April 2023 Issue

Anime Review: My Clueless First Friend


Episodes: 4(+)
status: Ongoing
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life


Synopsis:


My Clueless First Friend (Jijō o Shiranai Tenkōsei ga Guigui Kuru) is a Spring 2023 anime based on a manga series with 140+ chapters. It follows the school life of Akane Nishimura, an elementary school student, who is avoided in class and treated as a ‘Grim Reaper’ because of her gloomy appearance.

However, the new transfer student, Taiyo Takada, thinks that Grim Reapers are really cool and befriends her. He wants her to curse him, so that he can be known as the Grim Reaper’s aide, again, because it sounds cool (do bear in mind that they’re elementary students). He is also very straightforward, and says what is on his mind, which often gets Nishimura flustered (in a good way, of course).

Pacing:


The show is pretty decently paced, given that it’s a slice-of-life anime. Then again, at the time of writing this review, only 4 episodes have been released, so this could very well change.

Animation:


The animation is quite good, and pretty smooth. Since it is not an action anime, the animation doesn’t have to be flashy or extreme, but it does its job well, for a slice of life anime.

Artstyle:


The character design is very unique, and at first, it took me aback, being very different from the artstyle you’d expect in an anime. It does, however, grow on you, and you’ll come to appreciate (and maybe even love) the distinct artstyle, as I have. 10/10 artstyle, very nice.

Music/Sound Effects:


The music is great, it suits the themes of the storyline at different stages perfectly. The same can be said about the sound effects, they are adjusted properly to hear the voices, and don’t drown them out. The opening and ending theme songs are great too. While not at the same level as the very best anime openings, it is still worth listening to.

Enjoyment:


Overall, I’d say this is a very wholesome anime to watch, and you should definitely check it out if you’re a slice-of-life enthusiast. 10/10 best slice-of-life of all time (totally not biased).

Seriously, it is amazing, though.

Ratings:


Pacing: 8
Animation: 8
Artstyle: 10
Music/SFX: 8
Plot: 9
Enjoyment: 10

Anime Review: Daily Lives of High School Boys


Japanese NameDanshi Koukousei no Nichijou
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 12
GenresComedy, Slice of Life


Summary:


"Daily Lives of High School Boys" is an anime series that revolves around the daily lives of three high school boys, Tadakuni, Yoshitake, and Hidenori. This slice-of-life comedy series takes a humorous approach to the everyday experiences of high school boys, from mundane activities like going to class to more adventurous endeavours like going on a school trip.



The Main Characters:


    Each character in "Daily Life of High School Boys" brings something unique to the show, and their different personalities and quirks help to create a well-rounded and entertaining cast of characters.



  • Hidenori Tabata

    The trio's leader is often the most level-headed and rational of the group. He is also highly imaginative and prone to daydreaming.


  • Yoshitake Tanaka

    The goofball of the group, and often acts on impulse without thinking things through. He is also highly energetic and has a great sense of humour.


  • Tadakuni

    The actual main character, but there are a few episodes where Tadakuni isn't even mentioned. The most reserved of the trio, and often serves as the voice of reason. He is also highly introspective and thoughtful.



  • Why even bother watching this?


    The humour in the show is top-notch, relying heavily on witty banter, pop culture references, and hilarious visual gags. The writing is clever and keeps the jokes fresh and unpredictable, making it a joy to watch from start to finish.

    What sets this series apart from other high school comedies is its ability to tackle serious topics in a lighthearted way. The show addresses issues such as bullying, peer pressure, and social anxiety, but never loses its comedic edge.


    Animation:


    The animation style is simple yet effective, with a colorful and vibrant color palette that adds to the overall cheerful tone of the series. The music is also catchy and memorable, perfectly complementing the upbeat and energetic vibe of the show.




    Conclusion:


    Overall, "Daily Lives of High School Boys" is a must-watch for fans of slice-of-life comedies. Its witty writing, lovable characters, and clever humour make it a standout in the genre and a truly enjoyable viewing experience. It will remind you of friends from your high school days, and make you reminisce of the times you spent with them.

    It made me realize how much I miss my friends from high school and how precious those memories are. All aboard the feels train. (┬┬﹏┬┬)

    Honestly the greatest comedy I've ever watched, I always find myself coming back to this anime whenever I'm feeling down, and it never fails to cheer me up.

    10/10 in all aspects from me.



Anime Recommendation: The Misfit of the Demon King Academy


Seasons: 2
Episodes: 19
GenresAction, Fantasy

Everyone goes to school with expectations, some for friendship, some for learning, some for romance, etc. But if these are all for normal schools, then what is your expectation when you enrol in a 'Demon King' academy, where students are taught to become the next demon king? Moreover, when you are their ancestor, the Demon King, now hold your breath and let us dive into the fantasy world of the anime 'The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History's Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendant', in short 'The Misfit of Demon King Academy'.



The story starts as Anos Voldigoad, the demon king, sacrifices his life and makes a deal with the hero, Kanon, to create a barrier between the human and demon worlds to put an end to the long-standing demon-human war, but it was the start of his new journey as he reincarnates as a hybrid demon in the demon world after a long 2000 years. The world has changed, and as time goes on, he finds out that the so-called pure-blood demons see themselves as superior and the hybrids as inferior and oppress them. A hierarchy has been established. Not only is the peace for which he sacrificed his life just a superficial façade created by a false demon king who has erased the history of his existence, but he also finds out that the magic powers of the demons have been depleted to a great extent. Now he sets out on his journey to correct the things that went wrong, starting by enrolling in the Demon King Academy as a "misfit", a title that is given to hybrid demons.

The story may be fantasy-based, like magic, demons, etc., but it also focuses on the school life of the former 'Demon King', like how he makes friends, enjoys his school life, tries to protect his friends and family from the dangers in and outside of the academy, etc.; it also has drama, action, a little mystery like secret opponents, etc. It has a unique story that revolves around a demon king, who is referred to as a great villain in any typical anime story, and shows that the demons have their own stories to tell. It contains the value of life and family. It also shows using the power in a positive way. The MC is an overpowered character with a harem who is much more powerful than his enemies can imagine. But it is not boring because of this, as the hero is also an OP character. It also has elements like magic fights between students and schools. It has consistent and moderately high-quality animation, and the art is satisfying with its own charisma. If you like OP-MC with lots of girls or magic school anime with magic battles, then it is a good choice for you to watch.

Anime Review: School Babysitters


GenreSlice of Life
Theme School
Episodes12 + 1 (Special)
Overall Rating8/10

To all my seniors, let me recommend an anime filled with cuteness to watch after your exams. Since it’s just 13 episodes, you can recover within one night. And to all my peers, let’s count this in our regular dose. Anime is about students babysitting while maintaining their personal and school lives.



Story (7/10):


Even though the storyline isn’t magnificent, it’s enough to keep you attached. You would find a few cliques, but it has enough humour to cover that up

Characters (8/10):


You will find a variety of well-written characters here; some are pretty unique and interesting. There is a fair amount of character development throughout the series as well.

Cuteness (ITS OVER 9000):


The interaction between the kids is lovely and wholesome, and you wouldn’t get tired of it.

Overview:


The story concerns a middle school student Ryuuichi and his baby brother Kotaro who lost their parents in a plane crash. After the incident, an old lady who had lost her son and daughter-in-law in the same plane crash took them in. The old lady owns a school and wants Ryuuichi to take care of the teacher’s kids during school hours as repayment. The Anime is about how their life continues and their interaction with others.


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Best viewed on PC