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Hajime no Ippo: Rocky of Naniwa (2001)
Great new character!
An interesting change of pace with this Rocky of Naniwa! Such and interesting and funny oddball of a new challenger, excited to see the rivarly and relationship between him and Ippo developed.
A new motivation for Ippo to keep his boxing dream going, an appropiate and goofy introduction of a new and fun character to fuel the next arc. Dude's bold, talented, skilled, very similar to Ippo in his boxing style, and also similar in his social awkardness.
After an odd ending to the rookie tournament arc (pretty good, just unexpectedly downbeat), this new character gets the hype going for the upcoming episodes.
Heisei tanuki gassen ponpoko (1994)
Hidden gem
Underrated masterpiece. Its hard to put into words what this movie is. Like Roger Ebert on Forrest Gump, any attempt on describing it will make it appear more conventional than it really is. Few movies are like this one, this is a bonafide work of art, even better than some of Gibli's better know films. This is cinema.
This movie is funny, beautiful, wholesome, weird, entertaining, educational, satirical, allegorical, bittersweet, childish but not inoffensive. Every frame and every scene of this lovingly crafted movie is beautiful and mesmerizing.
More hard-hitting and ''serious'' than other more famous Gibli films, I was blown away the first time I watched it, and still rewatch it on a steady basis.
Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Chapters: Special 2 (2023)
Farewell to the greatest masterpiece in storytelling.
Words are simply insufficient. Still shaking while writing this review. 10 years I've been waiting for this unbelieveable journey to end, and now that it has actually ended I feel like a part of my life has ended. This is a one of a kind show that changes your life.
A nail biting, relentless and dramatic first half of insane action sequences followed by a kinda weird but heavily emotional second half. For some this might be far from a perfect (or even a good) ending, but it is nonetheless the end for the greatest story ever told.
I can only dream of watching AoT for the first time again, how I wish for more people to see this show, and can only hope of ever watching some as half as remarkable as AoT.
Shingeki no Kyojin: Bystander (2018)
This episode made me want to write reviews
How to break the 4th wall without breaking the 4th wall; this is an episode about secondary/extra characters in anime and it works like you would not believe, both in the show and outside of it. This is not just the best episode in S3P1, nor one of the greatest episodes in anime. This is a life lesson.
The episode actually starts pretty mild, we are in the aftermaths of, what I like to call, the political/conspiracy arc. Things are settling down, so it is a run of the mill episode for the first half, but boy does it pick it up on the second half...
Learning that the random soldier seen in Eren's visions/Grisha's memories is none other than Keith Shadis, the commander in charge of training our heroes all the way back in epsiode 3, blew my mind. This is the power of SnK, to bring back a character that in other anime would just be a trope. One cannot overstate his impact in the story. To say that the events of the first 3 seasons SnK would not have happened (or at least in the way they happened) without him is barely an exageration, even if it is unbeknown to Shadis himself.
We get some backstory of Grisha, though it comes (no surprises here) with more questions than answers. I've read some interesting theories about his memory loss, like the Founding Titan wiping his memory or he eating a previous Attack Titan holder. We get gems like Grisha saving the town from an epidemic. Remember Hannes mentioning that all the way back in episode 1? Again, in other shows this could mean nothing, but in this one there's actually good compelling reasons for this event, foreshadowing reveals in the future. Point taken, it'd have been impossible to guess, but everything is more beautiful in hindsight.
Another gem is the scene from episode 1, that of the Scouts returning from an expedition. That heartbreaking scene had Shadis as protagonist, yet again Isayama's giving us everything on a silver platter yet we can't see it. Another example of this is Shadis inner monologue towards the end of episode 3, when he mentions Grisha. Whatever thought we may had have about that (at that time, probably nothing spectacular) gets buried below season 1 crazyness which comes swiftly after. We also get Eren's transformation and eating of his dad, from Grishas point of view.
