Jeoffrey

A feature-length movie with Final Fantasy (FF) in the title is practically always an event. While it is almost always a marketing ploy to draw attention to the role-playing video game franchise, it is also always a beautiful demonstration of how the quality of "made in Japan" CGI animation has improved. Simply put, if you have a decent budget and experience in making computer games, then the result is almost always at least watchable. The main problem with both of the previous movies, and what I am always kind of afraid of with FF movies, is the main narrative. Either it is basically about nothing, like Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was, or the plot is so closely tied to the role-playing video game that the uninitiated viewer will find it hard to get into it (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children). Here we basically have an introduction to the new role-playing video game that is coming out, even though the movie also has quite a bit of room for its own narrative because the main male protagonist is not the main character from the upcoming role-playing video game. Well, it is not all bad; there are battles, there is politics, and it has got some atmosphere. The characters are not bad and are very well dubbed (I have seen the English version). I did wonder for a while during the first battle sequence if I was watching the new Starship Troopers movie, although I liked the final clash and the circumstances leading up to it. Frankly speaking, the new FF movie ends rather well, translated into numbers - 7.7/10.

This movie basically works well as a children's tale about how even natural enemies can become friends. There is a pretty charming and simple narrative that a little rugrat could find interesting. For me, as a thirty-something adult, it was still quite enjoyable, even though at the same time it seemed terribly over-the-top, naive, and strange. I was rolling my eyes at times during some of the really extremely sweet moments. The two main protagonists were fine, even though I found their intense relationship and the incredible strength of their friendship just felt too unbelievable. In the end, instead of a feeling of satisfaction, the only thought that ran through my head was how Czech singer Martha Kubisova's song "There Must Be Paradise Somewhere" would have suited the credits. In other words, this was so overly sweet in places that it built a defensive reaction in my body in the form of cynicism, which has not happened to me in a long time when watching cute anime movies, and somehow, I cannot bring myself to award this more than 5/10.

Unico in the Island of Magic is much weaker than the first movie. There were not as many dark parts and atmosphere that I enjoyed in the first movie, plus, even though it was quite interesting, the narrative was way too predictable. Although the characters were quite endearing, the soundtrack and animation were not as impressive as before. In addition, I do not have any strong feelings about the main villain. In my opinion, the second Unico movie is "just" an average fairy tale this time. 5.2/10.

The Fantastic Adventures of Unico is basically a pretty well-made children's movie, even though it is also deliciously dark. I enjoyed the animation and the soundtrack, including Katy's Cat Song and others. The characters were quite endearing; the atmosphere was a success. It did not leave me feeling that I had watched anything unique, although it is definitely a very good movie. 8/10.

After a few minutes, I found this intriguing, and practically from the moment I saw the way the parcels were delivered, I got the impression that I was looking at something imaginative. This work reminded me that when these gentlemen from Wit Studio are not ripping off their own successful concepts and repeating themselves, they can quite successfully create pieces that are not just another "Attack on Seraph of the Iron Fortress," and that this should be the way I think they should go. In other words, Wit Studio has produced some quality work. Unlike my colleagues, I have been doing a bit of research on the further development of this one. Just for the record, I would like to take the liberty of stating that this is a three-part OVA that acts as a prequel to the manga of the same name and that the second part should be in theaters in February and on DVD on March 10, 2017. Still, the third one will be released on DVD in exactly one year. Personally, this is worth a high rating because it is really great as a first installment. 9/10.

Although it may not look like it if you read some of my reviews, I do actually like Makoto Shinkai's work very much. The man can produce a really great, enjoyable, poetic, and deep performance that a lot of people thoroughly enjoy. The only thing I had a bit of a problem with until today, and probably the main reason I could not give some of his works a full rating, was simply the ending. I always expected something that never came with most of them, and the conclusion never worked out as I had imagined. Moreover, the way Makoto usually concluded his work rather disappointed me, which made my feelings of having watched something great go down the drain. Well, now he has finally overcome that problem. Makoto has finally delivered a conclusion that enhanced my experience and therefore simply deserves five stars from me. The animation, soundtrack, and characters are once again excellent, and even the way Makoto plays with time and consciousness makes this a very original and interesting movie. I have nothing to complain about; it was truly beautiful, pleasant, and poetic. 9.5/10.

Unlike the OVA, the anime series was too drawn out initially. I was expecting intense and comedic action right from the start; however, it took too long before I felt absorbed for my liking. The characters were fine, and it has a more sophisticated narrative than the OVA. However, I devoured the OVA; it was an excellent action-packed one-off. However, I watched the anime series on and off for over a week. Plus, the over-the-top emotionally charged moments (which I, unfortunately, did not find one-hundred percent convincing) were too much for my taste. The conclusion of the OVA was probably the only time I thought that what the anime’s writers did was over-the-top. In this anime series, it was much more frequent. I do not wish to say that the anime series is worse than the OVA, it just did not get to me as much, and that is why I am only awarding this show three stars, which is still good, though! 6.2/10.

I do not understand why I need to see the OVA in order to understand this movie. After all, the movie explains practically everything pretty much by itself and leaves room for some conjecture on some aspects, such as who or what exactly Tohko Amano was. I suspect the OVA would probably explain that, as well as what exactly a "literature girl" is, even though I do not really need to know exactly! Because of this, Tohko has a certain air of mystery around her that really suits her. As for the supposed lack of clarity and things that do not make much sense, I am just going to say that I did not have the slightest problem following the narrative of this movie. So, even without seeing the previous OVAs, I enjoyed this movie a lot because I think it just works (at least for me). There is just the right mood and atmosphere to make a decent romantic and mysterious drama. 8.7/10.

If this were a short ad for a manga, a trailer for an upcoming anime series/movie, or at least a full-length follow-up, then I would not be complaining; however, this is just not enough. I binge-watched all the episodes at once, and out of about four and a half minutes, almost half of it was a repeat of the original OVA, and the rest was just little scenes from the manga that do not really say anything at all. It is a damn shame, and I just cannot award more than two stars, and even those are heavily influenced by the fact that I saw the original OVA a while ago, which I really enjoyed. This brief glimpse is almost unnecessary. 3/10.

Hiyokoi is a “classic” Japanese romantic comedy. Alternately, the girl is incredibly cute, delicate, and loveable, while the boy is awfully happy-go-lucky, cool, and loveable. There is something for everyone in this movie. The girls are going to be charmed by the adorable Yuushin, and the gentlemen are going to grow to admire the very sweet Hiyori. Hiyori is probably going to awaken in them that kind of strong protective feeling that she needs to be saved. The situation could arouse some very strong sympathies in certain gentlemen, not only for the main female protagonist but also for the guy who takes the poor unfortunate girl under his wing. Basically, there is nothing new under the sun, and it does not surprise me at all when some people declare Hiyori to be a crybaby, that her shyness is incredibly exaggerated, her emotional outbursts, and the show’s general overwroughtness are just too much, etc. However, from my review, it is pretty clear which of the above categories I fall into. So I found this to be an enjoyable show with an adorable female protagonist and a fine male protagonist. I was pleasantly surprised by the pacing of the narrative, even though given that it is only a one-part OVA, it is actually not that surprising. If a regular anime series came out, I would definitely watch it, and it might be one of my favorite romantic comedies. However, this is way too short, and that is why I am only going to award it four stars. 7.5/10.