everyone else saw as a personification of calamity by empathizing with its loneliness, likely changing the ritual forever. Aoi is just such a kindhearted and empathic person. I really enjoyed her adventures in the hidden realm.

Ah, now there's a show I really hated. The romance is absolutely sickening.

MacArrowny posted...

Ah, now there's a show I really hated. The romance is absolutely sickening.

Way back when the ranking first started, I remember you said I didn't understand the female fantasy when I bashed the physically and emotionally abusive relationship in My Little Monster. Well, now I'm returning the favor! What girl wouldn't swoon at being kidnapped and desired by a powerful ogre god?

(Okay yes the romance in Kakuriyo is problematic, but it's no worse than something like Beauty and the Beast and I like how it develops)

Hahaha, I suppose none of us are consistent in that respect. It's interesting what can click with/rub people the wrong way.

49. Akebis Sailor Uniform
https://myanimelist.net/anime/48553/Akebi-chan_no_Sailor-fuku
Winter 2022 (12 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 7.73/10
Best Character: Akebi Komichi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6doKKoHQmTI

Premise: Akebi Komichi always dreamed of going to her mother's old middle school because of its beautiful sailor uniform. After getting there, though, Akebi learns that the school uses a blazer uniform now, and shes the only one wearing the old sailor uniform!

The Good: Akebi's Sailor Uniform is a cute girls slice-of-life. I'm obviously a fan of those genres, but usually what hooks me is whatever twist on the premise it's using to set itself apart. Often that's a club or a hobby or a distinct character attribute. In this anime, the twist is that Akebi wears a different uniform than everyone else! Oh no! That's almost as mild as Slow Start where the big thing was that one girl was a year older than everyone else. Akebi's Sailor Uniform doesn't elevate itself with a unique premise. It's good because it does cute girls slice-of-life really, really well. The animation is beautiful, for starters, but the real charm comes from the characters.

I like Akebi a lot. She's so friendly, enthusiastic, and energetic, but she can also be surprisingly shy at times. I'll talk about her more in her write-up. Still, my favorite thing about this anime is how Akebi interacts with the side characters. There are over a dozen girls in her class, and in an anime like this usually there would be two or three main ones while everyone else is lucky to get focused on for half an episode. Instead of doing that, ASU has a really balanced cast. It felt like Akebi spent as much time getting to know unsure girl Kei or bug girl Minoru as she did her literal best friend Erika. Seeing Akebi form deep bonds with all of her classmates almost equally was a lot of fun, and it resulted in a lot of great moments.

The Bad: Someone who made this very obviously has a foot fetish. It didn't bug me too much even if that isn't my thing, but it stood out enough to get distracting at times. Also, while I praised how balanced the cast was, there wasn't enough time to get to everyone. There were one or two girls, like tiny girl Hotaru, who didn't get much focus at all.

Overall: Akebi's Sailor Uniform is an excellent cute girls slice-of-life. The animation is beautiful, and the cast of side characters is surprisingly balanced. I wasnt a huge fan of the foot fetish stuff, but there were times where even that worked well. One of the big themes in ASU is how everyone is unique and weird in their own way, and that's okay. I really enjoyed watching Akebi get to know all of her classmates.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/7/0/AAcDcBAAD2KO.jpg

CHARACTER: Akebi Komichi (Akebis Sailor Uniform)
https://myanimelist.net/character/167838/Komichi_Akebi
Voiced by: Murakami Manatsu
TOP 100 RANK: 52nd

SPOILERS FOR AKEBIS SAILOR UNIFORM

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vokCeHUycIQ

One of my favorite things about Akebi is how much she feels like a real person. Her athleticism and enthusiasm are on the high end, but she balances it with believable awkwardness and sometimes being unsure of herself. She's dreamed for years about going to her mother's old school, and she adores the sailor uniform from the first time she tries it on. Once she learns that everyone else will be wearing something different, though, Akebi isn't sure what to do. Like anyone that age, she wants to fit in. The video I linked above is when her little sister Kao smacks some sense into her. I really liked their relationship. Kao usually looks up to her cool big sister and wants to do all the same things she does, but it's clear it isn't blind worship. Kao thinks her sister is the coolest because usually she is, but she also isn't afraid to call her out.

