#Cestvs

[theregretofgod]

Why… why are his clothes so tight around his ass?

Anime: Cestvs: The Roman Fighter

#anime #roman empire #cgi animation #cestvs: the roman fighter #cestvs

[theromaboo]

The Seventh Day of Britannicus

Today I'm doing the aforementioned manga version of Britannicus. It comes from Kento Ankokuden Cestvs.

Hmmm. Okay. I see. Hmm. Hey, I actually kind of like this one!

I used to dislike this, but honestly, it's growing on me. I think I just wasn't used to the art style. I really like how his entire head and face looks. His hair is cool. And he looks young, what a miracle! He feels like Brit. I couldn't ask for more.

So it seems that drawings do much much better than live-action. I wonder why. Maybe artists are just more careful. Or maybe it's because artists can just draw anyone, but for live-action, they need to find an actor and apparently all the actors available were like 40. I don't know. Nonetheless, the artists are definitely winning.

#what do you guys think about this one? #i honestly really like it now and i forgot why i used to dislike it #ancient rome #roman history #history #art #manga #Kento Ankokuden Cestvs #britannicus #the 13 days of britannicus

[omercifulheaves]

Berserk Tribute to Kentaro Miura Art by Shizuya Wazarari (Creator of Blaster Knuckle and Cestvs and old friend of Miura's.)

#manga #berserk #kentaro miura #guts #shizuya wazarai

[emperornero]

Okay whats all the manga nero shows up in?? I know cestvs and my name is nero

yeah these two and i was also thinking about. [coughs]. hetalia. but that one spin-off series not about countries. hes there

and theres one manga about pliny the elder i remember seeing a few pages of. nero shows up in it too but i havent read it im just vaguely aware of it

i read all of my name is nero like 2 years ago and around that time i started reading cestvs but left it maybe 20 chapters in? but i dont remember why. i might revisit it to see if i had a problem with something in it that made me drop it or if i just didnt feel like reading it

links + content info for those interested under cut

as always use adblock. if any of these links break let me know or just check yourself on the internet archive

[hetalia link]

[plinivs link] [idk what happens here so unsure about tagging] EDIT i started reading it. full frontal nudity + misogyny. so far.

[my name is nero link] [nsfw + heavy content warning. read tags and summary]

[cestvs link] [focus on roman slavery + graphic fighting scenes]

#ancient rome #nero

[animeguysindistress]

Cestvs: The Roman Fighter Episode 1

#whump #whumpblr #anime whump #guys in distress #boys in distress #anime guys in distress #anime boys in distress #Blood #protect #hold close

[filliteast]

Diary 20

19-24.12

Tu. Chilld

We. Ending up time

Th. Last prctc for hope, faking, eat prk chs layered dough, orange taste jam dough, tea, mom angered, bus sit write, latened, tech of making ph-cies 3 with the bro. Home dawg wch,

Fr. Written up print, weak woke, liar's stolen a lot print, pirozhki mt, apl hf. The plan of filliteasm. Tekken roast. Sheep's body parts. Fail hs no playing rewards system, fh

Sa. Dawg watch no reason. Heart shit, apl hf eating, brk info looking for, fantasy thoughts began, 35thousand error 0321call consult, suicide island, udad called army send wants warned, digestive system, cestvs, neron facts,

Sd. Ph-cy mt eating up,a bit butter, smet brd, drawing a bit

25-31.12

Mo. Night filling prctc, Failed , but 2nd prctc work gave. Ph-cy from 2, manti, ckies, soup mt, hm hot sc pilaf, pilaf w salted sauce, hurma, dadu weight press leg, onirise birthday ippo disturbing

Tu. Fh, long waste time, slp, wk 12, eat ch-te glz mindal, mandarin, krizhovnik, pumpkin seeds, hurma bring me prediabet programmist, stole mindal. Back pla sfxt, cands, sht mt, fh, soup brd brh

We. strms, pla fh, wids 5am, wk 9 eat cand nuts sip, hurma, cnuts sip, mka, bus, latest, soup brd ckies, 3 melted ice creams, one gave dadu

Th. Wk 8.5, car, wtd bus, soup tried soured, soup w brd smet, ckies, stoics thrown, berks, Bek came, left, back to evening, taught him, eat up soup

Fr. Fh, jerkd 5am, wks 8, 9.5, showered, jorm losing, YT, went, late mka, Back, steep, 3.5 came, eat prk chs layered dough smet, brd, dadork, mak lrd dgh, bek, protek

Sa.

Sd. Fh. Wks 9, 10.5, early Bsstp came wtd, came 1 am, Manti eating, 7 ckies, back gave Akt try, call land down, listening them long, Zes too, ate by ate

1.1-7.24

Mo. Beresta sense of humanity existing 41 mosquitos kicked hard in mind. Left fh winning breach. Seen my Roblox unsorted fh REC's. Fail t4 install deinst, found manual installed, moves learn

Tu. Fh duel, breach disconnects, realism disconnects bring glass plate frts eat hurma pnpl pieces, 2vs2 friend 1 win, 2nd disconnect, dawg pib wch, vk don't permit to extract, 6.2am. Wk 9.5 am, mka, bswtd, pilaf, borsok, olvr, shts, ckie, dawg cuts, bek is back gift cake piece, flr wash half managed,

We.

