I am Erolius.

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Our favourite screaming red panda is back on our screens for a third season! This season shook things up a bit and, I have to say, I don't mind it too much.

Season 3 goes delves deeper into the fleshing out of characters besides Retsuko, such as Haida's continuous pining for her in the adversity of another love rival (I'm talking to you Inui) and we learn that Tadano, albeit being her ex, supports the idea of the two of them dating. It's nice to see that he's still there, instead of killing him off after season 2 ended.

Each season tends to have some sort of overarching theme, and it seems that the third instalment is about capitalism and money. Retsuko finds herself going deep into the red, due to an encounter with a sexy virtual unicorn boyfriend and a parking mistake which lands her in an idol group.

Aggretsuko continues to make each situation relatable to its audience and real life society, and there are actually some very interesting lessons to be learnt. We spend our whole lives paying back some sort of debt, doing anything or taking advantage of anyone to achieve it. It's a vicious cycle where we spend more time paying back in order to live by working than, well, actually living.

And it shows.

Retsuko spends most of that time trying to get out of that work cycle, yet keeps on failing. It makes me wonder as to what solution she will come to in the end.

As for Haida, well, I want to see him get the closure that he deserves!

The music is great, the characters are super lovable and, most importantly, the producers are keeping this show fresh. That gives the series the longevity it needs. This season is as top-quality as it always has been, and I hope it remains so as the story progresses. Up and at 'em, Retsy!

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I never properly cry at any anime or anime films. Well, that all came crashing down as the series ended. With a mostly loveable cast, it feels like we're on the journey that they're on: all their struggles, troubles, joys and hates they go through. While at some points it felt pretty bland and boring, it was somewhat worthwhile mundanity to go through and get to the meaty, emotional stuff. Plus, the last episode was a rollercoaster of emotion. I went through a cycle of tears and laughter three times.

It's also weird because it's as if my wish is being granted alongside Jintan: getting him to cry.

It's almost perfect, but you can't judge something without seeing the whole picture.

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Holy cheese balls you guys. This show takes the cake as being one of the best 2020 anime I've seen so far. Within the first few minutes of watching it, you'll see the vast amount of colour put into the various scenes, whether they're important or not. Wit Studio had some on-point art direction behind this show and, I must say, I hugely appreciate the attention to detail in the smallest of things. Some of these scenes were only a few seconds long, but Wit really went as far as to give us this beautiful eye-candy and spectacle of a show while keeping up the consistency.

Besides the animation, I must say that the thrill of their schemes really do keep me on the edge of my seat. You're always itching to know what techniques they'll use to swindle the next victim. It's even cooler when it's the last episode of the case: the intro is playing in the background, they just snatched the victim's fortunes and now they need to set off and escape. I don't know about you, but I really felt like I was there escaping with them as well. It's all very exciting.

Additionally, the character development is done in a very unique way: we learn more about a certain character in every case. For example, we learnt more about Edamura in LA, delved into Abby's tragic past in Singapore and reminisced on art and love with Cynthia in London. As it is suggested that the next case will focus on Laurent, it will be very interesting to see what Wit will bring to the table for his backstory.

The soundtrack is just perfect for the atmosphere. It gets jazzy when exciting things are about to happen, and gets all emotional when it has to. I couldn't bring myself to skip the intro. Thanks Netflix, but it's just too good to pass on. It's also very cool that they got the rights for some Freddie Mercury at the end.

All in all, I must say WOW. Great Pretender is a culmination of all things I like in a great anime, and the time just flew by watching such an incredible show. I'm looking forward to the last few episodes dropping, and I'm excited to see how they'll bring this epic saga to an end!

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Spoilers are marked.

While this isn't the finest work that Masaaki Yuasa's been involved in, the unpredictability and cliffhangers didn't stop me from binging it all in one day or, as some people described it, 'a dumpster fire that you just can't stop watching'.

I sometimes watch anime while multitasking, but there was something about the show that kept my eyes glued to the screen. The transition between events is almost seamless, and it feels like we're on that same continuous journey that the characters are on as well. It's unpredictable and there's some stuff that catches you off guard. And then the mid-section of the series came totally out of left field and felt very unusual to watch.

-SPOILER-

The cult arc was definitely a very confusing moment during my binge sessions. In typical Yuasa fashion, he had to put something absurdist in the show. There were countless moments where I was just like 'eh?' and they were left unexplained. They farm weed? The whole 'communicating with the dead' idea? That s*x scene? That 360 no scope from Gramps (no complaints there)? Oh yeah, and the scene where the child just got bonked by that huge chunk of rock. That really shocked me.

-END OF SPOILER-

We all knew that certain things would happen in the end, but the unpredictability makes it all the more exciting. Though I feel the characters move on from recent despairs a bit too quickly, it also sends the message that we shouldn't let trauma and grief stop us from living our lives. It goes hand-in-hand with Yuasa's recurring concept of being bound by a 'thread of fate', and that constantly rethinking past decisions only hinders us from truly living.

