Nichijou

It's not very serious, but do not think for a minute that it isn't intense.

The genres for Nichijou are: Comedy, High School, Slice of Life. It's also been said to include Fantasy and Psychological - but the Fantasy part is more like part of dream scenes, and there's definitely not as much Psychological situations as there are in Cromartie High School - which isn't classified as Psychological.  


Brief Overview of Nichijou: Three almost normal school girls, one not so normal, one little genius and a talking cat. The story switches between the Shinonome residence and an interesting High School. 


Oh, and there's also a girl who likes to do her talking with weapons - be they small and large.

Does she have a license for that?

Examine

Souzou ijou nante iu ka saiko
A-dako da i~tsu tete mo tomodachi (wasshoi!)  
Heh, sorry about that - awesome second opener. Man-o-man! Do not judge an anime half way through.... No seriously, it's almost as if this anime took a 180 half way through (in my opinion at least - but who cares about that?).

SO! We've found another anime, they is a bit different from its manga - as far as I can tell. (I'm going to try and avoid any spoilers to the best of my ability but don't hold me to it ;).) 
From about episodes 1-13, Nano (the robot) does not attend school. However in the manga, she is (as far as I've read) attending school from the start. Once Nano beings school, the anime takes a 180 (en mi opinion). 
Now you might ask "Demo Chandoraa! Why should we bother watching the first 13 episodes if they suck?" Good question my beloved readers (if I had any readers).

1. Episodes 1-13 weren't exactly horrible, because after the 180 they weren't perfect, they just became a lot better. 
2. The first half of the series also serves as growth, not really from the characters, but your understanding and attachment to them. 
3. You pick up motifs that will appear again in the second half of the series and won't really be funny unless you've been introduced to their roots.
4. And of course, it's opinionated. At first it was a bit annoying to me, but I was very busy with a load of serious school work. I started to lighten up as the work load lessened and became to enjoy it more as the characters grew on me. So there's a great chance you'll enjoy the first half a lot more than I did. 

The style of comedy here was more towards, in your face, stereotypical explosive anime expressions, just totally weird situations and other wat moments. Not only are there intense fighting moments (trust me, there is more action here than a lot of action-based animes) but also symbolism and themes/morals with a few tear jerking value moments. This is one hell of a Slice of Life. 

But Wait! There's More! Some how, this anime jam packs itself with tons of add on story entertainment right in the middle of the anime - almost like the Lucky Channel at the end of each Lucky Star episode. Some of this reoccurring extras include Helvetica Standard, What we think is cool!, Short Thoughts, Love Like and more @_@

General Discussion

1. The artwork is very simple. The faces don't have much detail, but just look at the hands! I don't know about any of you, but this is very, very sexy.

AARRRGGGHHHH!!!

2. Mai-chan seems to love screwing with people, though she also seems to have a sensitive side.


3. Sasahara: These glasses feel no pain when they're broken, but cutting your hand hurts.


4. Ep. 23 wow...


5. Ep. 25 Whoa... My Favorite Episode <3


6. Ep. 26 Oh wow, that was, a bit... unexpected. It actually ended without a resolution. But since it's a Slice of Life, why does it seem unexpected? Well usually a Slice of Life doesn't have a plot and it seems to resolve when the characters graduate High School or finish... something. In this case, it seems to really be a true Slice of Life, where things are still left open, though there were some connections made *thumbs up* this did a good job.



7. Osaka - from Azumanga Daioh - makes a surprise appearance. 

Not really, but it sure looks like her

8. Nichijou is actually split up into segments, or parts, or I-don't-know if you will; Starting with scene 1 and ending with 113. 

9. This anime actually builds off of previous episodes as well. When something, maybe even seemingly irrelevant happens in one episode, the next will incorporate it. From something as small as a hair-cut to someone losing her wallet - it returns to haunt humor us. 

10. You like-a da diversity? Well Nichijou has many different characters, and often includes most of them throughout the series; Whether they contribute to the main Slice of Life Story Line (Ha that's a joke) or have their own little adventure - which again, is dynamic and builds throughout the anime.

11. Hmm, some parts seem a bit familiar.. Azumanga Daioh

Recommendation 

You into that Slice of Life+? You into those human values? You into cute? You into off the wall anime emotions? You'll love this anime. 
If not, hate to break it to you, this anime is all that in a nutshell. 


