Forum - View topicREVIEW: Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! Anime Series Review
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InfiniteNothingness
 Posts: 188 |
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I'll tackle the other con first: I confess I just found Fujisaki cute and entertaining. Acquired taste of course, and I certainly can't not understand being bothered or worse by much of her conceptually. Beyond being some welcomed humor for the otherwise differently serious lovers (if not lacking in amusing antics), it's helped by her being a woman in a story... I mean I get it, but it's off for me to approach her as anything but. (Plus, far as author quasi-stand-in's or actual stand-in's go, she's still better than some others IMO.)
And, yeah, it really frustrates me how this is another in the long, laundry list upon laundry lists, of anime thwacked with only occasionally nice animation -- and even then only so much -- as a byproduct of the landscape right now. Frustratingly far from the last time I've seen a BL or a GL especially hit either... bleh. I'm In Love With The Villainess didn't look great, but it sure moved more and felt altogether more dynamic, though that's just a comparison since I really like both even if I need to finish the latter. Really hope some relevant upcoming anime get their due too where that goes... Anyway, this really is an adorably charming series. While pretty goofy, the mind reading is a pretty good push towards making someone like Adachi be more proactive, and even lead to some saucy scenes, without actually feeling like it necessarily positions physical intimacy and beyond as the "end goal," as much as it is the logical end to two people that end up realizing they want each other. Even if of course, the virginity is what caused it. I feel like it could have been much grosser had the emphasis been placed on that, not that I took this as a series interested in anything but specifically exploring their character dynamics and the... gaps of yearning as it were. Which it does really nicely in such a generally understated way. It is done in such a way, and about such a fraught topic, that I don't even especially mind the "flaws" implied in the review, as my particular brand of queerness has me especially welcoming stuff like this. Perhaps my favorite thing about this series, as I've occasionally pored back through prior volumes in line with the anime, is the wide amount of subjects related to intimacy that are tenderly explored, without ever feeling like it's got the vibes "on speedrun"; it's something I want to explore at a later date for writing of my own critically and otherwise. And I appreciate every additional piece of media that gets that spark burning too. I do occasionally, somewhat wish it was a series that moved a touch slower so all of those previous points had even more room to be explored, but that's irrelevant to the story's acual quality. Like how: Hey, explicit wedding and rings! That's pretty dope! I'm not one to raise a fuss over a lack of "explicit" details (in fact a number of series that are especially close to me can sort of toe the line?), but that we got that, is so nice to see. I can't say I really agree with the time skip being "necessary" to wrap up the plot though. While it is indeed further establishing their intimacy, volume 6 was a strong note of closure for their relationship up to that point and tied up so much that came prior as they simply talked. They consummate, sure, but even more than that is that it's the most transparently clear Adachi is up to that point, verbalizing thoughts he had up to that point and establishing he's genuinely interested in him for him and not because he is so happy to be loved either. They are on "equal footing" for all intents and purposes, and it's all because of their mutual actions up to that point as sweet paneling and flashback emphasizes. To me, there's nothing story-wise preventing the rest of volume 7 on being wrapped up in an OVA or something as occasionally happens. Anyway, I focus mostly on KuroAda since they are admittedly most interesting to me. I like the supporting cast, and Tsuge and Minato are cute in their own ways -- shoutout to Tsuge's extended, characteristically subdued panicking late into the series. It's I think the most he's ever talked on his own up to that point too, and it is so instructive without lingering. Rokkaku is a silly guy too, I think I enjoyed his presence the most out of everyone else, just because of the dope being out of the loop in his own way. Even if it's a case where I'd sooner recommend the manga, rather than either or both, unfortunately, I know many more were even more pumped and wanting an anime more than I was. So that's a delight. Looking forward to reading more, and more whatever else Toyota Yuu puts out. Oh and also: Messy-haired Adachi beats cleaned up and proper wedding Adachi. He's so cute. |
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ThrowMeOut
Posts: 265 |
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Well, I liked the story a lot, but the animation put me off. Fortunately I decided to give the manga a go, and I loved it. While I like to odd dose of melodrama, I like that it's largely absent in Cherry Magic. It's just about two dudes in a healthy, loving relationship. Nice.
