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March Comes In Like A Lion does not pique your interest just from the looks. However, it is nothing less than a masterpiece once you start watching it. In fact, the 2016 anime is one of the most underrated and unnoticed shows of the year. Well, a 45-episode series consumes a lot of time. Is it worth the watch? Here’s a Spoiler-Free March Comes In Like A Lion Review, guiding you towards its good and bad aspects.

Sangatsu no Raion originated as a manga series written and illustrated by Chica Umino. The mangaka is known for her award-winning manga series Honey And Clover. Like her previous work, March Comes In Like A Lion received much appreciation when it began serialization in 2007. Hence, at the peak of its popularity, Studio Shaft picked it up for an anime adaptation that aired between October 2016 and March 2017. Exactly a year later, the studio released a sequel of the show. As of now, fans are waiting for the renewal of MARCH COMES IN LIKE A LION SEASON 3.

Synopsis

The story of the anime centers around 17-year-old shogi (also known as Japanese Chess) player Rei Kiriyama. He lives independently after moving out of his adoptive family home. Being a shogi prodigy, he faces an enormous amount of pressure leading him towards social anxiety and depression. Yet, upon meeting the Kawamoto sisters, Rei slowly opens up and comes to understand the complex emotions of himself and others around him.

Is March Comes In Like A Lion Worth The Watch?

When the anime first released, it seemed like a generic slice of life series. However, once the critic reviews started coming in, millions of otakus explored this beautiful roller-coaster of emotions. The acclaimed anime is simplistic, yet it takes you on a journey that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Besides, it highlights mental health issues like social anxiety, depression, and loneliness. All in all, the setting is a good coming-of-age story topped with mangaka Chica Umino’s writing.

Studio Shaft’s animation style compliments the anime’s overall theme, and its colors resonate with the emotions. As expected, the music by Bump Of Chicken is aesthetically pleasing and deserves appreciation. In terms of story, March Comes In Like A Lion is one of the best character-driven shows in recent times. Overall, the anime is worth the watch and is a treat if you’re looking for something deep and intense.

What Went Wrong?

One of the only issues with March Comes In Like A Lion is its pacing. While it perfectly suits the theme, the slow pace is not the cup of tea for everyone. Moreover, the anime does not explain the rules of the game as much as it should. On the other hand, viewers pointed out that the second season is not as good as the first one. While the series is still an entertaining watch, if you don’t prefer slow-paced shows or heavy narration, then Sangatsu no Raion isn’t for you.

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Back in 2018, Record Of Grancrest War created quite a stir in the anime industry. Having been written by popular author and game designer Ryo Mizuno, expectations from the anime were already high. As a result, fans of his previous work (including Record Of Lodoss War & Rune Soldier) ended up getting disappointed. Yet, many new viewers largely enjoyed the war series. Hence, if you’re confused about whether or not to watch it, here’s a Spoiler-Free Record Of Grancrest Review, guiding you towards its good and bad aspects.

Record Of Grancrest War originated as a light novel series (and tabletop RPG) written by Ryo Mizuno and illustrated by Miyū. Like most of Mizuno’s other works, the LN series became equally popular amongst otakus. Hence, due to its overwhelming popularity, Studio A-1 Pictures picked it up for an anime adaptation. The 24-episode TV series aired in Japan from January to June 2018. The action anime opened up to mixed reviews from the audience and critics alike.

The series begins with demons from another dimension called Chaos reign the world. Lords with the power of Crests are the only ones that can stop Chaos, yet they choose to fight each other for Crests and lands. The story centers around a young mage Siluca Meletes, who despises the feuding lords, and a wandering knight Theo Cornaro, who seeks to save his hometown. As they join forces, their journey begins towards war and Chaos free world.

Reasons To Watch Record Of Grancrest War

A-1 Pictures’ ambitious project is by and large a good action-fantasy series, as it promises. It has a decent premise as a fictional political drama and keeps its viewers entertained until the very end. With a strong male character, the anime remains quite enjoyable and fairly well put together. Besides, the storyline is simple, and the overarching story is not complex, making it a good JRPG inspired action-adventure series.

