V reviews - Fate/Extra Last Encore: Anime in hard mode

There used to be a time where I was wildly excited about a new anime from the Fate franchise coming to TV or theaters. Oh how times have changed.

When it was announced that the adaptation of the Fate Extra game (Last Encore) would be available on Netflix, I couldn't utter more than a sarcastic "yeey". It didn't really help that when I recently looked up the score on MyAnimelist, I saw a mediocre 6.5/10. Not to mention the game this anime was based upon has a metacritic score of 58%. The most interesting thing this anime adaptation has going for it, is that it is animated by Studio Shaft. This meant that if the anime would be bad, I could at least partake in the "Studio Shaft tropes Drinking Game".

So let's say I wasn't really looking forward to watching it.

But after watching it, I've changed my mind completely. This is a really interesting piece of entertainment! But I also understand why so many people hate it, since it's clearly not aimed at a general audience. So here is my review for the first season of 10 episodes, available on Netflix since June 30th 2018.

A review of: Fate/Extra Last Encore - Anime in hard mode

A word of advice: This anime is clearly not for everyone

Now that I've watched (and rewatched) the first batch of 10 episodes, I can clearly say: there are some prerequisites before you can watch this series.

• You should have watched at least one decent Fate anime series before watching this. This includes Fate Zero, Unlimited Blade Works (TV) or the original Fate Stay Night (which sadly enough is still the best introduction to the franchise). For easy digesting, Unlimited Blade Works is also available on Netflix, the rest depends on regional licensing.
• You should've watched at least TWO Shaft anime, in order to get a feel of their style of animation and storytelling. Preferably I'd recommend a Monogatari series and one of their anime with a deconstruction-style narrative. Madoka Magica for example is of the same creative team and has recently been added to Netflix here in Europe (so are Bakemonogatari and Nisemonogatari).

If you have NOT experienced the above, I will say truthfully to you: You will NOT enjoy this new Fate anime. You'll just bulge your eyes out wondering what the hell you just watched.

Also, if you're a Fate fanboy who has never watched Shaft anime (or do not like their style), this might be worthy of the "skip" button. Shaft is kind of special by itself, and this game has been reinterpreted to fit a storytelling style akin to Madoka Magica.

The first episode is just awful

A lot of people who have started with this anime have dropped the series after the first episode. And I completely understand if you did as well. With the hundreds of anime coming out each year (let alone other non-anime tv-series), people have a lower attention span and a trigger finger to drop anime on the fly that doesn't meet their interest.

And yes, the first time I watched it I also had a WTF-look all over my face. The animation is off at several points, the story doesn't make a lick of sense and the editing is all over the place. For a first viewing attempt, this episode can only be experienced as "AWFUL".

Hey, we know this scene is really awful...
So let us distract you with this weirdly animated background!

The first episode - why it's awful

This anime story doesn't bother to take your hand to explain the story. Instead of storytelling, the anime instead focuses on "showing things that are happening" and have our protagonist wander between these "things that happen".

The story concept is explained in class - a person is murdered because he lost a chess match (okaaaaaay), the body is moved to the nursery (WHY?), since there are too many bodies there, the oldest dead body is moved to the trash heap (again, WHY?). Once the body is dumped, our protagonist gets a talk about why he's the chosen one (because of course). Then suddenly a purge is happening and our protagonist is seemingly killed by Shinji... Because of course Shinji is an asshole.

I am shocked at Shinji backst... frontstabbing his friends [/sarcasm]

And all the while our protagonist has no real clue what's going on, is moving around in typical Shaft environments (huge, very artistic, very detailed, but ultimately very empty looking) while contemplating on how he hates everything with that typical dull surprise on his face. No wonder people have labeled him as an Absolute potato of a man. Jeezes, how dull can you look?

You certainly look very hateful [/sarcasm]

And at the end of this trainwreck ride, you're greeted by this anime's variant of Saber. Similarly to how every Pokémon generation has its Pikachu clone, each Fate franchise has its clone of the original Saber. This one is thus: "Red Saber", also nicknamed "Umu Saber" (after her catchphrase) or "Waifu Saber". But more on her later. Her charming face is what has to push viewers past this "abomination" of a first episode and into better territories.

... and that can be taken quite literally, because one of the first scenes in the second episode is a nude scene between protagonist and our waifu Saber. Why? Because the Shaft drinking game clearly needs more victims.

