What a busy three months it has been! The school year always starts, and I lose the brain space to think of anything besides unit planning, meetings, and memorizing student names.
I did try to watch and read a lot of new shows and books! I’m focusing more on anime and manga lately, too, because I haven’t caught up on new/bucket list shows for the past three or so years. Most of these are pretty average, and I added a DROPPED SHOWS category for all the anime I tried out and stopped watching for various reasons.
Here is how I rate things!
- No redeeming qualities whatsoever, visually, aesthetically, or as a story.
- It was so boring I could barely pay attention, or it frustrated me SO much I couldn’t finish.
- I had a headache, but I somehow made it through. This category is also for when I absolutely DESPISE something I’ve watched or read.
- I could make fun of it because of how bad it is or because it lacks any real merit.
- It’s not good, it’s not bad. It’s just blah.
- There were various interesting aspects, but nothing to really gush about.
- A solid story. Good characters, plot, and visuals. However, it’s not amazing.
- I genuinely enjoyed watching/reading it. I could see/read it again with friends.
- A great experience! As a film/show, it is visually stunning and has an incredible story that I could go back to multiple times. As a book, I could do the same.
- Near Perfect (nothing is perfect.) It has become one of my favorites. I could also write entire articles on it.
Books
The BFG (1982), 7.5/10
Captured by a giant! The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It’s lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater, the Bonecruncher, or any of the other giants-rather than the BFG-she would have soon become breakfast.
When Sophie hears that they are flush-bunking off in England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!
Synopsis via Goodreas
Unsurprisingly, I thought this book was charming. I don’t remember this being my favorite by Roald Dahl as a child, but I did read it in class once upon a time. My logical brain couldn’t fathom some of the decisions made or the motivations for some characters, but… shrug… this was a nice book to get back into!
Comstock Lode (1981), 9/10
It was just a godforsaken mountainside, but no place on earth was richer in silver. For a bustling, enterprising America, this was the great bonanza. The dreamers, the restless, the builders, the vultures—they were lured by the glittering promise of instant riches and survived the brutal hardships of a mining camp to raise a legendary boom town. But some sought more than wealth.
Val Trevallion, a loner haunted by a violent past. Grita Redaway, a radiantly beautiful actress driven by an unfulfilled need. Two fiercely independent spirits, together they rose above the challenges of the Comstock to stake a bold claim on the future.
Synopsis via Goodreads
Louis Lamour forever! I learned a lot from this book about mining in the West and how it affected the American Civil War. I also loved Val and Grita as characters and thought them finally acknowledging each other and getting married was fitting.
Also, kudos to L’Amour for his villain Albert Hesketh! He felt like a. . . sociopath? I think anyone interested in studying criminal psychology would find his character interesting.
Strangers on a Train (1951), 3/10
Just in time for the centennial celebration of groundbreaking noir fiction writer Patricia Highsmith comes a reissue of her propulsive, engrossing debut, Strangers on a Train, with a new introduction by best-selling author Paula Hawkins. Guy Haines and Charles Anthony Bruno are passengers on the same train. Haines is a successful architect in the midst of a divorce, Bruno a mysterious smooth-talker with a sadistic proposal: he’ll murder Haines’s wife if Haines will murder Bruno’s father. As Bruno carries out his twisted plan, Guy finds himself trapped in Highsmith’s perilous world, where, under the right circumstances, ordinary people are capable of extraordinary crimes.
The inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1951 film, Strangers on a Train launched Highsmith’s prolific career, proving her a master at depicting the unsettling forces that tremble beneath the surface of everyday life.
I thought I would like this book, because I like the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. But I HAAAATEED this book. It is one thing to delve into mental manipulation and controlling someone through fear, and another to show a perfectly good human being stripped down until he has nothing left of himself. Some people probably like how “REAL” and “RAW” this story is, but I found it cynical and depressing.
Necronomicon (8/10) SO FAR
Originally written for the pulp magazines of the 1920s and ’30s, H. P. Lovecraft’s astonishing tales blend elements of horror, science fiction, and cosmic terror that are as powerful today as they were when first published.
