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Last edit: 2021-12-27
I try to add enlightening commentary, but let's face it:
I'm far from perfect.

For cartoons that are not listed in the encyclopedia please click here.
    EDIT: 2020-12-31
    I have seen two three videos that examine the concept of "classics" from distinctly different perspectives:
  1. Gigguk | Garnt Maneetapho

  2. Mother's Basement | Geoff Thew

  3. Bonsai Pop | Mike ?
EDIT: 2020-04-11
In this video YouTube user Gigguk (Garnt Maneetapho) talks about SAO in the context of gateway anime.
    2 Videos That Share a Common Theme:
  1. "The Greatest Thing Anime Has Done"|Gigguk (Garnt Maneetapho)
  2. "A Love Letter to a Place Further than the Universe" | Isla McTear (Line/link added 2020-06-24)
EDIT: 2020-06-10
3 Different Perspectives On the Importance of The Ending EDIT: 2021-05-10
Geoff Thew ("Mother's Basement") has a fascinating video essay on the concept of "sakuga".
EDIT: 2021-12-27
10 Anime That Are Fantastic But Hard To Recommend
Anime only continues to get more and more mainstream, but these are 10 anime we wouldn't want to recommend even though they're great.
By Jacob Buchalter
(posted on cbr.com on 2020, Mar 30)
Seen/Read All (public list) Rating
(The) Qwaser of Stigmata (TV) Very good
R.O.D -The TV- Excellent (dub & sub)
Surrender Artist recommendation.
  • Two of the sisters are just like Yomiko Readman!
  • Nenene Sumiregawa's personality is the polar oposite of Yomiko Readman's. [PRO]
  • The animation budget seems a bit limited; it is seemingly rationed for the action sequences.....
  • [PRO] "Moments in the Sun" by kazami with Home Grown (eps 1-13)
    "Confidence" by Rieko Miura (eps 21-26)
  • Noam Chomsky???!!!

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/J8ZYhzztfVayCc4F6

    American Power and the New Mandarins

baseline=8/11
ep.#9: A betrayal of trust. Things have been largely episodic up until now. [PRO]
ep.#10: The Sisters's Christmas Day Birthday is explained.
ep.#13: Meaningful death [PRO]
ep.#13: Hong Kong is submerged?! [CON]
ep.#14: Info. dump
ep.#15: The Joker finds Yumiko Readman and Nancy.
ep.#16: So the British Library invades Tokyo and burns books? Doesn't make sense. I thought their war was with some Chinese outfit. [CON]
ep.#17: "She's your mother!" But wait, I thought that Nancy was a clone....
ep.#18: So Junior was raised in order to die. But wait, then who is the father?
ep.#19: The Mirror Man makes his appearance; Anita and Yumiko are cornered.
ep.#20: The helicopter blows up; Anita and Yumiko cannot find any survivors.
ep.#21: We are shown how Junior fooled The Joker.
ep.#22: Junior cannot handle the knowledge he gained when he handled the Book of the Eye.
ep.#23: Joker, A.K.A. "John Carpenter" announces the Dominion of the U.K. Library.
ep.#24: The Three Sister's Detective Agency prepares to assault the British Library.
ep.#26: Anita's revival/recovery is just too damned pat. [CON]
Rage of Bahamut: Genesis (TV) Very good
Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl (movie) Very good

Rating it at 9/11. Would have rated it higher, but the logic of the ending escapes me.
There is no English dub.
Kim Morrissy wrote:
The film brings all the major themes and characters in its greater story full circle and will probably make you laugh and cry in the process. If you're a fan of the Rascal series, it's your duty to see its grand climax in this movie.
"A Heart to Give - Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl Review"|AH Brandon Anime Reviews
Spoilers.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (TV) Masterpiece

Ask Theron Martin about specific line in his Aniplex review.
"Bunny Girl Senpai: A Show That's (Not) About Bunny Girls"|Gigguk