The first episode - Redeeming qualities?

However, after revisiting the first episode for this review, a lot more things fall into place. It certainly doesn't redeem this first episode (it's still awful), but there were a lot off of: "Oh, that's what they meant" moments when revisiting. Case in point, I suddenly noticed that the plot is totally spoiled in the very first and very last scene of the first episode, but never noticed until I rewatched it.

You also start paying more attention to the "glitchiness" of this world and pay attention to the explanation that this world really is broken and that our hero isn't the chosen one... he's just an anomaly. The chosen one was somebody else who died in the opening scene... Although "Chosen One" and "Anomaly" basically are the same thing.

Turning a dungeon crawling game into an existential crisis

I think it's safe to say that this anime is only a "loose" adaptation of the video game. And while the die-hard fans of this game have found this a sacrilege, the rest didn't really mind it... because the game is mediocre at best. They also had to adapt the game mechanics of 128 masters in a dungeon fighting dungeon masters to raise up to another floor and... and god, it already feels boring just writing it.

So the director and writer have taken everybody on a loop with this adaptation, including the original voice actors. Only slowly have they are revealing their hand. And the end result is a weird trip to be honest.

While the basic principle of "128 masters fighting and beating floor masters to get to the top floor" is kept, everything else is changed. This is no longer a generic hack and slash game... it's an existential crisis, time and time again. And every floor has a different way of expressing that crisis.

Shinji is living in a fantasy world (in more than one way). Another master is actively wondering why he can never ascend to another floor, even if he keeps killing new challengers. Another master is no more than a monster. 2 other masters create constant AI clones of themselves to duke it out in an infinite number of possibilities. And so one and so on. Time and time again you get the feeling that this simulated world is broken beyond repair and we're the last survivors trying to crawl our way out of this wreckage.

Let's talk about: Waifu Saber

Sakura Tange (Red Saber's voice actress) noted in a panel that Red Saber acted a lot more cute in this anime than the more boyish Red Saber from the game. And she wasn't the only one who noticed. There's a reason why the nickname "Waifu Saber" was pasted on this character. This Saber acts a lot more cute, dresses weirdly (watch what remains when she takes her red coat off) and the Shaft tropes have been applied to her. Yes, this means the typical gratuitous (semi-)nudity scenes and scenes that arouse everybody except the people in the scene itself.

Yes, there is a figurine of this "ribbon Saber". Why do you ask?

Do I personally mind? The gratuitous nudity: yes (not a fan); her change in character: no, not that much.

I haven't played the game, so I don't know how she was "supposed to be". And honestly, I've seen worse in other Fate series (*cough*Apocrypha*cough*). However, what I did notice during my trip to Japan last May, was that she was being heavily marketed as a waifu character.

Every store I visited had (next to the tons of One Piece merch) one shelf reserved for Fate, and the red dress of this Saber catches your eye immediately. More than any other character from the franchise (which is saying something), Red Saber had the most figurines, and the cutest looking ones. And yes, there were a LOT of them. Now that I've seen the series, I kind of regret not taking pictures of the tons of figurines.

Personal opinion

So now that I've done all my ranting, what do I think of this series? I find it an interesting watch and even worth rewatching over time. During my second viewing for this review, I've noticed lots of details and moments I didn't pick up the firs time around. And that makes me think that there is a lot to analyze about his series as a whole (if you take the time for it and are able to stand cringe moments).

Though I will admit that the series does cross the thin red line between an interesting art piece and a pretentious piece of sh!t from time to time. When? I'll let you figure that out.

But overall it certainly gets a careful recommendation from me. I give this anime a 7/10. Worth your time, IF you take into account the prerequisites and the awful first episode.

If all else fails: The Shaft tropes drinking game

This series not to your liking? You can still partake in the Shaft tropes drinking game. Very lethal, but more fun than whatever you're watching.

A character doing a head tilt: take a shot. Gratuitous nudity shot: Take a shot. Overly complex room that looks way too large and utterly empty: take a shot. And so on and so on. For the full list, check TV-tropes.

While the term "drinking game" is said in an ironic fashion (seriously, don't do it for real. It's lethal); it makes for a fun viewing experience to count how many times you should have taken that shot. And boy... that counter went up a LOT.

In a way of closing off, here's a few examples.
But until next time, V out.

