Jeoffrey

This Train to the End of the World has a lot of ideas, but somehow lacks personality. Apart from the authors' extensive imagination, there is nothing here that stands out for me above average, something is missing, something that would make me like the series more and be sure that I will remember it even when the 7G networks are launched. And even when it comes to fantasy, I can't decide if the creators put something of their own into the series, or just borrowed ideas from everywhere, including uncle The 3 Worlds of Gulliver. And also, mentioning the fact that the quality of individual ideas and storylines fluctuates from episode to episode, or rather depending on where the train stops, your overall impression fluctuates in all the same. Something similar can be said about the characters as well, even though there were a few interesting ideas surrounding them, their designs, and their pasts, the resulting characters were simply "normal," nothing that stood out within anime production. It even went so far that probably the only girl who somehow interested me with her personality was Mito "queen of zombies" and she was a side character. Among the main characters, probably the best was once again the dog. And something very similar can be said about the animation, there were a few creative ideas, sometimes nice work with colors, but qualitatively it was just average, sometimes the creators used CG and towards the end they were already struggling, so they took a weekly break. However, to not sound negative in any way, I will repeat again that the series has many interesting ideas, I feel that they usually sympathetically try and watching the whole thing was definitely a pleasant experience, but the problem is that there is nothing here that I would like to write more about than just "it was nice...". Actually, I'm lying, the music was nice, I liked the opening and ending. And now excuse me, I'm going to put on my aluminum hat and calmly wait for the end of the world... 6/10

Divine games we play! But why? Because No Game, No Life! But I say enough, I don't want to play this! I feel like someone is trying to stuff tofu into me instead of the desired medium-rare steak! Is it really that bad? For me, definitely, and for several reasons. Firstly - the characters did not interest me at all. The main hero is boring, dull, not only in personality but also visually, and I can't believe he is the smartest person or at least a cool player. The red-haired goddess is not a goddess for me either, nor anyone particularly worthy of admiration, she seems totally ordinary to me... Moving on. Secondly - the games themselves are stupid, those "divine" games have one hidden condition for victory in the rules and one secret rule, which may sound interesting on paper, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the hero is just pulling solutions out of a hat as he pleases, I saw no logic in it, the authors simply didn't sell it well to me (or maybe I just wasn't paying attention, which is very easy here...). Let's move on and reveal my hidden winning condition, what I have for the anime - thirdly - animation quality. Does the series look good? Not really and especially the color palette used during the "divine" game was kind of weirdly vomited out... Basically, two episodes were enough for me to say "Piky, piky on the head, I'm not playing with you!". However, based on my own secret rules, I did not meet the "rule of three episodes", so I cannot evaluate - well, I'll leave it to the players who got further. "Winners Win, Losers Lose..."

What are your strengths and what is your weakness? The first positive points that the series receives are for the fact that the main character is basically average (possibly slightly above average) young boy and the creators are very aware of it, they know how to work with it (for example when Ars "was not ready yet"). However, his ability is that he can see the statistics of all others, their strength, but also weakness. Another positive points I give for the hero's ability being interestingly limited, he can see the numbers, but does not know the motivations of the characters, basically what exactly is hidden behind some statistics. And again the creators work with these aspects of each character within the story and it is interesting... The main hero does not have to defeat everyone, it's more about convincing the capable ones to join him, and from how the story is shaping up, I hope it will also be about finding the enemy's weaknesses and exploiting them, after all we have already dealt with the weaknesses of allies and what to do with them, this seems to me within the narrative with all that focus on human strengths and weaknesses as a logical next step! Maybe I'm wrong and I will be disappointed during the next series (which is already confirmed), but for now there is a certain optimism prevailing. I am also curious how much the role of war strategy will play out here, how much space it will get, because for example all the tricks used during the practice battle in the last two episodes were quite entertaining for me. I also like some characters and I like to learn more about them. Animation-wise, it was decent, and the music also sometimes (for example in the last episode) tried charmingly. As far as any significant weaknesses are concerned, the local worldbuilding didn't appeal to me too much, the construction of the entire conflict and the description of the local power situation haven't quite caught my attention yet. Nevertheless, overall it is a nice surprise, where I will definitely watch the second season. 6.9/10

Rising Impact is an average sports shōnen from the author of Nanatsu no Taizai. Nakaba Suzuki's signature style is evident in the character designs and his fondness for Arthurian legends (yes, we have Camelot, Lancelot, Gawain, and Merlin here — though they feel a bit out of place in a golf setting). His humor, penchant for risqué jokes, and odd pairings are also present. The anime focuses on golf, but since it's targeted at young boys, it’s presented in an exciting way. Think along the lines of Kuroko's Basketball—adding unique (superhuman) abilities that look cool. Playing on standard golf courses with a few ponds, bunkers, and trees wouldn't cut it for the young audience, so we get the most bizarre and challenging courses imaginable (spirals, cliffs, cascades, etc.). Besides innate talent, reaching a godly level of skill requires incredible effort — swinging the club a thousand times a day, running ten kilometers daily, and eventually becoming the next Tiger Woods. The characters are somewhat lackluster. The protagonist feels like a mix of Meliodas and Hawk, so he can be endearing but also incredibly annoying. Most other characters are one-dimensional, each with a unique golf skill. However, if you turn off your brain, the series can be entertaining. The story moves at a decent pace, and the fantastical "golf" can be fun to watch, even if I prefer more traditional takes like this season's Hey! Tonbo. Admittedly, I’m not the target audience for Rising Impact at my age. So after Gawain’s final shot of the season, I’m landing at a 4.9/10 and will consider watching the announced second season only if I have too much time on my hands this summer.