Surprisingly, I actually like Lovecraft. His writing style is a bit too much after a while, because it feels more like a scientific journal than a story, but if I chunk each short story, I can get through them just fine. I understand now why so many think Lovecraft is the father of science fiction (along with H.G. Wells).
These are some of MY favorites so far. I’ll make a better list once I finally finish all of them on audio book.
- Herbert West: Re-Animator-It’s like Frankenstein, but if Frankenstein himself failed in his experiments and kept creating soulless monsters out of people’s bodies.
- The Colour Out of Space– This felt like one of those campy 1950s horror movies, but with real weight to it. It truly begs the question of what it means to be devoured body and soul by alien lifeforms.
- The Music of Erich Zann– It’s too bad this one was so short because I’m a sucker for music-themed stories. It was as if the God Pan from Greek mythology was somewhat evil and demanded sacrifices and worship through song.
- Rats in the Walls– I didn’t like this one as much as it made me THINK. I’ll never read it again because it involves cannibalism, but I became curious as to why Lovecraft focused so much on living buried evils. He was an outspoken atheist who didn’t buy into those traditional ideas of Good and Evil.
The Inugami Curse (1951), 7/10
In 1940s Japan, the wealthy head of the Inugami Clan dies, and his family eagerly await the reading of the will. But no sooner are its strange details revealed than a series of bizarre, gruesome murders begins. Detective Kindaichi must unravel the clan’s terrible secrets of forbidden liaisons, monstrous cruelty, and hidden identities to find the murderer, and lift the curse wreaking its bloody revenge on the Inugamis.
I liked that I didn’t figure everything out in this story. But, much like Agatha Christie’s Five Little Pigs (1942), I struggled with facing such deplorable evil acts without feeling utterly disgusted. The head of the Inugami Clan’s actions can only be described as SELFISH, VINDICTIVE, and WITHOUT MORAL CONSCIENCE. He didn’t think about how his decisions and way of life could scare and hurt so many people.
That said, this novel is well-written! I just hated things some of the characters did.
Detective Pines (1934), 6/10
Agatha Christie once again demonstrates her mastery of the short form mystery with Parker Pyne Investigates—short stories of crime and detection featuring Parker Pyne, certainly one of the most unconventional private investigators ever to pursue a hot lead.Mrs. Packington felt alone, helpless and utterly forlorn. But her life changed when she stumbled upon an advertisement in the Times that “Are you happy? If not, consult Mr. Parker Pyne.”
Equally adept at putting together the fragments of a murder mystery or the pieces of a broken marriage, Mr. Parker Pyne is possibly the world’s most unconventional private investigator. Armed with just his intuitive knowledge of human nature, he is an Englishman abroad, traveling the globe to solve and undo crime and misdemeanor.
This might be the only time I describe an Agatha Christie book as BORING. It really and truly was. Parker Pyne was sort of cool… but the stories and characters didn’t go anywhere really.
Manga/Comics
Seasons of Blossom (2021), 8/10
Oh, to be young and in love. Oh, to be wild and carefree. The springtime of life is intense, tumultuous, and at times, oh so confusing. Spring, summer, fall and winter — love blossoms in all seasons.
Synopsis via Webtoon
I’ve read this series before, and I vaguely remembered liking it. Not all the chapters were out yet, though, so I stopped reading for a while. I like how this series portrays teenagers and young college students, and I thought the stories were heartwarming. I don’t think I would read it again anytime soon, though.
The Divorcees’ Dessert Cafe (2023), 8/10
After nine miserable years of marriage, Erin de Brissia is thrilled when her husband, Duke Raymond Von Lebensberg, accuses her of infidelity as an excuse to be with his own lover. After signing the divorce papers, she uses the recipes from her late mother to open a dessert cafe and receives rave reviews. But when her ex-husband and his lover get wind of this, they’re set on sabotage. Will Erin ever be able to taste the sweetness of success, or is this divorcée doomed to disaster?
Synopsis via Tapas
On the surface, this is a pretty generic story. But I liked the two main characters, the art as a whole, and I thought the ending was satisfying. Everything isn’t just handed to the Female Lead. She works for it and finds happiness in places and with people she didn’t expect.