The animation quality was mostly average, yet there were some well-animated fight sequences. A-1 Pictures used various art styles and animation techniques that made Grancrest War more experimental than its usual style. However, the sound and music of the anime deserve appreciation. Hence, if you’re looking for a simple combat-oriented action series, then Record Of Grancest War will be a good choice.

Reasons To Skip It

Well, Record Of Grancrest War is an average watch, which can be a fair enough reason to watch it and also to skip it. Even though it’s entertaining, the story of the anime is very predictable and cliched. Being a generic run of mill Senki content, the series will only be interesting if you like the genre. The setting is similar to any other typical action-fantasy series, where the hero sets off to bring peace to his land and fights the enemies.

In fact, several fans pointed out that the basic plotline of the anime mirrors Record Of Lodoss War. Yet, Grancrest Senki is still a less-entertaining version of the popular franchise. Overall, Record Of Grancrest Wars does not offer anything new and worth devoting time for 24 episodes. However, if that’s your cup of tea, go for it.

Fire Force is one of the most controversial anime of 2019. It was pretty hyped and became quite popular with the release of every single episode. However, its Blu-Ray sales were pretty disappointing. Whereas, viewers clashed while rating the show. While many loved both the seasons, others couldn’t bear either of them. Hence, if you’re confused too, here’s a Spoiler-Free Fire Force Review to guide you through its good and bad aspects.

Fire Force originated as a manga series written and illustrated by Atsushi Ōkubo. It began serialization back in 2015 and is currently in the run, with the latest volume releasing on November 17, 2020. Due to its immense popularity, Studio David Productions picked up its anime adaptation. The television series premiered in July 2019, whereas it returned for a second season in July 2020.

Why Were Fans Disappointed With Fire Force?

The PV and trailer of the anime created much buzz before its release. Sci-fi fans were looking up to the anime for a fun ride. However, Fire Force disappointed them when it premiered. Viewers complained that the series is full of dull fanservice and generic anime girls. The fanservice was poor, tasteless, and repetitive, which ruined serious and action scenes. Moreover, this also disrupted the essence of the initially intriguing story.

On the other hand, most of the female characters have not substance at all. They only supported the male characters and played no role in the main story. Since it’s a shounen anime, they were designed as generic anime girls present only for fanservice. Besides, mostly all characters devote zero to no emotions to the overall plot. Hence, the series can be a frustrating watch for many.

Is It Worth A Watch?

Despite having some faults, Fire Force is an average sci-fi series to watch. It starts off quite well with an intriguing storyline that keeps you invested. One of the best features of the show has to be its animation. Being a David Productions anime, it has intricate fight scene animation with high-quality graphics. Overall, Enen no Shouboutai is a beautiful watching experience.

Its music is top-notch and compliments the quality of its scenes. Moreover, the art style of the show is likely to be remembered for years. The direction of its fight scenes is the highlight of the entire anime, especially the ones featuring Shinra. Besides, the anime comes in a package of two 24-episode seasons. Well, if you can bear with frequent and dull fanservice, Fire Force can be a wildly entertaining watch.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is one of the best additions to the Gundam franchise. It is also one of the highest-rated series out of them. Besides, the anime is suited for all types of viewers, including the casual and mecha viewers or Gundam enthusiasts. Hence, if you’re still wondering whether to watch it or not, here’s a Spoiler-Free Gundam 00 Review for the motivation.

Gundam is a Japanese military sci-fi franchise that features giant robots (mecha) known as Gundam. It originated back in 1979 with a TV series called Mobile Suit Gundam, that defined the “real robot” mecha anime. It featured mobile suits (giant robots) in a militaristic setting. Gundam 00 was the eleventh installment of the franchise consisting of two seasons and one movie sequel. Even though it has the same base theme, the 00 series is set on futuristic Earth, whereas all other Gundam series are based in fictional worlds.