PS: No, it won't take two months until my next blog post... I promise.

nudity, big empty rooms, head tilts, etc. Fill that bingo card!

V Reviews - March comes in like a lion: Hello Darkness, my old friend

In anime, the Spring and Fall season are generally the best ones of each year. So when I look around for new anime to watch, I keep a closer eye to releases from these seasons, rather than summer or winter.

But while "March comes in like a Lion" wasn't directly on my radar from trailers and "top anticipated" lists, the early reviews of the season already pinned this one as a Dark Horse amongst anime. And it caught my interest since people described it as "real" and "more adult, but in a good way".

Also, the Japanese title "3-Gatsu no Lion" literally translates to "The March lion"... and let's face it. Legends (and thus also lions) are born in March #ShamelessSelfPraise.

So I started watching it. And boy, was I in for a ride on the feels.

V Reviews: March comes in like a lion

Let's start with some backstory...

March comes in like a lion is an ongoing (bi)monthly manga created by Chika Umino, who is also known for her work "Honey & Clover", as well as the characters designs for "Eden of the East".

While the mangaka tries to remain anonymous by using the pen name Chika Umino, the digital age has slipped some details on who she is.

She is born in 1980, is a fan of cats, Harry Potter & Hayao Miyazaki and she calls herself a real otaku. Her artist avatar is a female bear (with a hat!) and her pen name is a play on "Umi no Chikaku no Youenchi" (an amusement park by the sea). This is also the title of her doujin manga she created before she became a professional artist.

Her blog hasn't been updated in a while, but she is VERY active on Twitter. you can follow her @CHICAUMINO if you can read Japanese.

The manga 3-Gatsu no Lion has been serialized Young Animal since 2007 (ten years this year!), has garnered several awards (including the Osamu Tezuka award) and now finally has received both an anime adaptation AND a two Live Action films (slated for release in 2017). The first of these movies one to be seen... in March! (ba-dum-tihs).

Story

The main story follows the daily life of the young Shogi player Rei Kiriyama. He's one of the five professional shogi player who were able to start a pro career while still being a middle school student. And now Rei is starting to live by himself to become more independent. But this is not your typical story of a "prodigy gamer" archetype who goes on a one-way trip straight to the top. This is a slow-paced drama that makes you feel every moment of his life.

This is slice-of-life done right!

When the weight of the world forces you to hang your head.

You experience Rei's loss in the moment he lost his parents and sister in a car accident. you feel his pain when being adopted in a family where the foster mother and siblings don't want anything to do with him and are jealous of his talent. You feel his devolution as his yearning for independence slowly degrades into feelings of loneliness to the point where even he starts to wonder if this is the best path he could've taken. You feel his daily slumber when he drags himself to shogi matches, sometimes even not caring what is going to happen.
When the first episode starts, it focuses on an official match between him and his foster father, and Rei couldn't be further down the drain on an emotional level.

And from that all-time low, you see him slowly changing and opening up, due to the influence of the Kawamoto sisters...

Leave your sadness at the doorstep. Only smiles allowed!

How did THAT happen? Well, one night Rei is being dragged to a night club by fellow shogi players who forced him to drink all night (don't forget, he's still a minor!). After that, he's abandoned on the street, all sickly and drunk. He is eventually found by club hostess Akari Kawamoto and is brought into her household to recover. She helps him over his hangover and allows him to stay for a while.

When a girl helps you over a hangover like this, she's a keeper!

After that evening, he's regularly invited (or dragged) into their household, as if he was a stray cat they were feeding. And Rei slowly accepts this unfamiliar feeling of warmth and coziness.

What follows are his slice-of-life routine of Shogi matches and his encounters with people that he HAS to interact with, even if he doesn't want to. This varies from his self-proclaimed rival, to his foster sister, to his fellow shogi players, to Gotou: the one guy this series really treats as a "villain".

Gotou, a proper candidate for Villain of the year

But after each time Rei has an encounter he doesn't really want, he also has encounters with the Kawamoto family. And each time again you see Rei slowly become a human again. These situations vary from helping the sisters with their grandfather's candy shop, to helping Hinata confess to her crush, to just being there when the girls really need him, as if he was a big brother... or as the father figure these girls need.