Th.

Fr. 2015 Portuguese session audio visualization

Sa. DawgDebik became dk

Sd. Early left,

8-14.1

Mo. 2h way,

Tu.

We.

Th.

Fr. Tekken 2 mem done

Sa. Written bday messages to Kev

Sd. Big part pcke ate, KPBDAY projects

15-21.1

Mo. Panck heat ate,

Tu. Heat soup, 2 ch-tes, apl razing 2mdrns ate

We.

Th.

Fr.

Sa. Kevin Parker profile, giant tortoise, melon

Sd.

22-28

Mo.

Tu. T 6 install try

We.

Th. Mining virus from stupid t6 install try

Fr. Kasperky healed

Sa. Kokurs ozon arts

Sd. Asleep after 10,5 call angered mom

29-4.1-2

Mo. Dawgn animies. Wk 8, bus asleep, 2nd para Dless vids, ph-cy sit, wtd bstp, cm hm

Tu. Axelljke t8, pickle salt tomato ate up smet brd, wk 6.39, 7.17 sip omeprasole,

We. Pepper Brd smet, chicken w chebur smet,

Th. Came decision to choose low visuals to clips

Fr.

Sa. Cottage chs pieces, smet brd. Ph btry death half wait, came boring. Gdash suckd

Sd. Want stand lying. Head cut, long wash, fast sprinkler kick regret, cottage chs alp chte glzd, mastava smet brd. AE lessons wd. Varl, nothing print, bucket not unleashed, not refilled. Marinaded beaf, chkn, vegs, tea

5-11.2

Mo. Jrd, 5am shwr. Artk. Pza heat marinaded beaf, wds, smt brd, last fluid piss 8pm, smet brd, left bus latened

Tu. Burst. Wk 7.5. N.w.o, baka darou,

We. Signed from Ozod. Ph-cy, smet brd, airan bit,

Th. Wk 5.9, 7 said I would getting up by self, brd pack, mka waiting sit, wtd bs sit asleep 3 times, musc heading, trfc jam released, latened 2nd para, prct draft background not appreciated, mom got a call, ph-cy came mom bought brd prots, eating ndls grave, airan sip teeth calmed, pza heat mnged left, bus driver came and left misunderstood,

Fr.

Sa.

Sd.

12-18.2

Mo.

Tu. 7wk, 3paras, 3 rlt eat borscht w brd smet dawgonosik

We. Yt comment, 3am ear rlt w potato. Wk 10.5 mom call, hedp charge, wfl potato rlt pasta, latened mka, dish a bit wash. Hak3li vids

Th. 3h waste. Wk 7.17, car, bus almost fall, 3p, plan, slow bus hard roads, dawgn soup pza, vinlnd sga, hf wtr brought, ctg chs, smet brd,

Fr. Razed water borderline vids, soup brd, will smith video author did minecraft video by sora, prct filled, ctg chs, hakli, manti

Sa. Alsn. Wk 8, car lying sleep try. Navaly vids, sora shock, manti, nishistoitism, soup, Zyzzinsp vds with other thumbnails on table, ctg chs a bit brd, ZyZ death cause, ate mkrni rot ccmbr

Sd. Onirise prehistoric planet. Wks 7, 9, 11.9, ate soup, manti, mkrni, thrown bread, Zes came, brd smet eat, soup mt mayo brd,

19-25.3

Mo. Zes angered, regrets by long of a passed time. Wk 7, mom, poludrm

Tu.

We.

Th.

Fr. Injections and infusions

Sa. Forgotten

Sd. Hurt piss

26-3.3

Mo. Wk 7 mka bus passed, family car sit, driven ph-cy, flr wash, pilaf heat, shts wch, tamp ract, yesterday songs, sitting sleep 1h, shts, hurt piss, tampal rdit, tay 2, aus, shts

Tu. Wk 7, laying, bus stand slp,

We.

Th. Boiled stink soup, poured etr in sink, potatoes and crts still had smell, eat smet dried brd, ctg chs, wtr, T6 arcade winning to great chance lose, jojo 6 4ep's. Wk 8, 2 paras, ph-cy history search with mom, manti, soft loaf eating, montaging intense additions, scanned pha

Fr.

Sa. Swearing parents wk 7-8, 10wk went ph-cy, mntg addition, manti eat, pza, mwave pza, pranik, gmgen 1yr pass ate stealing, fathu's call, procrastination vids, piss want придержал коней. Hm back

Sd. Wks 10,11,12am,1pm, eat bucket smet brd, pl bag smet, map indication wtng wchg vds.

4-10.3

Mo.

Tu.

We.

Th.