In any case, Akebi wears the sailor uniform... and she's terrified. She's going to stick out from everyone else, she'll be the weird one, it'll be terrible. Those are the kinds of thoughts running through her head. Then she meets Erika, and this was the one moment where I thought the foot fetish stuff was used really well! Erika does something weird too, she smells the clippers after cutting her toenails. She's weird. Akebi is weird too. Every single person in the world is weird in some way, and Akebi will realize that over and over as she gets to know the rest of her classmates. I really like how one of the big recurring themes is that being weird is normal.

Otherwise, it's nice how Akebi is so genuinely friendly that she strives to get to know everyone equally. The anime season ends with someone entering the classroom and Akebi enthusiastically greets them. We don't know who it is, but it doesn't matter. She's forged such deep bonds with them all that it could be anyone. Akebi is always so genuine. Most times she charges forward, but she has moments of doubt and weakness just like anyone. I liked the bit where she wanted to invite Erika to her house, and by this point they were close enough that of course she'll say yes. Akebi just couldnt silence the voice in her head asking, what if Erika says no? What if she thinks I'm creepy for asking? What if she sees the leak in our roof and hates me forever? Those kinds of worries feel so realistic, and it was nice seeing them from someone as outgoing and charismatic as Akebi. She was a great character.

COMING UP TOMORROW:
48: This anime is all about boobs vs butts.
47: This anime scored a bogey.
C62: This character is hitting the ball as hard as they can.

ya go my keijo and birdie wing

Great write-up. I love Akebi's Sailor Uniform, and it's gonna be my anime of the year. It was so beautiful. Especially the first (even with the wtf moment at the end) and last episodes. It is a bit fetishy, though.

Akebi rules, yeah. Probably my second favorite anime from 2022 currently, after Made in Abyss S2. Had some real good emotional sequences and Akebi is great.

48. Keijo!!!!!!!!
https://myanimelist.net/anime/32686/Keijo
Fall 2016 (12 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 6.94/10
Best Character: Kaminashi Nozomi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq9cM0D_fZU

Premise: Keijo is a new sport popular in Japan where women use either their breasts or their butts to push each other off a platform into water. Kaminashi Nozomi, a talented gymnast, is attending a Keijo training school with the hope of going pro someday.

The Good: Keijo!!!!!!!! (it's important to use the official number of exclamation marks at least once) is an over-the-top sports anime. To anyone who hasn't seen it, I can imagine what your reaction to the premise must be. Girls in swimsuits using boobs and butts to push each other into water, uh huh. What's next, a mud wrestling anime? A wet T-shirt contest anime? Well, I won't deny that the characters are well-endowed. The animation and visuals also make the most of their assets. However, on the list of reasons why Keijo is great, fanservice is easily at the bottom!

There are different kinds of sports anime. Some are 100% realistic while others have flashy visuals but are still mostly grounded in reality (Scorching Ping Pong Girls, for example, had a character who froze time while calculating trajectories, but that was just a visual representation to show she made precise shots). And then there's a third kind, the ones with beautiful insanity that go so over-the-top that the characters essentially have magic powers. Keijo falls into that third category because each of these girls has their own impossible skill. The matches are all wonderful, full of creativity and impressive visuals. One girl can do hypnosis with her boobs. Another has a butt possessed by some kind of animal spirit that can act with a mind of its own. Another girl can twist her hips so hard and so fast that they create a vacuum when she strikes. There are fun training sequences where they strengthen themselves or learn basic techniques. The matches are still easily the highlight of the show. The crazy powers everyone has leads to neat strategies and the momentum often shifts back and forth.

The Bad: I honestly can't think of anything I disliked in Keijo, except maybe that the premise makes it sound way worse than it is. I couldn't justify ranking it higher, but Keijo is perfect for the kind of anime it wants to be.

Overall: In Keijo, using any body part other than breasts and the butt isn't allowed. One time, a girl was about to fall off the platform, but their teammate ran up and used their butt cheeks to grab onto the fabric of the girl's swimsuit and hold them up. It's a small moment, but I think it illustrates the kind of anime this is. These girls have total control over their bodies, which leads to fun over-the-top battles even before delving into their special abilities which are basically magic powers. I imagine a lot of people wouldn't be able to get past the premise. If you can, though, Keijo is one hell of a fun ride!

I was already not planning to try Keijo despite my love of sports anime /manga but learning it is a New Prince of Tennis style sports show makes it much easier to ignore.