Characters:

	Rei Kiriyama: Literally means "zero" and the story often points out that he feels himself as a "zero". This entire story (and I include the manga) is his journey from a teenage boy with some serious issues into real adulthood. And this all while playing Shogi games as a pro.
	Akari kawamoto: The mother figure of the Kawamoto household (though she's only 21) and the person who first took care of Rei. She took over the role of mother figure when her actual mother passed away shortly after Momo was born. She helps her grandfather by day and acts as a hostess for her aunt during the evening to make some money for her family. She loves cats and "stray" creatures (hence why she took in our "stray Rei").
	Hinata Kawamoto: The middle Kawamoto sister and a real teenage girl (in every sense). She sees Rei somewhat as her "big brother", though she never really calls him that way.
	Momo Kawamoto: The youngest Kawamoto sibling is a preschooler who doesn't understand everything yet. She's pure and innocent, which makes others want to protect her from the reality that is life.
	Nikaidou Harunobu: Self-proclaimed rival to Rei since childhood. He appears to be from a wealthy family, but also has very poor health (even though he tries to hide that from Rei). He's modeled after Shogi Player Satoshi Murayama, who was considered a young genious in Shogi, but died at the early age of 29 due to ongoing health issues.
	"grandpa" Someji Kawamoto: Grandfather of the Kawamoto sisters and only real adult in their household. He owns a candy shop and actually has no real problems with Rei being around his "girls" so much. Though that's probalby because it's really easy to see through Rei and see he wouldn't hurt a fly.
	Tatsuyuki "Smith" Misumi: One of the more interesting side-characters. If only due to that unmistakable voice of Tomokazu Sugita (voice of Gintoki in Gintama, Karasuma in Assasination Classroom, Joseph Joestar in JoJo, and many many more).

Other supporting characters include Rei's step-sister, Nikaido's (stalker) butler, the Kawamoto's aunt and Rei's teacher. Though most of them only appear in a handful of episodes.

Animation & Sound

Oh my god, this anime is wonderful to look at. It's like watching a watercolor painting come to life. Yes, it takes some time getting used to the typical mouths drawn by Chica Umino. They're... weird. And yes, that is typical of her drawing style. You can see the exact same things in her previous works.

But once you get over that, it's like an orgasm of wonderful colors that meet you. During the setting of the majority of the story (fall and winter), you see and feel the cold atmosphere of the story being comforted by the warm colors of the Kawamoto family. And... and... how can you explain something like this? It's art! It's wonderful! I could keep watching this and never get bored of it.

I have to say it didn't come as a surprise that this was animated by Studio Shaft. While the head tilts are kept to a minimum (they are present, though), other typical Shaft animation tropes can be found in the anime (e.g. super detailed rooms).

On the other end: music. The music as well is very fitting for the animation and actually helps you on that wonder-train through this animation.

Oh, and did I mention the relationship this series has with the band "Bump of Chicken"? In 2014 the band released a music video for their song "Fighter", with animation of the 3-Gatsu manga. The title of the video is aptly named: "March comes in like a lion meets BUMP OF CHICKEN" and can be viewed on the Youtube Channel of Bump of Chicken. The single was also added to the 10th manga volume as a promo piece.

In return, the band performed the first Opening and End theme for the anime. But guess what the Ending was? Yes... It's Fighter! A nice nod.

Any negatives?

If there's anything negative to say about this series, it's probably that it moves at a snail's pace. For example, the first episode takes about five minutes of Rei getting dressed and going to a Shogi match with hardly any dialogue spoken. And just before the "action" begins, we get rewarded with this gem.

Your reward for getting to 5:47 in the first episode...

But all jokes aside, Personally I don't find it a bad thing for this anime specifically. The emotional story and combination of animation and sound are great as they are. Making it shorter or faster would only be dishonest to the story that is written. But I can understand if the slow pacing is off-puting for somebody looking for something a little more "flashier".

So if "something flashier" IS what you are looking for, you are at the wrong address here. This is not an anime for you.

However, if you do want to take place on this feel-train, I will gladly let you on board. While it may not have been nominated for best anime of 2016, it sure is my personal favorite.

Final conclusion

This anime is a wonderful anime that requires your time, but rewards you with a deep story and great animation. I'm giving it a 9/10.

Yes, I'm reviewing it before it finishes airing. It's a great series that deserves your attention! Go watch it!

Also, having caught up with the manga, I can only hope that a second season gets greenlit. Because trust me, the story is only going to get better after this (so cross your fingers!).

That's it for now. Until next time, V out.