Action: ✓ Oh trust me, you'll get your moneys worth ;)

FALCON -PAWNCH!

Fanservice: Bwahahahahaha! -2/10 
That's a random rating btw; There isn't any fanservice. ;P

Originality: 5/10 (Average) ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
If I told you this anime was original I'd be lying. The concepts are basically the same old same old, how ever, the way it was put together was really fantastic! Ideas are hard to come by nowadays, and what's good today, is how well you can put together the cliches. So if anything, this was less than average - but how do you create a less than original series?... Disregard that...

Soundtracks: 7/10 (Good) ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 
It's quite playful and matches the mood well! However none really stuck with me - as in the songs never really played in my head randomly during the day.


Values: 10/10 (Perfect) ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
We've got a winner! There are so many snippets of random teachings or moral throughout the series they're uncountable! I don't remember a single episode without some kind of moral lesson, no matter how small. Most incorporated many throughout an episode. 

Avoid thinking negatively; A lesson we can all use

Predictability/Kairos: Û Q<> ",Ç x+q0%úº s||e,ðSl¨¥$v×ysñ tónñYyá" r0$HÏ?v fssBÊ BÀæ ^


Resolution: N/A Beautiful example of Slice of Life.


Stress: 1/10  (Virtually none) ☆

You want a distraction from the fuss and bump of life? Here you go.


Humor: 8/10 (Good!) ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Oh humor can vary from person to person, but the good thing about this show, is that there is that the humor is abundant, giving you a more likely chance to find something you think is funny.

I feel like there's so much I missed! I can't possibly talk about everything in this anime! You'll have to watch it to find out.


You can contact me at TreuCritique@yahoo.com


EXTRAS: 

Art Style:  Moe! Yay! - Hey that rhymes! 
Opener: S1 - Hey that's cool; some kind of ~ception? S2 - Well damn :D Both so positive~
Ending:  S1 - Me Gusta - Hey look! The music changes singers and styles! S2 - It really sums up the setting. Hey look! The music changes singers!
Personal Opinion:
Why didn't it start with Nano attending High School? Would have been 2x as good.
Ok, those off the wall anime emotions irritated me at times...
Oh my god; Those values, especially towards the end of the anime, very very touching! Tear jerkers!

Season 1

There are many different versions of this ED

Season 2

There are many different versions of this ED 

And here's a bonus: The OVA Ending. Just because I love you guys ;)

This song rocks^

Look forward to me posting more pictures and details from Nichijou!

Spice and Wolf

Wedding portrait?

The genres for Spice and Wolf are: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance and Supernatural. Even though Funimation gave it the genre: Action & Adventure. I agree with what is above.

Oh and before you ask why this isn't nearly as long as the Strike Witches review: The Strike Witches review discusses points of critiquing only needed to be stated once, as that was my first review. And well, Strike Witches was just so awesome, that's the best I could do to not make the critique a book. Alright, it only took me for freaking ever to finish watching this. I'm serious, I think I started watching this around the same time I was finishing Azumanga Daioh back in September. (That kind of tells you something about this anime from the start huh?) If you watched the series on T.V. as it was coming out, that still would have been faster than me.


Episode 1: I was actually, genuinely impressed. With what? Well actually Lawrence's personality. He seemed very realistic; as in not constantly over-reacting and  boucing off walls.

And then there were
Episodes 2-12: ... meh...

Episode 13:Ended well, but didn't exactly make up for everything I had to put up with. Though it partially redeemed itself.

Looks like I might watch season 2... MAYBE... 



Originality

Here we are again, I'm critiquing a drama based anime (opposed to comedy in the grand scheme of genres). Let's cross our fingers that I'm getting better each post ;)


One thing I found to be unique - to anything I've seen/read anime or not, was merchanting (trading for profits). The whole story is basically Lawrence trying to merchant his way up in the economy and eventually get his own shop. So he's constantly traveling and business deals/trades are ubiquitous. 
Also the setting is held in a middle age setting. Castles, knights, churches, carriages and whatever else ye old villages may include. 


When we analyze it though, it's a pretty ordinary anime, full of the supernatural and such. 

1. Man meets a godling/powerful being who's pretty temporamental. 
2. The godling/powerful being doesn't really fight/help when necessary, even though he is very power. 
3. Main character is screwed over a lot (though this definitely isn't limited to animes). 
4. There's an evil organization... 