47. Birdie Wing: Golf Girls Story
https://myanimelist.net/anime/50248/Birdie_Wing__Golf_Girls_Story
Spring 2022 (13 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 7.49/10
Best Character: Eve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfEIharoOH0

Premise: Eve, an underworld golfer with ties to the mafia, makes a living using her talent to win bets. The more intense those games are, the more she enjoys them. Then Eve meets Amawashi Aoi, a Japanese prodigy whose skill turns even a normal round of golf into a thrilling challenge.

The Good: Birdie Wing is an incredibly entertaining sports anime. On the spectrum of realistic skill vs magic powers, the characters have peak abilities and they're represented with flashy visuals, but nothing is outright impossible. The main character, Eve, has Rainbow Bullets where each color is a kind of shot she can do. They look fancy, but they're all still technically possible. Golf is often stereotyped as the most boring sport, but even it shines when it's stylized by an anime. It also helps that fiction can skip all the fluff and only show the most impressive moments. I'm not a golf fan at all, but even I can appreciate crazy shots that barely seem possible.

However, my favorite part about Birdie Wing is the insanity of the setting. Eve is part of the golfing underworld, and I love that a sport like golf has an underworld to begin with. Some parts of it get a little darker than the rest of the anime, but it never went too far for me. There were a lot of fun mafia golfers, and they were a neat contrast to the professional players Eve also faced off with. Her relationship with Aoi, a Japanese prodigy, was a big part of the anime. In the one season it has so far, Birdie Wing created an interesting setting and set up a lot of compelling rivalries.

The Bad: Right now, only the first season of Birdie Wing is out, and it ended right in the middle of a bunch of stuff. If the second season sticks the landing, Ill probably raise this ranking a bit higher. Right now it feels unfinished, sadly. I want more!

Overall: Birdie Wing is endlessly entertaining. It started good, and then somehow kept finding new ways to stylize golf. Its easy to imagine how mafia golf nonsense could be entertaining, but it even managed to turn a round of minigolf into a thrilling competition. Eve and Aoi are both great characters, but Eve was easily my favorite and I'll talk about her more below.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/7/0/AAcDcBAAD2VK.jpg

CHARACTER: Eve (Birdie Wing: Golf Girls Story)
https://myanimelist.net/character/203066/Eve
Voiced by: Kitou Akari
TOP 100 RANK: 62nd

SPOILERS FOR BIRDIE WING: GOLF GIRLS STORY

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4OT7CJ2daQ

Eve isnt the most complex character, at least not yet. There are hints of her having a mysterious past, including amnesia and innate skills in golf and language that she cant explain. The first season doesnt have anything conclusive, though. Eve supports herself, and a bar housing various orphans, by winning high-stakes bets against wealthy clients in the golf underworld. However, the real reason she plays is because she finds the pressure exhilarating. Eve limits herself to only three clubs and is generous with handicaps for the opponent, all to increase her own excitement.

Her relationship with Aoi quickly becomes central to the story. For people with such different playstyles, it sold me on how theyd see each other as kindred spirits. For Eve, this is someone who can thrill her without any handicaps. And for Aoi, this is someone surprising who can keep up with her. I love the rivalry they develop and all the fun banter that comes with it. I also love how, while Eve is dealing with a huge mafia plot involving political assassinations and nefarious business deals, she treats it all like a boring chore she needs to get through before she can play with Aoi again.

Watching Eve play golf is also endlessly entertaining. Shes a character type I love where the question is less whether or not shell win and more exactly how shell win. And Eve pulls off some impressive shots! I mean, she beat Rose by bouncing her ball off Roses to get it into the cup. Thats badass. At the end of the first season, Eve has left the underworld behind and is playing with Aoi in an official tournament. The setting isn't as crazy anymore, and I do miss stuff like the golf course that could randomize itself. At this point, though, there are enough fun characters in the professional golf world that I'm still excited to see more. The relationship between Aoi and Eve could also probably carry the anime all on its own.

COMING UP TOMORROW:
46: This anime is being sold to a demon and taken to hell.
C71: This character enjoys reading forbidden texts.
45: This anime needs to collect more mana crystal shards.
C46: This character used to be the second-strongest person around.

Now that is one I do want to watch!

Keijo was a bit too "shonen" for me in the way it emphasized Nozomi so much. I liked Miyata much more, and Aoba had the best ability.

