JC Staff

4.5 - Toradora (2008)
4 - Shimoneta / A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist (2015)
4.5 - Food Wars (2016)
4.5 - Food Wars the Second Plate (2016)
4 - High Score Girl (2018)

Toradora (2008) creates a romantic “rectangle” or mismatch between two compatible characters and their unfit love interests. The first half uses stereotypical rom-com cliches, while the second half is a disorganised and schizophrenic mess.

Shimoneta (2015) uses a novelty concept: the ability to joke about sex, as well as the consumption of pornography, has been revoked from the public. “Comedy” ensues as a high-school pair attempt to spread both pornography and dirty humor. Unless crude sexual metaphors fulfill you, shimoneta is novelty comedy at best.

Food Wars (2016) is a fun attempt, while appreciating rather than (usually) useful knowledge of cooking, of using a cliche story for over-exaggerated scenery. Food Wars never deviates from enthusiastic descriptions and reviews of dishes, and thus (despite its menus) lacks variety.

Food Wars the Second Plate (2016) rushes stylistic similarities of the first season, and thus is even more repetitive in judges’ reviews of cooking. Certain expectations are subverted, such as the main character’s lack of success in the final competition, yet this should already be a second nature subversion in these styles of shows. Many arcs have trivial exposition which lead to the same result regardless if attention is paid.

The novelty idea of High Score Girl (2018) is further weirdified by its continuous 3d visuals. Instead of distancing itself from rom-com ideas, it embraces them, while maintaining its retro gaming gimmick.