Jeoffrey

There can only be one "anime of the season" for me that deserves to ascend to the imaginary throne each season. The choice couldn’t have been more obvious this time. The best soundtrack, the most imaginative and powerful visuals, including literally perfect art direction. Plus, the atmosphere is so intense that it almost makes you want to just get up and go for a walk around the city at midnight. The work with metaphors is also excellent. The whole story is saturated with double entendres and it’s a perfect parallel to growing up, as well as proof that the vampire theme isn't completely drained of blood yet. All three songs by Creepy Nuts fit the series perfectly and it almost seems as if Kotoyama created the series after listening to the ending song on the radio. It already reflects its atmosphere, double entendres, and playfulness. What's even better is the fact that both the opening and the ending basically tell their own little stories. It's been a while since I've seen music and visuals so beautifully intertwined into an ideal and unique experience that offers more than one meaning. And that's just the opening and closing credits. It's already obvious that you're watching something truly imaginative that the filmmakers have put a lot of effort into. And the series itself? It only took one episode to completely blow me away. I'll be thinking for a long time about how sexy the sucking of blood can be. As for the visuals, I thought I'd have a problem with the character designs. I knew Kotoyama's previous work, I'd seen his candy commercial called Dagashi Kashi, so I was familiar with his drawing style which is very distinctive, to say the least, and which I didn't find very appealing. I didn’t mind it at all here, the strength of the characters and the excellent work with every shot and color beats everything else. He can make the characters not only sexy at the right moment, but also really beautiful. As I said, the art direction is simply amazing. There are amazing and sometimes slightly frantic cuts, unexpected close-ups of objects or body parts, that somehow mysteriously work to complete the atmosphere and pique the viewer's interest in what's happening on screen. There is excellent work with the camera, its movement, and angles, but not just that. The use of color is also excellent and enhances the beauty of some of the shots and makes the night look even more beautiful and magical. Color is also used to create the right impression and atmosphere. What does this mean in practice? For example, there are dramatic scenes that are all red, or dark grey, even if it doesn't correspond to the real setting at all. It's there because color has a hidden significance for the viewer and can bring out the importance of the moment much more strongly. The particular color tones are used to evoke emotions in the viewer, pink can mean cuteness or sensuality, red stands for violence, blood, etc. The animation is equally well done. The series masters the basics, such as using simplified animation and backgrounds to support funny scenes, but it also knows when to take it up a notch to create beautiful images that you just want to use as your background, or how to make a shot sexy, a character incredibly charming (for example by adding detail and color to the eyes). The whole series has a really excellent atmosphere, which I expected, but it still exceeded my expectations and I really felt like going for a walk around the city at night a few times. Plus, it’s a brilliant exploration of the theme of growing up, the problems of youth, trying to find yourself, and experiencing love for the first time. This is mirrored not only in the main characters but also in many of the supporting characters and their own little stories. The characters themselves are also absolutely wonderful. On the one hand, Kou is a confused 14-year-old boy who is figuring out what he really wants out of life, getting carried away by his youthful longing for freedom, but at the same time, I like the way he thinks and how rational he can be. And then there's Nazuna! Nazuna is already probably the best waifu of 2022 for me because she is a combination of most of the things men secretly desire. What does a guy want from a woman? According to one joke, the ideal woman has to be a girlfriend, a lover, a virgin, a prostitute, a wife, a mother... On the one hand, she is a confident vampire who isn't afraid to talk about sex and make fun of it, but then it turns out that she's actually a not-so-confident girl who's afraid of any kind of romantic attachment. She's a girl who guides the protagonist through a new world for him, acting confident but also secretly experiencing a lot of new and unexpected things herself. Nazuna is an incredibly complex character, and when the animators make her beautiful, cute, or sexy in a particular shot (which they sure know how to do) you can fall in love much faster than Kou and immediately want to be a vampire too, and roam the city at night with her... The vampire theme itself serves as a parallel to absolute freedom. Of course, they're still vampires, so there’s no ignoring the moral issues that come with it. But even vampires have a soul, and they're just as complicated as humans, which the writers know how to work with excellently. The theme has its strength, it's not just a cool backdrop. And, considering some of the open plot lines, it still has a lot to offer. Everything about vampirism and how exactly it works has me excited to find out more. I want another season, ideally right now! Call of the Night is simply another perfect experience for me, an example of a job well done, a well-adapted manga, but also an example of how impressive anime can be. 10/10

A satisfying conclusion to the entire series, particularly the very last episode. While I anticipated it to be a more emotional rollercoaster (unlike Yuno, I didn't find myself reaching for tissues), I still found it enjoyable, especially the cleverly done flashback in the final episode detailing how our two high school graduates first crossed paths. With something ending and new beginnings on the horizon, the tale of Sae and Hiro at Hidamari Dormitory has come to a close. Whether Yuno will mature into a responsible third-grader, setting an example for others, or if poor Miyako will now starve without anyone to cook for her, I may never find out. Nevertheless, it's been a charming series. I initially started watching because of the unique animation style courtesy of Shaft studio, and now I'm left slightly moved and full of stories from the lives of these six girls. I hope to remember them fondly. If not, it would truly be a shame. The final bell has rung, and I'll give it an 8/10.

This season of Hidamari Sketch was a real joy for me, perhaps even as much as the first one, especially in the middle episodes where I found myself enjoying it even more. What made it stand out this time? It's mainly because the series is slowly approaching its conclusion, and with that, some subtle hints of melancholy were added to the cheerful world of the Hidamari dormitory. They started addressing important themes like life after school and the enduring nature of friendships. Spending the last three months with these girls, they really grew on me, and that touch of light melancholy worked incredibly well. At the same time, the middle of the season felt like the creators wanted to contrast this with as much fun as possible, almost saying, "Let's savor this last part before the finale!" Thanks to this, the jokes seemed a tad funnier this time around, and some plots, like the school festival, I enjoyed much more than when it was featured in previous seasons. There was a moment where I was considering giving it the highest rating, seeing how entertained I was on one hand, and how it managed to touch me emotionally here and there. However, the last two episodes (Christmas and New Year) felt somewhat average compared to the rest of the season. I believe they could have been more impactful and didn't quite have the extra emotional punch I was hoping for, despite the last episode having excellent accompanying music. So in the end, Honeycomb will receive an 8.4/10 from me. Now, it's time to grab some tissues and head to the grand finale...