Waiting for Birdie Wing to conclude before deciding whether or not to pick it back up.

SockoressKnight posted...

Keijo was a bit too "shonen" for me in the way it emphasized Nozomi so much. I liked Miyata much more, and Aoba had the best ability.

Aoba definitely had the best ability, it was simultaneously absurd and awesome when she revealed it. I also liked the one power from a minor character that was an Attack on Titan reference.

SockoressKnight posted...

Keijo was a bit too "shonen" for me in the way it emphasized Nozomi so much. I liked Miyata much more, and Aoba had the best ability.

Waiting for Birdie Wing to conclude before deciding whether or not to pick it back up.

S2 got delayed, so this was probably wise.

NOTE: This has a third season currently airing that I haven't started yet.

46. Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun
https://myanimelist.net/anime/39196/Mairimashita_Iruma-kun
Fall 2019 (23 episodes), Spring 2021 (21 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 7.75/10 S1, 8.07/10 S2
Best Character: Azazel Ameri Amelie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uHGkJbNkX0

Premise: Suzuki Iruma is sold by his parents to a demon named Sullivan, but it turns out he just wanted a grandchild! Now Iruma is attending the demon school Babyls and trying to hide the fact that hes a human from everyone else.

The Good: Welcome to Demon School is a fantasy comedy about the misadventures of Iruma attending Babyls. He has zero actual powers, which is dangerous in a society where might makes right. Hes also a human, and, since theyre considered a delicacy, Iruma lives in constant fear that someone will eat him if they find out. Despite that grim premise, this is very much a goofy comedy. Iruma gets through situations using his good nature, blind luck, and certain skills he just so happened to pick up during his hilariously abusive upbringing. Hes an expert at dodging things that are thrown at him, for example. Even when the plot has the occasional a serious arc, its filled with enough jokes to keep the tone light.

Iruma is a good character as the protagonist, but he isnt anywhere near my favorite. This anime reminds me of My Hero Academia, in a way, because it also has a class of zany characters who each have a unique ability. I really like Irumas closest friends including the fire-wielding Alice and the crazy Clara. All the side characters are good, though, and I enjoyed watching Iruma get to know everyone while also exploring the larger setting. My favorite character was the Babyls student council president Ameri. She was a fun character type where shes usually serious and competent, but around Iruma she softens considerably and its super cute.

The Bad: Welcome to Demon School handles serious arcs better than most anime Ive seen. There are lots of goofy comedies that drop that sometimes tone entirely and get melodramatic (this was my big problem with The Devil is a Part-Timer, for example). In Demon School, the situations are usually goofy while remaining serious, and there are plenty of jokes along the way. Despite that, the serious arcs were still my least favorite parts. I wanted more of Iruma hanging out with his friends and less legitimate threats to the lives of everyone around him.

Overall: The best part of Welcome to Demon School is how it builds the setting and the relationships between the many characters. Iruma is the protagonist, and his close friends are the most important characters, but theres always some new corner of the underworld to explore and the side characters get plenty of focus. The comedy is great, and I appreciate that it sticks around even during the more serious arcs. Ameri is also the best, as Ill talk about more below.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/3/5/AABz_zAAD2fj.jpg

CHARACTER: Azazel Ameri Amelie (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kum)
https://myanimelist.net/character/154518/Amelie_Azazel
Voiced by: Hayami Saori
TOP 100 RANK: 71st

SPOILERS FOR WELCOME TO DEMON SCHOOL! IRUMA-KUN (S1 and S2 Only)

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfdv748GH8w

Ameri is introduced as the no-nonsense student council president at Babyls. Her father oversees border control with the human realm, and as a result she knows more about them than most. Ameri is the first one to suspect Iruma is human, but, once they get to know each other more, she decides not to turn him in. After all, he can read Japanese, and Ameri has a whole secret closet full of forbidden texts (manga)! Her favorite is a cheesy over-the-top romance series. She grows closer to Iruma as they have secret meetings to read it, and Ameri even begins falling for him!

There are a few arcs where Ameri is focused on, including one where she briefly had her personality stolen by a rival student council claimant. Still, my favorite part about her is that shes always so cute and funny. Her strength is real, as is her dedication to her role at Bablys, but theres a normal girl underneath that and I enjoyed seeing Iruma bring it out. The video I linked for Ameri is their date at a water park, and its cute seeing her fret over things like texting him. She does everything she can to get closer to him during the date, but the disparity between a demon and a human often resulted in mistakes. Ameris cuteness and Irumas good nature made it all work out, though, and at the end of the day Iruma even carried a slightly injured Ameri like a princess. The visual of tiny Iruma carrying gigantic Ameri is super cute.