To Whom It No Longer Concerns (2024), 7/10
Exploited by her brother, betrayed by her sister, and killed by her husband. So ended the tragic story of Ariana Lopez–until, at the moment of her death, she suddenly finds herself back in the past. Now that she has a chance to do it all over again, she enlists the help of Duke Dante Heigenberg, the most feared and desired man in the entire empire, to take revenge against her family and reclaim what’s rightfully hers. But strangely, the duke seems to want Ariana more than just for her extraordinary musical talent…
Synopsis via Webtoon
Similar concept to the last story, this time with some time-traveling. It was fine. Nothing extraordinary, but I kept reading until the end. The mystery was somewhat glossed over, which would have given this a higher score. I was also happy they didn’t overhype any love scenes. Some may be into it, but I prefer to leave people and their love lives alone.
Spirit Fingers (2019), 10/10
What do you do if you’re going on 18, totally awkward and lacking in self- confidence? You could just sit in your room all day and all night and study and wonder why you never get asked out…OR, if you’re Amy Song you could join up with the Spirit Fingers – the strangest, hippest, coolest (yet most welcoming) art club ever. But as Amy is about to learn, discovering your TRUE colors is about more than just painting.
Synopsis via Webtoon
I’m a die-hard fan of this webtoon! I’ve read it probably five times all the way through and would definitely buy it on paper if it were available. If you’ve never read this before and you like slice-of-life, relatable stories, this is the one for you!
Hades and Persephone (5/10)
A disabled office worker starts working under a workaholic boss, with some romance guaranteed by the end of their internship.
By ME! (I couldn’t find a good synopsis)
I stopped reading this. The boss in question jumped to stupid conclusions so much that I gave up on him. Romances are only as good as their leading Female and Male leads. For me, if the male lead is especially stupid, toxic, obnoxious, or insufferable, I can’t read past the first few chapters.
Duke Please Fail! (7/10)
Nellie Pepper, land steward to the paranoid psycho Duke Lionel Alterwood, dies from overwork after three years of torture. As she closes her eyes, her final wish is to get revenge. Miraculously, she soon wakes up on her first day of work again! Ready to sabotage her cruel boss, she embarks on all sorts of wicked plans. However, every attempt hilariously backfires, and she ends up improving the duchy instead! Will Nellie be able to enact her revenge and finally make the duke fail for once?
Synopsis via Tapas
This was yet another time travel story, but this time, the main female lead, Nellie, wants revenge. But it turns out he actually is not that bad, and she is terrible at ruining his life. Plus, they fall in love? It was fine. I will probably forget it within a few weeks.
Sovereign and Heartburn (5/10)
Aria’s world is thrown into chaos when Crown Prince Julius, the brilliant but insufferable royal she’s sworn to protect as Captain of his Guard, announces her as his future bride. Stunned, Aria confronts him, and Julius offers a way out: if she can defeat him in any competition before the wedding in six months, he’ll cancel the engagement. But with Julius’ unmatched skills, winning won’t be easy. Can Aria outsmart the talented prince and reclaim her life?
Synopsis via Webtoon
Communication skills are vacant in both the Prince and the female lead. Why do these characters think they need to finagle their way around each other to show/avoid their feelings? Why can’t they just. . . I don’t know. . . say how they feel? Be honest? Sometimes I know it’s fun to see characters fumble around each other, but this time. . . it was annoying.
The Most Powerful Characters in the World are Obsessed With Me (9/10)
At 13, Dahlia Phesterose recalls her past life. She realizes she was born as the sister of the ultimate villain in a dating simulation game where the male leads, or “transcendents,” all succumb to madness. Anticipating family ruin and personal peril from her estranged brother, Dahlia is desperate to escape. However, after luckily earning her terrifying brother’s favor upon his return home, a new twist unfolds: she unwantedly captivates the world’s strongest, the soon-to-be-mad male leads!
Synopsis via Tapas
This has become one of my favorite webtoons. The art is well executed, the character designs are aesthetically pleasing, the story is fleshed out, and the characters themselves are diverse and interesting. I’ve read through the story twice now, up to where the chapters have released, and am looking forward to what happens next.