Reasons To Watch Mobile Suit Gundam 00

• The Story

Gundam 00’s story is one of the main reasons why you need to give it a watch. Unlike other series in the franchise, this one has a very political story. Well, its political significance is what makes it stand out. Besides, the Gundams here are contradictory to what we’ve previously seen. While they still aim for peace, the Gundams use force to fight those that pose a threat to peace, in the lack of war. Both seasons of the anime are quite realistic, which is a drawing point. Overall, the 00 anime has a unique storyline that is very appealing to the viewers.

• The Characters

Almost all characters of the anime are fleshed out very well, especially the Gundam Meisters. The writers of the show have put in effort in defining the relationships between characters and their backgrounds. While their backstories played very slow, it helped create unique characters. In fact, the civilian characters are also meaningful to the story and peak viewer interests.

• The Art & Music

Gundam 00’s animation and the art style is one of its highlights and drawing features. The mecha battles are slick and clean, which contribute to a better watching experience. Moreover, the mech designs look high quality, including that of the Gundams, the GN-Xs, the Overflag, and others. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 has excelled much in art style as compared to the previous series.

Overall, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is a good watch for all types of viewers. It keeps you invested until the end with exciting plot twists and action sequences throughout. Moreover, viewers have a great package to watch, consisting of two seasons (2007 & 2008) and a bonus movie sequel (2010). As a whole, it can easily be considered as one of the best mecha anime, let alone the best Gundam series.

Sword Art Online: Gun Gale Online was a disappointment for the fans of the original show. It may not be a deserving spin-off, but it sure is a good action anime in itself. Upon release in April 2018, GGO opened up to mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. Even today, it’s quite hard to decide whether to watch this show or not. Hence, here’s a Spoiler-Free Gun Gale Online Review for your help.

Sword Art Online is an extremely popular anime (adapted from an LN series of the same name) that shook the anime industry back in 2012. It became one of the best shows featuring virtual reality MMORPG worlds. Hence, its spin-off series, Gun Gale Online created much buzz around its release in 2018. Its story was an alternative to 2014’s Sword Art Online II. GGO centers around a college student Karen with a height complex for being abnormally tall. Upon playing a VR game Gun Gale Online, she gets her desired short, cute, and petite avatar.

Gun Gale Online Is Not Related To Sword Art Online

Fans of the popular franchise complained that Gun Gale Online barely had any relations with the original show. Well, being an alternative series, GGO had a different story and characters from either season of SAO. Hence, aside from a few mentions, the new anime did not talk about Sword Art Online, neither does it feature Kirito. The only similarity between the two shows is that they’re based in the same world.

As a result, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online did not impress the original anime’s hardcore fans. Even though it was a good action as a whole, the spin-off did not match the quality of Sword Art Online. Thus, watch GGO only if you’re open to exploring a new story.

Is Gun Gale Online Worth The Watch?

Despite being criticized by SAO fans, the spin-off series gained its separate fanbase. Viewers seemed to like its story and action, setting aside its relations from the original anime. Gun Gale Online has more grounded game developments and is much more believable. Studio 3Hz has worked hard on the action spectacle of the series. Besides, critics have appreciated its quality of CGI and detailed animation in several action sequences.

On the other hand, the audience seemed to like the setting of the anime too. The main character was likable, while others kept the pace going. The protagonist and antagonist both go through interesting character development. Moreover, the spin-off’s ending provides a satisfying stance on the central theme. Overall, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is an entertaining watch.

It isn’t easy to recommend Flip Flappers. Studio 3Hz had put in much effort in the production of the anime. They picked up an intriguing story and presented it with grace. Even though it was quite entertaining, the show left us confused at times between the episodes. Hence, we’re here with a Spoiler-Free Flip Flappers Review, to help you decide whether to give it a watch or not.

Flip Flappers is an original anime series produced by Studio 3Hz. It was directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, while Yuniko Ayana provided the concept of the story. The 2016 television show was reviewed when it first released. However, it couldn’t reach many people and it failed to sell much of its Blu-Ray and DVD volumes.