Fr. Man DBall

Sa. Produced twice

Sd. Install worst, night lose. Wk 1pm, try eat, slp 3h, Aktan chgan on 1 server, fish potatoes onion eat, mom advice to slp

11-17.3

Mo. Slp, wk 6.515, bus evolved into milk and pasteurizated during sweating, early came sit, gravity on 1st lesson, 2nd lesson lose sitting, 3rd tried, wtd outdoor 1.5h caused home phone broke, rdir opened, pc sit, potato mt mayo brd smet w salad, Akt pc

Tu.Mindless 5am, Wk 7.5, car boot sit, gentle bus, staying,

We. 1.5 am asleep, wk 7.5, bus lighter window TI jap, 3para, governments deal, bus slp, wtd bus, 8,4 mom came eat potato salad w seed brd, 2.5 seed brd pieces ate, 10.2 hom, hurma, 25 pshups

Th. Vds, ohnoo 5.2 am fapat, wk 7.5, eat brd smet a bit latened to bus, mka bus std 1.5,

Fr. Pucchec, scratch tired slp. Wk 8, . Felt don't have done what was baking for,

Sa.

Sd. Slp 6am to 2pm, 4pm to 10,

18-

Mo. Slp 1am - 8am. Paras, 3pm on car, ph-cy 8.5pm

Tu. Thoughts lying under battery, wk piss. Wk 7.5 ph-cy squama spinach, pear, potatoes rot, fsh ate, std injs presentation, bus 4pm lrd single presentation, got eye drops.

We.

Th.

Fr. Meeting

Sa.

Sd. Control

Mo.

Tu.

We.

Th. Forgot gown

Fr. Foot walked through forest way listening gone gone and 2020 dawg anecdotes stream, on pharmacy

Sa. Readed a lot mlib shit

Sd. Watched fairy tail end moments, cringe of lowerence 5am slp. Wk, gwok

1-

Mo.

Tu. Useless sit, Kirsan meeting being in jacket, regret didn't said why he should check that book, old photos set on phone from 1drive, 2gematog eat, Drawn hanzo and geynji for the first time for 7 years ago simping, 2d with noodle, yourself side long hair, dramming cringe, dadu car sit, back sleep boy all together room

We. Digged up soup, evolution tribute vids, dinofroz cartoon, pomegranate eating bit, stpd vids, eat fuchosa salad, mom bought bykl w brd, makeitmeme 5 sessions with Australian hindu chatters, gas bakugan, left diary's, mangs, lost time leaving, winded cold 1:20

Th. Shts 1.2pm, wk 7.5, bus sit tests eased, all things in container's fluids

#diary #my diary

[tokiz23]

If I gotta choose a VA for FGO Agrippina it’s probably Kikuko Inoue. Small clip of her voicing the other Agrippina from Cestvs.

Other roles include Lust from FMA:B, Rhea from FE, and FGO!Scheherazade.

#agrippina (fate) #fgo #Kikuko Inoue

[not-yet-usernamed]

(you've recommend me cestv la vie before hehe they're both great! Sorry for fucking off for an hour we did trivia lmao) (uhhhuhuh "Washing Machine Heart" by mitski? Also the vocaloid cover by Petricor P is funky (actually all of their covers are good they're underated) And "Pierre Janet's criminal defense" by ghost) -[𝟺𝟹𝟸]

(goddammit i knew i already did ibut i forgor KJHDF KJSHIJO)

(oh nice!)

(10/10 songs!!!!!)

(mine! this & priorities by yot club)

[conflagrate]

Spring 2021 Anime Season

Oh god pre-airs have already started and I’m still writing this…!

Wrapping up the cour:

Top shows

1.Jujutsu = 9.27 2.Yuru Camp = 9.15 (projected) 3.Kemono Jihen = 7.92 4.Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! = 7.75 5.Horimiya = 7.42 (projected)

Shows completed: 24 + 4 (Yuru camp, sk8, yami shibai, Kaifuku Jutsushi) Shows still ongoing: 1 (Maiko-san)

Category of shows finished:

Nailed on: 14/14 Likely: 4/6 Try: 5/15 Not my thing: 2 Forgot to even list them: 3 (ABCieee, B the Beginning S2 & Wave)

NEXTTTTTTTTT SEASONNNNN

Must Watch: Fruits Basket Final,  Megalobox S2, Yukoku no Moriarty cour 2, Mashiro no Oto, Gokushufudo [5]

Most Likely: Mars Red, Fumetsu no Anata e,  Sayonara Watashi no Cramer,  Zombie Land Saga S2 [4]

Try Try Try: Hige o Soru, Tokyo Revengers, 86, Koikimo (TRIED IT WAS SO BAD AWFUL, DROPPED), SSSS.DYNAZENON, The World Ends With You, Shadows House, Shakunetsu Kabbadi, Bishonen Tanteidan, Vivy Fluorite, Bakuten, Jouran, Seijo no Maryoku, Super Cub, Blue Reflection Ray, Battle Athletes ReSTART, Fairy Ranmaru, Shikaruneko, Dinosaur Biyori, Aka-chan Honbucho, Uchuu Nanchara Kotetsu-kun, Sushi-zumo, Godzilla Singular Point, Shaman King [23]