It Was Love at First Sight, Mr. Villain (6/10)
Duke Adler, referred to as the greatest man of the Asgard Empire, is as handsome as a sculpture. However, he is also a serial killer, playing the role of the villain in a novel. On top of that, Princess Charlotte, who was politically married to him, was fated to be murdered on their first night together.
The predicament is that I am the princess fated to die at his hands on that night.
“It’s a political marriage, and it’s not as if we want to see each other anyway, so let’s just meet on our wedding day.”
It was evident that the villain was displeased with the idea of marrying me. Hence, I made a decision.
“It was love at first sight. So, please go out with me!”
With only six months left until the wedding, I resolved to carry out an undercover investigation by pretending to date him. People wouldn’t believe my words, so I had no choice but to gather evidence myself.
Even though she had planned to reveal the fact that he was a serial killer by hovering around him…
Synopsis via BATOTO
There is some murder mystery here, as well as one of the most openly honest male leads I’ve come across in a while. But, I’ve forgotten most of the story and that is a bad sign.
Movies
Jurassic World Rebirth (2025), 7/10
Five years post-Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), an expedition braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough.
Synopsis via IMBD
Well well. I didn’t hate this. But it is what I expected. There were dinosaurs, a lot of random side characters who died, and some crazy mutations. My favorite part was the beginning with the candy bar wrapper that messed up the whole lab. The color language in the scene was my favorite part of it. They could have cut 30 minutes out of this film and not hurt the main story at all.
K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025), 9.5/10
A world-renowned K-Pop girl group balances their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as bad-ass demon hunters, set against a colorful backdrop of fashion, food, style, and the most popular music movement of the current generation.
Synopsis via IMBD
This is not a 10 yet because I’m giving myself some time before seeing it again. I’ve been nerding out about the animation, music, choreography, and story since I saw it several months ago! For those who are curious here is how I rank the songs.
- Free
- Your Idol
- How Its Done
- Golden
- Soda Pop
- This is What it Sounds Like
- Take Down
The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1953), 7/10
A scientific expedition searching for fossils along the Amazon River discovers a prehistoric Gill-Man in the legendary Black Lagoon. The explorers capture the mysterious creature, but it breaks free. The Gill-Man returns to kidnap the lovely Kay, fiancée of one in the expedition, with whom he has fallen in love.—Marty McKee <mmckee@wkio.com>
This was a fun movie to watch! I was super impressed with the costume design for the creature, especially with how his gills moved! Pacing-wise, this movie could have done better at the beginning, but it was a good nostalgic trip for me!
Side note, I love the movie poster! The creature’s lips are such a luscious red, and the woman’s face is priceless.
The Bad Guys (2022), 7/10
After a lifetime of legendary heists, notorious criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark, and Ms. Tarantula are finally caught. To avoid a prison sentence, the animal outlaws must pull off their most challenging con yet: becoming model citizens. Under the tutelage of their mentor, Professor Marmalade, the dubious gang sets out to fool the world that they’re turning good. But could any of them be considering turning good for real?
This movie, as a concept, was fine. I enjoyed the overall design, music, and tone in this film, but thought the underlying message was weak. Wolf was my favorite, and I liked the Fox lady. The villain . . . I guessed who it was in five seconds.
Shows
The Dinner Table Detective 5/10
Reiko Houshou, heiress to a large conglomerate, seems like any other wealthy lady. However, not many people know that she is a rookie detective for the Kunitachi Police Department. In addition, she hides her identity from her incompetent boss, Kyouichirou Kazamatsuri, a flashy heir to his family’s motor business.
During an investigation involving her college friends, Reiko has trouble identifying the culprit and their motive. Out of nowhere, a man approaches Reiko and introduces himself as Kageyama, her newly assigned butler. As soon as Reiko confides in him about her worries, he criticizes her lack of deduction skills and helps her quickly crack the case. Now with the sharp-tongued Kageyama at her side, Reiko may just become the detective she desires to be.
This show wants to be interesting and mysterious, but comes across as mediocre. The animation suffered from a lack of budget, and I couldn’t have cared less about the characters.
Heroines Run the Show (2022) 6.5/10
Freshly graduating middle school, energetic 15-year-old Hiyori Suzumi moves from her coastal hometown to Tokyo, pursuing her dream of being a track and field runner. Unfortunately, as soon as her first high school year begins, she faces an imminent problem that ultimately causes her to find a part-time job to cover living costs.