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Princess_Irene
ANN Associate Editor
 Posts: 2655 Location: The castle beyond the Goblin City |
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The manga is one of my favorites - I'm glad you picked it up! Toyota's Papa and Daddy's Home Cooking is also getting an English release (albeit digital-only), and it's wonderful too. (Not BL as of yet, though.) If you want to watch a version, Crunchyroll also has the live action TV series, which I also enjoyed. |
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Cardcaptor Takato
 Posts: 5204 |
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This was what I was hoping to get out of My Boss is Goofy with a light hearted office romance with a gay focus but we never really got out of that show. I really liked the relationship dynamic between Adachi and Kurosawa. I wasn't as invested in Tsuge and Wataya but it's still kind of disappointing we don't get a real resolution to their relationship after how much screen time they devote to it. My only other real complaint about the show was I wish they still spoiler[kept their magic somehow even after sex mostly because I'm not fond of the trope of growing up means you have to sacrifice your magic powers. But this also has me curious how the manga progresses without the supernatural element or if it just becomes a more standard slice of life story.]
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SinisterOracle
Posts: 395 |
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The goddess Rebecca has again gifted us with a fantastic review! This is also one of my favorite manga, so I had really high hopes going into the anime.
Honestly, what a letdown animation wise. I feel like I always complain about anime animation, but I have expectations based on my own experiences as an artist and as a reader. So when a manga that gets an 8-10 from me receives an anime adaptation that only gets a 6-7 from me, I’m easily disappointed. (I feel this way about Solo Leveling too). I was most aghast by the earthen color choices (entirely too much green) and the decision not to have Adachi and Kurosawa change suits, shirts, or ties (we didn’t see their feet much). I’m a guy who has also worked in several professional office settings. I have never seen another guy wearing the exact same outfit day in and day out, much less the women. I get it’s an anime, but they could’ve changed the colors up for different days at the very least. I liked the voice acting, especially Fujisaki when she became excited. She sounded very close to what I read her as. I’m also glad the story itself was kept largely intact. I laughed during the last episode when they skipped over so much to end it like they did, but it worked. We rarely see two guys get married in an anime. |
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ThrowMeOut
Posts: 265 |
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It's on my to watch list! I've heard good things. |
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Mikan-box Glasses-kun
 Posts: 88 |
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Really enjoyed your review Rebecca! This ended up being one of my favorites of the past season (thanks once again for the rec during preview guide, Rebecca and InfiniteNothingness!), even if it definitely would've been nice having a little better animation. Though they sure did make the limited resources count during some important scenes, even still. And even if it felt rushed, I really loved the epilogue in the final episode, and especially appreciated it since I really doubt they would've gotten another season. (Looks at I'm in Love with the Villainess forlornly...)
Yeah, every time Fujisaki appeared I remembered that one part in Sasaki & Miyano where the main character was called out on that, lol, but at least she took up little enough screen time that I could still find her amusing at times. Edit:
Oh yeah, I should check that out too, kinda curious how it is. I'm happy they still sometimes license live-action series (looking forward to the OddTaxi series this season). |
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Яeverse
 Posts: 1146 Location: Indianapolis |
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Liked Tsuge and Minato relationship a bit more than the main Adachi and Kurosawa just because there wasnt much weighty drama between. Felt Like Tsuge and Minato had more just because of the feelings of feeling left behind by their careers/life choices that both Tsuge and Minato felt, Minato's also feelings towards Rokkaku, and also his dream of dancing but faced with defeat (and a miracle) and lastly feeling more natural with the progression of feelings (more one sided for Tsuge, but more slower realistically paced to go from friends to lovers (?) for Minato...anime left them in a spot to see if they can go closer and if minato can reciprocate the feelings.
Anyway glad it got made, looking forward to omegaverse and Twilight out of Focus next, still hope we get some more BL anime with a bit more serious weighty drama (like given levels of drama) again Thought it looked fine, probably would have wished the anime character designer did trim down the noses from side profile views, there were a few moments they looked distractingly long... |
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