"What Bunny Girl Senpai is Really About"|Mother's Basement (Jeff Thew)

"Bunny Girl Senpai's Best Girl Montage - What's in an OP?"|Mother's Basement (Jeff Thew)

  1. Concept of "Adolescent Syndrome" is explained.
  2. People are forgetting who Mai Sakurajima is and they are failing to observe her presence.
  3. I must say, the second ½ of the episode had me grinning like I haven't done so in a long time! (PRO)
  4. Mai finds Sakuta in a compromising position with Tomoe.
    The ED sequence now features Tomoe.
  5. Tomoe is seemingly becoming romantically attracted to Sakuta.....
    Why didn't Sakuta return Mai's phone call?
  6. Tomoe finally decides which time loop / scenario that she will accept. (PRO) Next up: One Shoko Makinohara (the girl in the OP with the red umbrella) who is definitely too young to be the girl that Sakuta once had a crush on.
  7. The plot twists are really something.
    The ED has Rio Futaba ("Science Girl") and two boys.
  8. 16:30| Cats walking over me is something that was a regular occurrence for me growing up. They also monopolized my lap!
    I was saddened to see one of the Futabas disappear; but that was inevitable.
    So now the romantic pairing of Sakuta and Mai is on hiatus.....
  9. 5:45| More childhood memories (Cats in my face!).....
    Complications to the nth degree!
  10. They certainly have the cliffhangers down pat.....
  11. OK, so what does Sakuta mean when he says that Kaede has no memories?
    Sakuta is easily one of the most admirable characters in this series.
  12. So that's what Sakuta meant when he said that Kaede has no memories.....
  13. The best scenes are saved for the last episode.
No English dub (2020-6)
Re:ZERO - Starting Life in Another World - The Frozen Bond (OAV) Excellent
This OAV is one hour fifteen-plus minutes!
PRO: The demonstrated love between Emelia ("Lia") and Puck is a bond that will never be broken.
CON: Not everything about Puck's origin/past is explained.
Therefore, am rating at 10/11.
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (TV) Masterpiece
Pro: Not only does the guy get the girl, but he grows.
Con: There are enough unexplained things that prevent this from being 11/11. Therefore, I'm rating this 10/11.
EDIT: Because of episode #18 I am bumping my rating up by one notch.
"The Villain in the Mirror: Subaru Natsuki and Betelgeuse" by Nicholas Dupree
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (TV 2) Masterpiece
  1. "Each One's Loss"
    The first return convoy is ambushed by the Sin Archbishops of Greed & Gluttony.
  2. "The Next Location"
    Suburu is still acting quite the idiot by not thinking things through.
    Subaru meets the Witch of Greed Echidna.
  3. "The Long-Awaited Reunion"
    Garfiel & Echidna make their respective appearances.
  4. "Parent and Child"
    Subaru comes to terms with his parents and how he grew up.
  5. "A Step Forward"
    Echidna basically says that Suburu has passed only one of the three trials and that Emilia simply isn't up to it.
  6. "The Maiden's Gospel"
    Elsa is back; and she's slaughtering as she always has without revealing who her client is.
  7. "Friend"
    So many questions.....
    • Who is Elsa's client?
    • How did Elsa know that opening all of the doors would reveal Beatrice's door?
    • What is the nature of Beatrice's relationship with the Witch Cult?
  8. "The Value of Life"
    Suburu finally finds in Echidna someone that he can unburden his sorrows onto.
  9. "Love Love Love Love Love Love You"
    So: What, exactly, is the nature of Roswaal's relationship with the Witch Cult?
  10. "I Know Hell"
    The Witch of Envy attacks the inhabitants of the Sanctuary. Suburu is only able to reverse the deaths by suiciding. But the Mansion is still in imminent danger.
  11. "The Taste of Death"
    Even in Death, Roswaal conceals his intentions.
  12. "The Witches' Tea Party"
    Seeking answers, Suburu goes to Echidna who tries to get him to enter into a contract with her. To stop that from occurring, four other witches show up -- who are subsequently followed by Satella, the Witch of Envy.