After searching through countless prospective workplaces, Hiyori stumbles upon a posting looking for event staff, to which she gets accepted against all odds. It is revealed that she will be working as a manager-in-training for LIPxLIP, a rising male idol group composed of Yuujirou Someya and Aizou Shibasaki—both of whom are coincidentally her classmates. Despite this shocking revelation, Hiyori is resolved to do her best with balancing her studies, her ambition, and most importantly, her role as LIPxLIP’s attendant.
This was one of the first times the main girl wasn’t stuck in a reverse harem scenario! Hurray! But I cringed when watching the rotoscoped animation for the idol dancing. I couldn’t bring myself to care much about anything, but still sat around and watched it until the end.
Original Mickey Mouse Cartoons 1920s-1930s 8.5/10
I LOOOOVED watching these! I think I’m halfway through all these original cartoons for Mickey Mouse. I don’t even mind the rubber hose animation or botchy sound design. I do enjoy seeing Mickey change from a disagreeable trickster to a fun-loving guy.
Buddy Daddies (2023), 7.5/10
On Christmas Eve, four-year-old Miri Unasaka arrives in Tokyo completely alone, in search of her father. The bright lights and merry atmosphere guide Miri to a big hotel and a man with a delicious-looking cake. However, the child has just unknowingly walked into the center of an elaborate, foolproof plan for assassinating a dangerous mafia boss.
Professional assassins Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa live together, fleeing memories of their grim childhoods and avoiding emotional connections. When their mission goes awry and they end up bringing Miri home, there is only one reasonable thing to do: return Miri to her mother. But the girl’s innocent laugh and pure worldview quickly enamor her to Kazuki, who secretly enjoys playing a parent, and it is not long before Rei’s impenetrable heart makes room for Miri.
Miri’s every move is unpredictable, and Kazuki and Rei find raising an energetic child harder than any of their missions. Although it presents a great risk to their careers, Kazuki and Rei—both assuming the affectionate nickname “papa”—decide to provide Miri with a normal childhood despite all the odds stacked against them.
The animation in this was surprisingly well executed! I also am a sucker for stories with found families. What would have made this show so much better was MORE episodes. 12 episodes just don’t seem like enough. Also, the ending was somewhat brutal and difficult to watch, with the mother dying and other things. If I had had more time with these characters, I think I would have felt it a bit more.
Little Bear (1995), 7/10
Little Bear learns the ways of the world in this wonderful series based on the classic children’s book. Little Bear learns about character, honesty, and love. There are fun adventures, games and much more to be had here.—CindyH
I didn’t watch this by choice. 🙂 My friend’s little son loves this show, and I watched it by default. The animation suffered from a lackluster budget, but the overall tone makes up for it! I would love to have my little children watch this.
My Senpai is Annoying (2021), 6/10
At a certain trading company, saleswoman Futaba Igarashi has managed to hold her respectable job for almost two years thanks to the guidance of her senior coworker—Harumi Takeda. However, due to Igarashi’s short stature, Takeda often teases her and treats her like a kid, leaving Igarashi constantly annoyed by his antics.
Despite this, Igarashi notices Takeda’s reliability as he is always ready to help whenever something at their workplace goes awry. As Igarashi and Takeda spend more time together, their relationship soon develops further than simply being coworkers at the office.
This was FRUSTRATING to watch, but I made it all the way through! The female lead is short and falls in love with her larger coworker, but the romance goes absolutely NOWHERE. The main guy is absolutely clueless, and I wished so many times for him to just figure it out already!
Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant! (2025), 6/10
Thrown out of the Silver Wings Battalion—one of the strongest guilds—Dennis is presented with the opportunity to fulfill his dream: opening a restaurant and putting his level 99 cooking skills to use. While setting up his new business, Dennis stumbles across a young enslaved girl named Atelier, seemingly of noble lineage. Reminded of his own past, he decides to free Atelier and hire her as a server.