Doga Kobo is known for two things: creating anime with a pleasant atmosphere featuring cute girls doing cute things, and producing Oshi no Ko, a dramatic exploration of the entertainment industry. With Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night, they've managed to combine the best of both worlds. This series follows a group of four likable girls each facing personal struggles as they strive to make it in various creative fields like music, animation, and streaming. You might think this theme is overdone in anime, but Jellyfish masterfully blends drama with comedy, creating a balance between despair and determination. The creators tackle significant themes that give depth to an otherwise simple story. It's rare for a single plotline to resonate with me emotionally, let alone multiple ones, but this series managed to do just that. Whether it was Kiui's journey or the story of the eternally young idol and her daughter, the emotional weight was palpable. The show emphasizes the importance of facing fears, pursuing dreams despite obstacles, and understanding that age is just a number. It also highlights the impact of those closest to us, who can offer the most support, but can also hurt us the most. The series touches on familiar struggles for anyone who has ever aspired to be creative — fear of judgment, self-doubt, jealousy, and professional detachment. Despite these heavy themes, the overall tone remains positive, and you might even find yourself inspired to tackle your projects or personal challenges. Visually, the anime is stunning, filled with vibrant colors and beautiful animation. Even someone like me, who isn't usually a fan of idols or the Japanese entertainment industry, found the JELEE music videos captivating both musically and artistically. The main quartet of characters is well-developed, endearing, and memorable each with believable emotions and depth. I especially connected with Kiui. If there are any flaws, it's that the final episode felt rushed, and some dramatic elements could have been explored further. Nonetheless, it wrapped up nicely. In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed this show. It's my favorite new anime of the spring season, and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates creativity, engaging life stories, or just likes cute girls doing cute things. 9/10

The new original anime, Astro Note, feels like a blast from the past! Its animation style, character design, humor, and plot will all seem very familiar if you've watched romantic anime from the 80s and 90s. Astro Note comes off as the work of a die-hard Rumiko Takahashi fan. I’ve seen a few episodes of the original Urusei Yatsura, a bit of the recent remake, and some Maison Ikkoku. Although I haven’t seen enough to fully judge those series (unlike Ranma ½, Inuyasha, and Rinne, which I’ve watched in full), I’ve seen enough to say Astro Note parallels those works. Astro Note follows the story of a new tenant falling in love with his landlady (Maison Ikkoku), who also happens to be an alien, leading to various crazy antics (Urusei Yatsura). The only thing missing compared to Takahashi's works is the fan service! A positive note is that this series is self-contained and much shorter than the above mentioned anime. The crucial aspect here is the humor (since it's primarily a comedy), and for me, it was hit or miss. Sometimes I laughed, other times I found it silly, and occasionally even a bit cringy. The same goes for the characters — each had moments where they were endearing and others where I wondered what I was watching. The story was straightforward but had some dull spots and escalated too quickly at the end, making for an uneven pace. Another important factor is the romance. There wasn’t a lot of it, and I missed deeper moments between the main couple. However, there were some interesting romantic rivals, so the series didn’t entirely neglect this theme. If you’ve read this far, you might have guessed that my feelings about Astro Note are mixed. Sometimes I was entertained, other times bored, making for a very up-and-down experience that averaged out to be quite middle-of-the-road. 5.1/10

This social comedy may not have had a huge budget — something that's occasionally evident in the animation — but the creators made the most of what they had. For the first time in an anime, I saw a real slot machine integrated into the show. Despite its financial limitations, it still had a lot of charm. The humor, quirky yet likable characters, and overall vibe reminded me a lot of Hinamatsuri, which is definitely a compliment. The series essentially had two main storylines. One follows a young princess, Sara, who finds herself in our world from a fantasy realm and unexpectedly discovers a family. Her story was heartwarming, funny, and generally very endearing. The second storyline centers around Livia, a noble knight who came with Sara and experienced a series of life’s misadventures. This plotline delves into social comedy, offering glimpses into the lives of homeless people, escorts, con artists, smugglers, horse racing, and religious cults — basically, the kinds of places and people you don't often see (or prefer to avoid). It's all presented in a humorous, lighthearted way, yet still carries a bittersweet undertone when you consider the implications of their situations. The anime features a host of unique characters, as the title "Salad Bowl of Eccentrics" suggests. Each one was quirky, memorable, and weird, yet most came across as oddly endearing. The takeaway? If you're an eccentric, move to Gifu — you might fit in and even find a bit of happiness, or at least a bridge to sleep under. Add to all this an opening and ending that gradually grew on me (though the background music throughout the anime was just average), and I can easily give this series a 7/10. I’d be happy to see another serving from this “salad bowl.”