Not Keen But….: Nagatoro-san, Slime Taoshite 300nen, Edens Zero, Osamake, Sentoin Hakenshimasu, Full Dive RPG, Yakunara Mug Cup mo, Dragon Ie o Kau, Odd Taxi, Cestvs, Seven Knights Revolution, Yuyuyu Churutto

Sequel/Genre Hell: Hero Academia S5, Isekai Maou S2, Mairimashita Iruma-kun S2, Tensura Nikki, Cardfight Vanguard OverDress, Itazura Gloomy, Mewkledreamy Mix, Yokai Watch, Kaiketsu Zorori S2, Bakugan Geogan Rising, Shinkalion Z, Mazica Party, Duel Masters King!, iii icefrin, Kingdom S3

My goal this season is to cap the number of shows I watch at 12 so that I can have more time for older series & PDJP2….Good luck to me!!

#misc

[2013venjix]

HAPPY #PrideMonth! https://www.instagram.com/p/CeSTv-bu49h/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#pridemonth

[newtypezaku]

So you’re all fine with slavery, but this is where you draw the line

#cestvs

[theromaboo]

6 and 8 for the history ask meme!

I sorry I took so long to answer this! I kept putting off answering and then I kind of forgot.

6. HF I never expected to like as much as I do

I think it has to be Claudius. For context, we're going to have to back up a few years.

When I was a little hellaboo and loved ancient Greece and stuff, I vowed NEVER EVER to like ancient Rome. I HATED ancient Rome and I was always like "Omg I'd never forgive myself if I started liking Roman history! Ancient Rome is the worst and ancient Greece is the best and it's everyone's problem!" Yes, I was that type of ancient Greece fan :(

And then I found out about Claudius and fell in love with him. Lol!

8. An obscure HF who needs more love

Britannicus!

I'd kill for a historical fiction novel—or any historical media for that matter—from his perspective. It would be so interesting! He's often kind of forgotten in the late Julio-Claudian dynasty. If he ever shows up in historical fiction, he's mostly just used as a little side piece to show how evil Nero and/or Agrippina are. We never often get to see what he thinks and details about him and stuff like that, which is a shame.

I think historical fiction about him has so many opportunities to be amazing and interesting! I liked Kento Ankokuden Cestvs because it actually got into a bit of detail about Brit and his emotions and his relationship with Octavia. Alas, Britannicus is only a minor character in it.

With actual non-fiction historical works, not going to lie, I can't blame them for not going very in depth with Britannicus. Because honestly, we don't know that much about him. He was also a child and not very important most of the time. So I totally understand why the modern sources about him are a little sparse.

But, I am yet to find a true deep dive into whether he was poisoned or not in English! At least, one I'm happy with. Anthony A. Barrett doesn't count; he wrote like one paragraph and failed to go into detail. Anyway, I do think maybe we Anglophones should step up a little with Britannicus in academia. The French are beating us!

"Well why do you like Britannicus so much?" you might ask. And I don't know honestly. I liked him for a reason, but at some point, I forgot that reason and continued liking him. And now, I've just been liking him for so long that of course I'm going to continue liking him.

#ancient rome #roman history #britannicus #just-late-roman-republic-things #history asks #asks

[omercifulheaves]

Guts - In Memory of Kentaro Miura Art by Shizuya Wazarai, creator of Blaster Knuckle and Cestvs: Roman Fighter and a friend of Miura’s.

#manga #kentaro miura

[emperornero]

found the entire cestvs the gladiator or whatever its called manga online. i remember watching the first few anime episodes when they came out but they sucked so im surprised that the original is way better. win

also look at young nero from it vvvvvvvvvv

#the anime fully dropped one important character?????? #and was animated in that weird 3d-but-looks-like-2d style. to save money i guess. #idk where the plot is going. there are like 150 chapters. please dont do weird shit please

[nurvuss]

I Watched the First Episode of Every New Spring 2021 Anime Airing on Crunchyroll

Hey, are you like me, and feeling like you're not getting the most out of your Crunchyroll subscription? Sure, there's stuff on there that you know you like. But whenever I look at the big long list of simulcasting shows, my eyes glaze over and I don't even know where to begin.

I wanted to change my habits and see if there were any shining gems that I should be watching. So, as per the title, I watched the first episode of every new Spring 2021 anime on Crunchyroll. And guess what? There’s a lot of crap! But indeed, there’s some stuff that’s worth your time.

Some clarification: I've only watched shows that began their first season in April 2021.

Backflip!!