I also like how Ameri is a staunch ally to Iruma, even though shes one of the few people who knows the truth about him. He may be a human, but his incredible actions since arriving in the demon world prove hes a worthwhile person. The other video I considered linking for Ameri was one where she defends Iruma when hes being questioned by her father. I enjoy Ameri as a character, but its her cute relationship with Iruma that elevated her into my favorites.

S2 of Iruma wasn't nearly as good as S1 imo. Too many recycled jokes. Evil Iruma arc was good tho.

I love when the "coming up" hint makes things sound so dark and foreboding and then the write-up comes and the series title/video thumbnail/write-up make it sound so fun and bubbly, lol

I added the demon school show to my watch list.

45. The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated
https://myanimelist.net/anime/48753/Jahy-sama_wa_Kujikenai
Summer 2021 (20 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 7.08/10
Best Character: Jahy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FLnQJKOhRc

Premise: Jahy was once the second-in-command of the Dark Realm, but then a magical girl shattered their mana crystal. Now Jahy is almost powerless in the real world, struggling to make ends meet while also tracking down mana crystal shards.

The Good: The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated is a reverse-isekai comedy about a demon who gets thrown into the real world after the Dark Realm collapses. With only a tiny mana crystal of her own for power, she spends most of her time in the form of a weak little girl. Jahy still has her arrogant attitude from when she was strong, which is always funny, and sometimes she gathers enough power to transform into her adult form. She divides her time between working at a bar to earn money for a meager existence and tracking down crystal shards to revive the Dark Realm.

For me, The Great Jahy is a better version of a few different anime. The premise is similar to The Devil is a Part-Timer since both are about a powerful demon going to the real world and working a regular job to scrape by. My problem with Part-Timer was that it often had melodramatic arcs that abandoned humor entirely. The Great Jahy, in comparison, is always hilarious, even the few times where things get serious. I also mentioned this anime in my Gabriel Dropout write-up. My favorite character from that was Satania, and Jahy is basically Satania except the main character. They even have the same voice actress! I never got tired of Jahy acting all high and mighty, even though shes been reduced to a little girl form. Then animals would bully her, and her landlord would come by and fight with her to pay the rent. I really enjoyed this shows style of humor.

The Bad: Jahy herself is amazing, but none of the side characters are anywhere near as good. As one example, theres Druj, a masochistic maid who Jahy used to boss around in the Dark Realm. In the real world, Druj has managed to become a rich businesswoman. Their interactions were usually just the same jokes over and over, Jahy pretends shes still powerful while Druj talks about her meager accomplishments (which vastly outweigh anything Jahy has managed). None of the side characters are bad, and Jahy is always great when shes with them. I just thought they were all rather weak. I wouldve ranked this higher if there was anyone else as good as Jahy.

Overall: The Great Jahy is a hilarious comedy about a once-powerful demon now barely scraping by in the real world. Jahy herself is amazing, and she more than carries the show even though none of the side characters are as good. Shes fun in her little girl form because shes always so arrogant even though she has almost no power. Shes also fun in her adult form. No matter how strong she becomes, life usually finds a way of knocking her back down.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/5/2/AABz_zAAD2i8.png

CHARACTER: Jahy (The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated)
https://myanimelist.net/character/155978/Jahy
Voiced by: Oozora Naomi
TOP 100 RANK: 46th

SPOILERS FOR THE GREAT JAHY WILL NOT BE DEFEATED

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENhqvK7A7vU

That video for Jahy, and the rest of the scenario surrounding it, perfectly encapsulates her character. She knows theres a mana crystal somewhere on a nearby mountain, so she works hard and finally scrapes together the supplies necessary to go on the trek. Then she gets lost, her own mana crystal gets swiped by a bird, she loses all her supplies while chasing after it, and finally it begins to rain. Jahy falls down a hill and scrapes her leg.