  13. "The Sounds That Make You Want to Cry"
    There's no denying that these cliffhangers are quite effective.....
    All of the witches sorta act as psychotherapists to help Suburu come to terms with his self-loathing issues. Even Otto gets in on the act -- hence, my reference earlier to the cliffhangers.....
  14. "STRAIGHT BET"
    Through Otto's tough love Suburu is able to come up with a plan that just might work.
  15. "Otto Suwen / A Reason to Believe"
    Otto Suwen -- joined by Ram -- uses his Divine Protection, "Soul of Language" in a desperate attempt to distract Garfiel so as to give Suburu time to persuade Emilia that she can trust both himself and others. And the mains actually kiss each other!!! That is so rare in anime shows.....
  16. "Nobody Can Lift a Quain Stone Alone"
    Suburu and Garfiel come to an understanding -- after Garfiel has been beaten by both Ram and Suburu. Then first Garfiel and then Emilia enter their respective trials.
  17. A Journey Through Memories
    Emilia and the Witch of Greed, Echinda, view Emilia's repressed memories.
  18. The Day Betelgeuse Laughed
    "Despite a few inconveniences, like being unable to go outside when she wanted, young Emilia lived a happy life in a settlement of elves with Fortuna, whom she lovingly called "Mother." However, their peace was threatened by the arrival of the Sin Archbishop of the Witch's Cult representing Greed, Regulus Corneas. In the present, Shima appears before Subaru and the others as they wait outside the graveyard for Emilia to complete the trial, and she tells them of the events leading up to the birth of the Sanctuary."
  19. "The Permafrost of Elior Forest"
    "Pandora, the Witch of Vanity, stands before Geuse and Fortuna. They both face her with all the strength they have. Meanwhile, young Emilia runs toward the place where the seal is, believing that everyone will be saved if she gives Pandora what she wants. But when she arrives, Pandora is already there, insisting that she hand over the key to opening the seal. "
  20. " The Beginning of the Sanctuary and the Beginning of the End "
    NOT SEEN
    " When Roswaal happily tells the story of how his romance with Echidna began 400 years ago, Beatrice rebukes him for casually calling it a "romance." Ryuzu interrupts to comment that Echidna saved her, as well. The one thing these three very different people share is their gratitude toward Echidna. But their days spent in both amicable and argumentative conversation about Echidna are brought to an end by one man's arrival. "
  21. " Reunion of Roars"
    "Subaru tries to prevent the attack on the mansion by talking to Roswaal, but Roswaal refuses to let go of the wish he has clung to for 400 long years. Subaru takes Garfiel and Otto along as he hitches up the carriage to Patrasche and heads for the mansion as quickly as he can. Meanwhile, now that Emilia has completed the first trial, Ram asks her for a favor. Touched by the strength of Ram's feelings, Emilia reaches out to help her."
  22. "Happiness Reflected on the Water's Surface"
    "Frederica is gradually backed into a corner by Elsa's attacks. Then Garfiel rushes to the scene with a silver shield on each arm. The siblings' reunion after so many years is cut short when Elsa's knife violently clashes against Garfiel's shield. Meanwhile, Subaru heads to the forbidden library where Beatrice is. She's surprised when he enters the library and tells her that, after she spent 400 years there under a contract that might as well have been a curse, he's going to get her out. "
  23. "Love Me Down to My Blood and Guts"
    "After witnessing an unrealized present, Emilia completes the second trial and begins the third and final one. Ram and Puck are fighting their hardest to stop Roswaal. Each of them is doing it all for the sake of realizing their own goals. The battle between Garfiel and Elsa at Roswaal's mansion is also growing more and more intense. As Subaru is being chased by a guiltylowe, he declares that it's time to make use of his unparalleled knowledge of the modern world and lures it into a closet..."