As the restaurant opens its doors to first guests, Dennis and Atelier begin encountering more outcasts like themselves, all looking to talk about their personal problems over plates of delicious food. Unable to resist helping someone in need, Dennis goes out of his way to help with his customers’ issues, whether it be with his incredible combat skills or unmatched cooking prowess.
This show WANTS to be Restaurant to Another World or Campfire Cooking, but lacks the beautiful FOOD animation to make it happen. I wanted more fighting scenes and CONTEXT behind where the main guy, Dennis, comes from.
Love After World Domination (2022), 7/10
Fudou Aikawa and Desumi Magahara have just started dating, but no one is allowed to know! Nicknamed “Red Gelato,” Fudou is the leader of “Gelato 5,” a group of heroes dedicated to protecting Japan. On the other hand, the “Reaper Princess” Desumi is one of the combatant leaders of “Gekko,” an evil secret society bent on world domination and considered Gelato 5’s greatest foe. As they pretend to be mortal enemies, Fudou and Desumi sneak away from battle to spend time together.
Despite their inexperience with romance, Fudou and Desumi strive to make their relationship work while avoiding suspicion from their comrades. With their loyalties divided between each other and their respective sides, the couple will have to stay on guard if they want to keep their love a secret from the rest of the world.
The main guy, Fudou, wins the prize for best boyfriend. Although I wish the costume design for the villainess was less. . . revealing (She is a teenager, right?) I did like the overall feel of this show. I would watch this again if I were in the mood.
Dropped Shows
Now we come to the DROPPED shows. Most of the time, I couldn’t make it past the first two episodes for one reason or another. I will list my reasons below each choice!
My Dress Up Darling (2022)
High school student Wakana Gojou spends his days perfecting the art of making hina dolls, hoping to eventually reach his grandfather’s level of expertise. While his fellow teenagers busy themselves with pop culture, Gojou finds bliss in sewing clothes for his dolls. Nonetheless, he goes to great lengths to keep his unique hobby a secret, as he believes that he would be ridiculed were it revealed.
Enter Marin Kitagawa, an extraordinarily pretty girl whose confidence and poise are in stark contrast to Gojou’s meekness. It would defy common sense for the friendless Gojou to mix with the likes of Kitagawa, who is always surrounded by her peers. However, the unimaginable happens when Kitagawa discovers Gojou’s prowess with a sewing machine and brightly confesses to him about her own hobby: cosplay. Because her sewing skills are pitiable, she decides to enlist his help.
- Sexualizing teenagers pisses me off.
- I don’t like how Marin puts Gojou into morally compromising situations, like stripping down to her swimsuit and invading his space.
- I don’t like how it promoted pornographic content for the sake of comedy.
Pretty Boy Detective Club (2021)
Mayumi Doujima promises her parents that she will give up on her dreams of becoming an astronaut on her 14th birthday if she cannot find a star she once saw long ago. Overhearing her troubles, the eccentric Manabu Soutouin offers to help her search for the star alongside the rest of Yubiwa Academy’s mysterious Pretty Boy Detective Club, whose rules are as follows: “Be pretty, be a boy, and be a detective!”
However, Mayumi is unique—she can see many things that ordinary people cannot. Her eyesight allows her to see the tiniest of details, from people approaching her at a distance to hidden traps that would otherwise go undetected. When the search for the lost star begins to sour, the Pretty Boy Detective Club end up entangled in something far beyond what they ever imagined.
- The character designs were stupid. Look at their pants!
- The backgrounds were too sparkly. It was like those fake sparkle sprinkles you can put on cupcakes.
- The pacing and setup were trying to be like Ouran High School Host Club, but were more like… a childish copy. You know, like those B-rated animated movies that come out to monetize off of Disney and Pixar.
You Are Ms. Servant (2024)
One day, Hitoyoshi Yokoya wakes up to a mysterious nameless girl dressed as a maid ringing his doorbell, asking to be his servant. With her former master referring her to the Yokoya household, she offers her expertise as an assassin. Intimidated by her background, Hitoyoshi tries to send her away; but when she leaves something behind, he rushes to return it to her and is nearly hit by a truck in the process. With her fast reflexes, the girl saves him just in time, and Hitoyoshi ends up taking her in.
