IMHO. Eureka 7 ~ how one realises their age

If only I were 10 years younger... I'd probably say 'Eureka' is the best anime in the world. This colourful futuristic world with different laws of physics, global catastrophe caused by an evil genius approaching, rainbow-like explosion that marks the renewal of the world, important moments emphasised with emotional music, but the best part being the charismatic characters of course... But in fact, nothing new and nothing I've never seen somewhere else.

Flow's usual 'heeeey here we go!!!' kind of opening song, optimistic rap or rock'n'roll, girls and boys whining to a guitar for opening and ending themes... Soundtrack that combines electronic and symphonic pieces... One impressive insert theme turns out to be a famous song I already know, and the other - the only listenable piece in the discography of a since disbanded group.

Young boys who find love and become brave to save the world by sheer willpower. Mysterious girls who will only smile to them. Adults who entrust these hero-boys with the fate of the world and are ready to sacrifice themselves to protect the young generation...

These things could only impress me 10 years ago when I knew much less of what anime can be like.

I mean, when you watch mecha, you don't ask why streets in all cities and even natural caves are wide enough for the giant robots to pass. You also never ask why there's a Japanese-style common bath in an aerial battleship. But you probably retain the right to ask why every new development looks like a convenient way out rather than a natural conclusion. And even all these wonderful colourful things can't hide just how much the creators were swaying between different versions of the ending, thrusting in one major event after another just because they'd changed their mind. In the end, they didn't even have enough screen time to show the future lives of the characters who were in fact the main attraction of the show. I'm sure many fans wanted to see what became of their favourite characters, not just the main couple, but what a disappointment for them.

If I were 10 years younger, I'd probably overlook all these things and give 'Eureka' 10 out of 10 in my exaltation, but 'Eureka' will have to be content with my less rapturous rating of 7. And the biggest part of it is because of these characters, and of course, their brilliant voice actors.

IMHO. 'Black cat' ~ for all my hopes...

Take all Gonzo of 00s. Calculate the arithmetical mean. And then divide it by two.

Because 'Black cat' is twice as bad as I could expect.

A very mysterious MC works for a mysterious organisation that protects world peace by fighting other mysterious organisations. Then he meets a mysterious girl who changes his view of the world, a mysterious carefree man, another mysterious girl with superpowers, and of course, he has a mysterious colleague who eventually sets to found another mysterious organisation. Which is revealed to be a part of another mysterious plot. And by the way, other mysterious characters constantly flock to the scene.

This could be rather nice if the production didn't seem to be divided between different managers. One managed the mysterious part, but didn't have enough resources. Another managed the funny part and failed splendidly, because the MC starting to joke around and behave like a fool after losing an important person in a battle - no, it's not funny.

There was a good designer, though, who introduced a revolutionary idea of interchanging pictures of the fierce battle and its static outcome, jumping between the current moment and several minutes ahead. But this was the only idea he managed to introduce, it seems, as it was used several times in the show, and spoiler: it does not look very new and entertaining when it's used for the 3rd time.

Why were these famous voice actors working so hard, I wonder?

I mean, it's the kind of anime series that makes me feel that secondhand embarrassment. If anyone new to anime saw this show and started thinking anime is all trash, I wouldn't even blame him.

IMHO. 'Baccano' ~ Certainly guns, but not roses

I'm pretty sure that many people give violent shows high ratings because of a subconscious feeling that violent = mature. I'm also pretty sure that many anime producers think that the greater the contrast between different aspects of anime, the greater the effect. They create bouncy jazz soundtracks, invite famous seiyuus, and even draw the smallest details of the ceiling in the first class dining-car, and all that just for the sake of contrast between that and the heavy, unpleasant story.

I did make great efforts to at least understand those characters with their REASONS or DARK PAST, but those reasons and pasts were not reasonable and dark enough to convince me. Maybe because the characters spent much more time punching, biting, shooting and devouring each other, and when not - threatening to do so or discussing all of these, than actually thinking, reminiscing or dreaming. And while immortality certainly brings up questions of the meaning of life, physical and psychological pain, I don't think I gained any insights into these topics thanks to 'Baccano'.

People who don't know much about anime use duck typing. Yes, they are absolutely wrong in thinking anime multiplies violence or inspires suicidal thoughts. But if an anime constantly drowns the viewers in blood and has little food for thought, than what else can we think? It's a violent anime with little meaning.

The most disappointing thing is that 'Baccano' was just this close to be good. The characters could have been so likeable, the story could have been so interesting, if only there were enough time for the characters and the story. Yes, you probably need to avoid shoving such an amount of characters into a one-season anime and then spending half of that season on meticulous depicting cruel fighting and its results. Especially when clearly half of the characters were repeating each other.