The series centers around a generic Kawaii anime girl Cocona, who’s concerned about her future and career. That’s when she unexpectedly meets an energetic yet eccentric redhead, Papika. In no time, she drags Cocona into an organization called Flip Flap, which introduced them to a parallel universe. The parallel universe called Pure Illusion contains magical shards. These fragments enable the girls to transform into superpowered magical girls, and this is where their journey begins.

Does ‘Flip Flappers’ Deserve A Watch?

The story of the anime is like any other sci-fi alternate world show, yet, it’s intriguing enough for a watch. One of its main drawing features is its Kawaii moments, which are popular amongst Japanese anime. However, Flip Flappers uplifts the cute girls and portrays them as powerful and strong leads. The episodes jump between different tones, from comic scenes to intense and sad ones. As a whole, the series offers a variety of emotions and keeps the viewers interested.

Most adventures taken up by the girls are fun and exciting. Also, the concept of Pure Illusion keeps you hooked. The yuri sideline and emotional tension between Cocona and Papika are an interesting addition to the general plot. On the other hand, the efforts Studio 3Hz has put into the animation of Flip Flappers is worth appreciation. Its colors are vibrant, topped with visually appealing art and visual effects. Overall, the anime is an entertaining watch with good music and storyline. It surely is a hidden gem that deserves more attention.

Issues With The Anime

The one main reason that drags down the quality of Flip Flappers is its complex plot structure. Thus, even though the storyline is interesting, it is also confusing several times. Even if you pay enough attention, it’s hard to keep up with many of its plot points. Hence, if you miss a detail while watching, you might not understand what’s happening. Despite having plenty of action-packed scenes, viewers tend to lose track of the story. As a result, only those who bear with the confusion will be able to enjoy the well-crafted show.

“Do not judge a book by its cover.” That said, unlike what its name suggests, Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai is not an ecchi harem anime. Instead, the 2018 anime is a rather sensible and mysterious show that talks about many realistic issues like depression, anxiety, bullying, and body image issues. Even though critics appreciated the show, viewers had mixed views about the story. Hence, here’s a Spoiler-Free Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai Review, to help you decide whether to watch it or not.

The story of this unique anime begins with Sakuta Azusagawa finding a fellow high-schooler wandering around the school library, dressed as a bunny girl. Mia Sakurajima is surprised to find out that Sakuta could see her. She previously had a celebrity life, however, she suddenly became invisible to people around her. As his sister is going through the same, Sakuta calls this phenomenon “Adolescence Syndrome” or Puberty Syndrome. Hence, he commits to solving the mystery on his own and meets other girls who’re suffering the supernatural syndrome.

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai, or Seishun Buta Yarō, is an immensely popular franchise. It originated from a 2014 light novel series written by Hajime Kamoshida and illustrated by Keeji Mizoguchi. The LN volumes have been adapted into a manga, anime series, and an anime film as well. The television anime series aired between October and December 2018.

Reasons To Watch The Anime

The story of Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai (also known as Aobuta) is one of its highlights. It was a unique theme that viewers hadn’t seen in any mainstream anime these days. Moreover, the anime introduced a new concept of a disease related to mental health. The notion of Adolescence Syndrome is an intriguing concept and pushes you to watch until the end. Also, the most impressive fact is that the series highlights several issues that aren’t often featured in animated shows.

The characters, especially Mia and other girls suffering from the syndrome, are relatable. They feel real, and their problems are ones many of us have dealt with at some point. Moreover, the anime emphasizes important issues related to body image, depression, anxiety, bullying, and others. Overall, Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai is an inspiring and entertaining experience.

Even though its animation is mediocre, the anime series is still convincing. However, Studio CloverWorks could have done better with the direction of the show. Yet, as a whole, Aobuta is full of surprises and deserves a watch.

Issues With Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai

One of the main issues with the anime was raised by the fans of a 2009 anime series (adaptation of a light novel series) called Monogatari. Several Aobuta viewers complained that it plagiarized its content from the older anime. While the two shows still have many differences, their main concepts are almost the same. Monogatari was based on a fantasy and paranormal plotline. Whereas, Rascal Does Not Dream About tries to be real and uses scientific explanations to talk about the syndrome. Aside from that, the anime barely has any drawbacks.