A Condition Called Love does a pretty good job in the romance department. The series can build and deliver romantic scenes that resonate well with those who have a soft spot for love stories. By the end of the series, the main couple even develops decent chemistry. I also appreciate how the show handles their shared past. However, I had significant issues with the main characters, which kept me from giving this series a higher rating. Both leads have their flaws, which is usually a positive, but... Hotaru is completely inexperienced with romance, leading to the overused trope of a shy girl searching for the meaning of love. It’s like watching a puppy explore the world, which many viewers might find cute, but it didn’t work for me this time. Saki, on the other hand, was even more problematic. I can't stand characters who become overly attached in relationships, get jealous of everyone, and make their partner the center of their universe. I've experienced this in real life, and it’s not pleasant, making it hard for me to watch the main character at times. While the show does explain his behavior, and both characters are aware of their issues and work on them throughout the story, it was still hard for me to fully connect with them. I also felt the story lacked significant drama. I expected more skeletons in their closets or some romantic rivals to shake things up, but the characters mainly struggled with themselves, leaving little room for external conflicts. It would have been interesting to see a scenario where, for instance, a friend from Hotaru’s past shows up and challenges their relationship, but maybe that’s something for future episodes. In summary, I found this anime to be decent and inoffensive to the romantic soul, but I wasn't particularly blown away by it. 5.7/10

What can I say about the third season of "Comfy Camp"? The atmosphere remains as delightful as in the previous seasons. The humor is light, charming, and occasionally a bit silly — exactly what you’d expect from a series about cute girls doing cute things. The music is wonderfully relaxing, featuring gentle motifs with flutes, guitars, and violins. The opening and ending songs are perfectly chosen, matching the vibe of the entire series, and I never felt the urge to skip them. The animation continues to impress, capturing the beauty of various Japanese landscapes and even simple things like blooming sakura trees. This season, instead of exploring Japanese geospots, the first half took us on a journey featuring different types of rope bridges. There’s still a variety of camping and traveling experiences, useful tips for aspiring campers, and plenty of food and outdoor cooking demonstrations. The main characters remain the same — charming, entertaining, and lovable. So, why did I give this season an extra star? In past seasons, I constantly complained about the 3DCG vehicles — the cars, scooters, and other modes of transport never seemed to fit with the beautiful 2D backgrounds and ruined the immersion for me. But something changed this season. Either the 3D models improved, the person creating them did a better job, the overall composition was better integrated, or (though I doubt it) I just got used to them. This time, Rin’s scooter and Nadeshiko’s sister’s car didn’t bother me — they finally blended in, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the story and enjoy the scenery and its atmosphere. I simply love Yuru Camp. It brings me so much joy, making me smile from ear to ear with each episode, and I look forward to every new season. 8.8/10

As someone who had a close relationship with alcohol from eighteen to thirty (and my liver now pays the price) and started binge-watching anime during that time, I, of course, watched the original Bartender adaptation from 2006. I remember its charming atmosphere, filled with philosophical musings about life, fascinating drink facts, and a cast of genuinely interesting and relatable characters. It was the kind of show that you either completely buy into and enjoy the ride or find silly and not your cup of tea. I was fortunate to be in the former group, even getting the impression that having a few drinks at a bar could be a great experience! Coincidentally, around the same time I was watching Bartender, my favorite pub tried opening a cocktail bar. It felt like one of those serendipitous moments from the show, or perhaps fate, hinting at an unforgettable evening with a charming bartender. It ended up with me having a massive hangover because one of the first rules any bartender should tell you is that mixing different types of drinks is a bad idea — something my dad warned me about when I was seventeen. Despite that, it was a memorable experience, and I have fond memories of the anime — it was great; I was just a fool. Now, much wiser and mostly sober for the past three years, I was curious to see if I could tune into the same vibe with this new remake. Even though I swapped shots for a glass of juice while watching each episode, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This Bartender has its charm, offering a mix of deep, philosophical moments, pleasant interactions, and a generally soothing atmosphere. You learn interesting tidbits, the characters are delightful, and it's fun to reconnect with them after all these years. This adaptation turned out pretty well; the drink preparations were beautifully animated, and each bar had its own personality, as did the bartenders. It was a nice way to end the day, like a comforting nightcap before bed. It won’t drive me back to drinking, as I've moved on, but it did make me thirsty. Any significant drawbacks? While the cocktail preparation animation was top-notch, the final episode revealed that the team struggles with animating smooth body movements, like our bartender throwing a ball — not as fluid as the drink shaking. 7.5/10