We haven't even touched the ''main'' theme of this episode; Shadis tragic and sad underachieving life. He loses the girl he likes, he fails at his job of Scouts commander and realizes he doesn't amount to be someone special. There are ''special people'' in this world (cue image of Erwin, Levi and Co), he just wasn't one of them. A direct shout out to storytelling itself.
We end on one of the most emotional/heartwarming endings in AoT, as the credits and ending song play while the episode itself is ending (loved this) and Carla delivers an incredible life lesson. ''Is it wrong not to be special?'' ''He (Eren) doesn't have to be better than anyone else (...), he's already special beacuse he was born into this world.''
Oh yeah, remember how Eren's equipment was faulty? That was Keith, trying to fulfill Carla's wish of protecting Eren. Mind=blown. This episode is such a huge callback to things many years ago both irl and in the show. But Alas, Eren's will cannot be tamed, Keith gives in. He can't do nothing about it. ''I am a mere bystander''.
Shingeki no Kyojin: Warrior (2017)
This episode is many things.
A fan favourite, a masterpiece, one of the most shocking and yet casual reveals ever, one of the best episodes of the season, of the show, of anime and storytelling in general.
Hard to convey how monumental this episodes reveal is. It's been years in irl (and years in the show) full of tragedy and emotions since those fatidic first 2 episodes where humanity saw it's existence threatened. The two culprits were titans that we didn't even saw again (except for Colossal in ep 4-5). They are the ones that started this incredible story that we've been experiencing so far. The questions they raised were buried by the tons of other questions and mysteries the show has been throwing at us relentlessly. I wonder how many viewers did NOT paused and rewind when Reiner started spitballing. The most casual delivery of one of the most important reveals ever. Most of us went ''wait, what??''.
One of the reasons of why is this reveal so shocking, it's because we've just learned that Ymir was a titan. That reveal alone is shocking enough to carry on for the rest of the season, let alone the whole deal with titans in the walls, Pastor Nick, the Beast Titan and its army of titans, the abscense of any hole in the walls where titans could've come through, the strange language the provisions in the castle were written in. We are filled with questions (like always). But alas, this is SnK, the best show ever made and the most well told story ever, we ain't even half way there. In hindsight (a powerful word in this show) you can see the events leading to Reiners mental breakdown, but for the first time viewers are completely caught off guard. Absolutely no one saw this coming.
The slow burning, the tension that can be cut with a knife, the music build up, the emotional ending right before (yet) another nasty cliffhanger... this episode will stand out forever in storytelling, across all genres.
Shingeki no Kyojin: Beast Titan (2017)
You wanted answers? Here are more questions!
After one of the most insane (post credit) cliffhangers ever and waiting years for season 2, viewers are dying to get some answers. But this is SnK, so no time to rest or think, because the church of the walls (or at least Pastor Nick) KNEW about the titans in the wall and refuse to elaborate. How? Why? Also, titans have appeared INSIDE Wall Rose. Was it the colossal? Another titan capable of breaking the walls? Was it a mole titan capable of digging? Our scouts (whom we saw briefly at the finale of previous season) don't even have time to gear up, so they go bare handed into the field. What's worst, some of their home villages are within titan's reach now.
Climax arrives when Mike calls for his horse, and a giant abnormal grabs it and tosses it towards him. Then he freaking talks, and delivers some odd puzzling and at the same time casual dialog. A lot to digest here, most noteworthy is that anyone in the world should know what the ODM is, yet this human-controlled titan (established at this point) doesn't. More subtle is that Mike calls is a ''beast'' instead of a ''monkey'', what the titan clearly resembles. Impossible to notice this the first time, this will carry more significance later on. We end with one of the most cruel and undeserving deaths in a show full of cruel undeserving deaths, watching Mike get eaten alive by abnormals.
Now, we didn't get too much Mike last season, but we know he's supposed to be a badass, has a great sense of smell for detecting problems, figuring out people and situations. He's also suppposed to be humanity's strongest soldier, second only to Levi, so this death still is particulary undeserving. He could've been a great character this season.
