MILKCANANIME

Browsing "Older Posts"

Anime Review: How Many Kilograms are the Dumbbells You Lift?

Monday, July 15, 2019 / No Comments

The summer anime season has just started, and we welcome it with long and intriguing titles. How Many Kilograms are the Dumbbells You Lift is one of them. A weightlifting anime with an all-female cast? after all, we've had an anime centered around horse girls' racing (Uma Musume Pretty Derby), girls fighting in supermarkets over discounted bentos (Ben-To), as well as girls using their breasts and butts to knock off their opponents from the platform (Keijo!!!!!!!!). Surely nothing could be surprising with a weightlifting anime right? At first glance, some viewers might see this show as none other than an opportunity to add in fanservice but when I watched the first episode, I realised that it was more than just that--because I actually really enjoy this anime.

How Many Kilograms are the Dumbbells You Lift? / Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru?

Year: Summer 2019

Genre: Comedy, Ecchi

Studio: Doga Kobo

Video Credit: dimsum.asia

With that, let's get liftin~

The first episode starts with a close-up of our protagonist, Sakura Hibiki, wolfing down various food items. A calorie count flashes across the food with each bite she takes, and from here we know where this is going: she's probably going to have to lose all that weight.

With that, we see our high school protagonist not at the back row near the window of a classroom, but in a public gym. However, she isn't alone. There is also another fellow schoolmate, Souryuuin Akemi, waiting in the gym and with that hime-cut, she couldn't be an ojou-sama could she?

Well, the first exclamation of a pronounced "ara" proved us right. It then makes us wonder why a girl like her would be a gym. That's where things get interesting.

… Apart from actually exercising, Akemi is actually a girl with rather muscle fetish...

Asides from that, Akemi is actually a really lovable girl, and I already enjoy the interactions that she has with Hibiki as she doesn't use her privilege to her personality at all--she simply just loves to bond with her over the idea of exercising.

In fact, their interactions, facial expressions and even hair colours remind me of a certain duo in Kakegurui…

Yumeko and Mary from Kakegurui. Seriously, even the black hime-cut and blonde pigtails are the same...

Moving on, we get into the actual exercise, led by the instructor named Machio.

In contrary to his name, he is actually really gentle and pleasant-sounding, but man are we really in for a surprise when we see that he actually does put in the "macho" in Machio.

*Cue Akemi's muscle-fangirl noises in the background*

What I love about the exercising sequence is that they actually go in depth to explain the proper positioning and areas in one's body to take note of, so that's actually educational in a way. I wouldn't be surprised of anyone would pause the episode halfway just to follow along Mr Machio's exercise advice.

At times though, the explanations can get a little too TMI, and that's probably where the ecchi portion in the anime comes from.

However, what I do like about that is that they actually address the ecchi portions, rather than just throw in the fanservice remarks as and when they like. It maintains the comedic portion of the anime as well.

Of course, the first lessons aren't always the easiest, so I'm glad that they made it realistic by showing Hibiki struggling through it, while also throwing in encouraging comments from Machio. It makes for a very wholesome scenario as well, and it allows us to root for Hibiki in her quest to exercise well. Furthermore, they also show her continuing to enjoy food after an exercise session, rather than just avoid it because she wants to go on a diet. This is a realistic approach, because not all eating habits can go away in a day, and I liked that they kept this consistent even in the first episode of the anime. To add it on, when Akemi finds out that Hibiki eats quite a number in a day, her response isn't even derogatory. In fact, it's even positive, and she truly is the ojou-sama we didn't deserve, but the one that we definitely need.

I can already sense the blossoming friendship between these two eccentric individuals, and I look forward to their progress in the gym.

To add it on, there are still two girls in the poster who have yet to be introduced in the gym, and that is another thing to look forward to in the next few episodes. Although, we did get a glance of Hibiki's best friend Ayaka Uehara, who is the one responsible for Hibiki's presence in the gym.

Overall, the first episode of How Many Kilograms are the Dumbbells You Lift has been rather enjoyable, and I can tell it's going to be one of my favourite anime series this summer season. If you enjoy CGDCT (cute girls doing cute things) anime, I believe you can enjoy cute girls doing MACHO things as well. While the ecchi tag may be a bit of an alarming factor for some, the fanservice is kept to a light-hearted note. The comedic timing is also constantly on point, which makes for a good balance in the pacing of the anime. I'm looking forward to the next few episodes in this very fun anime!

Written by kimizomi

My Top 5 Slice Of Life Animes

Wednesday, July 10, 2019 / No Comments

Slice-of-life, an unpolished gem in the plethora of anime genres. While it may not have plots as deep as their counterparts and action scenes similar to most action animes, the simple and refreshing aspect of not having to invest too much thought into the series makes the genre really easy to enjoy anytime. Instead of focusing on the bigger picture, slice-of-life animes tend to focus on their characters and how they mature as they move on in the anime. As such, you can normally perceive a touch of modern-day issues that you, as an audience, can relate to. This makes the audience have a sentimental attachment to the anime.

