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joshtaylor6-1
Reviews
Hagane no renkinjutsushi (2009)
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood - An absolute pleasure to experience
This show, to me, is a shining example of what anime has the capability to be. I have watched this series again and again and I enjoy it every time.
This show is in perfect balance and has everything you could possibly ask for. Despite having seen this series at least 5 times, there are moments that are so gripping that I'm at the edge of my seat, so incredibly dark that I'm in tears, so joyously hilarious that I'm laughing out loud, and so deep and thoughtful that they stay with me well after the episode has ended.
The plot develops in an interesting way and in layers. At first it seems very simple and linear, but at certain points the story lines branch off and grow in unexpected ways. What begins as a simple journey to recover something lost ends with an exploration of the human soul, a dark and compelling introspection of revenge and sacrifice, and ultimately a battle to save the world.
The animation is exceptional. I really don't know what more to say about it. It does make use of some chibi-like images to express certain emotions, which may put some watchers off at first, but it's easy to get past once the series has it's hooks in you, and was not an issue for me at any point (in fact it was something I quite enjoyed).
The music is beautiful and tends to suit the scenes perfectly. The beginning and ending themes change a few times, and with maybe one exception I found them enjoyable. There is one iconic melody that plays throughout the series that you will find yourself humming absentmindedly when you're done watching. The music WILL evoke emotions, be they sadness, anger or excitement.
What really makes this series shine for me is the cast of characters. As with everything in this series, there seems to be a perfect balance of light and dark, good and evil. There are people clearly meant to provide comic relief, even in the shows darkest moments, and they do so wonderfully (Louis Armstrong had me in stitches EVERY TIME). There are characters that you will absolutely love to hate (Envy, ugh.), and there are characters that you will find yourself surprised to be rooting for (Barry the Chopper?!?).
I really can't say enough about this series. It's a bit long but every moment is worth the time invested. Do yourself a favour and watch it.
Mahô shôjo Madoka magika: Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)
Magical Girl Madoka: Stretching the limits of what "great" means.
I watched this series after seeing it on Netflix and reading a few reviews about it - most of them shining endorsements that oversold the actual product. Upon finishing the series, I looked for some more reviews to see how my opinion added up to others, and found it somewhat different.
Most of the reviews on here laud this show as "the best thing on television" and a "masterpiece". This is far from the truth.
Don't get me wrong. Madoka is good for what it is - a 12 part miniseries that can be binged in a few days. The plot, while it does contain some interesting surprises, I found largely predictable. At times I even caught myself wondering at the seeming lack of common sense of the characters, especially after the first major twist, but I guess that's what suspension of belief is all about.
The animation style is good, but not quite on par with what I've seen in other series from the same time period, and sometimes it just gets plain weird. The music I can't really fault, as it's every bit what I expected from a Magical Girl anime. The plot starts thin as cheesecloth, starts getting darker as you go (there is one moment that really made me go "whoa...") and ends with fluff again.
Ultimately, go into this one with a grain of salt. It's good - I watched the whole thing - but there were times I struggled to maintain interest. With the right expectations, it will be an enjoyable experience.