Show Link

The Lowdown

As Futaba Shotaro comes to the end of middle school, his interest in baseball has begun to wane. Soon he notices the Ao High Boys Gymnastic Club and becomes enthralled, especially after seeing them perform. Once he learns they're down two members, he chooses to sign up and pursue the art of gymnastics. The club is also joined by Misato Ryoya, a star solo gymnast looking to expand his technique through teamwork.

Our Thoughts

Pretty formulaic shoujo sports anime: you've got your himbo, your thug, your ladies' man, your stoic guy, with Shotaro rounding out the cast as the shy and awkward audience surrogate. It looks wholesome enough, and the choreographed routines employ CG in a way that's quite convincing without being hideous.

Who It's For

Fans of  FREE, or Yuri!!! on Ice, or any similar shows about cute boys who succeed at athletic feats. 

Borscht Rating

Burning Kabaddi

Show Link

The Lowdown

Legendary high school soccer star Yoigoshi Tatsuya has given up on sports! That is, until he's blackmailed to join the high school kabaddi team, under threat of his online persona being leaked to the entire school. Although Tatsuya initially writes kabaddi off as stupid, the unexpected happens as he begins to have fun.

Our Thoughts

Kabaddi is kinda like competitive tag, or dodgeball but with your body instead of a ball. Burning Kabaddi is basically the shounen alternative to Backflip!! above, replete with nosebleeds, pratfalls, and dudes punching each other. The main cast don't seem to like each other very much; that probably changes as the show goes on but at first blush it's a dynamic I always find annoying.

Who it's For

Fans of Haikyuu!!? Maybe?

Borscht Rating

CARDFIGHT!! VANGUARD overDress

Show Link

The Lowdown

The newest series based on Bushiroad's collectible card game, featuring character designs by the beloved collective CLAMP. Petit middle schooler Yu-Yu just doesn't know how to say no. As his older students dress him in drag to use as live makeup practice, he suffers a panic attack and flees into the streets. After being accosted by a pickup artist, he's befriended by Megumi, who invites him to witness a Cardfight match at the local abandoned amusement park. However, Yu-yu is too shy to tell Megumi he's actually a boy…

Our Thoughts

What an unexpectedly weird concept for a show about a card game. Our hero spends the whole episode in drag, whimpering and simpering at the sight of any conflict. Then they show off the latest series of cards, which all seem to be giant buff knights with names like "Bad Steve" and "Violent Bruce". Your guess is as good as mine.

Who it's For

Cardfight!! lovers, Japanese gender studies majors, or the most desperate fujoshi. 

Borscht Rating

Cestvs: The Roman Fighter

Show Link

The Lowdown

The year is 54AD, and Nero has taken the throne as the youngest emperor of Rome. At the bottom of the population, Cestvs is a young slave training to be a colosseum boxer. Reluctant, his only choice is to fight or die.

Our Thoughts

Seeing Nero depicted as a gentle little twink is pretty funny. It's also pretty funny that the central character is named after a Roman boxing glove. The animation style transitions to some very uncanny CG when a major fight takes place, and I didn't like that one bit! This seems like a pretty average tournament anime but with a historical setting. It's currently unknown if any of these dudes are fucking each other. I'm gonna say probably.

Who It's For

The venn-diagram of Greco-Roman history buffs and lovers of tournament series?

Borscht Rating

Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro!

Show Link

The Lowdown:

Hachioji Naoto is a nerdy, introverted student who spends his time studying and avoiding socialising. When pages from the fantasy manga he's drawing fall out of his bookbag, they catch the attention of a younger student named Nagatoro Hayase. Nagatoro begins to tease Naoto for his otaku interests and awkward demeanour, peppered with some suggestive flirting.

Our Thoughts:

What would you do if a younger girl flirted with you? Would you cry? Piss your pants maybe? Maybe shit and cum? Don't Toy With Me… attempts to barely conceal its BDSM fantasy with its comedic elements, but it's incredibly apparent as Nagatoro always wipes away Naoto's tears as a sort of aftercare. It's like a lighter, comedic version of Aku no Hana, but lacking any of the ponderings or danger that made that work so special.

Who It's For: 

People who search Pornhub for "bratty sister femdom".

Borscht Rating:

86 Eighty-Six

Show Link

The Lowdown

The Republic of San Magnolia and the Giad Empire, have been at war for nearly a decade. Using advanced military technology, the frontlines are fought by giant mecha drones called Juggernauts, controlled remotely by Handlers. Major Vladilena Mirizé is one of the military's most talented Handlers in the 1st District, and one who is constantly teased by her peers for the humanity and empathy she shows her squadron. The government line is that drone warfare has kept casualties to zero, but unbeknownst to the public these "drones'' are piloted by 86ers—the lowest class of citizens, forced to live in military internment camps in San Magnolia's 86th District.

Our Thoughts

This is incredibly my kind of thing. We've got a dual narrative being set up here: Vladilena as the kind, reluctant officer of a fascist regime, and the Bad Company-esque antics of her new ragtag squad, Spearhead. The first episode is split pretty evenly between the two, with each story converging at the end as Vladilena "meets" Spearhead for the first time through her comms station. It's an explosive and enticing first episode, and I can't wait to watch more of it.