I’ll be ranking them in my own personal view, therefore if you do not find your favourite slice-of-life anime in this list, it’s probably because I have not watched it so please don’t feel offended. Instead, you can always write your opinions in a comment below and I’ll be sure to read them. Who knows, maybe I’ll even pick your recommendation up and watch it! I’ll also focus on animes with none to minimal extra tags to keep the review centred on slice-of-life. This means no supernatural, actions and such in this review. With that, let’s get right to the rankings. The rankings are in no particular order.

5) Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo

Sorata, the main protagonist has to search for a new home after finding a stray as the high school dorm forbids any pets. With nowhere else to go, he turns to Sakurasou, a dorm for the trouble students in his school. Over there, he meets new and interesting dormmates and adopts a few strays on the way. With life as boring as it can be, everything changed when a new foreign student moves in.

The anime has its comedy sometimes, but what sets it apart from other slice-of-life animes is the well-brought drama around hard work and talent. It revolves around working hard towards your goal, regardless of talent. In the series, Sorata is shown failing multiple times, feeling disheartened and depressed. However, he stands up time and time again, while putting in more effort. Meanwhile, others around him can be seen having success as easy as waking up. As such, the audience gets to experience both views which really showcased the difference between hard work and talent. With how competitive the real world is in this day and age, everyone would be able to relate to this drama-filled anime.

Rating: 7/10

4) Seitokai Yakuindomo

On the first day of high school, Takatoshi Tsuda gets caught for his unruly appearance just outside the main gates of the formerly all-girls academy, Ousai Private Academy. To his dismay, it was the president of the student council, Shino Amakusa. Shino then offers him the position of Vice-President, seemingly due to the lack of male opinions in the newly co-ed high school. Faced with no choice, Tsuda attempts to cope with the daily life of being vice-president as well as the antics of the unconventional bunch.

Before I start, this anime has a lot of sexual innuendos, however minor it is. Hence, watch it when you’re alone or where no one is around to avoid misunderstandings. This anime is...special. In a good way. It shows the daily life of being a leader in society and the responsibilities it carries. However, the main attraction of this show, in my opinion, are the interactions Tsuada has with other members of the student council. Before meeting any of them, Tsuda had certain images of how the members of the student council would be and over time, as he interacted with them, he realises that all was not how it seemed to be. A short but smart girl, a beautiful goddess that’s really horny and a leader that’s socially inept was not close to what he expected the student council to be. The hilarious and sometimes embarrassing interactions Tsuda has with them cracks me up all the time. If you’re looking for a good comedy slice-of-life anime, look no further.

Rating: 8.5/10

3) Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru

Hachiman Hikigaya is an apathetic high school youth with a negative outlook towards life itself. When faced with a punishment handed towards him for ridiculing modern-day relationships, he finds himself in front of the doors of the Volunteer Service Club. There he meets the cold ice queen, Yukino Yukinoshita. With the odd duo as the only members of the club, they sought to help students’ problems with their wit and differing personalities.

At first, I didn’t have many expectations for this show. After all, it’s your usual high school setting and young protagonist in the book. This cliché can be found anywhere and I reckoned it would be the same. Boy, was I wrong. Not only was it different, but they also took an unexpected route on high school drama. Instead of having a harem, massive fanservice like other animes in the same genre, they narrowed their sights down on the relationships, interactions and thought process between the protagonist and other students. The interactions, the setting and relationship were so intricately connected that you would hit yourself for not figuring it out earlier. What I really liked about this anime is the ‘Bromance’ Hachiman has between himself and Hayama Hayato, his polar opposite. The stark difference between their personalities and their interactions with others was what hooked me on even further. Be prepared to read the manga though, while there has been a Season 3 trailer, I highly doubt there would be one anytime soon as there are not enough manga material to cover at least another season.

Rating: 7/10

2) Violet Evergarden

Having been raised as a soldier since young, Violet finds herself in the hospital after The Great War with words from her dearest. Though faced with no understanding of the words given to her, she keeps them close in her heart.
Determined to uncover the meaning, Violet ventures to be an “Auto Memory Doll” that she found by chance when taken in by her new guardian. As an “Auto Memory Doll”, an amanuensis that transcribes an individual’s thoughts and feelings into words on paper. By trying to understand the feelings of others, she hopes to discover her own.

This is a masterpiece. I was hesitant to watch it at first because of its setting in the past, but once I got past it, it was amazing. The animation, the graphics, the characters; all were superbly done in my honest opinion. The anime focuses on the main character struggling to learn human emotions as well as their thought process. I also adore the relationships Violet has with others and how they grow. If you’re in it for a tear-jerking story as well as mind-blowing graphics, be prepared to burn through some boxes of tissue.

