Jeoffrey

I must say, I quite enjoyed this series. From the very first episode, the excellent animation got me hooked. The way the creators played with light and shadow was impressive, setting the stage for the introduction of Prince Arnold in a manner that commanded both respect and a hint of fear. As the series unfolded, I found myself growing attached to the main heroine. The concept of a time loop and her six previous lives felt like a fresh and intriguing premise. I was eager to see how she would navigate her current story with the wealth of experiences from her past lives. And I have to say, the series delivered on this front. She cleverly utilized her history and knowledge throughout the storyline. Arnold's fascination with the main heroine totally makes sense. She's not the kind of woman you'd get bored with; she's full of surprises. It's easy to see why she keeps him intrigued, and it's a quality that impresses many. The dynamic between the main couple was a highlight for me. Their playful teasing added a charming layer to their interactions. Watching the cool and pragmatic prince undergo subtle changes, all while trying to maintain his facade, was fascinating. Similarly, witnessing Rishe's evolving relationship with the prince and her goals for this new life kept me engaged. Overall, it's a very good and quite interesting series that kept me entertained. Although I must admit, I'm puzzled by the use of "villainess" in the title. From what I've seen so far, the main heroine has never been a villainess... 7.5/10

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

Want an easy life in a fantasy world after being reincarnated? Just have kids! Suddenly, you're living better than the average young Japanese salaryman, and the gods throw in a full zoo of magical creatures to keep the little ones entertained. What follows is a carefree stroll through this new world—no tension, no challenges, just endless gifts. Sure, it all feels completely unearned, but who cares, right? This attempt at a light and cozy fantasy quickly fell apart for me. Everything went so smoothly that it became mind-numbingly boring. Each episode was just more of the same—traveling from place to place with nothing truly exciting happening. The humor felt childish, and while the show desperately tried to be cute, the twins with their simultaneous exclamations ("That's a door!" "That's a treasure!") started to feel as grating as watching Teletubbies while hungover. The main character didn’t help either, being yet another bland "perfect dad" type, simply collecting rewards for doing the bare minimum. The animation wasn't anything special either—plenty of bright colors, sure, but the action scenes felt like someone was moving paper cutouts across the screen. Backgrounds were often lazily drawn too. That said, if you treat it like a light Sunday afternoon cartoon for kids, it probably works just fine. In the end, this show clearly wasn’t for me. If the goal was to make me think about starting a family, well, Alan and Elena failed spectacularly—my only takeaway was a headache. 4/10

Right now, Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san is just a solid romantic comedy for me, built on a really simple premise: "everyone's hiding something." The biggest flaw with this setup is that most of the issues could be solved with a straightforward conversation. But the show’s strength lies in making you anticipate the moment when "everything blows up," even though you know you'll be waiting a while for it. Still, the series does a decent job of keeping things engaging despite the simplicity. The story and characters are likable, but nothing about them really stands out as unique enough for me to fall in love with. Sure, some people will argue that Alya is adorable, striking a nice balance between a vulnerable princess in need of protection and a strong woman who stands up for herself when it matters. Others might praise the main guy’s subtle Machiavellian streak and his complex family background, which will surely come into play later. And let’s not forget the die-hard Yuki fans who love how she keeps the protagonist on his toes, making the most of every situation with her sharp intellect and energy. I get all that, but I’m not totally blown away yet. Maybe it's because I’ve seen similar character types before, and in some cases, I’ve seen them done better. But that doesn’t mean these characters aren’t well-written or interesting—they are, for the most part. The story is also decent and occasionally compelling, but it’s missing that extra hook to keep me eagerly awaiting each new episode. As for the little details? Alya’s Russian sounds pretty authentic, from what little I know, though it’s clear the voice actress isn’t a native speaker. The animation is surprisingly good for a rom-com, which makes sense when you realize it’s from Doga Kobo (the same studio behind Oshi no Ko, but more on that later...). And each episode gets its own unique ending, which is a nice touch that keeps you around through the credits. In short, I get why people are into this show—it’s strong in a lot of areas and makes the most out of a simple concept—but I’m not completely hooked yet. Maybe by season two… 7.3/10.

"Are you a shy, socially awkward wizard longing for a family and a bit of love? We have the solution – slavery!" No, that probably won't sell you on this anime. Let's try another approach. "Come watch a series featuring an adorable elf girl! Elves have been all the rage in anime for the past two years, and Nephy is sweet, affectionate, and as cute as a puppy—she even wiggles her ears when she's happy! Who wouldn't want her?" There we go. And if we subtly translate "Dorei" as "wife" instead of "slave" in the title, it might work even better. What else do we have? "We also have a charming and funny dragon girl if you want a daughter too! And unlike other anime, we won’t even sexualize her!" This is a great pitch — Foll is super cute and that's sure to draw people in! Add in a bit of trauma that gets nicely resolved to make the viewers happy, and we're set. Let's not forget to give both main characters some trauma, because character growth is always a plus! For antagonists, we'll use misunderstandings, prejudices, and a slightly fanatical church, which will highlight another female character who sees the world clearly and will be loved by everyone. This is shaping up to be an 11/10 anime... Okay, enough with the fantasy. This show actually reminds me a lot of I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness from last fall. It has a similar fun and sweet chemistry between the main couple, and both characters are likable in their own ways. Most of the side characters are at least decent, and Foll’s interactions with Chastille are genuinely cute and entertaining. Unlike the previously mentioned anime, the humor here often lands — I definitely laughed more watching this. The biggest drawback for me was the storyline, which felt predictable and not as engaging as it could have been. Still, like I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady…, this anime deserves a solid 6/10 from me—maybe even a 6.1/10!