A crazy episode that kicks off unimaginable repercusions through out this season.
Shingeki no Kyojin: The Defeated: The 57th Expedition Beyond the Walls, Part 6 (2013)
Devastatingly tragic
Disclaimer: This review is with the benefit of hindsight from multiple rewatches.
I'm surprised this one has very few reviews. It is one of the most heartbreaking episodes in a show full of heartbreaking episodes, and definitely the most tragic at this point. Hell, even the ''enemy'' cries in this one.
Concluding the 57th Expedition Beyond The Walls arc, this episode does not give us a break from all the pain we've endured so far. There are so many heartbreaking gut punching moments:
- We are shown the families of Levi's squad, whom we've come to care and have just witness their tragic demise. Subtle is the intention of the scene here, as the family members recieve the news of the Scouts return with mild melancholy instead of joy, indicating that death is an expected result and they should be prepared.
- A tough decision by Erwind and Levi to leave some bodies unrecovered. Two scouts ask for their friend Ivan's body to be recovered but are deny permission. Imagine if it was Armin's body left on the field and our protagonist try to explain to the commander how they were childhood friends and being deny their wish to bury him. Just another day in Erwins and Levi's'life as Scouts higher ups, making tragic but necesary calls.
- The two scouts that went for his friend body, everything about that short scene is sad. They lose the body, one of them dies while the other tries to help him. This leads the next big moment, probably the climax for this episode.
- Leaving the bodies of their fallen comrades, and getting that unbelieveable shot of Petra's body and Levi looking back in inner devastation.
- After that is done, Levi gives the scout Ivan's scout patch, trying to comfort him. I bet so many people started crying with the soldier in that scene, absolutely emotional. But alas, that wasn't Ivan's patch, that was Petra's, Levi took it before (shown on screen). That's how much Levi cares about his subordinates. He's willing to surrender his own grief to help his comrade. Even more emotional.
- Now we reprise the scene of the scouts returning of their expedition from the first episode, now with Eren and Mikasa on the other side. They are greeted with disapointment, mean sarcastic comments and harsh criticism. Being in the mids of absolute defeat, they get kicked while they are down even more by the very people they are trying to protect.
There are even a couple of kids reprising the roles of Eren and Mikasa in the crowd cheering for them, which finally breaks Eren.
- We are not even done. Petra's freaking father comes directly at Levi, and what he mentions will tear you a hole in your heart. Even the most badass, most collected and coolest soldier humanity has can't handle this.
- Erwin gets harrased by the crowd, demanig answers for the body count. Just like Levi, he mantains his composture while dying inside.
- Finally the narrator (Armin) wraps it up the punishment for this catastrophic failure, coming this time from within the walls. The people that need the most support are getting none of it, the opposite in fact.
The theme of Levi as a character is present here. The tragedy of being the strongest character is to watch all your teammates die in battle eventually.
Our heros can't catch a break. After an expedition filled with misery, we end this arc with one of the most downbeat episodes and endings in the whole show, even after 95 episodes. This show is relentless.
Like always, the dialogue, animation, scenery, soundtrack, sfx were top notch but we have to mention the music in this particular case. The piano at the final minutes was crucial.
Shingeki no Kyojin: First Battle: The Struggle for Trost, Part 1 (2013)
The first sign that this show is on a league of its own.
Disclaimer: This is a review with the benefit of hindisght.
Bold doesn't even begin to cut it. While the previous episodes were enough to make this show top tier, this one sends it way over the top. Killing the MC just 5 episodes in (dramatic, epic, savage and emotional as they were) is something that will shock even the most seasoned anime viewers.