Rating: 8.5/10

1) ReLIFE

From manga to an anime adaptation, this series blew my mind away. It somehow addresses the insecurities one might face as a student as well as a working adult while adding a spice of comedy on the way. As a student, relationships are mandatory to go through high school with excitement. They emphasise it in this series greatly through scenes where you could see the group having tons of fun together. What I love too about this series was the way they shattered the stereotype found in most time travel series. Instead of the MC retaining their knowledge such as textbook answers, the MC can be seen struggling to even pass his exam after going back to his 17-year-old self. There's also a cherry on top for this anime, the romance.

The romance between the low EQ Arata as well as the cold ice queen Hishiro Chizuru was beautifully done. Their interactions between each other are extremely cute and sometimes comedic. Due to them having no experience at all, the situation becomes unpredictable, which is part of the fun in this series. It's amusing to see how their relationship progresses over time with some ups and downs on the way. With a simple and refreshing concept over other slice-of-life animes, it is a great way to sit back and relax.

Rating: 9/10

Honorary Mentions

While these may not have made the list, they're still some of the best slice-of-life animes out there. Do try them and let me know in the comments!

Kyoukai no Kanata
Hyouka
Fruits Basket
Kokoro Connect
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

Written by Yeon Hee

Figure Unboxing and Review: Kousaka Honoka (Alter)

Tuesday, July 9, 2019 / No Comments

Alter has finished releasing all nine of its first round of Love Live! girls, and as the release date of the White Day set is drawing close, I thought it would be apt to review a previous figure Alter made for the same series: Kousaka Honoka.

Faito dayo~

The box has the same clean design as all the other 8 girls released by Alter, featuring the girls' image color, with a huge window. The cream border holds all the usual information about the product, series name, and brand name.

It also comes with a small window at the back so you can easily see the details of Honoka's costume before putting her on the stand.

On the sides of the box, you get a printed view of this figure of Honoka thought I wish they added the illustration of the SR card of Honoka to one of the sides for a better comparison. But putting that aside, let's look at Honoka in greater detail!

First, we'll start with Honoka still in the blister. She's in an energetic jumping pose (we often see her like that in the series!) with her trademark Faito dayo! hand pose. The majority of her outfit is in bright orange (her image color) that matches with her hair, and with different shades of yellows and gold to add variation to the colors. Her outfit also comes with several navy portions to help balance the color palette.

The theme of her fruits outfit would be citrus, and her hat as well as the two buttons on her vest helps to accentuate that particular theme.

The base for the figure is the same as the other eight Love Live! figures, which is a plain white circle with stars, the series' name and the character's name in their respective image color. I love it when the figures in the same line have similar bases with minimal variation (such as colors of words) which would help the display look more organized!

Assembly simply includes putting her onto the base. The stand is a sturdy metal rod and she appears to be a lot more stable as compared other "floating" figures as she doesn't shake as much when moved.

A simple 360 of Honoka in this view shows that there are many details in her sculpt. For instance, the flower at the top of her stocking is sculpted on and not just painted.

All the frills and ruffles on her outfit are also individually sculpted and painted with a pearl gold color at the fringe.

There are many details that show how dynamic Honoka's jumping pose is, such as the way her ponytail splays out to the side, and the ends of the bow at the small of her back have slightly different shapes, as if Honoka was caught in the peak of this motion.

Similar to the asymmetrical position of her hands, her feet are also bent at different angles, giving the figure a cutesy feel.

The sides of Honoka's hat is painted with glossy paint while the top with the citrus cross-section is matte to help it stand out better.

While Honoka's gloves could use a little more detail, I'm in awe with how the facial features and expression suits Honoka to a T. The little white buttons are also extremely cute and adds to the design while not overshadowing other aspects of the outfit.

The yellow lining on her vest and gold hem on her skirt are painted on impeccably. I also love how the creases on her outfit are extremely realistic looking! The only part I am not a fan of would be the mass of white polka dots on her skirt, and I wish they used a different pattern instead.

The slightly raised band of fruit ornaments at Honoka's hip are also a very nice touch. Can you guess what are these fruits are?

The sculpt of the bloomers are very realistic: it seems so soft and poofy! The way the stockings dig into her thighs are also replicated well, with the lace frills helping to soften out the feel.

Her boots are in three different colors: orange, gold and navy. The glossy orange comes with a lighter color (highlight) and a darker color (shading) that really helps to bring this part of the figure to life!

You can also see the other details on the front of her boots!

However, a little more detail on the soles of her boots would be nice as these parts are visible due to her pose after all...

But at least we have the pretty hair sculpt to make up for it! The strands are mostly sculpted individually and there are many indentations to show the flow of her hair. The small hair seam joining her front hair piece to the back is present but easily ignored due to her hairstyle.

Alter does not disappoint with the attention they pay to details and the effort they put in for their sculpts. This is a worthy figure if you are a fan of the series and would like to collect the girls. Otherwise, although the figure is great, it might be more apt to save for a better statement piece in the future.