The hell is this? Marti Gras?

And probably a bunch more that I missed out of ignorance.




Themes

Can't really say I saw much if any. Though there was something that floated around occasionally about Lawrance and his roll as a man to protect Horo.

Feisty

This anime really wasn't theme-based, more story development entertainment.



Motifs

Oh gosh motifs, let's see...
Well Horo shares her wisdom a few times - don't get this confused with a theme though.



Plot Development/Execution

Yes, the plot did development, however it was incredibly slow (one of the reasons I was so uninterested in watching it consistantly).

Spice and Wolf went through a number of events and their own little conclusions. It had three or four went gradually became more intense. And ultimately the season was executed very well. I mean, it jumped from "Why do I bother watching this!" to "I might, watch the second season..." It left off with the ability to continue on with a second season, which it did make, but with closed enough issues to keep you satisfied. Remember, you're taking this from a guy who's more into the Comedy spectrum, and I'm not as knowledge when it comes to the Drama other half.



Recommendation

This is really your call. If you prefer Comedies over Dramas, then I'll tell you, I personally didn't care for it that much. If you prefer Dramas over Comedies, my personal opinion sounded by regarded.

If you're into a serious tone, with no comedic relief characters, BAM score one for Spice and Wolf. Though that's not to say there's a situation where you may chuckle a little.
If you're into something slow paced that uses a whole season without completing the ultimate issues, which gives room to sequels: BAM score another for Spice and Wolf.
And that's vice versa, if you don't like one or both of those, that's 1/2 aganinst Spice and Wolf.

Believe it or not, it's pretty realistic. When I refer to a story being "realistic" it's that the characters are like people in real life, who have a don't care attitude, or are average in there own ways without every character in the story being very unique. Along with values of people. Some with stronge virtues and others with strong vices.
Also that events happen realistically, as if it were real life. You win some, you lose some. Of course some people tend to have very bad luck or just the opposite, very good luck, but implementing that in a serious anime as this just doesn't fit well.
And if people start to complain "Hey! There's a freaking Wolf Goddess! How's that realistic!" Well I suppose ask me which reality we're talking about and we can have a worthless debate. Or I could tell you that being realistic only really applies to actions and events of people. Sci-fi and Fantasy are meant to be unrealistic, so it's a different category of reality and hey, you know it's not going to be like daily life if you see the genre Sci-fi or Fantasy.


Action: 2/10 (Low)  ☆ ☆

Fanservice: ?/10 (@_@) * * * * * * * * * *

Well I'm not sure quite what to call it, but Horo does become undressed, not all the time, but quite a few times actually - though there is no detail; Like a manikin. Don't confuse this style with Ecchi though - it's just... symbolic I suppose. Kind of like Some Magic Girl transformations.

Get used to it

Originality: 5/10 (Average)  ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Ok, so it was quite cliché at points, but it wasn't a collage of the most unoriginal scenes.

Soundtracks: 8/10 (Good+)  ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
I'm not going to throw my 2 cents in about the soundtrack (didn't really like it), so my unbiased critique is that it fit appropriately. Fiddle for the setting, suspenseful as it needed to be, such and such.

Values: N/A

Predictability/Kairos: 7/10 (Good)  ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
There were points where I actually didn't know what was coming, or I expected something different, but this anime wasn't really focused on suspense, so there weren't enough moments to score much higher.

Resolution: 8.5/10 (Great) ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ✰
I mean, it didn't conclude all the problems brought up, but that's for continuation purposes. Though what it did end, I can tell you, it did a great job.

Stress: 8/10 (Highish)  ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The serie wasn't constantly stressful, but there were often parts where there were issues, and the stress was pretty high due to the consequences.

Humor: N/A
Didn't really incorperate comedy.

If you're looking for a serious anime and with a slow paced plot progression, much dialogue and a really feisty wolf goddess: You'll enjoy this anime.


You can contact me at TreuCritique@yahoo.com

EXTRAS:
Art Style: Not Moe - Not Gay. Something more resembling actual people.
OP: Serious; baneful
ED: A bit upbeat - inappropriately for the most part. Engrish
Personal Opinion: It redeemed itself at the end, but didn't really enjoy it.
I liked: The execution.
I disliked: Don't get me started.. This anime really isn't my cup of tea.