  24. "Choose Me"
    "After completing the final trial, Emilia emerges from the graveyard into a blizzard heavy enough to block her vision. The people of the Sanctuary and the villagers of Arlam huddle together behind a giant wall of ice, created to shield them from the bitter cold by none other than the great spirit who was once contracted to Emilia. When Emilia touches the ice wall, something flows into her from within it. With a nod of acknowledgement to the voice she hears, she finally takes action."
  25. "Offbeat Steps Under the Moonlight"
    "The magic Roswaal is using to control the weather generates enough mana to attract the Great Rabbit, which draws closer to the Sanctuary in a massive horde. Emilia takes Roswaal and Ram to shelter in the graveyard with everyone else, but the Great Rabbit horde has already grown enough to engulf their surroundings. Just when all hope seems lost, Subaru and Beatrice appear before Emilia. So begins Subaru and Beatrice's first battle against the Great Rabbit, one of the Three Great Mabeasts."
Read or Die (OAV) Very good
Recovery of an MMO Junkie (TV) Excellent (dub), Masterpiece (sub)
  1. Setup is given. All of the characters are adults.
  2. A real-life date is set up. But it's rejected.....
  3. Is an online romantic pairing in the offing?
  4. Real-life reactions to online interactions..... And one MMO junkie deduces the identity of another player!
  5. Gaming and real life become confusingly combined.!
  6. 2 different dates on consecutive nights; is romantic love on the horizon?
  7. More confusing combinations of gaming and real life!
  8. Yuta confesses his identity as Lily.
    • Will these 2 love birds finally take the next step?
    • Also, I positively enjoy the internal monologues!
  9. This series has modest aspirations; and it is that modesty that propels it so well into the stratosphere of greatness.
  • OAV | 1st ½ is a continuation of the love birds trying to mate; the 2nd ½ is a parody of the series.
  • I'm rating the sub at 11/11 because none of the leads are teenagers.
  • ADR Director: Clifford Chapin
  • ADR Supervisor: Peter Hawkinson
Redline (movie) Excellent (dub & sub)
  • Hyper-masculine.
  • Interesting animation design.
  • Animation sequences are just gorgeous!
  • Nice OST.
  • Forget fanservice; this movie is NSFW!!!
  • Not good enough for 11/11; but as brain candy, it's marvelous.
  • ADR Script/Director: Alex Von David
Requiem from the Darkness (TV) Good
Restaurant to Another World (TV) Excellent (dub & sub)
    Slice of Life
    Interestingly enough, Rebecca Silverman reviewed Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma 2 years prior to reviewing this show. She called that series shounen.
    The OST is memorable!!!
    • Beef Stew
    • Breakfast Special
    • Minced Meat Cutlet
    • Fried Shrimp
    • Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
    • Chocolate Parfait
    • Omelette Rice
    • Tofu Steak
    • Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl CON: The ethics are not even commented upon.
    • Pudding a la Mode Yes, bigotry is discussed, but it's minimized.
    • Sandwiches
    • Steamed Potatoes With Butter
  1. Menu 13: "Curry Rice"
    Menu 14: "Chicken Curry"
    • "Hamburg Steak"
    • "Assorted Cookies
  2. Menu 17 "Fried Seafood"
    Menu 18 "Melon Soda Float"
  3. Menu 19 "Crêpes"
    Menu 20 "Natto Spaghetti"
  4. Menu 21 "Carpaccio"
    Menu 22 "Curry Bun"
  5. Menu 23 "Pork Soup"
    Menu 24 "Cutlets"
Restaurant to Another World (TV 2) Masterpiece (dub & sub)

Normally, I try to be sparing with 11/11 ratings, but I also believe in Tristan "Arkada" Gallant's belief in that, "The ending is paramount," and this 2nd cour ends on such a high note that I feel compelled to award this a "Certified Frosty™".
Revolutionary Girl Utena (TV) Excellent
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