Im sad the video I linked doesnt show what happens next, because it was what sold me on Jahy as a character. She talks a big game about being a powerful evil demon. In that moment where all hope seemed lost, though, she sees a baby bird that fell out of its nest and decides to do something good. Jahy takes it and climbs the tree to put it back in its nest. Her good deed is immediately rewarded by finding not only her own mana crystal, but also the one she was looking for! Then, of course, it turns out that her entire adventure happened on a mountain about fifty feet from her apartment complex. Oh, Jahy, you lovable goof.

Jahy was always hilarious, and I loved seeing what would happen to her next. Quite often she brought misfortune onto herself with her attitude, like all the times she refused to pay her landlord rent which led to a brawl. Still, there were also plenty of times where the universe is seemingly out to get her. One scene begins with Jahy struggling to keep a flock of birds from stealing her food, which is reminiscent of Satania from Gabriel Dropout always having her melon bread swiped by a dog. The two really do feel like almost the same character, but Im okay with that because I love this type of character so much.

I mentioned not liking the side characters as much, but I love Jahy a lot, so it almost isnt a fair comparison. Plus, if nothing else, I enjoy the dynamics she has with everyone. With Druj, Jahy is keenly aware of how little shes accomplished even as she pretends that shes doing great. Jahy often fights with the landlord, but there are also times where it shows they care about each other deep down. The bar owner is practically a saint, and Jahy struggled to deal with her because of it. She also manages to befriend the magical girl who destroyed the dark realm in the first place. Jahy may fail a lot, but shes a good person in the end and she was always fun to watch.

COMING UP TOMORROW
44: This anime prefers blondes.
43: This anime is getting sorted into a class for unfortunate souls.
C72: This character smiles no matter what terrible things happen to them.

Really liked Jahy, though it was a bit slow at the beginning.

couldn't get into Jahy

Jahy's first half ain't great, but the second half is quite good. I think the manga's a little more consistent

44. Kiniro Mosaic
https://myanimelist.net/anime/16732/Kiniro_Mosaic
Summer 2013 (12 episodes), Spring 2015 (12 episodes)
My Score: 8/10, MAL Score: 7.23/10 S1, 7.50/10 S2
Best Character: Oomiya Shinobu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVZGEupnM4s
(The only OP I could find was from this OVA, which I havent even seen, but it works)

Premise: Oomiya Shinobu once went to England on a homestay and became friends with Alice Cartelet. Now that both are in high school, Alice moves to Japan and starts living with Shino!

The Good: Kiniro Mosaic is a cute girls slice-of-life comedy. There are five main characters, starting with Shino who is obsessed with foreign culture and really likes blonde hair. Shes good friends with Alice, a girl she once met in England who has since moved to Japan and now lives with Shino. Alices energetic friend Karen followed her over and now goes to their high school as well. The other two are Shinos childhood friends Youko (a tomboy) and Aya (a girly girl who totally has a crush on Youko).

None of the characters are super unique, and most of the situations they get into are typical for the genre. Theres just something about Kiniro Mosaic that made it all come together really well for me. I didnt rewatch it for this ranking, mostly because the second season is no longer on streaming anywhere. I still remember this show having a lot of quick comedy segments and they almost always made me laugh. Shino is my favorite character because shes an airhead who had a great dynamic with everyone else, but Karen was also hilarious for her over-the-top antics and terrible English. If you find Engrish funny, boy is this ever the anime for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP3QpCdyIw4

The Bad: Other than the bad English (which I found charming, personally) I dont recall there being anything bad in Kiniro Mosaic. It was a cute and relaxing anime to watch with fun characters. I couldnt justify ranking it any higher because ultimately it doesnt do anything special. I still thought it was a solid cute girls comedy, and its one of my favorite in the genre.

Overall: Kiniro Mosaic doesnt have any big twist in its premise to set itself apart (Shino liking blonde hair isnt much, after all). I still think its a hilarious anime with cute characters. Even though I didnt rewatch this, there are a lot of little scenes I still think back to every so often. There was one where Shino got a new ice grinder, so she made shaved ice treats for Alice. It was tasty at first, but Shino got so into grinding ice that Alice had to keep eating more. It soon became brain-freeze torture while Shino is in the background with a contented smile grinding even more ice. Its hard for me to describe why, but that thirty-second bit made me laugh really hard. Something about Kiniro Mosaic just really made it all come together in a way that I loved.

Karen #1. The song at the end of S1 (that's the right season, right?) was great.

Huh, it had two movies I never watched...