Who It's For

Fans of Fullmetal Alchemist, Psycho-Pass, Gundam, or any number of anti-imperialist war stories.

Borscht Rating

Fairy Ranmaru

Show Link

The Lowdown

In a quiet corner of the city sits Bar F, a modest drinking establishment staffed entirely by five hot young men. Unbeknownst to the general population, these men are a crack team of fairies sent to the human world to gather the latent energy of "attachment". They do this by solving the problems of young women, taking their hearts in the process.

Our Thoughts

Hubba hubba, a little something for the ladies! It's Weiẞ Kreuz with a bar instead of a flower shop, fairies instead of assassins, and some pretty revealing outfits. There's definitely a little Persona 5 inspiration here too, from the punctuating phrase "Take your Heart!" to many of the visual cues. Make of that what you will.

Who It's For

Fans of Weiẞ Kreuz, slash fic authors.

Borscht Rating

Farewell, My Dear Cramer

Show Link

The Lowdown

Onda Nozomi was once the star player of her middle school football team. Completely unmatched, she no longer plays as there's no opponent she deems to be on her level. Meanwhile Suou Sumire far outpaces her teammates, causing her frustration. By a twist of fate, these two girls find themselves joining the scrappy Warabi Seinan High School FC as they begin to learn the value of teamwork and friendship.

Our Thoughts

I don't know sports. And I really don't know football. I had to look up what the title meant, and now I barely know who Dettmar Cramer is. I'm really not the best person to judge this, but it seems like a pretty good female-driven sports anime. 

Who It's For

Fans of Ace o Nerae! or other sports manga/anime about those ever burning bonds between young teammates.

Borscht Rating

Gloomy, the Naughty Grizzly

Show Link

The Lowdown:

Pitty lives with his pet Gloomy, a massive pink bear. Can a boy and a bear truly get along?

Our Thoughts:

This is a series of minute-long gag episodes in which Gloomy mauls Pitty and blood squirts everywhere. It's definitely meant to be a morbid parody of Sanrio or San-X; it might be a Rilakkuma parody in particular? Gloomy is the kind of thing you might laugh at if it came on in between shows, but it's pretty slight to go through the trouble of putting on.

Who It's For:

Gag anime fans with one minute to spare.

Borscht Rating:

Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway

Show Link

The Lowdown

After a night of drinking in Tokyo, slovenly salaryman Yoshida encounters a teenage runaway sitting under a lamppost. She offers to sleep with him in return for letting her spend the night in his apartment. Yoshida refuses her offer but allows her to stay. The next morning the girl, Sayu, reveals she's travelled all the way from Hokkaido, sleeping with random men in return for lodging and money. Feeling responsible for her safety, Yoshida agrees for Sayu to stay indefinitely in return for handling household chores.

Our Thoughts

This is kind of the inverse of Koikimo (see below), but without a scumbag character and from a male perspective. It's not nearly as nauseating as that show, but it's still a fantasy about living with a busty teenage girl.

Who It's For

Libertarians.

Borscht Rating

I've Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years And Maxed Out My Level

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The Lowdown: 

Office lady Aizawa Azusa dies of overwork in her early 20s, and finds herself standing before a lecherous goddess. Allowed a wish as compensation for her untimely demise, Azusa wishes for an endless life of leisure. The goddess reincarnates her as a 17-year-old immortal witch in an RPG-coded fantasy world. Thrilled, Azusa lazes about, brewing potions for her neighbouring villagers, and kills a small amount of slimes each day to supplement her income. After doing this every day for 300 years, she inadvertently finds herself at Level 99. Her peaceful life is soon upended as adventurers and dragons come from miles around to challenge the legendary witch.

Our Thoughts:

I'm not really an isekai fan, and that goes double for series which aren't set in an RPG, yet use RPG mechanics. Levelling up, grinding stats, min-maxing, as if it's a part of the fabric of the setting. I don't get it. I like watching numbers go up as much as the next dork, but I don't need to watch numbers go up in absolutely every piece of media I consume. Just play a fucking video game, Jesus Christ almighty.

I thought this might be setting up a fun series in which a layabout is reluctantly called upon to undertake a dangerous quest, but I don't think that's what's going on at all. When the red dragon Laika wrecks Azusa's house, she transforms into a cute young girl and the two begin living together, teaching each other the pros and cons of hard work and slothfulness respectively. The trajectory of the series might be as laid back as its protagonist in the end, which, ultimately, would be fitting.

Who It's For:

Isekai fans, slice-of-life fans. The twain have met!

Borscht Rating:

Joran: The Princess of Snow and Blood

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The Lowdown

In alternative history Japan the Meiji Period continued well into the 1930s, and the ongoing Tokugawa Shogunate has brought technological prosperity to the nation through a magical energy source called the Dragon's Vein. Sawa Yukimura runs a bookshop where she lives with her little sister by day, but by night she's an assassin for Nue, the shogunate's secret police. As the terrorist group Kuchinawa deploys transforming beasts in an attempt to topple the shogunate, Nue springs into action with their own abilities.