Ironically, the maid lacks any skills apart from the art of killing she has perfected since childhood. Nevertheless, Hitoyoshi welcomes the girl with open arms, encouraging her to leave her monochromatic past behind and experience a normal life. To seal the deal, Hitoyoshi names her Yuki, marking the beginning of her path to redemption and happiness.
- The maid lady came out of NOWHERE with no context. It was disconcerting for me.
- The pacing in this show was AWFUL. The story moved way too fast and I was super confused.
Cultural Exchange with a Game Centre Girl (2025)
Lily Baker, a young English girl, decides to go to an arcade on Valentine’s Day. She is determined to win a stuffed animal from a claw machine; but even after attempting it for hours, she is unable to get her hands on the prize. Just as she is about to give up, arcade employee Renji Kusakabe steps in and wins the prize for her as a present to celebrate the special day. Due to her cultural background, however, Lily mistakes his action as a declaration of love!
With Lily returning to the same arcade in the hopes of seeing Renji again, the two begin exchanging a notebook to learn more about each other and their respective cultures. This marks the start of a friendship filled with gaming, but that is not enough for Lily, as she swears to make Renji fall in love with her!
- Why is it okay to set up a 19-year-old guy with a 12-year-old girl? Granted, the main guy, Renji, is very clear that he isn’t trying to get into a relationship with her. But, she doesn’t seem to get the hint. I know crushes on older guys/girls are normal, but this show makes it seem like we should ROOT for her to win him over.
- Renji should have set some clear boundaries for her from the beginning. Plus, there was a perfectly good girl his age vying for his attention who would have been better for him!
Mr. Osomatsu (2016)
The majority of the Matsuno household is comprised of six identical siblings: self-centered leader Osomatsu, manly Karamatsu, voice of reason Choromatsu, cynical Ichimatsu, hyperactive Juushimatsu, and lovable Todomatsu. Despite each one of them being over the age of 20, they are incredibly lazy and have absolutely no motivation to get a job, choosing to live as NEETs instead. In the rare occurrence that they try to look for employment and are somehow able to land an interview, their unique personalities generally lead to their swift rejection.
From trying to pick up girlfriends to finding the perfect job, the daily activities of the Matsuno brothers are never dull as they go on all sorts of crazy, and often downright bizarre, adventures. Though they desperately search for a way to improve their social standing, it won’t be possible if they can’t survive the various challenges that come with being sextuplets!
- Much like Arakawa Under a Bridge, the humor in this show is TOO random. I like some silly or off-the-beaten-path comedy, but NOT as the entire story.
- I don’t know what this story is even about after seeing a full episode. THAT is a bad sign.
Science Fell In Love, So I Tried to Prove It (2020)
It is widely believed that science can provide rational explanations for the countless phenomena of our universe. However, there are many aspects of our existence that science has not yet found a solution to and cannot decipher with numbers. The most notorious of these is the concept of love. While it may seem impossible to apply scientific theory to such an intricate and complex emotion, a daring pair of quick-witted Saitama University scientists aim to take on the challenge.
One day the bold and beautiful Ayame Himuro outwardly declares that she is in love with Shinya Yukimura, her fellow logical and level-headed scientist. Acknowledging his own lack of experience with romance, Yukimura questions what factors constitute love in the first place and whether he is in love with Himuro or not. Both clueless in the dealings of love, the pair begin to conduct detailed experiments on one another to test the human characteristics that indicate love and discern whether they demonstrate these traits toward each other.
- This show annoys me for one simple reason. People AREN’T this dumb when it comes to feelings and emotions. EVEN if they are into science.
- This show was stupidly sexualized for no particular reason.
The Shy Hero and the Assassin Princess (2025)
Toto has been dreaming about adventuring with other people for as long as he can remember. Despite his hero title, he still remains without allies due to his timid personality. Therefore, when three women: Ciel, Anemone, and Goa suddenly request to join him, Toto is overjoyed. Unbeknownst to him, they are all assassins assigned to eliminate him!
While Toto resolves to protect his would-be killers, the women fight over who can finish off the hero. As Toto remains oblivious of his new party members’ true intentions and finds himself passing out every time he gets flustered, the four of them embark on their peculiar adventure into the greater world.
- The animation was TERRIBLE.
