KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World!

 
People often say things like lol, lmao or even rofl (if you're a boomer). But when was the last time you actually did any of these? KonoSuba once got me so bad, I actually snorted my drink and continued to laugh breathlessly for a couple of minutes after. I can say, without a doubt, that KonoSuba is the funniest anime that I've seen ( and there is weight behind these words). Also called 'Kono Subarashi Sekai ni Shukufuku o!', this show wrote the book on Isekai spoofs and still has other anime trying to rip off its RPG game styled humor and setup. If you're looking for a light, interesting and quirky comedy with outstanding visuals, this one is absolutely perfect. 

The story follows a boy named Kazuma, who's basically a shut-in. One day Kazuma dies in a nonsensical accident and is made fun of by Aqua, a goddess who's supposed to guide his spirit to reincarnation (you with me so far?). Aqua decides to send Kazuma to a world that's fallen into trouble because of a powerful demon king and offers him one super power in order to become a great hero. Kazuma, who is annoyed by Aqua's glib attitude, asks the heavens to send Aqua down with him as a companion instead of giving him powers. Before she can object, both of them are cast into the new MMORPG styled world together, only to leave if they defeat the powerful demon king. Kazuma soon realizes that he made a mistake because Aqua is hilariously incompetent and also a lecherous drunk. Over time he tries to band together a powerful party, but ends up with an egoistical goddess, a sexually masochistic knight and a mage who is overconfident despite knowing just one attack. This party actually gives up on accomplishing anything, but inadvertently ends up solving great mysteries and unlocking difficult quests based on sheer dumb luck. Honestly the combination of these characters is pure genius and their adventures are hilarious enough to knock you off your seat. KonoSuba makes use of circumstantial humor and crafty dialogues to achieve this level of comedy and is unparalleled in executing slapstick perverted jokes. 

While I hold KonoSuba in high regard has a stress-busting and chill anime, I think it has a little more fan service than it needs, and that throws me off sometimes. The show has clever comedy, masked by ridiculous content but is cheapened by un-necessary raunchiness. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate raunchiness, I just think there could be better use here. 

         

My personal ratings are:

Story: 3/5
Character Development: 5/5
Dialogue: 5/5
Music: 3/5 
Entertainment: 5/5

Overall Recommendation: Two of Kazuma's Lives 

KonoSuba is available to stream on Netflix!

Curious Play - Fushigi Yugi

Let's jump back in time, all the way back to 1995- where anime had a distinctly different style. A great example to represent those times is Curious Play, a bold action-adventure and romance anime that stands out as unconventional, even today. Curious Play has so many elements and sub genres associated to it like: reverse harem, seinen and shojo; which makes it really stimulating and gripping to watch. We see very mature content through the anime's progression, covering dark emotions, raunchy relationships, and violent bloodshed. All of this coupled with a fantasy world and eye catching powers makes for a truly unique anime experience. 

The series focuses on two girls: Miaka and Yui who stumble upon a book in the library called Universe of the Four Gods. They mysteriously get sucked into this book that connects to a parallel world set in a feudal era. In this world they are reincarnated as maidens of ancient gods who must fulfill their duty to the gods of Suzaku and Seiryuu respectively. Miaka must find and assemble the seven celestial warriors of Suzaku so that she can summon the god and be granted three wishes. This is how she meets Tamahome, one of the warriors who pledges his loyalty to her, and becomes a major romantic interest that drives a wedge between the two maidens. The journey is split into different phases in the anime: assembling the seven, figuring out allies and enemies, forging bonds and final battles. Seeing how the two worlds are connected and the different character dynamics across each one makes for great entertainment, especially in that old-school animation which has its own aesthetic vibe. Also giving a quick shout out to comedic elements that really ties the anime together, providing just enough levity to a stern plot.

The primary drawback to watching Curious Play is its lengthy and roundabout manner of story telling. The anime drags on too many arcs that should have been short and creates unnecessary buildup to small plot points. Too much build up makes the conclusion feel underwhelming which is unfortunate given the great set up that the anime creates. 



My Personal Ratings Are:

Story: 4/5
Character Development: 3/5
Dialogue: 2/5
Music: 2/5
Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Recommendation:  One Naked Tamahome 

This anime is too old to be found on any new streaming platforms, most of it should be on YouTube to watch. 

Steins;Gate

I never knew something so beautifully intricate and complex, yet absolutely engaging could exist. Steins Gate is a gem of an anime with a justified cult following because of its unique take on story telling. This sci-fi thriller is the anime equivalent of Doctor Who in terms of plot complexity, and is a delight to watch for all time travel lovers. I think watching Steins Gate is like entering a big maze: you start off excited, get worried about where it goes in the middle, and feel utmost excitement when you reach the end. Please note that this is a heavy, occasionally dark, fast paced and sometimes confusing anime that will swing between plot building and culmination like a pendulum. I don't recommend watching it unless you are in the right mindset for such a show. If you like these elements however, be ready for an absolute treat. 

Without giving much away, the story follows a scientist called Rintarou Okabe who is a quirky anarchist that loves to indulge in vague conspiracy theories and whacky scientific ideas. On a faithful day he discovers that he may have altered the flow of time using a tweaked microwave and is able to send messages through time when attaching a phone to it. His team comprising of a pervy programmer, his childhood friend and a renowned female scientist who's destiny gets all mixed up in Okabe's business, are suddenly thrown into a chaotic situation where they may have just discovered time travel. The anime has many angles to this plot: the politics behind inventing time travel, the effects it can have on the world and the stress it puts on their personal relationships. Steins Gate quickly becomes gritty and intense, showing the consequences of even the smallest actions involving time travel. As expected he show eventually introduces villains who have less than scientific motives and pose a threat to our team of protagonists. I think the anime does a great job balancing action and thriller elements with overarching character sentimentality. It creates a world you can get sucked into, coupled by a longing to know what happens next.  

My biggest issue with Steins Gate is that it can be complicated just for the sake of complexity at times. You can tell that certain plot points could have been made simpler without affecting the story, but instead still go about involved and lengthy routes that can cause frustration. 



My Personal ratings are:

Story: 5/5
Character Development: 4/5
Dialogue: 5/5
Music: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall recommendation: One Future Gadget Laboratory

Steins gate is available on Netflix, crunchyroll and Hulu across different regions.