And that's just the end, there's a whole episode of crazyness that we had to endure in order to witness it. We are shown what Eren is made of (what he always was and always will be) when he goes 1 on 1 with the Colossal, while he's squadmates are too shocked at the destruction of the inner gate to do anything. But alas, the giant foe vanishes just as quickly as he appeared. The hell that was unleashed 5 years ago it's about to return, but humanity is prepared this time, that's what has been shown to us in the two previous episodes. It's time for a showdown, humans vs titans, this time they won't have it so easy... is what a normal show would do but not SnK. All the hope and hype gets turned around into tragedy and despair, as our group of heroes (who we were starting to like) get easily bested by the titans. We are left with the first true cliffhanger of this show (many more to come) when Eren saves his best friend and becomes himself titan food.
This is the begining of an intense, long, dramatic, tragic and hopeful arc that also has consequences far beyond it's own season, some that we could not possibly imagine.
Shingeki no Kyojin: To You, in 2000 Years: The Fall of Shiganshina, Part 1 (2013)
What an opener!
A heads up: I'm new to reviewing, and I've been wondering whether I should review this as the first time I watched it or with my current knowledge. I've done like 7 runs of this show, everytime a new season comes up (so like, I've watched season 1 seven times, season 2 six times, season 3 part 1 five times, season 3 part 2 four times, season 4 part 1 three times and season 4 part 2 twice. There's no show out more fit for a (or multiple) rewatch(es) so I'll go with the latter option. Now, while I won't necessarily talk spoilers I will be reviewing with the benefit of hindsight.
This episode (and show) wastes no time in being dark. An ominous intro show us a giant enemy looking over the 50m wall surroinding the town, like a kid about to squash insignificant ants. Then we go to the main feature of the show (at least when it was aired), the 3d vertical maneuver gear being deployed in action agains humanoid off-putting giants. The opening of the show let us now that this is gonna be a (straightforward) wild epic shonen-style ride of survival (or is it?). The title card gave me an ominous vibe when I first watched it; ''...in 2000 Years?'', what does that mean, it gave us a hint (in hindsight) that this is part of something bigger, but no time to wonder, cause we go right away into our protagonist waking up from a nightmare filled with mysterious and disturbing images. To be honest, I forgot about those visions for god knows how long, 'cause this episode (And this show) will give you a relentless amount of questions and action. Again, no time to wonder 'cause we are gonna see some of the life inside the wall, and learn how little do we know of the outside world (just like us the viewers). All hell breaks loose when a giant freaking monster (known as titan) appears out of the blue in a lightning strike, kicks the hell out of the entrance in the wall and lets a horde of titans inside, devouring humans without mercy. We see multiple sights of tragedy and suffering, and the climax arrives when the protagonist witness his mother get eaten by a particulary scary titan. Looks like we are in for a redemption struggling shonen protagonist journey to see our hero avenge his mom (or are we?)
Needless to say, the animation, soundtrack, sfx, writing, dialogues, voice acting and scenery are all top tier. This is one of the greatest openers in anime, it's dark, grim, raw, sad, dramatic, mysterious, ominous and sets the stage for pretty much the whole story (right up to season 3 part 2).
This will episode set you on the biggest, most intense, dramatic, tragic, action packed, well executed, mindblowing and intriguing journey in storytelling I've ever seen.
The Walking Dead: Judge, Jury, Executioner (2012)
Way to **** everything up Carl
Writing this review so I can vent. Triple **** up by Carl in a single episode. Boy you are a stupid son of a *****, an as***ole too.
On more important stuff, great episode. Slow pace, slow burner but pays off greatly in the end. Dale shines as the moral character and outlines some cool/important stuff about humanity.
Puts emphasis on the (already established) theme that Walkers ain't gonna be the only enemy our characters will have to face. In this instance they have to face hard challenges and confront themselves in making difficult choices once again. This show is relentless in it's quest to test our morality and humanity.
Yakitate!! Japan: Kawachi kai!! Taiyô no gantoretto! (2004)
Really emotional.
I couldn't believe this level of emotional and tragic background in an otherwise happy wholesome show when I first saw it.
Furthermore, cannot believe they wrote this for Kawachi and later on treat him like garbage, making fun of him on pretty much every episode of the Monaco Cup.