Our Thoughts

There are a lot of concepts competing here, and a few too many flashy transformation sequences for my taste, but I'm really into it! Nue are made up of sex workers and street musicians, often overlooked and therefore easily able to blend in. There's a supernatural Standalone Complex vibe to how the team operates, and they're almost assuredly on the wrong side. Worth a shot!

Who It's For

Fans of alternate history science fiction, Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex, Demon Slayer.

Borscht Rating

Koikimo: Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui ("It's Disgusting to Call This Love")

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The Lowdown

Amakusa Ryo is a womanizing salaryman concerned with nothing but his own base desires. As he slips on the train station stairs one morning, he's saved by the swift action of Arima Ichika, a kind-hearted high schooler. When it turns out Ichika is friends with Ryo's younger sister Riou, he decides she's his soulmate, and begins to pursue her no matter how many times she refuses him. Comedy ensues!

Our Thoughts

Yeah, OK groomer.

Alright look, Korikimo is written by a woman and told from Ichika's perspective, so this is obviously meant to be a lighthearted "older man" shoujou romance. As an older man, all I saw were the adventures of a paedophile and the teenager he's stalking. Fuck off.

Who it's For

There's probably other stuff like this, right? If you like that, here you go.

Borscht Rating

Let's Make a Mug, Too

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The Lowdown

After the death of her mother, Himeno and her father relocate from bustling Tokyo to quiet Tajimi City in Gifu Prefecture. The former salaryman opens a quiet cafe using the remarkable mugs made by his late wife, while Himeno follows in her mother's footsteps and joins the school pottery club. Although her first project ends in disaster, Himeno makes fast friends with the eccentric pottery enthusiasts who make up the club.

Our Thoughts

It's no Eizouken, but I guess it's probably not meant to be. I'm not a big iyashikei genre fan, but if that's your thing, you might enjoy the wholesome non-adventures of three girls trying to make a mug. It's worth noting these episodes are only about 12 minutes long, with the remaining runtime segmented into live action episodes where the voice actresses tour Tajimi and unconvincingly pretend to be interested in Gifu's famous mino-yaki pottery. I think this must be a tie-in with a local tourist board. 

Who It's For

People who enjoy stuff like Aria, actually.

Borscht Rating

OddTaxi

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The Lowdown

In a Tokyo populated by anthropomorphic animals, a solemn walrus named Odokawa spends his nights driving his cab around the bustling metropolis, spending his free time drinking with his pals. Odokawa soon finds his quiet life disrupted by a caper involving a missing girl, some crooked cops, and the animal yakuza. 

Our Thoughts

A deft blend of working class slice-of-life with mystery, cute animals, and striking visual design. OddTaxi might be the sleeper hit of Spring 2021.

Who It's For

Fans of existentialist film noir with absurdist comedy, Polar Bear Cafe, walrus lovers.

Borscht Rating

Osamake: Romcom Where The Childhood Friend Won't Lose

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The Lowdown

Suehiro Maruo Sueharu Maru has his heart set on Shirokusa Kachi, the hottest girl in school. When she begins dating a young actor, Sueharu confides in his childhood friend Kuroha Shida, who's openly in love with him and he rejected in the past. Kuroha suggests the two get revenge on Shirokusa by pretending to be in love. Will Sueharu fall in love with Kuroha for real, making her dreams come true?

Our Thoughts

Give me a fucking break.

Who It's For

I don't know and I don't care.

Borscht Rating

SD Gundam World Heroes

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The Lowdown

The newest instalment of the SD Gundam media-mix franchise. In a world populated by super deform mecha, a burning meteor lands in the middle of Captain City. From it launches a terrible mechanized beast: Naughty Lion. When the police are powerless to stop it, a crack team led by Zhuge Liang Gundam and Liu Bei Gundam sorties to bring Naughty Lion to justice. When the beast stops rampaging, it transforms into Sun Wukong Gundam, a youthful amnesiac mecha horrified at the destruction he wrought. The Three Kingdoms Gundams welcome Sun Wukong into the fold to make sense of this mysterious event.

Our Thoughts

I'm an 80s kid, I know a 30-minute toy commercial when I see one.

No, seriously though, I'm aware of SD Gundam's merchandising—they're cute designs, and I even used to have a bunch of the gum rubber mini figurines. I've played the SD Great War Super Famicom games, they're fun! This is a vehicle to get kids hyped up about the latest toys, which are...based on  a hodgepodge of Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms this year? There's even a little SD Guan Yu Gundam with a big long beard!

I kinda wanted to like the idea of a bearded robot, but the mechas are super busy and overdesigned. I guess there's only so much you can do to make your next series of toys bigger and better, so these guys are all decked out in gold accents, capes, horns, and antlers, and half the time I couldn't parse what I was seeing.