So, to round it all up, this coming-of-age story isn't a masterpiece. It has his imperfections, and they definitely show, such as unintended comedy and can cause a lot of confusion for some. However, it makes up for some of it with its beautiful landscapes, surreal sound design and palpitating moments. It's an emotional coming-of-age story that has been a new venture of mine, and it has its merits.

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Laid-Back Camp is much like a warm cup of hot chocolate after a stressful winter day. And, because it is mostly family friendly, I watched this with my kid brother as well. This show is different because, as it says in the name, it's a rather relaxing viewing experience. There's no drama, no tension and no strings attached. Just some high-school girls who share a love for camping and the outdoors.

It doesn't stray too far from its namesake either; each episode mostly consists of them camping or doing anything outdoorsy. You get to learn a few new things as well, whether it's about different types of tents or how to prepare a new skillet. And, of course, we have a manly narrator to run us through these lessons.

The characters are very dynamic and offer some sort of light-hearted comedy to the show, especially our pink-haired Nadeshiko. It certainly isn't laugh-out-loud comedy, but it doesn't fail in cracking a smile. The food looks amazing and, as Shimarin says, they make it all look very good, whether by the food design or the eating experience. It's all very mouthwatering, so I wouldn't recommend watching this on an empty stomach...

The landscapes are also appetising eye candy and are very picturesque. I'm a sucker for beautifully-drawn landscapes, and Laid-Back Camp is no exception. I said 'woooah' countless times, and you probably will too.

This anime was nice to just wind down and chill, especially because I'd been watching rather deep-cut shows beforehand. It's enjoyed perfectly at night, while being swaddled in blankets and accompanied with a nice warm drink. Trust me, you'll feel right at home.

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Another masterpiece from Masaaki Yuasa. Sure, the plot and story of this movie are realistically rather mundane and a real-life representation would show this clearly. However, with the trademark animation style we have come to see from the Tatami Galaxy (as well as another soundtrack from Asian Kung-Fu Generation), Night is Short brings us the adventures of the 4.5 tatami world and the mindbending concept of time in the series and turned it into another rose-coloured experience.

Funny and wholesome interactions between characters, familiar faces, and some new ones too that display the events of TG's Watashi from a new perspective. Absolutely absurdist at times with a very strange progression of events from browsing books to a spicy food competition, yet these transitions feel seamless. However, it all feels somewhat natural. After all, that's what the Tatami universe has to offer, doesn't it? And, whether it was by coincidence or chance, I'm glad I stumbled across this flick.

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Now I see why Ping Pong is often considered by many as Yuasa's 'magnum opus'. The writing and narratives are very clever and, as the story progresses, you get more and more involved and invested in all that goes on in the show. Tatami Galaxy and Night is Short had some pretty powerful messages, and Ping Pong just gave me some more food for thought.

Character development is done very well in the show, and every character has some sort of purpose in the anime. They all learn a lesson and come to some sort of conclusion about their strifes. The dynamic between Smile and Peko is real and it's awesome that they stick together until the end. Peko is Smile's hero and you can't not chant 'the hero comes, the hero comes, the hero comes' when he gets his precious screen time.

There are many subtle symbolisms and messages and I have to admit that some of them flew over my head when I watched. They're open to interpretation, which brings the fun of trying to understand them.

The OST was beyond stellar, and the OP and ED do Ping Pong the justice it deserves. It gets you excited for what's about to happen and brings a proper sense of closure when it's all over.

The main theme of the anime is 'why do we play ping pong?'. The answer: we love playing it.

So, what did I think of Ping Pong? I absolutely loved it.

With this new headspace and perspective, I want to rewatch this spectacle to have an even better experience!

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THIS is my favourite anime so far. Even a month or so afterwards, I can't keep gushing about how much I loved watching this.

Everything about this anime is unconventional: the animation style, the plot line, an unnamed protagonist. However, it is done so well that it remained enjoyable. In fact, I preferred watching it at night to have an even better experience.

Outstanding soundtrack, the incredible openings and endings and the classical OST. I hardly listen to classical music, but damn it's on par with Clair de Lune. It took a few episodes to get into, but I'm so glad I did. You learn new things alongside the character, there are little details to discover and everything comes together at the end. 10/10 without a doubt!

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Having watched quite a few romance anime, I decided to watch this one because it was a 'legacy' one. I've only really watched the recent ones and, given it was just released on Netflix, I decided to check it out. And, man, it was a rollercoaster ride that went by real fast.

With a slower and less rushed progression compared to other 12-episode romances, it allowed me to get to know them more. I got to see all the characters' ups and downs; their successes and failures. Though I saw the overall outcome coming from a mile away, there were many other surprises and fun lead-ups sprinkled in.

I also need to bring up that whole eloping situation. That came totally out of the blue, and they hadn't even been dating! While people say this was a pretty unusual move, they've pretty much already been living and caring for each other like a couple. So, it makes sense somehow?

The melodrama wasn't exactly topnotch, but there are some moments where you genuinely feel for the characters; that makes them all the more lovable. The ending was pretty unconventional, but it lies in that sweet spot between an open-ended and fully concluded finale.

However, the episodes were fun enough for me to wonder what was happening next. I just had that curiosity itch, and that's what kept me around. This was a pretty wild watch :)