- The character designs were TERRIBLE.
- The story premise was as bland as porridge.
- For no reason, this was overly sexual. Plus, the animation was so bad that the sexualized images came across like an AI commercial. NO THANKS.
Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts (2023)
Located at the end of the world, the Kingdom of Ozmargo is inhabited by beasts of all shapes and forms, ruled by a fearsome nameless king. After a hundred-year war between Ozmargo and the neighboring human kingdom ended, a peace treaty was signed: every year, a sacrifice must be sent to be devoured by the king on the night of revelation.
Sariphi is the 99th and latest human sacrifice. Although frail-looking, she neither fears the king nor has a family or home to return to should she manage to escape from her impending demise. Intrigued by the audacious girl, the king lets Sariphi roam around the palace despite the disapproval of his advisor, Anubis.
Little by little, the king and Sariphi begin to warm up to each other, but the night of revelation is fast approaching. Unbeknownst to them, the fateful day unleashes a series of events that will change the course of destiny of not only Sariphi and the king but also of their respective worlds.
- The Japanese and English dubs were weird for one reason or another.
- The animation was stilted.
- I honestly think this is better READ as a manga.
Poco’s Udon World (2016)
Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Souta Tawara returns to his hometown in Kagawa. Though his parents are no longer around, his former home and family-owned udon restaurant reminds him of the times his family was still together. Reminiscing about his childhood, Souta enters the udon restaurant and discovers a grimy young boy sleeping.
At first, Souta thinks nothing of the chance encounter and provides the boy with food and clothing. However, to his surprise, the boy suddenly sprouts a furry pair of ears and a tail! Souta soon learns that the nameless boy is actually the rumored shapeshifting tanuki that has been inhabiting Kagawa for many years. Thinking that the boy has been living a lonely life, he decides to take him in and name him Poko.
- Pacing again. The story took too long to get to the point.
- I didn’t feel any connection with any of the characters. EVEN the cute Tanuki one!
- I forgot the story within a few weeks. Not a good sign.
Blood Lad (2013)
Staz Charlie Blood is a powerful vampire who rules the Eastern district of Demon World. According to rumors, he is a bloodthirsty and merciless monster, but in reality, Staz is just an otaku obsessed with Japanese culture and completely uninterested in human blood. Leaving the management of his territory to his underlings, Staz spends his days lazing around, indulging in anime, manga, and games.
When Fuyumi Yanagi, a Japanese girl, accidentally wanders through a portal leading into the demon world, Staz is overjoyed. But just as he is starting to feel an unusual attraction to her, his territory is attacked, resulting in Fuyumi’s untimely death. She turns into a wandering ghost and the crestfallen Staz vows to resurrect her as this would mean being able to travel to the human world, something he has always dreamed of.
- Unrealistic proportions. What girl in her right mind would wear her skirt THAT short without a bra when she comes across as a modest, resigned character?
- The main guy is such a JERK!
- The world building was AWFUL.
Zom 100 (2023)
After graduating from a top university with an impressive extracurricular record in the rugby club, Akira Tendou has nailed every step of the way to securing his dream job. On top of that, a beautiful and kind co-worker always brightens his day in the office! Life seems to be going very well for Akira until he slowly realizes that sleepless nights and brutal work are his new reality.
Due to three years of mind-numbing labor in an exploitative company, Akira is unable to recognize the tired, unaccomplished person he has become. On track to losing all passion in life like several of his overworked colleagues, Akira finds his saving grace in the most unexpected way possible—the breakout of a zombie apocalypse.
With the free time he finally has, Akira decides to complete a bucket list of a hundred things he wants to do before he eventually gets turned into a zombie. Although he is surrounded by the dead, Akira has never felt more alive!
Synopsis via Myanimelist
- It had zombies.
- The gore was related to zombies.
- The main antagonist is. . . zombies.
AKA I DON’T LIKE ZOMBIES! I gave it a try, and though the worldbuilding and characters were top-tier. Unfortunately, I just can’t get over the zombies in it.
Thanks for reading and waiting for me! I will try to release the other two lists as soon as possible! School is killing me this semester, and I have honestly been using most of my free time to read and watch things rather than write.
From the Perspective of an Old Soul 