This was easily one of the weakest anime I’ve finished this season—or maybe I’m just not the target audience. Imagine Solo Leveling for kids under 12. In this world, dungeons suddenly start appearing, and chosen adventurers dive into them to fight monsters. Sound familiar? I’m not surprised! But honestly, you probably need to be under 12 to be impressed by a protagonist who goes dungeon crawling armed with nothing but a stick and two cans of bug spray, every adventurer’s best friend! And for his first big purchase, our hero buys...a wetsuit. Yeah, because that’s exactly the kind of gear that’ll protect you from everything. Sure, he looks like a bit of a fool, but hey, maybe someone out there finds it clever. The dungeons themselves? Terrifying—mostly because of how much the electricity bill must be! At least up until the 10th floor, where the walls are fully lit, making sure everything is perfectly visible...so the kids won’t be too scared, I guess. And, of course, the deeper you go, the better loot you find. Except, poor Kaito somehow scores all the overpowered drops right on the first floor. Go figure! If that were the case, wouldn’t every adventurer be farming that level for OP gear? But nope, you’ve gotta be a "nobody" or your typical anime protagonist to get lucky. Some adventurers dive into dungeons to find treasure; others seem to go to collect their loli entourage. Honestly, if I got this many loli companions from playing a gacha, I’d uninstall the game. Even Kaito starts questioning if this is really what he signed up for as he builds up a generic harem, heading deeper into dungeons that seem oddly empty except for monsters and treasure waiting just for him and his pals. Looking for positives? The production quality isn’t bad, the animation is decent, and most of the monsters are hand-drawn instead of CGI, which is a plus. The music’s okay too. But as for the story and characters? This is clearly aimed at kids—friendship conquers all, fear is the biggest enemy, and most plot twists are predictable way ahead of time. The characters are cute but shallow, with no real depth. If that’s your thing, maybe this is for you, but it didn’t do it for me. I made it through the whole series, but I can’t give it more than a 4/10. If you’re under 12, you might double that score, but as for me? I’m too old for this shit.

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.”

What are your strengths and weaknesses? This show earns its first points for making the main character a pretty average (well, maybe slightly above average) young boy, and the creators fully acknowledge and work with this (for instance, when Ars "wasn't ready yet"). His ability to see everyone's stats, their strengths, and weaknesses is pretty intriguing. More points for making his skill limited. He sees numbers but doesn’t know the motivations behind them, making the story more interesting. The hero doesn’t need to defeat everyone; he needs to persuade the capable ones to join him. From how the story is shaping up, I hope it’ll also focus on identifying and exploiting the enemy's weaknesses. We've already dealt with ally weaknesses, so it seems like the next logical step in a narrative all about human strengths and weaknesses. Maybe I'm wrong, and I’ll be disappointed in the next season (which is already confirmed), but for now, I'm cautiously optimistic. I’m also curious about how much of a role war strategy will play since the tricks used during the mock battle in the last two episodes were quite entertaining. I like some of the characters and look forward to learning more about them. The animation was decent, and the music, especially in the last episode, was pretty good. As for weaknesses, the worldbuilding didn’t really captivate me, and the overall conflict and power dynamics weren't that gripping yet. Despite this, it’s a pleasant surprise, and I’ll definitely check out the second season. 6.9/10

The best anime about a disabled girl still remains A Silent Voice and the best romance of this anime season is the second season of The Dangers in My Heart, however, Yubisaki to Renren still stands out as a remarkable anime romance with beautiful animation, captivating music, and a truly charming and adorable main heroine. Even the main hero is intriguing and refreshingly unique by the standards of typical Japanese anime, but considering his story, it's actually quite logical. Japanese people in general are very reserved and value their personal space very much. However, Itsuomi is an extrovert who doesn't seem to have much regard for personal space. He'll casually sling an arm around a stranger's shoulder on the street or playfully tousle a girl's hair upon first meeting her. For a Japanese person or even an average introverted viewer like myself, this behavior might come off as borderline creepy. However, it all makes sense when you consider Itsuomi's background. Raised in Germany since childhood, his extremely extroverted nature reflects a different set of cultural norms regarding behavior. This contrast is also evident in how affectionate Itsuomi is. It's a portrayal that seems to reflect the Japanese author's imagination of the average energetic German (or European in general) — a character sometimes depicted as a bit over-the-top and eccentric, even to us. Personally, I found Itsuomi incredibly likable. I appreciate open and honest characters who speak their mind, and I admire his efforts to explore the world and become a part of the heroine's life. The dynamic between the two romantic rivals, and even the societal views on a disabled girl, when one would prefer to keep her closed somewhere safe, while the other would like to show her the beauties of the world, was a fascinating aspect of the show. I only wish it had been further developed. The theme of unrequited love and how the characters navigate it is also well-executed. However, if I were to offer one minor criticism, it would be the lack of drama throughout the series. It almost feels like love and romance are portrayed as a leisurely stroll through a rose garden, viewed through rose-colored glasses in fifty shades of pink. Every rivalry and problem seems easily resolved with a calm, mature conversation or a few tears. It was all a bit too saccharine for my taste. While it did match the heroine's nature and all her blushing, I didn't notice any strong moment that would make me 100% sure that I wouldn't forget about the series. One notable detail that caught my eye from the trailer was the prominently drawn lips on the male characters. I initially thought this might be for better portrayal of lip reading, and while it is used once in the series, much more emphasis is placed on hands and sign language. Despite these critiques, Yubisaki no renren did not disappoint. It was a delightful romantic series deserving of my 8/10 rating. I hold back from a perfect score because I believe it could have delved deeper into certain aspects, which would make it stronger and more compelling. Nonetheless, it was a very enjoyable watch and definitely worth your time.

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