I'm so glad I don't have to watch any more of this. 

Who It's For

Very, *very* young mecha fans.

Borscht Rating

Seven Knights Revolution: Hero Successor

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The Lowdown

Long ago, the Dark God Nestra ruled the world through fear. Standing against him were the Seven Knights, seven brave warriors chosen by the Light Goddess Serrass. With their powers combined, Nestra was defeated and the lands returned to peace. Hundreds of years later the wicked Physis Cult seeks to revive Nestra, summoning undead beasts to ravage the countryside. With the Seven Knights long dead, the Granseed Academy has risen to train the next wave of heroes to combat this threat. Using special cards, the students of Granseed are able to call upon the power of the Seven Knights to guide them in battle.

Our Thoughts

As soon as the opening started with its transforming heroes and lovingly depicted weapon cards, I realised this must be based on a mobile game. Indeed, this is based on a free-to-play gacha from Korean developer Netmarble. Even before I was able to confirm this, Hero Successor failed to draw me in, eschewing details on the nature of its world in lieu of a glamourised marketing push for its source material. What's here is incredibly slight, and likely to be of little interest to anyone who isn't deep into this game.

Who It's For

Seven Knights whales, I guess.

Borscht Rating

Those Snow White Notes

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The Lowdown

Sawamura Setsu mourns the death of his grandfather Matsugorou, a talented shamisen player who refused to pass his secrets on. Not knowing what else to do, he leaves his remote village for Tokyo, taking nothing but his shamisen along with him. Soon he finds himself wrapped up in the complicated life of aspiring actress Yuna and her scuzzy rockstar boyfriend Taketo. When Setsu opens for Taketo's band, he stuns the audience with the raw emotion of his playing. However, his heart is still tumultuous. 

Our Thoughts

An entertaining first episode of a speciality music series, which is the kind of thing I have a place in my heart for. I couldn't shake the feeling of some latent misogyny that suggested the role of a woman is to inspire a tortured artist, but I might be wrong. The final few minutes take a twist by introducing Setsu's weird, horny mother who seems to have her own personal SWAT team, and it looks like the series becomes a more conventional high school anime from episode 2 onwards. Don't know about that!

Who It's For

Fans of Kids on the Slope, Sound of the Sky.

Borscht Rating

Tokyo Revengers

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The Lowdown

Former delinquent Takemichi is unsatisfied with the way his life turned out, living alone in a paper-thin apartment and working a minimum wage job under a boss who doesn't respect him. When watching the news one evening, he learns that his highschool sweetheart Hinata was killed, alongside her little brother. On the way to work the next morning, Takemichi falls in front of an oncoming train and wakes up 12 years in the past. Armed with foreknowledge, he attempts to turn his life around and save his onetime lover.

Our Thoughts

This is drawing from a lot of sources; the whole train sequence is lifted straight from Gantz, while the story itself initially seems like a Life on Mars kind of deal. In fact, Tokyo Revengers sees Takemichi jump back and forth between the present and the past, seemingly making small changes until he achieves his desired outcome. It feels like a very video gamey depiction of time travel, and one that's not super interesting.

Who It's For

Steins;Gate fans, maybe? Delinquent manga (Shonan Junai Gumi, Crows, etc.) fans, maybe? It's pretty self-serious compared to any of those.

Borscht Rating

To Your Eternity

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The Lowdown

An immortal being in the form of an orb falls to earth and becomes a stone. Years pass, an ice age sets in, and a white wolf stumbles onto the tundra and dies. The orb, able to take the form of anything that leaves a strong impression on it, transforms into the wolf and slowly learns how to use its newfound ambulatory body. The creature treks back through the tundra where it meets a boy living alone, after the rest of his village left in search of a better life. The boy recognises the wolf as his beloved pet, Johann, and the two begin living together in the harsh, lonely wastes.

Our Thoughts

I'm being a little coy with the synopsis here, and there's a major shake-up at the end of this debut episode. This one's based on a manga by the critically acclaimed Yoshitoki Ooima (A Silent Voice), and it's a depressing, compelling, and exciting start to a series. Lots of potential here!

Who It's For

Fans of NieR, Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon, Last Exile, Kino's Journey.

Borscht Rating

So, there you have it. I'm hoping this will be of use to anyone who experiences a similar sense of dread when faced with so many choices. Maybe we’ll do this again during the Summer 2021 anime season.

Also, please don't get mad at me if I'm snarky about your new favourite show! It’s just TV and I'm a big idiot anyway.

#anime #crunchyroll #backflip!! #burning kabaddi #cardfight!! vanguard overDress #cestvs #don't toy with me miss nagatoro #86 #eighty six #fairy ranmaru #farewell my dear cramer #gloomy #higehiro #koikimo #killing slimes #joran #let's make a mug too #oddtaxi #osamake #sd gundam #seven knights #those snow white notes #tokyo revengers #to your eternity

[anime--food]

Cestvs: The Roman Fighter - Episode 3

#cestvs #anime food #meat