Nadia: Secret of Blue Water – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea… in SPACE!

Classic Gainax & Great!

If you know much about me, you’d know that my relationship with Gainax studios is a rocky one at best. While they have produced some great shows that I really enjoyed (Eva, Gurren Lagann, His and Her Circumstances), they have produced, more often than not, shows that I just couldn’t get into. Whether it be for subject matter, a lack of an ending, or something else, I just am not a fan overall. However, when something does land, it really does. That’s the case with today’s review:  Nadia: Secret of Blue Water.

Kiznaiver – Mini Review

Definitely a Trigger Show

Last week I discussed how I finally found a Trigger show that I really enjoyed in Space Patrol Luluco. When I originally watched that series as it was airing I hadn’t gotten around to Kiznaiver yet and was pretty excited. Unfortunately, this was yet another Trigger show that didn’t do much for me.

The plot of this anime is about creating an ideal world where humanity perfectly understands each other and blah, blah, blah. How this is to be achieved is by doing this experiment with a group of 7 (technically) kids who are originally code named as the seven deadly sins. All of these kids are linked together so that they share each other’s pain. This eventually even includes emotional pain too.

Have I sold you on this one? Well that initial concept is pretty interesting but ultimately this ends up being a pretty boring melodrama. For those of you who are familiar with a show called Kokoro Connect, then you’ll know that Kiznaiver shares some similarities with some aspects of this prior title. I would just recommend Kokoro Connect over this, even without the final four OVA’s that would still be a better experience over this.

Furthermore, Kiznaiver feels like a bit of a rehash of older Gainax works but not in a good way. The ending is especially dull and derivative. I don’t want you guys to get the impression that I hated this show but I definitely didn’t love it. Parts of the show were fun and, as I mention, the initial concept is interesting. By the end, that just kind of gets abandoned and like many Trigger shows it just becomes so unfocused. I would say this isn’t as bad as Little Witch Academia but no where near the quality of say Kill la Kill.

The thing I probably liked the most about Kiznaiver is its opening theme, “LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME” by BOOM BOOM SATELLITES. You can actually listen to that song on Spotify but I’ll also link the video for that below here.

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What did you think of Kiznaiver? Let me know in the comments bellow and if you agree with my alternate viewing recommendations. If you like the work I’m doing here than hit the button below to give me a couple bucks to keep at this. As always, thanks for reading and I hope to see you back here at Jon Spencer Reviews again soon!

Space Patrol Luluco – Mini Review

Short-form Show; Big Time Fun

I finally found one! Space Patrol Luluco is the first Trigger show to date that I enjoyed all the way through. While this series was a short form as apposed to the usual full-length series, it was easily one of the best of the Spring 2016 season.

Luluco was funny and the story was pretty good once it actually got told. The story isn’t anything fancy but for a short form series that’s not a big issue. It’s rather simple and straight forward, just over the top in typical Trigger fashion. If anything, the story is pretty normal, which is kind of the point for anyone that’s seen it.

Granted this show did have a filler arc. That being said, it was easily my favorite. Normally, I hate filler episodes, but for Luluco I absolutely loved it. Seeing Trigger reference their other works, even dating back to some obscure Gainax titles, was hilarious and I just couldn’t stop laughing. My favorite episode was the spoof of Kill La Kill. Trust me, it’s gold.

While the show was over the top, like any Trigger production, it always felt grounded compared to their other works. Sure it was wacky and out there at times, but it never felt like the story lost track of itself and what it was trying to convey. I think this is one show that people should definitely check out, it’s a small time investment and will at worst be a fun time for almost any viewer.

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Pretty short and sweet today. Did you enjoy Luluco or did this one pass you by? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this series in the comments below. If you enjoy my writing please hit the button below and throw a few bucks my way so I can feel good about myself. Any way, thanks as always for reading, and hope to see you back here at Jon Spencer Reviews again soon!

 

The 30 Day Anime Challenge Day 10 – My Favorite “Fighter” Anime

Already a Third of the Way Through?!?

I can’t believe that this post is already a third of the way through the 30 day challenge. Time sure goes by quickly with these daily posts. Any way, here’s a quick reminder of the posting schedule so you can see what’s been done and what’s yet to come still. For today I’m supposed to talk about “my favorite fighter anime” which I interpret as anything with a TOURNAMENT ARC (™) or something similar. This was a tough one so let’s see what I ultimately decided on.